Chapter 24: Passion for Film "Mr. Lu, do you have any suggestions? Please feel free to share; we can make adjustments if necessary," Zhang Chen asked cautiously. Lu Liang’s agreement to invest had come so easily it felt unreal, as though he’d shown up just to give away money. Lu Liang’s face turned cold as he tapped the table heavily. “Mr. Zhang, I’m investing in this movie because I believe in the script and your core team. Don’t bring the bad habits of the entertainment industry into this project.” “If you’re making this film just to please investors, I’ll have to reconsider whether I should invest at all,” he declared with righteous conviction, adopting an unyielding posture of moral integrity. Standing by the window, Wu Tianzheng’s hand, which was holding a cigarette, trembled slightly. He couldn’t help but glance back at Lu Liang. What a speech. Almost convincing. But who was the one last night, hugging and kissing, taking a girl home and making her so dizzy she nearly forgot her own name? Admiration flickered in Wu Tianzheng’s heart as he puffed on his cigarette and turned back to the riverscape. No wonder he’s rich—this guy can spin a tale without a shred of guilt. Zhang Chen was both startled and overjoyed. He hurriedly clarified, “You misunderstand, Mr. Lu.” The chat interface showed her typing and stopping repeatedly, clearly conflicted. It wasn’t hard to guess what a late-night meal invitation at this hour could lead to. After a long pause, she replied: “But I’m still at work.” “I’m almost there,” Lu Liang replied, grabbing his keys and heading out. In the past two days at Haomeng Production Company, he’d seen many beautiful and hardworking girls. With just a crook of his finger, they’d likely throw themselves at him, eager to please. His patience was wearing thin. He recalled Meng Changkun’s principle: women all had a price, and if they weren’t worth it, even celestial beauties weren’t worth pursuing. While Lu Liang disagreed with reducing people to price tags, Meng’s point that there were plenty of beautiful women in the world resonated. There was no need to waste time on uncertainty. Half an hour later, Lu Liang arrived at Qufu Road and spotted Li Manli waiting by the roadside. She wore dark green work pants paired with a beige crop top that exposed her slender waist. Her long black hair, streaked with hints of blue and purple, added a touch of allure to her otherwise innocent demeanor. A black BMW pulled up beside her, and its owner appeared to be trying to chat her up. Li Manli stood with her arms crossed, glancing around with an uninterested expression. “Hey gorgeous, need a ride?” the BMW owner began, but his words were drowned out by a low horn from Lu Liang’s Bentley. The man turned, ready to argue, but seeing the Bentley’s badge, he muttered curses under his breath before reluctantly moving his car forward. He stepped out again, hoping to make another move on Li Manli. Confident in his youthful success, his BMW, and what he believed to be a solid 9/10 appearance, he felt sure he could charm her. But the moment she turned toward the Bentley, her icy demeanor melted into a radiant smile—a transformation so striking it felt as though all the flowers in the world had bloomed. The man watched in stunned silence as Li Manli climbed into the Bentley’s passenger seat. His heart sank. Without a word, he returned to his car, revved the engine, and drove off. Amused by the scene, Lu Liang chuckled. Li Manli pouted and said, “How dare you laugh!” “You said you’d be here soon. I’ve been waiting over twenty minutes!” she complained, her lips forming a dramatic pout. “There was an accident on the expressway. That’s why I’m late,” Lu Liang lied smoothly, his tone nonchalant. Though suspicious, Li Manli chose to believe him. “I had an argument with my manager today. I’ll probably get fired,” she sighed. “Isn’t that a good thing? You’ll be free now,” Lu Liang teased, recalling how Zhang Qian had resigned, only to be replaced by this annoying male manager. “Not everyone’s like you. If I lose my job, I’ll be broke next month,” she grumbled. “With me around, how could I let you go broke? You’ll feast on delicacies until you’re sick of them.” “Really?” she asked skeptically. “Absolutely,” he replied confidently.