Chapter 2: A Slap in the Face

Lu Yunshang squatted down, efficiently closing the suitcase and pulling out the handle to leave.

At the entrance of the villa, Liu Jingting’s red Land Rover was parked by the roadside. Seeing Lu Yunshang come out, he quickly opened the car door, got out, and helped her put her luggage in the trunk.

He also thoughtfully opened the passenger door for her.

Fu Hanzhou, standing on the second-floor balcony of the villa, saw everything. His gaze was fierce, his hands clenched into fists.

After the car left, he took out his phone and called his assistant. “Ma Dong, go check who the man who took Lu Yunshang away is. What’s their relationship? Where is he taking her?”

In the car, Lu Yunshang unexpectedly sneezed.

Liu Jingting quickly adjusted the air conditioning in the car and asked gently, “Are you cold?”

Lu Yunshang shook her head. “Not cold.”

Liu Jingting looked at Lu Yunshang with concern. “Why did you suddenly get divorced? Who proposed it?”

“He did,” Lu Yunshang replied. “Xiao Nianzhen is pregnant, and he told me to quickly make way for them, mother and child.”

“What?” Liu Jingting slammed on the brakes, his anger flaring. “Is Fu Hanzhou even human? Are you just going to let him off like this? No, where is he now? I’m going to settle the score with him.”

Lu Yunshang stopped Liu Jingting. “Senior brother, why are you more excited than me? It’s not entirely his fault. Our marriage was a family arrangement. He and Xiao Nianzhen are the real couple. A forced melon isn’t sweet. Why would I want a man like that?”

“But you can’t just let it go like this,” Liu Jingting grumbled.

“I don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore and waste my time. Didn’t you say that my dad has put out the word that he’s going to sell the company? I have to get the company back, but I can’t do it openly. My dad definitely won’t sell the company to me.”

Liu Jingting nodded. “There’s still time. We can find a reliable company to help with the acquisition. Right now, what we can do is prepare sufficient funds. So, you getting divorced to focus on your career is right. Don’t be so lovesick anymore.”

“Don’t worry, senior brother. Let’s just consider this marriage a nightmare. Now that I’m awake, it’s time to return to my original position.”

“That’s right. You own half of the studio, and the position of chief perfumer has been reserved for you. Come to work quickly. I’ve been having headaches these past few days. Su Qitai keeps being dissatisfied with the custom perfume we made for him.”

“Su Qitai? The CEO of Yaqi Cosmetics?” Lu Yunshang remembered him. She had met him at her wedding to Fu Hanzhou a year ago. He and Fu Hanzhou were good friends, and they co-founded a supercar club.

“Yes, Su Qitai said that we should first make a personal perfume for him. If he likes it, the company’s new products next year will be entrusted to us for development. This is a big deal, Yunshang. If we can get it, we can solve the funding problem for acquiring your family’s company.”

Lu Yunshang immediately felt motivated. “Why don’t we go to the company now? It’s still early. Take me to meet everyone first.”

“Okay, I’ll do as you say.”

Liu Jingting changed lanes and drove towards the studio.

The studio had only been established for six months. It was also in the city center, not far from Lu Yunshang’s apartment in Mudan Garden. She hadn’t been there yet.

In less than ten minutes, they arrived at the underground parking garage of the office building where the studio was located.

They took the elevator directly to the studio’s entrance. As the elevator doors opened, various fragrances filled the air, making people feel refreshed.

Lu Yunshang smiled faintly, feeling reborn.

Her beauty also attracted everyone’s attention.

Liu Jingting clapped his hands to gather everyone in the lobby and introduced Lu Yunshang to them.

“Everyone listen up. Miss Lu will be our studio’s chief perfumer from now on. I dare say, you won’t find a more outstanding perfumer than her in Huacheng. You should learn from her.”

“Hello everyone, my name is Lu Yunshang. You can call me Yunshang,” Lu Yunshang said with a smile.

The male colleagues were excited, but the female colleagues’ eyes were a little sour, even with a hint of disdain.

Lina rolled her eyes. “Lu Yunshang? I’ve never heard of this person in the industry. Being a perfumer isn’t something anyone can do. You need at least five or six years of experience before you dare to take on jobs, let alone be a chief perfumer.”

Upon hearing these harsh words, Lu Yunshang only smiled slightly. Liu Jingting glared at Lina. “Lina, Mr. Su said that the perfume you made this time is even worse than last time. I’ve given you three chances. You’re off this project.”

“From now on, Yunshang will be in charge of Mr. Su’s projects, with Tiantian and Xiao Ke as assistants.”

After hearing this, Tiantian and Xiao Ke happily high-fived, saying in unison, “Miss Lu, please take care of us.”

Lina’s face turned pale with anger. Why was it Mr. Su’s project?

She had gone to great lengths to ask Liu Jingting to give her this project. Young Master Su was handsome and rich; this was her best chance to get close to the wealthy, yet it was snatched away by an unknown woman.

“Mr. Su, since Miss Lu is so amazing, let her make a perfume for everyone to see.”

The lobby instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath and looked at Lu Yunshang.

Although everyone knew that Lina was deliberately provoking her because of her dissatisfaction, they were also genuinely curious about Lu Yunshang’s background and whether she could truly handle the position of chief perfumer.

Liu Jingting’s face was livid. He wanted to scold Lina, but Lu Yunshang stopped him. She tugged at his sleeve and shook her head, signaling him not to speak.

“Is your name Lina?” Lu Yunshang said with a smile. “If you really want to see, then I’ll show you my skills. But it’s a little boring to make perfume alone. Why don’t we play a game? Let’s all participate.”

Lu Yunshang looked out the window. Snowflakes were falling from the sky. “Let’s use winter as the theme. What do you all think?”

Lina rolled her eyes. “Fine, who’s afraid of who?”

Seeing the serious expression of their boss, Liu Jingting, the others could only nod. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Lu Yunshang raised her hand to stop them. “Wait, since it’s a competition, there should be a time limit. Ten minutes. Please, Manager Liu, time us. Begin.”

The crowd dispersed, rushing to their respective workstations in a flurry of activity. Only Lu Yunshang remained calm, following Liu Jingting to the workstation reserved for the chief perfumer.

Unlike the others, she didn’t start preparing perfume formulas on the computer but closed her eyes instead.

Lina watched, a mocking expression on her face. “You’ll be crying later.”

After a moment, Lu Yunshang opened her eyes, walked to the perfume counter, and began to make the perfume. Her movements were skillful and efficient. Everyone was stunned. The scene was so beautiful; it was like a fairy had descended to earth to make perfume.

They realized that making perfume was such a beautiful and enjoyable process.

Two minutes later, Lu Yunshang handed the finished perfume to Liu Jingting. Everyone gathered around, vying to smell it with scent strips.

Lina watched the incredible expressions on everyone’s faces. She frowned and reluctantly took the scent strip from a colleague, brought it to her nose, and her expression changed from disdain to shock.

It was a warm woody scent. She felt as if she were in the warm sun outdoors, surrounded by snow.

“This is the best-smelling perfume I’ve ever smelled,” Xiao Ke said, intoxicated. “Miss Lu is not only the number one in Huacheng, but she’s at a world-class level. Even Chiyo wouldn’t be better, would she?”

Hearing the word “Chiyo,” Lu Yunshang’s lips curled up slightly.

Liu Jingting leaned into her ear and whispered, “Should we reveal that you are Chiyo?”

Lu Yunshang shook her head. “It’s not the right time yet.”

A pleasant ringtone came from her bag. Lu Yunshang took out her phone and saw that it was Fu Hanzhou.

As soon as she answered, Fu Hanzhou’s urgent voice came through. “Come back to the old house immediately. Grandfather wants to see us.”