Free Web NovelChapter 27: Chapter 27: Yue Yue’s Most Expensive Meal
Back in Han Soi’s home...
Exactly two minutes later, a soft chime sounded through the quiet living room. The delivery had arrived.
Yue Yue almost jumped in excitement as she rushed forward to receive it. Her eyes sparkled as she grabbed the bag from the small hovering bot that had brought it.
"This technology is amazing!" she said, grinning so widely that her cheeks almost hurt. "I could get used to this so easily!"
She was so happy and focused on the bag that she did not even notice Lulu, who was standing at the side.
The household robot was watching her with a strangely gentle gaze, as if it found her childlike enthusiasm unexpectedly adorable. Yue Yue, of course, had absolutely no idea she was being judged by a robot.
Without wasting a second, she hurried back into the kitchen. Even though almost no one in the empire cooked anymore, every house was still furnished with a full and advanced kitchen.
After all, the empire liked to maintain the old standard layouts even if no one used half the functions.
Soon, Yue Yue was completely absorbed in cooking her simple dish.
She happily stirred the steaming rice in the pot. The warm smell filled the entire kitchen and wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.
She felt like her soul had finally returned to her body. After eating nothing but preserved food, nutrient pastes, and weird chemical solutions in this world, the fragrance of real rice made her eyes brighten like two shining stars.
"Ahh... this is heaven..." she whispered to herself, smiling like she had just discovered the true meaning of life.
Quickly, she scrambled some eggs on the side, mixed them together with the hot rice, added a little salt, and just like that, the simple rice with eggs was done. It was nothing fancy, not even a real dish in her world, but to her, at this moment, it was real food.
She scooped a spoonful and took a bite.
Her eyes closed immediately. "So good... so good... I can finally live again... I am reborn..."
She continued eating happily, but after finishing half the bowl, she paused. A sudden thought struck her like a spark.
"Han Soi..." she murmured softly. "He is the one paying for everything. I cannot be shameless and eat all this alone without giving him even a little."
She looked down at the warm rice, hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly to herself. "Okay, I will pack a portion for him in the self heating lunch box so it will stay fresh and hot. At least he should taste what I made."
She carefully packed a small box of rice and eggs. Just imagining his expression when he tasted food made by her made her feel strangely proud and a little giddy. She even smiled foolishly at the container.
But then, slowly, another thought started creeping into her mind.
"...Wait."
Her smile faded.
She turned stiffly toward Lulu, who had been standing beside her the whole time like a silent guardian.
"Lulu," Yue Yue said, wiping her hands nervously on a cloth, "umm... how much did all these ingredients cost?"
Lulu immediately projected a bright screen. "Young Miss wishes to know the price?"
"Yes," Yue Yue nodded, still confident. "I should know since Han Soi paid for it. Later, when I have money, I will pay him back. I do not want to eat his money for free."
Lulu began listing calmly, "The 500g of natural rice cost is..."
Yue Yue leaned in casually.
"...100 million star coins."
"...Ha?"
Yue Yue blinked. Her ears buzzed. Her hands froze in the air. She stared blankly at Lulu.
"Repeat that," she said very slowly.
"100 million star coins," Lulu said again without hesitation.
For a long moment, Yue Yue just stared at the robot. Then she stared at the innocent pot of rice. Then she stared back at the robot.
"Are they selling gold? No... even gold would not be this expensive. What kind of rice is this? Did the grains grow on gold? Did the farmers water them with diamonds?"
But Lulu was not done.
"The eggs cost another 200 million. Vegetables are for 350 million. Delivery fee is fifteen thousand star coins."
Yue Yue felt her soul leave her body.
By the time Lulu finished scrolling, the total amount was well over billions. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
Her knees almost gave out. "I... I... I cooked rice worth a mansion... and I already ate half of it..."
She looked at the pot again, her expression full of despair. Her eye twitched violently. She almost spat out the bite still in her mouth even though it had tasted heavenly just seconds ago.
She grabbed her head dramatically.
"No wonder these Orcs only eat that chemical goo! Who in this universe can even afford this? Even if I sell myself, I cannot pay this back! Even if I sell my future generations, I still cannot pay this!"
Her voice cracked as she pointed weakly at the remaining rice. "What is so good in this that it costs billions star coins?"
She slumped against the counter, staring at the bowl with pure heartbreak.
Seeing her pitiful expression, Lulu tried to reassure her. "Young Miss, please do not worry. Master is very rich. He has the title of Duke in the Empire. He can definitely support you."
Yue Yue looked up slowly, her eyes trembling like a frightened rabbit.
"Rich...? How rich?"
"Master’s main estate covers three star regions," Lulu said. "He is the youngest duke in the Empire. He owns several mining galaxies, and he has his own private military fleet."
Yue Yue felt her entire worldview shake.
"So he will not... go bankrupt because of me?"
"No, Young Miss. Master could buy this entire city ten times and still be comfortable."
Yue Yue collapsed into Lulu’s arms with a lifeless expression. "Lulu... life is so expensive... How do people live in this world..."
Lulu patted her shoulder in a stiff robotic gesture. "Most Orcs rely on nutrient solutions since they are cheap and safe. Only the royal family and temple staff can consume natural food items."
A wave of sadness washed over Yue Yue.
Back in her world, she had her own small farm. Rice, vegetables, eggs, fruits, everything grew from the land. It cost almost nothing. She only needed sunlight, soil, and time. Life was simple.
But here... everything outside was polluted. The land was dead. Plants had mutated into dangerous things that released toxic fumes. Animals had evolved into monstrous beasts filled with deadly poison that could shatter an Orc’s spiritual sea in seconds. Even a tiny bite meant death.
She remembered the system mentioning once that this world had lost almost everything humans once had. Civilization had collapsed, land became unlivable, and people survived only because of synthetic foods created in labs.
Natural food had become the rarest luxury, which no one could afford.
Rice was rarer than treasure. Eggs were more valuable than high tier energy crystals.
Her simple comfort dish... the dish she made without thinking... was something only royals tasted maybe once a week.
"Why... why is just living so costly here..." she whispered.
