Chapter 281: Chapter 281
Tang Qie really doubted whether this year’s candidates all had some issues.
One couldn’t even identify scents correctly and just made things up, and another one had the audacity to claim that the perfume was her own formula??
He pressed his eyebrows down, trying hard to maintain his composure, and said indifferently, "This perfume was just created by our association president yesterday. We only learned of the formula yesterday too, so how can you claim that this perfume is your own formula?"
After speaking, Tang Qie felt somewhat disappointed with these dozen or so candidates.
He had thought one was a promising perfumer talent, but unexpectedly, their integrity was so poor.
He sighed subtly and prepared to leave the scene, intending to take the passing candidates away from this farce.
Just as he turned around, he heard a somewhat distorted male voice from behind, saying:
"...You’re asking about the Midnight God? Oh right, I forgot to change the exam content for them. Previously, when Pei Xizhou asked me for the exam question, I gave him the perfume formula that you said you didn’t want."
The male voice was particularly familiar, and being able to call the president of the Perfumer Association by name so calmly and harmoniously, Tang Qie quickly stopped and turned back, seeing the name ’Ying Ji’ displayed prominently on the boy’s phone screen.
Besides being the Family Head of the Ying Family, Ying Ji was also the vice president of the Perfumer Association. Tang Qie hadn’t interacted much with him but remembered who he was.
Hence, he remembered Ying Ji’s voice.
But how could this candidate have Ying Ji’s phone number, and judging by the tone, seem very familiar?
The person on the other end continued speaking: "If you think this affects the exam results, I can speak with that invigilating member for you. By the way, who is invigilating?"
Rong Zhi had no impression of Tang Qie and turned to Windsor Yao, asking softly: "What’s his name?"
Windsor Yao sighed: "...You don’t even remember your teacher’s name?"
Rong Zhi replied blandly, "Doesn’t matter, too lazy to remember."
If she had to remember everyone every day, what other things would she keep in her mind?
Windsor Yao rubbed her face expressionlessly, feeling quite impressed.
"This is the senior member of the association, Teacher Tang Qie."
Rong Zhi nodded and softly told the phone: "His name is Tang Qie."
"...Tang Qie," Ying Ji paused, "Alright, I’ll talk to him."
Before anyone could react, even Tang Qie was somewhat bewildered, but the next moment, a vibrating phone in his pocket told him something was seemingly going off course.
He cast a deep glance at the calm Si Ye boy, and answered the call.
Whatever was said on the other end was unknown, but after a moment, he hummed, "Okay."
After hanging up, he looked at the boy with a cold tone under everyone’s varied gazes: "Sorry, I misunderstood you just now."
"Midnight God is indeed your formula, but in that case, your score will be nullified due to cheating."
"Ah? Nullified?" Windsor Yao exclaimed.
However, others were more shocked that Midnight God was indeed Ying Jiu’s original formula!
This meant she truly had the strength to directly join the Perfumer Association!
Using a perfume creation as an exam content, is it reasonable for her not to join the Perfumer Association?!
Chen Tian was shocked and confused.
Midnight God...is Ying Jiu’s formula...
Then what she just said, didn’t that all become a joke?
Chen Tian’s fingers picked at her pants, silently taking a step back.
Windsor Yao was more worried about the fact Tang Qie mentioned the scores were nullified, her peripheral vision caught sight of this scene and immediately called out, "Chen Tian, the perfume formula hasn’t been submitted, and the exam isn’t over. Where are you trying to go?"
Chen Tian paused, without turning back, spoke in a stiff voice, "A person has three urges, can’t I go?"
Windsor Yao snorted coldly, "Don’t make excuses. A loss is a loss, drop out of the exam and hand over the formula."
Lastly, she, still fanning the flames, continued, "Be quick about it, don’t delay our exam." This update is available on novel⚑fire.net
Chen Tian, hit where it hurts, raised her hand as if to strike.
Not sure what these people were up to before, but since the exam wasn’t over, Tang Qie couldn’t watch them create chaos here.
"Ying Jiu’s first-round score is nullified, proceed directly to the second round. Everyone, follow me, or it’ll be considered an automatic withdrawal."
The ones who passed the first round quickly followed.
Windsor Yao made a face at Chen Tian and left, dragging Rong Zhi with a cold snort.
The once popular favorite of the people now found themselves in a neglected position.
Chen Tian was caught between whether to follow or leave, and after two seconds of indecision, braced herself and followed.
Having eliminated nearly half of the people, the exam positions were rearranged, with significant distances between each wooden table.
The tables were set with the same original materials for perfume; this test would see how each perfumer’s skills matched up.
Rong Zhi picked up a daffodil from the table, smelled it, and scanned over the other scents, understanding the gist.
The exam had indefinite time, conducted among experienced perfumers present; it ended as each completed their tasks.
The bell sounded as Rong Zhi immediately began working with the fragrance materials.
The perfumer next to her glanced over, noticing the boy’s half-protected side face lowered, with clear and delicate contours cast into slender shadows, projecting calmness and peace.
The hand holding the reagent bottle was strikingly polished, with precise, efficient grinding movements, making it seem like an art performance in progress.
The perfumer was momentarily entranced, until a light cough from Tang Qie brought him back to awareness, prompting a quiet apology.
As the sunset spread outside the window, the last perfumer concluded their process, and the perfume was completed, signaling the end of the exam.
The final exam results wouldn’t be out until the next day, so all candidates went back to await the news.
Rong Zhi pulled out her phone and turned it on, instantly bombarded by a pile of messages.
With the New Year approaching, she wanted to let RH Group staff have an early break, having discussed it with Rong Jin before the test.
Just finished with the exam, she replied, handling the CSS project, along with Ying Ji’s inquiries about the exam.
A little while later, Ying Ji replied: [Let’s talk when back, something happened with Bai Su, come see.]
Something happened with Bai Su?
Rong Zhi’s grip on the phone tightened, replying with a "hmm," before saying goodbye to Windsor Yao and leaving the Perfumer Association.
As for Chen Tian, she would deal with that after finishing her matters.
A servant emerged from the room holding forgotten clothes, catching Rong Zhi’s eye.
The once clean and spotless white shirt had been stained with dirt and dark red bloodstains, nearly turning the white shirt red.
Rong Zhi frowned slightly, stepping into the room.
Besides Demmi, who was treating Bai Su’s wounds, the others all turned to look.
Her gaze passed over them, fixing on the man’s slightly pale lips, asking, "What happened?"
Ying Ji found her tone quite calm, not able to see through her thoughts.
He hesitated, "I sent him to pick up goods at the enclave in the battle zone, not expecting them to start fighting at the enclave."
He had been testing Bai Su’s capabilities these past few days, giving him many tasks, one of which was to pick up a batch of goods ordered by the Ying Family from the most turbulent battle zone.
The enclave was usually a neutral ground agreed upon by both sides, but recently unknown incidents seemed to have incited the factions, suddenly clashing there.
It was utter madness.
And Bai Su’s group was just indiscriminately attacked by those lunatics, with insufficient backup, and got injured trying to protect people and goods.
"What about the goods?"
Ying Ji, having explained, was ready for a scolding from Rong Zhi, but unexpectedly, she asked a seemingly unrelated question.