68 The Bet
“It’s not up to you to decide if she can participate in the competition.” He Miao frowned and walked over to help up the girl who was squatting on the ground, not caring about the glass shards that had cut her hand. She also tried her best to protect her perfume.
“Who are you? Is it your business? Does it have anything to do with you?” The taller girl raised her head arrogantly, and her followers quickly surrounded her, confronting He Miao and Xu Meng.
The people by the lake had already gathered to watch. The girl who was being bullied timidly pulled on He Miao’s sleeve. “Sister, forget it. There are more and more people here. You should leave quickly.”
Xu Meng comforted her. “Don’t worry. Which school are you from? What year is she in?”
“She’s from the capital’s fragrance-making Industry University. She’s in her third year.” The girl looked at her classmates who were showing off and advised He Miao worriedly, “Forget it. Don’t offend them. They come from a powerful family.”
“So what if you have a background?” He Miao’s eyes narrowed. Perfume making looked elegant, but as long as it involved people, it was inevitable that there would be shady deals. However, she did not expect the people in this world to have no professionalism at all. Even if such a person stayed in this industry, they would only bring shame to it.
“Your tone is insolent.” The taller girl crossed her arms and strode to He Miao’s side. “Do you know who I am? I advise you to be smart and get lost, otherwise don’t blame me for making you come here for nothing!”
Her threats were not empty. Her family was one of the organizers of the competition. Even if the competition was fair and open, the final score could indeed be tampered with.
She raised her head proudly and looked at Xu Meng, who did not take her seriously at all. She narrowed her eyes in surprise, as if she was thinking about something.
“So it’s you.” The girl sized Xu Meng up fastidiously, and her lips curled up in a sarcastic smile. “My professor said that he would bring me to meet you after the competition. I didn’t expect you to come to me yourself.”
“You know me?” Xu Meng frowned and looked at He Miao in confusion. She could not find any trace of this person in her memory.
“Of course you haven’t met me!” The girl seemed to feel that she had lost face and suddenly said angrily, “Go back and ask your uncle if he still remembers Zhou Heng. I’m his niece, Zhou Nan!”
At the mention of Zhou Heng’s name, Xu Meng’s expression clearly changed. She put down the hand that was protecting the girl and walked towards Zhou Nan step by step. The person who was usually all smiles was now full of hatred. “So you’re the niece of the person who harmed my uncle. Enemies really meet on a narrow road.”
Zhou Nan looked at Xu Meng and laughed out loud. “That’s because your uncle was stupid back then. I don’t remember you learning how to make perfumes yet. I was wondering why you two were so fearless. It turns out that you don’t even have the qualifications to participate in the competition.”
A few of her lackeys laughed at the two of them together with her. Xu Meng was so angry that she almost hit her. He Miao hurriedly stopped her. She looked at Zhou Nan and said calmly, “Since it’s an old grudge, tomorrow’s game will be a good time to settle the new and old grudges together.”
“And who are you?” Zhou Nan glanced at He Miao nonchalantly. “Forget it. She’s just an insignificant character. Don’t cry when you lose tomorrow.”
He Miao raised her eyebrows and smiled maliciously, “Since Miss Zhou is so confident, why don’t we make a bet?”
“Bet on what?” Zhou Nan sarcastically asked.
He Miao looked at Xu Meng, then looked up at Zhou Nan coldly. “Whoever loses tomorrow will have to quit the fragrance-making industry forever and never touch any such ingredients again.”
The smile on Zhou Nan’s lips gradually grew wider. In her mind, these two people were no match for her. She looked at the other contestants around her and suddenly shouted, “You all heard it, she was the one who brought up the bet.”
She walked to He Miao’s side and said in a low and cold voice, “When the time comes, don’t go back on your word.”
He Miao smiled confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t either when the time comes.”
Zhou Nan and her lackeys turned to leave. The girl, who had been holding her breath, finally came back to her senses. She pulled on He Miao’s hand and said worriedly, “You shouldn’t have made that bet with her. She’s Zhou Heng’s student and has always been among the best in school. You’re no match for her.”