After Divorce, I Can Hear the Future

Chapter 81: Finance, Industry, and New Energy

After work, Lu Liang received a call from Zhao Jisheng, who introduced himself as being from the CSRC's Investigation Division.

To avoid causing unnecessary disturbances, they hoped Lu Liang could find some time to cooperate with their investigation.

Zhao Jisheng asked politely, "Mr. Lu, when would you be available to come by?"

After confirming the address, which was in the administrative district of Pudong New Area and matched the details on the official website, Lu Liang thought for a moment and replied with a smile, "Tomorrow morning. I’ll take some time to stop by then."

"Alright, thank you. Wishing you a pleasant day," Zhao Jisheng responded courteously.

“So, does that mean Li Wu, the shareholder from Teli, has already spilled the beans?”

Lu Liang mused. The fact that they were inviting him to cooperate at his convenience likely meant the investigation had nothing to do with him.

If he had any direct involvement, Zhao Jisheng wouldn’t have been so polite. They would have shown up at his door, just as they had with Li Jianlin and Wu Junle.

The two wandered around downtown before finally deciding on spicy hotpot.

Later that night, Lu Liang shamelessly went upstairs to Su Wanyu’s place. Once inside, he flopped onto her small bed as if he were at home.

The faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, reminding him of the fragrance of Su Wanyu’s hair.

Standing by the bed, Su Wanyu blushed in a mix of embarrassment and anger. “Aren’t you going home yet?”

“Why the rush? It’s only a bit past nine,” Lu Liang said, pulling a blue seahorse plushie from under the covers and using it as a pillow.

“Your bed is just so comfortable.”

He tugged the blanket over himself, closed his eyes, and added, “I’m tired. Let me nap for a bit. You can go shower first; I’ll leave after you’re done.”

“Freeze to death, for all I care!”

Annoyed, Su Wanyu turned on the air conditioner, adjusting it to a comfortable temperature.

Having just had her bandages removed at the hospital, the lingering smell of medicine made her eager to freshen up.

Still cautious, she closed the door leading from the bedroom to the balcony, creating a double barrier to the bathroom.

“Are you questioning my character?” Lu Liang asked, opening his eyes upon hearing the locking sound.

“Bleh~” Su Wanyu made a face at him, then turned and went into the bathroom.

The sound of running water soon filled the room.

Lu Liang’s thoughts began to wander. Staying here was torture for him, so he distracted himself by browsing news online.

He mainly wanted to see what netizens were saying about Teli A’s case—especially about him.

Opinions varied, but the prevailing view was that he would likely be detained and formally investigated.

Unlike Li and Wu, however, Lu Liang was somewhat of a public figure. Considering the impact on public opinion, authorities had temporarily kept the matter under wraps.

On Zhihu, a financial influencer analyzed the case in detail, earning tens of thousands of likes.

Although many people didn’t know who Lu Liang was, the idea of a rich person getting detained was universally celebrated.

One particularly extreme comment read: “These rich folks should be rounded up one by one. No doubt they’re all guilty of something.”

As Lu Liang scrolled through various platforms, he found amusement in the netizens’ schadenfreude.

He couldn’t help but wonder how they would react if they learned the truth.

For those without followers, feigning ignorance might suffice to weather the storm. But influencers would likely face relentless ridicule, unable to show their faces online again.

“They don’t really hate the wealthy; they just despise unearned riches and unethical financiers who create no real value,” Lu Liang reflected.

Gradually, he began to grasp the essence of the public’s outrage, as well as the urgency of the CSRC’s actions.

Zhongxin Fuying managed 2.8 billion yuan in assets but had fewer than 30 employees, with only 22 currently enrolled in social insurance.

For the CSRC, arresting someone like him required nothing more than evidence—public backlash would only applaud their efforts.

The same went for Wu Junle.

The reason they invited Lu Liang to cooperate wasn’t because he was a public figure, but because they lacked evidence.

If they had it, they wouldn’t hesitate to act.

Had Zhongxin Fuying been a manufacturing company with thousands of employees, creating tens of thousands of direct or indirect jobs, things would have been different.

The CSRC would first need approval from local authorities, who wouldn’t easily allow them to take someone into custody.

Arresting the CEO could halt operations, leaving countless workers unemployed and displaced. Who would take responsibility for that?

“Private equity funds may bind interests together, but relying on connections is always a gamble. True strength lies in self-reliance. Finance is the façade; industry is the foundation. Only by walking on two legs can one stay steady.”

With newfound clarity, Lu Liang’s eyes lit up. Sectors like bike-sharing and online videos weren’t his ultimate goals.

Perhaps the overlooked new energy industry could fulfill his aspirations.

Just then, the balcony door opened.

Su Wanyu peeked in cautiously, wearing a blue cartoon pajama set with her hair wrapped in a towel.

Fresh from a hot shower, her translucent skin glowed, revealing her minimal use of makeup.

Strands of hair fell naturally across her forehead, adding an alluring charm. She was like a lotus emerging from water—delicate and captivating.

Momentarily stunned, Lu Liang snapped out of it when she said softly, “I’m done. You can leave now, right?”

“Hug me,” he replied with a smile, spreading his arms wide.

“Just this once, okay?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Su Wanyu stepped forward and hugged him around the waist.

A burst of fragrance filled his nose, her petite frame feeling like a soft plush toy in his arms.

Lu Liang smiled, kissed her forehead gently, and said, “I’m leaving.”

He had planned to go anyway, remembering what Old Meng once mentioned about Tesla’s entry into Magic City.

At the time, it had seemed like idle chatter, but now it felt worth investigating further.

“Bye-bye. Stay safe on the road.”

Watching him leave, Su Wanyu felt a mix of relief and something else—perhaps gratitude, or maybe even a hint of disappointment.

Lying on her bed, she blushed as she felt the lingering warmth he had left behind.

Suddenly, hugging her pillow, she rolled around and muttered, “Su Wanyu, what are you thinking~~~”

Meanwhile, Lu Liang left Hongfa Apartments and called Meng Changkun from his car.

He learned that Meng was celebrating his health day at the Sheshan Club, indulging in a green wellness spa session for men.

Lu Liang immediately drove over.

In the bamboo hot springs by the mountain, the summer night was alive with the symphony of cicadas.

Meng Changkun wiped his face, threw on a robe, and said sleepily, “Take your time soaking, old buddy. I can’t stay awake any longer.”

“Alright, bye-bye.”

Leaning back in the hot spring, Lu Liang gazed at the ceiling, replaying their earlier conversation.

New energy vehicles could indeed be one of the future’s trends.

At a past gathering, Meng had heard a leader mention plans to introduce Tesla and build a gigafactory.

The domestic market was full of low-end manufacturing, profiting from hard labor. The country had long aimed for industrial upgrades.

Although the mobile phone industry is flourishing with various brands, most are synonymous with low-end and affordable products. However, the seeds of hope have already sprouted, and one day, a domestic flagship brand rivaling Apple will emerge.

Yet, the scale of the nation is too vast. Relying solely on mobile manufacturing is not enough.

Meng Changkun gave a vivid analogy: what does a man’s “graduation set” from the university of society entail?

“A house, a car, money, and a girl,” he said, not waiting for Lu Liang’s response.

Meng then explained directly: in today’s environment, a man needs these four things to graduate from society, listed in order of priority.

Over the past decade, the country has been actively promoting the automotive industry. But despite years of effort, the profit from selling ten Wuling vehicles still can’t match that of a single imported BMW.

Recognizing the limitations of the current track, the country is shifting gears, focusing on the development of new energy.

However, domestic car manufacturers are infamous for their stubbornness—unwilling to advance without being pushed and even retreating when prodded. Many joint ventures, originally enabled by favorable national policies, now rest on their laurels.

These companies avoid innovation, preferring not to risk investing in new energy for an uncertain future.

To address this, the government plans to introduce Tesla, the world’s most renowned electric vehicle company, as a "catalyst" to shake up the domestic market.

Despite the government’s strong push for new energy, Meng Changkun remains skeptical. While it’s bound to succeed eventually, the timeline might be so long that companies fail before reaching their goals.

At its core, new energy is just electric vehicles. And electric cars are often seen as glorified "senior mobility scooters," similar to tricycles or motorized bicycles. These stereotypes are hard to change.

Even with national policies and incentives supporting the industry, major domestic companies remain hesitant.

Their approach prioritizes stability, and they have immense capital reserves. These companies can afford to wait for the market to mature before entering, still managing to carve out a share of the ecosystem.

It’s not entirely wrong—it’s just that foreign companies demonstrate much stronger pioneering capabilities.

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