Chapter 23 [2nd update, 4000 nutrient solution extra update]

Martina thought this was a good suggestion.

"There is a fragrance-testing competition at the fragrance tasting event. Not only will newcomers who have been learning to make fragrances for many years bring their works to the competition to win a chance to show their faces in front of the public, but guests who are interested in making fragrances can also try the process of making fragrances." Martina said to her, "Miss Tang, are you interested in participating?"

For those who like perfume, it should be difficult to refuse such an offer.

But unexpectedly, Miss Tang said without blinking:

"No, thank you."

Martina was stunned.

She subconsciously asked, "Why, dear?"

Shen Yuntang: "Please, just buy whatever you like. There's nothing I can't afford."

Martina: “…” Damn rich people.

She looked at Xie Yunting and saw that he also smiled slightly, as if to show his approval. So she had to regretfully withdraw her proposal: "It's a pity, but Tang, the fragrance testing competition is very exciting. I hope you can also find your favorite work in the competition."

Shen Yuntang smiled and said, "I'll give you some good luck."

Although she thought it was basically impossible.

There are too few perfume essential oils that she likes, and the main purpose of this trip is to make some money from Master Charles.

Martina still had to check the layout of the exhibition site. She said goodbye to them and said before leaving: "By the way, Charles is also in Hall 3 of the museum. Thanks. You can ask if you can take Tang to see him, but you may not be able to see him."

Most of the guests came here not only for the perfume oils that are about to be launched on the market, but more people just want to see Charles' real face.

But this old man doesn't like to talk to strangers, so it's rare to see him outside of the fragrance testing competition.

Martina's suggestion undoubtedly showed that she had a very good impression of her. Ordinary people would never have the opportunity to meet Charles in private.

But she didn't know that the guest in front of her was the one invited by Charles himself.

Xie Yunting smiled and thanked her politely.

Then he said to Shen Yuntang: "Let's go."

They went to Exhibition Hall No. 3 and saw, from a distance, a plump old man with gray hair, bending over with his hands behind his back, looking at something on the ground.

Xie Yunting called out, "Mr. Charles."

The old man looked up, his wrinkled face still full of energy and surprise, "Thank you, are you back to Zhaburg?"

He laughed loudly, walked over and patted Xie Yunting on the shoulder, "Did you bring my online friend here?"

Xie Yunting was trembling when he was patted. He felt helpless and turned sideways to let Shen Yuntang behind him out. "This is your online friend."

Charles was stunned for a moment, then he looked at Shen Yuntang carefully with wide eyes, and exclaimed: "Wow, Tang? My netizen, has anyone ever praised you as a very beautiful oriental beauty?"

Miss Shen nodded as a matter of course and said to him, "I'm tired of hearing that."

Charles seemed to have hit the funny spot and laughed so hard that he fell over.

This online dating went very smoothly. Charles introduced her to many of his works when he was young, and his online friends took away a lot of them without any hesitation.

At the end, Charles finally paused and mentioned the purpose of inviting her:

"Tang, do you know about our fragrance testing competition?"

When Shen Yuntang heard this question for the second time, he immediately answered skillfully and neatly: "It's too troublesome not to participate. I only like to buy perfume and not make it."

Charles was stunned for a moment and touched the back of his head, "Oh, I mean to invite you to be a judge of the perfume tasting competition."

Shen Yuntang: “…”

Shen Yuntang: "Okay then."

He smiled and said, "Your level of appreciation is at the master level, and you are also an important audience for perfume and essential oil products. I have carefully read your requirements for selecting essential oils many times, and no matter how many times, I am always shocked by the high standards you always maintain. I think you can directly publish a paper on how to appreciate essential oil products."

Charles pushed open the door and said, "A work that can win your approval will surely win over the vast majority of people. Selecting such works is the significance of the Fragrance Appreciation Association."

There was already a car waiting for them outside.

"Let's go to the incense tasting party."

Charles smiled back at her.

When Martina finally saw Wen Yanyan, she was shocked.

"Ann, what have you been through?" She hesitated to speak, looking up and down at Wen Yanyan's disheveled appearance and the haggard look on her face.

"I..." Wen Yanyan wanted to cry again when she mentioned this. She sniffed and said firmly, "It's nothing. I just had a quarrel with Mr. Xie."

She booked a flight by herself, had to transfer several times in the middle of the night, and almost missed the schedule.

Martina didn't ask any more questions and told her to put down her luggage and prepare for the meeting in the evening.

When Martina brought the twitching Wen Yanyan to the exhibition, Wen Yanyan stared in a certain direction in a daze.

Martina followed her gaze and saw Tang and Xie Yunting, who had just left, walking and chatting with Charles.

She sighed subconsciously, Xie was really generous, actually taking Tang to meet Master Charles.

Why were they here now? Did Charles invite her to participate in the perfume test as well, and did she accept the invitation?

Martina felt a little regretful and said to Wen Yanyan beside her: "That is Xie's friend Miss Tang. She is very talented in identifying perfumes. I wanted to invite her to participate in the perfume testing competition. Now it seems that Charles' eloquence is better than mine."

She didn't notice that Wen Yanyan's expression changed.

It was not until Martina went to say hello to other people around that Wen Yanyan lowered her head and bit her lip.

Fragrance testing contest...

Shen Yuntang is also going to participate in the fragrance tasting competition.

Is this why she was invited here by Master Charles?

Wen Yanyan felt a sudden pang in her heart, and for no reason she developed a strong sense of unwillingness and a desire to win.

Obviously, making incense is her field, but why is it that only Shen Yuntang can accept the invitation from Master Charles, while she has to go through layers of selection before she can be lucky enough to be noticed by him?

Why is it that everything she easily has is exactly what she dreams of?

After a while, Wen Yanyan lowered her head, clenched her fists, and finally made up her mind.

This is a skill she has practiced since she was a child. Even though Shen Yuntang was favored by Master Charles and invited to participate in the perfume tasting competition, she is not bad either. Her work has already received a good response in a small range and recognition from Martina.

As long as she tries her best, she will not lose.

She is still young and she has endless possibilities.

At 6pm, the Charles family's annual perfume tasting finally kicked off. As usual, a well-known perfume master came on stage to introduce the origin of the perfume tasting. After allowing the media to take enough photos, he stopped keeping them in suspense.

"Soon, we will start the most watched fragrance testing competition."

Everyone in the audience's heartbeat quickened.

Wen Yanyan sat in the crowd, her eyes unconsciously following the slender figure in the front row.

She was wearing a slim-fitting one-shoulder dress with her long hair draped behind her. All that could be seen was her shimmering satin-like hair and her thin, white shoulders and arms.

Shen Yuntang just leaned lazily in his chair, as if he didn't really listen to the nonsense of the successful man on the stage.

Then, she saw Xie Yunting take off his coat and hand it to her, placing it on her lap.

Wen Yanyan was heartbroken.

She stared ahead, her hands clenching tighter and tighter, clutching her skirt tightly.

Xie Yunting didn't even notice that she was here today.

Emotions spread through her mind like weeds.

Finally, with a "bang", a certain line of defense in her heart was broken.

Each contestant of the fragrance-testing competition will take turns to go on stage to make a brief introduction, showcasing their style and philosophy to the guests, as well as making some tough statements and proposing who they would like to challenge this year.

When it was finally Wen Yanyan's turn to go on stage, her fingers were shaking as she finally grasped the microphone.

She just happened to see Shen Yuntang standing up accompanied by Charles and returning the coat to Xie Yunting. Her fair skin was faintly visible under the slit of her skirt.

Shen Yuntang is also coming up.

Wen Yanyan took a deep breath, held the microphone, and said, "I want to challenge a contestant this year."

Everyone in the audience looked over.

She was being stared at and was a little scared, but the unwillingness in her heart made her inexplicably determined.

Wen Yanyan looked at the direction where Shen Yuntang was walking and said word by word:

"I want to challenge Miss Shen Yuntang."

The audience was silent, and then started discussing who Shen Yuntang was. They seemed not to have heard the contestant's name just now.

Shen Yuntang, who was holding up the hem of her skirt, was stunned.

She looked up and saw Wen Yanyan, whom she had just left yesterday, standing on the stage, looking at her with a determined look as if she had given up on a broken jar.

She paused, pointed at herself, and said with a subtle look, "Me?"

Wen Yanyan clenched the microphone tightly, her knuckles turned white, but she still nodded firmly, with the flame of fighting burning in her eyes.

Shen Yuntang suddenly looked at her with a caring look for the mentally retarded.

Then he said, "Excuse me, I'm a judge."

As she finished her words, she walked gracefully to the judges' table, holding up her skirt. Charles pulled out a chair like a gentleman and let her sit down safely.

“…………”

Wen Yanyan suddenly opened her eyes wide in surprise.

The scene was extremely quiet for a moment.

This scene can be regarded as the most embarrassing moment of the year at the Fragrance Tasting Conference.

I don't know how long the audience was silent. Finally, after everyone started working together to dig out the villa, the perfume master who was holding the microphone in a daze finally reacted and forced his way around the topic.

"Ah... this new judge, could Mr. Charles please introduce her to us?"

Charles nodded and said with a smile, "Tang is my soulmate. Her level of appreciation of fragrances is already at the master level. I specially asked my juniors to go to China, thousands of miles away, to invite her here. I hope that there will be works that will impress Tang in today's fragrance tasting competition."

"..." The successful person was stuck for a while, and finally tried to continue his broken thoughts, "I see, it seems that she is a woman with very high aesthetic standards. I hope the contestants will not disappoint her."

The audience finally cooperated and applauded with awkward smiles.

Wen Yanyan stood on the stage, still staring in the direction of Shen Yuntang, her face full of frozen disbelief and belated embarrassment.

She...she actually...

How is that possible? !

She is only in her twenties! She has not received any systematic training! Is this possible? How is this possible?

Before Wen Yanyan recovered from her disbelief, the successful man hurriedly pushed her off the stage. She stumbled and nearly fell.

After she stood firm, she suddenly turned around and looked back.

Shen Yuntang sat upright on the judges' panel, supporting his chin lazily, as if he was too lazy to even give her a glance.

Just like every time she was in a mess before, in the garden of the Huo residence and at the airport in Hai City, Shen Yuntang sat calmly, dignified and noble.

Didn't even think of looking at her.

Wen Yanyan's breathing gradually quickened, and she felt a sharp pain in her chest and face.

Martina was also stunned when she heard that Shen Yuntang was one of the judges.

What?

Isn't she participating as a contestant?

She...she turned out to be...the soulmate that Charles had been thinking about for a month?

Martina was stunned and then felt a little embarrassed.

At the same time, there is more curiosity and a deeper respect for Tang.

To receive such high praise from Charles, one must have extraordinary abilities.

She has always admired people with outstanding abilities.

Then, Martina remembered why Ann wanted to challenge her. This process did not require her to mention a person's name. She could just introduce herself.

After a moment, Martina realized the connection.

Xie Yunting.

…

She looked at Xie Yunting who was not far away from her in shock.

Xie Yunting felt the gaze and looked back politely.

But he felt that Martina's eyes seemed to say "blue-haired girls are the root of trouble".

Xie Yunting: “…”

Seeing that no one around noticed her, Martina took the opportunity to quietly get up and go find Wen Yanyan.

Wen Yanyan was standing blankly at the place where she was pushed off the stage.

Martina approached her and realized that something was wrong with her, tears welled up in her eyes.

She asked in confusion, "Ann, what's wrong with you?"

When Wen Yanyan was asked this question, grievance, embarrassment and unwillingness burst out along with tears.

"Martina, I, I'm so sad."

Her eyes were red and she was crying. She spoke incoherently, "I clearly just wanted a chance to defeat her. Why, why did I get hurt like this?"

Martina paused.

She expressed her incomprehension openly.

"Defeat her? Oh, Ann, have you ever had any conflict with her that you had to win?"

Wen Yanyan paused.

“Making perfume is an art. Art can certainly aim at a certain level, but it should never limit itself to surpassing someone else.”

Martina said earnestly, "An overly competitive spirit will affect your perception and make it difficult to produce excellent works. Art and beauty both need a tolerant environment to grow."

She paused, not knowing what to say, and finally said, "Come on, Ann."

Martina left to look at other exhibition areas.

And Wen Yanyan was left alone there again.

She just felt extremely embarrassed.

No one is willing to understand her, no one understands her, and everyone is blaming her.

That wasn't her intention at all. She wasn't as stupid and narrow-minded as they said. She was just very unwilling.

Shouldn't anyone who goes through what she went through feel unwilling to accept it?

She is also a child of destiny.

After a while, Wen Yanyan wiped her tears vigorously and strode towards her exhibition area.

There is more than one judge, and there will definitely be many people who like her style. It doesn’t matter even if Shen Yuntang is a judge, she will definitely win.

As long as she gets the first prize today, she will have defeated Shen Yuntang in her heart.

The guests began to stand up and walk around the various exhibition areas.

Soon, many people stopped in front of her exhibition area and expressed their curiosity about her perfume.

Wen Yanyan tried her best to forget the embarrassment just now and introduced herself to them with a tearful smile.

The judges are judging one by one.

Charles picked up a bottle of perfume with a number on it, uncorked it, waved his hand gently and sniffed it, distinguishing the front, middle and back notes, and feeling its fragrance.

Then, he said, "I think it's pretty good, Tang, how about you?"

Shen Yuntang didn't even blink: "Normally."

Charles put it down, picked up the next bottle, and repeated the same action.

"What about this bottle?"

“It’s almost tasteless.”

"What about this bottle?"

Her eyebrows even frowned, "There are serious flaws."

Charles laughed cheerfully, "What's the flaw?"

Shen Yuntang glanced at the bottle of perfume and said, "It attracts mosquitoes."

Charles: “…”

"I have to say this is indeed a serious flaw." Charles put the perfume back, holding back his laughter.

Shen Yuntang still didn't satisfy the next batch, not even a single one of them met the passing line in her eyes.

Charles asked curiously: "Tang, can you tell me what kind of perfume you can give 100 points to?"

Shen Yuntang paused, finally picked up one of the bottles, and asked him: "Do you like to eat?"

Charles nodded, "I like it very much."

"This thing is like eating, it requires balance." She said, looking at the bottle.

"If you eat too much meat, you need to eat vegetables. If you eat too much spicy food, you need to eat sour food. For example, for crispy pork belly, the meat should be oily, salty and fragrant, but the skin should be roasted until it is crispy and light in taste to have the perfect taste."

She stroked the label on the bottle and continued, "Do you like milk tea?"

Charles retracted his obsessed expression, swallowed his saliva, and shook his head: "We rarely drink milk tea here."

"I don't mean that kind of milk tea." Shen Yuntang said, "It's the milk tea that is very popular in China."

"If the taste is monotonous, add oats or Oreo crumbs. If the taste is bland, add mochi cream or honey jelly. If the taste is sweet, add agar and ice cubes."

She continued, "At the same time, the taste cannot be mixed. Adding sticky mochi to refreshing fruit tea will mess up the taste, destroy the theme, and lose the focus."

Shen Yuntang turned his head and looked at Charles, "The same goes for perfume."

Charles responded by swallowing his saliva. He said sincerely: "My feeling after listening to you is that I want to go to China immediately."

Shen Yuntang: “…”

Charles sighed, "It turns out there are so many theories about eating. I am now more interested in crispy pork belly than perfume. Tang, where did you come up with this theory?"

Shen Yuntang paused, put down the perfume bottle, and said, "An old man told me."

In the real world, she only uses the perfume made by that grandfather.

No matter how strange or unreasonable her request was, the grandfather would always forgive her with a smile and make her a perfume exactly as she imagined.

Only he has taken this theory of taste balance to its extreme.

Shen Yuntang suddenly felt a little homesick.

Charles nodded and said, "Let's go to the exhibition area now."

She rose with him.

Charles stood with his hands behind his back, looking here and there, his curiosity was even greater than that of a child.

Shen Yuntang, on the other hand, seemed a little bored.

When he reached the last exhibition area, Charles was attracted by a group of people gathered together and joined the crowd to watch the fun.

Wen Yanyan in the booth raised her head and suddenly saw Master Charles. She was stunned for a moment, and then she couldn't hide her surprise.

"Mr. Charles, would you like to see my work?"

Charles took a look at her and recognized her as the contestant who had just announced that she would challenge Shen Yuntang, and he couldn't help but become very interested in her work.

He picked up a bottle and sniffed it with practiced movements.

Wen Yanyan looked at him nervously and expectantly.

However, Charles' expression showed nothing.

Wen Yanyan's expectations were suddenly dashed.

He turned around and waved, "Tang, come and smell it, how about this bottle?"

Wen Yanyan's face turned a little pale, and she blurted out: "How can she judge my perfume?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuntang walked into the crowd. Perhaps it was because her skirt made her look expensive and difficult to deal with, the onlookers all unconsciously made way for her.

She glanced at Wen Yanyan behind the table and raised her eyebrows.

As soon as I saw her, it was clear on her face that "she wants to harm me".

As the vicious female supporting character in this scene, Shen Yuntang was very pleased with such looks and decided to fulfill her duty.

She smiled without even looking at it: "Not qualified."

Wen Yanyan's face immediately turned embarrassed, and she began to hold back her tears for the hundredth time.

There was an uproar around them, and Charles couldn't help but ask her curiously: "Tang, you haven't smelled it yet, how did you judge it?"

"I smelled it at home a month ago."

She smiled at Charles, then looked at Wen Yanyan with a somewhat proud and slightly arrogant expression.

She had long been fed up with this old-fashioned heroine who was running around everywhere and haunting the place. Today, Shen Yuntang decided to use her iron fist to teach her a lesson once again.

She knocked on the table and said, "Stop glaring at me. Do you know what's wrong with you?"

Looking at Wen Yanyan's very unconvinced expression, the little devil in Shen Yuntang's heart started waving the fork again.

She leaned on the table and approached Wen Yanyan, saying with a smile.

"I'll tell you."

The grandfather also taught her how to turn decay into magic.