Chapter 41: Sweet Ginger

That day, after the PA competition ended, most of the audience wasn’t in a rush to leave.

After all, staying in the broadcast hall gave them a chance to watch the experts’ commentary, take photos with industry big shots, and catch various on-camera random interviews. Most importantly, if you were willing to wait an extra ten-plus minutes, staff would hand out the perfume samples made by the contestants that day as souvenirs.

Of course, with so many contestants, each audience member could only get one or two samples.

And which contestant’s work you received was a completely random event.

That night, Yu Wenzhe called: “Old Han, Old Han! Quick, check Xbao, that fragrance of yours is a viral hit!”

Han Fu: “…”

After typing keywords into Xbao, a dazzling array of listings really did pop up — “PA Episode 1 Champion Fu Yao Perfume,” “Han Fu’s Liquor Chocolate Same Style,” available in all sorts of ways.

Some shop owners were decent, noting they were replicas, while others boldly wrote in their product descriptions “Guaranteed Authentic Original On-Site Sample,” and “Only These Few Pieces, While Supplies Last.” Who knew if they were actually real, but the selling prices were absurdly high, and looking at monthly sales, people were actually buying them.

Han Fu: “…”

Actually, when he’d left, the production team had given him samples as keepsakes too. If he’d known earlier that 1ml samples sold for more than gold, he wouldn’t have given them away so casually!

Pei Zhen: “Who did you give them to?”

Han Fu flashed a huge grin: “Guess?”

Pei Zhen refused to guess.

As an audience member, he’d actually received random samples too, seemingly Fu Yao’s and Fatty’s. What he’d wanted most was, of course, Han Fu’s. He’d thought his thoughtful little wolfdog would save it for him. Humph, and it turned out someone had given it away. Giv-en a-way!

Yeah right, a single livestream and he’d blown up into instant fame. By evening, there were already adorable fans waiting outside the TV station building hoping to catch him. If the car windows hadn’t been completely tinted black, getting out would probably have been difficult.

Not broke anymore, no need to rely on a sugar daddy’s support, huh? Planning to flip the script, huh?

Han Fu: “It was Ye Zhenyi.”

Pei Zhen: “???”

An arm was pressed down on his shoulder, and Han Fu pulled, directly collapsing his whole weight onto him. Han Fu put down his tablet, wriggled on the spacious sofa, and wrapped his arms tightly around the man: “So what I’m saying is, my family’s baby really is super amazing. Even the Perfume Queen is your little fan.”

Pei Zhen: “…”

To begin with, “Zhenzhen” was already mushy enough… even docking his pay couldn’t make him change how he called him.

Now, after finally listening to it for several months and barely getting used to it, it suddenly escalated to “Baby”?!

…

Han Fu held Pei Zhen, his chin gently rubbing against the top of his head.

To be precise, he hadn’t even really “given” the perfume sample to Ye Zhenyi; Ye Zhenyi had “asked for it” with her eyes.

That day after the competition, Han Fu went to the makeup room to change, washed his face, packed up his things, and was heading down to the underground garage to find Pei Zhen when he ran right into Ye Zhenyi in the elevator lobby.

True to her reputation as “Miss Calm Face Zhenyi,” she didn’t say a single extra word, just kept staring at the sample vials in his hand. Her pupils were round, focused, and sparkling, remarkably like Pei Zhen that day at the hospital when he’d taken the wrong medicine and stared at people with those Persian cat eyes.

Stared at until Han Fu fidgeted restlessly, and in the end, he could only obediently offer up the samples with both hands.

Ye Zhenyi accepted the perfume with satisfaction: “But, actually, I thought about it more carefully afterwards. What you said back then… that ‘Liquor Chocolate’ was designed by your lover.”

Han Fu: “…”

Ye Zhenyi: “So, your ‘lover’ is pei?”

Han Fu: “…”

Pei Zhen had said that outside, they should try not to expose their relationship. But at this moment, from the bottom of his heart, he truly didn’t want to hide or deny it.

Reducing interactions under the camera, pausing the public affection, that was one thing. But if he couldn’t even dare to nod when someone asked to this extent…

How gutless would he have to be, to not dare admit it?

That person was already his treasure, his pride. Being able to introduce him in front of others was damn glorious. Who cared what other people thought?

Ye Zhenyi: “As I thought.”

“Although I’ve never had the chance to meet him in person, I’ve always believed that pei’s perfumes are absolutely at the forefront of the highest standard nationally, in the strictest sense.”

“It’s a shame, though, for such a brilliantly talented perfumer to have encountered something like that.”

“It truly is a great regret.”

Han Fu froze for a moment. His throat felt rough, a thousand words sticking in his heart, and he didn’t know what to say.

“You know about all that…?”

Ye Zhenyi: “The Bamboo Millet incident back then, I think no one in the industry doesn’t know about it.”

Han Fu: “But actually, that matter…”

Ye Zhenyi nodded: “The problem with Bamboo Millet, the laboratory hadn’t even reached a final conclusion when it was shut down due to funding issues. Public opinion and rumors had already deeply penetrated people’s hearts. Afterwards, the Library Organization’s inaction, failing to advocate for clarification, and simultaneously having competitors kick him while he was down — I’ve heard all these things.”

“…Actually, I encountered a similar injustice when I was young too.”

She spoke calmly, her eyes counting the floor number buttons flashing one by one in the elevator lobby.

“False accusations impossible to prove oneself innocent, betrayal by trusted people, jealousy and suppression from forces with ulterior motives…”

“But fortunately, ‘time’ is always a fair thing. It can wash away those rumors and slander, letting everything return to its original state.”

“I believe that with time, time will certainly return pei’s innocence. And, pei definitely hasn’t given up either. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you here?”

Han Fu lowered his head, bitter.

Pei Zhen hadn’t given up, never had. Because he genuinely liked fragrance, purely and tenaciously loved it.

Often, at his side, watching him wholeheartedly research scents, seeing the genuine passion and youthful fervor unconsciously revealed in his eyes, it always made him feel heartbroken—

There was a saying: “Constant longing will surely be echoed back.”

His Zhenzhen had been longing constantly for too long. But time, that grinding thing, how much longer would it make him wait?

“I’m just afraid… that it might be too late.”

The elevator dinged, arriving. Ye Zhenyi smiled: “Too late? But doesn’t he have you now?”

“With you, won’t he have everything from now on?”

“Ah, though, if I’m not mistaken, pei seems to be a guy? Probably very handsome too. If there’s ever a chance to meet him, that would be great. I’m off first, see you next week!”

The elevator doors closed, then opened.

Han Fu stood there dumbly, having even forgotten to step out.

“…With you, you’ll have everything.” Just one sentence, and the whole world suddenly brightened.

Before this, he’d still been doubting whether his one-sided devotion, his companionship, held any meaning for Pei Zhen at all.

Thinking back on what Ye Zhenyi had just said, emotions mixed, and he found it a little funny. He really wanted to tell her, you’ve actually already met pei.

As you imagined, he is very handsome. All day today, you were very close to each other. He might even be exactly your type.

Because… I caught you sneaking glances at him.

Although you also seemed to glance at a few other random handsome guys in the audience seats, you definitely stole a few extra looks at Pei Zhen.

…

That night, after showering and getting into bed, Pei Zhen opened a video and seriously reviewed the first PA match with Han Fu.

For Pei Zhen, post-match review was absolutely necessary, very serious.

As the saying goes, it was only the first round, the first step of a thousand-mile march. It was rare that all contestants had camera records, so of course they had to carefully analyze each one’s strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics to “know thyself and know thy enemy, and in a hundred battles you’ll never be defeated.”

Even if Han Fu truly had considerable talent, achieving second place in the first PA round after only half a year studying fragrance, he absolutely couldn’t afford to be careless because of it.

“Also, I’m actually still a bit worried that some people are hiding their true ability.”

“This sort of thing isn’t uncommon in previous PA competitions. Some scheming contestants deliberately choose to keep a low profile in the early rounds, maintaining only a mid-range level, then seek a crucial opportunity to breach the dam and turn the tables.”

“It’s not that I’m being overly suspicious of Little Fatty, but I really feel that in the second round, with his skill level, he shouldn’t have been that easily knocked out by Fu Yao’s hand. Perfect timing, I got his perfume sample. After we…”

Han Fu: “Zhenzhen, do you think if Ye Zhenyi were a man, and also not yet married, would she happen to be your type?”

Pei Zhen: “…”

Pei Zhen: “Can you seriously watch the video for review and not suddenly give yourself extra drama?”

Han Fu: “No, I just suddenly thought of it just now — look, you’ve always said she’s the pinnacle of the industry, good person, great works, even established her own independent perfume brand, her career trajectory is exactly your ultimate ideal. And then, today we also discovered she happens to appreciate you a lot!”

“Back then, you guys were clearly both in the light luxury perfume circle, yet missed each other by a twist of fate, never having met.”

“She’s very tall and beautiful. If gender-swapped into a man, she’d probably be quite handsome too.”

“Tell me, if one day you met a male version of her, would it be love at first sight, sparks flying? No way, Zhenzhen! You already have me! I’m the most suitable person in this world for you!”

Pei Zhen: “…You’re adding more drama?”

Han Fu: “No! I will absolutely never give you up to someone else!”

Pei Zhen: “You… if you don’t properly review the match video with me right now, you can go sleep on the sofa by yourself later!”

…

In the first PA elimination round, the one eliminated was none other than that Red High Heels Granny.

The granny didn’t seem particularly sad or dejected, though. During the post-match video interview, she was still full of energy, hugging a short-haired young man with narrow eyes: “It’s fine, it’s fine! Grandma will go back and cook your favorite plum braised pork. Granddaughter, work hard and win the competition for Grandma!”

Han Fu: “Huh? Granddaughter?”

The post-match videos were all covered with bullet comments, and the screen was flooded with shocked comments too: 【Granddaughter? Not grandson?】【Seems… there’s a chest!】【I’m bending, sis!】【So handsome!】

Pei Zhen narrowed his eyes: “She’s Tu Ya from Yi Changqing’s team, a girl, the heiress of Shanghai’s Republican-Era Fragrance Shop, ‘Painted Spring Hall’.”

“The granny is the widow of the late previous Sect Leader. Grandparent and grandchild duo entered the Top 12 together. You, not even figuring out the gender of your opponent, how are you supposed to study their style? Never underestimate the cultivation, skill, and heritage of a fragrance family of nearly a century like ‘Painted Spring Hall’.”

The camera switched to Fu Yao’s side.

There too was a sea of celebratory bullet comments: 【Wow, inspirational sis!】【No.1】【The Demon King.】

On this competition stage, one could really see the contestants’ distinctly different personalities. Facing the camera, Fu Yao had little expression, only saying a few light words along the lines of “I won’t lose.”

Stealing the spotlight, however, was the cross-dressing master behind her, frantically acting cute and making funny faces.

Yi Changkong continued being the little white rabbit. As the camera panned over, he just waved, very obediently: “Hello everyone.”

And that single mom, also under Zhu Su, didn’t try to maintain a good image in front of the camera like the other contestants. She was extremely uninhibited.

“Sorry about this, but as a divorced young woman abandoned by her irresponsible mama’s-boy husband, raising a child alone, and currently full of fiery anger — this old lady ain’t here competing for some ‘dream’!”

“This old lady is here to win that one million grand prize money, to save up money for my son, so he can go to the best private kindergarten!”

“I know, right now there are probably people spamming ‘This woman is annoying’ on my face. Doesn’t matter! This old lady doesn’t give a damn what you all say, ‘kay?!”

Han Fu: “This competition has prize money?”

Pei Zhen: “How do you not know anything? Early morning tomorrow, we’re doing a makeup lesson!”

As they spoke, the screen finally cut to Han Fu’s side.

The cameraman’s angle was pretty tricky. Han Fu hadn’t even known he was being filmed.

The camera first gave a full-body shot, drawing bullet comments thirsting over his figure, then unhurriedly began taking close-ups: the upward slant of his eye corners, the tiny tear mole on his cheek, his fresh and clean hair strands, the curve of his neck.

When the bullet comments were all a chorus of wolf howls, it finally started filming close-ups of his hands.

Long, pale, slender fingers, beautiful and exquisite. Unfortunately, the black jade ring flashed intermittently. Combined with the declaration that he already had a lover, the bullet comments were filled with wails of lament.

Suddenly, a bullet comment shot out and started flooding the screen.

【Please follow Han Fu’s fan support group “The Homewrecker Guild”, address xxx…】

It was a fan site just established, yet it already had several hundred members. Even all of today’s short videos of Han Fu had been organized and uploaded.

Han Fu frowned. “Homewrecker Guild”? What the hell? What the hell kind of relationship did he have with “wrecking”? Where was this from! (TN: ‘To break the soil’ / ‘to hoe the earth’ can also figuratively mean poaching someone’s partner, hence ‘homewrecker’.)

Pei Zhen: “Heh.”

The grass may have an owner, but I’ll come break the soil — Break your damn soil!