At this time, at Aurous International Hotel, Ito Nanako brought her assistant and a few maids that she had brought from home with her as she returned to her hotel room after leaving the stadium.The Ito family had booked the only two presidential suites available at Aurous International Hotel a long time in advance because Nanako would be coming to Aurous Hill this time.Amongst those two presidential suites, Nanako would be staying in one of the presidential suites by herself. Meanwhile, her coach, assistant, and subordinates would be staying in the other presidential suite. The Ito family had also sent someone to Aurous Hill as early as half a month ago just to transform one of the bedrooms in the presidential suite that Nanako would be staying in into her own exclusive training room.It was said that the renovation fee alone had cost millions of dollars. If the price of the long-term rental of these two presidential suites were included in the cost, then the Ito family would ha
Hiroshi replied embarrassedly, “Miss, the chairman really attaches great importance to the collaboration with Kobayashi Pharma. So, please do not be so stubborn and wilful…”Nanako replied lightly, “I’m sorry, Tanaka-san. I want to continue training now.”After that, Nanako hung up the phone directly.Nanako was twenty-two years old this year and she was a senior at the University of Tokyo, which was the top university in Japan. She was a very simple and innocent person, and her gentle and quiet temperament and personality also brought about a bit of inherent coldness and indifference.She was the most beautiful girl for four continuous years in the University of Tokyo. Besides that, many top families in Japan were also competing for Nanako to become their daughter-in-law as she was the best and most preferred candidate. However, Nanako was actually just a simple and innocent girl who loved combat and fighting.She did not understand the relationship between men and women, and she
As soon as Hiroshi heard this, he hurriedly blurted out, “Chairman, you can rest assured that I would never reveal anything you say to me to anyone.”Yahiko replied in satisfaction, “Kobayashi Pharma is currently producing a type of stomach powder that has excellent efficacy and the sales of this medication is very good. Moreover, it’s actively expanding in the global market. Nowadays, people would usually encounter some form of stomach upset. Therefore, the market for this kind of medication is very wide. As soon as this drug is launched globally, then the annual profits will definitely reach at least tens of billions of dollars.”Hiroshi exclaimed, “There’s such a big market just for stomach medicine?”Yahiko replied, “This is just my preliminary estimation. I’ve already asked the pharmaceutical laboratory in the University of Tokyo to analyze and compare Kobayashi Pharma’s stomach powder with the stomach medicine produced by several other companies on the market. In the final con
“That’s great!” Yahiko replied approvingly. “It’s as expected of the daughter of the Ito family. You aren’t arrogant or impetuous and you did not forget your original goal!”Although Nanako was speaking to her father over the phone, she subconsciously bowed slightly towards the east as she said respectfully, “Thank you for your praise, Eminent Father! I will continue to work hard!”Yahiko hummed before he said, “By the way, Nanako, did the chairman of Kobayashi Pharma, Kobayashi Jiro, go over there and ask to see you?”“Yes, Eminent Father!”Yahiko replied, “You are not young anymore. You should not continue staying away from the opposite sex all the time. I have made contact with this young man, Jiro, before. He is only two years older than you and he is a very promising young man. It isn’t a bad idea for you to have more contact with him in the future.”Nanako hurriedly replied, “Eminent Father, I do not have any thoughts about the affairs and relationship between men and women
When Yahiko heard Nanako’s promise, his voice softened slightly as he asked, “Nanako, have you eaten your lunch yet?”Nanako replied truthfully, “Eminent Father, I continued training after returning from the stadium so I have not eaten lunch yet.”Yahiko hummed as he said, “That’s good. Since it is also noon now, I think you should just ask Jiro to stay and have lunch with you then. That way, you would have already done your best to serve and entertain him on behalf of your father.”“Ask him to stay for lunch?”Nanako could not help but feel a little reluctant.She had always had a relatively cold personality. When her family was teaching her feminine etiquette, she had always been asked to maintain a sufficient distance from men outside. In addition, Nanako had been obsessed with combat and fighting for many years. Therefore, she did not have much contact with men at all.Aside from her own family members, Nanako had never dined privately with any young men although she was alre
After that, Jiro sighed again with deep annoyance as he said regretfully, “I’ve just arrived at Aurous Hill this morning. I came here directly immediately after completing the immigration procedures. I did not make it in time to go to the stadium to watch your match today, Miss Ito. I heard that you defeated your opponent in just one round today. I feel really regretful that I was not able to watch the match!”Nanako replied, “Mr. Kobayashi, you’re too kind.”“From now on, I’ll definitely be there to cheer for you in every single one of your matches, Miss Ito!”“To be honest, my Kobayashi Pharma sponsored this combat and fighting championship. When the time comes, I will be presenting the trophies to the winners of the championship. I can’t wait and I am already looking forward to the finals, where I will be presenting the champion’s trophy to you, Miss Ito!”Nanako replied humbly, “Mr. Kobayashi, before the competition is over, no one knows for certain who will win the championshi
Nanako did not expect to hear that Jiro’s brother had actually died in Aurous Hill. She felt a little embarrassed and thus, hurriedly said, “Sorry, Mr. Kobayashi. I had accidentally mentioned and reminded you of your painful memory.”Jiro hurriedly waved his hand before he said seriously, “It doesn’t matter. Although this is a very depressing matter, Miss Ito, you are not an outsider to me after all. I can also relieve some of my sadness and grievances by telling you about it too…”In fact, Jiro was not sad at all when he thought about his brother, Ichiro. On the contrary, he was actually very happy.The idea of the eldest son inheriting the family business had always been deeply ingrained in the mind of the Japanese.No matter how big or powerful a family was, the eldest son would always inherit the family business eventually. Even if the eldest son’s ability was not as good as the second son or the other sons’, he would still end up as the head of the family and his more capable
Jiro did not give up. Instead, he continued asking, “Then, why don’t you give it some thoughts now? What kind of man would be able to meet your criteria and standards?”Nanako thought carefully before she said, “First of all, the main criterion is that he would have to be better than me!”“Better than you? In what sense? In his career? Education? Or his achievements?”Nanako replied seriously, “He would have to be better and stronger than me in terms of his combat and fighting skills! I do not want to find a man who would not be able to defeat me in the future.”Jiro coughed awkwardly as he thought to himself, ‘Although Nanako looks like a quiet person, she’s actually a rather competitive person.’It would be fine if she enjoyed combat and fighting and wanted to pursue combat and fighting on her own. However, why would she have to look for a man who is stronger and more capable compared to her when it came to love?After all, he was a physically weak person who lacked strength. W
If Charlie really did get Jimmy to stay, who knew what other rubbish Jimmy would spout.As for Jimmy, he was actually surprised Charlie was asking him to stay, and his instincts told him that Charlie definitely didn't mean well.Not only that, he was on foreign soil—wouldn't he be defenseless if Charlie called in his friends to beat him up?Hence, he shook his head without hesitation as he said, "I'm sorry, but my sister-in-law is quite keen for me to leave, so I have no reason to stay and add to her problems. And it is her big day. I can afford to let her save face instead of spilling the beans on her all at once.""Oh, but you were complaining about the lack of important people just now!" Charlie quickly interjected. "It just so happens that we have a big-shot on his way here, and he's a good friend of the groom. When I told him about you over the phone, he said to keep you here no matter what it took, since he would like to talk to you face to face."Jimmy frowned. "What, are y
And with those words, Jimmy turned to leave.Despite threatening Matilda, there was no such agreement, and he knew that Matilda was well aware of that.Regardless, the only strategy he had in mind when he came to Oskia was harassment. As such, he simply came up with a lie to make Matilda look bad in public. All it took from there was just for one person to relay what he had said—even if it were all lies, Matilda's character would still be called into question.He made himself very clear so that Matilda would understand that if she didn't give in, his family would keep hounding her to take their two pounds of flesh. Even if she wouldn't surrender the stateside estates and human resources of Smith Group Corporate Law, they would still claim a sizable chunk.But if that failed too, they would just have to destroy Matilda's reputation along with Smith Group Corporate Law.Either way, they were not letting her off easy!And reading that much from Jimmy's behavior, Matilda snapped co
Jimmy didn't expect Matilda to break down the share ownership of Smith Group Corporate Law to such detail, and he hollered as he was starting to feel embarrassed, "Now, you're just being irresponsible, Matilda. My father gave my brother a million to start the law firm in the first place, and they had agreed that the family would have a stake, albeit only at 49%, to not deny your decision-making as a startup. Or are you denying it?"Matilda immediately became furious and snapped, "Bullshit! That was just a loan of one million, and the agreed term was three years. However, your brother returned it in one! I even asked him to return the money with every single one of his siblings watching, since you might all get skeptical, yet suddenly, you're calling it an investment?""You said he's returned it? Well, what proof do you have?" Jimmy quickly shot back. "Our entire family can testify that the money hasn't come back to us!""So, this is how you're going to play it?" Matilda smirked. "Th
In the first place, Jimmy had come to Oskia to claim a stake in Smith Group Corporate Law, ideally strong-arming Paul and Matilda into splitting the firm in two, with Jimmy taking everything in the States while Paul kept what was left.The way Jimmy saw it, Paul and Matilda were going to be permanently residing in Oskia anyway. There was no way they could manage things over in another country properly, so it was basically returning the firm to the rightful owner.Naturally, Jimmy also knew that despite bearing the Smith family name, the success of Smith Group Corporate Law was all the work of Jimmy's brother and Matilda. Jimmy's father had helped to a certain extent, but that extent of financial support wouldn't amount to an investment at all. No judge in the world would support his claim to the law firm's shares.Therefore, when he learned that Matilda was remarrying, he thought he could seize the moment to cause a scene. Nothing could be better if she and Paul decided to sacrifice
Jimmy deliberately raised his voice as he said coolly, "Oh, but I didn't want to intervene. It's you and your mother who left the States in a split second, taking with you the law firm which bears the Smith family name. Don't you think such behavior is inappropriate?"Seeing the surprised reactions of the guests, Paul promptly retorted, "The law firm uses the Smith family name, but it is my parents' legacy! They worked blood and sweat to build it from the ground up, and as their only son, I have a veto when it comes to decisions. Or did we need your permission to move to Oskia?""Where's your conscience, Paul?" Jimmy pursed his lips. "Even if you don't know how Smith Group Corporate Law was founded, is that the case for you? It would have been a joke if it weren't for my father's connections!"Hell, it's no exaggeration that it was my father who fought to expand the law firm across America, and just using the family name means you're borrowing the family's influence. The family hono
The blonde man's voice drew everyone's attention in an instant.Despite his foreign appearance, he spoke Oskian fluently and walked with a haughty gait, almost as though he was above the rest.Paul's expression turned grim the instant he saw him, and he hurried over with Charlie.Still, before Paul could speak, Charlie stopped him, frowning at the man as he said, "Don't you think it's inappropriate to come slinging personal attacks at someone else's wedding?"The man clearly didn't know Charlie, and he wasn't worried, seeing that he was young.Snorting in disdain, he asked, "You must be from the groom's family, yes? Please tell him that he doesn't deserve my sister-in-law.""It's up to the happy couple to decide that," Charlie retorted quietly. "Deserving someone is no issue as long as they both love each other."The man pursed his lips and looked pointedly around him. "Just look at how simple this wedding is. Forget picking an unassuming city like Aurous Hill—is there a single
Pausing, Charlie then said, "I'll call Steve to drop by later too. I'm sure folks in Aurous Hill won't know him, but your potential troublemaker might.""I-Is that really fine?" Yolden blurted."What's not fine about it?" Charlie chuckled. "He has been treated like a tool ever since he came to Aurous Hill, and now that he has a chance to strut about, he wouldn't ask for more."Yolden appeared slightly relieved at that, and Charlie asked, "By the way, where's Paul, Matilda, and Autumn?""Getting their makeup done," Yolden replied. "Paul's my best man while Autumn's the maid of honor.""Good," Charlie nodded with a grin. "Don't worry—the wedding's going to be a success."As they spoke, Matilda stepped out of the dressing room in a stark-white wedding dress, flanked by Autumn and Paul.Seeing Charlie, Autumn nodded politely, "Good morning, Mr. Wade."As Charlie nodded in turn, Paul started, "G-Good morning… Mr. Wade…"Seeing that he was nervous and tentative, Charlie knew that he
As Yolden and Matilda were remarrying after living abroad for years, the wedding ceremony was much simpler, skipping Oskian customs and having a simple wedding reception for their guests at the hotel hall.There weren't that many guests either—aside from their children and close friends, only a handful of Yolden's colleagues at Aurous Hill University were invited.As the celebrant, Charlie didn't have much to do and was mainly the emcee.He brought along his jacket as he headed out to Shangri-La, not wearing it immediately so that Claire wouldn't guess that he was attending Matilda's wedding.Arriving at the Hanging Gardens before the guests were supposed to arrive, he found Yolden working with the staff to finalize the preparations.Seeing Charlie, Yolden approached him and said, "Thanks for coming this early, Charlie."Noticing that he was a little tired, Charlie asked in concern, "Had a bad night?"Yolden nodded, sighing, "Paul's uncle caused a huge mess. Both Matilda and I a
Tarlon nodded. "How do you suggest we find them?"Fleur scowled. "There's no rush. There are things which I'm still confused about, so just keep a close eye on the Ackers and the Wades for the time being. Report to me right away if anything important comes up—don't afford our enemies any opportunities to exploit.""Yes, milady!" -The next day, more news outlets were covering the joint project between the Ackers and the Wades as word continued to spread.However, neither family revealed too many details, be it the name of the company, who was the CEO, or the scale of their business.While the public was dying with curiosity, nothing else was known.Still, Aurous Hill's officials were especially interested, with the town hall visiting the Ackers the next day and showing utmost sincerity by leasing a whopping 2-million-square-meter land along the southern highway. Still, the condition was for the Ackers to come true on their promise to propel the city's economy to 15 billion US d