After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future

"Mr. Lu, hello, my name is Guo Jiawen."

During the accompaniment, Guo Jiawen had a radiant smile and continuously initiated topics for conversation.

Although she has currently docked and become Li Zhikai's girlfriend, there are still many sisters in her social circle waiting for a match.

Introducing boyfriends to each other and helping sisters successfully snag wealthy husbands to expand one's influence has become an unspoken rule among the beauty queen circle.

After all, when facing powerful and influential wealthy families, they are at an absolute disadvantage, so they must band together to survive.

If one day they successfully climb up but encounter divorce, their sisters can offer advice to help extract as much property as possible.

Guo Jiawen herself also met Li Zhikai through an introduction from a friend, and now it's her turn to reciprocate.

However, Lu Liang showed no interest at all, always responding with "mm," "oh," or "really?" making it hard for her to keep the conversation going.

Guo Jiawen frowned slightly, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Mr. Lu, actually, I've heard Shanshan talk about you many years ago."

"Wen Shanshan?" Lu Liang was taken aback, a small ripple finally appearing on his calm expression: "How is she doing recently?"

Two years ago, he had a fling with Wen Shanshan, but unfortunately, she was brainless and eager to take, completely unaware of long-term strategy for greater gain.

So at that time, Lu Liang casually gave her a role and dismissed her, and since then, they hadn't contacted each other.

"After she returned to Hong Kong, things haven't been too good." Guo Jiawen sighed, her eyes showing undisguised sympathy.

Although there was an intention to show such empathy to make Lu Liang feel compassion, there was also a bit of genuine feeling.

Two years ago, Lu Liang was just developing and had little fame in Modu, and Zhang Tian'ai was just a supporting role.

But today, Lu Liang is internationally renowned, and Zhang Tian'ai has become a top star in domestic entertainment.

Every mention of it is like a stab in Wen Shanshan's heart because if she had taken the role of the Crown Princess Consort, there would have been no chance for Zhang Tian'ai.

Therefore, in recent years, she has remained single, regardless of the pursuit by the director of Blackstone Group.

Wen Shanshan's current situation is like many girls who after dating a boyfriend driving a Ferrari, think Ferrari is their standard and won't accept anything less in future boyfriends.

But having dated Lu Liang, at a global scale, there are almost no achievements by others of the same age that surpass Lu Liang.

"People always have to pay for their choices, and I hope she finds a good home in the future."

Lu Liang didn't care and looked inside, seeing the Li Brothers finishing their conversation and walking over toward them.

Li Zhikai asked with a cheerful smile, "Jiawen, what were you and Mr. Lu talking about?"

"Just chit-chatting." Lu Liang looked at Li Zheju, who had a somewhat hesitant look.

He smiled and said, "Brother Li, I'm sorry about this time, I should have clarified it beforehand."

Better to resolve enmity than to escalate; avoiding conflict where possible is the best policy.

Because Lu Liang would soon be contending with HSBC, he didn't expect the Li Brothers to help, but just wanted them not to make things more complicated.

Xiangjiang is different from the mainland, and HSBC is unlike others; waging multiple battles simultaneously, even he could not bear it.

Li Zheju knew this was the olive branch Lu Liang was offering, promptly responding with a laugh, "Mr. Lu, I didn't think through enough on this matter. I sincerely apologize here."

"We're like family; there's no need to stand on ceremony."

Lu Liang glanced at the time, diverted the topic: "Friends should be arriving soon, right?"

The banquet was set for eight in the evening, and it was nearing seven-thirty; someone must arrive early.

"Almost."

Li Zhikai nodded, barely finishing speaking when they heard a soft mechanical sound of the front door opening.

He said with a smile, "Someone's here, I wonder who it is."

Half a minute later, Yang Shoucheng came briskly with youthful energy, and though over seventy, he looked just over fifty.

He and the Li Brothers are old roommates from Chaoshan, exchanging a few words in their hometown dialect, then Li Zhikai translated: "Uncle Yang asked why my father didn't come, and I told him he's still in the United Kingdom."

Yang Shoucheng looked at Lu Liang, eying him carefully, and exclaimed, "Mr. Lu, I've long admired you; it's finally a pleasure to meet you."

Lu Liang cupped his hands with a smile: "Mr. Yang, you're too kind. Every past trip to Xiangjiang was rushed, and I haven't been able to personally visit Emperor, please forgive me."

Yang Shoucheng, chairman of Emperor's board, is also the godfather of its leading ladies, renowned as a charming father figure and considered the East Country's version of Playboy's founding playboy. Even at seventy-four, rumors linked him romantically with a model born in the 2000s last year.

The Hong Kong media sharply commented: "Mr. Yang remains true to his nature, loving eighteen-year-old models no matter his age."

Lu Liang didn't admire Superman Li; despite being near a hundred, he strove between governments rather than enjoying his vigor as Yang Shoucheng does in his seventies.

"Hahaha, ever since you arrived in Xiangjiang, Mr. Lu, there's been no shortage of front-page stories in the Hong Kong media, visibly keeping you busy."

Yang Shoucheng chuckled warmly, like a kindly neighborhood elder. He introduced the young man at his side to Lu Liang: "Mr. Lu, this is my youngest son, Qisheng, now Emperor's general manager; you young people should have plenty to discuss."

"Hello, Mr. Lu, I'm Yang Qisheng." Yang Qisheng appeared just a few years older than Lu Liang but grasped his hand eagerly like a fan meeting his idol.

"Qisheng, being peers, just call me Lu Liang." Lu Liang smiled, suddenly hearing footsteps behind him again.

An old man in his seventies, bald and brisk, approached with a young man beside him, but unlike Yang Qisheng's admiration, the youth gave Lu Liang a somewhat hostile look.

"Brother Jia Chun, long time no see." The Li Brothers greeted with broad smiles, stepping forward to introduce: "Lu Liang, this is Zheng Jiachun, Chairman of Zhou Da Fu. And this is his youngest son, Zheng Qilong."

"Mr. Zheng, Qilong, hello." Lu Liang smiled, and suddenly understood that the hostility wasn't his imagination.

Old-timers in Xiangjiang traditionally let the eldest son inherit the family business, like Li Zheju with Cheung Shing.

But they wouldn't have just one son, so the second and even youngest sons often held awkward positions.

Unlike the Li Family, where the eldest inherits Cheung Shing and the youngest carves his own path, the norm in Xiangjiang's major families is to rely on parents, inheriting lesser businesses.

Zheng Jiachun is already the second-generation patriarch of the Zheng Family. He has brothers, and Zheng Qilong, the third generation, has both brothers and cousins. What he'll eventually inherit is just the network connected to the Big D Society.

But with Lu Liang's arrival, the Big D Society dissolved, stripping even that from him.

"Reputation pales in comparison to reality, Mr. Lu, it's a pleasure." Zheng Jiachun beamed with admiration, generous in his praise.

Among thirty-somethings, some were already standing with their generation, even surpassing them. Others sulked like children whose toys were taken.

"Mr. Zheng, enjoy your conversation. My brother and I should go welcome more guests to avoid neglecting them."

Lu Liang smiled, exchanged pleasantries, and left with Li Zhikai to the entrance, directly disregarding Zheng Qilong.

He respects local figures but won't tolerate their disrespect.

If everyone could smile and be agreeable, that's great, but if not, he preferred not to indulge them.

"Qilong, if you keep giving me that look, you can go home right now." Zheng Jiachun suddenly warned coldly.

Though Zheng Qilong was unwilling, one look at his father's eyes made him swallow his words.

Li Zheju approached the pair, looking toward the entrance, whispering, "Lu Liang suggests we stay away from future close engagements, so let that matter rest."

He had just spoken with Superman Li, who was intent on avoiding unnecessary enemies with Lu Liang.

If Lu Liang wanted the Cheung Shing business, he could have it all. Avoiding enmity with him was imperative.

The port business remained the Li Family's true lifeline.