Chapter 500: The Receipt He Hid

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

Clara Whitmore 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 Elias 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. Elias pulled out his wallet. "I'll pay."

Clara 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, Elias emerged carrying three bulging shopping bags.

Clara 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."

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

Clara 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—"

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

Clara 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, Clara 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 Elias 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 Clara 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, Elias texted Clara:

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

Clara, 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?"

Elias's fingers froze mid-type.