"What's so difficult about it? The valet boy who I a.s.sumed ratted you out completely fled his position. Getting here was incredibly easy."

Ci-ci laughed. Although it was a simple deduction, you'd be surprised how many people wouldn't jump to that conclusion, let alone finding someone who could actively use that information to get a leg up on her compet.i.tion.

In one move, this beauty of a tomboy had gone from having to share an interview with tens of other news stations to meeting with Ci-ci alone, all because she was quick on her feet.

"I'm surprised you aren't annoyed." The young woman obviously meant this as a probe. She wasn't stupid enough to judge Ci-ci's personality using the media. There was too much bias and information could be too easily twisted.

For example, Ci-ci's philanthropic work has been reported for almost a decade now. Numerous stories about his great impact on society and his endless praises were sung ever since he was 12 years old.

The amount of good he's already accomplished already rivaled that of the best Inventors still alive and he was already ranked number eight amongst all Inventors in existence. This was a comprehensive list of both West and East continent!

To put this in perspective, there wasn't a single person younger than 50 years old in the top 100! Although they might look no different than young men due to today's advancements in medicine, in the past, they would already have one foot in the grave!

Yet, all of Ci-ci's good deeds were suddenly forgotten, washed away, just for a single action he took. No one remembered the lives he had saved and bettered with his inventions.

Since when did one mistake have the right to define who a person was?

However, the media didn't care. For the past week, they had done nothing but slander Ci-ci, even overturning all of his good to s.h.i.+ne a bad light upon them all.

The effect was so profound that even those Ci-ci helped began to turn on him.

The Projects of York Province, a heavily impoverished area even worse off than East Algood City, had received a renewable source of energy from Ci-ci that he coined as 'Little Sun'.

The 'Little Sun' was the very same invention that Ci-ci used to light his father's room. As Ci-ci explained then, it was impossible to use on a large scale due to the danger of fission, but quite the opposite was true of this invention on a small scale. Not only was it able to light areas effectively, half a dozen or so to a single room was capable of warming a home even in the dead of winter.

Ci-ci hadn't asked for any payment or thanks, he simply gave these 'Little Suns' to those impoverished families. The mortality rate of The Projects severely dropped after that, meaning that Ci-ci had indirectly saved thousands of lives with his goodwill.

The truth was that this wouldn't have even become public knowledge if it hadn't been for the fact the electrical companies that once hounded those poor families and cut off their heating and electricity suddenly received an influx of plan cancelations. The loss of revenue was so severe that it was investigated at once.

When the matter was delved into, the electrical companies tried to force contracts on those families, causing a ma.s.sive scandal. If it wasn't for a small lawyer from Patterson and Gravelle doing some pro bono work, those families would have been buried by lawsuits.

That lawyer, Lucius Grant, caused a mini sensation by single-handedly defeating a large conglomerate of electrical companies alone.

It was then that a reporter who was offhandedly checking courthouses to try their luck at digging up stories stumbled upon this and exposed the truth, slapping those large conglomerates in the face.

The young woman clearly remembered how much the public fawned over Ci-ci for this. It was to such an extent that the other good Samaritan in this feel good story, Lucius Grant, got completely buried.

In the end, this became front page news, right along side the photo of the small shrine those from the York Province Projects built for Ci-ci. The shrine was simple, just a small plaque decorated with flowers picked in the surrounding forests. However, it was clear how much Ci-ci's deeds meant to them.

Yet, just three days ago, another front-page news story was written. This time, the picture was of a shattered shrine and was filled with quotes of those locals slandering Ci-ci's name.

Even the people who once saw him as a hero turned on him like the wind, completely forgetting that the inventions that warmed their homes were given to them by Ci-ci.

This was the nature of the news. This was the nature of people.

Still, Ci-ci's smile never left his face. "Annoyed? Such a beauty has gone so far just for me, how could I be annoyed?"

"I see." The young woman's intelligent eyes glittered. "The famous Ci-ci Bell is actually just a honey mouthed playboy. Do you believe it's so simple to get on my good side?"

"Hoho," Ci-ci chuckled. "Shouldn't it be you trying to get on my good side?"

The young woman didn't seem surprised by Ci-ci's answer. "That depends on your perspective. Technically, since I'm the reporter, the narrative I choose to drive home depends on my mood. For example, I could take your words and run with them, painting you as a s.e.x fiend."

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"Earlier today, two women were going to falsely accuse me of beating them. Now, another woman wants to accuse me of s.e.xually hara.s.sing her. I have to say, comparing you to them, I'd rather have my reputation ruined while pursuing you."

The battle of words was like a game of hot potato. Neither willing to take a step back.

"How shallow of you." The young woman giggled lightly.

Seeing this, even Ci-ci couldn't help but be stunned for a bit. This was completely different from her previous teasing laughter… This kind of genuine smile really made the heart palpitate.

"It's actually quite selfish." Ci-ci smiled knowingly. "If a mafia boss was caught robbing a small-time corner store, wouldn't he be embarra.s.sed to death?"

"Oh my, first s.e.xual hara.s.sment, now objectification. Are you trying to give me more ammo? I'll have to thank you."

Ci-ci grinned. "Since I'm soon going to be ruined by you, shouldn't I at least know your name?"

The young woman tapped her chin as though she really pondered whether or not she could answer.

"Elizabeth Russo."