Blinded chapter 11

Why Chang Xiaojia couldn’t sleep and why he was afraid of the dark, Xie Li didn’t know, and he didn’t want to ask.

However, one night when they were sleeping on the same bed, Xie Li asked Chang Xiaojia, “How did you sleep before I came in?”

After asking, he waited for a long time but didn’t hear Chang Xiaojia’s response. Lowering his head to look, he found that Chang Xiaojia had curled up in his arms and fallen asleep.

Perhaps these past few days were too exhausting; Chang Xiaojia slept deeply, and Xie Li’s words were completely unheard.

Xie Li stared at him for a while by the light outside the window, thinking of letting go of Chang Xiaojia and going to sleep on the upper bunk in a few minutes. However, he didn’t wait for those few minutes to pass; he fell asleep on his own.

He slept soundly until the next morning when the wake-up bell rang, accompanied by the lights in the cell turning on.

Before Xie Li even opened his eyes, he felt Chang Xiaojia tightly pressed against him.

In the summer weather, with no air conditioning in the cell, Xie Li was covered in sweat. Chang Xiaojia’s hot breath still brushed against his neck. He looked down at Chang Xiaojia, and even at this moment, Chang Xiaojia had not been awakened. He was still in a deep sleep.

The inmate from the upper bunk crawled down slowly and glanced over at them. Immediately, he averted his gaze.

Xie Li reached out to wake up Chang Xiaojia.

Chang Xiaojia raised his head, looking confused as he stared at him for a moment. Soon, he rolled off the bed.

Having slept well the entire night, Chang Xiaojia’s complexion seemed much better, still pale but no longer tinged with a bluish hue. However, he still appeared listless, spending the whole day with Xie Li but hardly speaking to him.

In the evening, Chang Xiaojia’s subordinates returned to the cell after completing their time in solitary confinement.

Chang Xiaojia’s mood seemed to have improved a lot. Although he still didn’t talk much, he sat on the upper bunk, swinging his two feet in front of Xie Li.

Xie Li had been reading a book while sitting on the bed. Later, he put the book down, stood up to pack his things for a bath.

Carrying a basin, he met Hu Minxin in the corridor.

Hu Minxin wore loose-fitting pants and slippers, looking somewhat clumsy as he walked. He also held a basin. When he saw Xie Li, he approached and asked, “Are you okay?”

Now that Dai Hao was hospitalized, and his subordinates, who had been released from solitary confinement, couldn’t afford to provoke Chang Xiaojia, it seemed that they wouldn’t trouble Xie Li anymore. So Hu Minxin felt relieved and dared to speak to Xie Li in front of others.

Xie Li replied, “I’m fine.”

Hu Minxin seemed hesitant to speak. The two walked to the bathhouse, undressed in the changing room, and randomly chose two adjacent shower heads after swiping their cards.

Xie Li had been covered in sweat since last night’s sleep, and he could only use cold water to wet a towel and wipe himself casually. It was only now that he could finally take a comfortable hot shower. Standing under the water, he raised his hand and vigorously rubbed his face.

Hu Minxin said something, but Xie Li didn’t hear it clearly. Then Hu Minxin leaned over next to him, asking in a low voice, “Did Chang Xiaojia do anything to your ass?”

Xie Li gave him a sharp look.

Hu Minxin immediately closed his mouth.

Xie Li grabbed the soap and lathered his body. After a while, he said quietly, “Once I’m out, I’ll follow Chang Xiaojia into Hong Fang.”

Hu Minxin seemed surprised and once again had that hesitant look.

Xie Li stopped for a moment, then said, “Say what you want to say.”

Hu Minxin cautiously said, “I just feel that Chang Xiaojia is too wicked. Unlike us, who get caught stealing and are released after a few months, the Chang family might… end up badly.” He gestured toward his neck, implying a throat-slitting motion.

Xie Li remained silent for a while before saying, “I need money.”

The two spoke softly under the cover of the water’s sound, standing very close. Hu Minxin almost stood under the same showerhead as Xie Li.

At this moment, Chang Xiaojia, accompanied by Gao Yuan and Luo Wanchun, walked in from outside. Passing by Xie Li, Chang Xiaojia coldly glanced at both Xie Li and Hu Minxin, expressionless, and continued walking deeper into the bathhouse.

The inmates who hadn’t finished showering hurriedly increased their pace to wash and leave.

Hu Minxin also went back under his showerhead, washing away the soap suds.

Xie Li hadn’t finished showering for even fifteen minutes when Gao Yuan approached him and said, “Chang wants you to come over.”

Hu Minxin quickly glanced at him.

Xie Li turned off the water tap, bent down to pick up his basin, and followed behind Gao Yuan, heading towards the depths of the bathhouse.

Inside, there was only Chang Xiaojia.

Chang Xiaojia lowered his head to rinse off the soap. He first saw Xie Li’s feet, then raised his eyes to glance at him, saying, “Just stand here.”

Xie Li casually placed the basin on the ground and asked, “Why stand here? Do you want me to watch you bathe?”

Chang Xiaojia’s gaze was somewhat cold.

Xie Li said, “Gao Yuan and the others are back, so you don’t want me to hold you while you sleep tonight? Who used to hold you before? Gao Yuan or Luo Wanchun?”

Chang Xiaojia looked at him and, after a while, said calmly, “Xie Li, once you’re out of here, just leave, let me not see you again.”

Xie Li walked closer to him until he stood in front of him, then asked, “Why?”

Chang Xiaojia remained silent.

Xie Li picked up the shower gel from the basin, squeezed it into his palm, and started applying it to Chang Xiaojia’s chest. His hand moved to massage his flat stomach, then to his side, and his back. He said, “Xiaojia, I’ve always genuinely wanted to work for you, but you look down on me.”

Chang Xiaojia stood still, letting Xie Li cover his entire body with the slippery shower gel.

Xie Li stood behind him, hands circling around to the front, lips close to his ear, saying, “Now that Gao Yuan and the others are back, you might not need me so much anymore. Is my role to you really just this little?”

Chang Xiaojia watched as Xie Li’s hands slid down his lower abdomen, lingering in his groin and thighs. He slightly raised his head, and his Adam’s apple moved as he said, “What other role do you have, then?”

This time, Xie Li wasn’t angry. He just said, “See, you’re provoking me again. When I get rough, you accuse me of bullying you.” After speaking, he grabbed Chang Xiaojia.

In the spacious bathhouse, only Chang Xiaojia’s low breathing could be heard.

Xie Li watched as Chang Xiaojia rested his head on his shoulder, then rubbed his face against his neck continuously. Chang Xiaojia’s short hair, though soft, still made Xie Li feel itchy against his neck.

It wasn’t the first time Xie Li had done such a thing for Chang Xiaojia, but the previous time was in the dark, and he could avoid looking. This time, everything was exposed in front of him as he touched Chang Xiaojia. There were many moments when he wasn’t sure if he should do this, or even what he was doing.

He thought Chang Xiaojia must find him suspicious. He tried so hard to get close to him, even hiding in a dark corner to touch and please him, making his intentions seem impure. But for someone like Chang Xiaojia, it was nearly impossible for anyone to gain his complete trust. Including Gao Yuan, Luo Wanchun, and others, who wouldn’t just use each other in specific situations? Once they left here, Chang Xiaojia wouldn’t need them either.

How could he make Chang Xiaojia not to leave him and also believe that he couldn’t leave him?

Xie Li lowered his head, kissing Chang Xiaojia’s forehead forcefully. His voice was husky and low. When Chang Xiaojia reached his peak in his hands, Xie Li whispered in his ear, “Xiaojia.”

The showerhead had stopped for a while, and both of them stared at the milky traces left on the wet floor for a long time without making the next move.

Later, Xie Li used the wet towel from Chang Xiaojia’s basin to wipe him. The two of them then walked out, one after the other.

Gao Yuan and Luo Wanchun were still dutifully standing at the door. When they came out, the two didn’t show any other signs, following them to the dressing room to put on their clothes.