Chapter 29: Encounter

After breakfast, Fu Changqing insisted on driving Lu Yunshang to the studio.

When she got out of the car at the office, he told her, “You finish work at 5:30, right? I’ll pick you up then.”

Watching Fu Changqing’s Maybach drive away, Lu Yunshang felt dazed, as if she were dreaming.

She didn’t understand what Fu Changqing was doing.

Entering the studio, Liu Jingting greeted her, “Yunshang, how’s the progress on the perfume for the bidding competition?”

“It’s done,” Lu Yunshang replied. “Come with me.”

The two entered the perfume room. Lu Yunshang opened the safe, took out a bottle of perfume, and handed it to Liu Jingting.

Liu Jingting picked up a scent strip from the table, sprayed some perfume on it, and brought it to his nose.

He closed his eyes and concentrated. “Peony, rose, jasmine, and gardenia. This scent reminds me of a hundred flowers blooming, dreamy and ethereal. Yunshang, this is amazing! We’ll definitely win over the judges. What’s the name of this perfume?”

Lu Yunshang smiled gently. “Encounter.”

Liu Jingting nodded in agreement. “Let’s wait to make a splash at the bidding competition. Yunshang, you’ve worked hard. I’ll treat you, Tiantian, and Xiao Ke to dinner tonight.”

“Okay, I’ll tell them when they arrive.”

“Then I’ll get busy.”

After Liu Jingting left, Lu Yunshang suddenly remembered that Fu Changqing said he would pick her up in the evening, so she quickly sent him a message:

“Mr. Fu, my senior brother is treating us to dinner tonight. He’ll take me home, so there’s no need to trouble you.”

Less than ten seconds after sending the message, Fu Changqing replied:

“Okay.”

It was so curt. Lu Yunshang didn’t know why, but seeing such a straightforward reply, she felt a little disappointed.

Tiantian and Xiao Ke walked in, bickering, and greeted Lu Yunshang, “Sister Yunshang, good morning.”

Lu Yunshang smiled at them. “Good morning. I have good news. The perfume for the bidding competition has passed Manager Liu’s inspection. Manager Liu said he’ll treat the three of us to dinner tonight to reward us.”

Hearing Lu Yunshang’s words, Tiantian and Xiao Ke were overjoyed.

Lu Yunshang took two bottles of perfume from the safe. “Xiao Ke, find the boxes and bags. One for men and one for women. After packing them, contact Su Shao and send the perfume to him.”

Lu Yunshang found Su Qiyi’s contact number and asked Xiao Ke to write it down.

After writing down the number, Xiao Ke hurried to find the packaging.

“Jie, the orders are all settled. What are we doing today? Why don’t you rest? You’ve been working so hard for so many days. If there’s any odd jobs, just tell me and Xiao Ke.”

Lu Yunshang looked at the “Encounter” perfume she had just put in the safe and pondered.

After a while, she decanted a small sample into her bag. “Tiantian, I’m going to see a friend. I might not be back until the afternoon. Help Xiao Ke pack Su Shao’s perfume and contact him to send it over.”

“Okay, Sister Yunshang. Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on Xiao Ke.”

Leaving the perfume room, Lu Yunshang went to Liu Jingting’s office.

“Senior brother, can I borrow your Land Rover? I’m going to see Shimu (Master’s wife). I want her to check the perfume for the bidding competition.”

Liu Jingting looked out the window. “It looks like it’s going to snow. Shimu lives in the suburbs. The roads are bad. Go another day.”

“I’m free today. If there are orders another day, I won’t have time. The ring road is fast. I’ll be back in the afternoon. We’ll have dinner together tonight. Give me the restaurant address.”

“Okay,” Liu Jingting handed the car keys to Lu Yunshang. “Drive slowly. Safety first.”

Lu Yunshang took the keys. “Okay, I’ll go then.”

After about half an hour, Lu Yunshang saw snow starting to fall.

She got on the ring road, but because of the heavy traffic, she couldn’t drive fast. It took a full hour to get off the highway.

In the suburbs, the traffic gradually thinned, but the snow became heavier.

Lu Yunshang drove while praying that the snow wouldn’t last long, otherwise, the return journey would be blocked.

After driving on the main road for half an hour, Lu Yunshang turned onto a narrow road according to the navigation.

She had only been to Shimu’s house once, before her marriage, and Liu Jingting had driven her.

Because of the snow, the already bumpy dirt road was even harder to navigate.

Lu Yunshang gripped the steering wheel tightly, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, not daring to breathe, afraid of falling into a pothole.

After about 20 minutes, she finally saw a white building.

After entering the yard, she noticed a familiar Maybach parked at the entrance.

She parked her car in a corner of the yard, packed her bag, got out of the car, went to the trunk, took the fruits, biscuits, and other snacks she had bought at the supermarket downstairs from the company, and pressed the doorbell with bags in hand.

Bai Tao opened the door, surprised to see Lu Yunshang. “You came alone?”

“Shimu,” Lu Yunshang called sweetly. “Yes, just me.”

“There are guests at home,” Bai Tao reminded her. “Come in. It’s cold outside.”

Bai Tao took the things from Lu Yunshang. “Why did you buy so much? I’m an old woman. How much can I eat?”

Lu Yunshang smiled. “The fruit can be put in the refrigerator. The biscuits have a long shelf life. They won’t go bad.”

Lu Yunshang changed into cotton slippers and walked into the living room, only to see a tall, familiar figure standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Fu Changqing turned around, his expression clearly surprised.

“You know Teacher Bai too?” he asked.

Lu Yunshang nodded, not knowing what to say. Bai Tao was Qingfeng’s ex-wife.

Bai Tao brought over a cup of longan red date tea and handed it to Lu Yunshang. “Drink it quickly. Warm yourself up. Why did you come in this weather? Choose a better day. The snow is getting heavier.”

Lu Yunshang took the cup. “I had nothing to do today, and I suddenly thought of you, so I came over.”

“Sit down and chat. You won’t be able to leave for a while in this weather. Mr. Fu, call the driver in from the car. Don’t let him freeze in the car. It’s warm inside.”

Fu Changqing took out his phone and sent a message.

The doorbell rang soon after. Lu Yunshang quickly got up. “I’ll open the door.”

Bai Tao nodded.

As soon as Lu Yunshang opened the door, Huzi rushed in, his lips purple and shivering.

Bai Tao pointed towards the kitchen. “Young man, there’s longan red date tea on the kitchen stove. Pour yourself a cup to warm up. Feel free, don’t be polite.”

Huzi bowed quickly. “Thank you, Teacher Bai.”

Lu Yunshang returned to the sofa, picked up her cup, and took a sip of tea. “It’s fragrant, Shimu. The dried longans are smoked with firewood, right? There’s a smoky aroma.”

“Your sense of smell and taste are naturally keen. It’s a rare talent. Do you still make perfumes? Your master told me that your father, that scoundrel, made you get married.”

Lu Yunshang felt embarrassed and secretly glanced at Fu Changqing, who was drinking tea.

Bai Tao noticed and said, “Mr. Fu isn’t the gossipy type. Don’t worry.”

Lu Yunshang forced a smile. “Shimu, I’m divorced. Now I’m a perfumer at my senior brother’s company. I came today to ask you to check a new perfume I made.”

Hearing about the perfume, Fu Changqing looked up at Lu Yunshang.

Lu Yunshang took out a small sample of perfume and a scent strip from her bag, sprayed some on the strip, and handed it to Bai Tao.

Bai Tao took the scent strip and smelled it repeatedly.

After a moment of thought, she slowly spoke. “This perfume is a floral fragrance. You used many flowers. The initial scent is amazing, like being in a dreamy world of a hundred flowers blooming. It’s captivating and suitable for women in love.”

Lu Yunshang was surprised. As expected of Shimu, she even guessed her thoughts.

Bai Tao picked up the scent strip again and smelled it. “But you came to me, so you must have your own thoughts. You think it’s not perfect, right?”

Lu Yunshang nodded repeatedly.

Bai Tao smiled. “Child, what you need isn’t perfumery skills, but an understanding of love. What do you think true love is? Once you find the answer, you’ll know what’s wrong with your perfume.”