"Then you must scold him fiercely; he was really fierce just now." Aries embraced Katalina's neck, leaning on her shoulder carefully, making sure not to touch her stomach.
It was only after meeting Katalina that Aries learned to act coquettish. Katalina smiled, touching Aries's head gently, "Alright, I'll make him kneel and wash clothes later."
The concept of "kneeling to wash clothes" was something Aries heard about in the Central District. She specifically brought it back for Miley. She remembered Miley's vivid expression when he received it.
"Hehe." Aries chuckled mischievously. Katalina, knowing Aries's playful nature, just indulged her. "What do you want to eat for lunch? When it's time, I'll go cook for you after Miley finishes the food distribution."
"Huh? You... better not cook. Miley and I can handle it."
Like Miley, Aries had been extra careful around Katalina since her belly began to show. It was as if she were made of glass, fragile enough to break with a slight mishap, and each time Katalina found herself laughing and crying at Aries's concern.
"Let it go. The food you two make is fit only for dogs, not even fit for them."
"Nonsense! Didn't I cook with him before? Clearly, nothing happened after eating it."
Aries grumbled a bit, recalling a past incident that Katalina also remembered. At that time, Aries was just a little over nine years old, busy in the kitchen with Miley making noises that didn't sound like cooking. Katalina, fearing the worst, never found the courage to take a look.
When the food was served later, Katalina was astonished. Out of sheer survival instinct, she vehemently refused to eat and tried to dissuade the two from consuming the dark culinary creation. Yet, they paid no heed and devoured everything. Whether it was due to the robust constitution of evolved individuals or some other reason, Katalina nervously observed them afterward but saw no ill effects. Since that incident, she had a newfound appreciation for their culinary skills.
Katalina gave Aries a meaningful look, stood up with a hand on her waist, and walked toward the door. Aries, following suit, opened the door for her.
After the distribution of supplies, Katalina went to the kitchen to cook. Miley and Aries stood by the door, watching as if afraid Katalina might get hurt. Despite Katalina's annoyance at being constantly watched by Miley, the additional scrutiny from Aries made it even more uncomfortable. There was nothing to be done, so she silently endured the penetrating gaze of the two.
"Do you always let her cook like this?" Aries asked Miley.
"No choice. She won't let me into the kitchen," Miley shrugged.
"What about when she's close to giving birth and can't get out of bed? Will you let her starve, or will you personally cook and poison her?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Miley glared at her, muttering under his breath.
"I'm serious," Aries glanced at him and said, "There are no medical facilities in District D. What will you do if she's about to give birth? Are you going to handle it like those women in D District?"
Women in D District gave birth like wild animals, finding any place to deliver their babies. There was no ceremony or care; after giving birth, they either took the child or left it to fend for itself.
With Miley looking after Katalina, it wasn't as extreme, but medical care and hygiene were still significant issues. Miley furrowed his brows, a bit irritated, and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Haven't you thought about taking her to the inner districts for a better life? Even in C District, there are medical stations..."
"If I could leave, I would have done so long ago," Miley interrupted, "What is D District? Do you think anyone would willingly come here? If I hadn't had a conflict with those above, I wouldn't have been sent to this ghost place."
After saying this, Miley's expression worsened. He turned and walked into the living room, took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took several puffs.
Aries watched him in silence.
"What's going on with you two?" Katalina, holding a freshly cooked dish, turned around and noticed the tension between them. "Another argument?"
"No." Aries smiled, taking the dish from her hand and leaning in to sniff it. "It smells delicious. I'm salivating."
Miley suddenly turned his head, cigarette in hand, and shouted at her, "Don't let your saliva drip on it! I still want to eat!"
"I despise you too! You're not allowed to eat this later!" Aries retorted, not holding back.
"Why? This is the dish my wife made. Why can't I eat it?"
Watching the two bicker again, Katalina shook her head helplessly. "I'll cook a couple more dishes. It'll be ready soon. You two, even though you're not young anymore, when will you become more stable?" Saying this, she entered the kitchen and closed the door, seeming a bit disdainful.
After the door closed, the two fell into silence, losing the momentum of their earlier argument.
After finishing the meal, Aries didn't stay too long and left.
The distance from District D to the Central District was not short. She left the warehouse a little after five in the morning, arrived at District D around noon, and starting her journey back to the Central District meant she wouldn't get back until deep into the night.
The time spent for each visit was not insignificant, yet Aries seemed tirelessly enthusiastic. Every opportunity she had, she would return.
It was the last bit of warmth this world offered her, something she was unwilling to let go of.
When she returned to Estrella Mansion, it was already past one in the early morning. The Jiang residence was still brightly lit, as bright as daylight.
This was the difference.
In the Central District where the ruling class resided, numerous resources were freely available. However, in District D, there wasn't even a decent building. As the outermost safety zone and quarantine area, District D had not been rebuilt. It still bore the remnants of the chaotic period after the apocalypse, with dilapidated buildings and broken walls. Even though these structures couldn't shield from wind and rain, they were still fiercely fought over by the rodents living in District D.
Wearing a coat with a hood over her head and earphones in her ears, Aries walked into the luxurious living room, her face devoid of the astonishment she had on her first visit to Estrella Mansion. Instead, there was a calm indifference.
"Miss Aries, the mistress asked you to go to her room after you came back." Even at this time, there were still servants on duty at Estrella's mansion, ready to serve the mistress's needs when required.
Aries paused, turned her head to glance at the unfamiliar servant. Estrella had a multitude of servants, and as she noticed different faces each time she visited, Aries gave up trying to remember them.
Aries lifted her hand, removed the earphones, and with an indifferent expression, uttered a faint "Mm" to indicate she understood.
Going upstairs, Aries found Estrella's room with ease. The door was ajar, and before she could enter, two men in black suits emerged, escorting a completely naked man covered in bruises.
Recalling the message she received in the car today, Aries deduced that this was the prey Estrella captured at the banquet. Though accustomed to such scenes, Aries still habitually assessed the situation.
The man was covered in wounds, unconscious, and being callously dragged by the men in suits. His legs were weak, brushing softly against the carpet. Occasionally, he convulsed, emitting unconscious moans of pain.
As the two suited men passed by her, they politely greeted her, but Aries ignored them, withdrawing her gaze from the injured man and entering Estrella's room.
Estrella had a sadistic inclination, and it was no secret. Someone wanted something from Estrella, and in return, she needed a plaything to vent her desires. It was a transaction of mutual consent.
The bedroom was in disarray, fragments of items scattered everywhere. There was a scratch on the TV screen, likely from debris splashing during an episode. Estrella had always favored white, and the room's decor was predominantly white. After each session, the bloodstains looked like crime scene aftermaths, necessitating a complete overhaul of everything in the room.
Several servants were efficiently cleaning Estrella's bedroom, seemingly accustomed to such tasks.
Aries turned her head and precisely located Estrella on the single sofa. Estrella, who had recently taken a shower, was wrapped in a bathrobe. Her hair was still damp, droplets sliding down her neck, ultimately disappearing into the suggestive crevices. Long legs were folded together, and the gaze, starting from delicate ankles, slanted upward, allowing an appreciation of graceful curves. The final view was concealed by the hem of the bathrobe, casting a tantalizing shadow that invited imagination.
After each session, Estrella's first action was to take a shower, followed by a phone call to have someone clean up the mess—this included disposing of the prey she had played with.
"Is it necessary to go through all this every time?" Aries walked toward her, standing in front of Estrella, casually asking.
Estrella's room only had one single sofa exclusively for her use, with no intention of placing a second one. Every time Aries came to her room, she had to stand.
Hearing Aries's words, Estrella paid no attention. There was no satisfaction on her face after venting desires, as if the masterpiece just dragged out was not of her making.
"Result." Estrella didn't beat around the bush, straightforwardly stating these two words.
Aries understood she was asking about the man in the warehouse. She placed her hands in the pockets of her jacket and said, "No result yet. Let's wait one more day."
"Wait?" Estrella's tone rose slightly, as if she had heard something amusing. She took a sip of her drink and said, "Dispose of it. You know my rules."
Aries understood that the subject of disposal was not the man currently suspended in the warehouse but the scar-faced man.
Estrella's rule was not to keep waste.
Aries knew this, but after all, she had promised the scar-faced man to speak some good words in front of Estrella. She spoke up, "Is it necessary? It's not something urgent."
As her words fell, Estrella's gaze landed on her face. Different from the previous casual laziness, it was as if a lion that had been dozing off suddenly opened its eyes. The sharp gaze was like knives, piercing Aries with a painful illusion.
Estrella put down her glass, stood up, walked to Aries, and reached out to pinch Aries's chin, lifting her head.
The hat on Aries's head slid down as her head was lifted. Estrella's grip was strong, causing Aries's bones to ache. Estrella was much taller than her, and with her head lifted, Aries felt like she was about to tilt backward.
In fact, Estrella's height was not particularly outstanding among women; it was mainly that Aries was too short.
"You're speaking up for him? What did he offer you?" Estrella's breath carried a faint scent of alcohol, blowing into Aries's face, creating an intoxicating illusion. Aries lifted her eyes to meet Estrella's gaze, seeing a clear and ruthless intensity in Estrella's eyes.
"He didn't offer anything. I just casually agreed," Aries replied.
Estrella stared at her for a while before letting go. Before Aries could relax, Estrella kicked her out, and she fell directly into the pile of glass shards that the servants had just swept together. Aries tried to support herself with her hands, and the shards cut into her hand, some pieces embedding into her flesh. Blood instantly gushed out.
The nearby servants were frightened, wanting to help but afraid to move. One of them held a broom, frozen in place.
"Agreed? Who gave you the authority?" Estrella stood expressionless in place, her gaze sweeping over Aries's hand. The crimson blood seeped into the gathered broken glass. Her eyes showed a dark, bloody color for a moment, but she quickly shifted her gaze away. She looked at Aries, who had lowered her head, and said, "Dogs only need to obey their master's commands. If you can't recognize who your master is, I don't mind making it clear to you."
The physique of a superpower individual was much stronger than that of an ordinary person, or it could be said that they could withstand a lot. However, Estrella's ordinary kick made even Aries, the superpowered individual, gasp for breath, showing the force behind it.
Aries covered her stomach, enduring the pain, and said, "I understand."
Aries's submission improved Estrella's mood a little. Estrella brushed a few semi-wet strands of hair, giving orders as if bestowing a favor, "Since you understand, go do what a dog should do. Get lost."
Aries climbed up from the pile of shards, not bothering with the pieces embedded in her palms. Expressionless, she left Estrella's bedroom.
Aries was privileged to have her own room in Estrella's mansion. As Estrella said, she was Estrella's kept dog. Since she was a dog, she naturally had to stay close to her master, obey commands, come when called, and leave when dismissed.
Estrella was such a domineering figure.
Standing in the bathroom, Aries threw the glass shards from her palms into the trash can. Then she turned on the faucet of the sink, rinsed the wounds with water, and considered the treatment done.
She tore off some tissue to dab the wet wounds, and blood quickly soaked and stained the white tissue.
—Dogs can only listen to their master.
Thinking of Estrella's tone when she said that, Aries couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Still so naive. Otherwise, after being together for so long, how could she not see her true nature?
She was right. Dogs can only listen to their master, but she was never a dog. She was a rat, a rat surviving in the dark and dirty corners.
Aries held the blood-soaked tissue, slowly lifting her head to look at the mirror above the sink.
The face in the mirror looked somewhat mocking.