Surviving the Apocalypse: All I Want Is to Find a Husband
Chapter 176: Expensive Ingredients

Chapter 176: Expensive Ingredients

She clicked her tongue. Damn it. She had completely forgotten about that quest with everything else going on. She had planned to make it back in the forest, but the freezing temperatures had killed any motivation she had, other than lying around and conserving body heat.

"Just buy it for me," Medeia muttered. "How much is this going to cost me?"

[Calculating the total cost of ingredients for a blueberry pie ...]

The system took its sweet time, nearly two minutes, before finally dropping the price.

[Ding! Ding! The total comes to 3,950 gold coins!]

Medeia’s eyes twitched. What the hell?! That was way too expensive for a damn blueberry pie!

"Are you serious?! Why is it so expensive? Can’t you give me a cheaper option?"

[But, Host, this is the cost for a premium version of the blueberry pie.]

Medeia groaned. "Since when did I ask for a premium pie?!"

[Are you really willing to give Lucian a cheap blueberry pie?]

[His family was never broke, so he’s only ever eaten food made with the finest ingredients. If you use low-quality ones, the taste might be ... disappointing.]

Who would’ve thought that her husband’s long-gone wealth would become the system’s excuse to rob her gold coins?!

But if Lucian had access to this overpriced scam of a supermarket, would he ever buy cheap ingredients for her?

Yeah. No chance in hell.

Knowing him, he’d probably throw every last coin he had just to make sure she had the absolute best.

And here she was, actually considering cutting corners on a damn pie for him? Shame on her.

The system, of course, saw right through her hesitation and struck where it hurt.

[Lucian has done so much for you, Host.]

[Compared to a 3,950 gold coin blueberry pie, everything he’s given you is priceless.]

Medeia let out a slow, exasperated breath, dragging her hands down her face.

This was unbelievable. She used to be the one tricking the system, bending its rules, finding loopholes to get what she wanted. But now?

Now the damn thing had learned and was using her own feelings against her!

It knew. It knew what a pathetic, hopelessly-in-love idiot she was.

With a groan of defeat, she muttered, "Fine. I’ll buy the premium ingredients."

[That’s a great choice, Host!]

[Would you also like to purchase a tutorial on making a blueberry pie that tastes just like the one his mother used to bake?]

Medeia inhaled deeply, already bracing herself. "... How much?"

[Only 500 gold coins for today’s special sale, Host!]

[But if you wait until tomorrow, the price will go up to 1,500 gold coins!]

Her fingers curled into a fist. She was this close to punching the nearest wall.

Seriously?! The system was actually trying to scam her into paying premium prices for a damn cooking tutorial?!

This was daylight robbery.

But then ... her mind drifted to Lucian. If she was already going all out with the ingredients, she might as well go the extra mile. She wanted this pie to be perfect.

She sighed. "Fine. Just buy it."

[Reduce 4,450 gold coins from Host’s balance account.]

[Purchase complete! Thank you for your patronage, Host!]

Medeia rolled her eyes as the system cheerfully deducted her hard-earned gold coins.

[The tutorial has been added to your inventory! Would you like to start cooking now?]

She glanced at the time. Lucian was probably still out, making sure everyone had enough firewood, and she doubted he’d be back anytime soon.

"Not now. I’ll make it later," she said. "Just remind me before the deadline."

[Understood, Host! Enjoy your day~]

With that, the system went silent. Medeia let out a long sigh, shaking her head before she knocked on Seraphina’s room.

The door creaked open, revealing Seraphina holding Sierra in her arms, rocking her gently to sleep. The little girl’s eyes were already half-closed, teetering on the edge of slumber, but the moment she spotted Medeia standing at the door, she forced them open again.

"Oh, Medeia," Seraphina greeted her with a soft smile. "I was just about to step out and see what’s going on outside after putting Sierra to sleep."

"There’s nothing interesting to see," Medeia replied, peeking into the room. Her gaze landed on the fireplace. "Lucian made sure you got firewood, right?"

Seraphina let out a quiet laugh. "Oh, this was actually the first room he delivered firewood to. And ..." She tilted her chin toward the fireplace, where an impressive stack of neatly arranged logs sat beside it. "He didn’t just bring a little. He brought a lot."

She stepped aside, allowing Medeia to see just how much firewood had been piled up.

"But honestly," Seraphina continued, lowering her voice as she glanced at the little girl in her arms, "I don’t think he left that much for me. I think most of it was for her."

Medeia lowered her gaze to Sierra.

The little girl didn’t make any sound. She just looked up at her with her wide, round eyes. Then, without a word, she lifted her small hands, as if she was reaching for Medeia.

Something in Medeia’s chest tightened as she saw her little gesture.

Damn it. This baby always managed to catch Medeia off guard, leaving her unsure of how to react.

"Oh, she must really miss you." Seraphina leaned in with a knowing smile. "Do you want to hold her? She never cries, but every time someone else picks her up, she looks ... disappointed."

There it was again. That same remark.

Why was everyone saying that? It wasn’t like Sierra was her and Lucian’s daughter or anything.

But ... did the baby see it that way?

Maybe she had forgotten everything because her mind was trying to shield her from the trauma. Maybe, in her little world, she truly believed that Medeia and Lucian were her parents.

And if that was the case ... then there was no way Medeia could ever leave her.

As Medeia held Sierra close, the little girl’s tiny fingers curled around a lock of her hair. Sierra’s lips twitched, just the slightest bit, as if she was trying to smile.

Medeia’s heart clenched.

This wasn’t right. She wasn’t supposed to get attached.

But how could she not?

Seraphina watched them quietly before she said, "You know, I think she’s happiest when she’s with you."

Medeia swallowed hard. "That’s ... ridiculous."