Chapter 22: The First Voyage of the Luxury Yacht
Zhou Chao led Qin Lang, Li Yang, and the others as they walked towards the luxury yacht in a grand manner. Upon reaching the yacht, they realized that it was indeed large and beautifully designed.
As Zhou Chao was about to board the ship, he was stopped by a foreign crew member. "What are you doing? This is a private yacht, not open for visits."
Zhou Chao responded, "Is George here? Please call him." The crew member hesitated for a moment upon hearing Zhou Chao's words but eventually went to fetch George.
"Oh, boss, I thought you would arrive later," George said as he approached Zhou Chao with open arms, seemingly wanting to give him a hug.
Zhou Chao quickly stopped him and said, "George, I've brought some friends to visit. Please make the necessary arrangements." With that, he led the group onto the yacht.
"Chao, what's the situation? Is this your yacht?" Li Yang asked, astonished. He felt like he was losing sight of who Zhou Chao really was, as he seemed to become more mysterious with each passing day.
"Well, it's my first time here too. Feel free to explore. George, please arrange some refreshments."
Qin Lang, Li Yang, and the others followed Zhou Chao and entered the leisure area at the bow of the yacht, taking a seat.
"Li Yang, your friend is impressive. Why don't you introduce him?" the others were curious about Zhou Chao's background. Owning a yacht worth hundreds of millions was something even Li Yang's older brother didn't have. After all, yachts were not very practical and could only be used occasionally for leisure.
"Me? There's nothing much to be curious about. I've just invested in a few companies," Zhou Chao said, shaking the wine in his hand.
Li Yang watched Zhou Chao's expression and felt like he was showing off, but he had no evidence to prove it.
Qin Lang was also curious about the companies Zhou Chao had invested in. To be able to casually own a yacht like this, he must have invested in something significant. However, since they weren't very familiar with each other, they didn't ask directly.
As if he had thought of something, Li Yang said, "Qin Shao, it's getting late now. Why don't we take this yacht out for a ride? Going there now would delay us further." Zhou Chao understood that Li Yang was helping him solve a problem. After all, Qin Lang had also arranged a yacht, but Zhou Chao's yacht was even more luxurious. If others were to hear about it, they might think Zhou Chao was disrespecting Qin Lang.
Zhou Chao also spoke up, "Qin Shao, what do you think?" Everyone present was intelligent, and no one jumped out to challenge each other. After all, they were all the future successors of Modu City's second generation, with clever minds.
"If you don't mind, then please arrange it, Mr. Zhou," Qin Lang said, putting Zhou Chao on the same level as himself.
Zhou Chao quickly made the arrangements. Drinks, fruits, snacks, and more were already prepared on the yacht, and he also instructed George to set sail.
Chao Yue and Guo Yan had been watching the conversation from the sidelines, knowing that the young masters present were not simple figures. They felt hesitant to initiate a conversation until Zhou Chao approached them.
"What are you two doing sitting here? Let's eat and drink. Come with me," Zhou Chao said, leading the two of them to the bow of the yacht. Qin Lang and the others were playing a game with the beautiful women around them.
"Cough, you should be more composed. There are rooms inside where you can rest if you're tired," Zhou Chao said, making everyone laugh.
Zhou Chao pointed to the two women beside him and said, "Let me introduce them. This is my sister, Guo Yan, Xiaoyan. And this is Brother Qin, Brother Li, Brother Yi, and Brother Yang." Guo Yan, not being a foolish person, greeted each of them in turn.
"This is my good friend, Chao Yue, from the entertainment industry. Please take care of her in the future," Zhou Chao introduced Chao Yue. Being in the entertainment industry for some time, Chao Yue understood the necessary etiquette. Upon hearing Zhou Chao's words, Qin Lang and the others understood his intention and left their contact information for Chao Yue.
Chao Yue watched Zhou Chao attentively. Detecting a flicker of mysterious radiance in his gaze, she recalled her humble beginnings. Starting work and earning a living before completing junior high school, she toiled away in a factory and washed dishes. However, an unforeseen twist of fate propelled her to fame within the entertainment industry through a talent show. Those previous encounters had instilled in her the significance of networking. Zhou Chao, by affording her the opportunity to mingle with Modu City's second-generation elites, had truly embraced her as a genuine friend.
Qin Lang looked at Chao Yue beside Zhou Chao and turned to Yang Shuo, saying, "Your family has a film and television company, right? You should bring her along sometime."
"No problem. I'll arrange it when the time comes," Yang Shuo replied nonchalantly.
The yacht left the Huangpu River mouth and headed towards Chongming Island. George approached Zhou Chao to discuss the itinerary. After consulting with a few people, they decided to find a good spot near Chongming Island for diving and fishing. Luckily, the yacht was equipped with four sets of diving gear and fishing equipment. They instructed George to sail towards the area.
George found a spot near Chongming Island where the water was shallow, only around 10 meters deep, and it was safe to dive. They stopped there, and Qin Lang, Yin Ketin, and Yang Shuo had already prepared their diving gear. Another crew member had also put on diving equipment to accompany them underwater and ensure their safety. This crew member was one of the six onboard, specializing in diving and salvage operations.
Zhou Chao stayed with Guo Yan and Chao Yue, basking in the sunlight. When Chao Yue changed into a bikini, Zhou Chao's eyes seemed to light up momentarily. Sensing his gaze, Chao Yue quickly grabbed a towel to wrap herself up.
Li Yang, the eldest, had already gone to rest in the back while Qin Lang and the others were diving. Zhou Chao didn't dare to ask or speculate about what Li Yang was doing. The rest of the group was busy taking pictures and basking in the sunlight, but there was a peculiar gleam in their eyes.
Zhou Chao looked at the flock of beauties moving around and felt overwhelmed. He got up and walked towards the back, where he saw George and a sailor playing with fishing equipment, preparing to fish and pass the time.
When George saw Boss Zhou Chao approaching, he suggested, "Boss, how about we compete to see who can catch more fish?"
Instantly interested, Zhou Chao started handling the fishing equipment.
The moments of joy swiftly flew by. Qin Lang and his diving companions found themselves lounging in the U-shaped salon, engaged in lively conversations with the stunning women by their side. Surprisingly, Li Yang had managed to integrate himself into their group as well.
While Zhou Chao's fishing attempts were fruitless, George managed to catch three fish. Zhou Chao looked on with envy. Perhaps this was the appeal of fishing.
As the sky gradually darkened, they discussed and decided to return and find a place to eat. Zhou Chao took the lead and said, "Let me handle it."
He immediately called the property's house manager, Yang, and booked a private room at The Palms Residence clubhouse. After the call, he joined the conversation with the others.
By the time Zhou Chao, Qin Lang, and the others returned to the Metropolitan Yacht Club, it was already 8 PM. They arrived at the parking lot, and Li Yang asked, "Chao, where is the place you arranged?"
"The clubhouse is located in The Palms Residence," Qin Lang responded. Li Yang, who had also recognized that Zhou Chao owned property there, turned to Qin Lang and the rest, suggesting, "Let's go. After we finish dinner, we can pay a visit to Zhou Chao's luxurious mansion."