The springs of the sofa let out faint, reluctant creaks in the living room.
Cornelia sat curled up on the couch, her adorable white-stockinged feet tucked beneath her as she swayed slightly, her eyes sparkling as she glared at Liu Qingyue across from her.
Fortunately, Liu Qingyue’s disguise hadn’t been uncovered by this golden-haired girl yet.
Of course, that didn’t stop Cornelia’s little head from being filled with questions. For instance, why did "Sister Su" look younger and even more beautiful than before?
And why was Gu Ruoxue wandering around Su Cheng’s house, casually slipping into the kitchen to cook without even saying a word to her?
Then there was Ji Qingyi, her aloof and cold rival senior, sitting silently to the side—why was she here too?
The arrival of Ji Qingyi and Gu Ruoxue left Cornelia’s mind buzzing with confusion. Unable to hold back any longer, she finally blurted out her questions with a puzzled expression.
"Sister Su, I have so many things I need you to explain to me," Cornelia asked Liu Qingyue, sounding like a nervous yet curious elementary schooler. "How do you know them? And why are you all at Su Cheng’s place?!"
"Well..." Liu Qingyue leaned back on the sofa, crossing her legs and folding her arms as she gazed lazily at the scenery outside. Though her posture seemed relaxed and alluring, she smiled playfully at Cornelia and explained, "Our dear Su Cheng is about to participate in an important mounted archery competition. They’re here as her club president and department head to see her off—isn’t it perfectly normal to have a meal together before she leaves?"
"Oh, I see..." Cornelia nodded, as if this explanation made perfect sense.
But then she tilted her head, her curiosity flaring up again. "So where is this mounted archery competition being held?"
"Hungary."
"Oh my gosh... an international competition? That’s so far away!" Cornelia pouted, her face falling into a look of dismay. Just as she was about to ask more, Liu Qingyue cut her off and stood up. "You all chat for a bit. I’m going to help Ruoxue in the kitchen."
Nearby, Ji Qingyi’s brow twitched slightly when she heard her own maid refer to Gu Ruoxue so familiarly as "Ruoxue."
But she didn’t say anything, remaining seated in silence, her thoughts unreadable.
"Sister Su!!" Cornelia suddenly sprang up like a little rabbit, grabbing Liu Qingyue’s arm and shaking it pleadingly. "I want to help too!"
"No need," Liu Qingyue gently refused, pausing briefly before glancing at Ji Qingyi, who had remained quiet the entire time.
With a smile, she added, "We still have a guest here. As the little hostess, shouldn’t you be doing your best to entertain her properly?"
"Me... I’m the little hostess?" The moment she was called "little hostess," Cornelia’s cheeks instantly turned as red as a tiny apple, her heart swelling with sweetness. Shyly, she nodded. "Y-yes... I guess that makes sense, huh?"
"Good girl~"
Liu Qingyue chuckled, gently stroking Cornelia’s golden hair before making her way to the kitchen to start cooking.
From that moment on, only Cornelia and Ji Qingyi remained in the living room.
Though Ji Qingyi’s expression remained as cold as ice, a flicker of something flashed in her eyes.
She stared at Cornelia and spoke in a frosty tone, "We are both guests here. There’s no need for you to entertain me. Do as you please."
"That’s not acceptable!" Cornelia suddenly displayed her strong sense of hospitality, declaring solemnly, "Tonight, you are my guest. It’s my duty to take good care of you."
To her, this was only natural—after all, the proud Ji Qingyi had once been her rival. In Cornelia’s eyes, only the victor had the right to dictate terms to the defeated.
Ji Qingyi: "Do you really think that’s appropriate?"
"Alright, I’ll have it ready in a moment." With that, Cornelia turned away to fetch the tea set, busying herself with boiling water and brewing tea.
Her petite figure cast a bright silhouette against the window, making the whole scene utterly charming.
Yet Ji Qingyi didn’t appreciate this lovely sight. Instead, she frowned as she watched Cornelia.
"You’ve never studied tea ceremony etiquette before, have you?" she said pointedly. "Nor have you ever joined a tea ceremony club, I presume?"
The reason was simple—Cornelia had casually dumped an excessive amount of tea leaves into the pot, ruining the poor leaves and deepening Ji Qingyi’s irritation.
Though she considered these leaves to be of average quality, watching Cornelia’s crude brewing method made her blood boil. Especially since these were tea leaves Su Cheng had specifically bought to entertain guests.
"Huh?"
Cornelia blinked, looking up at Ji Qingyi in confusion. "Is something wrong?"
"Let me handle it." Ji Qingyi stood up, her slender legs, clad in black stockings, carrying her gracefully forward until she stood before Cornelia.
She took the teapot and tea leaves from Cornelia’s hands and began brewing the tea herself, adding, "Not too much."
"Oh~"
Cornelia nodded in sudden understanding, sitting obediently to the side as she watched Ji Qingyi rinse the cups, pour the water, and perform a series of intricate steps that left her dazzled.
Once Ji Qingyi had completed the process, she steadily poured the tea into each cup before handing one to Cornelia and saying softly, "Here."
Cornelia accepted the cup, holding it near her nose to give it a delicate sniff before blowing lightly on the steaming liquid and taking a cautious sip.
"Uwah, it’s so bitter! I hate it!" Cornelia scrunched up her nose in distaste, complaining, "This tastes awful!"
She was deeply disappointed. She had thought Ji Qingyi’s tea-making skills would bring her an unprecedented flavor experience, but the bitterness was still unbearable.
Ji Qingyi’s expression darkened, but she knew arguing would be pointless. Trying to explain tea to Cornelia was like playing the lute for a cow. So she simply picked up the tray in silence and carried the tea back to the living room.
Once seated again, she took a few sips, closed her eyes, and savored the rare moment of tranquility.
But Cornelia plopped down beside her, watching Ji Qingyi enjoy her tea before remarking, "Are you tired? Do you want to rest for a bit?"
Ji Qingyi ignored her. Unbothered, Cornelia leaned in closer and asked, "Are you and that icy fridge of a woman, Gu Ruoxue, friends?"
"Not particularly," Ji Qingyi opened her eyes just enough to glance at Cornelia before shaking her head coldly. "We’re merely acquainted. We don’t bother each other unless necessary."
"Hmm..." Cornelia nodded with the air of a novice, as if she half-understood. After a moment of thought, she sighed and said, "Aha, but that won’t do, you know~"
"If you're bored, go grab a carton of milk from the fridge."
Ji Qingyi’s eyes narrowed slightly, her tone growing increasingly impatient. She was on the verge of losing her temper.
Hearing this, Cornelia made a dismissive gesture and replied with utmost seriousness, "Since we’re all under the same roof, we should keep things harmonious! The way you and she act is too cold—it’s not good."
This behavior pushed Ji Qingyi to the brink of her patience. She turned her head and fixed Cornelia with a stare, her lifeless eyes radiating intense pressure. Yet, in the next second, she suddenly looked away and lowered her head to continue sipping her tea.
The entire sequence was swift and seamless. She kept savoring the tea that soothed her mood, allowing tranquility to refill her heart.
Because—
Just then, the sound of the door opening echoed from the entrance. Su Cheng had finally returned.