“Smell it again.”
The fragrance is stronger right after it’s sprayed.
Gu Wujin didn’t bring his wrist to his nose. Instead, he gently fanned the scent from his wrist. A light, sweet aroma drifted over—soft, carrying a milky note—and slowly overlapped with the memory in his mind.
In warm, gentle sunlight, a woman dressed in elegant, understated clothes walked over and touched the boy’s head:
“Little Jin, you’re amazing—first in the whole grade again. Today’s your birthday. Your dad and I prepared a gift for you. When you get home from school, we’ll celebrate together.”
The boy had already started growing taller in middle school—no longer the short little dumpling he used to be. He pulled a childish face, his tone impatient but his eyes bright:
“Mom, I’m grown up now. Stop rubbing my head—my hairstyle’s getting messed up.”
The woman smiled tenderly, her voice soft as water:
“Yes… our Little Jin has grown another year older…”
Ji Huaixiang thought the scent might be off.
“How is it? If it’s not right, I can remake it.”
The gentle, refined woman gradually faded. The clear, stunning face in front of him became sharper. Gu Wujin snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, and pushed the memory down. He inhaled from his wrist again.
“What’s the base note of this perfume?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he sneezed several times in a row.
“You’re sensitive to fragrances?”
Ji Huaixiang was a little surprised.
The man’s thick, sharp brows framed piercing eyes. His deep black gaze fixed on her, giving the impression of a predator locking onto prey.
“Mm.”
Ji Huaixiang didn’t press further. Her thick, curled lashes fluttered. Looking at the bright light still shining in Gu Wujin’s dark eyes, she said:
“The base note is rangoon creeper. Its floral scent carries a faint milky note. How is it? Does the fragrance match?”
Gu Wujin took the small bottle from her. Such a tiny thing—and yet it had truly awakened his memories.
“Ji Huaixiang.”
He looked her up and down. The girl’s skin was fair and tender, her black eyes bright and glistening as they met his. She was only a freshman, yet she could already blend perfume. No—not just blend. To recreate an imagined scent purely from verbal description—even the top perfumers in the country might not be capable of that.
“You’re very outstanding,” he said seriously.
Ji Huaixiang stared at him in disbelief. Her eyes burst with dazzling light.
“Mr. Gu… are you praising me?”
Her heart felt like someone had sprinkled sugar all over it—sweet, impossibly sweet. “Can you say it again? It was too sudden—I didn’t hear clearly.”
Gu Wujin felt a little uncomfortable.
“You already heard it.”
“Praise me one more time.”
Ji Huaixiang’s dark eyes shimmered with moisture, bright and captivating.
Gu Wujin’s face heated up. He snapped gruffly:
“Woman, have some restraint.”
“Mm-hmm, okay. I know Mr. Gu thinks I’m very outstanding.”
Ji Huaixiang didn’t dwell on it. She was simply happy. “So the fragrance is correct, then?”
Gu Wujin’s refined, resolute jaw tightened. He avoided looking at her joyful face.
“No problem. Grandma will be very happy when she receives it. As for the money, I’ll transfer it to you.”
“Oh.”
Ji Huaixiang bit her lip. The smile on her face faded a little.
“In the future, if Mr. Gu needs any more perfumery work, you can find me anytime.”
But then she remembered—Gu Wujin was sensitive to scents and wouldn’t use perfume. She wouldn’t even have an excuse to see him anymore. After thinking for a moment, she boldly added:
“Even if it’s not for perfume… you can still find me.”
The corner of his lips curved slightly. A faint trace of amusement finally appeared in Gu Wujin’s dark eyes.
“Mm.”
As Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the school went on break. Students began packing to go home. Those whose families lived far away chose to stay on campus.
In the dorm, Lin Xiaoxuan and Ji Dongqing had already left—they’d planned a trip together. The other roommate, Jiang Yongtian, was still packing.
“Huaixiang, you’re really not going home? Mid-Autumn is for reuniting with family. Plus, it’s rare to have a holiday like this.”
This break combined Mid-Autumn and National Day—eight full days off.
Ji Huaixiang’s fingers paused over the keyboard. She turned around and smiled.
“My family isn’t around. It’s the same wherever I am alone.”
“Ah… sorry…”
Jiang Yongtian felt awkward, regretting that she’d touched on a sensitive topic.
Ji Huaixiang smiled and shook her head, indicating it was fine. No one knew about her parents anyway—there was nothing to mind.
“Hurry up and finish packing. Aren’t you catching the 5 o’clock train?”
“Right, I almost forgot.”
Jiang Yongtian sped up. Soon her suitcase was ready. “Then I’m off. Be careful by yourself. Lock the doors and windows at night—I don’t know if the dorm auntie will be on duty during the break.”
“Mm-hmm, don’t worry. I will.”
Ji Huaixiang waved goodbye.
Now she was the only one left. The dorm was very quiet. A pervasive loneliness crept in, silent and heavy.
Ji Huaixiang turned on her phone screen, opened WeChat, and entered Gu Wujin’s chat. The white background was still completely empty—no messages. After thinking for a moment, her fingers typed a few words: [Mr. Gu, are you there?]
Before sending, she quickly deleted them.
This feeling—wanting to reach out to him yet not daring to get close—was simply unbearable.
Ji Huaixiang turned on her phone screen, opened WeChat, and entered Gu Wujin’s chat. The white background was still completely empty—no messages at all. After thinking for a moment, her fingers typed a few words: [Mr. Gu, are you there?]
Before sending, she quickly deleted them.
This feeling—wanting so badly to reach out to him yet not daring to get close—was simply unbearable.
Ji Huaixiang drank three full cups of water in a row, desperately suppressing the impulse to contact Gu Wujin.
What should I do, Mr. Gu? Even drinking water makes me think of you… these days are getting hard to bear.
Originally, during the holiday, Ji Huaixiang had planned to go back and visit Aunt Ji. She wanted to tell her that she was adapting well to school life. But Vance Perfume Company in Country Y had decided to release the perfume ahead of schedule and asked Ji Huaixiang to come over as soon as possible to sign the contract. So she had no choice but to fly to Country Y.
Everyone in S City’s high society knew that the future heir of the Gu family’s Ding Sheng International Group could only be the eldest young master, Gu Lu. That was why Gu Lu’s upcoming birthday banquet was grand and lavish, with many guests invited.
Old Master Gu had always placed great importance on his eldest grandson. Although Gu Lu’s abilities weren’t the absolute best, he was extremely steady and reliable. Over the past year, since Old Master Gu handed Ding Sheng over to him, there hadn’t been a single mistake. The old foxes on the board of directors praised him endlessly. In the future, the old man could finally stop worrying.
“Old Master, here is the guest list for the banquet. Please take a look.”
Aunt Hua handed over the list that the housekeeper had prepared according to previous years.
“Mm. Send invitations based on this list.”
Old Master Gu reviewed it very carefully.
“Understood. I’ll inform Uncle Jiang.”
Aunt Hua took the list back.
“Thank you for going to so much trouble for my birthday banquet, Grandpa.”
Gu Lu said politely.
“Grandpa Gu really dotes on Big Brother Gu.”
Jiang Mengwan sat on the sofa nearby, her posture upright and refined, her temperament outstanding.
Old Master Gu was in a good mood, his face ruddy and healthy. He asked:
“I heard from A-Lü that you’ll be his dance partner at the birthday banquet?”
“Yes, Big Brother Gu invited me a while ago.”
Jiang Mengwan gave a shallow smile, looking a little shy. “I haven’t danced in quite some time. I hope Big Brother Gu won’t mind if I make a fool of myself.”
“No, don’t worry. I’ll lead you.”
A gentle smile appeared on Gu Lu’s handsome face. The way he looked at Jiang Mengwan carried a faint trace of indulgence.
“Then thank you in advance for taking care of me, Big Brother Gu.”
Jiang Mengwan turned her head slightly toward Gu Wujin, who had been smoking quietly the whole time, and asked:
“Wujin, do you have a dance partner yet?”
“What dance partner could he possibly have?”
Old Master Gu was clearly dissatisfied with this grandson. “You’re not allowed to bring any of those random girlfriends to your brother’s birthday banquet and make the Gu family a laughingstock.”
Gu Wujin leaned lazily against the sofa back, taking a deep drag of his cigarette. After a long moment, he spoke:
“In your eyes, I’m already the Gu family’s laughingstock. Old man, don’t drag innocent girls into covering for me.”
“You…”
Old Master Gu didn’t explode into a full scolding. Instead, he said angrily:
“You don’t need to bring a dance partner. The youngest daughter of the Bai family—Bai Feng’s girl—has returned from abroad. She’ll be attending the birthday banquet with Bai Feng. Invite her to be your partner.”
“Grandpa?”
Gu Lu frowned. He hadn’t expected the old man to have such plans.
“The Bai family? Grandpa Gu, do you mean Bai Nini?”
Jiang Mengwan looked at Gu Wujin with visible reluctance in her eyes.
“Yes, she was brought back from abroad recently.”
Old Master Gu turned to Gu Wujin. “Get to know her then. If it suits, spend more time together. I’ve met the girl—fair-skinned, delicate features, very presentable.”
Gu Wujin held the cigarette between two fingers. Cold light gathered in his ink-black eyes.
“Grandpa, you just said you don’t want me to become the Gu family’s laughingstock, yet you’re pushing me toward that idiot girl from the Bai family. What’s this—pairing a cripple with a fool to make a perfect match?”
The nicotine from the cigarette spread through his nasal cavity. His voice was low and icy:
“A lame grandson plus a retarded granddaughter-in-law—aren’t you afraid the Gu family will become an even bigger joke in everyone’s eyes?”
Old Master Gu’s face tightened.
“You bastard! Is this how you speak to your elders? What’s wrong with pairing you with the Bai family’s daughter? Does it wrong you somehow?”
“Heh. In your eyes, I really am worth nothing.”
Gu Wujin flicked the ash off his clothes. He stood up, eyes filled with coldness, said nothing more, and strode out quickly.
“If he dares not show up at the banquet, find someone to drag him there.”
Old Master Gu said furiously to Gu Lu.
“Grandpa, you want A-Jin to get involved with the Bai family…”
Gu Lu pinched the bridge of his nose. “This can’t be forced. I’ll talk to A-Jin and try to reason with him.”
Jiang Mengwan watched the man leave. Her gaze slowly withdrew from his uneven, limping steps. Her fair, slender fingers picked up the teacup on the table and took a light sip. She sat gracefully and quietly, listening to Old Master Gu and Gu Lu discuss the birthday banquet arrangements.
The black car sped down the road, flashing by so fast that passersby barely had time to react.
Gu Wujin’s perfectly shaped thin lips were pressed tight. Cold light gathered in his eyes. Layer upon layer of frost surged inside him, wrapping his once-red heart in ice.
After who-knows-how-long, the car stopped below Building 2 of the girls’ dorms.
His hand tightened on the steering wheel. He didn’t even know why he had come here.
Gu Wujin looked up at the girls’ dormitory building, feeling a little lost. He took out his phone and dialed Ji Huaixiang’s number.
A cold automated voice came from the other end:
“Sorry, the number you have dialed is turned off.”
Gu Wujin’s lips twisted faintly. His refined face showed no expression.