After Divorce, I Can Hear the Future

Chapter 6: Peace Hotel

“Brother Liang, if you ever have any ideas, just reach out anytime.”

“Of course. We know each other so well, who else would I go to but you?”

After exchanging a few words, Lu Liang left the service center. As soon as he returned to his apartment, his phone buzzed with a text notification.

【Account ending in 8939, ICBC deposit of 1,530,000.00 yuan, balance 1,531,201.12 yuan.】

The funds had just arrived, so Lu Liang quickly paid off his online credit cards, covering the principal and interest in full, for a total of 494,500 yuan.

Then he headed straight to the mall, making several big purchases, including upgrading his old Android phone to a gold iPhone 6. Before the money even arrived, he had already thought about how he’d spend it.

The personal account funds would be the principal. If he could continue hearing voices from the future, he’d use it to generate more wealth. If not, he’d treat it as retirement money, buy a house in a third-tier city, start a small business, and retire early.

The 1.3 million in his investment account would be for living expenses. Lu Liang wanted to experience a different kind of life in the bustling city of Shanghai.

Though he’d worked in this city for ten years, he still felt like a stranger here.

Previously, he had only glimpsed a small corner of its mystery through work opportunities, which left him yearning for more.

There’s a saying about Shanghai: arriving by bus or arriving by first-class flight shows you two completely different versions of the city.

Ten years ago, Lu Liang arrived by bus; now, he wanted to see the other side of Shanghai.

The Peace Hotel wasn’t just a landmark skyscraper along the Bund’s skyline; it was also a “cultural icon” of the city.

When he arrived, Lu Liang stepped out of the car and immediately felt the different atmosphere compared to the outskirts of Xinpu.

Whether it was the hotel guests or the tourists taking photos, the men appeared especially gentlemanly, and the women notably elegant, as though the grand setting of the hotel inspired them to conceal their true selves.

Lu Liang went to the front desk to check in. Even the cheapest standard room cost 2,100 yuan per night, while the most expensive "Nine Nations Suite" had an average nightly rate of 18,000 yuan.

An 18,000-yuan monthly salary would be considered decent income, even in Shanghai, but here it could only cover one night.

“Sir, are you looking to book a stay in the Nine Nations Suite?” The pretty receptionist thought she misheard, as Lu Liang didn’t look like a wealthy guest—he even seemed to have taken a cab here.

“Is a reservation required?”

Lu Liang genuinely didn’t know. He’d only heard about the suite and thought he’d try it out for a few nights.

“It’s not necessary. We have vacancies in the British, German, and Japanese suites. How many nights will you be staying, and is it just for one person?”

With professional composure, the receptionist maintained a faint smile, showing no hint of judgment.

“The British suite, please. One person, for two nights.”

Lu Liang handed over his ID and charged 36,000 yuan to his card.

A middle-aged man in a perfectly fitted suit, sporting a small mustache with a refined British demeanor, approached Lu Liang with a broad smile. 

Placing his right hand on his left shoulder, he gave a gentlemanly bow. “Mr. Lu, I’ll be your butler for the next two days. My name is Tan Tao. If you need anything, feel free to ask.”

Lu Liang chuckled, making a playful remark, “If I booked the Japanese suite, would there be a female butler in a kimono?”

Tan Tao smiled in return. “Mr. Lu, if that’s what you’d like, we can arrange a switch right away.”

“Nah, I’ll stick with you.” Lu Liang shook his head. Tan Tao then asked, “Mr. Lu, may I ask where your luggage is?”

“I don’t have any.”

“Very well, please follow me.”

Lu Liang followed his butler, walking effortlessly through the hotel, with a doorman at every door and an elevator attendant at each stop.

Except for eating and personal needs, he didn’t have to lift a finger.

The Nine Nations Suites were located on the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors, with each floor hosting three suites, all facing the river.

Lu Liang’s room was the British suite on the seventh floor, number two.

Aged wooden floors, rose-patterned ceiling carvings, and decor with the charm of British aristocracy from the last century greeted him.

Each suite had a private living room and dining area, along with a mini-bar. Should Lu Liang want, he could request a bartender.

“Mr. Lu, I hope you enjoy your stay.”

Tan Tao introduced the function buttons on the room phone, mentioning that pressing button 1 would connect him directly to Tan, who would be available 24/7.

Lu Liang strolled to the window, watching as the sun slowly set, casting a faint red glow over the Bund’s tourists and the golden bull on the plaza below.

Although the Peace Hotel wasn’t very tall, it offered one of the best panoramic views of the Bund, with a clear view of the Guotai Securities and Pearl Tower across the river.

He stood there, entranced, until dusk turned to dark, and the vibrant neon lights of the high-rise buildings gradually lit up.

A loud growl from his stomach broke the moment—clearly, the scenery couldn’t fill his stomach.

“Off work yet? Send me your location. Let’s get some dinner.” Lu Liang picked up his phone and called Liu Mingxuan.

They had been friends for fifteen years, and he was one of the few school friends with whom he stayed in touch.

He was still in contact with a few other classmates, but he rarely disturbed them.

Most people, once they reached middle age with families and careers, became wary when suddenly contacted by old friends, fearing it might be about borrowing money or asking for favors.

This assumption made people overly cautious, and eventually, those friendships faded away.

Half an hour later, Lu Liang was downstairs, waiting. He soon spotted Liu Mingxuan, with his short, fashionable ash-blonde haircut.

Though they were both nearing thirty, Liu Mingxuan was unmarried, single, and dressed fashionably, looking more like someone in their early twenties.

“Did you go to Korea for plastic surgery?” Lu Liang looked at him, and Liu Mingxuan looked back, inspecting him just as carefully.

He was still the same person, yet seemed leaner and exuded a subtle youthful vibe.

Whenever he saw Lu Liang before, no matter his mood, there was always an unmistakable fatigue around his eyes.

He had noticed the same weariness on many of his married friends—whether due to family responsibilities or work. Some would call it a sense of duty, others, a heavy burden.

But this time, Lu Liang’s whole demeanor was relaxed, as if he had been reborn.

“Losing twenty pounds does make a difference.”

Lu Liang patted his stomach. The belly he once had was gone, and if he flexed, he could even feel his six-pack.

Two months of exercise had paid off, and now with a little effort, he didn’t look like he was approaching middle age.

“I told you long ago—marriage without financial security is just asking for trouble,” Liu Mingxuan said, feeling quite satisfied with his foresight.

If you don’t have money, it’s better to stay single forever. Getting married without money is irresponsible to yourself, your family, and the next generation.

Two months post-divorce, Lu Liang had completely transformed; it was like he’d become a new person.

“Let’s go.” Lu Liang chuckled and led Liu Mingxuan to the British suite on the seventh floor, where the dining table was already set with a steaming four-course meal and soup.

“Let’s get a bit of food in us, then we’ll head out for some drinks later.”

“You came into money?”

Liu Mingxuan walked around the suite, finally stopping by the window to take in the bustling Bund view.

The Peace Hotel was well-known; it wasn’t just a five-star hotel but an iconic building along the Bund.

Every tourist and young professional arriving in Shanghai had looked up at it from the Bund at least once, including them.

They remembered that ten years ago, when they first arrived in Shanghai, they’d joked that they would someday stay here for a few nights.

But later on, even when they had the money, they thought that the cheapest rate of over 2,000 yuan per night was better spent on drinking and karaoke.

“Yeah, made a bit recently.”

Lu Liang picked up his phone and transferred 50,000 yuan to Liu Mingxuan.

He’d borrowed 50,000 from him two years ago when he bought his apartment, and Liu Mingxuan had never once asked for it back, but it had weighed on Lu Liang’s mind ever since.

So, when he had the money, he thought of paying him back first.

Part of it was to settle the debt, and part of it was to have a good time with a like-minded friend.

“Looks like you really came into some cash. Guess I’ll get to ride the wave.” Liu Mingxuan checked his phone, then pulled up a chair to sit beside Lu Liang.

He grinned and said, “So, where are you taking me to have some fun tonight, Brother Liang?”

“Anywhere you want to go, we’ll go.”

“Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.”