Blinded chapter 23
Chang Xiaojia stood up and told Xie Li they could leave.
When Xie Li stood up and looked outside, he saw the two cars still parked there with only the drivers inside. He then turned to look at Chang Xiaojia, but his face revealed no extra emotions.
They walked to the entrance of Sheng Ji, and suddenly, Chang Xiaojia stopped and said to Xie Li, “Xie Li, I need to use the restroom.”
Xie Li didn’t know how to react at first and could only say, “Go ahead.”
Chang Xiaojia reached out to grab his hand. “Come with me.”
Xie Li was caught by his hand, and they walked towards the left inside Sheng Ji, following the signs indicating the restroom.
Chang Xiaojia’s hand was still slightly cool, and he walked ahead, not exerting much force as he pulled Xie Li along.
They reached the restroom door, but Chang Xiaojia didn’t go in. Instead, he continued to pull Xie Li forward, crossing a narrow corridor into a dimly lit utility room and walked out through the open door on the opposite side.
Coming out from here, they were in Sheng Ji’s back alley. The alley was narrow, with sewage flowing on the ground, and bamboo baskets filled with garbage were placed in the corners.
Chang Xiaojia didn’t let go of Xie Li’s hand, and they continued walking forward.
Looking up, Xie Li saw bamboo poles extending from the second floor, on which women’s clothes were hung to dry.
Harbor City was a highly developed coastal city. Perhaps because of its early development, the city lacked a unified modern plan. While prosperous areas were bright and beautiful, old blocks still retained the atmosphere of the last century.
Chang Xiaojia seemed a bit excited. He said, “I haven’t been around here for a long time.”
A young man wearing a delivery outfit hurriedly passed by them on an electric bike, almost brushing against Chang Xiaojia’s arm.
Xie Li pulled Chang Xiaojia closer and said, “Be careful.”
Chang Xiaojia looked at him and smiled.
They crossed the narrow passage between the buildings, and in front of them was a street filled with restaurants. Just as they emerged, four men in suits blocked their way.
The one in the front, dressed in black, was polite to Chang Xiaojia, saying, “Young Master Jia, Young Master Xin requests your presence.”
Chang Xiaojia didn’t move. He glanced at the man and then at Xie Li.
At this moment, a middle-aged man on a bicycle came from the passage behind them and impatiently rang his bell.
Chang Xiaojia and Xie Li silently moved aside.
The middle-aged man kicked the bike pedal with his foot. Seeing the stern expressions of the men outside the passage, he made a clicking sound with his mouth, jumped off the bike, turned it around in the narrow passage, and rode back the way he came.
Leaning against the wall, Xie Li looked at Chang Xiaojia.
Chang Xiaojia suddenly reached out to him.
Xie Li held his hand, drawing him close. In a low voice, he asked, “Are we going?”
Chang Xiaojia, leaning against the rough cement wall, said, “Well they found us, we don’t have a choice do we?”
Leaning closer to his ear, Xie Li’s voice was low, “how about you turn around and run inside; I’ll block them for you.”
Chang Xiaojia looked at him in silence for a moment, released his hand, and said, “Forget it, let’s just go.”
Several men in black suits respectfully escorted Chang Xiaojia into the car, and Xie Li followed. The car, parked on the roadside, did not leave immediately. One man in a black suit stood outside making a call, and another sat beside them, watching.
In the back seat, three men did not make it too crowded, but people were inevitably sitting close to each other.
Chang Xiaojia originally sat in the middle, not liking the man on the left whose leg was pressed against his. So, he stood up and sat on Xie Li’s lap.
The young man on the left in the black suit looked quite young, with neatly cut hair and a slightly immature face. When he saw Chang Xiaojia sitting on Xie Li’s lap, a hint of surprise flashed across his face. It seemed like he wanted to stop them but didn’t know if he should. He looked somewhat lost for a moment, then glanced at the man outside the car who was making a call.
The man outside didn’t notice them. The young man hesitated for a while, then sat back down, avoiding eye contact with Chang Xiaojia.
Chang Xiaojia rested his head on Xie Li’s shoulder.
Xie Li asked, “Uncomfortable?”
Chang Xiaojia said, “No.”
Xie Li raised his hand and touched his forehead. Fortunately, it was slightly warm but not too hot.
Chang Xiaojia lazily looked at the young man in the black suit and, after a while, asked, “Are your clothes all prepared by Chang Xin for you?”
The man in the black suit seemed a bit flustered and didn’t answer.
Chang Xiaojia sneered, closed his eyes, and said, “Wake me up when we arrive.”
Perhaps because he was still not completely recovered from his cold, Chang Xiaojia actually slept soundly. He didn’t even notice when the car started moving.
Xie Li had been holding onto him, supporting his head and back when turning corners, preventing him from leaning to the side.
The man on the left in the black suit looked at him for a while and whispered, “You are quite loyal to Young Master Jia.”
Xie Li chuckled at the comment, with a hint of sarcasm.
When the car reached its destination, Xie Li gently shook Chang Xiaojia and said, “Xiaojia, we’re here.”
Chang Xiaojia, with his face against Xie Li’s shoulder, slowly opened his eyes, looking dazedly out of the car window.”
Xie Li had been looking out the window throughout the journey. In fact, they were not far from Sheng Ji, the place they had been earlier. It was still in the old city area of Harbor City, but the environment was even more mixed than the previous neighborhood. He followed Chang Xiaojia off the car and, standing upright, saw groups of young people on the street, smoking together. By now, most of the people on the street were looking in their direction.
This street had bars, KTV, and noisy restaurants. It was adorned with gaudy colored signs. The car had parked next to a mahjong parlor, and the sound of mahjong leaked through the half-opened large door, blending with people’s cursing voices, entering Xie Li’s ears.
The man in the black suit stood at the entrance of the mahjong parlor, waiting for them.
Chang Xiaojia stretched his stiff neck and said to Xie Li, “Let’s go.”
Xie Li, in a low voice near Chang Xiaojia’s ear, asked, “What’s this place?”
Chang Xiaojia, expressionless, looked ahead and said, “Hong Fang Gong Kou – He Tang.”
Xie Li was slightly stunned and looked up at the mahjong parlor with no sign.
Meanwhile, Chang Xiaojia had already walked inside.
Xie Li followed closely behind him. Seeing Chang Xiaojia pass through that door, past the cashier’s counter and tea room, and enter another room, he walked through a short corridor and stopped in front of a closed door at the end of the corridor.
Chang Xiaojia turned back and glanced at Xie Li, then reached out and pushed the door open.
Xie Li’s gaze, over Chang Xiaojia’s shoulder, looked inside through the gradually widening gap of the door. The room inside was even larger than he had imagined. There was a rectangular table with nearly ten chairs arranged around it. Six or seven people were seated, and the seat at the end of the table, directly facing the main entrance, was currently vacant. Behind the chair was a statue of Guan Gong, almost half a person tall, glaring down with an angry expression. One hand held his beard, and the other hand held a green dragon crescent moon blade, the blade suspended high above the main seat.
Chang Xin sat in a chair on the left side, leaning back against the chair, hands clasped in front of him. In a soft voice, he said, “Xiaojia you’re here.”