“Don’t you leave!”
Three simple words—”I lost”—and yet Lister’s lips trembled, adamantly refusing to admit it.
“Let’s compete in Replication and Original Creation next!” He didn’t believe the other guy could beat him in everything.
Scent Recognition, Scent Replication, and Scent Creation were the fundamental three-step strategy for learning perfumery.
Every perfumer had to go through a lengthy first phase of “identifying raw materials,” continually engaging in the second phase of “replicating existing classic fragrances” during their studies, and finally settling into “creating their own original perfumes.”
Beyond perfumery, many fields operated similarly. In painting, you first copied, then created. In woodworking, you first followed a model, then designed your own. Each subsequent step was always more difficult than the last, always requiring more experience, talent, and creativity.
As a result, Han Fu didn’t give a damn about him.
Preoccupied only with wagging his tail at Pei Zhen, seeking his reward, he dismissed Lister with a wave. “I don’t know how to do the rest yet. Maybe another time.”
“Don’t know?” Lister was shocked. What did he mean, ‘don’t know’?
“It means I don’t know.” Han Fu glanced at him with an expression that practically screamed, “Shouldn’t you check if you can pass the HSK before trying to communicate with me?”
Could it be…
Lister’s face grew increasingly grim. “What level of class are you attending today?”
“Phase One.”
“!” The young master of the famous brand felt a sharp pang in his chest.
A student finishing Phase One should already have some basic perfumery skills; they wouldn’t say “I don’t know how yet.”
But Grasse Academy’s so-called “Phase One Class” was a class for absolute beginners with zero perfumery experience!
In other words, as the future head of Cranberry, a 170-year-old heritage luxury perfume brand, he had lost to… a complete outsider.
No, no, that’s impossible! Right, this guy is always following Pei around. He must have been subconsciously absorbing knowledge for years!
That doesn’t make him a newbie; that makes him a fake newbie!
“Hm? Asking how long we’ve been together? In a few days… it’ll be exactly a month!” Han Fu smiled, his face radiating the bliss of being “in love.”
“…”
“…”
“Hah, interesting…”
Learning perfumery for one month, easily winning an award at his first Perfumer Awards, had made Lister feel that perfumery was simply So Easy, even incredibly boring.
Previously, every time he heard someone say things like, “You’ll definitely become a famous perfumer revered just like your grandfather,” it gave him a headache.
“If I had met you at a competition, I might have found perfumery somewhat interesting.”
“It’s just a pity…”
A pity those blue eyes glanced at Pei Zhen, and he pouted.
No matter how talented, mixed up with this kind of unscrupulous industry traitor, in the end, he can only be ruined, right?
“You. Why don’t you just come with me to England? I’ll talk to Grandpa and have him take you on as an apprentice.”
“…”
Vincent Campbell, the patriarch of Cranberry, a titan-level perfumery master, should be an irresistible temptation for any perfumer.
Every year, even many serving perfumers from major brands would frantically send letters hoping for an opportunity to apprentice under Old Man Campbell.
Faced with such a rare chance, the young man was utterly unmoved. Not a ripple stirred in his eyes as he once again draped himself bonelessly over a certain industry traitor’s shoulder.
“Thanks for the kindness. But I’m not going anywhere except by his side.”
Lister: Hah, is this guy stupid… Are all lovebirds this idiotic, IQ down to zero?!
Pei Zhen also silently felt that Han Fu was pretty silly.
If he went to Paris as an apprentice, the monthly stipend was actually very handsome. Not to mention the status, resources, and future stage.
There was also freedom, clean and innocent, without having to serve a difficult and temperamental sugar daddy.
“…” Thinking this, his fingers secretly clutched the thin cotton cuff of Han Fu’s shirt.
Even with the warmth of a firm chest pressed against his back, it seemed only by holding on like this could he feel a hundred percent secure.
He even began seriously considering whether he should curb his terrible temper.
At least in the near future, stop being so cold and difficult, and be more caring towards Han Fu, treat him better day by day.
Because, if the little wolfdog were ever lured away by someone else…
His dream of returning to the pinnacle of the industry, his sweet little daily life—he’d have nothing left.
…
At the same moment, Han Fu’s inner thoughts were completely at odds with the other two men present.
This Lister… his looks were passable, but was he blind?
Zhenzhen was so handsome, so lovable. Could he not see it?
It had been hours and he was still glaring. Showing not a shred of gentleness towards a charming person (regardless of gender)—weren’t you just destined to be alone forever?
…
The attempt to lure him away failed. The mixed-race youth clicked his tongue.
“Forget it. Just keep stubbornly going your own way then. Originally… I was going to consider you a potential future rival.”
Han Fu wasn’t angered. He just tightened his arm and raised his eyes with a smile. “Right back at you. Anyway, my future rival will definitely not be a cynical, frivolous young master like you.”
Lister: “?!”
“The place I’m aiming for is the Library’s Hall of Fame. Belle’s Yi Changqing was only 25 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame—he’s currently the youngest record holder for ascending the Hall. I still have two years. I’m going to kick him off that pedestal. I simply don’t have time for you.”
The Hall of Fame? Lister furrowed his brow.
Directly opposite, under the sunlight filtering through the glass window, Han Fu’s profile was beautiful, shining with incredibly earnest brilliance.
For some reason, his heart began to beat faster. This faint sense of excitement was something he hadn’t felt in a long time—his old patriarch had reaped renown all his life, yet only five of his perfumes had ever reached the Hall of Fame, and he was already almost forty the first time one entered.
“To break the youngest Hall of Fame record? Your ambition is quite lofty.”
Han Fu: “Mn.”
“…”
“…”
Lister: “Heh~ Sounds like something rather interesting, actually. Putting it that way, I’m only 20 this year. Wouldn’t I have an even better chance?”
Han Fu paused.
“Although~ I haven’t seriously played with perfumery for quite a few years either, picking it back up shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Although I’m heading back to England the day after tomorrow. But, since we’re all mixing in the same industry, we’ll definitely see each other often in the future.”
“Want to compete with me? Which of us… can break Belle Yi Changqing’s record first?”
…
…
On the drive home, Pei Zhen pretended to sleep in the passenger seat the whole way.
At a red light, the car stopped. The person beside him reached out and gently brushed his cheek. He continued to feign sleep.
Because…
He didn’t know how to face Han Fu!
Suddenly saying he had two years, and that he was going to break Yi Changqing’s record—his heart could hardly take it.
Pei Zhen had only ever said he wanted Han Fu to become a rising star perfumer in the future industry. He had never, ever instilled in him the idea of…
But, had he really never instilled it?
Pei Zhen initially wanted to deliberately obscure the matter of Yi Changqing, especially from Han Fu.
He didn’t need to know.
S City was so big, with so many people. His randomly picked-up little wolfdog couldn’t possibly have heard the tale circulating only in small circles about the overbearing president and the little ingrate.
However, one day, about half a month after they got together, during an intermittent emotional outburst, he had drunk a lot of alcohol. In a dazed state, unable to stop the nonsense flowing from his mouth, he had probably… complained about some things.
Anyway, when he woke up that day, he was being held on the sofa by Han Fu. His whole body was swollen, and he’d made the front of the other man’s shirt wet and wrinkled into a mess. Immensely and utterly mortifying.
Recalling it now, he still wanted to crawl into a crack in the earth.
He had no idea how much he’d said, or what exactly he’d said. Even now, the little wolfdog was still brimming with animosity whenever Yi Changqing was mentioned.
Sigh…
No more drinking, no more drinking!
