Shirley Inr Won sat curled up in the corner of the sofa, slowly putting on her clothes. She tried to stay as far away from James Lon as possible, softly sobbing.

She felt a mix of guilt, fear, shame, and even a hint of anger:

"I can't believe I let a convenience store clerk do this to me. My first time... taken by this despicable, lowly man..."

Tears of regret rolled down her face as she glared at James Lon with disdain.

James hated that look. He stepped forward, grabbed her chin, and coldly said,

"What's with the funeral face, you wretched woman?"

Shirley screamed and slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me!"

James had no intention of indulging her. He calmly pulled out a knife.

"Then get out! Leave my territory!"

Shirley flinched, stunned. Then she exclaimed in disbelief,

"You said that if I became your slave, you'd give me food! Are you lying to me?"

James sneered.

"So what if I lied? What are you going to do, call the cops?"

Shirley stared at him, stunned. She wanted to slam the door and leave, but then she remembered the empty cupboards at home. If she couldn't find food soon, she'd starve to death.

Her despair deepened.

No longer daring to throw a tantrum, she lowered her head and pleaded,

"Please... please give me something to eat."

"Now that's how you ask for something." James patted her cheek with satisfaction.

Shirley didn't dare speak back again. She curled up in the corner of the sofa, trembling and quietly crying as she watched James.

With a flick of his hand, James made a piece of bread appear in his palm.

Shirley was dumbfounded.

But as soon as she saw the bread, all other thoughts disappeared.

She hadn't eaten a proper meal in three days.

Like a starving dog, she lunged for the bread, only to freeze in place when James raised the knife again.

"What... what are you doing?" she stammered in fear.

James smirked and patted her cheek.

"If you want to eat, you can. But no crying—smile for me."

Tears of humiliation welled up in Shirley's eyes, but she forced a smile.

James frowned.

"That's worse than crying. Smile properly!"

Shirley broke down.

"I'm smiling! What more do you want? Why are you like this?"

Before she could finish, James opened the window and tossed the bread outside.

"If you can't smile, then you don't get to eat."

Shirley screamed.

"No! Don't throw it! Please!"

She rushed to the window, staring hopelessly into the empty Purple Mist below. The bread was nowhere to be seen.

Devastated, she cried,

"Why would you throw it? Why?!"

James turned his hand again, and another loaf of bread appeared.

Shirley stared at it in disbelief.

"You... you know magic?"

James didn't answer.

"Do you want to eat?"

Shirley's hunger overtook her pride. She nodded desperately.

"Yes... yes, I do."

She forced a flattering smile.

"Smart." James smiled faintly and tossed the bread at her feet.

"You can eat, but you'll have to kneel and eat it with your mouth."

Oh, so proud, aren't you? Let's see how far your pride goes.

Shirley was furious.

"No! I'd rather starve!"

James pointed to the door.

"Then leave. I don't force anyone to stay."

You don't force anyone? Shirley thought, her resolve crumbling. She burst into tears.

"Why are you like this?!"

James remained calm.

"Stop crying. Smile for me—smile nicely."

"You can't make me!" Shirley yelled.

James tore the bread apart, letting the aroma fill the room.

Shirley's sobs stopped abruptly as her gaze locked onto the bread, her nose twitching as she inhaled the scent.

James's voice was tempting.

"Do you want it? Just kneel."

Shirley hesitated.

Smack!

James stomped on the bread.

My bread! Shirley felt as if her heart had been stomped on, too.

James slowly crushed the bread beneath his shoe.

"Will you eat it or not? If not, I'll toss it in the trash."

Shirley's last shred of resistance broke. She dropped to her knees with a thud and began eating while crying, feeling as though her pride had been trampled along with the bread.

James kicked her over and coldly said,

"I told you—smile!"

Humiliated, Shirley held back her tears and forced a smile.

James scoffed.

"Still ugly. I'll let it slide this time, but if you cry like that again, you won't eat next time."

Shirley ignored him, shoving bread into her mouth as fast as she could.

He's a demon!

But... this bread is delicious!

[Ding! Shirley Inr Won consumed one loaf of bread. 200 loaves have been returned and placed in the spatial backpack.]

James was thrilled.

The bread Shirley ate was a duplicate created by the system after Anna Karenina consumed the original.

As expected, food consumed by women recognized by the system could generate returns—even duplicates!

This means I can infinitely generate supplies!

Looking at the additional 200 loaves in his inventory, James was ecstatic.

From now on, he would never run out of food!

Still, the multiplier wasn't high enough.

And one slave wasn't enough. If Shirley died, there'd be no one to generate supplies for him.

He needed more slaves.

After finishing her meal, Shirley's stomach finally felt better.

She timidly looked at James, her eyes red from crying. She was genuinely afraid of him now.

James raised his hand, and a bottle of purified water appeared in Shirley's lap.

She flinched.

"Magic?"

No—an ability.

She remembered the glowing fitness coach in the group chat.

This man must have an ability, too—likely some kind of storage power. In an apocalypse, that was a priceless survival tool.

For a moment, Shirley felt a glimmer of hope.

Maybe sticking with him will help me survive longer...

Unconsciously, her mindset began to shift.

James smiled.

"Drink it."

Shirley wasn't very thirsty. With utilities still functioning, she had been drinking boiled water to stave off hunger.

But she didn't dare disobey. She opened the bottle and took a small sip.

[Ding! Shirley Inr Won consumed one bottle of purified water. 200 bottles have been returned and placed in the spatial backpack.]

So that's how it works!

James realized she didn't need to finish the water. Just a sip counted as consumption and triggered a return.

This means I can let my slaves waste supplies freely and quickly generate massive amounts!

To test the system further, James handed Shirley a sealed pack of tissues.

"Stop crying—you're too ugly. Wipe your face."

Shirley obediently opened the pack and used a tissue to dry her cheeks.

But no system notification appeared.

Non-edible items don't generate returns?

James began to ponder.