After Divorce, I Can Hear the Future

Chapter 66: Investing in Panda

"Little Chen, can you help me schedule a meeting with Wang Xiaocong?"  

Lu Liang had looked into Wang Xiaocong’s past and discovered that he was treading a path quite unique, somewhat akin to America’s Kardashians. By making bold and unconventional statements on social media, he drew a massive following of curious onlookers and solidified his personal brand.  

For instance, his newly founded Panda Interactive Entertainment needed no deliberate promotion—he himself was the platform’s best spokesperson. This approach unknowingly saved him countless promotional expenses.  

This son of the richest man in the country wasn’t as thoughtless and impulsive as he might appear, with his reputation for blunt outbursts.  

Chen Jinchun nodded and left the office. He contacted Wang Xiaocong’s assistant through the official website of Panda Interactive Entertainment. Introducing himself, he found out that Wang Xiaocong was currently in Magic City, and they scheduled a meeting time and place.  

“2:30 PM at Riverside Café? That works.”  

Before leaving, Lu Liang took one last glance at the stock market. The curve on the chart was like a flatlined heartbeat, lying lifelessly on the floor. Not even the tiniest uptick could be seen—it was like a stagnant pool. It seemed unlikely that the stock would break through resistance anytime soon.  

This wave was bound to fall from ¥48 all the way down to ¥25.  

There, they met Wang Xiaocong. He had a big head, a thick neck, and though he was quite tall, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the chairman of Wanda Group.  

“Mr. Wang, hello, I’m Lu Liang.”  

Mengmengda Media was legally represented by Li Manli but was a wholly owned subsidiary of Tianxing Investment. Lu Liang was meeting Wang Xiaocong as the principal shareholder of Tianxing Investment to discuss a live-streaming contract.  

The concept of live-streaming entertainment was fundamentally different from the “life sharing” idea that Lu Liang had in mind, which was still a vague concept in his head. He had no idea how to proceed with it, so he decided to explore live-streaming first.  

“Mr. Lu, it’s a pleasure. Lately, your name is all my friends have been talking about.”  

Wang Xiaocong beamed as he sized up Lu Liang.  

Two weeks ago, he might not have agreed to meet Lu Liang, even though Lu Liang was the actual controller of Mengmengda Media. But things were different now.  

Last week, the incident at No. 88 Punan Road, where Lu Liang snatched a deal from under the noses of Zhongxin Fuying and Wu Junle, making a clean escape with ¥128 million, had spread like wildfire in the financial circles.  

Lu Liang was now a figure worth knowing.  

“Xiaocong, we’re about the same age. Let’s skip the formalities of the older generation.”  

Lu Liang’s smile was warm and engaging, using his natural salesmanship to address him by name and quickly close the gap between them.  

Wang Xiaocong was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on. He asked curiously, “Lu Liang, what’s your relationship with Li Xiaomeng?”  

“If I said we’re just pure friends, would you believe me?” Lu Liang replied with a smile.  

“I’d believe you. Just like how the gossip reporters constantly slander me. Clearly, I’m just normal friends with those women. Isn’t it normal to have a drink together? Staying at the same hotel is normal too, right?”  

“Totally normal.”  

The two shared a laugh, bonding over their shared understanding of a man’s world.  

Gradually, the conversation turned to work. Panda focused on gaming live-streaming, but Wang Xiaocong wasn’t content with just games.  

Over the years, he’d made his mark in the eSports world and even acquired a team, earning some fame. While they had no shortage of gaming streamers, they still lacked a standout figure in the “beauty” category. He saw potential in Li Xiaomeng and wanted to sign her with Panda Interactive Entertainment.  

Looking ahead, they also planned to enter the entertainment industry by producing an online variety show for internet celebrities.  

“Lu Liang, have you noticed how terrifyingly lucrative variety shows have been recently? The naming rights for Running Man went for ¥560 million, and The Voice of China fetched ¥1.13 billion. In the past few years, reality TV’s earning power has been off the charts.”  

Wang Xiaocong intended to bring Lu Liang on board, outlining the recent profits of reality TV shows and Panda’s strategic goals.  

Reality TV was only the first step. He envisioned creating a vast pan-entertainment empire and named this ambitious strategy the “Banana Plan.”  

“If Panda needs investment, just let me know.”  

A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Liang’s eyes. He hadn’t expected their visions to align so well.  

Xiaocong’s ambitions were grand—he wanted to build an Eastern Disney-style pan-entertainment cultural hub.  

He hoped for someone to help share the risk, while Lu Liang was keen to invest in interactive entertainment to understand the industry better.  

Their conversation grew more engaging, and they hit it off immediately.  

In just a few words, they finalized a preliminary agreement. Lu Liang would invest ¥3 million for a 15% stake, becoming the second-largest shareholder in Panda Interactive Entertainment after Wang Xiaocong.  

They later visited Panda’s headquarters to sign the contract.  

“Lu Liang, do you have plans tonight?”  

As the staff prepared the contracts, Wang Xiaocong raised an eyebrow and flashed a knowing smile.  

A frequent patron of Magic City’s nightlife, Wang Xiaocong spent at least four nights a week in nightclubs.  

Having a strong new shareholder onboard, it was customary to celebrate properly.  

“Maybe next time. I still have something to handle later.”  

Lu Liang fully owned Mengmengda Media, where Li Manli only had a revenue share, not equity. He needed to inform her before switching her to a new streaming platform.  

“No problem. Join us later if you’re free.”  

Wang Xiaocong was insistent, painting a tempting picture of tonight’s festivities.  

Lu Liang smiled wryly but relented slightly: “We’ll see.”  

In the evening, after leaving Panda, he asked Chen Jinchun to take a taxi home while he drove to a villa district in the western suburbs.  

The entire area consisted of standalone villas with gardens, most of which had been converted into offices for e-commerce, live-streaming, or new media studios. These industries operated on light assets, combining living and working spaces to cut costs and enhance team cohesion.  

It was Lu Liang’s first time there. He got lost driving around the neighborhood before finally finding villa 116.  

It was a three-and-a-half-story villa with a small garden and an adjacent garage where a bright red Porsche 718 was parked.  

Li Manli was dressed in a black-and-white Lolita dress, holding a parasol, looking every bit like a noble from the Middle Ages.  

Since setting up her studio and assembling a professional team, the quality of her videos had significantly improved, mainly focusing on daily life and cooking shows.  

Now, she seemed to be shooting a vlog, though it was more theatrical than authentic—after all, no one would dress like this in real life.  

“Brother Liang! You finally came to see me!”  

The moment Li Manli saw Lu Liang, she dropped her parasol and threw her arms around his neck, practically clinging to him.  

“Can you calm down? You’re a general manager now,” Lu Liang said helplessly, supporting her by holding her legs.  

“I don’t care! You’ve been treating me like I’m in the cold palace, ignoring me for ages!”  

Li Manli turned her head, shooing away her assistants and cameramen to leave her alone with Lu Liang. Her long, slender legs swung in the air, radiating her joy.  

“I came as soon as I finished my work.”  

Lu Liang chuckled, putting her down. They strolled through the park while he explained her transition to a new platform.  

“I’ve heard of Panda, but I suck at games—I’m always stuck in silver rank,” Li Manli said with a pout.  

“Just give it a try. You only need to stream 60 hours a month. Keep posting videos on Bilibili to expand your influence, but no more live-streaming there.”  

Lu Liang added, “The contract is for ¥6 million over three years. After deducting the 50% share and personal taxes, you’ll take home about ¥2.4 million.”  

“That much?” Li Manli’s eyes widened. She had never dreamed of earning so much.  

“Doesn’t seem like a lot to me. That’s only ¥800,000 a year, about ¥66,000 a month—not even enough for rent.”  

Lu Liang recalled his own place, where the monthly rent, utilities, and maintenance exceeded ¥80,000.  

He could afford to buy it outright now, but it would drain his cash flow, which he deemed unnecessary.  

Li Manli muttered under her breath, “That’s different. Who told you to live alone in such a big place?”  

Earning ¥800,000 a year would let her build a new house for her parents.  

“Don’t worry; you’ll earn more and more in the future.”  

Lu Liang smiled, touched by the sincerity beneath Li Manli’s boisterous personality.

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