"If you could personally introduce , that would be fantastic.”
"No problem,” Lu Liang said with a smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Lu.”
Liu Qing’s eyes lit up, completely unaware that Little Wang was squinting at her, looking slightly strange.
He considered himself to know Lu Liang well enough to rank in the top three if there were a ranking.
Describing Lu Liang as ‘one who wouldn’t wake up early without benefit’ couldn’t be more fitting, as everything he did was highly purpose-driven.
Yet, Lu Liang’s thods were quite unorthodox, sotis appearing as the result to outsiders, but for him, it was just part of the process.
Just like Panda’s listing, he initially disregarded it, then suddenly beca eager, sothing Little Wang still couldn’t understand.
As ti passed, more guests arrived, and Wilson and his group ca down from the hotel upstairs.
The banquet hall, accommodating nearly a hundred guests, was divided into more than a dozen groups, everyone clinking glasses, creating a lively atmosphere.
"Mr. Mao, Mr. Chen, long ti no see. Sorry for the crowd tonight, please make yourselves at ho.”
Seeing several familiar faces, Lu Liang also figured out whom Zhou Li had given the 20 spots to.
Little Red Potato’s Mao Wenchao, Miha You’s Cai Haoyu, Bilibili’s Chen Rui, Ximalaya’s Yu Jianjun.
"Mr. Lu, will you have so ti later?” Chen Rui asked with a big smile, looking like a rookie despite being nearly 40.
"I should, but it will be a bit later,” Lu Liang was about to go and introduce Liu Qing to Cruick.
"Okay, then you go ahead, and we’ll talk later,” Chen Rui said apologetically, nodding and bowing, as in the business world, respect isn’t determined by age, but by achievents.
"Okay, we’ll talk later.”
Lu Liang nodded and moved towards Cruick’s location.
As a Wall Street representative mainly dealing with Chinese concept stocks, he was surrounded by people. When Cruick saw Lu Liang approaching, he rushed over like seeing a savior.
"Lu, the people you’ve invited are really enthusiastic.”
He looked slightly resentful, wanting Lu Liang to acknowledge their hardships despite knowing that Lu Liang had sent them as a favor.
Lu Liang smiled and said, “US stocks are a global market, if there is a choice, no one would refuse the temptation to list in the US.”
"That’s natural.”
Cruick looked proud and implied, “Not just for companies, but for investors and investnt institutions as well.”
"Indeed,” Lu Liang murmured to himself, pondering for a mont before changing the subject, “Soone wants to et you.”
"Who?”
"Her.”
Lu Liang turned his head toward a corner of the banquet hall, where Liu Qing was watching them with a smile, raising her glass in greeting.
Cruick smiled back and whispered to Lu Liang, “The DiDi listing is not our problem; it’s yours.”
After Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, the new forces of the Chinese internet stage, known as TMD, ca into play.
T for Toutiao, M for ituan, D for DiDi, with DiDi’s listing catching a lot of attention.
Usually, Chinese concept stocks need to pass East Country’s departnt review first, followed by the New York Stock Exchange’s review.
DiDi’s listing was hindered not due to foreign issues, but because the East Country’s departnt did not approve it, stopping it at the first barrier.
"Though it might be of no use, still, have a talk, Miss Liu is my good friend.”
Lu Liang looked composed; he had known that DiDi’s listing was blocked because the state wouldn’t allow it.
Even Wall Street’s mighty financial institutions couldn’t possibly persuade East Country’s respective departnts to change their decision.
But Liu Qing didn’t know; she thought it was just so people being overly sensitive, requiring more external forces to intervene and apply pressure.
Like villains, who never consider themselves as villains. They just choose a correct, less-trodden path, which is why they’re questioned.
"Lu, are you very close with Miss Liu?” Cruick asked curiously.
"Close friends and family, like brothers and sisters.”
Lu Liang said with a smile, recounting the story of Boya and Ziqi, the tale of seeking kindred spirits through high mountains and flowing waters.
"Do you like her?” Cruick smiled aningfully, clearly misinterpreting, or perhaps Lu Liang’s English expression wasn’t very good.
"Mr. Cruick, please show a little respect for ; it’s just a taphor.”
Lu Liang frowned, almost spitting water in his face, and Cruick chuckled, “Almost forgot, you like them young and beautiful.”
He thought for a mont and said, “Then call her over for a chat.”
They intended to win Lu Liang over using a roundabout tactic, pulling in Liu Qing, his ‘close friend and family’, wasn’t a bad idea.
"Thank you.” Lu Liang turned back to look at Liu Qing, nodding slightly, and Liu Qing, delighted, quickly approached.
"Mr. Liu, Mr. Cruick, you guys talk first; there are others I need to attend to.”
Lu Liang smiled as he saw the two parties et, decisively extracting himself from the scene, a true sign of his long-standing experience as an interdiary.
Wall Street was not all harmony, Goldman Sachs had nurtured this “peach” for many years, there would certainly be others who would want to pluck it.
That’s why Lu Liang said he had a great relationship with Liu Qing, to elevate her strategic status in the eyes of corporate institutions.
The situation with DiDi was complex, demanding a careful peeling of layers and slow handling, starting with weakening the relationship between Liu Qing and Goldman Sachs.
By doing so, when moving to the next step, betraying his “dearest friends” for personal gain, it would solidify his alignnt with Wall Street’s unsavory ways, marking him a qualified capitalist.
Lu Liang’s lips curled into a smile as he approached Chen Rui, who had been eagerly waiting for him, “Mr. Chen, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
"No problem at all,” Chen Rui smiled broadly, “Mr. Lu, I wonder, how much do you know about our Bilibili?”
"A very youthful video platform.”
Lu Liang had a peculiar expression, his mories of Bilibili, especially their deal involving ‘Crown Princess Consort,’ were vivid. They had gambled on viewership and new mber incrents.
Despite eventually raking in 20 million from a drama that cost them over 3 million to produce, it was still deed a Waterloo.
After all, they had anticipated a closing viewership of 2.4 billion, but only reached 1.9 billion, with even fewer new mbers than expected.
A phenonal drama that, before the wager, cost 500,000 per episode, reduced to 400,000 afterwards.
They gambled into loneliness, losing 3.5 million over 35 episodes.
By then, Lu Liang knew Bilibili was a site with minuscule spending intention, focusing on companionship, splitting revenues without proper expenditure.
"Right, we primarily nurture the young netizens, the future,” said Chen Rui, his eyes twitched and his smile looked worse than crying.
After all, throughout internet history, Bilibili has been truly unique.
Even with Douyin aiming for a billion users yet having only 90 million, Bilibili’s large presence stands comparable, often clashing with giants like Douyin, Kuai Shou, Weibo, and Tieba.
Although exciting, Bilibili, resembling a YouTube disputant, had never lost an argunt but also never won a fight.
Bilibili, with its 90 million users, stood at the forefront in user stickiness but its annual revenue lagged behind many smaller platforms.
Their CEO, “Mouse Mouse,” fretted about this daily, promising a better future which remained uncertain.
Bilibili planned to go public; earning from young users was tough, so chasing NASDAQ seed easier.
Lu Liang chuckled, glanced at Cruick chatting animatedly with Liu Qing, and pondered a mont, “Mr. Chen, I’ll ntion this to Mr. Cruick shortly, he’s in charge of Chinese concept stocks at De i.”
"Thank you very much, Mr. Lu,” Chen Rui exclaid, clasping his hands together in imnse gratitude.
"It’s a small matter.”
Lu Liang smiled and took his leave from Chen Rui.
Holding the notion of having multiple friends ans multiple roads, he transford into the social butterfly of the networking event.
As long as soone was interested and appealing without a conflict of interest, he was more than willing to help connect people, without any charge.
Today’s guests included investors from funds and twenty slots Lu Liang provided to Zhou Li.
Modu’s city governnt had pre-screened these businesses and people, who likely wouldn’t achieve too little in the future.
Approaching ten o’clock, the event concluded.
"Mr. Lei, take care.”
Lu Liang stood his final post,
Watching the last guest leave.
"What are you up to?”
Little Wang’s voice ca from behind, almost causing Lu Liang to reflexively slap him, “Are you a ghost? You walk without a sound.”
"I haven’t answered my question yet.”
"What question?”
"What are you up to?”
"What do you an ‘up to’?”
Little Wang’s expression was complex, he sighed, “Do you know what they call you? The ‘Business Godfather’ of youth.”
After tonight, Lu Liang would likely beco the fourth generation ‘Business Godfather’ in the country, following Old Liu, Wang Shi, and Old Ma.
The Beijing Circle, Hong Kong Circle, and Yue Circle might not acknowledge, but entrepreneurs in the Yangtze River Delta and Modu would likely agree with this title.
Youth’? Did you add that suffix yourself?” Lu Liang couldn’t help but chuckle.
"I guess so,” Little Wang was montarily startled, sowhat annoyed, “Is that the point?”
"Isn’t it?”
Lu Liang smiled, waved his hand, leaving Little Wang with a view of the back of his head, “Tired from half a night, going ho to sleep.”
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