"You're serious?"

Jenny didn't doubt her own abilities, but the impact of the moment was profound, with long-lasting consequences. Lily had always been like this, even in the early days, making her future behavior unpredictable. Clearly, Lily was in a bad mood, so to avoid a confrontation, Jenny said, "All right, since you've finished, pack up and leave. It's getting late."

"I'll take her home," Olivia volunteered.

They took the bus. Once aboard, the driver yelled toward the back, "Hey, ladies, are you sure you haven't overdone the perfume?"

Olivia laughed, embarrassed. As a perfumer, she was constantly surrounded by various scents, and didn't always smell pleasant. The perfume ingredients and the process of making perfume were both complex.

They were used to curious glances, but the potent, unusual smell they were wearing that day was exceptional. Even Olivia, accustomed to immersing herself in perfume ingredients, found it overwhelming, let alone others.

Lily was preoccupied but remained silent. Once in the car, she stared out the window, her thoughts unreadable.

The talkative driver, once he started speaking, couldn't stop. Driving with one hand, he opened the window with the other, saying, "I'm opening the window for ventilation. I hope you don't mind."

Olivia nodded shyly. "Some fresh air would be nice."

"Ladies, what perfume are you wearing? It's incredibly strong," the driver asked as he drove.

"Just a basic brand," Olivia joked.

The driver seemed enlightened. "No wonder it's so strong. With perfume, strong doesn't equal good. Sometimes, a subtle scent is more captivating—barely noticeable, even. I once had a passenger who entered the bus, and I didn't notice anything. But when she got off, the whole bus smelled wonderful. I don't know her perfume, but it must have been a high-end brand."

"Why must it be a high-end brand?" Lily suddenly asked, breaking her silence.

Olivia and the driver glanced at her. "It's obvious," the driver said. "Only expensive perfumes last that long. I'd even say it was an international brand."

"I'm saving up," he continued. "When I have enough, I'll buy my wife a bottle. It's a shame I don't know what it was. Sigh!"

Lily said little more. Only as she left the bus and the doors were closing did she look at the driver and say slowly, "International brands aren't necessarily the best."

The driver, speechless but already straightening his posture, closed the door. He blinked, guessing she was justifying herself, and didn't argue.