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

"Fucking hell, I invested twenty million as well, but I never see him mention me all the time."

When Wu Jing talked about the people he was most grateful to, apart from the silent support of his wife, it was Lu Liang's helping hand during the most difficult times, as well as his subsequent unconditional trust, which really pissed Little Wang off.

Having to always be the backdrop to Lu Liang was one thing, but even in other people's praises, he was still just the backdrop. When would he ever be the main character?

Lu Liang looked at Little Wang with a suddenly 'tender' expression, speaking softly and slowly, "There will be an opportunity for you in the future."

"Do you have some serious illness? Your glances at me have been weird ever since you came over."

Little Wang looked uncomfortable and suspicious, feeling not at ease with Lu Liang's attitude towards him today, which seemed overly kind.

Normally, calling out Liangzi made him want to strangle him, but today a call to Liangzi merely resulted in a smile.

Even the womanizing tips he shared were met with approval and nods, without a hint of skepticism.

He felt like someone deprived of a CPU for a long time who was suddenly receiving Lu Liang's kindness, almost flattered by the unexpected attention.

"What's wrong? Can't I be nice to you to spare you from saying you feel no respect from me at all?"

Lu Liang chuckled, lifting his glass in a toast to Wu Jing on the stage in response to his expression of gratitude.

"Maybe you should return to your usual self; I'm suddenly feeling a bit scared," Little Wang exclaimed, feeling alarmed.

"People really are shitty: you complain when they insult you and you're not happy when they are nice to you," Lu Liang said, half laughing, half crying.

"There's something called crocodile tears, and I feel like what you're giving me is crocodile kindness," Little Wang said bluntly.

Gratuitous kindness was either cunning or thieving. Now he always felt like there was a pit ahead, and Lu Liang was inviting him to a beheading feast.

No matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't figure out what Lu Liang was plotting. Couldn't he just speak straight?

Considering their relationship, if he had it, he would definitely give it.

Lu Liang gave a wry smile: "Based on what you just said, I'll make sure to let you save some face when the time comes."

Little Wang was itching with curiosity; knowing Lu Liang wouldn't say, he couldn't help but ask, "Save face? What exactly are you planning?"

Lu Liang pondered for a moment: "I might need it, or might not. Anyway, it won't affect you too much."

Little Wang turned pale,

With Lu Liang putting it that way, his curiosity grew even stronger. Despite his persistent questioning, Lu Liang refused to say another word: "Fuck, I hate it when you talk like this, always speaking half-truths."

Lu Liang spoke gravely: "Xiao Cong, just act as if it's not happening for now. If I really need something, I'll explain it to you in advance, you won't be left in the dark."

Little Wang's eyelids twitched: "What normally comes before 'left in the dark'?"

Lu Liang just smiled and said nothing. Once Wu Jing finished his speech and stepped down to toast, Lu Liang sipped his drink and said he had to leave early.

He was headed to Tokyo and estimated he wouldn't return to the country before the Panda IPO.

Then he turned to Guo Fan and said: "Director Guo, come to my company tomorrow; I have already notified Vice President Tang."

"Mr. Lu, let me see you out," Guo Fan said, surprised. Such a huge investment was left to the vice president?

Lu Liang was confident, but he wasn't, worried that Mr. Lu's instructions might be missed, forgetting about him in the process.

"No need, stay here."

After that, Lu Liang left, leaving Guo Fan dismayed in the wind, and Little Wang contemplating life.

That very night, news broke out that Lu Liang had struck again with an investment of a hundred million dollars in a sci-fi blockbuster.

"Wandering Earth" had become a hit even before filming began, riding on Lu Liang's investment and the hundred-million-dollar production.

"Fucking hell, could we really get to see the helium flash of the Sun in our lifetime? I hope Liangzi doesn't let the screenwriters cut that scene."

"Many people began to question the story of the helium flash destroying Earth, believing it to be a dictatorship ploy by the United Government to rule the surviving humans, leading to an overthrow by rebel organizations exterminating the upper echelons and scientists. Just then, the sun undergoes a helium flash…"

"Just thinking about that scene gives me a brain orgasm; Liangzi better not change it, or he'll be blacklisted for life."

The news rapidly swept across the internet without much effort.

The influence of entertainment works is far greater than that of any other industry, and their audience reach is deservedly the biggest across all domains.

Domestic science fiction movies have always been a perpetual disappointment for Chinese movie fans, with too many bait-and-switch schemes over the years, all ending up focused on cheap romance.

But this time it was different: with a source material by Hugo and Galaxy Award-winning Liu Cixin, the Midas touch of Lu Liang, and an investment of a hundred million dollars.

Even if it turns out to be another scam,

They are more than willing to be deceived once again.

Adapting Liu Cixin's novel + Lu Liang's investment equals solid gold.

If we can't make a good domestic science fiction movie with this, we might as well bury it in the ground like the National Team.

Within just a few hours, Guo Fan went from being an entertainment industry nobody, a third-rate director, to a new favorite in the business.

His personal and company phones rang off the hook with countless people inquiring, some about investments, some sponsorships, and others begging for roles.

"Mr. Lu, should we announce it now?"

Guo Fan, sincerely anxious, called Lu Liang at the first chance he got. He'd lived half his life and been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, but this was the first time he had seen such a spectacle.

To be suddenly in the spotlight without reason, to be ignored without it, he personally felt the truth behind these words.

He also suddenly understood the meaning behind the words Wu Jing had given him just after the thank-you banquet had ended,

"Do not forget your original aspirations, and you will be able to maintain your mission,

cling to Mr. Lu's coattails, and you'll be set for life."

Wu Jing thought this way and acted accordingly, planning to cling to Lu Liang's coattails for a class leap.

"Go ahead and announce it, there's nothing to hide."

Lu Liang chuckled. He had invested real US dollars and silver, why should he fear people talking about it; it would also put some pressure on Guo Fan.

He'd be able to focus with six years of time just to produce over four thousand original drawings; the pressure shouldn't crush him.

Guo Fan understood and cautiously asked, "Mr. Lu, should we accept some product sponsorships?"

The movie's setting is half a century later, with almost the entire globe frozen over, and people hiding in underground cities.

Thinking about product placement, it was actually possible to import lots of advertisements, like Xiaomi, Huawei, or even top international car brands like BBA, all of whom had extended olive branches.

Liu Cixin's original work, Lu Liang's investment, one hundred million dollars in production, the first true large-scale science fiction production in the country.

These brands all wanted to leave their mark, to show that sixty years later, they were still standing tall.

"No need, we're not short on funds right now, rashly inserting ads into the movie can easily create a disconnection."

Lu Liang decisively refused. He had watched many films with Su Wanyu, and those timeless movies almost never had product placements.

Suddenly, however, he changed his tone, "I'll send you a car logo later, just deal with it as you see fit. Don't deliberately arrange it, treat it as an inconspicuous little Easter egg and keep it as secret as possible."

A logo that cost twelve million to invite top domestic and international designers to personally craft, an irregular four-pointed star, had also been registered for various brand patents early on.

Boss Lu always had double standards: when others included product placement it created a feeling of disconnection, but when he did it, it was an exclusive Easter egg.

"Alright, Mr. Lu."

Guo Fan was stunned, then he suddenly remembered Lu Liang's side business; this logo was probably for the future Tianxing cars.

With Lu Liang's indication, he decisively announced the good news on Weibo, tagging Tianxing Investment and the actors.

He stated that the rumors were true, the Wandering Earth crew would start filming soon and hoped to meet the audience as early as possible.

He knew that young fresh meat had followings, but he was more aware that the domestic audience had long suffered from the young fresh meat syndrome, indicating that the actors' salaries would not exceed 5% of the movie's total budget.

With an investment of one hundred million dollars, at most only five million dollars would be allocated to salaries, which converts to 33.5 million RMB.

This amount would cover the expenses for the lead and cameo actors as well as extras; the remaining ninety-five million would be entirely invested in the movie's production.

This move earned the applause of countless netizens.

After the collapse of the "Capital with a Conscience" persona, Lu Liang had acquired the name of "Conscience of the Film Industry."

"Is making a sci-fi movie this effective?"

Having already arrived in Tokyo, Lu Liang saw the trending topics on the domestic internet, with at least eight out of the top ten being about Wandering Earth.

He couldn't help but wonder if it was because of him or the subject matter itself; he hadn't bought any trending topics, and yet the popularity was bizarrely high.

"Sir, are you investing in movies too?" Sakurada Miyuki knelt on the couch and reached out her slender hands to massage his shoulders and neck.

Originally, her mother had been helping Lu Liang with a foot massage, but for some reason, Lu Liang had suddenly sent her mother away.

"Just investing a little in my spare time."

Lu Liang smiled and shifted his attention from domestic affairs, suddenly sitting up to open an email from Wen Chao.

He didn't know much about Bitcoin, so he had asked Wen Chao to investigate and understand it recently, in case he couldn't discuss the pros and cons of Bitcoin tomorrow in the meeting with Ota Ling.

After all, Lu Liang knew that Bitcoin was going to rise to twenty thousand dollars by the end of the year, but others didn't; he needed to deduce why it would rise backward from the known result.

At the very least, he needed a reason that could persuade others, even if the reason was far-fetched, but it was still a reason.