Chapter 5

In the hospital, a young nurse wrapped my wounds with an expression of pure disgust. I sat on the edge of the bed, incredibly uncomfortable.

"How long has it been since you showered? You smell horrific. Even with three masks on, I can still smell you."

"And your hair... it's so matted and filthy, it’s disgusting!"

"Once I'm done with you, I need to take a shower immediately and disinfect this entire room. This is so annoying!"

I lowered my head, not daring to say a word.

Just then, Sera walked in, carrying a takeout box.

Hearing the nurse's complaints, her face instantly turned ice-cold. She glared at the nurse with absolute fury.

"Say one more word, and I will personally ensure you are fired from this hospital within the hour."

The nurse turned pale with fear, quickly finished the bandage, and rushed out of the room.

Sera placed the food container in front of me. "Eat," she said quietly.

I carefully opened the box.

She frowned slightly. "I didn't realize there were fried fish fillets in there. I'm sorry."

I kept my head down and smiled bitterly. "It's fine. I actually like fish now."

Sera used to love fish.

I had spent weeks learning how to cook fish perfectly just for her.

But I had never eaten it myself because I hated the smell of seafood.

But after years on the streets, let alone fish, I would have eaten a bone snatched from a stray dog's mouth.

I began to wolf down the food, including the fried fish.

Watching me, Sera whispered, "You've changed so much."

I knew exactly what she meant.

In the past, not only did I refuse to eat fish, but I also had extremely refined table manners.

I used to chew every bite exactly thirty times before swallowing.

When I first became homeless, I tried to maintain those habits.

But once the hunger and the sickness truly set in...

You quickly throw away all those stupid, elegant rules.

Being messy and alive is always better than starving to death with manners.