Chapter 177: The Evil Capitalist

Words : 1743 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

"Let's give everyone the night off tonight, go for a bath, get a massage, and relax; I'll cover it." Hearing Lu Liang's words, Yang Zhenyuan was shocked. He was about to refuse when he met a pair of eyes eager as hungry wolves. Especially those partners who had been with him since the start of the venture, some of whom hadn't even gone home for the New Year. For half a year, they hadn't taken a single day off, nearly spending their entire lives in the company. After hesitating for a while, Yang Zhenyuan left a few team leaders on duty: "Don't you want to thank Mr. Lu quickly?" S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as he finished speaking, the office erupted into excited howls: "Thank you, Mr. Lu~ Mr. Lu, we love you." Although they received overtime pay and subsidies, their physical appearance had noticeably thinned after several months. Everyone was working overtime, and even if they wanted to ask for leave, they felt embarrassed to do so; Lu Liang seemed like a deity descended to earth at that moment. Lu Liang smiled and instructed, "Old Yang, give those on duty an extra two thousand RMB each." "Sure, Mr. Lu," Yang Zhenyuan nodded. Lu Liang had Wen Chao contact the Hilton Hotel where they stayed to send three business vehicles. Dozens of people made a grand entrance at Beijing's largest bath center, the Hot Mansion, reportedly built at a cost of six hundred million RMB. With over fifty thousand square meters, nearly five hundred spa technicians, and an average consumer spending around two thousand RMB. Lu Liang led everyone to the reception and pointed at the crowd behind him: "Put all their expenses on my tab." The lobby manager was startled but quickly put on a flattering smile and hurriedly had his colleagues distribute wristbands. He then looked at Lu Liang: "Sir, may I have your surname?" "Lu." "Mr. Lu, what are you expecting to spend? I need to arrange things for your colleagues." The lobby manager rubbed his palms together, his face all smiles, instantly recognizing most of them as programmers. It was too easy to tell since eight out of ten were greasy-haired, bespectacled, and clad in checkered shirts. Lu Liang turned to face everyone, a slight smile curving his lips: "Guys, how much do you think we should spend tonight?" From the crowd, someone bravely shouted: "Since Mr. Lu is treating, the higher the spending, the better." Lu Liang couldn't help but smile: "Taking me for a big spender, huh?" He thought for a moment: "As long as it's nothing illicit, anything goes, up to ten thousand each—eat well, drink well, rest well." All in all, including Lu Liang's driver and secretary, there were 46 people, totaling 460,000 RMB, still less than what he and Little Wang had spent at a bar one evening. "Mr. Lu is awesome~~" Suddenly, more exuberant howls erupted. Some from the north gleamed with excitement; they had scrubbed themselves for nearly thirty years, and their bathing expenses over those years might not have reached ten thousand. A jubilant crowd signifies one man's loneliness. Yang Zhenyuan was deeply worried, sensing something abnormal—and ominous. "Please take good care of these colleagues." Lu Liang patted the manager's shoulder and then reserved a business pool for fifteen thousand eight hundred RMB. In a private room, he changed into a bathrobe, and he and Yang Zhenyuan, in slippers, went to a secluded outdoor hot spring. In early May, Beijing's temperature was still quite low, over twenty degrees during the day, dropping to teens at night. The weather was just right for an outdoor hot spring. Lu Liang entered the water, closed his eyes, feeling the warm currents envelope his body, and after a while, suddenly said, "Just now, Zhu Hu and Zhang Yiming wanted to meet." Yang Zhenyuan opened his eyes, his face showing surprise, waiting for Lu Liang to continue, Lu Liang said, "He wants to facilitate a merger between Douyin and Watermelon, saying that together we have the highest chance of success, and if it came to a fight, all investors would suffer losses." Since Zhu Hu wasn't there, Lu Liang kept pushing the responsibility onto him, but even if he were, it wouldn't matter. Yang Zhenyuan remained silent, his voice slightly hoarse after a long pause, "Mr. Lu, what do you think?" "I proposed to Mr. Zhang that Douyin should lead and Watermelon supplement," Lu Liang said unhurriedly. Yang Zhenyuan was stunned: "Mr. Zhang probably won't agree." Clearly, he misunderstood, looking up at Lu Liang with newfound respect. His Mr. Lu still loved him. No matter how strong Zhang Yiming's team was, as long as Lu Liang continued to provide financial support, the gap between the two sides would eventually close. "At the time, Zhang Yiming indeed did not agree." Lu Liang spoke slowly, and just as he finished, Yang Zhenyuan suddenly felt uneasy—this meant there must be a 'but'. Lu Liang sighed, opened his eyes, and stared directly at Yang Zhenyuan, showing a strained expression, "Old Yang, the Douyin brand can be retained, and in the future, Watermelon will become an auxiliary tool for Douyin." Yang Zhenyuan's heart trembled, revealing a bitter smile, "But have you given up the decision-making power, the management rights, including yourself?" He had once been a member of the Watermelon development team and knew how much hope Zhang Yiming and ByteDance had pinned on Watermelon. Being able to make Zhang Yiming accept the terms that prioritized Douyin and used Watermelon as a secondary tool meant that Douyin would be left with nothing but a shell. Lu Liang looked displeased, "What kind of person do you think I am, Lu Liang? Since I've invested in you, I wouldn't just abandon you." He said, "If you are willing, you can still be the general manager of Douyin. Byte is merely a technical supporter." Yang Zhenyuan fell silent, seemingly lost in deep thought, swallowing back the words he was about to say. Initially, he thought of Zhu Hu, but then gave up the idea knowing that Zhu Hu had set up the arrangement. He then thought of Shen Peng, but realized that Shen Peng had invested in Douyin just to give face to Lu Liang. Suddenly, Yang Zhenyuan felt suffocated, like an insect that had carelessly fallen into a spider's web. It seemed he had no choice. Though decisions like mergers and restructuring required more than two-thirds of the absolute votes to proceed. Tianxing, Redwood, and Golden Sand River together accounted for only 64%. As long as he disagreed, it wouldn't pass. But what could he do if he disagreed? Once Douyin ran out of funds, it would die, and with the three top domestic capitals blacklisting it, who else would dare invest? Once Douyin went bankrupt, he would have to repay the $1.5 million in financing from Redwood and Golden Sand River from the Series A investment. Although Lu Liang was to cover 40% of Douyin's liabilities, the debt remaining on his head would still be $900,000. $5.74 million RMB, plus the initial investment of $3 million, would lead to nearly a total loss of ten million. And there were the software developers recently hired at high salaries, each on a three-year contract, requiring at least a million in compensation. Just that item alone would amount to over $30 million in compensation, with Yang Zhenyuan having to pay at least $18 million. This left him with just one house and a car, losing everything else. His child was still in elementary school and his wife had resigned from her job to become a housewife for the sake of his startup. Yang Zhenyuan weighed his losses and gains and after a long time, asked, "Mr. Lu, may I ask you for a promise?" "Go ahead." "If I am fired within two years, I hope the company will buy back my shares at a valuation of 10 million dollars." Yang Zhenyuan sighed and bowed to reality. If it were ten years ago, he might still have had the courage to take on capital to the end, but not now; he had too many concerns and too much to consider. "You may." Lu Liang couldn't help but laugh, though he didn't explain why. Clearly, Yang Zhenyuan mistook his continuation as general manager of Douyin as merely a placating measure. Much like ancient times when surrendering wasn't killed outright - rewards were plentiful, promotions and honors granted, but how many actually enjoyed those privileges? Instead, just when one felt secure in their position, they would be purged for the minor infraction of entering a door left foot first. Yang Zhenyuan was securing his backup plan; a $10 million valuation for a 36% stake equating to $3.6 million—over 20 million RMB—enough for a comfortable retirement. "Thank you, Mr. Lu." Those words seemed to drain all of Yang Zhenyuan's energy as he shrank back, disappearing into the depths. Douyin had revitalized him in his midlife, even his wife praised him for being more vigorous and wanting another child. But now, he felt deflated again. Lu Liang, unable to help but laugh, stood up and helped Yang Zhenyuan to his feet, opened a chilled beer, and handed him one. After clinking glasses, he downed half the bottle in one gulp, letting out a satisfying burp, "Old Yang, what kind of person am I in your eyes?" Yang Zhenyuan asked, "Can I speak truthfully?" Lu Liang smiled and replied, "You can say whatever you like, tonight's memories end here with you." Yang Zhenyuan chugged down an entire bottle in one breath, pointed at Lu Liang's nose, "Damn it, the epitome of evil capitalists. I suddenly recall, during the Series A financing with Zhang Yiming, you probably had already agreed, but the conditions offered by Zhang Yiming were not satisfactory to you then." He let out a long sigh, feeling instantly better, his frustration swept away. "Feeling much better now, aren't you?" Lu Liang sat on a nearby rock, took a sip of liquor, and nodded with a smile, "Indeed, we didn't reach an agreement at that time."

Chapter 177: The Evil Capitalist

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