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Le Tian handed over the white jade bottle to Gu Li without hesitation.
However, Ji Shishi wasn’t pleased. She glanced at Gu Li sideways, scrutinizing him with barely concealed disdain.
The boy wore a neat, short haircut and a simple sweatshirt paired with jeans. He had a fair, handsome face, but it was tinged with an unnatural flush as if touched by rouge.
His features were delicate and attractive, but there was a scar under his left eye, a flaw that marred his otherwise striking appearance.
With his plain clothes and youthful appearance, he looked like an ordinary, poor student. What could he possibly know about the intricacies of perfume making?
Ji Shishi sneered, her tone dripping with arrogance. “I hear my fragrances are quite popular among your student crowd.”
Gu Li didn’t acknowledge her. He didn’t even glance in her direction as he took the bottle from Le Tian, sniffed it, and simultaneously scanned the formula in his hand. His frown deepened.
Mu Qinghan, standing across from him, observed his expression closely from behind his sunglasses. He saw the frown and asked calmly, "What's wrong?"
Gu Li returned the bottle to Le Tian and spoke without hesitation. "Is this fragrance really made specifically for Mr. Mu? It doesn’t seem like it to me."
Ji Shishi’s face twisted in surprise and irritation. She had spent hours perfecting this fragrance, and now, a boy dared to question it. Laughing coldly, she retorted, “Oh? So you know a lot about fragrance? You like to pass judgment without understanding the craft. Let me give you a piece of advice—”
Before she could continue, Mu Qinghan raised a hand to his forehead and cut her off with a single, cold word: “Shut up.”
The authority in his voice left no room for argument, and Ji Shishi’s words died in her throat. Her anger was palpable, but she couldn't afford to lash out.
Clearly, this boy was a friend of Mr. Mu’s, and she didn’t want to risk further antagonizing him.
She composed herself, lowering her gaze and softening her tone. "My apologies, Mr. Mu. I’ve never had my work questioned before. I may have been a bit harsh."
Gu Li smirked, unbothered. "Miss Ji, I just have one question. Are all the ingredients you listed on the recipe truly the only ones you used?"
Ji Shishi blinked, clearly caught off guard. But she recovered quickly, nodding confidently. "Of course."
Gu Li continued with a sly smile, "Then you must have forgotten to mention the Chinese herbs you added to this formula. You do realize that these herbs are not suitable for people with paranoia, right?"
The words hit Ji Shishi like a blow to the chest.
A cold silence settled over the room. Le Tian’s eyes widened as he glanced at Mu Qinghan, then back at Gu Li, clearly surprised by this revelation.
Ji Shishi stood frozen, her mind racing. The gravity of her mistake was evident in her widened eyes, now tinged with a deep anger.
The worst sin for a perfumer was to use ingredients without understanding the client's condition. She had assumed Mr. Mu simply wanted a basic sleeping fragrance, never imagining he might suffer from psychological issues. Now, her careless mistake was exposed.
Fury bubbled beneath her skin, but she kept her composure, glaring at Gu Li, her fists clenched in private frustration.
She had hoped that, since Mu Qinghan was now blind and immobilized, she could use her talents to care for him—maybe even win his favor. If he recovered and returned to the Mu family, she could finally rise in status, becoming a phoenix from the ashes.
But now, everything was at risk. Her plan was unraveling in front of her eyes.
Mu Qinghan slowly lowered the hand he had raised to his forehead, his expression unreadable. "Miss Ji, it seems your skills in perfume-making are lacking," he remarked, his voice steady but final. "Le Tian, please see her out."
Ji Shishi clenched her teeth, her gaze turning venomous as she glared at Gu Li. But her tone was almost pleading as she addressed Mu Qinghan, "Mr. Mu, please, give me another chance. Tomorrow, I’ll mix the perfume right in front of you, and I won’t prepare it in advance. I promise you’ll be satisfied."
She could not let this opportunity slip away. Her ambitions were too great.
Le Tian spoke up, eager to find a solution. "Second Master, since Master Lan Xin’s incense isn’t available, could we perhaps address the immediate issue first?"
At the mention of Master Lan Xin, Ji Shishi’s expression shifted. She sneered inwardly, but her face betrayed a flicker of concern.
"Master Lan Xin? Haha, what kind of ‘master’ is this? I’ve never heard of him."
Her voice carried an undercurrent of skepticism, but her worry was evident.
"Mr. Mu," she continued, with a softer tone, "I know you may have doubts about my ability, but please don’t be deceived by those so-called inferior perfumers who use the name ‘Master Lan Xin.’"
(End of Chapter 12)
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