Chapter 37: Chiyo’s Return

Under everyone’s astonished gaze, Lu Yunshang slowly walked onto the stage. She took the microphone from Liu Jingting. “Hello everyone, I am Chiyo. My real name is Lu Yunshang.”

Lina slumped to the floor. “Impossible. You’re a fake. It can’t be.”

Shen Yue gritted her teeth, both shocked and humiliated. How could Lu Yunshang be Chiyo? Chiyo was the world’s number one perfumer. How could Lu Yunshang, a seemingly ordinary person, be so outstanding, so much better than her? She could lose to Chiyo, but how could she lose to Lu Yunshang?

Fu Changqing watched Lu Yunshang, his eyes filled with tenderness, his lips unconsciously curving upward. Master Bai also smiled.

The long-haired woman who had helped with the scent testing stepped forward to shake Lu Yunshang’s hand. “Master Chiyo, it’s an honor to meet you. When I smelled the perfume, I was amazed, and your name immediately came to mind.”

“These two perfumes are as outstanding as your previous works. I believe they will become another globally popular product upon release. We are all convinced by your skills.”

Lu Yunshang smiled gently. “You flatter me. I also make mistakes sometimes. For example, Ms. Lina’s floral perfume is a failed product. It’s unbelievable that its formula was stolen.”

The long-haired woman looked at Lina, her eyes hardening. “This kind of person is a disgrace to the perfumery world. Ms. Chiyo, we should call the police, arrest her, and sue her. We absolutely cannot condone this.”

Fu Changqing gestured to Huzi beside him, and Huzi immediately had two bodyguards seize Lina.

“Take her to the police station,” Fu Changqing said.

Lina struggled. “No, don’t take me to the police station! Ms. Shen, save me! I did this to help you! Ms. Shen, you can’t leave me to die…”

Shen Yue glared fiercely at Lina. “Shut your mouth!”

Lina immediately shut up, tears streaming down her face as the bodyguards dragged her away. Shen Yue turned and quickly left.

The audience surged onto the stage.

“Ms. Chiyo, can we smell your new perfume?”

“Ms. Chiyo, can I take a picture with you?”

“Ms. Chiyo, can you share some of your perfume-making techniques with us?”

“Ms. Chiyo, were you resting or perfuming during your year away?”

…

Fu Hanzhou stood below, staring at Lu Yunshang on stage, his mouth agape in shock.

How could it be? How could Lu Yunshang be the globally renowned perfumer, Chiyo? Wasn’t she the greedy eldest daughter of the Lu family?

Huang Siyuan whispered to Fu Hanzhou, “Did you know Miss Lu was Chiyo?”

Fu Hanzhou glared at Huang Siyuan.

Huang Siyuan, seeing his expression, understood and sighed. “Do you regret it now? But it’s over for you. Even though you can remarry after a divorce, you had a child out of wedlock. Miss Lu would never forgive you for that.”

Fu Hanzhou clenched his fist. “Do you really want another broken arm?”

“Okay, okay, I won’t say anything. I’m going to take a picture with Chiyo and show it off.”

Huang Siyuan pushed forward. Lu Yunshang graciously agreed to a photo with him.

Huang Siyuan posted the picture on his Moments.

Caption: Honored to take a picture with the world’s number one perfumer, Master Chiyo! Master Chiyo is beautiful and kind. We’re collaborating with Fu Group to launch a new product; please look forward to it.

He then posted the picture in the Fu family group chat.

Huang Siyuan: Breaking news! Lu Yunshang is the world’s number one perfumer, Chiyo!!!

The group chat exploded.

Fu Yueyue: [Shocked emoji] My god, is it true? Is it true? I’m going to cry. Those perfumes I sold were so cheap! They were custom-made by Chiyo! Don’t stop me; I’m going to bang my head against the wall.

Fu Meirou: That woman is Chiyo? Huang Siyuan, did a donkey kick you in the head? Is today April Fool’s Day? If she’s Chiyo, I’ll call you “Mom” from now on.

Fu Pengyu: Siyuan, don’t joke about this. If she’s Chiyo, I’m the emperor.

Lin Xiuhou: Yeah, what kind of joke is this? Are you trying to make us laugh?

Fu Changqing: [Tagging Fu Meirou] You can call [Tagging Huang Siyuan] “Mom” now.

Fu Meirou: [What the heck emoji]

Huang Siyuan: Call her! Call her!

Fu Hanzhou: Everyone, Yunshang really is Chiyo.

Huang Jianfei: Who’s whose mom?

Fu Pengyu: [Tagging Fu Hanzhou] You brat! I give you one month, no, one week, to remarry Yunshang! I’m flying back to Huacheng with your mother right now! If you can’t do it, we’ll cut off our father-son relationship.

Fu Yueyue: [Tagging Fu Hanzhou] If you don’t get Sister-in-law back, I won’t acknowledge you as my brother.

Fu Hanzhou: …

Fu Changqing looked at Lu Yunshang on stage, radiant and unattainable.

After taking pictures with everyone, Lu Yunshang was pulled into photos with the other five judges and the organizers. Everyone was so enthusiastic that Lu Yunshang had to ask Fu Changqing for help.

Fu Changqing immediately instructed Fu Hanzhou and Huang Siyuan to invite all participants and judges to lunch on behalf of Fu Group. Reluctantly, they left for the restaurant.

Liu Jingting had Tiantian and Xiao Ke join the group for lunch, then return to the company to celebrate.

Fu Changqing separately hosted Lu Yunshang, Liu Jingting, and Master Bai.

After they sat down, Fu Changqing asked Lu Yunshang if she would sign an exclusive cooperation agreement with Fu Group.

Lu Yunshang wasn’t surprised and readily agreed, proposing her own terms. “I can sign a one-year exclusive cooperation agreement with Fu Group. I won’t work for any individual or company during this year, but I have one condition.”

“What condition?”

“I hope Mr. Fu will help me acquire my father’s company. It’s my grandfather’s company, and I promised my mother I would get it back.”

“That’s it? No problem. I agree,” Fu Changqing said.

“But we must sign a non-disclosure agreement. This shouldn’t be known to many people, especially my father. I’m afraid he might create problems if he knows, perhaps driving up the price.”

Fu Changqing nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll have Secretary Liu handle it discreetly.”

“Good. Thank you, Mr. Fu. I’ll toast you with tea,” Lu Yunshang raised her teacup.

Liu Jingting also raised his cup. “Let’s toast Master Bai. Master Bai, you’ve worked hard today.”

Master Bai sipped her tea. “When I smelled Ms. Lina’s perfume, I knew she stole Yunshang’s formula.”

“But a fake is a fake. Even with the same formula, she couldn’t replicate your scent; there’s still a difference.”

Liu Jingting put down his teacup. “It’s good that Yunshang was observant and noticed the perfume in the safe had been moved.”

Lu Yunshang smiled. “Even if the perfume hadn’t been moved, I wouldn’t have used it for the bidding. It’s a failed formula. I felt something was missing, maybe the soul of the perfume.”

Master Bai waved her hand. “What you consider a failed formula is still an excellent product in the market. Qingfeng didn’t misjudge you.”

Liu Jingting joked, “I remember when I first met Yunshang, she was thin and small, picking up branches in the mountains. Master asked about her family, and she just shook her head, then asked Master if she could have some of his steamed buns.”

“Master was surprised she could smell the buns in his bag. He immediately told me he wanted to take her as his apprentice. Yunshang seriously asked Master, ‘If I become your apprentice, will I have steamed buns to eat?'”

Lu Yunshang laughed, wiping tears from her eyes. “If it weren’t for Master, I might have starved to death.”

Fu Changqing gazed gently at Lu Yunshang, placing his hand on the back of her hand.

Lu Yunshang froze, afraid Master Bai and Liu Jingting would notice, her heart pounding rapidly.