He was only testing the waters, fully expecting to be rejected.

But Celia Sterling thought about it for a long while before giving a noncommittal answer. "My aunt has some business back home and asked me to help her plan out one of the Lowell Family’s medium-sized bases in Tulia."

A warmth spread through Silas Norwood’s chest. "When are you going?"

"Tomorrow or the day after, it’s hard to say." Celia Sterling let out an "oh," a wry smile playing on her lips. "Or maybe I won’t go. I’ll see how I feel."

Silas Norwood lowered his gaze. "Alright."

That afternoon, Assistant Thorne was summoned to Jade Orchid Manor.

"It’s about my friend again," Silas Norwood asked in a low voice. "He and his wife have been apart for eleven days..."

"He’s been counting the days on his fingers, hasn’t he?" Assistant Thorne replied casually.

Then he realized he’d been too glib. "What I mean is, more than ten days is an agonizing ordeal for a newlywed couple. Without physical intimacy, the emotional connection must be rock-solid. Otherwise, things can go too far in the opposite direction, and the relationship could easily fade."

Silas Norwood shot him a cool glance. "I plan to go to Tulia to keep my friend company for a day or two. Pack my things for an evening flight."

Assistant Thorne nodded seriously. "Don’t worry, sir. Since you’re seeing a friend, I’ll prepare two comfortable, casual outfits for you."

Silas Norwood grunted in acknowledgment, sat down on a nearby sofa, and casually picked up a magazine.

Moving with practiced ease, Assistant Thorne prepared the clothes and toiletries. Then, without batting an eye, he opened a drawer, took out two boxes of condoms and three sets of unopened lingerie, and arranged them neatly in the suitcase.

He paused, then looked at Silas Norwood. "Does the trip need to be kept confidential?"

"It’s a private matter. Complete confidentiality." Silas Norwood’s gaze fell on the condoms and lingerie as he replied unhurriedly.

He paused. "Add two more boxes."

「Morellia, Sapphire Shores Base.」

Celia Sterling hung up the phone and couldn’t help but rub her face. ’Am I being a little too forward?’

’Three months... and it’s only been about ten days...’

’But the way his gentle voice called me ’baby’ is just so bewitching.’

Softly cursing herself for letting lust cloud her judgment, Celia Sterling stood up, impatiently tossed aside her face mask, and splashed her face with cold water for a long moment.

That evening, in an elegant private box at a Morellian concert hall, Celia Sterling met Miles Trenton.

He looked travel-worn, as if he’d just come from somewhere far away, and his clothes carried a mixture of various incense aromas.

"My apologies. I spent the morning touring several bases back-to-back. I’ve been spinning like a top, only able to catch a few hours of sleep on the plane. It was rude of me to impose on you two lovely ladies." Miles Trenton smiled apologetically, then took the initiative to greet Celia Sterling. "Miss Sterling, long time no see. You’re looking more beautiful than ever!"

Celia Sterling replied politely, "Mr. Trenton, a person of your importance is always busy. I hear your boss’s empire has expanded again, even acquiring some bases from a few of Elysia’s old, established families."

At the side, Adeline Lowell heard her say "your boss" repeatedly. She glanced discreetly between Celia Sterling and Miles Trenton, guessing that Chairman Norwood hadn’t told Celia about his other identity yet. So, she deliberately played along, simply smiling as she listened to them talk.

"More bases mean more problems. I can’t manage them all by myself anymore." Miles Trenton shook his head helplessly. "I just had a row with my boss about it. I had to pester him relentlessly, but he finally relented and let me hand over management of one-tenth of the bases to someone trustworthy."

Initially, Miles Trenton had actually proposed giving up half.

As for why it became one-tenth...

A certain someone was afraid of overworking his precious wife.

Adeline Lowell asked, seemingly offhandedly, "I wonder who Mr. Trenton plans to hand them over to?"

Miles Trenton gave Adeline Lowell a beaming smile, playing along with her. "After thinking it over and over, Miss Sterling is the best candidate."

Celia Sterling was very surprised. "Me?"

"The Delia Caine brand is at its zenith and is a leading authority in the domestic perfume world. As the head of Delia Caine, Miss Sterling’s abilities are beyond question," Miles Trenton said meaningfully. "Besides, Miss Sterling’s relationship with my boss is... special. You’re a friend he trusts immensely. There’s no one more suitable."

Although Celia Sterling was tempted, she apologized and declined. "I have a lot on my plate recently and I’m already swamped. Getting access to a tycoon’s bases would normally be a dream come true for me, but right now, I have more important life decisions to make. I don’t have the energy to focus on anything else."

"Miss Sterling, don’t be so quick to refuse."

Miles Trenton changed his tune. "Let’s not talk about whether you’ll take over just yet. Miss Sterling, just think of it as a trip. All you have to do is tour the bases. You don’t need to do anything. Each base has its own independent operating system. The boss has too many bases, and their systems all differ. Of course, the things grown inside are incredibly diverse, and among them are a few peerless treasures..."

"What kind of peerless treasures?" Not only Celia Sterling, but even Adeline Lowell was intrigued.

"For example, one of the boss’s bases grows nothing but top-grade Kyara wood, and the heartwood oil it produces is of such high quality that its starting bid at auction is 250,000 per gram, and it’s still nearly impossible to buy. For another example, the boss has a base dedicated to collecting ambergris and musk. It’s called a base, but it’s not for plants or trees. After a massive investment, it’s become a sizable town with a complete trade chain. It has auction houses and all sorts of spice shops where you can buy many perfume ingredients that have vanished from the open market..."

Miles Trenton went on, giving over a dozen examples.

By the time he was finished, Celia Sterling’s mind was in a complete tizzy.

Miles Trenton struck while the iron was hot. "Miss Sterling, don’t feel any pressure. I wouldn’t dare let you spend too much energy on this. Otherwise, won’t Chairman Norwood and Chairman Sterling behind you come after me with knives? Just think of it as a casual invitation from me to take a stroll and have a look around."

Incense masters rarely have any resistance when it comes to spice bases.

Especially not to Rivermoon, the number one super-conglomerate of bases in the world.

Miles Trenton placed a list directly in front of her. It was densely packed with information on the bases under Rivermoon’s name, spanning a good ten pages.

"These are the one hundred and nine bases the boss currently has. There are another twelve whose contracts are still being finalized, so they aren’t strictly considered the boss’s new properties yet. Miss Sterling, you can pick a few bases that are convenient to visit based on your own schedule. Just let me know which ones you choose, and I’ll arrange for people from the bases to be your all-around tour guides."

Miles Trenton was very direct. After saying his piece, he didn’t bother Celia Sterling further and instead turned to Adeline Lowell to chat about the operations of Sapphire Shores.

The group had an authentic Morellian meal together, and then Miles Trenton left in a hurry once again.

Before he left, he made a point to add, "Miss Sterling, for anything regarding the bases from now on, just contact my boss directly. You have his WeChat. Don’t look for me. I’m honestly swamped; I still have matters at a dozen or so bases to deal with."

Celia Sterling grunted in acknowledgment.

That night, she received a message sent proactively by the great tycoon, Rivermoon:

Rivermoon: [I’ll give you twelve bases. Is that enough?]