Ashley sighed in defeat and slipped off her cardigan, revealing her perfect figure and long legs under her short skirt. Her legs were smooth and fair, practically glowing under the light. Arthur’s fingers twitched. I really want to touch them. But he didn’t have the guts. His gaze flickered toward the cardigan she had tossed aside, and a faint smile played on his lips. As noon approached, Arthur suggested, "Let’s go grocery shopping and make lunch." Ashley immediately agreed. "Sounds good." She had learned to cook during survival training, but it was only enough to keep herself from starving. On a normal day, she wouldn’t even think about eating her own cooking. But today, she just wanted to do something fun with Arthur. Worst case scenario? If the food was inedible, they’d just go out to eat. The two of them set their books aside and headed out. Arthur even thoughtfully brought along an umbrella for Ashley. When Arthur was home alone, he usually just threw something together to eat. He rarely cooked properly, and his fridge was nearly empty. Now, the two of them strolled down a shaded pathway, chatting and laughing as they made their way to the nearest supermarket. From the outside, they looked like a young couple already living together—only their youthful features betrayed their age. By the time they reached the store, Arthur had already memorized most of Ashley’s favorite foods. He bought ingredients she liked without hesitation. When they got back, Ashley rolled up her sleeves eagerly. It had been a while since she last cooked, and she was itching to try again. With the two of them in the kitchen, chatting and working together, it felt just like a couple cooking in their own home. Before long, the table was set with steaming hot dishes. They sat across from each other, and Arthur placed a piece of golden-brown roasted chicken onto Ashley’s plate. "Try this. It’s really good." At the same time, Ashley handed Arthur a plate of stir-fried vegetables. "Try my cooking. Doesn’t it look pretty good?" They exchanged smiles and took bites at the same time. Ashley’s eyes immediately lit up. "Wow! This roasted chicken is so good! The skin is crispy, and the meat is tender and flavorful!" She liked it so much that she immediately reached for another piece. Meanwhile, Arthur’s expression twisted in pain. My mouth is on fire. It’s bitter and numbing… what is this?! Ashley, still happily munching, asked expectantly, "So? Do you like my stir-fried vegetables?" Arthur was speechless. Can I say no? When he didn’t answer, Ashley’s heart sank. She quickly took a bite herself. The moment the vegetables touched her tongue, a wave of bitter numbness flooded her mouth. Coming straight after the delicious roasted chicken, the contrast was horrible. Ashley immediately spat it out, frowning. "Why does this taste so bad?" She pushed the dish aside in disgust. "Don’t eat that… it’s awful." Ashley looked disappointed. She had wanted to cook something for Arthur. After all, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Arthur noticed her mood drop and quickly reassured her, "It’s fine. From now on, I’ll cook for you." Back when he worked part-time jobs to save money for school supplies, he often didn’t have enough to eat. He had learned to cook in restaurant kitchens with leftover ingredients. Ashley, being simple and easy to cheer up, quickly forgot her disappointment after hearing his words. But deep down, she made a silent promise. I need to practice more. Next time, I’ll make a meal Arthur actually likes.If someone had told me before that I would one day start learning recipes just to cook for a man, I never would have believed it. But now… I’m willing. After lunch, Ashley was called back by Natalie. Arthur walked her home, but just as he turned to leave, his phone rang. It was Stanley. As soon as he picked up, Stanley’s excited voice burst through the speaker. "Mr. Gray! The project is complete! Our market value has skyrocketed twenty-seven times!" Arthur raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. That’s even higher than I expected. In his previous life, Cloudia Corporation had been acquired by a larger company. The value increase had mostly been due to the buyer’s resources. But now, his strategy alone had achieved the same effect. Looks like my plan worked even better than I thought. Hanging up, Arthur immediately headed for the company. It was time to plan his next move. Time flew by. Two years passed in the blink of an eye. It was now Arthur’s graduation day. He was an adult now, and compared to two years ago, he had grown more mature. His wealth had long since reached unimaginable heights. Through Arthur’s strategic planning, Cloudia Corporation had officially gone public.