'So expensive!'
Sophie Wexler couldn't believe it when she saw the bill. She had always known food in The Galaxy was expensive, but she never imagined it would be this ridiculous. It really was something only the nobility could afford.
Sophie Wexler's heart bled as she paid. The money she'd just earned was gone by more than half before it had even warmed her pocket.
'Looks like the road to earning money is still long and arduous.'
Long after Sophie Wexler had left, the cashier was still telling her friend how extravagant that person was. Who buys so much food in one go?
As she was speaking, she suddenly seemed to realize something and her eyes shot up.
'Wait, wasn't that Sophie Wexler?!'
Sophie Wexler had no idea she had already been recognized and headed home, carrying a large bag of groceries.
Sophie Wexler placed the pile of things on the table, dusted off her hands, and nodded with considerable satisfaction. "So nice. I finally don't have to eat that appetite-killing nutrient liquid anymore."
The pile of fruits and vegetables was a cheerful sight.
Sophie Wexler was ready to have a proper meal. "008, take the groceries to the kitchen."
As soon as Sophie Wexler finished speaking, a small robot slid out from a corner of the house. It circled her twice, the pair of eyes on its display screen blinking. "Yes, Master."
008 was a small butler robot, a single machine that could do the work of eight people, proficient in cleaning, laundry, and cooking.
Sophie Wexler had once enthusiastically studied it, finding its sheer number of functions dazzling.
Back then, Sophie Wexler had noticed it had a cooking option.
Sophie Wexler had always wanted to try it, and now she finally could. She tapped the screen a few times with her fingertip, selecting a few dishes.
"Alright, 008, go ahead." In a good mood, Sophie Wexler patted the robot's head.
"Yes, Master," came a cheerful reply as its eyes curved into crescents on the screen.
Only after 008 took the items into the kitchen did Sophie Wexler start organizing the other things.
As she picked things up, she mumbled, "This one is mine, this is for Cillian Forrest, this one is for him too."
Sophie Wexler was in the middle of tidying up when she looked up and saw Cillian Forrest, who had been standing to the side the whole time. Her movements paused.
She put down the things in her hands, pulled him over to sit on the sofa, and said with immense consideration, "Sit down, quick. Your injuries haven't healed yet."
Cillian Forrest's previous injuries were severe. Even now, the wound on his arm hadn't healed and needed its dressing changed daily.
Hearing this, Cillian Forrest raised his eyes and glanced at the pile of things on the table, one eyebrow arching slightly.
The meaning couldn't have been clearer: 'Why didn't you think of my injuries when you had me carry things?'
Sophie Wexler: "..."
"Well, I only gave you the light things," Sophie Wexler argued defensively. 'Considering his injuries, I carried all the heavy stuff myself, okay?'
She even had the rest of the stuff delivered.
"Besides, the reason I told you to sit is because you're too tall standing there. You're blocking my view," Sophie Wexler muttered under her breath as she turned back to her things.
'Does he not realize he's like a wall standing there? It's really intimidating, you know.'
'To think the original owner dared to put a neck ring on a man like this and restrict his freedom... I don't know whether to call her brave or just brainless.'
Sophie Wexler was sorting through her things while complaining internally. Suddenly, she thought of something, looked up at Cillian Forrest, and spoke as if it were an afterthought.
"Oh, right. Don't take what I said before seriously. From now on, you can go out whenever you want. You don't have to tell me."
"Later, I'll register your iris scan in the system, so you can open the door yourself when you come back."
'I have to defuse these landmines left by the original owner one by one. I absolutely can't let them blow up.'
'For example, why would you restrict his personal freedom? Seriously.'
After saying that, Sophie Wexler added a few other trivial instructions, speaking in a rambling, casual way.
The man on the sofa watched her quietly, not making a sound, his gaze profound.
Suddenly, a loud CRASH came from the kitchen!
Sophie Wexler's head shot up, and she hurried toward the kitchen.
In the kitchen.
The pot had been knocked over, and raw egg was spilled on the floor.
The human and the machine stared at each other, surveying the messy scene.
Probably knowing it had messed up, 008's head drooped, and it emitted a BUZZING of electrical current.
"Master... food... is... gone," it sputtered out, word by word, like a child who had done something wrong.
Only after checking the program did Sophie Wexler realize that while the robot had a cooking module, it was underdeveloped because so few people actually cooked. Even the recipe steps inside were garbled code.
Sophie Wexler said, "It's okay, it's not your fault. I'm the one who didn't look closely."
Saying that, she used a towel to wipe the egg off 008's screen. "I'll do it."
Looking at the pot of unidentifiable liquid, Sophie Wexler was left speechless.
'Food is already a scarce commodity in The Galaxy. How could I have possibly believed 008 could cook a normal meal?'
Sophie Wexler got busy in the kitchen. Looking at the dishes laid out before her—lotus root soup, sweet and sour pork ribs, potato and green bean stew... several plates were filled to the brim.
Sophie Wexler's eyes curved as she looked at them. "Smells so good."
'Whoever wants to eat that stupid nutrient liquid can have it. I'm going to eat my feast!'
"008, come get the food," Sophie Wexler called out.
"Coming!" With a cute electronic beep, 008 slid over, picked up the food, and placed it on the dining table.
Sophie Wexler looked at the table full of food, nodded in satisfaction, and then spoke to the person next to her, "Cillian Forrest, come and eat."
Seeing him not move, Sophie Wexler sighed internally and pulled him over to sit down. "Hurry up and eat. If you don't, I don't have any nutrient liquid for you."
"Without proper nourishment, your body won't recover well. If your body doesn't recover well, you can't earn money to pay me back. And if you can't pay me back, you can't leave this place," Sophie Wexler calmly analyzed the pros and cons for him.
The man paused for a few seconds, then picked up his chopsticks. Seeing this, Sophie Wexler's eyes secretly curved into crescents. 'There we go.'
'I'm really going to great lengths to raise his affection level. I refuse to believe I can't do it.'
'This meal is the first step. Once he's eaten my food, he can't keep thinking about killing me.'
Finally eating a real meal, Sophie Wexler felt completely blissful.
'But the food here really is expensive.' Sophie Wexler's heart bled again at the thought of her rapidly emptying pockets.
'The road to riches is long and arduous indeed.'
Speaking of which, Sophie Wexler was reminded of her livestream. It had been several days, and she hadn't had a chance to broadcast again. She had no idea what the reaction to her last one was.
With that in mind, Sophie Wexler tapped her fingers to open her Light Brain, and a virtual screen projected in front of her.
Sophie Wexler navigated to the entertainment section. She had intended to check the response to her livestream, but the moment she opened it, she was greeted by a line of large text.
#Sophie Wexler Spotted at Supermarket, Allegedly Spending a Fortune to Keep a Boyfriend#
Sophie Wexler: "?"
Sophie Wexler: "?!"
Sophie Wexler stared at the headline, reading it over and over again. She recognized every word individually, so how could she not understand them when they were strung together?
'Who the hell was I "keeping"?'
The crucial part was that it was just one person who posted it, without even a photo, yet a bunch of people were in the comments below, calling her desperate and saying she was paying for a man!
Sophie Wexler: Huh??!