Ethan kept his tone cold toward Rachel Whitmore.
Both Rachel and her friend Ashley Monroe noticed something was off.
But after mistaking him for some secretly wealthy heir, the two women didn't take offense. Instead, they moved closer with renewed enthusiasm.
"Oh? Ethan, were you just eating at that restaurant?" Ashley asked, feigning casual curiosity.
Ethan's brows twitched.This woman wasn't innocent either. She was just like Rachel—a snake with a painted smile.
She played her part in his death.She helped starve him, betray him.
"…Yeah," he replied indifferently.Hands in his pockets, he turned and headed toward the supermarket.
Rachel and Ashley quickly followed behind.
"Where are you going, Ethan?" Rachel asked with a gentle smile.
"To the store."His voice remained icy, tinged with irritation.
Truth be told, he could kill her right now and feel no remorse.But no—he wanted her to suffer first.To crawl in the dirt of the apocalypse.To beg.
Rachel exchanged a quick glance with Ashley and said sweetly, "What a coincidence! We were just thinking of shopping too!"
Of course.
Ethan had figured it out.
They must've seen him spending lavishly at the Michelin-star restaurant and assumed he was secretly rich.
That was the only reason they were suddenly so warm.
He couldn't care less. He kept walking without a word.
And the more indifferent he was, the more convinced they became.
Only the rich had this kind of cold arrogance.
Rachel moved closer, occasionally brushing her hand against his.When he turned to look, she quickly looked away, face flushed like a shy schoolgirl.
Ethan chuckled inwardly.
You should've been an actress. With your skills, you'd have an Oscar by now.
At the store, Ethan grabbed a shopping cart and headed straight inside.
Rachel and Ashley hurried to get carts of their own and followed closely.
"Were you eating with someone earlier?" Rachel asked with a soft smile.
Ethan walked toward the food section."Can't I eat alone?"
Rachel's eyes sparkled. "Oh, I didn't mean it like that! I just thought… that meal must've been expensive. I assumed you were treating someone."
Ashley chimed in, "Ethan, don't you make around $2,000 a month? That meal alone was probably worth half your yearly salary."
She added with a forced laugh, "Your family must've left you quite the inheritance."
Rachel shot her a deadly glare.
Idiot. You never talk money with a rich guy—you talk about feelings. You only talk money with poor ones.
Ashley realized her mistake and laughed awkwardly."I'm just messing around! Friends don't care about money, right?"
Ethan ignored them completely.
He pushed his cart into the food aisle, gazing at the neatly stacked shelves like they were treasure.
In his past life, he'd gone two days with nothing but a pack of instant noodles.
So now, this abundance stirred something primal in him.
He grabbed armfuls of food and dumped them into the cart.
Sausages. Instant noodles. Self-heating hotpots. Spices.Anything shelf-stable, he bought in bulk.
Rachel and Ashley stared in disbelief.
"Ethan… why are you buying so much? Going camping?" Ashley asked.
"…Yeah," Ethan said flatly.
Ashley leaned toward Rachel, whispering, "What kind of rich guy camps with instant noodles?"
Rachel hesitated too.But the memory of that lavish meal held her doubts at bay.
She ran up beside Ethan, smiling brightly."Need any help?"
Free labor?
Why not.
And looking at her fake-sweet expression, an idea struck him.
I'll let you see all this. Let you know how much I've prepared.Then when the world ends… I'll watch you beg.
A slow grin tugged at his lips."Sure. Help me push the carts."
Rachel nodded eagerly.
He pointed at Ashley."You too. Go grab another cart."
The two women exchanged glances but did as he asked.
Ethan went on a rampage through the store.
Canned goods. Sausages. Dried meats.Everything with a long shelf life went in.
One cart he filled with fresh meat, vegetables, and even live fish.He wanted to test if his spatial storage could preserve perishables.
Three carts. Piled high.
The cart full of heavy canned meats and lamb legs?He handed it to the girls.
It weighed close to 400 pounds, and within minutes, both were drenched in sweat.
Rachel pouted."Ethan, how many people are you feeding with all this? Are you planning an event or something?"
Ethan sneered."Nope. Just getting ready for the end of the world."
Rachel giggled, assuming he was joking."Alright, alright, don't tell me. But since I helped you so much today… you owe me a fancy dinner!"
Her eyes sparkled with expectation.
She was clearly hoping to be taken to another Michelin-starred feast.
Ethan gave her a half-smile."Sure. But I'm a little busy right now. Maybe next month."
Rachel clapped her hands."It's a deal!"
Ashley rushed to join them. "Yay! Let's all go together!"
Getting a gourmet meal for pushing a cart?Of course she was thrilled.
Rachel gave her a death glare.
Ashley just pretended not to see it.
Ethan paid for everything—over $1,500 worth of supplies.Not even a blink.
In the apocalypse, this would be worth tens of thousands.
The supermarket, seeing the volume he'd bought, happily let him borrow the carts.
Ethan wasn't shy about making the two women push the loads for him.
Sure, he had a car.But why use it when he had free help?
Even though they whined about how tired they were, the promise of fine dining kept them moving.
And so—The three of them pushed three overflowing carts of goods through the streets,Drawing countless stares as they made their way back to Ethan's neighborhood.