Addison's gaze turned icy as she watched Virginia, clearly having put effort into her appearance, walking beside the man whose face was all too familiar to her. They were headed straight toward the building where Addison stood. Virginia was practically beaming, her eyes sparkling with joy. The smile on her face made it clear she was thrilled. Addison raised an eyebrow. What on earth had Virginia so excited? Lance was someone who kept his personal life under wraps, never bringing a date to professional events. Yet here he was, with Virginia, making no effort to hide it. Addison couldn't help but think that Virginia's delight was understandable. Yeah, being his true love has its perks, I guess. Addison shook her head, a soft, dismissive laugh escaping her lips. She had barely begun to process it, but in the next moment, Virginia and Lance were already right by the door. Startled, Addison quickly slammed the wooden door shut behind her. The door groaned loudly as it closed, its old age making its protest known. Lance's eyes briefly scanned the charming little building. Virginia, noticing his distraction, blinked in confusion and asked softly, "Lance, is something wrong?" Lance quickly averted his gaze. "Nothing." Virginia tilted her head, then, with a gentle motion, slipped her arm around his. When he didn't pull away, she seemed relieved. "Lance, I'm so happy you brought me here." Lance's gaze remained fixed ahead, on the cobblestone path. "Glad to hear it." Addison checked her watch before sitting down at the wooden table. The exhibition wouldn't begin for some time. The space at the event was cramped, and she would need to walk around to select the right herbs.It was very possible that Lance would spot her, and she wasn't willing to take that chance. She quickly gathered her hair into a simple style and gave her makeup a quick touch-up. Heading upstairs to the bedroom, she was relieved to find a hat in the wardrobe. Keith's habit of always being on the go meant there were random items lying around. Addison reached for the hat but stopped midway. Wearing it would only attract more attention. She discarded the idea, resting her chin on her hand as she thought it through. It seemed no matter what she did to hide, it would feel forced. With a sigh, she decided the best course of action was simply to avoid Lance altogether. Addison arrived at the exhibition just in time. The building, with its red brick and green tiles, had a distinct old-world charm. Inside, the display cases were packed with rare medicinal herbs, their colors sparkling in the soft light. The place was crowded, filled with people. Addison scanned the room quickly, but she didn't spot Lance. She sighed in relief and turned her attention back to the herbs in the display cases. Row after row, she examined the various items: canred vine, horsetail, stargrass ... She couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She hadn't expected such a wide array of valuable herbs in Halton's small town. "Excuse me, may I examine one of the samples?" Addison asked. The supplier glanced at her, his expression indifferent. He gave a brief grunt, barely acknowledging her request. He was clearly hoping to make bulk sales to big companies, not dealing with small buyers like Addison. He assumed that people like her, purchasing in small quantities, didn't know much about herbs and only wasted his time with questions. He doubted she'd be making a significant purchase. Ignoring his attitude, Addison picked up a cardamom. The small, dark blue fruit resembled a nut. "This is from Nicewood, right?" she asked, turning it over in her hand.The supplier's eyes flickered with interest. "You know your stuff." Most people associated cardamom with Cloudington, its primary producer. But those who were knowledgeable knew that Nicewood also grew it. The cardamom from Nicewood, unlike Cloudington's, thrived in a more humid environment, giving it a darker hue. It was perfect for making capsules with Western medicine. The supplier studied Addison, clearly impressed. She seemed to know what she was doing, but he guessed she wasn't some big company executive—probably just buying a few pounds. "I'll take 550 pounds," Addison said, inspecting the herb's quality before speaking. "Five hundred and fifty?" he asked, stunned. Addison selected a few more herbs. "I'll take these as well." "What?!" The supplier's voice trembled. "You want all of these, too?" he asked, still shocked. "Yes, for now. If everything works out, I'll order more," Addison said calmly. The supplier could hardly believe it. He had only hoped to sell fifty-five pounds, but now he was making a sale ten times that. "Is that a problem?" Addison noticed his face turning red, his expression suggesting he was getting lightheaded. "Are you alright? Is your heart ... " she asked, stepping closer, concerned. She was ready to help if he needed it. "I'm fine ... really," the supplier said quickly, pressing his hand to his chest. He seemed embarrassed, trying to cover up his discomfort. "It happens sometimes." "Are you sure you're okay?" Addison asked, her voice tense with concern. Since Harvey's incident, she had become overly cautious around anyone who seemed unwell. "I'm fine," the supplier said, grinning broadly, showing all eight of his front teeth. Addison relaxed slightly and handed him a business card. "Call the VP when you want to strike a deal." The man took the card quickly. "Got it!" With that, Addison turned and walked toward the shop behind her.It took the supplier a moment to regain his bearings. He blinked, rubbing his eyes, before looking down at the business card. "Raven ... ?" he mumbled, the realization dawning. "That explains it ... " As he continued staring at the card, trying to connect the dots about the woman who had left such an impression, he felt a shadow fall beside him, cold and unexpected. He glanced up instinctively and found a tall man standing there. "Raven?" the man asked, his voice sharp. The supplier almost dropped the card in his hand, startled by the man's intense gaze. "What did you say?" "You mentioned Raven," Lance repeated, his tone calm but firm. "Yeah, I did. Someone from Raven Company just ordered some herbs," the supplier stammered, his voice unsteady. "Someone from Raven? Which way did they go?" "They went that way," the supplier said, pointing toward the direction Addison had taken. His mind was still clouded with the joy of the sale. "She was wearing a black dress," he added, scratching his head. A black dress? Was it a woman? The exhibition had strict requirements, inviting only major shareholders from top companies. Keith was Raven's largest shareholder, and since he hadn't shown up, it was clear he wasn't attending. So, was the second-largest shareholder a woman? Lance's frown deepened. Through the crowd ahead, he spotted a woman in a black dress. That silhouette—could it really be Dr. Nancy? Dr. Nancy was Raven's second-largest shareholder? Lance narrowed his eyes and pushed forward, quickening his pace. "Lance, where are you going? Wait for me!" Virginia, struggling to walk in her dress, couldn't keep up. She took a few steps, clearly unable to match his pace. Lance's strides grew longer, drawing him closer to the figure ahead with each step.