Chapter 67 Steven Feels Sorry for Nora
With the sanitary pad in hand, he quickly walked toward the women's restroom. "Nora, I got it. Come out and get it."
"Can you bring it in for me?" Nora said, holding her phone. "There's no one in the women's restroom."
Steven frowned. "I can't do that."
"Okay then." Nora also felt it probably wasn't appropriate, so she came out of the stall and went to the restroom entrance to get the sanitary pad.
When she took it, Nora noticed there was also a pack of tissues on top of the pad. She was a bit surprised, then smiled.
This guy is actually pretty thoughtful.
She took the items into the stall to deal with things.
Both her knees were scraped. She had fallen when the biker gang dragged her out earlier. She got some water and cleaned the wounds on her knees, then covered them with her skirt. She'd put medicine on them when she got home.
When Steven saw her come out, he casually asked, "All taken care of?"
"Yes!" Her face was flushed. After all that help, her anger had completely died down, and she really didn't know what to do anymore.
"Going home now?" Steven asked, looking at her.
Nora nodded and walked toward the escalator. "I'll take the subway back."
Steven had no choice but to follow her.
This was Steven's first time taking the subway.
It was already 10:30, almost the last train.
He watched Nora take out her phone and tap it at the turnstile. The gate opened, and she walked through.
Steven tried to follow, but the gate closed.
Steven looked completely confused.
Nora was confused too, frowning as she said, "Tap your card to come through."
Steven thought it meant scanning a payment code, like at a vending machine, so he opened his payment code and scanned it at the turnstile.
The gate didn't open.
He frowned slightly. "It won't open."
Nora walked over. "Let me see."
She wanted to check if he had the right subway pass, but when he shoved his phone in her face, there was only a payment screen.
She stared at it for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. "Wait, that's Apple Pay! You know how to take the subway, right? You need a MetroCard or the OMNY app, not a payment screen."
Steven's face darkened. "I've never taken the subway before."
Nora couldn't help laughing even harder.
Hearing her laughter, Steven glared at her coldly. "So what? You think you're special because you know how to take the subway?"
"...No," Nora quickly stifled her giggles. "Give me your phone, I'll show you how to buy a subway ticket."
Steven tossed his phone to her.
As Nora operated his phone, she asked, somewhat puzzled, "That's strange. So before you became a supervisor, you didn't take the subway to work either? Growing up in South City, you never had to take the subway to school or anywhere?"
Steven's expression stiffened slightly.
Great.
How was he supposed to explain this?
Since childhood, whether in the country or abroad, he had always taken his family's car or driven himself. He really had never taken the subway.
His handsome face seemed to freeze like it had crashed, expressionless as he thought of a solution.
Nora filled in the transit code for him, then opened it and tapped it for him, pulling the tall man into the subway station.
"Hurry! It's almost the last train!"
Nora was afraid of missing the last train. Without thinking, she grabbed his hand and ran toward the escalator.
The escalator was especially long. The two of them walked down the steps.
Steven experienced what it was like for ordinary people to catch a train, held tightly by Nora's hand, which never let go.
He had germaphobia, but today, he actually forgot to shake off her hand. He let her hold it, going down the escalator and then hurrying toward the platform. The subway had just arrived, and Nora pulled him on board.
Unexpectedly, even though it was the last train, the subway was still packed with people.
Nora and Steven stood in a corner. Steven raised his arm and naturally protected her in his embrace.
Nora was a bit surprised. "What are you doing?"
"In crowded places like this, there are lots of perverts." Steven moved closer and held her tighter.
Her breath was filled with the cool fragrance from his body.
Nora lowered her head, her eyelashes down, not daring to meet his eyes.
Steven looked at the top of her head, curved his lips, and suddenly said, "My family bought a car early on, so I've never taken the subway."
Nora was stunned for a moment, thinking Steven's reaction time was way too slow. How long ago was that question?
"I see." She responded softly and said nothing more.
The atmosphere between them felt strange.
Steven noticed that Nora wasn't chattering away like usual. She stood quietly, looking at the advertisements outside the subway.
He watched her for a while. "When that motorcycle dragged you out earlier, did you get hurt?"
Nora was slightly startled, then nodded. "I hit my knees. I already dealt with it in the restroom just now. I'll be fine once I put medicine on it at home."
She had already washed off the dirt. She just needed to disinfect and apply medicine when she got home.
"Next time you run into a biker gang like that, just give them the bag. Don't resist, or if they get angry and pull out a knife, you might lose more than just a bag." Steven reminded her.
What he had been afraid of at the time was that Nora would be in danger of losing her life, being dragged into the street.
He hadn't expected her to be so reckless, fighting over a bag when she didn't even know how to fight. If she made them angry enough, they might even pull out a gun and kill someone.
Nora lowered her eyes. Hearing Steven's words, her expression showed some surprise.
So he was angry because he cared about her?
Nora said softly, "Actually, it's not about the money. The bag has all my important documents, and the acupuncture kit my grandfather gave me. It would be really troublesome if I lost them."
Steven couldn't help but look down at her.
Nora also looked at him. "And actually, there's no money in the bag."
Steven fell silent.
Those bikers stole a bag with no money in it—they must be furious!
Steven suddenly felt his temples tighten. If there were money, it would be easier to find. But with no money, it might just get tossed in some random trash can.
Back at Riverside Apartment.
Nora went to shower first. Her period had started, and she had fallen, so her skirt was very dirty.
This skirt was newly bought. Nora felt so bad about it that after showering, she stood in the bathroom washing her clothes.
In the master bedroom, Steven loosened his tie and called James. "James, tonight at... Nora's bag was stolen. Help me find it, and teach those bikers a lesson while you're at it."
"Okay, and what should I do with the bag once it's found? Should I send it to Riverside Apartment?"
Steven thought for a moment. "Send it to the police station near Riverside Apartment and have them notify Nora to pick it up."
"Yes!" James acknowledged.
Steven hung up the phone. Nora was still in the bathroom washing her skirt.
Steven walked out and saw that her eyes were red. He was startled. "What's wrong? Does your stomach hurt, or do your wounds hurt?"
"This skirt is ruined!"
Nora felt so bad about it. Part of the hem was torn. It was ruined the first time she wore it. She was so upset!
Steven glanced at it. Her hands and the skirt were both in the sink, the water ice cold, making her hands red.
Steven couldn't help but frown. "If the skirt is ruined, just throw it away. No need to cry like this. You're on your period—don't touch cold water."