Jenny, standing outside the door, was worried, so she called Olivia. "Has Lily mentioned anything about new products?"

"No," Olivia replied. "What's wrong?" After leaving the hospital, Olivia shopped for groceries before heading home and cleaning the house. The vacuum cleaner rumbled in the background, making it difficult for her to hear Jenny clearly.

"Lily went into the lab and locked herself inside," Jenny explained. "I tried to talk to her, but she ignored me. I'm a little worried."

Stunned, Olivia quickly switched off the vacuum cleaner. "Is it because of what happened today?" she mumbled. "She seemed fine when she left earlier, though."

"What happened today?" Jenny asked.

"Long story," Olivia said. "Lily's in the lab, right? I'll go check on her." She quickly put away her things, removed her apron, washed her hands, and hurried to the lab.

There was no response from inside. Helpless, Jenny waited on the sofa. After office hours, the staff left, and Jenny had been sitting there for about an hour when Olivia arrived, panting heavily.

"Is she still inside?" Olivia asked.

Jenny nodded toward the lab. Olivia ran over and knocked. "Lily, it's Olivia! Please open the door. What are you doing? Let me help you!"

Before Olivia finished, the lab door swung open, revealing a horrible smell. Olivia was immediately affected, coughing uncontrollably. Jenny, alerted by the opening door, also began coughing violently upon inhaling the strong scent. "What's that smell?" she gasped.

Both women choked, but Lily seemed unaffected. "Were you guys looking for me?" she asked.

Jenny and Olivia were speechless, their coughing fits preventing them from responding. They had knocked and called repeatedly; was Lily unaware?

"I'm sorry," Lily said. "I forgot to turn on the ventilation." She switched on a fan, quickly dispersing the smell.

Once able to breathe, Olivia wiped her eyes. "Lily, what were you doing in there? What was that awful smell?"

"Nothing," Lily replied, seeming gloomy. "I was mixing some intense scents." She explained that she had been engrossed in her work and hadn't noticed anything outside.

"You could have died in there!" Jenny exclaimed, coughing again. "That was a little too bold."

"I think the effects were pretty good," Lily said seriously, removing her gloves. "I kept some samples; I'll wait for the results." She added that in perfumery, bold attempts are sometimes necessary.