Blinded chapter 60
However, after sitting on the plane for several hours and arriving in Harbor City, Xie Li didn’t immediately go to see Chang Xiaojia. Instead, he accompanied Chang Guanshan to attend an opening ceremony for another event.
In the car, Xie Li changed into a suit, highlighting his well-proportioned figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
Chang Guanshan glanced at him and said, “You’re quite suitable to be a bodyguard—skillful and good-looking.”
Xie Li remained silent.
Chang Guanshan continued, “Just a bit of a waste. What do you think you can still do?”
Xie Li adjusted his tie. “As long as Mr. Chang trusts me, I can do anything, following your orders.”
“Anything?” Chang Guanshan chuckled. He leaned back, saying, “Let me think about it.”
That day was the opening ceremony of a development zone, and Chang Guanshan was there for the ribbon-cutting. He only brought Xie Li and another person with him, while the rest were on-site security personnel.
Chang Guanshan spoke on the stage.
Xie Li stood below the stage, scanning everyone in the audience. He noticed a middle-aged man sitting in the front row, staring fixedly at Chang Guanshan on the stage. One hand nervously fumbled at his waist, and sweat formed on his forehead.
After Chang Guanshan finished his speech, many reporters rushed forward to take pictures. Xie Li saw the middle-aged man stand up and follow the group of reporters to the front.
Without showing any emotion, Xie Li circled around to approach him from the side. When he saw the man reach the front and one hand tremblingly reaching into his pocket, Xie Li took a step forward. He tapped the man’s shoulder from behind just as he was about to take something out. Startled, the man turned around, and Xie Li pulled him to the side, reaching over his body to grab the spring-loaded knife from his bag.
The man tried to snatch the knife back, but he couldn’t free himself from Xie Li’s grip. In panic, he shouted, “Chang Guanshan—”
Xie Li didn’t know what he was going to shout, but he immediately covered the man’s mouth from behind, controlling him entirely.
However, many people at the scene heard his shout. They all turned to look in their direction.
Xie Li then held the man’s hand with the knife, pulled it out of the bag, and raised it high, signaling to the security personnel, “This man has a knife!”
Several on-site security personnel immediately ran over.
Xie Li kept the man’s mouth covered until he was brought to the security room away from the venue. When handed over to the security personnel, the man cursed through gritted teeth, “Chang Guanshan, you won’t have a good ending!”
“This person is still aggressive. Please call the police,” Xie Li suggested to the security personnel. After handing him over, he stretched and flexed the wrist that had been twisted during the struggle, then walked outside.
Later, Chang Guanshan said to Xie Li, “You did well.”
Xie Li responded, “Thank you, Mr. Chang.” However, his mind was somewhat absent because they were about to return to the Chang family, and he had to face Chang Xiaojia.
Standing downstairs in front of the two-story building, Xie Li hadn’t changed out of his suit yet. However, his meticulously styled hair fell down, the buttons on his shirt collar were open, and his tie hung loosely, crookedly around his neck.
Chang Xiaojia’s room was lit.
However, Xie Li didn’t dare to go up. He squatted by the flowerbed, lit a cigarette for himself.
He thought about having Yu Zhengkun find the person who wanted to attack Chang Guanshan today, asking him what his motive was, and whether it was related to the batch of problematic antidepressants from Hongji Pharmaceutical. He also wondered how Ruan Qiuyuan was doing now, whether he should contact Ye Shaoyin or leave that lead to Ruan Qiuyuan…
His mind kept racing, all about the mission. He didn’t dare to stop because once he stopped, he would think about Chang Xiaojia.
After finishing a cigarette, he sighed and stood up. He put the cigarette butt into the soil of the flowerbed, burying it halfway, and then walked towards the small building.
All of his belongings had been packed up from Chang Xiaojia’s room. At that time, he had packed a suitcase. When he accompanied Chang Guanshan out, he only brought a travel bag. The remaining suitcase was still in the living room on the second floor, leaning against the corner, seemingly untouched.
Chang Xiaojia’s room door was tightly closed. Xie Li stood at the door, took a deep breath, then knocked on the door.
The door didn’t open.
When Xie Li was about to knock again, he heard voices from inside. The sound was unclear through the thick door, but it was obvious that there were male voices.
Without much thought, Xie Li raised his hand and knocked heavily on the door.
The room fell silent. After a while, the door opened, and Shi Hongqian stood at the door, looking at Xie Li. He said, “You’re back?”
Xie Li was stunned for a moment. His gaze passed Shi Hongqian and saw Chang Xiaojia sitting on the bed, holding a glass of water half full.
Shi Hongqian turned back to Chang Xiaojia and said, “Remember to take your medicine. I’ll go down first.” After that, he nodded at Xie Li and walked past him towards the stairs.
Waiting until Shi Hongqian’s footsteps went down to the first floor, Xie Li entered the room. He closed the door, walked to the bed, and looked down at Chang Xiaojia, asking him, “What medicine are you taking?”
Chang Xiaojia didn’t answer. He curled one leg up, the sole of his foot pressing against the edge of the bed. The glass of water was still in his hand. His complexion looked slightly gloomy, and he spoke in a cold tone, “why are you back?”
Xie Li saw a bottle of medicine on the bedside table. He reached out and picked it up, seeing that it was a sedative. He asked Chang Xiaojia, “Are you taking a sedative?”
Chang Xiaojia said, “What does it have to do with you?”
Xie Li looked at him for a while, then squatted in front of him. “Xiaojia, what more do you want me to do?”
Chang Xiaojia’s eyes were dark and swollen, his face pale. He reached out a hand and said, “Give me the medicine.”
Xie Li refused, “I won’t give it to you.”
Chang Xiaojia seemed a bit impatient, “It’s none of your business what I take. Give me the medicine, and then you can leave. I want to sleep.”
Xie Li said, “You don’t need to take the medicine.”
Suddenly, Chang Xiaojia reached out to grab the medicine from his hand. Xie Li intended to stop him, but as soon as they struggled, the water cup in Chang Xiaojia’s hand overturned. The water spilled on Chang Xiaojia and the bedsheet.
Xie Li had no choice but to let go.
However, Chang Xiaojia still threw the empty cup towards Xie Li.
Xie Li sidestepped, and the cup fell to the ground without breaking, rolling a few times before coming to a stop.
When Xie Li turned around, Chang Xiaojia had already poured out a sleeping pill from the bottle and swallowed it directly. He said to Xie Li, “Please leave. I want to sleep.”
Xie Li asked him, “Xiaojia, you don’t need me anymore, do you?”
Chang Xiaojia said, “No, I don’t.”