Chapter 36: The Cunning Old Fox

Fu Hanye took the perfume bottle and held it up to his nose. Though he knew he couldn't actually smell it—his lack of scent perception rendered the gesture meaningless—he went through the motions anyway. It was a way to remind himself, and others, that he was still the one in charge. This loss of scent had caused him countless inconveniences, often making him feel like he was somehow less capable.

"Do you know who tampered with it?" he asked, leaning back in his chair with a piercing gaze. "Fu Group's perfume production is tightly controlled at every step, from formulation to manufacturing, right down to the point of sale. If someone wanted to sabotage it, they'd have to get past a lot of safeguards... unless…"

Ji Yunchuan took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly. "If I knew who did it, I wouldn't have bothered bringing this bottle here. The tainted perfumes are few in number, and it takes a particularly sensitive nose to detect the difference. But from the way you're talking, I'd say you already have a suspect in mind?"

A glint of cold calculation appeared in Fu Hanye's eyes. "It's an inside job."

Only someone with insider access could meddle with the core aspects of Fu Group's fragrance production. An outsider wouldn't have the nerve to attempt something like this.

The Fu family wasn't short on members, and within it lay no shortage of intrigue. The old patriarch had two sons and two daughters. Fu Hanye's father, the elder son, had perished in a tragic accident. He and Fu Hanye's mother had been flying a private plane when it crashed into a blooming field of flowers—a beautiful, if ultimately fatal, end.

Fu Hanye had only been ten years old when he saw his parents' lifeless bodies. Even then, he'd shown no tears, just a cold, unblinking stare at the entwined bodies. Rumor had it that even at such a young age, Fu Hanye was emotionless. While others mourned, he seemed to have no need for tears. Since that day, he'd thrown himself into his studies and, once graduated, joined the family business to assist the patriarch. His efforts had led to Fu Group's unprecedented success.

Yet the other family members hadn't the same talent for business, only for stirring trouble. Over the years, they'd caused no end of problems, each one vying for a larger slice of Fu Group. While the old patriarch was still alive, Fu Hanye had held back out of respect. But it seemed that his relatives had now resorted to extreme measures, willing to harm the company itself if it meant weakening his position.

"So, what's your plan?" Ji Yunchuan asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Let's play a game of chess," Fu Hanye replied with a wry smile. He pulled open a desk drawer and handed a stack of medical reports to Li Feng. The reports detailed the exact nature of his anosmia, the inability to smell.

"Keep these secure," Fu Hanye instructed. "When the time is right, I want you to release them publicly."

Li Feng's eyes widened. "Sir, you're planning to reveal your own condition? This could impact Fu Group's stock value."

"I'll wait until I'm cured before I make any announcements," Fu Hanye assured him.

Realization dawned on Ji Yunchuan's face, and he pointed at Fu Hanye with a grin. "You cunning old fox. I see what you're doing now. This is going to be quite the show."

"Li Feng, discreetly organize a team from Product Inspection to retrieve and destroy any contaminated perfume from the market," Fu Hanye ordered.

"Yes, sir. I'll arrange it right away." Li Feng carefully stowed away the reports and left the room to carry out the orders.

Ji Yunchuan chuckled and gave Fu Hanye a knowing look. "Let me guess—next on your agenda is finding your wife and getting her to help fix that nose of yours?"

Fu Hanye stood up, his face unreadable. "You know, there's a saying about how the more you know, the quicker you're likely to meet an unfortunate end. Understand?"

Ji Yunchuan was out of his seat in a flash. "I just remembered—I have something to take care of. See you around!" he said, disappearing out the door faster than he had the last time.

Left alone in his office, Fu Hanye's eyes turned thoughtful. The game was in motion, and he was ready to make his next move.