Blinded chapter 35

Chang Xiaojia was discharged from the hospital. He didn’t eat much for breakfast and lunch, and in the afternoon, he still lacked energy, lying in bed in the bedroom, sleeping.

Chang Guanshan had someone return Xie Li’s phone and travel bag to him. Leaning against the edge of the balcony, he made a call to Hu Minxin.

Hu Minxin, who had been worried about him all night, finally felt relieved now and asked about his plans.

Xie Li glanced at Chang Xiaojia, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed, and said, “Just like before.”

Hu Minxin cautiously asked, “Is Chang Guanshan no longer bothering you?”

Xie Li told him, “let’s just say I’ve got that under control for now. Don’t talk about this matter to anyone”

Hu Minxin quickly said, “I’d be crazy to provoke someone with the surname Chang.”

After hanging up the phone, Xie Li continued to stand by the balcony, looking into the distance. It had rained at noon, but it quickly stopped. However, the ground was still moist. The winter in Harbor City was not very cold, and even in autumn, many plants remained lush and green, adorned with dewdrops, spreading to the distant clear waters of the lake.

When Chang Xiaojia returned from the hospital in the morning, Xie Li had his first face-to-face encounter with Chang Guanshan’s wife, Ye Xinzhi – the former rumored mistress who had given birth to his eldest son ahead of his official wife.

Ye Xinzhi was very beautiful, nearing fifty but looking like a woman in her forties, maintaining a graceful figure.

On the surface, she treated Chang Xiaojia very well. Upon hearing that Chang Xiaojia was discharged, she greeted him with a cashmere shawl and advised him to rest well.

However, Chang Xiaojia didn’t say a word to her, not even looking in her direction, as if she didn’t exist.

Ye Xinzhi didn’t seem angry at all, maintaining a smile on her face. She kept a pleasant demeanor until Chang Xiaojia walked towards the rear building.

Chang Xiaojia slept through the entire afternoon. The dinner was delivered from the kitchen. Xie Li called him to wake up.

As Chang Xiaojia, just awakened, sat on the bed in a daze, he was still wearing the wrinkled T-shirt he had on while sleeping. Only when Xie Li put on a jacket for him did he regain his senses and say to Xie Li, “I had a dream.”

Xie Li asked, “What did you dream about?”

Chang Xiaojia said, “I dreamed that you set a dog on me.”

Xie Li chuckled, “Why would I set a dog on you?”

Chang Xiaojia looked confused, “I don’t know, then I ran into a pitch-black house. I tried hard to find an exit and finally opened a sliding door, and I saw…” He stopped abruptly.

“Saw what?” Xie Li asked.

Chang Xiaojia’s face turned pale, shook his head, and said, “Nothing.”

After that, Chang Xiaojia spent the next two days at home in a listless state, and Xie Li was by his side all the time.

On the third day, Shi Hongqian brought them two sets of clothes. He told them to change and attend the birthday dinner for Du Shenglian in the evening.

Chang Xiaojia didn’t want to go.

Shi Hongqian said to him, “Your dad will be angry.”

He reluctantly perked up and sat up on the bed. Looking at the clothes brought by Shi Hongqian, he said, “Xie Li, change into the clothes and let me see.”

Xie Li looked at the impeccably tailored black suit. He hadn’t worn formal attire for a long time. The last time he wore a suit was in the police uniform during a department event. At that time, he was holding a hat, walking briskly with black leather shoes, and was secretly photographed by two young police women with their phones. That police uniform still hung in his closet, neatly ironed, waiting for the chance to be worn again.

When Xie Li stood up to take off his clothes, Chang Xiaojia became interested. No longer in a languid appearance, he sat cross-legged on the bed, curiously leaning forward.

Xie Li first took off the denim jacket, revealing a black shirt inside. Lowering his head, his slender fingers unbuttoned it one by one along the chest, exposing his strong abdomen.

Shi Hongqian’s gaze fell on the scar on Xie Li’s waist.

Xie Li opened the package containing the new white shirt, put it on, left the shirt unbuttoned, and didn’t rush to fasten it. Instead, he unbuttoned his jeans, unzipped the zipper, and took off his pants.

Chang Xiaojia was attentively watching him.

Inside Xie Li’s jeans was a pair of dark-colored boxer briefs. His powerful and straight legs were revealed when he pulled up the suit trousers. He carefully buttoned up the shirt from bottom to top, tucked the hem neatly into the waistband, instantly highlighting his perfect figure with broad shoulders and a slim waist.

Finally, when he put on the suit jacket and buttoned it up, he handed the tie to Chang Xiaojia, saying, “Can you help me tie it?” In fact, he knew how to tie a tie, but he thought it was normal for this Xie Li not to know.

Chang Xiaojia bent his knees, straightened his back, and held the tie in his hand. He circled it around Xie Li’s neck from behind and then pulled it down forcefully, making Xie Li bend over.

Xie Li had to bend down in front of him.

Chang Xiaojia earnestly helped him tie the tie. When the knot was securely tied, he raised his head, met Xie Li’s gaze for a moment, and then used force to pull him closer, kissing his lips.

Shi Hongqian stood beside them, watching their kiss until their lips parted. Chang Xiaojia was panting slightly, his mouth slightly open. He calmly said, “It’s your turn to try on clothes, Young Master Jia.”

That night was Du Shenglian’s seventieth birthday, and the birthday banquet was held at the Hongtu Hotel, a five-star hotel owned by the Hongfang faction. Du Shenglian was still in good health, but his style was very old-fashioned, likening the demeanor of the seniors in the Hongfang faction.

This time, perhaps because his son Chang Xiaojia had offended him the last time, Chang Ganshan gave Du Shenglian enough face, spending both money and effort to organize the birthday celebration.

In the evening, Xie Li followed Chang Xiaojia and Shi Hongqian to the hotel. Before entering the second-floor banquet hall, they heard lively singing and recitation inside. Surprisingly, Chang Guanshan had set up a stage for Du Shenglian in the banquet hall and invited performers.

Chang Xiaojia frowned and muttered quietly, “It’s better to invite Teng Song to sing.”

Xie Li asked Shi Hongqian, “Who is Teng Song?”

Shi Hongqian replied quietly, “Probably a singer, I don’t know.”

Outside the banquet hall, Du Shenglian’s family was collecting gift money. One of Du Shenglian’s nephews recognized Chang Xiaojia and called out from a distance, “Young Master Jia!”

Chang Xiaojia, with a stern face, didn’t even look at him and walked straight inside.

Shi Hongqian handed over the gift money.

Xie Li followed Chang Xiaojia into the lively banquet hall.

Du Shenglian’s birthday was arranged with a Chinese banquet. Dozens of round tables could be seen at a glance, and there was a second floor in the banquet hall, although the situation there was not clear. The main focus was on the stage in front, where two people in theatrical costumes were engaged in a performance, but Du Shenglian’s figure was not seen. Instead, Chang Ganshan and his son, Chang Xin, were surrounded by many people.

Many guests had already arrived in the banquet hall. When Chang Xiaojia and Xie Li appeared, they attracted the attention of many people.

Xie Li overheard whispers from nearby, saying, “This is Chang Guanshan’s second son.”

Another person said, “Is he here to do business now?”

“I heard he was in jail not long ago, just released.”

Those discussions were drowned out by other voices, and Xie Li couldn’t hear them clearly.

At this point, Chang Guanshan noticed them, waved to Chang Xiaojia, and said, “Come over here, Xiaojia.”

Chang Xiaojia walked towards Chang Guanshan. When he reached him, Chang Guanshan said, “Come and greet your uncles.”

Xie Li stood behind Chang Xiaojia and saw that beside Chang Guanshan stood Ping Xiang, Song Zhengdao, and He Chuanyun.

Before Chang Xiaojia could speak, He Chuanyun laughed and said, “Uncle is too much; just call me Brother Yun.”

Hearing this, Song Zhengdao added, “If Xiaojia calls you Brother Yun, then I might have to take advantage of him.”

After saying that, everyone laughed. Chang Xiaojia hadn’t even called them uncles, and the matter was set aside.

At this point, Ping Xiang said to Chang Guanshan, “Xiaojia is good at planning; he’s a promising businessman.”

Chang Guanshan shook his head. “Engaging in some behind-the-scenes activities, I have to thank you uncles for giving face to us father and son. Don’t bother with him.”

Xie Li saw Chang Xiaojia’s mouth slightly droop, showing a displeased and impatient look.

Chang Guanshan also noticed. He waved to Chang Xiaojia again, asked him to come closer, and then reached out to touch his head, saying, “These uncles are all like family. Don’t think about how to earn money from your own people. Think about how to make money together with your own people. Understand?”

Chang Xiaojia’s voice was very light as he responded, “Understood.”

Chang Guanshan ruffled his forehead hair, saying, “If you understand, be a little happier. Don’t act so gloomy.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly heard He Chuanyun say, “Huo Zhaoning, why is he here?”

In an instant, everyone looked towards the entrance of the banquet hall. Xie Li and Chang Xiaojia also turned their heads and saw a young man in a suit, tall and handsome, accompanied by two or three people, walking towards them.

That young man was none other than Huo Zhaoning, the leader of the second-largest faction, Juyi, in Harbor City, second only to Hongfang.

However, what caught Xie Li’s attention more was the man next to Huo Zhaoning, someone he and Chang Xiaojia knew well from Fish Island Prison—Dai Hao.

After such a long time, Dai Hao’s leg was still slightly lame. Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that his walk was uneven.

Dai Hao saw Xie Li and Chang Xiaojia. From a distance, he grinned, revealing a fierce smile.