How do you raise a crow?
First, prepare plenty of food and water. Check them carefully before putting them out, and make sure there is no raw meat.
Next, prepare a clean cage and place it somewhere you can observe it, but don't let it notice you. If its eyes turn red, get away immediately.
Finally, prepare a pair of scissors. If you accidentally meet its red eyes, gouge out your own.
Someone else's will do, too.
When Xian Yin was four, her mother gave her a crow.
Its feathers were glossy black, its eyes bloodred, and black mist swirled around it. Perched on a branch, it looked down at the crowd like an evil spirit reincarnated.
Until a child grabbed its talons.
The crow froze. Somehow, the child had climbed up the tree. The human palm was scorching hot against its feet, so hot that even the crow's red eyes cleared. It flapped wildly, trying to shake the hand off.
It kept trying for twenty years.
Xian Yin has special abilities. Her eyes can burn evil spirits, and her soul can nourish benevolent ones. So a group of homeless souls took up residence in objects, and Xian Yin brought them home.
The crow refused to accept this. It always said it was the most terrifying one of them all, standing on the table and squawking as it released its pheromones. It would plant its feet on a red-clad vengeful ghost and hold half a child in its claws, terrifying the other ghosts into hunching their shoulders. That is, until footsteps sounded on the stairs.
By the time Xian Yin came down, the rustling and racket had long since vanished. All she saw was a bird, bonelessly sprawled across the top of her foot. In an even softer voice, it said, "Big Sis, I'm sleepy-wheepy."
The ghosts all sucked in a breath, enviously watching Xian Yin lift its fluffy belly and tuck it into her hat. She wished them good night, then walked back to her bedroom step by step.
The villa was silent. Apart from the crow, no one dared make a sound there. The lights went out, and deathly stillness swallowed the entire northern suburbs.
In the dead silence, a shadow appeared in the villa's window. It stretched its limbs out of the bird's body, transforming into a person.
The person lowered their eyes, gazing quietly at the owner of the bed, then placed a kiss at the corner of her lips.
[The fire at a villa in the northern suburbs of Qiguang Town claimed the lives of all 13 members of a family. The cause is still under investigation. Please remain calm.]
[An unidentified group has recently been roaming the area. Please stay safe. If you encounter a crow anywhere in town, flee immediately and call to report it.]
[Qiguang Police remind you: Avoid going out late at night, don't stop in isolated places, stay safe, and remain vigilant at all times.]
Composed, calm, aloof as a chrysanthemum, saintly mommy x evil, big-bad, loudmouthed, jealous crow
Tips:
1. Both leads are powerful, switch couple, happy ending.
2. Ensemble cast. Xian Yin raises a group of ghosts like a beekeeper. Not realistic; the story is entirely fictional and takes place in a parallel world with no real-world parallels.
3. Unless otherwise specified, characters are female.
I'll start once I've saved up enough chapters. Please give it a favorite, babies ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗
Theme: What's so strange about the bird I raised kissing me?
