Chapter 14: The Perfumer Competition

The annual perfumer competition was one of the grandest events in Ling City.

Top perfumers from both domestic and international circles gathered for this occasion, all aiming to showcase their talents and select the most promising new perfumers, providing the fashion industry with top-tier talent.

Fu Group was the host of this prestigious competition, and countless perfumers vied for a chance to meet Fu Hanning, the company's president. Many worked tirelessly to navigate through the rigorous preliminary selections, all to reach the final round.

Early in the morning, the venue was bustling with energy, filled to capacity. Media representatives had taken their positions around the area, ready to broadcast the event live to eager audiences.

In the preparation room, Gu Wenxuan was surrounded by a group of young women selected by various academies and studios.

As the second daughter of the Gu family and a strong contender for the championship, it was no surprise that she received a flurry of compliments.

"Wenxuan, please go easy on us in the competition later! We don't want to lose too embarrassingly. Just let us have a taste of the victory soup," one girl joked, her tone half-serious.

"You all have great skills too; let's all do our best!" Gu Wenxuan replied, feigning sincerity while suppressing a hint of disdain that flickered in her eyes.

After all, she was about to become Fu Hanning's fiancée, so surely the judges would favor her. Her father, Gu Tingyuan, had already made arrangements with the judges, ensuring that the top prize would undoubtedly go to her—nothing could go wrong.

"By the way, I heard your younger sister was also in the preliminary rounds, but she was eliminated in the first round?" someone suddenly brought up Gu Yining.

A flash of annoyance crossed Gu Wenxuan's face.

If she hadn't secretly swapped Gu Yining's perfume entry during the preliminaries, her sister would be competing against her for the top spot.

"Why even mention that ugly freak? She's just a useless nobody who can't achieve anything. How can she even compare to Wenxuan?" a girl quickly chimed in.

Gu Wenxuan smirked, glancing down at the finals participant list in her hands.

Her eyes landed on the last name, and she saw an English name: Leon.

"Who is this?" she asked one of the girls nearby.

"Oh, that's the dark horse of this competition. I heard she got a direct entry into the finals just based on one perfume formula. She has some recognition in the international fashion world, and her perfuming techniques are quite peculiar yet skillful. Many well-known figures have recommended her…"

Gu Wenxuan scoffed, tossing the list aside. "She probably slept her way to the top. Women like her only have skills in the bedroom. The finals is a place where those types will get exposed."

"Exactly! Don't even consider her a rival, Wenxuan. We all know you're the one destined to win," they encouraged her.

As the girls continued their chatter, the door to the preparation room swung open, and a staff member entered to remind them that it was time to head into the competition.

Following the staff member, they filed into the competition hall, each taking their place at the perfume stations according to the participant list.

Suddenly, a wave of excitement swept through the crowd.

Fu Hanning appeared, clad in an exquisite black handcrafted suit. His meticulously groomed dark hair framed a chiseled face that radiated cold elegance, commanding an aura of authority that demanded respect.

He was flanked by his assistant Li Feng and several other staff members.

Gu Wenxuan's eyes followed him intently as he made his way to the judges' panel, her heart racing.

This man was undoubtedly the most powerful and captivating presence in the room.

The thought of soon being engaged to such a figure filled her with immense joy.

With just a minute left before the final contestants were set to enter, the doors to the hall burst open.

A young woman dressed in a stunning white dress stepped through the entrance. Her skin was as pale as snow, and she stood gracefully, exuding an extraordinary freshness that made her appear otherworldly, as if untouched by the chaos of the world.

Gu Yining! What was she doing here?

Fu Hanning immediately glanced at the finals list again, his expression betraying confusion—she wasn't on it at all.