The Perfumer Dotes on the Disabled Tycoon [Rebirth]

Ji Huaixiang is a perfumer with an extraordinary sense of smell who runs a small custom fragrance shop called Kiss Fragrance. Having lived a previous life, she possesses detailed knowledge of future events and relationships. She is currently a freshman at S University, enrolling in the prestigious Spices and Essences Department, which she aims to master to achieve professional success. Her life is marked by a deep gratitude toward Aunt Ji, her mentor, who taught her perfumery and shared ownership of the shop. Ji Huaixiang’s primary goal is to navigate her university years differently than before, avoiding past mistakes while pursuing her craft with precision.

Upon arriving at S University, Ji Huaixiang distinguishes herself by scoring perfectly on the department’s entrance examination, a feat that surprises the faculty. Professor Yan, a renowned perfumer and her mentor from her previous life, recognizes her exceptional talent and places her in the elite key class. Her roommate dynamics are complex; she shares a dorm with Lin Xiaoxuan, a cheerful Chinese literature student, and Ji Dongqing, a delicate young woman whose mother attempts to force Ji Huaixiang to give up her assigned bed. Ji Huaixiang firmly refuses, establishing boundaries early on. She also encounters Jiang Mengwan, a confident rival from a prominent perfume dynasty, who excels in classes and commands attention among peers.

A significant turning point occurs when Ji Huaixiang accepts a high-paying commission to create a Memory Fragrance for an elderly couple, the Shens. The request is to recreate the scent of their deceased daughter. During the process, she enters the private room of the Shen family and meets Gu Wujin, the family’s second young master. Gu Wujin is a strikingly handsome but cold and cynical young man who suffers from a leg injury that causes him to limp. He is also an heir to a fragrance empire yet possesses an extreme aversion to perfume scents, a condition that makes him an outcast within his family’s industry. Their initial interaction is hostile; he mocks her professionalism and refuses to help her, yet he is compelled to drive her to the university after his grandmother intervenes.

The relationship between Ji Huaixiang and Gu Wujin evolves through a series of tense encounters. On her birthday, Ji Huaixiang buys a cake and invites Gu Wujin to share it, a gesture he initially rejects but eventually accepts in silence. This moment reveals a crack in his guarded exterior. Later, when Ji Huaixiang attends a karaoke gathering with her roommates and becomes intoxicated, she wanders into a corridor where she encounters Gu Wujin. Drunk and disoriented, she insists she wants to be with "Brother Jin," referring to Gu Wujin. He finds her being harassed by Ji Dongqing’s cousin, Ji Weitang, and rescues her, carrying her away despite her protests. This incident marks a shift in their dynamic, as Gu Wujin begins to show protectiveness toward her, while Ji Huaixiang continues to navigate the complex social hierarchies of her new environment.

As the story progresses, Ji Huaixiang balances her academic pursuits with her personal life. She spends extensive time in the university laboratories, refining her skills and working on the Shen family’s commission. Her interactions with Gu Wujin become more frequent, often facilitated by his grandmother, who favors Ji Huaixiang. Meanwhile, tensions with her roommates, particularly Ji Dongqing, simmer beneath the surface. Ji Dongqing harbors resentment toward Ji Huaixiang’s beauty and success, while Lin Xiaoxuan remains a loyal but naive friend. The narrative sets the stage for Ji Huaixiang to confront past grievances and build a new future, leveraging her unique abilities and the unexpected alliance with the aloof Gu Wujin.

The core conflict revolves around Ji Huaixiang’s desire to excel in perfumery while dealing with the social and personal challenges of her new life. She faces rivalry from Jiang Mengwan, familial expectations from the Gu and Shen families, and interpersonal conflicts within her dormitory. Gu Wujin’s condition and his family’s disdain for him add layers of complexity to his relationship with Ji Huaixiang. As she works on the Memory Fragrance, she uncovers deeper secrets about the Shen family and her own place in the perfumery world. The story follows her journey from a quiet shop owner to a rising star in the academic and professional fragrance community, all while navigating a budding, complicated connection with Gu Wujin.