Someone else actually wanted the wilted little herb.


    Room 1: [Six million.]


    Juniper lost interest in her snacks. She shoved her bag at Shanley, tilting her chin in a silentmand for him to pack the rest. Shanley just chuckled helplessly. As long as she was happy, the cost didn''t matter.


    After a few more rounds:


    Room 6: [Twenty million.]


    Juniper was baffled. She had assumed the other bidder was just ying around, but they were serious.


    "Who''s in Room 6?" she asked Flint.


    "Ms. Payne, Room 6 is upied by Harold Houston," Flint replied. “He came today specifically for the Viper''s Tail."


    Harold? The so-called medical prodigy, her supposed sessor? It was interesting that someone else shared her fascination with a dying weed. He certainly had a


    good eye.


    "I also heard..." Flint continued, "that Harold flew for over twenty hours just to get his hands on this nt."


    “Is that right?” Juniper toyed with the bidding device, hesitating. She didn''t ce another bid. Instead, she said in a low voice, "Flint, find out whichb is storing the rest of this batch of Viper''s Tail."


    "Huh?" Flint was confused for a moment. "Ms. Payne, didn''t that entire batch wither and die?"


    "They might be dead now, but that might change once I find them," Juniper said with a faint smile, tossing the bidding device onto the sofa. "Let''s go."


    "Didn''t you want it?" Shanley frowned, taking her hand. "Flint, bid for Ms. Payne. Whatever the price, just match it."


    "No," Juniper shook her head, squeezing his hand in return and raising an eyebrow. We could buya lot of snacks with that much


    oney." As for the Viper''s Tail, let''s leave it to someone who''s fated to have it."


    She was curious to see just how skilled this "genius doctor" really was.


    Shanley paused, looking down at her hand holding his. Ultimately, he didn''t argue, simply telling Flint to investigate the storage location of the other nts.


    "Let''s go,” Shanley said, carrying her bag in his right hand and holding tightly to her hand with his left.


    Juniper, who was used to walking


    with her hands in her pockets, took a few steps before realizing a man was still holding her hand. She gave it a little shake and looked


    Shanley questioningly. Content w


    "What''s wrong?" Shanley''s lips curved into a devastating smile, his eyes full of yful intent. "Weren''t you the one who took my hand first, Juniper?"


    Was she? Juniper thought back and realized he was right. But if she didn''t admit it, it didn''t happen.


    “Did I?” she asked, letting him lead her along. She tried to pull away again, but he only held on tighter, his warmth seeping into her, melting the frost around her heart.


    “Shanley...” Juniper bit her lip, about to speak. "Are you nning to follow me into the restroom?"


    Lost in his happiness, Shanley looked up and realized she had led him straight to the women''s restroom entrance.


    "I''ll hold your hand again when youe out," he said, reluctantly letting her go and watching her disappear inside. Thinking about how she had taken his hand, his smile grew wider.


    Flint, waiting nearby, just shook his head. The boss was way too easy to please. It was embarrassing to watch.


    ...


    After washing her hands, Juniper was walking out when she rounded a corner and nearly collided with a tall figure. Her eyes were immediately drawn not to the man, but to the Viper''s Tail in his arms.


    Harold''s gazended on the girl''s face. In that instant, his heart began to thud violently in his chest.