Chapter 50: Blessings

The reason why Zhong Yuan had Zhong Da make the trip to see Chen Mingjiang was not to test him, as Chen Mingjiang had imagined. Rather, since Zhong Yuan intended to use Chen Mingjiang, it was only natural for Zhong Da to meet and get acquainted with him. That way, if any future matters required contact with Chen Mingjiang, Zhong Da could be sent to liaise with him directly.

As for whether Chen Mingjiang might use Zhong Da to investigate those past events in the Northwest, Zhong Yuan felt it was both unlikely and inconsequential.

After all, he was a free man now.

Even if Chen Mingjiang were to find out, what of it?

Life in Wangla Town was pleasant.

The food was delicious, and it wasn't overcrowded.

Unfortunately, leisurely days were always short-lived.

Two days later.

It was a little past seven o'clock, and darkness had already fallen. Zhong Yuan had just finished taking a shower and was blow-drying his hair when the phone resting on the vanity suddenly buzzed.

Zhong Yuan turned his head to look, and a smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of his lips.

The bait he had cast earlier had finally caught a fish.

Instead of answering immediately, he waited a few minutes before calling back.

The other party picked up quickly. Once the line connected, a voice asked, "Is this Uncle Li? I'm Brother Hong, remember me?"

Walking out of the bathroom, Zhong Yuan replied, "I remember. Is there something Brother Hong needs?"

"Didn't my friend mention a few days ago that he has a friend who's also gay? Weren't you looking to introduce someone? We're getting together for karaoke tonight, why don't you come over and meet him?" Brother Hong said.

Feigning hesitation, Zhong Yuan stammered, "But I actually have some things to take care of right now that I haven't finished!"

"What could possibly be more important than your own family member! Besides, I was only thinking of you because I felt sorry for you." As Brother Hong spoke, his tone grew somewhat dissatisfied.

Hearing this, Zhong Yuan immediately said, "Don't be upset, Brother Hong. You're right, family always comes first. Please send me the address, and I'll head out as soon as I tidy up."

Hearing that Zhong Yuan had agreed, Brother Hong's tone immediately improved. "That's more like it! Oh, and bring your little brother along too. It'll give my friend a chance to help you figure out what's really going on in that kid's head!"

After a brief moment of hesitation, Zhong Yuan agreed.

Delighted, Brother Hong urged, "Hurry up then, I'll be waiting for you!"

"Alright." With that, Zhong Yuan hung up the phone. He immediately called Zhong Da: "Have Xiao Hua bring the car around, and you head back to pack our things. We're going to Trang. If things go smoothly, we'll wrap it up tonight."

Twenty minutes later, under the cover of night, the three of them drove toward the city of Trang.

Another forty minutes later, the trio arrived on the outskirts of Trang. Zhong Yuan and Xiao Hua got out of the car, hailed a trishaw, and continued on toward the city center.

Along the way, Brother Hong called twice to rush them, his voice laced with clear irritation by the second call. When Zhong Yuan and Xiao Hua finally arrived downstairs at the KTV, Brother Hong was waiting at the entrance with a thoroughly grim expression.

"Uncle, where on earth did you come from? It's been over an hour!" Brother Hong complained with a dark face. However, as his gaze fell upon Xiao Hua and swept up and down, his expression suddenly softened.

Uncomfortable under his scrutiny, Xiao Hua frowned slightly.

With a sheepish smile, Zhong Yuan explained, "We were over in Wangwei today, so it took some time to get here."

Brother Hong grunted, dismissing the matter, then turned and waved his hand for them to follow him.

Entering the main entrance, the three of them took the elevator up to the third floor.

The entire third floor consisted of large private rooms.

Walking beside Zhong Yuan, Brother Hong probed, "Uncle, what's your brother's name again?"

"His name is Li Hua," Zhong Yuan replied.

Hearing this, Brother Hong turned his gaze back to Xiao Hua, flashed a smile, and asked, "I heard from your older brother that you like men, is that right?"

Zhong Yuan had already briefed him on this during the ride over. Yet, seeing this fellow with dyed red streaks in his bangs smiling at him like that, Xiao Hua felt an overwhelming urge to plant a fist right in his face.

Gritting his teeth to hold back, he replied coldly, "Yes!"

Brother Hong thought nothing of his attitude, finding it perfectly normal under the circumstances.

By now, the three of them had reached the door of the private room.

As soon as the door was pushed open, deafening music blasted out from within.

Amidst the colorful ambient lighting, seven or eight people occupied the circle of sofas lining the walls. In the open space in the middle of the room, five or six people, both men and women, were dancing rhythmically.

Zhong Yuan stopped in his tracks and pulled Brother Hong back. "Why are there so many people?"

Frowning with displeasure, Brother Hong retorted, "It's better with more people! People don't get nervous when there's a crowd!" With that, he grabbed Xiao Hua by the arm and pulled him straight inside.

Zhong Yuan lagged behind. Frowning and hesitating for a moment, he had no choice but to follow them in.

In fact, the moment the door opened, quite a few people inside had already cast their attention toward them.

As soon as he stepped inside, someone approached from the side, slammed the door shut, and stood before it with hands crossed over their chest.

Clearly, getting in was easy, but getting out would not be.

"Brother Hai, I've brought them." Brother Hong led Xiao Hua right up to the coffee table in the center of the room and called out to a middle-aged man seated in the middle: "This is the young boy I mentioned to you earlier! His name is Li Hua, twenty years old!"

Flanking the middle-aged man, Brother Hai, were a man and a woman.

The moment Brother Hong finished speaking, the woman sitting on Brother Hai's left stood up with a smile and said, "I'm going to go dance for a bit."

No sooner had she left than Brother Hai raised a hand and beckoned to Xiao Hua.

Xiao Hua stood there looking bewildered, playing the part of someone completely startled by the scene.

Seeing this, Brother Hong gave him a gentle shove. "Brother Hai is calling you over! What are you waiting for, go on!"

Stumbling forward from the push, Xiao Hua kept turning back to look at Zhong Yuan, resembling a helpless child seeking guidance from a parent.

Zhong Yuan started to step forward, but before his foot could even touch the ground, a figure blocked his path. Immediately afterward, another person stepped up, slung an arm around his shoulders, and breathed alcohol-laced fumes as he spoke: "Uncle, remember me? We met the other day at the dessert shop across from the internet cafe."

Anxious about Xiao Hua, Zhong Yuan glanced at him worriedly before turning back to the man, nodding honestly. "I remember!" Then, with a worried tone, he asked, "Didn't you say you were taking me to meet that... friend of yours? What is this all about..."

The man grinned, jerked his chin toward Brother Hai, and said, "That Brother Hai right there? He's the friend I was talking about!"

Zhong Yuan's expression shifted, and his mouth parted as if to say something more. However, the other man gave him no chance; the arm locked around his neck suddenly tightened, instantly cutting off his air supply and making it hard to breathe.

"Since you're here, just enjoy yourself! It's your little brother's good fortune to meet Brother Hai. If he knows what's good for him, he's got a long life of good days ahead!" The man spoke in a soft yet grinding tone. Despite the smile on his lips, his voice was dripping with threats.

Looking thoroughly frightened, Zhong Yuan stiffened for a moment before actually nodding.

Seeing that he was cooperative, the man loosened his arm slightly. Without letting go, he wrapped an arm around Zhong Yuan's shoulders and steered him toward the door. "Come on," he said as they walked, "let me take you somewhere to broaden your horizons and enjoy yourself!"