153: Chapter 153 The Second Generation of Shanghai!
"Shen Zhou, we meet again. What a coincidence." Ding Shiman smiled, her eyes bright as she carried her breakfast tray and sat down opposite Shen Zhou.
The beautiful woman who had been walking the fastest and was only five meters away from Shen Zhou immediately began to grit her teeth, wishing she could tear Ding Shiman apart with her gaze.
"Damn little bitch, what coincidence? I've seen you hovering there with your breakfast tray for ages!" the woman cursed under her breath, then turned around in a huff and returned to her original spot.
On the other side of the table, Shen Zhou raised his soy milk slightly, signaling to her, and said, "It really is a coincidence."
As he spoke, he even had a xiaolongbao stuffed in his mouth.
He didn't care at all that this was the breakfast area of a so-called top-tier five-star hotel.
He was simply eating breakfast in the way he felt most comfortable.
Seeing this, a flash of surprise crossed Ding Shiman's eyes, but her face remained impassive.
Inside, however, her expectations for Shen Zhou quietly rose.
Many children from prestigious families learned various etiquette from a young age.
By the time they grew up, these dining manners were deeply ingrained in their bones.
It would be impossible for them to greet someone with their mouth stuffed full of buns.
As for some newly minted upstarts, even if they could afford to stay in this expensive five-star hotel, they would never dare to behave as recklessly as Shen Zhou in such a magnificent breakfast hall.
Shen Zhou's behavior only suggested that he had the confidence to act this way.
"What exactly is his background?" Ding Shiman's mind was filled with endless questions, but the question she asked aloud became, "Do you like xiaolongbao that much?"
Shen Zhou swallowed the bun, took a sip of soy milk, and smiled. "I haven't had them in a long time. I've really missed them."
This statement caused a whirlwind of guesses and thoughts to churn in Ding Shiman's mind.
Just as the two were about to continue their conversation, the sound of hurried footsteps came from not far away.
"Old Shen, it's really not easy to see you!"
It turned out to be Wang Sicong, who walked over with three or four other second-generation heirs from Shanghai.
"Young Master Wang, please don't say that. We haven't seen each other for that long."
Remembering that it had only been a month since he last met Wang Sicong, Shen Zhou felt a bit helpless.
"Old Shen, I can't be called 'Young Master' in front of you. Let's not be so formal."
As Wang Sicong said this, he sat down next to Shen Zhou without hesitation.
The other second-generation heirs from Shanghai sat at a table to the right.
"Old Shen, we didn't interrupt anything good, did we?" Wang Sicong winked at Shen Zhou, signaling with his eyes.
"Don't talk nonsense. Miss Ding Shiman is a friend I just met, from Hong Kong." Shen Zhou immediately clarified.
After all, Ding Shiman seemed to have quite a significant status, and he didn't want Wang Sicong to get into a conflict with her over a single remark.
"I'm sorry, Miss Ding. I've always been used to being unruly. I hope you don't mind." Wang Sicong realized the situation immediately and spoke with a hint of apology.
There weren't many families that could make it big in Hong Kong, but every one of them carried significant weight.
Anyone treated with a hint of caution by Shen Zhou likely had a formidable background.
Although Wang Sicong had status in China and often seemed unreliable, he didn't want to make enemies needlessly.
"You are too kind. Young Master Si Cong's name is like thunder to the ears; I wouldn't dare to mind."
Ding Shiman smiled lightly, but her face held a habitual air of distance.
Her words even revealed a hint of sharpness.
It was clear she really didn't fear the weight behind the name Wang Sicong.
This made Wang Sicong's heart skip a beat; he wished he could slap himself right then and there.
"What kind of mess is this? I came to befriend Shen Zhou, but before I could do that, I've offended such a woman!"
Just as Wang Sicong was regretting his actions, Shen Zhou laughed and interjected.
"Hahaha, friends are often made after a clash."
"Shiman, let me introduce you. This is Si Cong and a few friends from Shanghai, also here for the Kuangbiao Competition." Shen Zhou turned slightly to make the introductions.
Wang Sicong also formally reached out to shake hands with Ding Shiman.
The few second-generation heirs from Shanghai at the other table immediately stood up to greet her.
Among them, the slightly chubby young man was named Jiang Zhenqi.
His family was in real estate and also held significant weight in the infrastructure sector in Shanghai.
Their family's reach had even extended to three or four neighboring provinces.
Besides him, another somewhat handsome man was Ge Haiyang, currently a graduate student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He looked bookish, and his family was in the catering and food business.
Ding Shiman only nodded slightly to these two.
The last one, with bronze-colored skin, was the one closest to Wang Sicong. His name and background were personally introduced by Wang Sicong.
"Old Shen, Miss Ding, this guy is Kang Minghao, who I've played with since we were kids."
Although Wang Sicong's introduction was very simple, being from Shanghai, having the surname Kang, and having grown up with Wang Sicong—this person was almost certainly from the Shanghai Kang family, where most members were involved in politics.
Furthermore, a senior member of his family currently held a high position in the capital.
Even Ding Shiman took the initiative to stand up and personally shook hands with Kang Minghao.
Kang Minghao responded very politely, while Jiang Zhenqi and Ge Haiyang didn't mind Ding Shiman's differential treatment at all.
After all, for people in their circle, this kind of thing was already commonplace.
Many people's attitudes in dealing with others represented the most realistic signals in this world.
After a brief introduction, the group had breakfast together.
"Everyone, you don't have anything to do later, do you? Why don't you come with me for a tour?"
"I just purchased a property over there and am planning to do some simple renovations. You can give me some suggestions." Shen Zhou suggested with a smile.
Wang Sicong and the others naturally had no objections.
However, Ding Shiman stated that she needed to visit an elder in her family in the afternoon, so they would have to meet another time.
Leaving the restaurant, the group agreed to meet in an hour.
Shen Zhou returned to his hotel room, pushed open the door, and saw the two women still fast asleep.
Shen Zhou had no choice but to leave a note saying he was heading to Pearl Castle first and that Xue Shuangshuang and the other woman should take a car there once they woke up.
Shen Zhou even took the initiative to tell the hotel's private butler to have a vehicle prepared in advance.
One hour later, a stretch Rolls-Royce left the hotel and headed straight for Pearl Castle.