After Divorce, I Can Hear the Future

Chapter 58: Single-Point Breakthrough

Building C, Xiaoshan Innovation Park.  

Lu Liang found the contact number of Hu Weiwei’s assistant on Mobike’s website and arranged to meet at the café by the entrance.  

By 11 a.m., Hu Weiwei arrived alone.  

At 32, she exuded maturity and charm, much like Tang Caidie, but with a confidence Tang lacked.  

“Mr. Lu, my apologies. I hope I’m not late,” she greeted warmly, her hearty laughter immediately making it clear she wasn’t just a decorative figure or, as rumors suggested, Li Bing’s mistress.  

Lu Liang replied, “I just got here as well. Ms. Hu, what would you like to drink?”  

“An Americano will do,” she said with a smile, all the while sizing him up.  

She saw OFO as Mobike’s greatest competitor. In truth, Mobike wouldn’t exist if not for OFO. The news of OFO’s successful financing had reached her yesterday, prompting her to agree to this meeting. Otherwise, with Tianxing Investments’ mere six million yuan in registered capital, it wouldn’t have piqued her interest.  

As Lu Liang sipped his coffee, he started, “Yesterday, I invested in a company at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. It’s called OFO.”  

Hu Weiwei nodded, candidly responding, “When I was still in Beijing earlier this year, I met them too. Without OFO, there wouldn’t be Mobike today.”  

Lu Liang continued, “I think the relationship between OFO and Mobike is like that of Meituan and Dianping.”  

“So, Mr. Lu, you want to have it both ways? Ensuring you don’t lose no matter who wins?” Hu Weiwei asked with a teasing smile.  

Lu Liang grinned and nodded, openly admitting it.  

Hu Weiwei took a sip of her coffee and said, “Mobike started with no money. Mr. Li found investors. When the supply chain faced issues, he brought in Foxconn. We needed management talent, so he convinced Wang Xiaofeng to join us as CEO.”  

Finally, she turned to Lu Liang and asked, “Mr. Lu, what do you think you can bring to Mobike?”  

Beyond the initial funding rounds, successful fundraising requires more than money; it hinges on connections. Later-stage funding, especially for ambitious companies looking to expand overseas, often favors foreign investment for its global networks.  

If Tianxing Investments could only offer money, she wouldn’t accept Lu Liang’s proposal.  

Lu Liang smiled faintly and said, “From what you’ve described, it sounds more like Mr. Li’s Mobike than your Mobike.”  

Her expression shifted, her smile fading. “If that’s where this conversation is headed, let’s end it here. I have other matters to attend to.”  

His words struck a nerve. Li Bing had indeed been a vital force behind Mobike, solving problems from funding to supply chain issues and bringing in key personnel. While this ensured the company’s early success, it also made her feel like a puppet.  

With Li Bing’s control over capital, supply chain, and management, it was clear who the team would side with if they ever clashed.  

Calmly, Lu Liang said, “Tianxing Investments may not have the financial clout of Mr. Li, but we can offer unconditional support for your decisions.”  

He had pondered this the night before and recognized that he and Tianxing Investments were small fry compared to Li Bing.  

Unwilling to watch an opportunity slip away, Lu Liang decided to focus on Hu Weiwei directly.  

While having a powerful benefactor is an asset in the early stages, too much involvement from them can erode autonomy. Lu Liang wanted to test whether the rumors about their relationship were true. If they were, he’d leave immediately; if not, he still had a shot.  

After a long silence, Hu Weiwei said, “Mr. Lu, Mobike isn’t in immediate need of funding right now. If the need arises, I’ll get in touch.”  

As if worried about being misunderstood, she added with a smile, “Don’t pretend you don’t know me when that happens.”  

She couldn’t resist the allure of maintaining autonomy. Even though Lu Liang’s resources seemed modest, they still represented a potential safety net. If she ever clashed with Li Bing, she wouldn’t be left defenseless.  

“Of course not. I’ll look forward to your call, Ms. Hu.”  

Lu Liang’s lips curled into a small smile, confident he had bet on the right strategy.  

By noon, they had lunch together.  

Lu Liang insisted on trying Hangzhou’s signature dish, West Lake Vinegar Fish.  

It was then he realized that the lake, the vinegar, and the fish were three entirely separate entities—a baffling culinary trio.  

No wonder the dish was considered authentic only when eaten by the lake, where you could throw the plate into the water afterward.  

“West Lake Vinegar Fish has a way of humbling anyone who boasts,” Hu Weiwei said with a chuckle.  

After their meal, she excused herself and left, leaving Lu Liang free to spend the rest of the day sightseeing around West Lake.  

As he snapped some touristy photos, his assistant Chen Jinchun softly reminded him, “Mr. Lu, wasn’t the hotel room wasted?”  

“Well, it’s already booked. If you want to stay, feel free. Just make sure to get an invoice for reimbursement,” Lu Liang joked.  

“No way! I’m going back with you,” she declared.  

By 4 p.m., they returned to Magic City.  

“We’re not heading in the same direction. You’ll need to catch a cab home,” Lu Liang said, heading to the parking lot.  

Chen fumed, watching him walk away. She wished she had a voodoo doll to poke with his name on it.  

Leaving the station, Lu Liang stopped by a mall to buy a Mickey Mouse plushie before heading to Zhang Qian’s home to visit his goddaughter.  

The little girl, having been tipped off in advance, eagerly awaited his arrival and threw herself into his arms when he arrived.  

“Do you like this Mickey Mouse?” Lu Liang asked with a smile, pulling out the toy from behind his back.  

“Thank you, Uncle! But the one with the bow is Minnie Mouse~” she corrected, hugging the plushie tightly.  

“No wonder this mouse looks different from the one I remember,” he chuckled.  

“Uncle, you used to watch cartoons too?”  

“Of course! Classics like Black Cat Detective, Calabash Brothers, and Shuke and Beita.”  

“My mom lied to me again! She said she never watched cartoons when she was little!”  

Hearing this, the little girl gasped as her mother started to glare. She quickly made an excuse and ran to her room. “I still have homework to do!”  

Zhang Qian smiled tenderly yet helplessly. “You’re going to spoil her rotten.”  

“That’s what little girls are for,” Lu Liang said, grinning.  

Noticing how stunning Zhang Qian looked in her blue knit dress—curvy and seductive—he thought her presence was akin to a ripe peach, impossible to overlook.  

They nestled together on the couch as she shared updates about her life. Her mother had been discharged from the hospital but still needed rest. To avoid burdening them, her father had taken her mother back to their hometown.  

Zhang Qian mentioned she’d been exploring entrepreneurial opportunities and asked, “Brother Liang, what do you think about urban fast food?”  

Her current job at the beauty salon was relatively relaxed, but she doubted its longevity. Urban fast food, however, seemed more sustainable—something she could build a reputation for and run for decades.  

She was acutely aware that her youthful charm wouldn’t last forever and that Lu Liang’s interest in her might fade with time.  

“If you’ve decided, go for it. Let me know if you need any funding,” Lu Liang replied drowsily.  

“I should be fine. I have some savings of my own,” she said softly.  

Hearing no response, she glanced over to find him fast asleep, his breathing steady.  

Suppressing a laugh, Zhang Qian gently pulled her arm free, draped a blanket over him, kissed his cheek, and quietly retreated to her daughter’s room, leaving the living room peaceful.  

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