Chapter 707
The room immediately buzzed with discussion as people compared the two words. After careful consideration and experimentation with different pronunciations, they discovered subtle differences in meaning. Even La Beautรฉ Group employees whispered the word curiously, their lips moving silently. Only Lily remained calm, standing quietly. Despite her casual attire, her beauty captivated everyone.
"Even so," someone called out, "what do you mean by 'poison'? If it's not poison, could it be a tonic?"
Lily anticipated the skepticism and laughed. "It's not a tonic, but it's similar. Tonics benefit the body, and what I added has a similar effect."
"Don't keep us guessing," another voice demanded. "You admit to adding something. What other additives did you include during the blending process? What exactly did you add?"
The audience erupted in boos. Lily suppressed a smile, adopting a serious expression. The murmurs ceased as those around her wondered if she was becoming angry.
"Before I explain the ingredients," she said, lowering her head and beginning to pace slowly, "I want to explain why I added anything at all." Her demeanor was dignified.
Her steps were deliberate and heavy. Silence fell as everyone waited for her to continue.
After pacing back and forth, Lily stopped and addressed the audience again. "My grandfather passed away last month," she said softly. "He was a strict but kind man, generally in good health. However, in his later years, he unexpectedly developed insomnia. He struggled to sleep." Her quiet tone resonated with the audience, evoking empathy.
"For the elderly, eating and sleeping are crucial. Poor sleep and diet affect their health. As a younger generation member, I sought ways to help him. I experimented with adding ingredients to promote sleep through scent."
Pausing, she raised her voice slightly. "Scented candles are commonly used to aid sleep. Lavender, for example, can be soothing. But this wasn't effective for my grandfather's severe insomnia. So, I added ingredients from traditional herbs known to promote sleep and calm the mind. I carefully adjusted the amounts and scents many times."
Her explanation seemed persuasive. The audience gradually understood.
"So, the 'poison' is a medicine?" someone asked, raising his hand. "Then why call it poison?"
Lily smiled lightly. "Medicine can also be poison."
The audience fell silent; it made sense.
Soon, another question arose: "Do La Beautรฉ Group's perfumes, and other products containing your fragrances, also contain this 'medicine'?"
Lily shook her head. "The added ingredient was for my grandfather's specific condition. Not all consumers need this effect, so it wasn't added to other products. Besides, do you think adding more ingredients would lower costs? Would we intentionally increase costs and operate as a charity?"