Blinded chapter 51
Xie Li rescued Dai Hao and the girl sitting in the front passenger seat from the car, taking them to a place as far away from the vehicle as possible. He sat on the ground, panting for breath.
The girl’s face was covered in blood, but her thoughts were clear. On the other hand, Dai Hao seemed more seriously injured, and his consciousness was becoming blurry.
At this moment, Chang Xiaojia picked up a large stone from the roadside, hugged it in his arms, and walked unsteadily towards Dai Hao. He raised the stone, ready to strike it down on his leg.
Xie Li stood up, snatched the stone from him, tossed it aside, and then held him to pull him back.
Chang Xiaojia struggled, “Let go of me! He lost, and he owes me!”
Xie Li said, “He’s already hurt. I’m afraid if you hit him with a stone, you might kill him.”
Chang Xiaojia said angrily, “That’s his bad luck!”
Xie Li repeated, “Alright, alright. If his luck is bad, spare him a life. Consider this leg as something he owes you.”
As the two struggled, two cars swiftly approached from the front and back, stopping on the side of the road.
Xie Li looked up and saw Shi Hongqian and He Chuanyun getting out of the front car, and the door of the rear car opening with a long-legged figure, who turned out to be Huo Zhaoning.
“Ah Hao!” Huo Zhaoning hurriedly ran towards Dai Hao.
Xie Li held Chang Xiaojia in his arms, pressing his waist and the back of his neck tightly to prevent him from breaking free. He said, “It’s better to call an ambulance. I don’t think he’s in good condition.”
Huo Zhaoning squatted beside Dai Hao, glanced at him, said nothing, and quickly made a phone call.
Shi Hongqian and He Chuanyun walked towards them.
He Chuanyun loudly asked, “Are you two okay?”
Xie Li nodded.
Shi Hongqian said, “We heard the commotion and rushed over.” He glanced at the car in the distance that Dai Hao had overturned. “As long as you’re both okay.”
Xie Li lowered his head and looked at Chang Xiaojia. Chang Xiaojia seemed exhausted from struggling, his face buried in his neck without saying a word. He then said to Shi Hongqian, “I want to take Xiaojia back first.”
He Chuanyun spoke, “You go back first. I’ll take care of things here.”
Xie Li looked at him, “Thanks, Brother Yun.”
He Chuanyun smiled, “We’re brothers. No need to be polite.”
Xie Li slowly let go of Chang Xiaojia, only holding one of his hands, leading him towards the car that Shi Hongqian had parked on the side of the road. Chang Xiaojia didn’t speak, but at least he didn’t try to break free from Xie Li.
Shi Hongqian drove them home. Xie Li and Chang Xiaojia sat side by side in the back seat.
Chang Xiaojia put both feet on the seat, curled up, arms hugging his legs, and his head resting on his knees, looking out of the car window.
Xie Li looked at the window on the other side of the car. As their car passed by the platform halfway up the mountain, the bonfire had not been extinguished, and the crowd was still gathered. However, it seemed that someone had informed them of the racing results, and everyone appeared somewhat disinterested, preparing to leave in groups.
He searched the crowd for the young man who sold drugs, but the car passed by too quickly, and he couldn’t find him.
“Hongqian,” Xie Li called.
Shi Hongqian looked at him through the rearview mirror.
Xie Li asked, “Whose territory is this in Qifeng Mountain?” There should be someone organizing the nightly races.
Shi Hongqian answered, “This area of Qifeng Mountain should belong to Ju Yi.”
Ju Yi? Xie Li recalled seeing Huo Zhaoning just now and found it strange. He asked, “Are He Chuanyun and Huo Zhaoning close?”
Shi Hongqian shrugged, indicating that he didn’t know.
The car continued along the winding mountain road. Xie Li didn’t ask Shi Hongqian any more questions, and Shi Hongqian also didn’t say anything. The car fell quiet.
Xie Li occasionally turned his head to look at Chang Xiaojia. Seeing that he had maintained the curled-up posture for a long time, he raised his hand to gently touch his hair, leaning back against the seat.
He was thinking about the drug dealer. After being driven out of the bar by Chang Xiaojia, did he opt to come here every night to sell drugs instead? Where did he get his drugs, he had to find a way to get the information from him. At the same time, he wondered if Xiaojia was still angry. Xaojia was scared of the dark, and that night must have been terrifying for him. He didn’t know if he was scared again tonight.
Xie Li’s thoughts gradually became chaotic. He was too exhausted, with too many things waiting for him to ponder. He couldn’t think anymore, so he kept the posture of leaning back, falling into a deep sleep.
After a while, Chang Xiaojia heard Xie Li’s low breathing. He turned his head slowly, and noticed that Xie Li’s left sleeve was completely soaked in blood.
He stared blankly for a while, then raised his head to tell Shi Hongqian, “Go to the hospital.”
In the corridor outside the emergency room, Chang Xiaojia sat alone against the wall. Xie Li was inside dealing with his wounds, and Shi Hongqian was queuing to get medication for him.
After about ten minutes, Xie Li came out. His left arm was wrapped in gauze, and the back of his hand, burned by Chang Xiaojia’s cigarette, had also been treated. He draped his clothes over his shoulders, not putting his left arm through the sleeve, and sat down next to Chang Xiaojia, looking exhausted.
Chang Xiaojia stared ahead at the light brown wooden door of the emergency room.
After sitting for a while, Xie Li leaned his head against Chang Xiaojia’s shoulder and said, “I’m sorry.”
Chang Xiaojia didn’t answer.
Xie Li closed his eyes. He felt like he was going to die, unable to lift even a finger. He continued to repeat, “I’m sorry Xiaojia.”
Chang Xiaojia blinked, and tears flowed from his eyes.
At this moment, a family member of a patient hurried past them with a payment slip, not even glancing at them.
Although the emergency department was still bustling at this late hour, everyone was in a hurry and anxious, living in their own pain or injury.
Xie Li murmured softly in his ear, as if he were drunk, “I don’t really have the ability, and I can’t protect you. But you have to believe me; I really didn’t mess around with anyone behind your back.”
Chang Xiaojia shed tears while speaking in a cold tone, “I don’t believe you.”
Xie Li fell silent for a moment and said, “Ruan Qiuyuan wanted to leave Du Shenglian and I wanted to gain your father’s trust. We were just making a deal.”
Chang Xiaojia retorted, “why didn’t you tell me the truth then.”
This time, Xie Li remained silent for a long time. He reached out, clasping Chang Xiaojia’s hand and placing it on his chest near his heart. “Xiaojia, I can’t tell you everything right now, but the only thing I can guarantee to you is: this, It’s yours alone.”