In a time long, long ago—
At a banquet
This banquet was the most luxurious in the world, attended by princes and princesses from various countries, as well as members of the top global conglomerate families.
The event was held in an extra-large villa in the suburbs, surrounded by beautiful flowers, trees, and scenery.
Outside the villa, the lawn was already set with tables and chairs, with various delicacies and wine laid out, their aromas wafting through the air.
As a child, Ji Qingyi wore a beautiful white dress, her long black hair falling to her waist, accentuating her snow-white, delicate skin and exquisite facial features, making her look like a divine creation, beautiful and ethereal, yet still endearingly cute due to her young age.
However, the coldness and aloofness on her face had existed since childhood.
There were many children of her age gathered in groups within the banquet, but she seemed particularly lonely.
At that moment, laughter could be heard from a distance, followed by a young girl approaching Ji Qingyi. The girl wore a red puffy dress, had two braided pigtails, was lively and cute, with tear streaks on her cheeks, looking somewhat vulnerable.
Her name was Aino Marui.
She was running awkwardly, yet when she was about five or six meters away from Ji Qingyi, she was suddenly picked up by an adult.
The girl struggled fearfully: "Dad! I don't want to go! I don't want to go! I want to play with Ji Qingyi-neesama!"
"Aino Marui, shut up!"
An middle-aged man scolded his daughter and carried her back.
Aino stubbornly cried out: "Dad, don't you know I like this sister? I like being with her!"
"I've told you so many times, stay away from the Ji Family!"
"I don't want to! I don't want to!"
"Then I'll make it clear to you right now!"
Finally, her father took her into a room, his face unusually serious, and said: "The Ji Family thinks they have the right to hurt others. Evil has taken root deep in their hearts, and if you insist on associating with them, only you will be hurt in the end!"
"I don't want to! I don't want to! I only want Ji Qingyi-neesama!"
Saying this, Aino Marui struggled again, but she couldn't break free from her father's grip.
"If you keep acting up, I'll send you abroad and never allow you to set foot here again!"
………………………………
Ji Qingyi watched this unfold without speaking.
She didn't know what happened inside, just stared blankly out the window.
After a while, she withdrew her gaze as she saw Aino Marui come out.
Expecting the usually noisy and clingy Aino Marui to rush to her side again, this time, she was surprisingly silent, not even glancing at her.
Aino Marui walked straight past her, leaving no words, as if she hadn't seen her.
Ji Qingyi watched her retreating figure, a slight look of confusion on her face. She lightly clenched her fists, looking out the window with a complicated mood, unsure what had happened, but feeling as if something was missing.
From that moment on, the two of them maintained this distance for over a decade.
………………………………
"So, she's not your sister."
Hearing Ji Qingyi's explanation, Su Cheng frowned. He had thought...
But if not, things got complicated.
After all, he had already revealed some of his abilities.
"Although this child isn't very cute, she's still very smart, your worries are unnecessary."
Ji Qingyi explained nonchalantly.
"Then I'm relieved."
Su Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, then curiously asked: "President, how do you define the word 'cute'?"
Ji Qingyi, hearing this, momentarily blanked, her usually cold face showing a rare moment of hesitation.
But in Su Cheng's eyes, this scene seemed inexplicably cute.
"Honest, sincere."
Ji Qingyi said plainly, her voice calm and simple.
"......"
Su Cheng stared at her, puzzled by these two words. "What does this have to do with being cute?"
"As long as these two conditions are met, one can be very cute."
Ji Qingyi left these words, then stood up and walked away.
Su Cheng was left dumbfounded, unable to react for a while.
"......"
He gazed at Ji Qingyi's retreating figure, uncertain if he had misunderstood.
A gentle breeze blew, lifting her hair and skirt, making her look ethereal and pure.
For a long while, Su Cheng finally regained his senses.
As he rode home, he had a voice call with Liu Qingyue, recounting Ji Qingyi's words to her.
"What does the president mean by this, senior?"
"It means cute."
The gentle and pleasant voice of Liu Qingyue came through the call.
Su Cheng, hearing this, instantly felt frustrated: "Of course, I know that's what she meant, but why did she define cute as honest and sincere?"
Smiling, Liu Qingyue explained: "Because she thinks honesty and sincerity are cute, so she regards them as cute."
“Huh?” Su Cheng was stunned, then helplessly said: “You’re just going in circles, let me change the topic.”
"Go ahead."
"Do you know Aino Marui?"
"Yes, the young lady of the Liu Ling Group." Liu Qingyue replied, then continued: "Has my junior interacted with her?"
"Yeah, today she came with someone to try to kidnap me."
Su Cheng detailed his today's events, then added: "Luckily, I have my abilities; otherwise, I'd have been kidnapped."
Liu Qingyue laughed and said: "Even if she kidnapped you, she wouldn't do anything. She just wants to scare you a bit, enjoy watching you in distress."
"Why are these rich people so idle? Everyone's a troublemaker!"
"You've caught her interest; she might make more moves on you soon. You'd better get ready, junior."
Su Cheng found it somewhat exasperating, as Liu Qingyue seemed to enjoy chaos.
However, he just sighed and continued: "Senior, I already have enough troubles. I don't want to get involved with her. Tell me how to avoid her harassment."
"Simple."
Liu Qingyue smiled and said two words, then continued: "Next time she comes after you, just call me."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
……………………
At a supermarket
Su Cheng was buying groceries, as the ingredients he used yesterday for making rice balls had run out. He decided to stock up.
He bought a lot of expensive meats and organic vegetables, planning to cook dinner for Cornelia.
"The eight-walnut milk is running low too."
As he selected ingredients, he accidentally found a case of walnut milk and fell silent.
He already knew that this stuff could boost Cornelia's intelligence.
What was the reason behind this puzzled Su Cheng.
After all, he also drank a lot but didn't grow smarter.
"Could this be Cornelia's special ability?"
"You get what you drink!?"
Thinking about this, his gaze suddenly fell on the papaya milk next to it and paused in contemplation.
After hesitating over and over again, he finally picked up the case of papaya milk and another box of walnut milk.
But as he passed the snack aisle, he stopped.
"Today the crows fought for me; it's only right to treat them to a meal!"
So, Su Cheng put down the milk, went to the beef jerky section, and after quite a bit of choosing, couldn't help but exclaim: "The science and technology in the Yan country is too advanced, even the ingredient list doesn't include beef jerky."
Fortunately, there were also backward beef jerky options.
Only the price doubled, and he reluctantly bought over ten packs.
……………………
Su Cheng, followed by the crows carrying a pile of things, returned home. Cornelia was watching TV, and upon seeing him, she immediately stood up and looked eagerly at the eight-walnut milk he was holding.
Then, she acted to help Su Cheng carry the eight-walnut milk.
Seeing this, Su Cheng lifted his left hand, indicating for her to carry the papaya milk instead, then smiled and said: "You just have to carry this enough."
Although Cornelia was a little unwilling, she still took the papaya milk and other things, her gaze fixed on the eight-walnut milk.
After finishing their meal, Su Cheng promptly took out a bottle of papaya milk and offered it to Cornelia, who stared at it in surprise.
She then sat on the sofa, turned her head to the side, and let out a cold hum: "I don't like drinking this."
"If you don't drink it, it will go to waste. Just finish it this time, and we won't buy it again," Su Cheng earnestly persuaded, pushing the papaya milk closer to her.
"No, you bought it, you drink it. It wasn't me who asked you to buy it," Cornelia retorted, pursing her lips and crossing her arms, clearly uninterested.
Seeing this, Su Cheng couldn't help but frown, then continued to coax her like a child: "Fine, if you drink it, I'll get you a serving of mochi tomorrow."
"Mochi?"
At the mention of mochi, Cornelia's eyes lit up with anticipation, but she stubbornly turned her head and refused: "I said no, and I meant it! Besides, I absolutely hate the way you're treating me like a kid!"
"However, I'm actually a bit thirsty right now."
With that, Cornelia took the papaya milk, removed the straw, and began drinking it with both hands.
Su Cheng: "……"
At the same time, Su Cheng glanced at Cornelia's chest, which could be "galloped across" by the Emperor of Yancheng. He wondered if there would be any noticeable changes.
Unfortunately, even after Cornelia finished the papaya milk, her chest remained as flat as ever, with no noticeable difference. Su Cheng's eyes fell, and he thought to himself, "Could it be because she hasn't drunk enough?"
"Your look just now felt really offensive!"
Cornelia tossed the empty milk bottle, hugged her chest, and glared at him with wide, startled eyes.
Seeing this, Su Cheng quickly waved his hands and explained: "Don't overthink it, I was just wondering if I could make it grow."
Hearing this, Cornelia's face turned bright red, and she glared at him indignantly: "You idiot! What are you even talking about?!"
"I mean the crows."
Su Cheng lay on the sofa, grabbing the nearby crow and continued: "Today, I encountered a very, very bad person. The crow called its companions to save me. I wonder if raising a dozen crows could protect me."
"You encountered danger today?"
Cornelia was shocked and quickly sat next to Su Cheng, anxious to hear more.
"Yeah, the crow saved me."
Su Cheng stroked the crow and said: "Go and bring the crows that helped me today. I want to treat them all to a big meal!"
Upon hearing this, the crow excitedly flapped its wings and flew out towards the rooftop.
"You're injured!"
At that moment, as Cornelia got closer to Su Cheng, she suddenly exclaimed, noticing the medicinal smell and various bandages on his body, indicating he had been through something.
"Who did this?"
Cornelia stood up, furious, ready to avenge Su Cheng.
Indeed, she was the future Prime Minister, exuding an impressive aura of authority, and Su Cheng couldn't help but admire her resolve.
"Don't worry, everything has been taken care of, and it's all in the past," Su Cheng thanked Cornelia, signaling her to sit down. He leisurely took out a bottle of eight walnuts from his pocket and handed it to her.
However, Cornelia suddenly showed no interest and pushed the walnuts, her favorite, aside.
This gesture surprised Su Cheng, realizing she valued his safety more than the walnut drink.
He then opened the system panel.
[Target: William Henry Cornelia]
[Intelligence: 4.9]
[Charisma: 8]
[Stamina: 3]
"Next time something like this happens, you should tell me. You're my employee; it's my duty to protect you," Cornelia suddenly stepped in front of Su Cheng, speaking with seriousness and gravity.
"Thank you, Boss, I will," Su Cheng nodded, placing the eight walnuts on the coffee table and then continued, "Everything has been resolved, and there's nothing to worry about anymore."
"I see."
Hearing this, Cornelia's cheeks turned red, and she awkwardly looked down, but she still couldn't help but say: "Since you're so famous now, should I hire a bodyguard for you?"
Su Cheng chuckled at this, his heart filled with gratitude for Cornelia's deep concern.
After all, his boss didn't even have a bodyguard, yet she wanted to hire one for him.
With a chuckle, he resolutely shook his head and rejected her offer: "I don't want a male bodyguard!"
"Just go die!"
At this, Cornelia raised her tiny fist and lightly punched his shoulder, upon which Su Cheng burst out laughing, while she angrily turned her back.
"Don't worry about me anymore, and things like this won't happen again," Su Cheng said with determination, patting Cornelia's shoulder and gently easing her mind.
Seeing this, Cornelia's expression softened a bit. Calming down, she was reminded of Su Cheng's powerful friend – Ji Qingyi.
Still, she couldn't help but ask: "Did your president help with this?"
"Yes, she told me not to worry anymore," Su Cheng nodded.
"Oh."
Cornelia's face fell as she bowed her head, feeling for the first time a sense of inadequacy due to her lack of background. If only she were as powerful as Ji Qingyi, would Su Cheng also be protected by her?
"Let's feed the crows together later?"
Su Cheng lifted up a dozen packets of beef jerky, suggesting.
"Sure."
Cornelia nodded, and the two began tearing open the beef jerky packages, though she was preoccupied and didn't realize that Su Cheng was watching her the entire time.
Shortly after they opened the bags, the crow returned with a dozen more, landing on the rooftop.
Seeing these crows, the duo prepared the beef jerky and milk. The crows ate without reservation, showing no fear of the two people. Instead, they occasionally lifted their heads and spread their wings to express goodwill towards them.
Later on—
In crow folklore, there's a tale that helping someone equals endless feasts of food and milk. This legend has been embraced by the wise crows as a divine edict.