Chapter 129: Another Competition

The two bottles of perfume Elder Fang pointed to came from Cheng Wan and Qin Yun Shu.

"What exactly is going on?" Fang Yiwen asked.

Qin Yun Shu stepped forward and took a sniff, "This is what I blended."

She thought for a moment, then went to her own room and took out an empty bottle.

"Cheng Wan, you cheated."

Cheng Wan lifted her chin and sneered, "On what grounds do you say I cheated?"

Qin Yun Shu held up the empty bottle in her hand, "I blended a little extra when I was mixing the perfume earlier, and I put it in this bottle. Now the bottle is empty, and the perfume you blended is exactly the same as mine. And you still say you didn't cheat?"

Her voice was very loud as she questioned her.

After all, the probability of two different people blending perfume with the same scent at the same time is zero.

Everyone present accepted Qin Yun Shu's questioning.

After all, the so-called rooms were only separated by curtains, and the two were right next to each other.

Furthermore, Qin Yun Shu had come out before Cheng Wan.

Cheng Wan had the time and space to tamper with things.

"It wasn't me," Cheng Wan defended herself, her gaze fixed on the perfume on the tray.

But these three words were too weak.

After her round of questioning, Qin Yun Shu's attitude softened again.

She sighed and said, "Cheng Wan, I know you want to become Elder Fang's disciple and become an excellent Perfumer, but no matter what, you shouldn't do something like this."

Her words implied that Cheng Wan would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

"That's enough," Chu Li rebuked in a low voice.

Qin Yun Shu bit her lip and did not continue.

Chu Li looked at Cheng Wan; she stood there, and the whispers around her were all attacks against her.

But her back was straight, looking completely fearless.

Chu Li felt a bit of pity, and thinking that she was pregnant, he took the initiative to say, "Wanwan, come here."

Cheng Wan glanced at him coldly and ignored him.

"Qin Yun Shu, perhaps it was you who stole my things. You bring out an empty bottle, what does that prove?"

Qin Yun Shu clenched her palms, "I came out before you."

"Or perhaps you bribed someone here to secretly swap my perfume."

After all, to protect privacy, the surveillance cameras were turned off today.

It was not impossible.

Qin Yun Shu's face turned red, very angry, "Cheng Wan, you are twisting the truth."

Compared to her anger, Cheng Wan's emotions were very calm.

Her gentle and indifferent expression was very convincing, while Qin Yun Shu looked more like she was embarrassed and angry after being caught.

But for this kind of thing, one needs evidence.

Although most people felt that Qin Yun Shu's words had higher credibility—after all, she was the Chief Perfumer of the Chu Group and would not ruin her own job and reputation.

Fang Yiwen stood out and proposed, "Both of you are rare and talented Perfumers. In my opinion, why not have another competition on the spot?"

A smile appeared at the corners of Cheng Wan's mouth, "I have no objections. It depends on Miss Qin."

Even if Qin Yun Shu were slow, she could sense that something was wrong.

She suddenly looked up and stared at Cheng Wan, her eyes full of shock and disbelief.

This was a trap from the very beginning.

A trap Cheng Wan had specifically set for her.

"I..." she was somewhat flustered.

Cheng Wan would not give her a chance to back down.

"What's wrong? As the Chief Perfumer and Head of Research and Development for the Chu Group, is Miss Qin afraid?"

She was putting her on the spot.

It was just a matter of whether Qin Yun Shu wanted to save face.

Chu Li's expression was extremely complex; what Qin Yun Shu could think of, he naturally thought of too.

And he thought of even more.

Cheng Wan had likely planned all of this long ago.

Cheng Wan seemed to anticipate that he was about to speak, so she turned her head to look at him and said coldly, "What does President Chu think?"

Chu Li saw the hatred she no longer hid in her eyes.

She had always cared about the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Perfume.

But did she really want to destroy everything, even knowing how important the marriage between Qin Yun Shu and Cheng Han was?

He was expressionless as he walked a few steps toward her, his brows furrowed.

"Cheng Wan."

He addressed her by her full name, his expression unreadable.

"Enough."

His eyes were full of warning for her.

Cheng Wan saw it.

But she chose to turn a blind eye.

Instead, she deliberately provoked him: "Miss Qin says I stole her perfume. To prove my innocence, I request another competition. Is there a problem with that?"

Her aura was intense, a rare display of sharp, exposed edges.

"Brother, let it go." Qin Yun Shu's eyes reddened, her fingers twisting together, full of grievance.

"I agree to it." She looked at Cheng Wan as if bearing a heavy burden, "I'll agree to it, there's no need to force my brother."

She refused to believe that she truly couldn't compare to Cheng Wan.

After all, the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Perfume was created by her older sister, Qin Xingwan.

Cheng Wan had merely stolen Qin Xingwan's achievements.

Thinking this, Qin Yun Shu's mindset relaxed; she even thought carefully about how, over these years, Cheng Wan had no other works besides the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Perfume.

She was just a petty person fishing for fame and compliments.

Qin Yun Shu regained her confidence, "Cheng Wan, I will compete with you."

Cheng Wan's lips curled into a light smile; looking at Qin Yun Shu's expression, she knew exactly what she was thinking.

This was the exact effect she wanted.

She didn't engage in a war of words, but instead asked Fang Yiwen to help them set things up.

After seeking instructions from Elder Fang, Fang Yiwen set up a long table.

On the table were two sets of spices.

The crowd watched with great interest.

Fang Yiwen asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"

Qin Yun Shu said, "I propose that each of us thinks of a theme and blends accordingly based on that theme; this is fairer. Miss Cheng, what do you think?"

She was worried that Cheng Wan would use the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Perfume to win.

"Fine." Cheng Wan had no objections.

Chu Li, however, disapproved, "Yun Shu, that's enough."

Qin Yun Shu was extremely confident, "Brother, I will prove myself."

And Cheng Wan indeed chose a solar term as the theme for this time.

"Winter Solstice."

Qin Yun Shu thought to herself, just as expected.

It was a good thing she was smart enough to add that extra condition.

She gave her own theme.

"Moonlight."

Cheng Wan accepted.

The two went to blend their perfumes separately.

Everyone watched with undivided attention.

On Qin Yun Shu's side, the use of spices was precise down to the gram or milliliter, whereas looking at Cheng Wan, she didn't use those measuring tools at all, relying entirely on feeling.

"Why do I feel like Cheng Wan is just messing around?"

"I think so too; with her being so casual, what could she possibly blend?"

After all, even a single drop difference in the amount of spice could cause a huge gap in the scent.

When they blended perfume, they were always exceptionally cautious and careful, not daring to use even a bit too much.

Cheng Wan was completely reckless.

Qin Yun Shu heard those words, and she became even more confident in herself.

As for Cheng Wan, it was as if she hadn't heard them at all, continuing to add a little here and a little there.

Elder Fang watched, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

Once, Wen Suxue was the same; she disdained using those measuring tools and preferred to blend as her heart desired.

The scents that collided due to the different amounts of various spices fascinated her.

Clearly, Cheng Wan was the same.

There were tears in the corners of Elder Fang's eyes; in Cheng Wan, he saw the shadow of Wen Suxue.