Chapter 500

The supermarket glowed brightly in the evening light. Adrian Klein paused his shopping cart in the household goods aisle. "Need anything?"

Evelyn Langley had been staring blankly at the laundry detergent on the shelf. She snapped out of her daze. "Yeah, we're almost out at home."

She stretched on her tiptoes to reach the body wash on the top shelf, catching Adrian loading items into the cart from the corner of her eye.

Towels, slippers, storage bins...

The once-empty cart now resembled a small mountain.

At the checkout, a long line had formed. Adrian pulled out his wallet. "I'll pay."

Evelyn nodded. "Keep the receipt. We'll split it later."

He motioned for her to exit first. "It's too crowded here."

"Okay." She left through the no-purchase lane.

Ten minutes later, Adrian emerged carrying three bulging shopping bags.

Evelyn reached out. "Let me take one."

He sidestepped with surprising agility. "No need."

"But—"

The bags were neatly divided: one for groceries, the other two for their respective household items.

"Are you sure you don't need help?" she pressed.

"Positive."

Adrian carried the heavy bags up seven flights of stairs without breaking a sweat.

Evelyn took her bag at the doorway. "Let me see the receipt."

He cleared his throat. "Don't worry about it."

"That's not fair." She rummaged through her bag. "Mine doesn't have it. Yours must—"

Adrian suddenly retreated two steps, hiding his bag behind his back.

Evelyn froze.

"...I'll calculate it and text you later," he said, his voice tight.

"Fine." Though puzzled, she didn't press further.

She carried her bag inside to start dinner.

......

After skipping lunch, Evelyn first made a simple noodle soup.

A golden fried egg crowned the thin noodles, accompanied by emerald greens and pink ham slices.

Simple yet satisfying.

With her hunger satisfied, she tied on an apron to prepare crab roe buns.

Kneading dough, mixing filling, shaping buns...

Steam rose from the bamboo baskets. Two hours later, thirty plump buns emerged.

......

Only after closing his door did Adrian exhale in relief.

He stared at his shopping bag, realizing how suspicious his behavior must have seemed.

It wasn't like he'd done anything wrong.

With a wry smile, he began unpacking.

Towels, slippers, storage bins...

At the very bottom lay his true purchase—

Several new pairs of boxers.

No wonder he'd panicked when Evelyn reached for the bag.

Embarrassment? Or perhaps... guilt.

Whatever the reason, he'd frozen completely when she extended her hand.

Thankfully, his reflexes had saved him.

Settling on the couch, Adrian texted Evelyn:

"Total $542. My share $263. Just transfer me $279."

Evelyn, monitoring her steaming buns while scrolling through her phone, replied instantly:

"That cheap? You bought so much though."

"Towels, slippers, underwear, storage bins, dish soap, right?"

"All that for just over two hundred?"

Adrian's fingers froze mid-type.