Six in the morning, Montlais Winery had already woken up.
Martin stood in the foyer, holding today's itinerary.
Seven o'clock, depart from the winery.
Nine fifteen, arrive in Paris.
Ten forty, board the first-class carriage of the Eurostar to London.
Arrive at London St. Pancras Station at noon.
In the afternoon, be picked up by the Wendell Family's car and taken to Wendell Castle.
Entourage: Jiang Lin, Isabella, Chen Qian, Martin.
Luca remains in Paris, continuing to watch over "the lady in the grey dress by the window" in Auguste's studio.
Alain remains in Bordeaux.
Monitoring bank rollover documents, the formal text of the equity framework, and legal materials regarding the grey labor chain of Lemaire Wine.
When Jiang Lin went downstairs, Isabella was already in the dining room.
She wore a long dark blue dress, a neatly tailored white short jacket, her hair was pinned up, and a pair of pearl studs adorned her ears.
On the other side of the dining table, Chen Qian sat uneasily.
Isabella looked at her.
"After arriving in London, you need to do three things."
Chen Qian immediately sat up straighter.
"One, record all content related to accounts, debts, and cash flow in the Wendell Family's asset list."
"Two, do not answer any questions about Paris, Belleville, or Zhao Hong casually."
"Three, do not just look at Mr. Jiang."
Chen Qian froze.
Jiang Lin's hand, which was holding his coffee, also paused for a moment.
"You are the Financial Assistant of Montlais Winery. Once in London, what others should see is your professional capability."
"I understand."
"There is one more thing."
"Please go ahead, Mrs. Montclair."
"Do not mistake gratitude for something else."
"Mrs. Montclair, I will remember my status."
"I am just reminding you that people like Jiang Lin are dangerous."
Isabella looked at Jiang Lin.
"He will appear at your most vulnerable moment and pull you out of the mud. For a woman in a desperate situation, this is more troublesome than sweet talk."
Jiang Lin put down his coffee.
"Mrs. Montclair, is it appropriate to evaluate a fellow partner like this so early in the morning?"
"It is very appropriate. You should know the trouble you bring."
"I know."
Breakfast ended, and Martin handed the London folder to Jiang Lin.
The Wendell Family asset list, castle map, and family relationships.
The itinerary arranged by the secretary and a brief table of British noble etiquette.
Jiang Lin frowned when he turned to the reception arrangements.
Isabella noticed.
"What is written?"
Jiang Lin passed the document over.
Isabella looked down.
Wendell Castle East Wing, a separate suite prepared for Mr. Jiang Lin.
South Wing, a guest room prepared for Mrs. Montclair.
Entourage arranged in the annex.
"She has separated you from me."
"The castle has many rooms."
"Mrs. Wendell is quite thoughtful."
Isabella placed the reception arrangement back on the table.
"Reply to her that as a core partner of Montlais Winery, Mr. Jiang is traveling with Mrs. Montclair, so the room arrangements can be re-determined after arrival."
Martin nodded.
"Yes, Mrs. Montclair."
Jiang Lin looked at her.
"You even want to manage the rooms?"
"If I don't manage the rooms, what should I manage? I am managing her attitude."
Isabella looked out the window.
"Before we have even met, she is telling me that she can invite you away from my side."
She turned back.
"I don't like this implication."
Jiang Lin smiled.
"Mrs. Montclair, you have quite a temper today."
Isabella picked up her gloves and slowly put them on.
"Mr. Jiang, you had better smile less today."
Before departure, Alain rushed over to deliver documents.
"Mrs. Montclair, the bank has confirmed in writing that they will re-evaluate and have agreed to enter the eighteen-month rollover approval process."
Isabella took the document and looked at Jiang Lin.
"The first phase is safe."
Jiang Lin nodded.
"Once the first batch of Asian orders is settled, the first phase of the equity framework will launch."
Alain glanced at him.
"Mr. Jiang, I will keep an eye on the text. While you are in London, try not to sign any documents that I haven't reviewed."
"I will try."
"I start to worry as soon as I hear those two words."
Isabella said faintly: "You should get used to it."
Alain smiled bitterly.
"Mrs. Montclair, I already have too many things to worry about."
He looked at Chen Qian again.
"Miss Chen, you are only responsible for recording the Wendell Family asset list; do not make judgments until you return to the winery."
Chen Qian nodded seriously.
"I understand."
Finally, Alain handed a thick file bag to Jiang Lin.
"This is the backup of the grey labor materials provided by Zhao Hong. If anyone tries to make an issue of your background, at least you have material to fight back."
Jiang Lin took it.
"Is Pierre still making moves?"
"Lemaire Wine is letting lawyers cut ties, claiming the labor issue is the individual behavior of a subsidiary. They are also looking for reasons to explain that consulting fee for Pierre."
Jiang Lin said: "Then let them explain."
At seven-fifteen in the morning, the motorcade left Montlais Winery.
Isabella and Jiang Lin sat in the back row of the first car.
Chen Qian and Martin sat in the second car.
The vineyards slowly receded from outside the window.
Jiang Lin looked at that piece of land that had just been saved, feeling a clear sense of stability in his heart.
System text appeared.
【Current Main Quest Phase: French Winery Crisis Temporarily Resolved】
【Resources Obtained: Identity as Core Partner of Montlais Winery, Junior Entry Ticket to French High Society, Asian Wine Industry Channels, Attention from the Paris Art Circle】
【Entering Region: UK · Wendell Castle】
【Core Objective: Contact Victoria Wendell, Investigate the Source of the Old Painting, Evaluate Wendell Family Assets】
【Hidden Hint: Harem Relationships Entering Multi-Angle Testing Phase】
Jiang Lin looked at the last line and couldn't help but smile.
Isabella immediately looked over.
"What are you smiling about again?"
"Thinking that London might be very lively."
"Are you looking forward to it?"
"A little."
"Let me remind you, Victoria Wendell is different from Chen Qian, and different from me."
"I know."
"She has lived in the British old aristocracy circle for many years and is able to keep a castle that is about to go bankrupt from collapsing; she is not easy to deal with."
Jiang Lin nodded.
Isabella continued:
"This kind of woman will not easily trust anyone. Calling you in the middle of the night, provoking me from afar, and playing tricks on room arrangements—she has no good intentions."
"I see it that way too."
"Then why are you still going?"
"The more it's like this, the more it's worth going."
"I knew you would say that."
"Are you worried she will use me?"
"I am worried that you are willing to be used by her."
Isabella did not look at him.
"A man like you, the more dangerous a beautiful woman in a predicament is, the more interested you are. The prouder she is, the more you want to see her bow her head. The harder she is to save, the more you feel it's worth it."
"You understand me very well now."
"I paid a lot of tuition fees."
"Tuition fees?"
"Thirty percent of the winery, Mother's brooch, the Paris dinner, the trip to London."
"You learn quickly."
Isabella did not respond further.
Train, first-class carriage.
Isabella sat by the window, flipping through the Wendell Castle materials.
Jiang Lin sat opposite her, looking at the asset list.
Chen Qian and Martin sat on the other side.
It was Chen Qian's first time sitting in such a carriage, and her nervousness was suppressed by the novelty.
She peeked out the window, then carefully opened her notebook and wrote on the first page.
Wendell Family Asset Inventory.
Jiang Lin noticed her pen tip stopped at the word "Asset".
"Don't know how to write it?"
"No, no, I'm just a little nervous."
"It's my first time going to the UK."
"What are you afraid of?"
"Afraid of embarrassing myself."
Jiang Lin took the pen from her hand and wrote down four columns.
Asset Name.
Liability Situation.
Realizable Value.
Potential Controller.
He returned the pen to her.
"Just look at these four items when you get there. It doesn't matter if you don't understand the aristocratic pleasantries; just understand where the money flows."
"I have remembered it."
Isabella looked up from the materials.
"Mr. Jiang is quite good at teaching people."
"She learns quickly."
Subsequently, Jiang Lin's phone lit up.
Claire sent a message.
【The full version of the article has been published. The headline was changed by the editor to be more aggressive. I hope you don't mind.】
Below is a link screenshot.
Jiang Lin: The Oriental Man Who Walked from a Grey Basement into a Bordeaux Winery》
Subtitle:
"Mrs. Montclair, the Chinese girl, the female reporter from Paris, the British countess—the women around him are pushing open the old doors of Europe one by one."
Just as Jiang Lin finished reading, Isabella had already looked up.
"Who?"
"Claire."
"What did she write again?"
Jiang Lin passed the phone over.
Isabella finished reading the headline, and her eyebrows moved slightly.
"She is very good at writing headlines."
"The dissemination effect should be very good."
"Of course it is good; she wrote herself into it too."
Jiang Lin took back the phone.
Claire sent another message.
【Good luck in London. Waiting for you to return. The exclusive interview is still valid.】
Isabella didn't see this one.
But she guessed it.
"Did she ask you out?"
"For an interview."
"Alone?"
"I haven't agreed yet."
"You had better never agree."
"Mrs. Montclair, you sound like you are managing my private itinerary."
"I am managing the public image of a core partner of Montlais Winery."
"That's a good way to put it."
"Jiang Lin, you will eventually be dragged into trouble by these women."
At twelve-twenty in the afternoon, the train arrived at London St. Pancras Station.
People sent by the Wendell Family were waiting outside the VIP passage.
A mature and beautiful British woman.
Black suit, blonde hair pinned up.
Seeing Jiang Lin and his party, she bowed slightly.
"Mrs. Montclair, Mr. Jiang, Miss Chen, welcome to London."
Isabella said: "Thank you for your trouble."
"I am Mrs. Wendell's private secretary, Irene Hope."
Irene's gaze fell on Jiang Lin.
"Mrs. Wendell is already waiting for everyone at the castle."
Jiang Lin shook hands with her.
"Mrs. Wendell is very punctual."
Irene smiled faintly.
"Mrs. Wendell rarely waits for guests."
"Then today counts as her making an exception."
Irene's smile remained.
"Mrs. Montclair's arrival is, of course, worth an exception."
Chen Qian stood on the side, already starting to feel nervous.
Outside the station, two black Bentleys were parked on the side of the road.
There was the Wendell Family crest on the hood.
Irene arranged the seats.
"Mr. Jiang, please take the first car. Mrs. Wendell has prepared materials about that painting for you, so you can read them on the way."
Isabella looked at her.
"Where do I sit?"
Irene smiled slightly.
"Mrs. Montclair can ride in the second car with Miss Chen, so you can also rest for a while on the way."
Before Jiang Lin could speak, Isabella had already walked toward the first car.
"I am not tired."
Irene's smile did not change.
"Of course."
Jiang Lin followed.
Chen Qian originally intended to go to the second car, but was stopped by Isabella.
"Miss Chen."
"Mrs. Montclair?"
"You also sit in this car."
Irene was finally slightly stunned.
The back seat space of the first car was large, but sitting three people was still too intimate.
Isabella sat on the left.
Jiang Lin sat in the middle.
Chen Qian hesitated for a few seconds and sat on the right.
When the car door closed, Chen Qian's body was as stiff as a wooden board.
Jiang Lin glanced at her.
"Relax."
"I don't dare to move."
Isabella gently adjusted her gloves.
"You'll get used to it."
"She is sandwiching me in the middle, shouldn't I be more nervous?"
Isabella looked at him.
"You can get out of the car."
Chen Qian finally couldn't hold it back and laughed out loud.
The next second, she immediately covered her mouth.
Isabella glanced at her without reprimanding her.
The motorcade drove out of downtown London and headed toward the suburbs.
Along the way, the materials Irene sent were placed on Jiang Lin's lap.
Inside was an excerpt from the Wendell Family's old collection catalog.
At the end of the 19th century, the Wendell Family did indeed collect a French oil painting titled "The Girl Reading by the Window".
The author column was written vaguely, only marked as "J.A.D. circle".
Suspected to be in the circle of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.
After World War I, the collection was reorganized, and this painting disappeared from the official catalog.
Later on, the Wendell Family had several records of privately selling old collections, but there were no detailed records.
Isabella also read it through once.
"She gave you this material, wanting you to believe that this painting has a connection to the Wendell Family."
"It also shows that she needs this painting."
"Why?"
"Maybe she wants to prove that a certain batch of old collections privately handled by her husband is problematic."
Chen Qian suddenly said in a low voice.
"If Mrs. Wendell's husband transferred trust assets, then the loss of the old collection might be one of the pieces of evidence."
Jiang Lin and Isabella looked at her at the same time.
Chen Qian immediately became nervous.
"I was just guessing."
Isabella said: "Continue."
"The asset list says that the maintenance cost of Wendell Castle is very high, and there are several unexplained expenditures in the trust assets."
"That painting originally belonged to the family's old collection, but it was sent to a small French auction house at a low price, which means someone bypassed the formal process to dispose of assets. Someone is transferring things, and Mrs. Wendell is being kept in the dark."
The car was quiet for a moment.
Jiang Lin smiled.
"Not bad."
Isabella also nodded.
"The analysis is very good."
"Thank you, Mrs. Montclair."
"You have improved."
Outside the car window, London gradually faded away.
An hour and a half later, Wendell Castle appeared on a hillside in the distance.
Grey stone walls.
Spired towers.
Facades covered in vines.
A long driveway passed through lawns and woods, ending in a tall archway.
There was a lake on one side of the castle, the water was grey-blue, and a few swans were swimming slowly in the distance.
Chen Qian held her breath as she watched.
"Does someone really live here?"
Jiang Lin said: "And it really burns money."
Isabella looked at the outer wall of the castle.
"Maintaining such a castle is a bottomless pit every year."
Chen Qian lowered her head and wrote in her notebook: Castle maintenance costs are high, asset liquidity pressure is great.
The car stopped in front of the castle.
Two rows of servants stood at the entrance.
Irene had already gotten out of the second car and walked to the door to welcome them.
The car door opened.
Isabella got out of the car first.
She looked up at the British castle with a calm expression.
Jiang Lin got out of the car afterward.
Chen Qian got out last.
The castle gates opened.
Warm yellow light poured out from inside.
The hall was extremely high.
Huge family portraits hung on the walls, armor stood on both sides, and the carpet spread from the door to the stairs.
A fire was burning in the fireplace, and the air smelled of firewood, old books, and black tea.
As Jiang Lin stepped into the hall, a gaze fell from the stairs.
At the corner of the stairs on the second floor, a woman stood.
Around forty years old.
A dark green dress with a light grey shawl draped over her shoulders.
Golden-brown hair pinned behind her head, long neck, very pale complexion.
A fine porcelain teacup in her hand.
Standing high up and looking down, she was like a shadow born from the castle itself.
Victoria Wendell.
The British countess.
Her beauty was completely different from Isabella's.
Isabella was like red wine.
Mature, elegant, with a warmth brewed from soil and sunlight.
Victoria was like silverware in the fog.
Cold, expensive, sharp-edged, every reflection strictly trained.
She walked down the stairs slowly.
Her gaze first fell on Isabella.
"Mrs. Montclair."
Isabella smiled.
"Mrs. Wendell."
The two ladies shook hands.
Victoria looked at Chen Qian again.
"Miss Chen, welcome. I heard you are very good at checking accounts."
Chen Qian was a little surprised and immediately said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Wendell."
Finally, her gaze fell on Jiang Lin.
"Mr. Jiang."
"Mrs. Wendell."
"You are younger than in the photos in Paris."
"And you are harder to guess than on the phone, Mrs. Wendell."
"I understand now why Mrs. Montclair insisted on sitting by your side."
"Perhaps because it was boring on the road."
"Afternoon tea is ready. We can talk about that painting first. Of course, there is also the thing Mr. Jiang is most interested in."
"What?"
"Women in desperate situations."
The hall went quiet for a moment.
Chen Qian lowered her head.
Isabella's gaze grew a little colder.
But Jiang Lin smiled.
System text appeared silently.
【S-Rank Destiny Target: Victoria Wendell, Officially Appearing】
【Current Mood: Testing, Curious, Vigilant, Provocative】
【Initial Trust Level: 15】
【Current Dilemma: Castle Debt, Husband's Asset Transfer, Loss of Old Collection, Loss of Control over Trust】
【Hint: The target has actively created a Shuraba (battlefield) pressure】
【London Volume Officially Opened】