Chapter 905 - 364: Let Me Call Jiang Banxia and Ask

Chapter 905: Chapter 364: Let Me Call Jiang Banxia and Ask

It’s simply because no one is willing.

Who would be willing? Currently, Li Yang has poured 200 billion in cash into Extreme Shadow Group, and only this year is there a real chance to make money from automobiles.

As for Green Water Group, it’s even more so. Over seven years, they’ve thrown in hundreds of billions, not to mention borrowing hundreds of billions.

No one wants to do such things, no matter how rich they are.

Unless they’re convinced that this model will break through the chaotic times and secure a foothold, plus having more money than they can spend.

Coincidentally, Li Yang meets both conditions.

Don’t be fooled by how hot live commerce is on the internet right now. Some people can generate billions in sales in just one live stream, with many internet celebrities earning millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions in a month.

But the more these influencers earn, the worse the quality of the products they’re selling proves to be.

This is actually consuming the market’s confidence.

From next year on, various industries will face heavy blows, and consumer confidence is being repeatedly damaged. The outcome is obvious.

The simplest example is Douyin, which achieved a net profit of 150 billion in 2022 through live commerce.

That year, the entire ByteDance only had a net profit of 20 billion US dollars, so you can imagine what the situation was like.

In 2023, it was similarly strong; other ByteDance projects started turning profits and weren’t expanding as crazily as before, ending with a net profit of about 40 billion US dollars, but the net profit from live commerce was only 96 billion.

Needless to say, in 2024 it’s rare to see a single live stream crossing a billion in sales, and several top influencers have all collapsed due to various reasons.

The consumer market has become very distorted. Those commerce influencers resort to all sorts of tricks to sell more.

Price agreements, selling off-label products as branded, language traps, and even blatantly selling fake goods, uncertified products.

In stark contrast, Pang Donglai had sales revenue of only 7 billion in 2022, which grew to 17.7 billion in 2023.

...

After eating, Li Yang had drunk quite a bit, and Xiangnu helped him to his bedroom to rest.

Just as he lay down, Li Yang said, "Aren’t you going to keep me company?"

Xiangnu finally spoke, "What do you mean by company? I’ve already eaten and drunk with you, and next, what, sleep with you?"

"Forget it, I’ll sleep by myself then."

Li Yang buried himself right in the pillow.

Sitting not far away, Xiangnu didn’t say anything further; at this point, she didn’t want to leave either.

Li Yang came over today to do just one thing.

Show off!

In essence, he didn’t take anyone seriously, including her.

After all, Li Yang could define her as a girlfriend with just one word, and others would have no choice but to believe it.

From beginning to end, Li Yang hasn’t given a straightforward, definite answer to a single question; to put it bluntly, he’s just being perfunctory.

Ultimately, all the pressure falls on her shoulders.

This matter depends entirely on her choice.

She could use this as an excuse to be angry at Li Yang, to blow up.

She just made a sarcastic remark earlier, and Li Yang didn’t say anything.

But that has no meaning.

If only Li Yang had said something definite like getting married next year, or in two years, or even in ten years, the situation would be completely different.

Today, with Li Yang coming over, many people will gradually get the news.

If she gets angry with Li Yang, even if it doesn’t affect the subsequent work, people will laugh at her.

About half an hour later, Li Yang suddenly said, "I’m thirsty..."

"Wait a second, I’ll go get you some water."

Xiangnu said before she got up and left the room.

At this moment, in another room, Zhao Tianming was also talking with his elders and brothers in the family; they couldn’t come up with anything; they were just waiting for Xiangnu.

Shortly after, Xiangnu pushed open the door and came in. Zhao Tianming hurriedly asked, "How’s it going?"

"Li Yang said he’s thirsty; I’m getting him some water."

Xiangnu grabbed the teapot from that side and left.

Everyone in Zhao Tianming’s group looked at each other in confusion.

"What does that mean?"

"What else could it mean? She acknowledged it! Whatever Li Yang says goes. He already made his attitude clear at the dinner table; no one should try to interfere with him."

Silence engulfed the whole room.

This is not what they wanted.

They wanted to tie Li Yang to their family, share interests, and stand or fall together.

Even though it looks like they’re aiming too high, and they really were, but Xiangnu wasn’t lacking either.

Yet Li Yang gave them no chance, almost like stepping on their heads and saying they were not worthy.

...

After giving Li Yang water, Xiangnu sat by the bed and asked, "Do you really dislike me that much?"

Li Yang groggily responded, "Why does it sound so sarcastic?"

"Heh, you never said I was sarcastic before; why am I now?"

"Who knows."

Basically, Li Yang doesn’t mind this kind of interaction; everyone is in it for the benefits.

Previously, he didn’t want to face this issue, to avoid disrupting the circle he managed to be part of for seven years.

But now he’s not afraid.

If he really gets mad, then goodbye. After all, he still has two others.

It’s impossible to come to the Capital City and find no one, or not get a single cup of hot tea.

He came to the Capital City to get the status, which rightfully belongs to him.

At this point, as long as their stance is right, even if they hate him, they won’t want him to have trouble.

By then two years from now, as long as Li Yang hasn’t killed someone’s whole family, even if others have a problem with his stance, they won’t want him to get into trouble.

This is his biggest assurance for staying in the Capital City.

Seeing Li Yang lie down again, Xiangnu went to the bedside and gently massaged his temples and forehead.

"I can’t take care of people like Ruyi does; if you’re uncomfortable, just tell me."

Li Yang said with his eyes closed, "No, no, there’s not much difference."

"Then what is the difference?"

"Uh... your clothes are a bit much..."

Xiangnu: "..., aren’t your eyes closed?"

"I left a gap; closing my eyes is usually my lie."

Xiangnu sighed, adjusted her position, and let Li Yang rest on her lap.

As she helped Li Yang relax, she asked, "You really were ruthless today. Over these years, I’ve made contributions and endured hardships, haven’t I? Are you really so unfeeling?"

Li Yang retorted, "Am I really that unfeeling? If I were unfeeling, you’d have died of illness in Jiangbei, and I wouldn’t even have gone to take a look! Let’s speak frankly; every single one of you wants to take a bite out of me, so why should I?"

"It’s not like I didn’t repay you," Xiangnu thought, cooperation is mutual, with both parties contributing.

"Is wrapping two bandages also considered repayment? Who knows when the wound might get infected, and I could just drop dead! Even during my poorest times, I never begged anyone, and it’s not like I would start begging now, would I? Xiangnu, don’t say it’s me who hurt you; it is in essence you who hurt me."

Hearing this, Xiangnu shivered.

What Li Yang said wasn’t wrong; he hadn’t really begged anyone in his life.

As for whether he’ll beg in the future, nobody knows.

At least for now, whoever messes with him is just causing harm.

Liu Ruyi and Song Yu have been with Li Yang at Ruyi Hall all along, and it hasn’t caused any issues for their families.

But as for herself, she seemed too eager and opportunistic.

Li Yang didn’t hear Xiangnu’s response for a while and said, "Okay, okay, just send me two photos to make it up, I’m not that petty."

He still enjoyed being with Xiangnu; at least there’s one thing, this woman is very ruthless!

She has her own style!

In the future, for many things he’s not convenient to do himself, she would be the most suitable.

The other people around him don’t have it, can’t grasp his shameless essence, and expecting to teach them all the time would be exhausting.

Now that Xiangnu is playing these mind games, she’s doing it with ease; in the future, if she reads a few more issues of "Reader" magazines, it should be fine. She has so far mastered the rational observer approach but hasn’t yet grasped the mockery and emotional angles.

At this moment, Xiangnu suddenly said, "Li Yang, I want to know if you mean what you say."

"What?"

"About us being together."

"Hm?"

"I don’t want to be laughed at; I’m not expecting marriage, but at least we should be openly dating, right?"

"Uh... hold on a second, I’ll call Jiang Banxia and ask."