Chapter 2: Thrown Out

In the blink of an eye, the toy gun in Gu Yining's hand was snatched away by Fu Hanyan's assistant, Li Feng. She released her grip easily, her red lips parting in a slight, casual smile. Li Feng examined the gun, immediately sensing something was amiss. Only then did he realize—they had been tricked by this little woman.

Gu Yining shrugged nonchalantly. "It's just a toy gun, meant to give you a little scare. Look at how spooked you all are."

Li Feng was furious, about to speak, but Fu Hanyan shot him a cold glance, signaling everyone to leave. Understanding the cue, Li Feng held the toy gun and, along with the rest of the bodyguards, respectfully withdrew from the office.

Now, the spacious office was empty except for Fu Hanyan and Gu Yining. The real negotiation could begin.

Gu Yining reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of perfume, a bottle of makeup remover, and a small packet of cotton pads, neatly arranging them on his desk. Her bag seemed to be a bottomless pit, constantly producing new items.

Fu Hanyan watched her with curiosity, wondering what she planned to do with these items to persuade him.

"The Fu Corporation is one of the top global conglomerates, with businesses in multiple sectors, and you're the sole heir to it all. Your family empire began with perfume, but as the president of Fu Corporation, you've lost your sense of smell. To the outside world, this could be the Achilles' heel that rivals might exploit to bring Fu Corporation down."

"How do you know about that?" Being confronted about his impaired sense of smell caused a flicker of displeasure to cross Fu Hanyan's face, further intensifying his disdain for her.

"That's not the point," Gu Yining replied, waving her hand as if to brush aside his objection, daringly pushing the boundaries of how long she'd last before being thrown out.

Fu Hanyan's sharp gaze cut through her like a blade peeling back layers of an onion. "Aren't you afraid that I'll throw you out right now?"

"Oh, I'm very afraid. But you're a smart man, Fu Hanyan. You wouldn't do something so unwise and unchivalrous." Gu Yining grinned, showing off a row of straight, white teeth.

When she smiled, it was like a burst of sunshine, radiant and dazzling, but that prominent birthmark on her face muted her charm, casting a shadow over her brightness.

Fu Hanyan smirked. "Continue."

Gu Yining took her time, picking up the perfume bottle and unscrewing the cap. She sprayed some into the air and waved her hand to diffuse the scent, allowing the fragrance to drift toward Fu Hanyan. The faint scent of gardenias permeated the air, and for the first time in years, his blocked nose seemed to open up as the floral notes filled his senses.

Fu Hanyan grabbed the perfume bottle from her, spraying some onto his hand and bringing it closer to his nose, inhaling deeply. The scent's top notes were light, the middle notes more intense, and the base notes lingered with a subtle, captivating finish. He could actually smell it.

A rare flicker of emotion crossed his icy gaze, mingling surprise with a trace of excitement.

"How did you manage to do this?"

His loss of smell wasn't congenital; it was the result of an accident years ago. He had sought out renowned doctors, but no treatment had ever worked. He had resigned himself to the idea that there was no cure.

"My grandfather is a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and my mother is a top perfumer. I learned both skills. I can't restore your entire sense of smell yet, but I can create fragrances you can detect. To fully cure you, I'll need more time. So, marrying me would definitely be worth it!" Gu Yining's plain face held a boldness and confidence that was unusual, even admirable.

For years, he had been searching for someone who could restore his sense of smell, and now, this person had walked right into his office. He was curious to see what else she was hiding.

"Why do you want to marry me?" Fu Hanyan set the perfume bottle down, returning to the core of the issue.