Realizing Tang Li was feeling unwell, Song Baiyan asked Ji Ming to stop the car near a drugstore.
"Stomach upset?" he asked himself.
Tang Li nodded, "Maybe I ate too much just now..."
Song Baiyan was about to tell Ji Ming to go down and buy the medicine when Tang Li spoke up first: "I can go by myself, and use the drugstore’s restroom while I’m at it."
This time, Song Baiyan said nothing.
After getting out of the car, Tang Li headed straight to the 24-hour drugstore.
Exiting the restroom, she picked out a box of digestion tablets and went to the cashier.
The clerk said, "That’ll be 11 yuan."
Tang Li hadn’t brought her purse and felt in her down jacket pocket, finding a hundred-dollar bill. The clerk, a middle-aged woman in her forties, didn’t want to make that much change and suggested, "You don’t have it, so ask your man; he might have some!"
"..." Tang Li looked up, puzzled, at her.
"Weren’t you the one who got out of that car?" The clerk pointed outside the drugstore, "You had just entered the restroom when a man got out of the car, stood at the store’s entrance for a bit, then headed next door. By the looks of him, he’s probably gone to buy cigarettes."
Tang Li couldn’t guess who it was: "From the driver’s seat or the back seat?"
"At this time of night, I wasn’t really paying attention."
The clerk added, "You go out and take a look, and meanwhile, ask him for some smaller change. We really don’t have much right now, so we have to trouble you."
Tang Li left the drugstore and immediately saw Song Baiyan standing in front of a vending machine.
A freshly ground coffee was in his left hand.
The man was looking leisurely down the road, his right hand in his pocket, and then he took a sip of coffee, the Adam’s apple beneath his shirt collar moving slightly.
Sensing something, Song Baiyan looked in her direction.
Tang Li took a few steps forward, explaining, "I only have a hundred, and the clerk wants change."
Hearing this, Song Baiyan pulled a wallet out from the inside pocket of his coat, didn’t even ask her how much it was, and just handed her his wallet for her to take out the money herself.
Holding the dark brown leather wallet, feeling its residual warmth, Tang Li slowly closed her fingers around it; items kept close to the body naturally carried his warmth.
Seeing that she didn’t move further, Song Baiyan spoke up, "If you’re not sure how much it is, take the wallet inside."
Tang Li looked up at him.
Song Baiyan smiled, "I’ll be here, what, you afraid I’ll run off?"
"...Then I’ll go pay," Tang Li said.
After finishing, she pinched the wallet and headed back to the drugstore.
When she turned around, there was a slight curve to her lips.
Song Baiyan watched her bounce into the drugstore and couldn’t help but smile as he looked away, his smile carrying a hint of indulgence and helplessness.
Tang Li came out of the drugstore quickly after making her purchase.
At the same time, Song Baiyan also tossed his paper cup into the trash bin.
Returning the wallet to him, Tang Li reported: "I spent eleven yuan."
She spoke while stepping down from the curb.
Even though it was already past midnight, Tang Li didn’t feel sleepy at all. Not wanting to turn her back to Song Baiyan, she turned around and, walking backward, she asked, "Did you win money in your card game tonight?"
"Because usually people are in a good mood when they win money. Besides, Fu Si told me that those people would rather you win. It’s actually harder to lose; every card you play has to be pondered over because if you accidentally win, they’d worry you wouldn’t be happy about it."
Song Baiyan pursed his lips and chuckled without denying it.
Tang Li smiled playfully, "So I guessed right, didn’t I?"
Suddenly, the honking of an electric scooter sounded.
Tang Li turned her head; the lights were a bit glaring, and the scooter was heading straight for her. Just as she thought to dodge, a broad hand wrapped around her shoulder, easily pulling her aside.