Chapter 79: The Joy of Spending Money As one of the most popular influencers on the internet, Wang Xiaocong frequently livestreamed on his platform, with room number 10000. As he mentioned in an interview, he was both PandaTV’s chief product manager and its first streamer. Previously, his streams mainly consisted of playing League of Legends, with team members helping him rank up or casually visiting other streamers’ rooms with viewers. Earlier that evening, he had spent millions on gifts for a new streamer on the platform. Immediately afterward, he opened his own livestream. Fans spread the news, and viewers flooded into Wang’s livestream, only to find him playing an old-school game while chatting with an unfamiliar voice. “Brother Liang, what should we do?” “You can start by combining some monsters. I’m checking out the gear in my inventory.” “Just buy finished equipment; why bother going through all that trouble?” “Pets you raise yourself feel more meaningful.” PandaTV’s current valuation was only $11 million, but Wang wasn’t willing to settle for such a low figure. His goal was to raise it to at least $80 million before the funding round. “Just send me the project proposal when you’re ready to invest. I’ll have finance wire the funds,” Lu Liang replied casually. Holding a 15% stake, he would only need to contribute 1.5 million yuan even if Wang invested 100 million yuan. His primary goal wasn’t to gain more shares but to use PandaTV as a learning experience for the industry. The two headed to the underground parking lot, where Wang had a section reserved for his cars: two sports cars, two luxury sedans, and a nanny van. Lu Liang couldn’t help but marvel, “Having a great dad really makes a difference.” While he could afford such extravagance, his mindset was still focused on buying only what was necessary. His assets consisted of little more than a few bank digits, two cars, and a house he had bought for his parents in their hometown. A red Ferrari F12 sped out of the parking lot, followed closely by a yellow Lamborghini Urus. The duo arrived at TAX Bar, the top nightclub in Magic City. It was a hub for influencers, celebrities, and industry giants from finance and tech. Last year, NetEase’s CEO Ding Sanshi had debuted as a DJ here to promote NetEase Cloud Music, creating a buzz with the story of “raising pigs by day, spinning tracks by night.” As a regular, Wang’s signature car had barely pulled up before a sultry female manager ran over with a bright smile. “Young Master Wang, we’ve reserved a private room for you on the second floor.” Her gaze shifted to Lu Liang, her eyes briefly flashing with curiosity. “Sir, how should I address you?” Club managers were experts at reading people. From positioning to demeanor, they could instantly discern who held the power. With 260 billion yuan in assets, Wang’s father was the richest Chinese globally, and as his sole heir, Wang carried himself with a natural pride. It was rare to see him treat someone with such respect, sparking the manager’s desire to forge a connection. “Lu Liang,” he replied indifferently. "Mr. Lu, this way, please," the female manager said, her brow lifting slightly. The name sounded familiar, though she couldn’t recall where she’d heard it. Still, she dared not show the slightest neglect. The group passed through a visually stunning, vividly lit corridor and entered the bar. The layout was typical of high-end bars: two levels, with the ground floor featuring booths and a dance floor, while more private VIP rooms occupied the second floor. From the second floor, one could oversee the entire dance hall—perfect for wealthy heirs scouting for company. As the son of China’s wealthiest man, Wang Xiaocong possessed an unparalleled allure for internet influencers. A single phone call summoned four women, two for each of them. After a few rounds of icebreaker games, the two men and four women grew increasingly familiar, their behavior becoming more intimate. Wang Xiaocong, ready to head downstairs to dance with his companions, suddenly stopped in his tracks. Outside the window, a glamorous woman in her thirties approached with a smile, carrying an elegantly packaged bottle of brandy. Returning to his seat, Wang leaned toward Lu Liang and whispered, “That’s Zhuang Xiaoting, the bar owner. She’s the mistress of a certain big shot from Beijing.” “What’s she doing here?” Lu Liang asked, while comfortably seated between two women—one feeding him fruit, the other pouring drinks and lighting his cigarette. “Well, you are the God of Speculation. Anyone with money would want to meet you.” After hours of hanging out, Wang Xiaocong’s tone had become more casual, knowing Lu Liang wasn’t someone who couldn’t take a joke. Lu Liang nodded in understanding. Zhuang Xiaoting knocked and entered with a radiant smile. “This morning, the magpies on the eaves were chirping non-stop. I wondered what was going on, and now I know—it was because they already knew Mr. Lu would grace us with his presence tonight.” A shrewd woman indeed. There wasn’t the slightest awkwardness in her demeanor, and her opening line immediately bridged the gap between strangers. Wang Xiaocong laughed. “Ting Jie, did the magpies sing when I came?” “They sure did! I remember it well—an entire row of magpies perched right on the windowsill.”