The crippled man was Branden's driver, who was shot by Irene earlier. He was discharged from the hospital today. He should have been discharged long ago, but after Branden was arrested, the police had come to talk to him twice. The people in the hospital were his people, so they did not classify his injuries like gunshot wounds. The driver also made an excuse that he was hit by a motorcycle when he got off the car.
To play a car accident victim, he waited until two weeks later to make sure that no more police would come to inquire him before he was discharged. He first took a taxi home. He had an apartment and his parents were not around. They were around before but were sent back to the countryside due to some reason.
He used to have a girlfriend but broke up. Then he began to date girls near him to meet his physiological needs. Occasionally, he would meet some girls at the banquet. He didn't have to pay for a one-night stand. A condom would be just fine. It was easy and convenient.
After the driver entered the apartment, he took a shower and changed his clothes. He opened the window and smoked a cigarette. It was probably boring for him. He ordered takeout and stayed at home for a few days.
Irene didn't see the driver come that day. She didn't want to go back late, so she drove back herself.
Ferne asked another person to follow Irene, while he stayed there and watched the driver. He slept in the car at night.
When Noah knocked on the car window, Ferne was quite shocked. He looked at the window for a while, thinking he was dreaming.
It was midnight. Joe in the driver's seat was asleep. Ferne didn't dare to sleep. He kept rubbing his face and then took a sip of cold coffee. He suddenly felt a cold shiver run through him.
Noah knocked on the car window at this moment. Ferne turned his head. The car windows were filmed, so only the people inside could see the outside.
Through the car window, he saw Noah slightly lower his head, he frowned and tilted his head to look at the window. Though Ferne knew that Noah could not see him, he was still numbed by his stare.
No one opened the door. Noah tried to open the door, but it was locked. He tried twice. Joe in the driver's seat was awakened by the sudden sound. He instantly put his hand behind.
Ferne whispered, "He is our man." And opened the door.
Noah handed Ferne a lunch box and a to-go box to Joe, then he walked towards a car behind.
Ferne opened his lunch box. There were cabbage and beef.
The smell made his mouth water. He looked at Joe's meal. It was donburi, with ham and a fried egg on top of it.
Joe picked up the disposable chopsticks and said to Ferne, "Thanks, Ferne."
"It was nothing." Ferne was delighted to see his meal was different from Joe's. He thought that theirs were the same.
"Your friend specially brought you food and got me one too. Thanks to you." Joe was grateful for the warm meal. The two of them only ate cold rice balls bought from the convenience store in the afternoon. They didn't even have time to heat them because they were afraid that the driver would leave the next few seconds. By then wouldn't be able to catch up.
Ferne smiled when he heard Joe's words. He saw the car behind hadn't left yet. He immediately said to Joe, "Take your time. I'm going there."
Noah was sitting in the car smoking. Christy was in recovery recently, so he could only eat lollipops to suppress his craving for tobacco. He was reluctant to go to the bathroom. The underpants he washed at three in the morning made him resist going to the bathroom again. It seemed that once he stepped into the bathroom, he would recall what had happened at three.
Before Noah could finish his cigarette, the door was pulled open. Ferne got in the car.
"Why didn't you tell me before you came?" Ferne put the lunch box on his lap and smiled as he stuffed a slice of beef into his mouth. Then he said with satisfaction, "It's so tasty that makes me want to cry!"
Noah curled his lips. He was not smiling, but teasing, "Show me."
Ferne ignored him and kept eating. He looked at Noah and muttered, "I thought you wouldn't cook for me."
Ferne leaned over and snatched the cigarette from his mouth. He stuffed it into his mouth said lazily, "You should smoke less. This one is mine."
Noah didn't say anything. He frowned slightly and glanced at him.
"What are you looking at?" Ferne said with the cigarette in his mouth, "I'm eating right now and you just keep smoking."
He held the cigarette in his hand and began to eat again.
"Christy called me." After Ferne finished his meal, he thanked Noah again. Noah said indifferently, "There is just enough food."
Ferne said, "You can tell me tomorrow instead of ruining my good mood now."
"Go back. I'm leaving." Noah ignored his joke and look ahead.
Ferne was a little upset. One second ago he was so happy as if he had won the lottery. The next second, he was low-spirited and depressed.
"Are you angry about what happened last time?" Ferne wasn't moving. He couldn't accept Noah's indifference to him. "Randy was just joking, don't take it seriously."
Noah nodded.
Ferne put the lunch box in front of him. He wiped his mouth with a tissue and asked, "Do you have water?"
Noah wasn't moving. Ferne picked up the thermos pot on the side. Noah did not like drinking tea. His pot always filled with coffee. The lights in the car were dim. Ferne took a sip. It wasn't coffee but chicken soup.
"You drink chicken soup instead of coffee now?" Ferne said, "It's quite delicious. A little sweet. Can I drink all of it?"
Seeing Ferne's reaction, Noah didn't tell him that the soup was prepared for him.
Ferne was satiated now. He briefly explained the situation in the afternoon, but Noah had already installed locators on Ferne and the car. Even if Ferne didn't tell him, Noah still knew where they went.
Ferne thought that Noah would drive him out of the car if he didn't say anything else. He dawdled for a while and was ready to go back to his car.
Suddenly, Noah leaned over.
Ferne thought to himself, "Now? He had just finished his chicken soup. His mouth was filled with the smell."
However, Noah didn't intend to kiss him. Instead, he stretched out his hand and pressed Ferne's head down.
Ferne was surprised by Noah's sudden action. He almost spat out the soup he had just drunk. He whispered, "Damn! What's going on?"