During dinner, Lu Xiao made a point of having Ares sit next to her, occasionally placing food on his plate. "Try this. I think it's pretty good."
Ares would obediently eat whatever she gave him, then add, "I don't think it's as good as your cooking."
Their soft chatter was not quiet enough, and it greatly annoyed Lu Ge Wei, who sat across from them. Yet, she had to maintain her composure and the dignity befitting an Earl.
Still, she would occasionally shoot daggers at Ares, hoping he would take the hint and leave her sight. Unfortunately, it was as if Ares were completely oblivious, utterly unresponsive to her glares, with eyes only for Lu Xiao.
'I knew it,' she thought. 'Males like him, who rise through the ranks with no background, are full of nothing but schemes.'
'And only a fool like Lu Xiao would be blind to it.'
As she thought this, Lu Ge Wei couldn't help but glare at Lu Xiao, who happened to look up and see her. "Mother, what's wrong with your eyes? Are they bothering you?"
Lu Ge Wei felt her chest tighten in frustration and raised a hand to her forehead. "I'm finished. You two take your time. Don't bother seeing me out when you leave; I'm going to take a nap."
"Alright, Mother. If you're not feeling well, please see a doctor as soon as you can."
"Yes, yes, I know." 'Just shut up already.' Lu Ge Wei couldn't stand the sight of the two of them being so nauseatingly affectionate.
She stood up abruptly, gathered her skirts, and hurried away, her every move screaming, "Out of sight, out of mind."
Watching her mother leave, Lu Xiao put down her fork. 'The food at the Earl Mansion really is awful,' she thought. 'No wonder the original owner would rather drink nutrient solution than eat a proper meal.'
'I wouldn't want to eat it either. I just had to put on an act while Lu Ge Wei was here. Now that she's gone, there's no need.'
Beside her, Ares pressed his lips together. 'I can tell our earlier intimacy was something Lu Xiao deliberately put on for Earl Lu Ge Wei to see,' he thought.
'As for the reason why, I'm not sure, and I don't particularly care to know. If it's what Lu Xiao wants, then my cooperation is enough.'
"Don't eat any more. Let's go to the supermarket and make something delicious at home." 'The food at the Earl Mansion isn't worth eating anyway. The obligatory newlywed visit is officially complete. From now on, I shouldn't have to come back unless it's absolutely necessary.'
Since Lu Ge Wei had said they didn't need to see her out before leaving, Lu Xiao led Ares straight out of the Earl Mansion. After getting into their vehicle, they headed directly for the supermarket.
On the way there, however, Ares's terminal rang.
Lu Xiao noticed a flicker of dejection on Ares's face after he finished reading the message and couldn't help but ask, "Is something wrong? If you have something to do, I can go by myself. You should go take care of it."
'It's not like I need him to accompany me to the supermarket every single time.'
"No, I'm fine. It's... my adjutant. He's asking when I'm going to return to my post."
Lu Xiao was taken aback. "Do you need to formally return to your post? Can't you just go back to work once your leave is over?"
Ares looked at her. "Am I allowed to go back to work?"
"Of course you can. Why the hesitation? Or... do you want to stay home and not go back to work?"
"No, I don't. I want to go to work. Thank you." In that moment, Ares was truly grateful to Lu Xiao.
Seeing how emotional he was, Lu Xiao slowly realized what he must have been thinking. "You didn't actually believe I was lying to you at the Earl Mansion, did you? My mother and I have very different ideas. I don't think males should have to stay at home after getting married, unable to show their faces in public. That's all bullshit. You just got married; you weren't sold to me. You still have your own life, so do whatever you want. Your life isn't an accessory to someone else's. You're your own person. Of course," she added, "I'd be thrilled if you managed to get promoted to Admiral, but only as long as you don't risk your life for it."
"I'll do my best. I won't let you down!"
"Just make sure you don't disappoint yourself." Lu Xiao finished with a smile. 'I think I was perfectly clear this time,' she thought. 'Ares should understand what I mean now. He shouldn't be so timid about these things anymore. I hope!'
Since she had been to this supermarket once before, Lu Xiao now knew her way around.
She even asked a staff member about their delivery process.
'If both she and Ares were working in the future, they certainly wouldn't be able to come to the supermarket often, so they would need to shop online.'
Lu Xiao was relieved to learn that deliveries arrived within an hour of an order being placed.
This time, Lu Xiao didn't hold back while shopping. After all, she was about to be a person earning 150,000 a month!
'I have to admit, it's incredibly easy for females to make money in this world.'
Before long, Lu Xiao had filled the shopping cart to the brim. 'This should last them a long while,' she thought.
After they paid, the ever-considerate Ares once again took the initiative to carry all the bags.
The male valet outside was the same one from their last visit. Seeing her, he smiled and said, "Take care, Your Excellency. It was a pleasure serving you."
Lu Xiao gave him a wave in acknowledgment.
He hadn't expected her to respond and was overcome with excitement. Long after she was gone, his heart was still pounding.
'She wasn't just a female who shopped at the supermarket herself—she was one who actually responded to him.'
'Oh... How could she be so special?'
Lu Xiao had no idea what kind of psychological "damage" her simple response had inflicted on the young valet. Now sitting in the vehicle, she was already planning what to make when they got home.
And she was eager to get started.
Sitting beside her, Ares could clearly sense the female's joy.
He didn't quite understand why Lu Xiao enjoyed going to the supermarket so much, but he found this side of her very cute.
When they got home, Lu Xiao announced, "Ares, you're going to help me make dumplings."
Ares had eaten dumplings before, of course, but he didn't know how to make them. He was willing to learn, however.
"I'm going to go change. You get ready, too." With that, Lu Xiao went to her room. Ares couldn't suppress a smile. He took the groceries to the kitchen and sent a reply to his adjutant: 'I'm returning to my post tomorrow.'
The adjutant, who had been waiting for a reply and was already preparing for the worst, couldn't help but grin the moment he received the message. 'That's wonderful! Congratulations on being able to return to work!'
The adjutant was genuinely happy for Ares.
Countless military officers like Ares had been forced to leave their posts after marriage, simply because their wives disliked them being seen in public.
Their careers were stifled, and they were confined to the small world of their homes, wasting their lives away.
He had been incredibly worried that the female Ares married would be the same, especially after the taste they'd gotten of her domineering attitude. He never imagined she would actually be willing to let Ares continue his work. This was truly wonderful!