Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Bento

That evening, Lu Xiao made cumin lamb and a mashed potato rice bowl.

Bringing the dishes to the table, Lu Xiao was filled with happiness. ’This is the way to live,’ she mused. ’This is what makes it meaningful.’

While they were eating, Lu Xiao asked Ares, “Do you have your own private office at the military base?”

Ares nodded. “I do.”

“That’s good. I just bought two microwaves online, one for you and one for me. You can put yours in your office to heat up lunch. It’ll be very convenient.”

It had never occurred to him that when Lu Xiao mentioned packing lunches, she was thinking of him too. Ares was stunned for a moment. It took him a while before he found his voice. “Thank you.”

He stopped himself from saying, “You don’t have to,” or “A nutrient fluid is just as good.” Lu Xiao had already quietly arranged everything for him. To say something so tactless now would just spoil the mood.

So, the most fitting response was simply two words: “Thank you.”

“Don’t be so formal, it was no trouble at all. Oh, right, is 2,000 a month enough for you as an allowance?”

Ares felt like he understood each individual word Lu Xiao was saying, but strung together, they made no sense.

“I… I don’t need an allowance. My money…”

“You’re a Major General, for goodness’ sake. It’s not right to go out for gatherings with no money. Especially with your subordinates—would you feel comfortable letting them pay for you? So it’s decided. 2,000 a month for pocket money. If it’s not enough, let me know. If it’s more than you need, just save it. You can’t be out and about without any cash on you. That’s final.”

She knew what Ares was going to say before he could even finish.

’Ares is like a young maiden who’s been thoroughly brainwashed by feudal-era thinking,’ she thought. ’He’s in deep.’

Staring at the 2,000 credits that had just appeared on his terminal, Ares felt like he was in a dream.

Everything felt so unreal.

Lu Xiao paid him no mind, letting him process it on his own.

Since she was packing lunches tomorrow, she decided to prep the ingredients tonight. That way, she could just cook everything in the morning to keep it fresh.

That evening, just before she was about to perform the Spiritual Soothing for Ares, Lu Xiao suddenly remembered something. “The day after tomorrow, you don’t need to come pick me up. Four of my colleagues from the office invited me to see Director Audrey’s new movie, Desperate Female Master. I’ll probably be back quite late.”

“You can call me when it’s over, and I’ll come get you.”

“That’s okay, I can just get a ride back. I don’t want to trouble you so late at night…”

“It’s no trouble. Besides, this is what I should be doing. I want to pick you up.”

Her gaze suddenly met Ares’s dark, earnest eyes, and Lu Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. Before she knew it, she had nodded.

’Ugh, I’m a sucker for a handsome face!’

“Ahem, have you heard of Director Audrey?”

“I’ve heard of her, but I haven’t seen any of her works. She’s very well-known among females.”

“I’m surprised you actually know of her. I’ll tell you about it when I get back. Hopefully, it won’t be a disappointment. Now, come on, lie down.”

’But Ares had a vague feeling that Lu Xiao wouldn’t like Audrey’s movie. Or, for that matter, any of the movies here.’

*

The adjutant’s morning routine was to come in and clean Ares’s office first thing.

Just as he was about to fill Ares’s glass with water, Ares walked in. He looked a little different today, his arms full.

Seeing the box in his arms, the adjutant quickly put down what he was holding and hurried over. “What did you buy, sir?”

“A microwave. My Female Master gave it to me.”

Ares had just set the box down when the adjutant heard him. He glanced at Ares instinctively, asking with uncertainty, “Who did you say gave it to you, sir?”

“My Female Master. She said this would be more convenient, especially for heating up a packed lunch.” As he spoke, Ares handed him a square, double-decker box.

The adjutant took it securely. “Don’t tell me… this is a lunch your Female Master packed for you?”

“You’re pretty sharp today.” Ares smiled, pleased.

’The adjutant, on the other hand, felt his world tilting. He started to wonder if Major General Ares had suffered some kind of psychic attack and was hallucinating.’

“Are you really okay, sir?”

“I’m perfectly fine. Put the lunch box away, and at lunchtime, heat it up and bring it to me. I need to get to work.”

The adjutant looked like he wanted to argue, but he held his tongue. After carefully stowing the lunch box, he left the office.

He’d barely stepped out when he ran into some colleagues. Seeing him looking dazed, they came over to ask, “What’s wrong? Did you get chewed out?”

“No way. Major General Ares would never criticize me. It’s just… never mind. You wouldn’t get it.” He didn’t want more people gossiping about the Major General behind his back.

Major General Ares’s sudden marriage—and as a side husband, no less—had already been a hot topic of gossip on the base for a long time.

’Now he couldn’t help but wonder if Ares was doing all this because of the gossip.’

’Sigh. Their Major General really has it rough.’

He stewed in these thoughts until lunchtime. Just as he was about to get a nutrient fluid for Major General Ares, he remembered the “lunch handmade by his Female Master.” The adjutant immediately retrieved the lunch box, heated it, and brought it to Ares’s office.

“Time for lunch, Major General.” After handing over the lunch box, the adjutant didn’t leave. He wanted to see what was actually inside.

’After all, he refused to believe that a female would cook.’

’Did Major General Ares seriously not realize how fake the phrase “a lunch handmade by his Female Master” sounded?’

At the sound of his voice, Ares put down his work. He took the lunch box, set it in front of him, and then looked at his unmoving adjutant. “You…”

“Major General, sir, just let me take a peek at your lunch, please?”

’Even though he was sure Ares was lying, he was still curious to see what the Major General had brought for himself. And how his cooking skills were.’

Ares took one look at him and knew the kid didn’t believe a word he’d said.

He didn’t bother explaining. After all, if he hadn’t experienced Lu Xiao’s cooking firsthand, he wouldn’t have believed it either.

’He was probably the only person in the entire world who got to eat a meal personally cooked by his Female Master.’

So, without a word, he opened the lunch box right in front of his adjutant.

Lu Xiao had made it all herself that morning: braised prawns, stir-fried pork with green peppers, a chilled cucumber salad, and a fish ball soup.

The moment he lifted the lid of the heated lunch box, a fragrant aroma instantly filled the air. It was absolutely mouthwatering.

’The adjutant’s eyes flew open. My god, even if the Major General was lying, his cooking skills were incredible!’

“Major General, sir, that looks absolutely delicious. Could I maybe…”

“No. Please leave.”

Ares gestured toward the door. The meaning couldn’t have been more obvious.

The adjutant persisted, “If you can’t finish it all, just call me. I’d be more than happy to help you out!”

Ares gave him a faint smile. “Forget it. Not a chance!”

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