After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future

Chapter 486: Chapter 481: A Member of the ‘Federal Reserve

“Study hard for the exam, and I’ll come to see you when I’m free.”

After greeting Liu Pei, Lu Liang let Su Yuchen take a taxi back to the downtown area without giving any further instructions.

Such a grown person should have a sense of what they can and cannot do, and talking too much is pointless.

Lu Liang didn’t arrange for a trailer for him either; starting out at the base level in society for a while could also benefit one’s physical and mental health.

After leaving Su City, he arrived at New International in Modu. The journey between the two places wasn’t too far, and it just took over an hour to reach.

On the 32nd floor of New International, as soon as Tang Caidie learned of Lu Liang’s arrival, she brought the files that needed his signature and authorization for processing.

Included among them was the mortgage contract for Yang Mi’s property, two locations in Beijing, two in Modu, a villa with a courtyard, and three large apartments, with a market value of 252 million RMB.

The amount of the mortgage loan was 180 million RMB, which had already been transferred, with a term of two years; interest first and principal later, at an annual interest rate of 7%.

After one year, 12.6 million would need to be repaid; after two years, another 12.6 million, in addition to the 180 million principal.

The latest extension was fifteen working days; in the event of default, the mortgaged properties would become the company’s assets.

“Lending really is a lucrative business,” Lu Liang remarked with a laugh as he signed and stamped the mortgage contract.

Upon hearing this, Tang Caidie said, “Actually, in the past few days, a lot of celebrity studio managers have come to visit you.”

The tax audit of the entertainment industry had officially started. Among first, second, and third-tier celebrities and idols, at least nine out of ten needed to pay additional taxes.

These people made money quickly and spent just as quickly. Those who were fined more than double had to sell off their properties to pay in full.

It was rumored that the tax bureau could collect around 15 billion in new taxes, and Lu Liang, known as the “Cash King” of Shanghai, was one of their prime targets.

Just International Fan alone had visited twice; close to nine billion in taxes and fines, an amount which ordinary publicly traded companies with a market cap of hundreds of billions might not even have in cash reserves.

“Don’t bother with them; it’s just talk.”

Lu Liang could not help but laugh silently. Although he was somewhat interested in the top “Double Ice Four Dan” group, he wasn’t about to risk several hundred million yuan.

The loan to Yang Mi was prioritized because she was expected to be able to repay it, and even if she couldn’t, the collateral wouldn’t lose value.

On the other hand, International Fan was at the storm’s center, singled out as a typical case, with little hope of a comeback, likely unable to even pay the interest in the future.

Unlike Yang Mi, who wanted to keep things quiet, International Fan no longer cared about her reputation, having probably approached every bank’s lending department.

After being screened by banks, the quality assets were already picked over; what remained were just scraps.

“War Wolf 2 has started profit sharing,” Tang Caidie said with a light smile, not dwelling on the topic as she took out another contract.

The cumulative box office was 6.058 billion RMB. After deducting various expenses for theater distribution and film support, the profit-sharing amount was 1.876 billion RMB.

With revenue of 32 million from copyright exploitation, the producer’s unique earnings amounted to 1.908 billion RMB. They held a 52% stake, making their profit 992 million RMB.

Lu Liang pondered, thinking of Guo Fan’s Wandering Earth, “Transfer all three billion of the funds to him.”

Despite an expenditure of another 300 million, the balance in the film investment department was still 925 million RMB. Initially, he had only invested 3 million RMB.

A return of over three hundred times; film investment indeed was massively profitable, but it also had reached its peak and would be difficult to advance any further.

The industry’s ceiling dictated that there was only so much profit to be made.

The afternoon passed by in a series of questions and answers.

In the evening, after a quick bite to eat, Lu Liang headed to the private equity firm on the 17th floor.

In the Bitcoin project, they had invested 6.32 billion US dollars, currently holding a 40% position.

With 353,500 coins and counting Wen Chao’s side, they held over 900,000 of the total 21 million supply in the market, a share of 4.28%.

Unlike Wen Chao, who had quietly infiltrated, Sun Yutao was responsible for igniting the market trend, bearing a high cost of 7150 US dollars per Bitcoin.

Fortunately, although Zhao Changpeng realized that further promotion of Bitcoin could draw attention from the authorities and had stopped public speaking, the market’s profit-making effect had taken shape, and the massive profitability of cryptocurrency was well known to the public.

Since breaking through the historic high of 5500 points, Bitcoin had seen eleven consecutive days of price gains, with the current price exceeding 11,000 US dollars.

Although their costs were high, they could still profit 3850 US dollars per Bitcoin; currently, their profit-taking would amount to over 1.3 billion US dollars.

“This market is too crazy.”

Sun Yutao couldn’t help but echo Wen Chao’s sentiment.

Back to 1992: the mad buying and selling, with a host of madmen waiting.

While it’s said that breaking new highs means there’s no telling how high it can go, this level is simply too much.

Only retail investors are frantically shouting that 30,000, 50,000 isn’t a dream, and that 100,000 is within future reach.

However, as a financial professional, every time he watched prices rise, his heart would race.

Three months before, the lowest point was 1357 US dollars, an increase of nearly tenfold.

Such fast rises meant it could fall as fast. If the bubble were to burst, there’s no telling how many would perish.

$230 billion market, converted into RMB, exceeds 1.54 trillion, almost equal to Su City’s annual GDP.

“Unlike domestic stocks that merely thrive on speculation, this market has its supports.”

Lu Liang opened several international news articles, Bitcoin was gradually gaining favor from foreign drug lords, arms dealers, and smugglers.

The dark forces abroad have always kept pace with the times, capable of transferring funds globally in five seconds—a natural fit for transactions.

Combining efforts from BlackRock and Vanguard, nearly appointing all conglomerates from two East Asian countries, seeking new channels for risk-averse fund management.

Moreover, the relentless promotion by the West, if Bitcoin were to become the designated digital currency of the US Dollar, it wouldn’t be surprising.

“Mr. Lu, should we hold for the long term then?”

Sun Yutao’s face was filled with excitement, contemplating that if things continued to progress this way, they might even become a member of the ‘Federal Reserve.’

Although the Federal Reserve is a government institution, it is privately owned, operates outside the government, and is not subject to oversight, auditing, or control.

The right to issue US Dollar currency, which should belong to Congress—that is, the citizens of the United States—was granted to the Federal Reserve, which, like a financing institution, represents the government for financing purposes.

Since its establishment in 1913, the real owners of the Federal Reserve remain a mystery, just like Bitcoin’s Satoshi Nakamoto.

There are too many similarities between the two; if the Federal Reserve can, it seems Bitcoin might also take its place.

“The pain of ‘Monetary Dominance,’ we’ve already had more than enough, how could we go through it a second time?”

Lu Liang fell silent, Sun Yutao was taken aback, then gave a wry smile, also recalling the nation’s stance on Bitcoin.

Lu Liang laughed and said, “We’ll trade short-to-medium term where there’s market movement, holding long-term domestically isn’t very realistic.”

“Indeed,” Sun Yutao nodded slightly.

Unawares, he had missed a critical condition for long-term holding—it can’t be done domestically.

“The price is fifteen thousand for now, set as the caution line, message me if it gets there.”

“Okay, Mr. Lu.”

Night fell, and Lu Liang left the office.

After a brief rest at home,

He set off for Beijing the next morning.

There was still half a month to go before the Bitcoin market reached its peak; it didn’t need too much attention for the time being.

The pressing matter was to resolve the DiDi issue; Liu Qing was no longer important, he planned on having a direct dialogue with Goldman Sachs.

At one-thirty in the afternoon, the plane arrived in Beijing.

From a distance, he saw the arrival gate teeming with people, not lacking young boys and girls screaming at the top of their lungs.

Lu Liang was surprised, “When did I become so popular that I even have fans coming to meet me?”

Although he had tens of millions of followers online, people would mostly just call out to him when sighted.

Such a frenzied scene, with security personnel linking arms—it was the first time he’d witnessed it.

“The netizens these days really have taste,” Lu Liang chuckled, ready to raise his hand in preparation for cheers and applause.

Suddenly, the airport manager came hurrying over from the boarding gate, a smile plastered on his face, “Mr. Lu, I’m Little Xu, maybe you should wait before going out.”

Lu Liang furrowed his brow, then heard a familiar voice behind him, “Mr. Lu, long time no see~”

The temperature in Beijing at the beginning of December was already below zero.

But the incoming person wore tattered jeans on the lower half and was wrapped in a thick down jacket on the upper half.

Such cold weather, yet dressed like this,

It had to be a female celebrity otherwise no one else would.

Lu Liang couldn’t help but smile, “I thought the taste of the fans had changed this time around, but it turns out to be Miss Reba.”

The airport manager also timely spoke up, “Mr. Lu, why don’t you let Miss Reba go out first?”

The airport sees countless celebrities every day, and while he couldn’t care less about their safety, he only cared about Lu Liang.

Now, with a crowded and chaotic situation at the arrival gate and Lu Liang being a public figure himself, any mishap would leave him accountable.

“Mr. Lu, then I’ll go out first and draw the fire for you.”

Reba winked playfully at Lu Liang, and there was a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Ever since that night, she had been actively trying to chat with Lu Liang, but he was like an outdated customer service bot.

Not just often replying with simple “Mhm, oh, ah,” but the majority of the time appearing to be offline, not responding at all.

“Thanks,” Lu Liang chuckled, his eyes suddenly drawn to the necklace at her neckline—the one from that night’s photo.

“Bye~” Reba noticed Lu Liang’s gaze, tilted her head with a hum, her face all haughty, and began zipping up her jacket.