A young lady who was savoring a half-eaten loaf of bread, her cheeks puffed out with each bite. Looking at her, I couldn't help but salivate, imagining the sweet and fragrant taste of the bread that would surely satiate my hunger. I found myself yearning for the sensation of that bread in my mouth, and I swallowed hard once more

    Summoning my courage, I intended to approach her and ask for a piece, but each time, I found myself rooted to the spot. After three attempts, I had to admit to myself that I was indeed a coward, even in my father's eyes. My gaze remained fixed on the bread in the girl's hand.

    The distance between me and the girl across the way was roughly 100 meters. I sat on the stone steps, in a park by the roadside. I had no idea what this city was called, nor could I fathom how I had arrived in this unfamiliar place. No one knew me, and I knew no one. I felt like a stray dog, adrift and alone—that was the sensation that enveloped me at that moment.

   I glanced down at my flip-flops and the shorts and t-shirt I wore, feeling the few crumpled bills in my pocket. I didn't want to inherit the family business my father left me; I wanted to forge my own path, even if it wasn't yet what one would call a "career."

  My ambition was to roam the world, to be a true wanderer. So, when I told my father I didn't want to take over the family business, he sent me to this strange place he called "wandering."

    Looking up, I searched for the girl with the bread, but she was gone. I stood on my tiptoes, hoping to find even a crumb she might have left behind, but there was nothing, not even a wrapper. Undeterred, I hurried over, still hoping to find a morsel.

   Yet, there was nothing. She didn’t even leave a morsel.

   I sat down disheartened on the spot she had occupied, feeling the lingering warmth from her presence, and scanned the grass for anything to ease my hunger.

    Suddenly, a clear and sweet voice interrupted my search: "Hey, what are you looking for? Why are you sitting in my spot?" I quickly looked up to see the girl from before, now holding a paper bag. I couldn't tell what was inside.

    I looked up at her with a smile, taking in her beautiful features—her eyebrows perfectly shaped, her eyes large and bright, reminiscent of a Western beauty, her face delicate and her figure elegant. In my eyes, she was a true beauty.

    I glanced at her briefly before looking away and said softly, "This place isn't marked with your name, and even if it were, it wouldn't stop others from sitting and resting, right?"

   The girl stared at me wide-eyed, then suddenly handed me the paper bag, saying, "Here, this is for you!" I was taken aback as she continued with a smile, "Don't pretend anymore. I saw you staring at my bread earlier. I went away just to buy some for you. Are you going to eat it or not?"

    Surprised, I took the bag, feeling its warmth as I realized it contained fresh, hot bread. Without hesitation, I began to eat, saying, "If only I had a bottle of water now, that would be perfect!"

    Before I finished speaking, she handed me a bottle of mineral water. The feeling was beyond great. After devouring the bread and drinking the water, I felt much happier. "Hey, beauty, should we add each other on whatsapp or something? I'll pay you back someday!"

    I expected her to refuse, but she cheerfully took out her phone, opened her QR code, and showed it to me: "Go ahead, you can pay me back when you have money."

    I took out my phone from my pocket, scanned the code, and added her. She then laughed and said, "You must be a rich second-generation, right? How about I take care of you?"

    I looked at her in astonishment and asked, "How did you know I'm a 'fallen rich' second-generation?" I deliberately used "fallen rich" instead of just "rich," wondering if she caught the nuance.

    She laughed and said, "Look at the watch on your wrist and your phone. Not everyone can afford these. So, what are your plans?"

    I glanced at my watch, a gift from my uncle who brought it back from Sweden, worth over thirty thousand, and my phone, a birthday present from my mom, worth over ten thousand. So, I figured my movable assets were still worth around forty thousand. I couldn't be considered poor, I thought.

    She continued to smile at me, and I felt a bit embarrassed and uneasy, forcing a smile as I said, "But I don't even have money for a hot meal."

    She pulled out some bills from her purse and said, "I'll lend you some. You still have these assets. I'm not worried about you running away."

    I nodded and asked, "You're not even asking who I am or how I ended up here, and yet you dare to help me?"

    Her expression turned serious as she said, "You should come with me. Otherwise, these valuables will bring you trouble by nightfall."

    I looked at my watch and the phone in my hand, then back at her. "Where do you want to take me?"

    She replied, "To a hotel. You can pawn these items there."

    Seeing the sense in her words, I agreed, "Alright, let's go." I stood up, and she led me towards a place on the street, introducing herself along the way: "I'm Sofia, and you?"

   Not understanding her name and not wanting to ask further, I simply replied, "I'm Beaumont." After stating my name, I didn't elaborate, not wanting to discuss my family background with her.

    Seeing that I didn't continue, she didn't press further but said, "I work at a nearby company. After we take care of the hotel check-in, you can rest easy. I'll take you out for dinner after work, okay?"

    I paused for a moment and said, "Sofia, we're strangers, not even friends. Why are you being so kind to me? Even my parents despise me. Why are you treating me so well?"