At this moment, Mo Chen finally noticed that what Snow White was eating was a piece of grass root.
She chewed it up and swallowed it.
She then turned around, stretched out her hand toward him, and said,
"Food."
Mo Chen raised an eyebrow, confused.
"What?"
"Food."
"What food?"
"Fifty cans."
Mo Chen immediately refused.
"No way."
Having learned his lesson last time, he wasn't going to fall for this again.
Seeing Mo Chen's refusal, she decided to lower her demands and held up three fingers.
"Thirty cans, expired ones are also fine."
"Still no!"
Mo Chen refused again.
Snow White looked disappointed when he didn't take the bait.
It'd be nice if he were just a little dumber.
"Grrr—"
The sound of hunger came from his stomach.
Mo Chen suddenly realized he hadn't eaten in a long time.
While the virus granted him enhanced abilities, it still required energy.
Snow White, having heard the sound, thoughtfully offered him another piece of grass root.
"It's bitter and a little hard to chew, but it's one of the few edible plants humans can eat."
Looking at the dry, yellowed root with bits of dirt—and was that saliva?—Mo Chen immediately turned it down.
"No need. I've got my own."
He took out a piece of pork belly and a pork shoulder from his system inventory, planning to make grilled meat.
After gathering dry wood from beneath the snow, he lit a fire in a sheltered rock hollow and built up stones to block the wind and retain heat.
He skewered the meat onto sticks, set it over the fire, and began roasting.
Snow White, who had been keeping watch on the surroundings, twitched her nose and turned around.
When she saw the meat roasting over the flames, her eyes locked onto it.
"Want some?"
Mo Chen teased her, "Tell me where Dorothy is, and I'll give you some."
Snow White shook her head.
"Honestly, I don't know where she is. It's been a long time since we've seen each other."
So she wasn't holding out—she really didn't know.
Snow White looked disappointed that she wouldn't get any meat.
Wait a second!
Mo Chen suddenly realized this was another attempt to get something for nothing!
He brushed oil onto the meat, sprinkled seasoning and sesame seeds, and let the rich aroma of roasted fat and spices fill the air.
It had been ages since he'd had barbecue.
Since coming to this world, most of his meals had been instant or pre-made. Cooking like this felt like a luxury.
Suddenly, he felt an intense gaze.
Turning his head, he saw Snow White staring at the skewers like a hawk, completely fixated.
"Want some?"
Mo Chen asked.
Snow White shook her head.
"I already said I don't know where Dorothy is."
Mo Chen laughed.
This Snow White was hilariously straightforward.
"It's a gift."
Snow White's eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? You're giving me some?"
Even as she spoke, saliva was already pooling at the corner of her mouth.
"Yeah."
He had roasted plenty—more than enough for both of them.
Besides, how much could she possibly eat?
"Thank you, human."
Snow White looked at Mo Chen with gratitude in her eyes.
He waved it off casually. "It's nothing. Eating alone is boring anyway."
But Snow White's gaze quickly returned to the roasting meat over the fire.
"Still, I think it's ready to eat now."
Mo Chen flipped the meat, which had only been cooking for a short while.
"It's not done yet."
Snow White swallowed hard, her eyes glued to the sizzling meat.
"Even if it's not done, I can eat it."
"...No."
"Why not? That's how I usually eat."
"No means no. Also, what have you been eating all this time?"
"Grass roots, tree bark, berries, rats, and occasionally some canned food from the human era."
"Canned food from the human era? That stuff's long expired. Can you even eat it?"
"Well, it tastes a bit strong, but it's still edible—blegh."
"Hey, just thinking about it makes you gag, and you still eat it?"
"Mm, it's precious energy. Can't waste it."
This isn't about waste anymore!
Mo Chen felt utterly helpless.
He had read in the original story that Snow White wasn't picky about food, but he didn't expect it to be this bad.
She could probably eat a raw cow if she had to.
To stop her from snatching the meat before it was ready, he decided to change the subject.
"If we ever reclaim the surface, what's the first thing you want to do?"
"Eat until I'm full, then sleep."
"..."
That's... surprisingly down-to-earth.
After what felt like an eternity of waiting for Snow White, the meat was finally ready.
Mo Chen sprinkled the last bit of seasoning and handed her three large skewers—each nearly half a kilo of meat.
He figured they should eat quickly.
At the same time, he reduced the fire, pulling out the extra wood.
Fires could attract Raptures, even in this snowstorm.
Just as he took his first bite, he suddenly felt someone staring at him.
Turning around, he met Snow White's gaze.
"What are you staring at me for? Eat."
"I finished."
"...?"
Mo Chen blinked and took a closer look.
Her hands were empty.
Not only had she finished the meat—
She ate the skewers too.
Only a small piece of wood at the handle remained.
That was way too fast!
He had only looked away for a moment.
"Well, I'm eating now."
Feeling his own hunger, he stopped caring and dug in.
But just as he took his first bite, he heard a low rumble.
Huh?
Mo Chen realized it wasn't his stomach.
Looking back, he saw Snow White staring at him again.
And the sound was coming from her stomach.
Her cloak was damaged.
The exposed parts of her gear were also broken, revealing her midsection.
Her pale, toned stomach was perfectly smooth, with no excess fat—like it had been sculpted.
Looking at her flat stomach,he couldn't help but wonder—where did all that food even go?
He ignored her and continued eating.
"Gurgle—!"
The sound came again.
Mo Chen sighed helplessly.
How was he supposed to enjoy his food like this?
He handed her another skewer.
"Here, eat."
Snow White looked at him in disbelief.
Her expression puzzled Mo Chen.
"What?"
"You're actually… giving me food?!"
Her voice carried genuine shock, and even her eyes were wide with surprise.
"If you don't want it, forget it."
"I'll eat it!!!"
Snow White snatched the skewer in an instant.
This time, he finally witnessed the entire process—from the moment the food entered her mouth to when it vanished completely.
It took a total of ten seconds.
Only the stick remained. Wait, no—the stick was gone too.
Snow White's eyes immediately fixed on the meat skewer still in Mo Chen's hand.
She looked at him pitifully, swallowing her saliva over and over.
Her longing gaze seemed strong enough to pierce through him. Those pitiful eyes gave him an odd sense of guilt—
As if denying her food would be some kind of unforgivable sin.