When Her "Death" Couldn't Break Him

Chapter 1961 Plain Bread

"I'm so hungry... so hungry," Magnus murmured weakly. Pride or dignity no longer mattered anymore. All he could think of was the gnawing void in his stomach.

The girl studied him and thought he didn't seem like a liar. She made a decision. "All right. Stay here. I'll get you something."

She slipped free of his grasp and hurried toward the glow of the convenience store down the street. Cheap, plastic-wrapped bread was on sale. She grabbed four without thinking. When she returned, she thrust them toward Magnus. "Here. Eat."

But instead of gratitude, his face twisted. The bread sat in his palm like lumps of clay, their doughy smell cloying and stale. Even hunger couldn't override years of ingrained disgust.

"Eat up,"

," she urged, pressing one to his lips. "Aren't you starving?"

Magnus swallowed hard. His stomach screamed yes, but his throat closed around the word.

"Is there anything else?" he asked weakly.

The girl's expression darkened in an instant. "Seems like you're not hungry enough," she said, voice edged with irritation. "I really shouldn't have meddled."

She started to tuck the bread back into the bag, turning to leave.

Panicked, Magnus grabbed the hem of her pants. "Fine... I'll eat..." he choked out. The hunger was unbearable now.

Relenting, the girl brought the bread back to his lips.

This time, Magnus devoured it ravenously, barely chewing before swallowing.

"Slow down," the girl warned. "You'll choke."

To his own surprise, the plain bread tasted better than anything he'd ever eaten, better than the finest delicacies he'd once taken for granted.

He gulped down two in quick succession before she handed him water, urging him to drink. Then, without hesitation, he finished the last two pieces.

Having regained a bit of strength, Magnus looked at the girl and muttered, "Thank you."

"No need for thanks. Good deeds always circle back, after all." With a sympathetic glance, she pulled out another ten in cash and held it out. "Here. If you're still hungry, go buy some more."

Only ten?

Magnus stared at the meager amount, unable to hide his disdain. From childhood

to adulthood, he had never even held such a paltry sum.

"Not enough?" The girl caught his expression, her sympathy hardening into indignation. "Get this straight. I'm the one helping you right now. You're the one who needs me. How dare you complain?"

Seeing her flare up, Magnus panicked, afraid she might snatch the money back.

Quickly, he grabbed the cash. "Thank you," he said again, though the words tasted bitter.

Still, ten was enough for a meal.

"Sure, no problem. Once you legea

your strength, you should find

decent job. You're a capable man, after all. How did you end updike this?" The girl left after lecturing him.

She didn't have much money to spare. Her parents were both ill, requiring expensive treatment that drained their meager savings. Every coin counted.

Yet she had still helped as much as she could.

Magnus had regained some strength now, and with great effort, he pulled himself up, clutching the half-empty water bottle she'd given him.noveldrama

"Wait," he called hoarsely. "Could you... do me one more favor?"

The girl stopped and turned. "I'm broke. I can't give you more money."

"I don't need money," Magnus said quickly. "Just... shelter for one night?"

He had spent the past few days sleeping outdoors. It was too cold.

The girl said after a pause, "Absolutely not."

Magnus was a man, and she was a woman. Bringing him home would be sheer foolishness. Like offering shelter to a starving wolf.

"I beg you. I truly have nowhere else to go." His chest heaved as a coughing fit seized him.

"It's too cold outside. Just one night. I swear I'll find a job tomorrow." His voice cracked with desperate sincerity.

The girl studied his shivering form,

feeling an unwanted tug of

al

sympathy. Yet practicality won out.

"You should go to the she

Saru

in."

firmly. "I can't take you i

Without waiting for a response, she turned and quickened her pace.