Chapter 128

On the way to the airport, Carl was on the phone sorting out a pricey gift. Madeleine didn't stop him—it might come in handy, after all. "Last year, Lin Nan's winery secured a rare vintage. It's got serious collector value, and the price is acceptable," Carl mentioned to Beckett. Beckett didn't respond, just looked over at Madeleine. "Uh... how much are we talking?" she asked. "Just over a million," Carl said with a grin. "...Wow," Madeleine took a deep breath. "I really don't think we should go overboard. This Sanya project is part of Joshua's public tender. Beach Group's already a major player in the industry. Us taking the initiative to meet him early? That alone makes a strong impression. Gifts in business are about balance—too much, and it feels desperate." Carl was momentarily stunned. "But sending crabs… kinda looks like we're not even trying?" "Joshua's mother loves crabs. It's not crab season right now, so I specifically sourced ones raised in controlled environments—taste jus