The truly confident would remain until the very end.

As a bonus, the audience attending these preliminary rounds received a mysterious sample of perfume.

Intrigued by the news, Laura immediately sought Lilah out.

“Lilah, you have to come with me!" Laura's voice vibrated with excitement.

"There's no one else I can ask."

Lilah wasn't initially interested in the preliminary rounds, but Laura's infectious enthusiasm was hard to resist.

"I'm fine with going," she said, “but your mom..."

Laura's enthusiasm faltered momentarily before regaining its spark. "Forget her, it doesn't matter."

"Alright," Lilah agreed, seeing no need to press the matter further.

Just then, a message popped up from Effie.

“Lilah! Big offline event coming up! It's the perfume-making competition. Want me to send some tickets? Bring Gerard for some fun. Dinner's afterward, my treat! Please come, don't make me beg!"

It seemed Effie was almost fully recovered after her ordeal at the police station.

With invitations from both Laura and Effie, Lilah found no reason to decline attending the event.

She cleared her throat, glancing at Gerard beside her.

"No," Gerard responded before she could say anything.

As expected, he declined.

Gerard seemed to be consumed by some undisclosed business lately, keeping her deliberately in the dark.

Curiosity piqued, Lilah approached him.

Suddenly, Gerard pulled her into a warm embrace.

"I usually decline to attend Effie's events. Don't read too much into it."

“What's there to read into?" Lilah smiled and shook her head. "My competition isn't in the first two weeks."

"I know," Gerard replied.

After pondering for a moment, Lilah asked in confusion, "You know?"

Since he was unaware of her identity as perfumer Windy, didn't he think she was a newbie?