Oh heavens, isn't this a bit too hasty? A servant stealing away with a young lady, especially when she hasn't even reached adulthood? A bit thrilling.
"Ah, where did your mind wander off to?" Miss Xiao Er also realized the impropriety in her words, blushing on her cheeks. She hurriedly explained, "I asked you to come and tell me a story. I've been having nightmares these days, dreaming of our Xiao family in ruins. I'm terrified. Lin San, can you come and tell me a story tonight?"
So that's it, Lin Wanrong secretly wiped away a cold sweat, feeling ashamed for his dirty thoughts. With a nod, he replied, "Certainly."
As the day passed, Lin Wanrong exchanged words with Miss Xiao Yusuang. Surprisingly, the young master did not show up all day. In the afternoon, Lin Wanrong returned to his room early.
He first gathered several large clover plants, crushed the stems and leaves, and collected the pungent juice in a large jar. Then, he gathered a bunch of rose petals and painstakingly squeezed out a small amount of juice, treasuring it in another small cup.
In his past life, he had some knowledge of perfumes, knowing that brewing a bottle required dozens or even hundreds of pounds of petals. While there were plenty of flowers in the courtyard, it was still not enough, but fortunately, Uncle Fu was there, and obtaining as many petals as needed was not an issue.
In the process of making essence, the extraction of juice required the best solvent, but in this world with extremely primitive conditions, finding such a solvent was difficult. Pressing was the most practical method under these circumstances, even if it meant wasting some raw materials and increasing costs.
Both types of juice were rough, still mixed with some debris. However, this was just a preliminary experiment, and these details didn't need to be delved into.
Both juices needed some time to settle. After dinner, Lin Wanrong returned to his room, finding the juices partially clarified. Anxiously, he poured some clover into a small bowl, and a pungent smell wafted over. Rose liquid was too precious, and he didn't want to use much. He dipped a bit with chopsticks and placed it into the clover.
Strangely enough, with just a little rose liquid touching the clover juice, the pungent smell significantly decreased, though not completely eliminated. Lin Wanrong knew this was because there was too little rose liquid, so he reluctantly added more.
Indeed, just this bit made a remarkable difference. Not only did the pungent smell disappear, but there was also a faint rose fragrance emerging.
Ecstatic, Lin Wanrong thought he might have a chance. To further experiment, he added more rose liquid, turning the subtle fragrance into a rich one, distinct from the usual floral scents.
The room was filled with a delightful fragrance, and immersed in the aroma of rose dew, Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, feeling like he had struck gold.
"What are you doing?" a cold voice came from behind him.
Lin Wanrong turned around and saw the delicate face of Xiao Qingxuan. Goodness, this girl moved like a cat; she didn't make a sound while walking.
Seeing that it was already getting dark, Lin Wanrong was unaware of how long she had been here. More importantly, he didn't know what she had seen. He said, "How did you come in?"
Xiao Qingxuan said, "However I came in last night, it's the same tonight."
"You climbed the wall again? Did you climb the wall when you left this morning?"
"Why should I tell you?"
Xiao Qingxuan seemed to have returned to her cold demeanor from last night; the slight tenderness had completely disappeared.
"Miss, although you are noble, you should still understand some etiquette. Knock before entering, understand?" Lin Wanrong said annoyed.
Every time this girl entered mysteriously, if she reappeared like Sadako from last night, even if he didn't have heart disease, he'd eventually be scared to death. Moreover, he was doing something significant and couldn't afford to leak secrets. This was a unique formula that couldn't be bought with a hundred thousand taels of gold.
"You didn't close the door; I naturally walked in," Xiao Qingxuan said confidently.
"Remember, no more next time, or I might have to kill to keep the secret," Lin Wanrong said menacingly.
Xiao Qingxuan burst into laughter, "I think I should be saying that."
With her skills, killing Lin Wanrong would be as easy as flipping a hand. Of course, except for the first time they met, when things went awry, and Xiao Qingxuan's face flushed with a slight fever.
"A very special fragrance, somewhat like the scent of flowers but not quite. What is this?" Xiao Qingxuan looked at the small cup Lin Wanrong used for his experiment with great interest.
Being born into wealth, she had used countless top-quality cosmetics but never encountered such a scent. It seemed tailored for women, with a faint and pure fragrance that was neither overpowering nor dull, making it endlessly delightful. It even gave a slightly addictive feeling.
"How do you find this fragrance?" Lin Wanrong smiled mysteriously. Since you've stumbled upon this, why not become my first experimental subject?
Biting her red lips, Xiao Qingxuan said, "It's fragrant, pure, and clean. I like it very much. Of course, if it were a bit lighter, I would like it even more."
Suddenly, Lin Wanrong remembered an article he had read before called "Scent to Recognize a Woman." The essence was that by the types of perfumes a woman used, one could deduce her desires. Women who liked light fragrances sought emotional tenderness over physical intimacy, while those who favored strong scents were passionate and desirous.
Looking at it this way, Xiao Qingxuan probably valued spiritual love. Lin Wanrong smirked.
"You still haven't told me what this is. I saw you going back and forth continuously; I have no idea what you're doing," Xiao Qingxuan said. Lin Wanrong, sensing her intentions from her words, realized she had been observing him for quite some time.
"This, uh, I haven't thought of a name yet. You can understand it as a cosmetic water for you women. I'm still in the experimental stage now, but once it's done in the future, I'll definitely give you some," Lin Wanrong generously said.
Xiao Qingxuan laughed but didn't speak. In her eyes, there was a faint and undisguised surprise.
"By the way, why did you come to find me? Did you miss me so soon?" Lin Wanrong teased, seeking revenge for her unpredictable appearances.
Xiao Qingxuan glared at him, "Every time I see you, you can't say anything good. If you continue like this, I won't come again."
Lin Wanrong chuckled inwardly. Xiao Qingxuan also noticed the flaw in her words; her face blushed, thinking, What's wrong with me? I lose my sense of propriety when I see him. It's all because this person has thick skin, causing me to lose my composure.
She didn't dwell on it too much and took out a small booklet from
her sleeve, handing it to Lin Wanrong. "Here, for you."
"What is this?" Lin Wanrong took the booklet, which still carried Xiao Qingxuan's warmth and a faint fragrance.
"Didn't you ask me how I got in? As long as you learn what's in here, you can move freely like me," Xiao Qingxuan said lightly.
Sighing, Lin Wanrong handed the booklet back to her, saying, "Miss Xiao, thank you for your kindness. But at my age, with loose bones and stiff waist, is there any hope for learning martial arts again? Miss, you and I are from completely different worlds. You are a martial arts heroine, and I'm a carefree servant. I have no interest in your world."
In fact, Xiao Qingxuan's words made sense. Lin Wanrong had been considering this issue for a while. Supporting Dong Qingshan to establish a club had the hidden intention of building his own power. Now, thinking about it, he remembered the son of the governor, Luo Yuan. If he could bring him into the club, the problem of having no one to watch his back might be solved. Judging by the way Luo Yuan behaved, he seemed like someone who couldn't stay put; maybe he could be useful.
Xiao Qingxuan reluctantly put away the booklet, feeling a mix of emotions. It was the first time she had given something to someone, especially a man with an ambiguous relationship, only to be rejected. Thinking about it was hard to believe.
"Lin San, do you really want to be a servant in the Xiao family for the rest of your life? With your talents and courage, shouldn't you aspire to something beyond mediocrity?" Xiao Qingxuan pondered for a while before speaking.