the scent of a promised change

Scenting was an instinct that came to all people naturally: spouse to spouse, parent to child, sibling to sibling, friend to friend, and, in times of great sorrow and desperation, even stranger to stranger. It was a comforting action that helped to soothe the heart and quiet the mind. It forged close bonds between families and inspired loyalty between friends. Scenting someone and being scented meant being open and vulnerable to another person. It was the ultimate form of trust to bare one’s neck and to leave one’s back open in return. It was not something Jiang Cheng had been familiar with for a very long time.