Seeing Gu Yining in distress, Mu Zuozhen wasted no time stepping in. He swiftly grasped Gu Yining's other hand and said firmly, "Fu Hannan, please let her go. There are so many people watching. I don't know why you're making things difficult for her, but you already have a partner. Show some respect."
His expression turned serious, a stark contrast to the earlier light-heartedness.
Fu Hannan's eyes burned with fury as he directed a deadly glare at Mu Zuozhen, anger radiating off him like heat from a fire.
"Get lost! This is between me and her. It's none of your business, you immature brat!"
Fu Hannan's commanding presence was overwhelming, and his icy demeanor was terrifying.
Mu Zuozhen hesitated, his grip on Gu Yining's hand faltering. His father had always warned him that Fu Hannan was the last person to provoke in Lingcheng; even the Mu family had to tread carefully around him.
What he was doing now was akin to picking a fight with a tiger, essentially solidifying his enmity with Fu Hannan.
Gu Yining, however, was the first to break free from Fu Hannan's grip, her hand aching from the pressure.
"Let go of me!" she gasped, struggling to breathe as pain shot through her wrist.
Though Fu Hannan was forced to release her, more biting words followed: "It seems you and this young master Mu are quite close, huh? You really know how to surprise me with your skills."
On the sidelines, Ye Fanxing sensed that if things continued like this, Fu Hannan might expose the fact that he and Gu Yining were married in front of the media and the powerful elite present. She quickly intervened, "Oh, come on, you two! Let's not bicker in such an important setting. The most important thing today is to have fun!"
In her attempt to mediate, she positioned herself between them.
However, both Fu Hannan and Gu Yining were having none of it. They turned their faces away from each other, refusing to acknowledge the presence of the other.
"Leon, I brought the perfume you gave me. Why don't I try it out here? I can introduce your work to some of the top perfumers in attendance," Ye Fanxing suggested, pulling a bottle from her bag and handing it to Gu Yining.
Gu Yining was initially reluctant to engage, but she knew she had to uphold her professionalism.
Her personal grievances with Ye Fanxing shouldn't affect her work.
"There's no need for introductions. Just try it and see if you like it," Gu Yining replied curtly.
"Then why don't you apply it for me?" Ye Fanxing offered, extending her hands eagerly.
To properly apply perfume, one typically sprays it on the wrist and the area between the wrist and hand, then lightly fans it out to the neck and behind the ears.
Gu Yining unscrewed the cap of the perfume bottle and sprayed the fragrance into the air.
A rich, intense scent wafted through the atmosphere, enveloping everyone nearby.
Both Fu Hannan and Mu Zuozhen caught a whiff of the pleasant aroma, which lingered in the air, creating an inviting atmosphere.
"Is that the 'Encounter' fragrance from the competition?" Fu Hannan asked, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Yes! I bought this perfume with Leon. I absolutely love the scent! Leon truly is a genius at crafting fragrances," Ye Fanxing gushed, inhaling the fragrance from her wrist to redirect the conversation away from the earlier tension.
"Since you like it, that means my perfume has met your expectations. I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now," Gu Yining said, returning the bottle to Ye Fanxing, clearly eager to exit the situation.
However, just as she turned to leave, a scream pierced the air behind her.
"Ah... my hand!" Ye Fanxing shrieked, staring at the red rash that had begun to form on her skin. Almost immediately, she felt the itch spread to her neck.
Her sudden outburst attracted a crowd, drawing curious onlookers who gathered to witness the commotion.
As the rash continued to multiply on her hands, the itching became unbearable, and she instinctively began scratching at it.
Gu Yining pushed her way through the crowd to reach Ye Fanxing, seizing her hand. "Are you having an allergic reaction?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice.
Ye Fanxing nodded, panic evident in her eyes. "Yes! Is there lavender in this perfume? I'm allergic to that flower!"
Gu Yining's brows knitted together in confusion. "But I personally showed you the ingredient list. Didn't I?"