It was almost time for the shop to close, and the owner was beginning to feel uncertain. ’Did I guess wrong? Could it be that Zhao Jing and Chen De’an don’t care about this at all? Is that why they haven’t shown up?’

Just as the owner of Moxiang Pavilion was letting his mind wander, he heard the sound of light footsteps approaching. A shadow fell across the doorway, and at the same time, a clear, youthful voice called out, "Excuse me, is the owner in?"

The owner’s eyes snapped open. He shot up from the chaise lounge behind the counter and quickly turned his head toward the source of the voice.

Two young men stood in the doorway. One was cool and aloof, seeming a bit difficult to approach. The other was born with a smiling mouth, appearing open and magnanimous—the sort of person who could make friends all over the world.

The owner almost immediately matched the two of them to the descriptions given by Mr. Wang.

As expected, the slightly taller youth with the cool, noble air had to be Zhao Jing, the one Mr. Wang had praised so highly.

The young man was truly outstanding. His eyes were particularly striking—dark and profound, they seemed almost intimidating from a distance. His entire bearing was like that of sturdy bamboo in a clear breeze, truly captivating to behold.

The other youth beside him had a dignified and impressive bearing, with an open and forthright demeanor. This young man was certainly remarkable as well, but no matter how one looked, he seemed just a notch below Zhao Jing.

The owner walked out from behind the counter with a smile. "Might you two be Mr. Zhao and Chen Tongsheng?"

Zhao Jing nodded in affirmation.

But De’an said, "Don’t bother with ’Chen Tongsheng,’ just call me Chen De’an. Since you know who we are, sir, that puts our minds at ease."

The owner paused. "At ease about what?"

"That you’re selling this Moonlight Fragrance because you received my sister’s permission, and not because you stole her recipe."

"You came to that conclusion just because I could recognize you? Isn’t that a bit rash?"

"Not rash at all. I have my own way of judging things. If you had stolen the recipe, you’d feel like a debtor seeing a creditor at the door when we arrived. You’d glare at us, wary and on guard. But look at yourself now, sir. How are you acting?"

The owner spread his hands and looked down at himself. "And how am I acting?"

"Your eyes lit up with curiosity. You’re interested in us, not hostile. If that doesn’t prove this Moonlight Fragrance is a business partnership between you and my sister, then what does?"

The owner clapped his hands and sighed in admiration. "I had only heard that Mr. Zhao was quick-witted and exceptionally intelligent. I never imagined that Mr. Chen here was also so perceptive. It’s been truly eye-opening."

De’an waved his hand. "It’s nothing, really. You have to consider what my dad does for a living. Compared to him, I’m just a novice."

Hearing this, the owner laughed heartily again.

He then led the two of them to a seating area behind a bookshelf, where he properly introduced himself as the owner of the establishment, not the shopkeeper, and explained the origins of the Moonlight Fragrance deal.

All of this was within Zhao Jing and Chen De’an’s expectations. As they listened to the owner speak, they would nod slightly from time to time, showing that events were unfolding just as they had predicted.

’But for my sister to make so much Moonlight Fragrance in such a short time... she must be exhausted, right?’

’Before we came to the Prefecture, she even said the Moonlight Fragrance market in Qingshui County was saturated and she could finally take a break. With this deal landing in her lap, she definitely won’t be able to rest now.’

The owner saw that the two remained calm and composed, possessing the air of great strategists. Even when they heard he had signed a deal with Chen Wanqing for about ten thousand boxes, they only furrowed their brows for a moment before their expressions returned to normal.

Seeing this, the owner knew they were most likely worried that Chen Wanqing wouldn’t be able to deliver the goods on time.

As for whether she might be taken advantage of in this transaction, that didn’t seem to concern them.

They were clearly aware of their close relative’s capabilities and weren’t worried she would lose out in this business deal.

’They have impressive composure, and their minds are certainly sharp.’

’However, even the most astute and self-assured people will be thrown into a panic when it comes to matters concerning the reputation and life of a loved one. I’m sure these two are no exception.’

With a hint of mischief, the owner said, "There is one other matter, though I’m not sure if I should tell you two about it."

Hearing the strange tone in Mr. Xie’s voice, Zhao Jing reflexively furrowed his brow, his heart leaping into his throat.

De’an, however, was more carefree. He hadn’t yet sensed anything was amiss and just said nonchalantly while sipping his tea, "If there’s something to say, Mr. Xie, please speak freely. It’s getting late, and as brothers-in-law, it’s not good for us to stay out for too long. We’ll head back after we hear you out."

"Then I’ll be direct," Mr. Xie said, enunciating each word. "After Mr. Wang and Mr. Chen placed their orders, Mr. Chen began to arrange for the incense production. He personally purchased all the necessary aromatic ingredients from shops he frequented. However, when he got home to inspect them, he felt something wasn’t quite right. He couldn’t put his finger on the problem, so he decided to make a test batch to see..."