Volume One, Chapter 13: You Call Yourself a Perfumier? Get Out of the Company!

She knew.

In Fu Yichen’s heart, she was nothing but a worthless failure.

But was she really useless?

Having been immersed in the world of fragrances since childhood under her mother’s guidance, how could she be completely ignorant of perfume formulas? In fact, two-thirds of the perfume blends her mother gave Fu Yichen had been modified by her using ancient family recipes.

She understood Fu Yichen’s pride.

She didn’t want him to think she was a burden living off him. She carefully considered his feelings at every turn, preserving his dignity. Yet, unexpectedly, Fu Yichen truly believed she was incompetent and began to look down on her.

Later, she tried to clarify.

She said, “Actually, I was involved in modifying those perfume formulas. I’m not as incapable as you think.”

But Fu Yichen frowned and lectured her.

“Shuya, I don’t think being incapable is terrible; what’s terrible is lying. After all these years together, don’t you think I know your abilities? You’re useless at everything you do. Lies won’t make me respect you more; they’ll only make me despise your character!”

What else could she say?

Now,

she was ready to reveal her true brilliance.

She stared at Fu Yichen with unwavering resolve.

“Let Nannan stay with me. My child doesn’t need anyone else to teach her!”

Fu Yichen, displeased, put Nannan down.

“Though I don’t know how you managed to charm Master Fu, Shuya, don’t forget: a worm will never become a dragon. Sooner or later, your lies will be exposed! When that day comes, let’s see how you’ll compete with me!”

Shuya lifted her chin.

“Don’t worry, that day will never come.”

Fu Yichen left angrily with his men.

Once the door closed,

Shuya’s strength instantly drained away.

She hurriedly crouched down and cupped Nannan’s face. The child’s skin was naturally delicate, and just now Fu Yichen had covered Nannan’s mouth with excessive force, leaving a ring of red marks. Shuya’s heart ached deeply.

“Sorry, Nannan. Mommy didn’t protect you well.”

Nannan grasped her hand.

“Bad mommy, blame daddy. He’s a bad man.”

Yes.

If anyone was to blame, it was Fu Yichen.

That ungrateful wretch.

She would use her own abilities to make Fu Yichen regret it one day!

...

An hour later.

Kyoto.

An upscale residential area.

“Brother Yichen, do you mean Shuya has attached herself to Master Fu?” Shen Qingzhu asked immediately upon hearing the full story.

Fu Yichen nodded.

Shen Qingzhu’s voice cracked, “How does she deserve him?”

Fu Yichen looked at her.

Realizing her tone was inappropriate for the gentle and kind image she had with him, Shen Qingzhu hastily corrected herself.

“I mean, she’s incompetent and unworthy. I’m worried she’ll cause trouble.”

Fu Yichen believed her explanation.

“Hasn’t she caused enough trouble over the years? I don’t know what trick she used to charm Master Fu this time. Whatever the case, this useless failure won’t last long before she’s kicked out. Then I’ll keep her locked up at home so she can’t harm anyone.”

No.

Too long.

She didn’t want to wait that long.

Her nature was vengeful; Shuya had broken her leg just yesterday, and if she didn’t retaliate immediately, she wouldn’t sleep peacefully tonight.

She knew Fu Yichen dared not offend Master Fu.

Then she would take matters into her own hands.

After Fu Yichen left, Shen Qingzhu took out her phone and messaged a friend working at Fuyu.

“I have a friend about to become your company’s chief perfumer. She just boasted to me that you Fuyu perfumers are all useless, and she’ll become chief right away. She’s far better than any of you. Oh, she speaks harshly, so don’t take it personally when she arrives.”

Her friend was Zhu Ting, whose father was Fuyu’s second-largest shareholder.

Zhu Ting had long coveted the chief perfumer position but refused to use connections, insisting on proving her ability. She had been competing for the role for half a year and could not bear to see Shuya snatch it.

With her family’s influence, Zhu Ting would surely drive Shuya out.

Then,

Shuya would have no choice but to obediently go home,

at the mercy of others!

—

Two o’clock in the afternoon.

Shuya got out of a taxi and approached the company entrance.

Someone came to receive her.

Shuya spoke apologetically.

“Sorry I couldn’t come this morning due to an unexpected incident.”

She hoped not to leave a bad impression.

Fortunately, Manager Chen showed no displeasure and warmly welcomed her.

“It’s all right, Miss Shu. Let me take you to complete your onboarding.”

“All right.”

Shuya followed Manager Chen to the HR department.

After completing the formalities,

Manager Chen led her to meet her new colleagues in the perfumery department.

The perfumery office was spacious and bright, filled with a lingering fragrance that relaxed Shuya’s body and mind.

“Everyone, look over here! This is our new chief perfumer, Miss Shuya. Let’s welcome her to the company!”

Manager Chen led the applause.

But the applause was sparse.

About seven or eight perfumers in the office gave her no friendly looks.

Shuya’s expression remained unchanged. She was here to work, not to make friends. Whether they liked her or not, she was their chief perfumer.

She introduced herself.

“Hello everyone, I’m Shuya. I look forward to us supporting and improving together.”

Just as she finished speaking,

“Crack!”

A vase shattered at her feet, scattering broken glass everywhere.

It had been thrown from behind.

She turned to look.

A woman in a rose-red autumn dress, with a vibrant and imposing presence like an autumn begonia, raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry, slipped my hand,” she said.

Shuya didn’t believe it. The woman’s attire and arrogant expression made it clear she was not to be trifled with. As she passed Shuya, she harshly bumped her with her shoulder, then said to Manager Chen,

“Manager Chen, why do you bring all sorts of riffraff into our company? This isn’t an animal shelter.”

Manager Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Thi-this…”

He dared not respond.

One was the newly appointed chief perfumer parachuted from above; the other’s father was a company shareholder. Nobody dared offend either, so he merely pretended to be invisible.

Shuya frowned.

“Miss, you seem to have a problem with me.”

Zhu Ting crossed her arms.

“No problem.”

“I just want you out of the company!”

Out of the company?

This was Shuya’s only chance.

She shook her head firmly.

“I won’t leave.”

Zhu Ting looked at her with contempt.

“I asked around about you. You’ve been a housewife for six years, right? It’s not that I’m biased against you, but housewives like you are seriously out of touch with society. I don’t know how you managed to charm Master Fu into letting you be chief perfumer here, but I, Zhu Ting, do not accept you!”

“Housewives like you belong to supermarket shelf-stocking jobs, yet you want to sit atop us elites in a big company? What a pipe dream!”

“I’ll give you two choices: one, leave the company immediately, or two, compete with me in perfumery. If you win, you stay; if you lose, you leave!”

But,

could Shuya possibly win?

Though Zhu Ting seemed to offer two options, there was really only one.

Shuya lifted her head. Her gentle, oval face showed no hesitation; her eyes were resolute and pure.

“I’ll compete with you.”