In that moment, she felt as nervous as a quail standing before Charlie.


    When he seemed unsure, she handed Charlie a cup of milk tea, pretending she was about to drink it herself. To her surprise, he took a sip of the milk tea.


    Just moments before Charlie drank from it, Nanako Ito had used the straw, making this indirect kiss the most intimate gesture she had ever shared with a man throughout her life.


    Since that night, the thought of the indirect kiss lingered in Nanako Ito’s mind.


    As she recalled Charlie’s face, she instinctively lifted her delicate fingers and wrote “Charlie” in traditional characters on the surface of the water.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Though the water rippled gently beneath her touch, the letters she formed quickly faded away.


    This ephemeral act inspired Nanako Ito to feel bold, allowing her to write Charlie’s name repeatedly on the water without leaving a trace behind.


    This night, sleep eluded Nanako Ito for quite some time.


    Meanwhile, the sky over Kyoto gradually brightened.


    Despite forecasts of heavy snow, it had not arrived.


    The morning weather update indicated that due to shifting air currents, the anticipated snowfall from the previous night would be postponed for two to three days.


    Feeling a sense of regret over the dy, Nanako Ito mused that it might be a sign of nature’s unkindness.


    As she thought of Charlie, who was just a few hundred kilometers away, a wave of mncholy washed over her:


    Perhaps, I am not meant to be with Charlie!


    The next day, in Aurous Hill.


    Mr. Quinton arrived early at the Quinton warehouse, overseeing the preparation of Chinese herbal medicines destined for Charlie.


    The workers were bustling about, and he urged them: “Every medicinal material must be checked manually before packing to ensure uracy, quality, and sufficiency. Is that clear?”


    “Yes, Mr. Quinton!” they all replied quickly.


    Mr. Quinton nodded in approval and added, “We need to have the first batch ready to send to the airport by this afternoon. I’ve already contacted the air cargopany, and the shipment is scheduled to take off at 10 o’clock tonight for Tokyo!”


    Meanwhile, at the Banks Family residence in Eastcliff.


    For the past twenty years, the head of the Banks Family had conducted a morning meeting in the mansion’s main hall each day.


    This meeting resembled an ancient emperor’s court, with the family members reporting on the progress of various business ventures.<fna663> This text is hosted at Find~Novel</fna663>


    If the patriarch had any directives, he would announce them during this gathering.


    The Banks Family was flourishing, with over thirty children and rtives participating in the morning assembly.


    The meeting was conducted with strict decorum. The elder sat on a half-meter-high step, facing the attendees, exuding authority.


    Children, grandchildren, and rtives were arranged in rows ording to their status and lineage.


    At this moment, Mr. Banks sat like a regal figure, surveying the family gathered below him, and dered in amanding voice: “The current international crude oil market remains vtile, and the global economic downturn is impacting trade. Many shippingpanies are facing difficulties. This presents an excellent opportunity for the Banks Family to make strategic acquisitions and defy the trend. Our coboration with the Japanese must be expedited!”<h3 ss="has-text-align-center" id="chapter-list"><strong></strong>