Chapter 581

Out of curiosity, Lily approached the group. Closer inspection revealed a piece of grass—or so it seemed.

“You don’t understand! Take a proper sniff!” the girl insisted, holding her head high as if presenting a rare treasure.

This drew sneers. “Forget it. It’s just grass. It’ll smell like grass! Barbecue sauce? Hahaha!” Laughter erupted. Some onlookers patted the girl’s shoulder. “It’s not embarrassing to admit defeat, but persisting like this is a little… embarrassing.”

The victory was clear; the crowd dispersed, ignoring the girl and her grass.

Lily approached the girl, who sat with bowed head, chewing her lip. Lily sat opposite her.

“You are…?” The girl looked up, puzzled.

“Sorry, I overheard,” Lily shrugged, leaning forward. “Can I… smell this?”

The girl eyed Lily cautiously, but Lily was unfazed, focusing on the grass. She knew every plant held a unique scent, potentially useful in perfume making; some ordinary, some special, some easily extracted, others not. The girl's insistence suggested something special. Lily leaned closer and inhaled.

A light, grassy aroma, slightly faded from being pulled from the soil. Lily touched the grass.

“Hey…” The girl protested, fearing damage, but Lily was quicker. Pinching the tip, a little juice stained her finger. The juice's scent was vastly different from the initial whiff—a faint floral note, almost imperceptible unless one paid close attention. The initial grassy smell was unremarkable; the subtle floral scent was revealed only upon closer examination. No wonder the crowd hadn't noticed. But Lily liked it.

“Where did you find this?” Lily asked.

“Why?” The girl remained wary, despite Lily’s friendly demeanor.

“Nothing. I think it smells wonderful.”

Surprise flashed in the girl’s eyes—recognition of her grass's worth. Then, she snatched it back.

“You… think it smells great?”

“Yes. The scent is light, but I think it will linger. It’s unique. Once refined, the scent will be even more remarkable,” Lily explained, nodding.