Christopher was suddenly speechless, his expression hazy with confusion. Melach returned to the small guest room, leaving him standing still, deep in thought, expressing self-reflection and guilt. Since he returned early, she tidied up and prepared to go grocery shopping.

“Where are you going?” he asked, seeing her getting ready to leave right after he arrived.

“The supermarket,” she answered softly.

In the past, Christopher never asked or spoke much to her. Today, though, he seemed unusually cheery. After receiving her answer and noticing the cloth bag in her hand, Christopher inexplicably put his shoes back on and silently followed her. She didn’t look back as they walked toward the elevator, thinking he was leaving. But to her surprise, he followed her into the supermarket.

At first, she thought he was just shopping for himself, but the persistent Christopher had no intention of leaving. He mimicked her every move—when she went left, he followed, and when she went right, Melody was speechless. As she picked vegetables, he added random ones—old, hollow, or spoiled—into her bag. Unable to tolerate it any longer, she clenched her fist and asked, “What exactly do you want?”

“What do you mean? I’m just here to buy vegetables with you,” Christopher said nonchalantly.

She was silent for two seconds. This version of him was unfamiliar; it was so absurd. In the past, she would have thought it warm and sweet if they had gone grocery shopping together after work, hand in hand. But now, she felt Christopher was acting strangely and needed to see a doctor. Her heart had long since died, so she no longer had any expectations. She replied coldly, “You don’t know how to do anything—don’t make things worse.”

Watching Melody take the vegetables he had picked and put them aside, he was speechless. “I really don’t know how to choose,” he muttered, justifying himself. “What about this? This tomato looks good,” he asked, picking one up with a serious expression. Melody looked at him, their gazes meeting. Christopher stared at her, his eyes filled with emotions she couldn’t understand.

However, before the moment could last, his phone rang. He picked it up and answered. “Cynthia, why are you calling?”

Hearing this, Melody turned and walked away. Still holding a persimmon, he quickly followed her.

“Dinner? Let’s eat at home tonight. There’s no need for a restaurant. Melody can cook,” Christopher said.

“I’ve already gone home and am buying vegetables. I finished work early today. Do you want me to pick you up? Alright. Wait for me.”

After the brief conversation ended, Melody heard Christopher say, “I’m going to pick up Cynthia. You can go home after you finish shopping. Don’t wait for me.” Melody didn’t even look back, her expression unchanged.

She knew it. He had only come shopping to prepare for Cynthia, not for her.

Meanwhile, in the model’s dressing room, after Cynthia finished the call, her expression twisted with anger, and her eyes flashed with malice. Christopher went grocery shopping with Melody? Didn’t he dislike her? Cynthia thought back to living there for half a month with no progress. He pushed her away every time she tried to get closer to him, which only made her furious. “Melody, it seems I have to eliminate you,” she thought.