Chapter 167: Withering Away for Her

Words : 1854 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

"Mr. Lu, we also know that the company needs stable revenue." Zhang Chen showed a look of worry, sighing helplessly, "But the production cycle of movies is just too long, too long." Even if every movie becomes a hit like Xia Luo's, just the settlement process alone requires an entire year. If Lu Liang could help them list on the Growth Enterprise Market, they would even be willing to hand over 20% of the shares as a gift. After all, someone who can converse with the bigwigs at the Securities and Futures Commission and whose suggestions are adopted must be extraordinarily capable. Although Old Xiao, an old acquaintance, is no longer around, Lu Liang is in a phase of rapid development and must still have some connections. "Mr. Zhang, if we can't stack quality, then let's stack quantity, maybe that will also lead to success." Lu Liang showed a smile, with no intention of doing them this favor. Although he didn't know whether his influence at the Securities and Futures Commission was as mystical as rumors on the internet made it out to be. But one thing was certain, in the domestic and international financial sectors, he could be considered someone with a modest reputation. Invariably, any enterprise he invested in saw its market valuation rise, to a greater or lesser extent. Currently, none of them were listed companies. One could imagine that once a company he invested in went public, its stock price would inevitably be inflated by retail investors in the market. This was an excellent opportunity, if used well, his reputation would rise a notch; if not, it would be a shameful waste. Lu Liang needed to cherish his reputation, and good steel should be used for its cutting edge, like Ningde Era, the most promising to go public soon. Happy Mahua was just one entertainment company with an easily foreseeable limit, not worth wasting his reputation on. Zhang Chen's mouth turned bitter as he naturally heard the implied meaning and quickly changed the subject: "Mr. Lu, we plan to wrap up 'Donkey Gets Water' at the end of the month and have decided to continue working with Wanda." Even the most sincere offer within their capabilities was not enough to pique Lu Liang's interest. They had no choice but to let the matter go. As if nothing had happened, Lu Liang smiled and said: "Working with Wanda is good too, after all, we have the experience from last time." "Exactly, that's what we think as well," Zhang Chen replied with an ingratiating smile, not daring to blame Lu Liang for his reluctance to help. During their conversation, Zhang Chen's assistant knocked on the door to inform them that the play would start in a few more minutes. "Mr. Lu, this way please." Zhang Chen arranged for Lu Liang to be seated in the best position, right in the center row. He smiled and said, "Mr. Lu, please enjoy the show. If you'll excuse me, I'll leave you to it." Zhang Chen had received a message from his assistant that Zhang Tian'ai's part in the play ended after the second act. She would probably leave the backstage early to join Lu Liang for the rest of the show, sparing him from being a third wheel. Lu Liang nodded slightly: "Mr. Zhang, go ahead with your work." "Friends" was Mahua's ace project, telling a series of hilarious stories about a star voluntarily going to jail to find inspiration. Zhang Tian'ai played a female prison guard—dressed in pure black prison-chic, leather pants, knee-high stilettos, a black fitted long-sleeve shirt—showing off her graceful figure, with fair skin, beautiful looks, fiery red lips, and a prison guard hat adding a touch of mature femininity. Seeing this costume, Lu Liang thought of Wen Shanshan. She seemed to be more suitable for it, after all, with a Hong Kong-style filter's enhancement. The pace of the plot was fast, and the second act ended quickly. Zhang Tian'ai also changed into regular clothes and quietly slipped from backstage to the front. She bowed her head and leaned over, sitting down quietly beside Lu Liang, and asked softly, "Liang, how was my performance just now?" "Not bad at all, the outfit looked good too," complimented Lu Liang, although slightly less than Wen Shanshan's, but still very beautiful. Zhang Tian'ai flushed with joy and whispered, "I have a spare set of the same outfit at home." Right after she left backstage, she felt that suddenly, everyone's gaze towards her had changed. If it was polite and enthusiastic before, now it was respectful and somewhat ingratiating. Though it felt like some friendships had soured, she didn't mind the change and knew what Lu Liang had brought her. "Shall we go?" Lu Liang's lips curled into a teasing smile, believing no one could say no to a female prison guard. "Wait a minute, it'll be over in more than an hour." Zhang Tian'ai pouted and pleaded. She wanted to be a long-lasting star, otherwise, she wouldn't have given up the opportunity to make quick money from a hit to join Mahua and hone her acting skills. Every production is the hard work of the creative team, deserving of respect—especially "Friends," which is an excellent work. "Alright, let's finish watching it then," Lu Liang smiled and refocused his attention on the stage until the performance ended and the curtain call was over. At a little past nine in the evening, following the exiting crowd, Lu Liang left the theatre and headed to the nearby apartment that Zhang Tian'ai had rented. As a second-tier actress, she had joined Happy Mahua with Lu Liang's support, and Zhang Chen had given her a pretty good deal. A base salary of thirty thousand a month, with a total of roughly one hundred twenty thousand in comprehensive performance fees, her living conditions were not bad at all. On the 22nd floor of a mid-to-high-end apartment building, she had rented a two-bedroom apartment with an area of about 80 square meters. "It's a bit messy for one person." Zhang Tian'ai hadn't expected Lu Liang would want to visit her place, so she hadn't tidied up the room in advance, and now she was hurriedly blushing, cleaning up the empty beer bottles from the table. As a Northeastern girl through and through, she enjoyed blowing through a few bottles quietly by herself when the night grew deep. "It's okay, not as messy as I imagined." Lu Liang casually smiled, toured each room, and finally entered the kitchen to open the fridge. Sёarᴄh the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half of the refrigerator space was crammed with beer, while the other half contained neatly organized portions of fruits. "Want a drink?" Lu Liang opened a bottle of beer; although the weather outside was cold enough to nearly freeze the ground, he always felt that beer, like cola, tasted better icy cold. "Wait, I'll go take a shower and change." Zhang Tian'ai said flirtatiously, winked. She darted off into the bathroom and then suddenly popped her head back out, all smiles as she handed over her phone, "I just ordered late-night snacks, if someone calls, could you help me fetch it?" After saying this, the sound of water trickling followed. She didn't want to make Lu Liang wait too long as she still had to put on makeup. Lu Liang chuckled, taking the beer into the living room, he turned on the TV and discovered Zhang Tian'ai was somewhat self-absorbed. She was following Crown Princess Consort and even had the bullet comments turned on, seemingly very concerned about other people's opinions of her. Not long after, the ordered takeout arrived. It could only be delivered to the ground floor, so Lu Liang had to go down to pick it up. When he returned with the takeout, Zhang Tian'ai had already changed into a female prison guard costume, her lips fiery red, eyeliner sharp, seemingly even wearing blue contacts to enhance her enchanting look. She was half-reclining on the sofa, casually dangling one leg, holding in her hand the half-finished beer that Lu Liang had left. Zhang Tian'ai's eyes were sultry, she took a small sip from the bottle and licked the rim, making a popping sound. nøvel.coɱ Lu Liang, surprised, laughed, "Don't get too fired up yet, come over and eat something first, to line your stomach." Zhang Tian'ai pouted with indignation, mouth jutting out, her heels clinking crisply against the tile floor. She pouted and complained, "Hmm~ I've dressed up all hot and gorgeous, and this is your reaction?" She was very satisfied with her look, even fantasizing while doing her makeup that Lu Liang would pounce like a hungry tiger upon seeing her. Zhang Tian'ai had planned to play a defiant female prison guard to spice up their interaction. It felt like hitting cotton with a punch. Suddenly, her arm was seized. Lu Liang pulled her into his embrace, smiling, "So this reaction, does it satisfy you?" Even through the leather pants, Zhang Tian'ai could feel the restless force. She smiled, laying her head near Lu Liang's ear, "Of course, I'm satisfied~" Lu Liang teased, "A long night stretches ahead, we'll eat and drink, and when the mood is ripe, things will naturally fall into place." "But what if I skip the first two steps?" Zhang Tian'ai's eyes were brimming with amorous desire, overflowing like a flood. It had been over two months since their last parting, a day apart felt like an age; it seemed to her as if a century had passed. "You are so hot~" Lu Liang suddenly felt his blood surge, his hand firmly grasping her uplifted butt, which felt even firmer and more shapely through her leather pants. "There's hotter to come," Zhang Tian'ai's eyes were alluring as she bit her lower lip gently and began to slide under the table. Her long legs slowly spread apart, in a complete split, showing her dedication, never regretting it even as her sashes loosened. Lu Liang squinted his eyes, unable to refrain from admiring, "Have I ever told you that I really like you?" Zhang Tian'ai's eyes widened with surprise, "Hmm~ Have you said that before? If so, I would remember it for life." Lu Liang held Zhang Tian'ai's cheeks in his hands, "Is it too late if I say it now?" "It's not, as long as it's from Liang, it's never too late~" Zhang Tian'ai beamed with a knowing smile; she was well aware of her strengths, being young and beautiful, in an entertainment circle famous for its chaos. Between accompanying one or many, she believed that anyone would choose the former.

Chapter 167: Withering Away for Her

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