In the following days, Qin He commuted between Gu's Corporation and her own endeavors.
The joint perfume brand established by Gu's Corporation and Qin He was finally named Qing Sui, after Qin He's name.
Qing Sui was just starting out and thus was not independent of Gu's Corporation. Its address was on the seventeenth floor of Gu's building, housing over a dozen perfumers, including Li Ai from the competition.
At eight in the morning, Qin He arrived at the perfumery department.
Li Ai, now the deputy director, was responsible for managing all affairs in Qin He's absence.
Upon entering, Qin He was greeted by a faint, delicate fragrance – "First Love," her design from the competition.
Li Ai was conversing with several perfumers. The atmosphere in the Qing Sui perfume department differed from other floors at Gu's.
There were three offices and several small perfumeries.
Beyond these rooms was a large open-plan office spanning the floor, furnished with long tables covered in various perfumery equipment.
As Qin He navigated around a distillation flask, Li Ai spotted her.
"Director Qin, you're here!"
Qin He smiled. "Good morning, Xiao Ai."
Li Ai's gaze toward Qin He sparkled. If Qin He hadn't rescued her from Zhang Caiyu back then, she feared she'd still be toiling away at that notorious studio.
Now, her mother resided in the best hospital in Qingcheng, receiving care, and Gu's Corporation had offered her a generous salary.
If Qin He weren't a woman, Li Ai would have practically offered to marry her.
Qin He observed Li Ai. Unlike her demeanor at Pink Beach, Li Ai appeared much more energetic, her timidity completely gone.
"Go gather everyone, we're having a meeting," Qin He said with a smile.
With the establishment of the Qing Sui brand and her previously released perfumes from Pink Beach now popular online, consumers eagerly awaited Qing Sui's first product.
After summoning all the perfumers, Qin He took her seat at the head of the table. "Our brand has been established for over a month. Both the public and the industry have high expectations for our first product. This is good, but also a challenge."
Greater expectations meant a higher risk of disappointment. The product released could not be just another common scent in the market.
Qin He looked at the assembled perfumers, who all nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry, Director Qin, we'll work hard and stay late to complete our perfumes!" Li Ai declared.
Qin He smiled. "No need to overwork yourselves. Getting sick wouldn't be good; our noses are our most precious asset in this profession."
Perfumery progressed from smelling, to replicating, and then to creating scents. These perfumers, with their keen sense of smell, could discern and utilize nearly ten thousand different spices worldwide.
Consequently, many perfumers couldn't tolerate the scent of disinfectant in hospitals.
Qin He continued, "I'll make a list. Qing Sui's debut shouldn't be just a single product; that would too easily lead to a singular consumer base. My suggestion is to release a series – three for men and three for women, catering to different age groups."
Someone grew anxious. "So, six types?"
Qin He nodded. "One for youth, one for middle-aged, and one for the elderly."
She shared some of her ideas, and together with the perfumers from the Qing Sui department, they finalized the main scent profiles.
"By the end of next month, we need to finalize the perfume formulations and then hand them over for production. By the time we can stock the shelves, it should be around the hundred-day mark. Releasing our first perfume on the brand's hundredth day would be a meaningful occasion."
Everyone immediately tensed. "That's a bit tight!"
"Not too tight, really. As long as we research diligently, we should have enough time!" someone declared with great ambition.
Qin He smiled, observing the group. Some, with their cautious natures, were deep in thought, while others rolled up their sleeves, ready for action.
Overall, the atmosphere in the perfumery department was quite positive.
After the meeting, Qin He rose and entered her office.
She had been busy investigating the organization, so she hadn't visited Gu's Corporation much lately. Her office looked much the same as when she had first arrived.
Qin He sat down and opened her laptop. A small icon quickly popped up in the bottom right corner.
Qin He raised an eyebrow. It was Gu's Corporation's internal network system. Gu Qichen had actually granted her access.
The blinking icon indicated a message list.
Admin 1: [What are you doing?]
Qin He raised her eyebrows, looking at the administrator, and a faint smile played on her lips: [Thinking of you.]
Admin 1: [Come to the top floor.]
She turned off her laptop, got up, and took the elevator to the top floor.
When the elevator doors opened, Yu Jing stood at the entrance, smiling. "Miss Qin, Mr. Gu asked me to escort you."
Qin He followed Yu Jing to the door of Gu Qichen's office. Inside, a high-ranking executive from Gu's was reporting on a project.
Qin He watched Gu Qichen sitting at his computer. He subtly raised a hand, and upon seeing her enter, immediately stood up.
"Understood. That's all for today," Gu Qichen said to the executive. "You may go."
The executive, mid-report, looked astonished. Glancing at Qin He, who had just entered, he promptly withdrew.
Qin He smiled. "You should continue your work; I'll just listen from the side."
"Work is not as important as you," Gu Qichen stated plainly.
Qin He paused, then chuckled. "How do you manage to say such romantic things so matter-of-factly?"
Gu Qichen frowned slightly. "Is that a romantic thing to say?"
Qin He looked up at Gu Qichen. His usually cool demeanor seemed genuinely puzzled.
His deep-set eyes and bone structure, coupled with his cool, dark gaze, led Qin He's eyes from his face to his jawline, his neck, and finally settled on the somewhat ascetic first button of his shirt.
This man, she mused, was perhaps experiencing love for the first time.
A slight smile touched her lips. She stood on tiptoe and quickly kissed Gu Qichen on the cheek.
The man's thick eyebrows immediately relaxed, and he reached out to embrace her waist.
Seeing Gu Qichen lean in, Qin He covered her lips. "Don't fool around during work hours."
Gu Qichen chuckled softly. "You were the one who provoked me first."
Their kiss was lingering and tender. Qin He lowered her gaze, her breath mingling with his clean, crisp scent.
As their kiss began to break, Qin He pushed him away. "Go back to work."
Qin He spent the day with Gu Qichen at Gu's Corporation, leaving only when it was time to clock out.
Upon returning to the Qin family home, she saw Qin Yun and Xu Wanwan sitting on the sofa.
The two were now married. Ming Yuzhu, concerned that many young women disliked living with their in-laws, had prepared a separate marital home for Qin Yun not far from the Qin residence.
It was a spacious villa, newly renovated.
However, Xu Wanwan and Qin Yun had no intention of moving out, and the family lived together harmoniously.
Qin He took off her shoes. "Brother, Wanwan, aren't you supposed to be going on your honeymoon tomorrow? Have you packed?"
Xu Wanwan smiled. "Your brother and I have discussed it, and we've decided to postpone the honeymoon for now."
Qin He frowned. "Why?"