35: Chapter 35: They panicked when there were only three similarities.

A flash of complexity crossed Young Master Jie's eyes, and his hands, which had been crossed in front of his lower abdomen, unconsciously tightened.

Before this, all the information he had gathered about Shen Du was fragmented:

On one hand, there was a mediocre file of someone who had taken his mother's surname since childhood, with an unknown biological father.

On the other hand, there was overseas capital registered at his birth.

As well as the move a few months ago to buy thirty percent of Meituan's shares.

And those inexhaustible, massive amounts of cash.

This immense sense of contradiction had once made this second-generation heir from Shanghai feel as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

But now, under the impact of a single photograph, all the logical loopholes were instantly and forcibly stitched together.

Young Master Jie stared at the tall, upright figure approaching step by step, his mind completing the deduction almost instantly:

Took mother's surname, unknown biological father, long-term exile, Shen Family overseas capital registered at birth...

This was absolutely the estranged grandson of the supreme patriarch of the Shen Family.

Apart from this identity, there was no reason to explain how an ordinary university student could treat money like dirt.

Or why he would dare to charge recklessly through the deep waters of Shanghai.

As Shen Du's figure drew closer, the probing and maneuvering Young Master Jie had originally planned vanished into thin air in an instant.

Facing this "true Buddha" with deep political ties, this arrogant local tyrant dared not put on any airs.

The condescending, scrutinizing look on Young Master Jie's face quickly melted away.

He loosened his tightly clenched hands and pulled a cordial smile onto his lips.

Under the gaze of countless eyes in the hall, Young Master Jie took the initiative, striding forward almost impatiently to meet Shen Du.

"Young Master Shen!"

When they were still two steps apart, Young Master Jie reached out his hands, lowering his posture, his tone filled with eagerness:

"I am Young Master Jie. It is an honor that you could grace this party with your presence today!"

That shout of "Young Master Shen!" exploded in the hall.

The surrounding circle of scions, who were holding wine glasses and watching from the shadows, instantly erupted in shock.

Seeing that even the most unruly Young Master Jie in Shanghai had lowered his head in public, from this second on, no one in the entire hall dared to harbor the slightest doubt about Shen Du's identity.

Faced with Young Master Jie's low-postured, welcoming gesture, Shen Du's face remained devoid of any ripples.

Of course, he didn't know that his coincidental surname had already been crazily pieced together by the other party in his mind into a colossal figure.

Shen Du merely lowered his shoulders slightly, feeling the weight of the Richard Mille on his wrist, the seven million in cash in his pocket, and the Mercedes G55 outside, all of which gave him his current confidence.

Under the breathless gaze of the entire room, Shen Du naturally raised his right hand, extended one hand to gently touch Young Master Jie's two, and then pulled it back.

"Young Master Jie, you are too kind."

Shen Du's gaze crossed over Young Master Jie's shoulder, and he casually picked up a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray nearby.

His tone was indifferent, yet he took the initiative, instantly taking control of the room's rhythm:

"It's still early; let's chat while we drink."

On the first floor of Bund 18, at the edge of the lobby, Young Master Han and Gao Yang from Kyoto stood there, holding their wine glasses.

They had managed to sneak into this party today by piggybacking on Qin Tiankuo's invitation.

The two had originally intended to stay in the corner and watch coldly, but the scene at the main entrance just now had shattered their sense of superiority.

Young Master Han stared at the center of the crowd in the distance.

Young Master Jie, the top figure in Shanghai who usually didn't even think much of the Kyoto circle, was currently holding Shen Du's hand with both of his, his face plastered with a cordial smile.

"Gulp." Gao Yang swallowed, his hand holding the champagne trembling slightly.

Young Master Han came back to his senses, a layer of cold sweat seeping from his back.

The reality before them confirmed their previous calculations.

Taking advantage of the crowd surrounding Young Master Jie and Shen Du as they moved toward the private elevator, Young Master Han turned immediately.

He shoved his wine glass into the hand of a passing waiter, lowered his head, walked quickly through the hallway, and ducked into a secluded restroom on the first floor.

"Click." Young Master Han rushed into the innermost stall and locked the door.

He took a deep breath, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number in Kyoto.

The phone rang twice before it was answered.

Young Master Han pressed it against the microphone and lowered his voice:

"Young Master Su, it's confirmed here."

"Shen Du is definitely a member of the Shen Family!

Just now, even a local tyrant like Young Master Jie changed his tune in front of the whole circle and directly addressed him as 'Young Master Shen'."

On the other end of the line, there was a long silence.

In the restroom stall, only the sound of Young Master Han's heavy breathing could be heard.

After a minute, Young Master Su's voice came through the receiver.

Gone was his usual air of strategic command, replaced by helplessness and exhaustion:

"Since it's confirmed that he's from the Shen Family... then there's nothing to be done."

"Abandon the original plan to acquire Meituan shares entirely, and cut off the tentacles we've extended immediately."

Hearing that even Young Master Su, who was in Kyoto, had conceded on the spot, Young Master Han's heart tightened.

Before he could respond, Young Master Su's tone shifted, and he sharply demanded:

"That brainless idiot Gao Yang didn't provoke this Young Master Shen, did he?"

Young Master Han was startled and hurriedly denied it:

"No!

There was a bit of friction when they first met.

But Gao Yang was intimidated by his presence; he didn't even dare to say a single harsh word."

A sound of relief, barely concealed, came through the receiver.

Immediately after, Young Master Su issued a warning:

"Young Master Han, prick up your ears and remember this clearly."

"The higher-ups are in a sensitive period of reshuffling recently.

Even if you were to tie up and beat those three local tyrants in Shanghai—Young Master Jie, Zhou Wennan, and Zhu Shuyan—I would still have a way to help you smooth things over."

Young Master Su paused:

"But do not even touch the descendants of political figures, especially those from the Shen Family.

To touch them is to die."

"Once you're done, get back to Kyoto immediately.

Don't stay there and stir up trouble."

"Beep... beep... beep..." The call ended, and the busy signal echoed in the stall.

Young Master Han put down his phone.

He leaned against the tiled wall of the restroom, feeling drained.

He tilted his head back and let out a long, heavy breath.

Only then did he realize that the back of his shirt was soaked with cold sweat.

At this moment, Young Master Han had only one thought in his mind: relief.

He was relieved that Gao Yang hadn't acted on a brainless impulse back then.

If he had thrown that punch, they probably wouldn't even be able to leave Shanghai today.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of Bund 18, inside a private room, the double walnut doors slowly closed with a dull "click," completely isolating the music from the terrace outside.

Qin Tiankuo was left outside the door, not even qualifying to serve tea or pour water.

Inside the spacious private room, only Young Master Jie, Zhou Wennan, Zhu Shuyan, and Shen Du, who sat in the main seat, remained.

Everyone took their seats in turn.

The usually arrogant Young Master Jie did not put on airs this time.

He stood up, picked up the crystal decanter from the center of the table, and poured half a glass of red wine into the goblet in front of Shen Du.

"Clink." Four wine glasses clinked gently in the air, emitting a crisp sound.

After taking a small sip, Young Master Jie put down his glass.

He didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point.

He looked at Shen Du, his eyes filled with hidden probing, and spoke with carefully chosen words:

"Young Master Shen, your move this time has truly opened our eyes."

"To make such a big splash acquiring thirty percent of Meituan's shares, and then immediately securing the exclusive rights for express delivery in two major districts of Shanghai..."

Young Master Jie paused, leaning forward slightly.

He asked the deepest concern in his heart:

"Are these methods of yours... intended to redistribute the cake of interests at the bottom of Shanghai?"

Faced with Young Master Jie's probing, Shen Du's expression did not change.

He knew well that the three people sitting in front of him were by no means fools.

They were immersed in commercial empires and had a sense for underlying logic far superior to that of ordinary people.

Using empty pleasantries would only be counterproductive.

Shen Du naturally picked up his goblet and took a sip of red wine.

His gaze swept over the three people in front of him as he threw out a proposition:

"The current model of discounts and promotions Meituan is doing across various industries is too light."

"This kind of thing has no barriers; as long as new capital enters the market to burn money, it is extremely easy to copy."

He put down his glass and tapped his knuckles on the walnut tabletop twice:

"If you want to eat the biggest piece of the cake, you have to do something different."