When Tang Fanglu was about to get off work, she did not take the elevator but instead took the stairs to go down, thinking of the exercise.

She paused when she reached the second floor. Ji Chaozhou came to the office again today. He seemed to be researching some new fragrance recently.

When Tang Fanglu thought of this, she felt a little itchy in her heart.

The first bottle of Midu was not made in Ranshan’s laboratory.

When Ji Chaozhou first took over Ranshan, everyone was dissatisfied. They felt that he was too young and did not have a deep understanding of fragrances. In response, he directly presented Midu.

All the perfumers in Ranshan were struck speechless, and the proposal to ‘put Midu into production’ was approved that same day.

Tang Fanglu has been in this industry for so many years, and there was no doubt about her love for perfume. She has always wanted to witness the birth of a classic perfume.

Ji Chaozhou has been mixing fragrances in the laboratory recently, and she wondered if he could possibly have been struck by some inspiration.

Thinking of this, Tang Fanglu left the stairwell, pushed open the door to the second floor corridor, and walked to Ji Chaozhou’s laboratory.

He was working on a scent.

Tang Fanglu stood outside the glass door, looking at the handsome young man standing in front of the experiment table, quietly overseeing the bottles, and had to lament the bias of the Creator.

The young man’s slender fingertips handled an ink-colored essential oil bottle. The mouth of the bottle turned and turned in his hand, but he never picked it up, as if he was thinking about something.

Seeing this, Tang Fanglu was able to confirm that Ji Chaozhou had an inspiration and was indeed mixing a new fragrance. She was so excited that she even forgot to knock on the door and just opened it directly and walked in.

“…”

After five seconds, Tang Fanglu held her breath and hastily retreated.

Once outside, she let out a heavy breath.

From the bitterness before to the sourness today—exactly what kind of new fragrance was Ji Chaozhou trying to create?

Was this the difference between a genius perfumer and an ordinary perfumer? To be good at extracting aroma from pungent flavors?

Ji Chaozhou noticed the movement and raised his eyes to look outside the glass door.

Tang Fanglu gathered herself and walked into the laboratory. The astringent and sour fragrance assaulted her senses once again. She asked the young man, “Master Ji, what new fragrance are you mixing?” 

“Still adjusting it.” Ji Chaozhou retracted his hand, sealing the originally open perfume bottle. The smell in the laboratory instantly became lighter.

Tang Fanglu had only come over to take a look, and after asking her question, she was about to leave. However, she suddenly found that after the overwhelming sour and bitter aroma in the laboratory had dispersed, it was now mixed with a hint of sweetness—very light, but always there and lingering.

Her eyes lit up. This sweetness was completely different from the ordinary sweetness of flowers and fruits. It was light and clear, like a wisp of April wind, fleeting, and because it only came after the astringency and sourness had passed, the sweetness smelled even more alluring.

He was, after all, a genius perfumer, and the fragrance he mixed was unique.

“Master Ji, this fragrance…” Tang Fanglu was a little excited, as if she could already see the birth of another classic perfume in the future, even though this scent was only just crafted, and there would be many more adjustments to be made in the later stages.

However, Ji Chaozhou had already put away the perfume, neither throwing it into the waste bin nor putting it into the storage freezer. He took off his white coat, put the small bottle of perfume into his pocket, and prepared to leave.

Tang Fanglu subconsciously stepped aside and watched Ji Chaozhou. She hesitated to speak; he obviously didn’t want to talk about the new fragrance just now.

Tang Fanglu looked at Ji Chaozhou’s figure as he left. She did not leave the laboratory immediately. She stayed and sniffed the remaining fragrance carefully.

Bitter, sour, sweet.

This fragrance… for some reason it reminded her of the feeling of liking someone when she was young.

Worried about gains and losses, but also looking forward to hope.

… …

After Ji Chaozhou walked out of Ranshan Building, he took out the small bottle of perfume, looked down at it for a moment, then put it back in his pocket and walked back to the villa in silence.

By the time he reached the road leading to the villa, it was almost dark, and the street lights all turned on at the same time.

Ji Chaozhou’s gaze fell on the figure in front of the gate, and he was suddenly surprised: it was Cheng Liu.

She squatted in front of the gate of Villa No. 5, a black backpack beside her. The street lights stretched her shadow a long way, making her look a little lonely.

Ji Chaozhou pursed his lips and looked at the person at the door. He walked forward quickly. When he reached the villa gates, he slowed down and walked over, “What are you doing out here?”

“You’re back!” 

Cheng Liu had been thinking about work while she squatted by the gates. Hearing the sound, she looked up and saw Ji Chaozhou, and a smile blossomed on her face, her eyes sparkling. She stood up and asked, “Did you go to Ranshan today? Was it too tiring?” 

“… No.” Ji Chaozhou’s eyes fell on her hand that carried the backpack. He calmed his thoughts down and asked her again, “What are you doing out here?”

“Oh.” Cheng Liu pointed towards Villa No. 6 and whispered, “The decoration team knocked down the stairs to the second floor, and the first floor is covered with dust. Since I can’t go upstairs in the meantime, can I stay with you for a few days?”

In fact, she could use the ladder that the decoration team especially left behind for her, but Cheng Liu felt that her legs and feet must not be very good these days.

Ji Chaozhou was silent for a long time. He walked to the door lock, opened the cover, and revealed the fingerprint sensor screen. He turned to look at Cheng Liu, “I already recorded your fingerprints here before.”

There was no need to wait outside.

He didn’t agree directly, but as soon as he said these words, Cheng Liu understood that Ji Chaozhou had agreed.

She happily stepped forward, pressed her finger on the scanner, opened the door, and explained, “I can’t go in if you’re not here.”

Cheng Liu could open the gates when Ji Chaozhou was around, but when he wasn’t there, she wouldn’t go in.

Ji Chaozhou walked into the front courtyard. The sensor light came on, and the light shone on his eyebrows, making it seem softer than usual. He pursed his lips and finally said, “From now on… you can come in directly.”

Cheng Liu was following behind him with her bag slung on her back. When she heard this, her pair of black eyes brightened in pleasure and surprise.

Young President Cheng was thinking: tomorrow, she had to ask the decoration team to extend the construction period! From now on, she will directly take root next door!

If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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Chapter 44.2 — Day 15: From Now On… You Can Come In Directly (2/29)

Chapter 45.1 — Day 16: He Smiled (3/6)
Chapter 45.2 — Day 16: He Smiled (3/7)