I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but Magnus's temper had improved by leaps and bounds compared to when I had lost my memory.
Early spring in Y City, the weather was still a bit chilly.
When we left the hospital, I accidentally stubbed my foot. I couldn't help the irritation building inside me.
If it weren't for the need to accompany him for the act, I wouldn't have come to the hospital and ended up injuring my foot.
"Carry me."
I stood on the steps, speaking with a hint of insistence.
"What did you say?"
Magnus usually had a neutral expression when he looked at people, but now he furrowed his brows, looking less than pleased. I crossed my arms and repeated each word slowly, "I want you to carry me." I expected Magnus to mock me, but instead, he turned around and crouched down, waving his hand.
"Get on."
Had he really changed?
I hesitated, but eventually climbed onto his broad back, staring at the stray hairs behind his ear as my mind wandered.
Magnus's arms were firm and steady as he carried me through the crowded hospital, his black hair swaying in the wind. I had to admit, he did resemble a wild dog in some ways.
"Where do you want to go?"
Magnus suddenly asked, catching me off guard.
"Huh? Aren't you supposed to be negotiating a deal?"
His tone was indifferent. "The deal fell through. It's done."
I couldn't help but feel a little gleeful, pretending to be upset. "Which bastard dared to steal your business—ow—" My thigh hurt, and I almost bit my tongue from the pain.
Magnus scoffed, loosening his grip slightly. "He's quite a fool, to say the least." I decided to stop making a scene.
I stayed still on Magnus's back, deep in thought about Weston's words. Given Magnus's years in business, I would find it hard to believe he had no skeletons in his closet. But if he had broken the law or stolen corporate secrets, that didn't seem entirely believable either. It was possible that whoever tried to harm Magnus ended up digging their own grave.
...
As evening fell, Y City was flooded with the holiday crowds. The city streets, lit up with festive lights, felt vibrant and alive, pulling me out of my dark thoughts.
Various food stalls lined the old streets, adding a touch of warmth and liveliness to the area.
I climbed down from Magnus's back, curious and looking around.
It was my first time visiting this old street.
The pink-colored fried sausages sizzled in oil, filling the air with a delicious fragrance. The shopkeeper, a lively woman, called out, "Three sausages for ten dollars, want to try?" Magnus answered for me. "No, thank you."
Seeing my reluctant expression, he added, "It's not clean. Let's go." I held back the urge to roll my eyes.
His background may not be impressive, but at least he was particular about cleanliness.
We reached a noodle shop, and I was too tired to walk any further, so I slouched on one of the outdoor benches.
Magnus frowned and, before pulling me up, the waiter brought over some utensils. "Please scan the code to place your order." Not wanting Magnus to make a fuss, I quickly took out my phone and scanned the code.
Only then did Magnus sit down, ordering a pot of hot water, carefully rinsing the utensils before handing them to me. I watched him, confused. "Why didn't you rinse yours?"
Magnus didn't even look up. "I'm not that particular." This left me dumbfounded. So, he was avoiding cleaning his own utensils because he thought I was picky?
"I remembered the time I had recklessly spent a million of his money in one go, and I could understand why Magnus might think I was a spoiled, fussy person. The waiter brought two bowls of clam chowder."
I ate half a bowl, leaving the other half untouched, eating slower than Magnus.
The waiter stood nearby, chatting with another customer. "Why is it so crowded today? I heard the railing at M Bridge collapsed earlier, and several people fell."
Magnus glanced at the time. "We'll leave once we're done. It's getting crowded, and it's not safe." I was about to stand up when someone suddenly shoved me from behind, nearly sending me face-first to the ground. Magnus's reflexes were quick, and he caught me just in time, his expression turning serious as he scanned the crowd.
"Don't leave. Something's not right."
By the time I understood, I noticed that the previously flowing crowd had turned into a chaotic mass, pushing people into nearby stores. Disturbing sounds of crying and panic spread quickly.
The crowd had exceeded the street's capacity, and a stampede was breaking out in the middle of the road.
The shopkeeper quickly shut the glass door, blocking the crowd outside. Within seconds, Magnus roughly shoved me into the narrow gap between two stores—into a small crevice.
"Back to the wall, don't move."
Magnus braced himself against the wall, standing in front of me. Soon, the frantic pushing reached us.
I could hear people collapsing to the ground, the strained breaths from being trampled, and the sounds of vomiting. Magnus's face turned pale, but he remained still, his head lowered, silent. He forced a small space for me within the crowded mass of people. I wanted to reach out and hold him, but he stopped me with a sharp command.
"There's someone behind me. Try to get your arm crushed if you want!"
I realized he had reached his limit, even speaking with difficulty. At that moment, I grabbed his shirt.
"Magnus, are you going to die…" His breath was erratic. "Curse me if you want, you want to be a widow…"
