After Divorce, I Can Hear the Future

"Demon King's Return to Hong Kong!!!"

"A New Storm Descends Once More!"

"Who Will Be His Next Hunting Target?"

As the private jet touched down at Xiangjiang Airport, the news of Lu Liang's return spread like wildfire across the Xiangjiang Peninsula at lightning speed.

Although more than half a month had passed since the struggle for New World Development, the people of Xiangjiang still remembered that it was Lu Liang's leadership and push that directly led to the takeover of two large real estate groups, causing the chairmen to flee or be ruined.

Half a month after, on the day following Huazhi's completion of its buyback and delisting approval, Lu Liang returned to Xiangjiang, clearly to implement the next step of his plan.

"I hope he keeps his promises and acts reasonably," sighed a voice, revealing the suffering in the hearts of Xiangjiang's prominent families.

After two weeks of recuperation, this time Lu Liang returned in nearly full strength, wielding over 200 billion US Dollars in cash flow, with Hengtai's New World, the Yang Family's Emperor Group, all looking to him as their leader.

To say that whoever he targets will fall pregnant is not an exaggeration.

Even HSBC avoided his sharp edge, drastically downsizing their business, adopting a turtle formation for a 360-degree full defense stance.

If they became Lu Liang's hunting target, they likely wouldn't even resist, surrendering with raised hands.

Meanwhile, at the Xiangjiang Airport Express.

Four business Benz cars formed a line, guarding a silver Rolls-Royce in the middle.

Yang Qisheng volunteered to pick him up, and on the way to the city, he recounted some miscellaneous events that happened after Lu Liang left Xiangjiang.

For example, the measures HSBC took to scale back their business, and how Zheng Jiachun, who was in the ICU before Lu Liang left, was faring.

Lu Liang remarked, "Comatose for 48 hours, yet only paralyzed on one side, Mr. Zheng is indeed tough."

"If he were really comatose for that long, normally it would result in brain death and becoming a vegetable."

With a peculiar expression, Yang Qisheng discussed his speculation during casual conversations with friends, suggesting that Zheng Jiachun very likely regained consciousness within 12 hours of his coma.

Just at the climax of the acquisition battle, his almost insane behavior not only offended HSBC but also risked Zhou Da Fu's equity.

After regaining consciousness, he felt extremely regretful, so he pretended to be between life and death and put Zheng Qiming forward to take the blame, accepting public criticism.

After all, the Chinese believe in letting the dead rest in peace, and with the eldest son selling off the father's land, public opinion might be lenient towards his actions.

It's unclear whether Xu Jiayin knows or maybe he's thinking about the favor Uncle Tong did in the past.

After Hengtai successfully financed, they immediately repaid Zhou Da Fu the 50 billion Hong Kong Dollar bridge loan owed by New World.

This move allowed Zhou Da Fu Group of the Zheng Family to fully withdraw from the equity battle for New World, without any impact.

"Hengtai's actions were the condition for the Zheng Family not continuing their infighting with Hengtai," Lu Liang couldn't help but chuckle, explaining the whole story.

At that time, at the end of the acquisition battle, the Zheng Family lacked HSBC's support and had emptied their funds.

They could only borrow 50 billion Hong Kong Dollars in bridge financing from Zhou Da Fu Group under the name of New World Group.

The equity purchased with this financing was only nominally under the group's name; whoever the chairman was could use it.

The chairman then was Zheng Jiachun, so that equity was temporarily under his control, and the later chairman was Xu Jiayin.

Old Xu could choose not to repay it promptly; after all, the guarantor was Zheng Jiachun and the debtor New World Group, not Xu Jiayin.

This way, they could also drag Zhou Da Fu into the mire, but Zheng Qiming promised not to compete with Hengtai further, withdrawing completely from New World, giving up all his power.

Hengtai was after all a newcomer, and even if they had absolute control, if the Zheng Family acted like Wang Shi of Vanke back then, dragging things out, they could prolong it for seven or eight years.

Hence, Old Xu agreed to repay the 50 billion Hong Kong Dollar bridge loan as soon as Hengtai Group's financing succeeded, pulling Zhou Da Fu out.

This was a one-stone-two-bird strategy, clearing all obstacles for Hengtai to enter New World and earning a good name for valuing past relationships, slightly restoring public opinion.

"I see," Yang Qisheng realized, not expecting the situation then to be so complex; acquiring a trillion-dollar group is indeed no easy task.

Suddenly, he heard Lu Liang jokingly say, "However, Zheng Jiachun playing dead does have such a possibility."

"Did you visit him in the hospital?" Lu Liang asked.

"My father and I went, and thinking back now, it indeed seems odd," Yang Qisheng recalled the scene then.

Zheng Jiachun was ashen-faced, lying on the hospital bed.

Although only able to move his head, information about his paralysis was all relayed by Zheng Qiming.

He never actually witnessed it himself.

Lu Liang pondered briefly, then laughed, "Whether true or false doesn't matter, it won't affect the outcome."

Yang Qisheng nodded, "However, whether by sentiment or reason, you should still visit him."

"We definitely need to go, but there's no rush. We'll find some time to visit later."

As they conversed, they arrived at the former Zhixiang Building, now renamed Tianxing Financial Building.

This building was previously an asset of Huazhi and was sold to Tianxing Finance for 7.2 billion Hong Kong Dollars.

But that's all in the past; even Huazhi now belongs to Tianxing Finance.

Lu Liang just preferred the name Huaren Real Estate, so he kept it for the time being.

"Mr. Lu, if there's nothing else you need, I'll take my leave?"

After dropping Lu Liang at his destination, Yang Qisheng's task was complete.

Like the rest of Hong Kong's citizens and even international organizations, he was very curious about Lu Liang's next move after returning to Hong Kong.

But the kind of power struggle involved was beyond his capability to intervene or assist.

Knowing too much when powerless isn't a good thing.

If Lu Liang needed anything, a single call and he would go through fire and water without a second thought.

"Alright, we'll have a drink whenever we have the chance." Lu Liang nodded slightly, watching Yang Qisheng leave by car.

"Mr. Lu, this way please."

Wen Chao had been waiting at the entrance early on, leading Lu Liang while explaining the company's environment and reporting work.

Originally, Guangsheng Bank occupied only the 1st to 5th floors of the building, but now it has been taken over by Xingheng Investment.

In the future, banking, securities, and insurance-related financial services will only increase.

So, most of the 52-floor building is reserved for Guangsheng Bank, with only the uppermost floors retained.

The top floor is Lu Liang's office, half of which is an office area and the other half an open-air sports ground, including a helipad.

Currently, a nearly new Agusta AW139 luxury helicopter, priced at 12 million US Dollars, is parked on the helipad.

Corporate leaders like to purchase expensive items in the company's name, partly for tax benefits and partly for personal advantage.

Although this brings many benefits, with the change of the group owner, these items bought in Huazhi's name now have a new owner.

The Agusta helicopter is just one example; Huazhi also owns a yacht, several luxury cars, and a few luxury homes in the Shallow Bay villa area.

It could be said that Liu Cixin is left with only money and a fan factory in Yuanlang, as nearly 90% of his assets now belong to Lu Liang.

Wen Chao glanced subtly at Lu Liang: "There are still some unrelated persons in the luxury houses that haven't been cleared out."

For some reason, he suddenly thought of the scene from Zhou Xingxing's Wei Xiaobao, looting Ao Bai's house.

It's not just the house that's seized, but people too.

"Liu Cixin has had renal failure for so many years, yet he still kept mistresses outside. Indeed, only when a man is hung on the wall will he be honest." Lu Liang laughed helplessly.

The next second, he suddenly caught Wen Chao's gaze, his smile stiffened, and he said with a menacing look: "You better not let me know what you're thinking!"

"I'm not thinking of anything!"

Wen Chao forced a smile and quickly explained, while pulling out financial statements to change the topic: "Mr. Lu, from the time we launched the acquisition of Huazhi until now with the privatization review passed, we have invested a total of 3.825 billion US Dollars."

The information shows that Huazhi's assets are valued at 3.3 billion US Dollars, with liabilities of 1.4 billion US Dollars and circulating cash of 1.2 billion US Dollars.

Lu Liang was astonished and said with a smile, "Not bad, we lost less than a billion US Dollars."

Including the circulating cash, there are 4.5 billion US Dollars in assets and cash, with an investment and liability totaling 5.225 billion US Dollars.

In theory, they only spent 725 million US Dollars, equivalent to 5.655 billion Hong Kong Dollars, to bring Huazhi into their fold.

"Mr. Lu, if you want to put it that way, you could." Wen Chao chuckled, clearly catching Lu Liang's teasing tone.

It can indeed be counted this way, but not just like this since Lu Liang intentionally overlooked their sunk costs and the undertaken risks.

Liu Cixin had a reputation as a stock market sniper since the last century, dominating the Xiangjiang stock market for decades. He only ever sniped at others; no one dared to target him.

Huazhi, too, was one of his proudest accomplishments. If it had been someone else, they would have long been devoured by the Earth Association.

High risks come with high rewards, which is why they were able to acquire the prestigious Huazhi for a mere 725 million US Dollars in losses.

"Now that Tianxing Finance has just finished remodeling, we need to make a significant move to make the world aware of our presence."

Lu Liang walked to the balcony, hands rested on the rail, gazing out at the distant Victoria Harbour from a high vantage point.

Xiangjiang's cityscape is beautiful, a leading one in the country.

"Is it Ali's online payment business in East Asia?" Wen Chao asked. He recently found out about the agreement between Lu Liang and Ma Yun.

When he learned about it, he greatly admired Mr. Ma's open-mindedness. Even though Ant Group's IPO failed, becoming a failed project, he completely abandoned the overseas online payment market he'd painstakingly built over the past decade.

Wen Chao, having stayed in Tokyo for nearly two years and frequently traveled to Korea, was well aware of Alipay's significant market share in the payment sector in these two countries.

Once they secure the online payment market in these two countries, they hardly need any effort to stand shoulder to shoulder with Apple Pay and local online payment platforms.