After realizing it was impossible to break Ares of his habit of kneeling anytime soon, Lu Xiao decided to let it go for now.
Going to the supermarket for ingredients and then coming home to cook was more important anyway.
She really, really didn't want to have any more nutrition solution.
Ares went upstairs to change. When he came down, he was wearing a simple white shirt, army-green trousers, and black military boots. The outfit accentuated his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs. Combined with his refined, handsome features, he was the very definition of a man who would turn heads on the street.
Even Lu Xiao, who didn't typically pay much mind to physical appearance, couldn't help but sigh in admiration. 'The original owner had pretty good taste.'
Looking him over from head to toe, Lu Xiao couldn't help but comment as Ares drew near, "You look really good in that!"
Ares froze for a moment at the unexpected compliment. A faint pink blush crept up from the base of his pale ears. He gave a slight nod and tried to sound casual as he said, "Thank you for your praise, Mistress."
"You can call me by my name, Lu Xiao."
'Mistress this, Mistress that... It's so grating to listen to. It makes me feel like a slave owner.'
Her words, however, brought a look of astonishment to Ares's eyes. "That's against the rules. I am merely your side husband; I don't have the right to address you by your given name."
Not even the most favored side husband was ever allowed to address his Mistress by name.
'How could Lu Xiao say that? Is... isn't she afraid I'll grow arrogant from her favor?'
"Then who has that right?" Lu Xiao didn't expect this godforsaken place to have so many rules about something as simple as using a name.
"Only the main husband can."
Lu Xiao nodded in understanding. 'So they're determined to take this feudal system all the way, huh?' "In that case, you can call me by my name in private, when no one's around. As long as it doesn't affect you, I don't mind."
"It's not a matter of whether you..."
"Enough, it's settled. When we're alone, I don't want to hear the word 'Mistress.' Come on, let's get to the supermarket."
Without giving Ares a chance to object, she threw out the words and pushed the door open, heading outside.
Left behind, Ares took a few seconds to compose himself, tamping down the shock—and the reluctant flicker of joy—he felt deep inside.
By the time he came out, Lu Xiao was already on the landing pad, staring at the hover car before them.
It was this era's primary mode of transport. Though they called it a car, it looked more like a flying saucer from a science fiction film.
Even with the original owner's memories, seeing it with her own eyes still left Lu Xiao utterly stunned.
'This era might seem completely feudal, but I have to admit, the technology is incredibly advanced.'
She feigned composure as she got into the car. While watching Ares at the controls, Lu Xiao asked, "Is the supermarket far from here?"
The original owner had never gone to the supermarket herself, leaving Lu Xiao with no memory of the trip.
In this world, most females were like the original owner—doing nothing, waited on hand and foot. A female like Lu Xiao, who proposed a trip to the supermarket herself, was an anomaly.
So, Ares wasn't surprised by her question. "By car, it's not too far. If you need anything, you could just tell me. I can go and bring it back for you."
"No, I want to go and browse."
She wasn't the original owner. She couldn't coop herself up at home, abusing males or hanging out with other females who shared the same cruel pastimes.
'If I want to integrate into this society, I need to get out more.'
Ares couldn't help but steal a glance at her. Ever since Lu Xiao had woken up, she'd given him a very strange feeling.
But since he'd never been very familiar with her in the first place, he couldn't be sure whether this was her normal self.
Suppressing his shock, Ares silently warned himself, 'Don't let this female fool you.'
Lu Xiao didn't know what Ares was thinking, and even if she did, she wouldn't have cared. After all, the females here were notoriously capricious.
The hover car moved so quickly that the scenery outside the window was a blur, yet the ride was so stable you could hardly feel a tremor.
As this was Lu Xiao's first time in a hover car, she found the experience fascinating. She even felt an urge to try piloting it herself.
'I'll have Ares teach me when I get the chance.'
With that thought in mind, Lu Xiao followed Ares out of the hover car. They had arrived at the entrance to the supermarket.
The parking attendant who opened the door was startled by the sight of Lu Xiao. He hastily averted his gaze, not daring to stare. It was his first time ever seeing a female come to the supermarket in person.
It was as shocking as finding out for the first time that females also needed to use the restroom.
Ares walked over, handed the key to the cockpit to the attendant, and then followed Lu Xiao into the supermarket.
The supermarket wasn't quite what Lu Xiao was used to. In her world, they were bustling places, but this one was eerily quiet. There were hardly any people, only robots gliding continuously between the shelves.
Occasionally, she'd spot one or two Male Beastmen, and upon seeing her, they would all react with a look of shock before quickly lowering their eyes and bowing their heads until she and Ares had passed.
It was as if a single extra glance would be an act of sacrilege.
Fortunately, Lu Xiao soon found what she was looking for: green vegetables, beautifully marbled meats, and fruits that gave off a fresh, sweet scent.
In the years after the apocalypse, such things had become nearly impossible to find.
Children born in the post-apocalyptic era only knew of them from textbooks.
"Let's buy plenty to keep in the fridge," Lu Xiao said, but as she glanced down at the prices, she froze. The vegetables and fruits were incredibly expensive. Meat was relatively cheaper, but still not what you'd call cheap.
She suddenly understood why nutrition solution existed in a world that clearly wasn't short on resources. The prices were just too high. Compared to fresh ingredients, the nutrition solution was a real bargain.
Of course, the convenience of the nutrition solution was also a factor.
Lu Xiao silently checked her account balance. 'Thank goodness, the original owner left me quite a bit...' But just as she was feeling relieved about her financial situation, she spotted a line of small text below the balance: *Ares's private account has been successfully linked.*
'What is this?'
'Is this Ares's account?'
'What about the original owner's account?'
Lu Xiao frantically searched and finally found the original owner's personal account. The remaining balance was a meager thirty cents.
Lu Xiao: "..."
This was actually a common phenomenon among the Empire's females. Before marriage, a female's primary income came from her family and government subsidies. After marriage, it came mainly from her husbands and those same subsidies.
Upon marrying a female, all males—whether a main husband, a side husband, or an even lower-status husband—were required to turn over all of their assets.
Therefore, it was completely normal for Ares's account to be linked to the original owner's name for her financial support.
It was just that for Lu Xiao, who had just arrived in this world, the whole thing was a bit of a shock.
'I will never allow myself to have no income and live by relying on someone else.'
Staring at the ingredients before her, Lu Xiao swallowed hard. 'I'll just borrow some of Ares's money for now. When I start earning my own, I'll definitely pay him back!'
'I'm finding a job as soon as I get back!'