SWNOVELS Chapter 130: I Name This Perfume "Old Man"
Amber sat stiffly in the audience, unable to comprehend how things had gone so wrong. It seemed that every time she tried to target Tina, everything unfolded in ways she never anticipated. Sean had suddenly become a kidnapper and a fraud. And her, as his student, what would become of her? She watched the furious crowd, trembling with fear of being implicated. Trying to sneak away amidst the chaos, she was blocked by a group of girls even younger than herself. They cursed her vehemently.
"Amber! Where do you think you're escaping to! No wonder Sean took you as his student, you two are both despicable scum!" "Yes, you used to act all high and mighty in front of us, like being Sean's student was something so grand, treating us like servants. You don't deserve it!"
It was unclear who slapped her first or who kicked her first, but once the beating started, it was hard to stop. Every punch and kick seemed to serve justice. The police eventually intervened to stop the mob's fury, arresting Sean on suspicion of kidnapping and unlawful detention.
As the auditorium's chaos subsided, only then could the low sobs from a corner be heard. Amber's long hair was chopped messily, her school uniform torn to shreds exposing her undergarments, her body covered in bruises, her face swollen almost beyond recognition. But no one attended to her, no one helped her. Once Sean's crimes were revealed, everyone remembered her past deeds.
Importantly, she had claimed that Elizabeth had tested her and Tina for their talent in perfumery, saying it was because Tina lacked talent that Elizabeth favored her, leading Tina to jealousy and pushing Jared Farrell to bankrupt the Reed family. But was that the truth? Tina, lacking talent? She was Q! Her perfumes could fetch more money than the entire Reed family's fortune, why would she need jealousy or Elizabeth's approval? Thus, Amber was lying. That day, she and Sean had purposely teamed up to humiliate Tina. Such a person, habitually lying and always ready to slander her own sister, did not deserve sympathy.
"Why are you doing this to me! What did I do wrong?" Amber stood up angrily, accusing the crowd, "It was all Sean's doing! I've only met him a few days ago, I don't know anything!" Still, no one paid her any heed, their expressions indifferent, not a trace of pity shown.
Unable to bear the cold treatment, she fled in despair. Meanwhile, Tina remained on the stage. Despite the chaos, her side of the stage was untouched, even the perfume-making equipment neatly in place. After the news broke, she hadn't said a word, just watching coldly as Sean was beaten by the angry crowd before being taken away by the police.
In reality, she could have used her influence to rescue Lily Fawkes and Quentin immediately. However, she wanted to expose Sean's full extent without revealing her strength too soon. Moreover, she wanted to escalate the situation to help the Fawkes siblings. Since leaving Glasgow, she had been busy investigating drugs and had neglected them, allowing Sean to take advantage.
After this incident, everyone would know that the deaf-mute girl Lily Fawkes was Q's true student, and all perfumes previously launched by Sean in the market were actually her creations. This revelation would make life much easier for the siblings.
Suddenly, Tina addressed the remaining audience, "Today, I intend to introduce my fourth creation." The crowd was momentarily stunned. Tina quickly mixed a new perfume. The fervent eyes of the perfume enthusiasts and the judges fixed on her every move, proud to witness the birth of a new creation by the mysterious perfumer Q.
Especially the five judges, Vivienne Blaine and her colleagues, shocked by the unfolding crime revelation during what was supposed to be a simple challenge. Recalling their earlier praise for Sean's creations, now known to be Lily's work, they felt disgusted.
"Miss Reed, no, Master Q," Vivienne Blaine stood up excitedly, "may we experience this new product first?" Instead of responding, Tina asked, "Vivienne Blaine, would you still want to judge my perfumes if I weren't Q?" This left Vivienne and the other judges embarrassed, their earlier prejudice having blinded them to real talent.
"I apologize for our behavior," Vivienne lowered her head, ashamed. The other judges echoed her apology. "I accept your apologies," Tina said, not wanting to prolong their discomfort, and had her new perfume presented to them. They were thrilled, honored to be among the first to critique a new creation by Q.
Vivienne Blaine and Henry White were the first to sample the perfume, wafting the scented paper through the air. "Truly Q's work," Vivienne sighed in delight, "A masculine scent with a robust middle and a warm, sensual finish. Exquisite." Henry White nodded in agreement, asking Tina in his stiff Chinese, "Is this a men's perfume?"
Tina nodded with a smile, her gaze meeting Jared Farrell's, who sat quietly observing her from below. "I've named this perfume 'Old Man."" Jared Farrell, "...".