After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future-Chapter 206 - 205: Half-Brothers with Different Fathers

After the meeting, Shen Peng, Zhu Hu, Lei Jun, and Guo Changguang exchanged smiling glances, sitting steady as if they were calm anglers waiting for their catch.

They were well aware that they would inevitably be randomly selected because strength, too, is a form of luck.

In contrast, the investors of fund number one were in a panic like old dogs, each seeking out Meng Changkun, hoping he could put in a good word for them.

Someone said, "With your relationship with Mr. Lu, if we together subscribe for three shares, that shouldn't be too big of a problem, right?"

"Three shares might be a bit too few, let's try to get five," another person suggested, as three shares were not quite enough to go around for the eleven of them.

Meng Changkun's face showed difficulty, internally struggling, as he confidently said, "I'll do my best."

He dared not tell everyone the news of his deteriorating relationship with Lu Liang, because once he did, he would inevitably be squeezed out.

After all, with personal fortunes ranging from several hundred million to tens of billions, if it weren't for the connection with Lu Liang, why would they be so eager?

At that moment, Wen Chao walked over with a smile, "Mr. Meng, Mr. Lu invites you to his office with Mr. Wang."

"Alright, I'll head over now."

Meng Changkun nodded, while others gave him subtle looks, as if he carried the hopes of an entire village.

He could only smile wryly and sigh.

Meanwhile, in Lu Liang's office.

"I won't accept it, why only three shares?"

Wang Xiaocong was indignant and loud, totally shameless. Little Wang is Little Wang, but as long as there's money to be made, he wouldn't mind being called Lu Ankou.

After all, he was only three years older; as long as he wasn't younger, that was fine.

"Ah, bitten by the hand that feeds you," Lu Liang sighed, "If you can come up with 350 million US dollars by the 27th, I'll give you five shares."

Lu Liang had considered giving Little Wang three shares, since the required capital verification of 210 million wasn't a small amount.

Little Wang revealed a satisfied smile and, looking sideways, said, "Old Lu, do you look down on Wanda and the Lin family that much?"

Their family had a trust fund in Xiangjiang, managing nearly one billion dollars of family assets for a long time.

"You trust me so much? You're willing to shell out your entire fortune?"

Lu Liang was surprised, as he thought Little Wang would just use it for socializing, like Xu Xiaojun and the others, so he didn't reserve too many shares for him.

"Trust is only one aspect," Little Wang said, his face showing an uncharacteristic seriousness, but he didn't continue because Old Wang hadn't made things clear to him. He could only vaguely sense some inexplicable crisis looming.

The best way to deal with a crisis is to earn more and save more. With food in hand, your mind doesn't panic.

Lu Liang pondered for a long time and realized Little Wang wasn't joking, "If it's not enough, just let me know; I can give you up to seven shares."

He himself didn't plan to invest much this time, subscribing for three shares totaling 315 million US dollars.

Setting aside 251.3 million for year-end tax settlement and investment into new energy vehicle technology.

The dividend income of 566.3 million dollars, with a base tax rate of 12%, would mean an expense of 67.95 million dollars.

That was a legal red line Liang wouldn't cross; the remaining 13% was to be spent fiercely, to offset as much as possible.

Facing the tax settlement, 141 million dollars had to be reserved, leaving only 110 million for the company and R&D.

Investing in an additional share would make life uncomfortably tight; Lu Liang was used to living large and couldn't cope with constraints.

"Liang, from now on, we are brothers from different fathers and mothers."

Little Wang's tone was earnest, giving him so much face he could almost bear to hug Lu Liang and plant several kisses on him.

"Stop disgusting me."

Lu Liang's face was filled with revulsion.

Just then, Meng Changkun knocked and entered the room, and on seeing this scene, he laughed heartily, "Have I come at a bad time?"

"You've come at just the right time," Lu Liang responded with a smile, as if their relationship was still like before, as if nothing had ever happened.

He signaled to Secretary Wen Chao to bring over the fund number one's equity dividends paperwork, with each person holding a 20% stake, earning 8.1636 million US dollars.

Little Wang didn't even glance at the document before signing his name, and Meng Changkun did the same, exclaiming, "Another eight million-plus US dollars."

"I reckon this is one of the last such payouts."

Little Wang took over the conversation, "There's only three months left before this fund closes its curtains."

Liang had hooked up with State-owned Xiao Xin. In this red land, no connection is harder than one with State-owned Xiao Xin.

This extra income was about to slip through his fingers.

Liang glanced at him and, too lazy to bother with Little Wang's gripes, asked softly, "Old Meng, how many shares do you need?"

Meng Changkun paused for a moment, then replied, "Four shares, I guess."

He could see that Liang was the type to honor old ties. Even if he had asked for seven or eight shares, Liang would have agreed.

Meng Changkun was content with four shares even though others hoped he'd get five, but he didn't want to fulfill their expectations.

Because this was likely the last time.

Liang looked towards Wen Chao, instructing him to remember, "Secretary Wen, reserve Mr. Meng's four shares."

Meng Changkun spoke gravely, "Thank you. If there's ever anything you need in the future, just let me know."

Liang smiled and nodded, saying no more. He knew it was a genuine offer—Old Meng was good in every aspect, only too heavily swayed by personal relationships.

He also knew that it might have been beyond Old Meng's control initially, but the different stands they took made it impossible for him to forgive.

"If there's nothing else, then I'll take my leave," Meng Changkun said, altering his usual casual demeanor for a more respectful one.

"Take care, no need to see me out."

The terse exchange between the two, hinting at their distant relationship, caused Little Wang to subconsciously restrain his smile.

After Old Meng left, he joked, "Which one of you stole the other's corner?"

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Liang, recognizing the jest, lamented, "It's not about who stole from whom; it's just that Old Meng was lured away."

Little Wang widened his eyes in surprise, "Who has the ability to steal your corner? Has Old Meng lost his senses to agree to that?"

"It's not a matter of ability's size..."

Liang looked at the eager Little Wang, words almost leaving his lips, then swallowed them back, "You're still young; you'll understand when you're older."

Little Wang's face darkened, his back teeth grinding with a creak as he maintained a strained smile, "Interested in some boxing practice?"

He really wanted to beat Liang up fair and square, but Liang slowly shook his head, smiling indifferently, "Not interested."

In a blink, it was the 27th. Over the past three days, Tianxing Asset Management had distributed dividends again, concerning funds amounting to 2.245 billion US Dollar, as if it were an insignificant matter, not worth mentioning to outsiders.

Those who needed to be in the know were aware, and whether they were direct or indirect investors in the fund, each chose to quietly make a fortune.

That afternoon, Wen Chao and the others completed the capital verification and statistics work, receiving in total 64 subscription letters of intent.

It also meant that, should Liang wish to change the total capital raised for fund number three, he could control 64 billion US Dollar in a very short time.

Together with the assets managed by funds one and two, he could instantly reach a staggering 75 billion US Dollar, equivalent to around 480 billion RMB.

Insiders marveled repeatedly—looking at the A-share market, there were only 168 listed companies with a market value exceeding 45 billion RMB.

And there probably are only a few top state-owned banks and the Double Ma Group that could manage a cash flow of 480 billion RMB.

Zhu Hu looked at Shen Peng, teasing with a smile, "Old Shen, it looks like your seven-year title as the best investment person is going to change hands."

Even Redwood, in terms of the scale of funds managed, was only marginally better compared to Tianxing Assets now.

Moreover, Liang was a newcomer, and newcomers always receive special treatment. Next year, all the titles belonging to Shen Peng would probably fall upon Liang.

"So what?" Shen Peng said with a smile, playing along, "I've held it for seven years, I've become numb to it. Perhaps it's you who is envious."

He didn't pretend not to care about these empty titles, aware that where there's a ranking, no one is indifferent.

Even Mr. Wang of Wanda, who constantly claims not to care about the title of First Rich among the Chinese, still secretly enjoys the thought.

It's only human nature.

Just as Shen Peng said, after having been the nation's top investor for seven years, the sense of achievement had become somewhat muted for him.

On the other hand, Zhu Hu, who was perennially second or sometimes third, would bring it up, showing his envy.

"What's there for me to envy?" Zhu Hu, seemingly pricked to the core, darkened in the face and left in a huff.

Shen Peng chuckled, looking towards Liang's office, squinting his eyes, "With so much capital, how do you plan to manage it?"

A private fund scale of 75 billion US Dollar was not a small figure by global standards.

If the funds were not made to flow, to generate more money, then they were devaluating every day.