In the quiet corridor, occasional footsteps echoed as a few passers-by walked by. Though no one dared to stop, it was hard to miss the tense, almost suffocating atmosphere that lingered in the air. Most took one glance at the scene unfolding and instinctively hurried along, not daring to get involved.
Little Haohao clung tightly to Jiang Ci’s hand, his big round eyes filled with fear as he peeked at the unfamiliar adults who had suddenly appeared. His soft, chubby cheeks were slightly puffed with tension, and his small frame edged closer, nestling firmly against Jiang Ci’s leg for comfort and security.
Suddenly, a mocking voice sliced through the silence.
“Look at that. Young Master Jiang really is blind now. Tsk tsk tsk… even his face got burned. What a horror show.”
The voice belonged to a sharp-faced man at the front of the group. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with cruel amusement as they swept over Jiang Ci. “Zeng Cheng,” he called lazily over his shoulder, “don’t you think his face looks like a ghost’s now?”
Zeng Cheng, a man with a cigarette dangling from his lips, gave a loud, arrogant laugh. “Sure does. Good thing it’s daytime. If I ran into Young Master Jiang at night, I’d probably beat him up out of fear!”
The rest of the group burst into laughter, their jeers echoing off the walls.
The man who had taken the lead, Xie Fei, stepped closer, a sinister grin curling at his lips. His tone dipped with malice as he sneered, “Young Master Jiang… no, I suppose I should call you Blind Jiang now. You probably can’t even tell who I am anymore, can you?”
Jiang Ci stood motionless, his face impassive. But the mocking curve of his thin lips cut deep. “I have no interest in knowing who you are. Move.”
A hush fell over the group for a beat. Then Xie Fei scoffed, the corners of his mouth twisting upward.
“Still so arrogant—even after becoming a blind man?” He chuckled proudly. “The heir to the Jiang family now is Jiang Muhang, isn’t it? I heard they’ve completely abandoned you. Poor thing. Hiding out in some forgotten corner like a rat… Who would’ve thought that the mighty Young Master Jiang would fall so low?”
He snapped his fingers with a grin and fixed his eyes on Jiang Ci, basking in his own venom.
Back then, the Xie family and the Jiang family had competed fiercely for a major project. At the time, Jiang Ci was the power behind Hengyuan Group. With a few unseen maneuvers, he sabotaged the Xie family’s biggest investment. The blow was devastating, leaving the Xie family scrambling as their capital dried up.
Xie Fei could still recall that day vividly—how he and his father had gone to Jiang Ci, heads bowed, practically begging for leniency. But Jiang Ci, seated like a monarch on his throne, had dismissed them with cold eyes and a mocking tone, treating them like nothing more than defeated dogs.
But heaven has eyes.
Just as the Xie family was on the verge of collapse, Jiang Ci suffered a devastating accident. His face was burned, his vision destroyed. Now, not only had the Xie family clawed their way back, they had risen higher than before.
And Jiang Ci? He was nothing more than a blind, pitiful remnant of his former self.
Xie Fei sneered, stepping closer. “How about it? Want to show us how a noble young master barks like a dog?”
His words were laced with cruel delight.
The others jeered louder, gleefully taking things further.
“Xie Fei, that’s not enough! Why should he only bark like a dog? He should meow too. Or better yet—madman noises suit him best!”
Just as their laughter peaked, a sharp, childish voice rang out—clear and full of courage.
“My father is not a dog!”
The adults paused, startled.
Little Haohao stood his ground, his tiny face puffed up in anger, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Though his legs trembled slightly, his gaze was fierce as he glared up at the adults.
He didn’t know who these people were. But they insulted his father, called him names. That made them bad people in his eyes. He would never allow them to bully his dad!
“Well, well,” Xie Fei murmured as he lowered his gaze, an eyebrow arching. “So this is your illegitimate son, huh? Got quite a mouth on him.”
Zeng Cheng stepped forward with a sneer, reaching out to grab the boy. “Let’s see how brave he is up close.”
“Don’t you dare!” Jiang Ci moved instinctively, but Xie Fei blocked him with a smirk.
“Stay right where you are, Blind Jiang. I’d hate for anything to happen to this little wild thing of yours because of your recklessness.”
The air around Jiang Ci turned icy. His brow furrowed, and a storm brewed in his expression. His voice, low and biting, sent chills down their spines. “You want to hit me?”
Xie Fei gave him a mocking glance. “Exactly. I want to see if you’ll crawl and bark too.”
—
Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, Su Yue was the center of graceful admiration. Clad in an elegant dress, she glided from one elder to the next, offering her greetings with practiced ease. Having grown used to such social occasions, her demeanor was poised and confident, leaving many impressed and even subtly shifting their opinions of her.
Standing beside her, Su Zhi whispered teasingly, “Look at Mom tonight. She’s beaming so brightly you’d think she won the lottery. I swear, she’s just waiting for an excuse to show you off to the world.”
Su Yue smiled softly, her tone light and teasing. “Well, I can’t help it if I’m pretty. But I’m trying to stay low-key.”
Su Zhi chuckled. “That might be your plan, but Mom’s not having it.” He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “You’re way prettier than that school belle who confessed to me last month.”
Su Yue laughed quietly but soon noticed something odd.
As the guests began settling down and the wedding banquet was about to commence, she glanced around the large hall and noticed something—two people were missing.
Jiang Ci and Haohao were nowhere to be seen.
Frowning slightly, Su Yue scanned the hall once more. The grand space was bustling with guests seated at round banquet tables, but not a single sign of Jiang Ci or the little boy.
“Dad,” Su Yue leaned over and whispered to Su Jindong, “Jiang Ci and Haohao are gone. I’m going to look for them.”
“The banquet’s about to start,” Su Jindong replied, slightly displeased. “Jiang Ci is an adult. He’s not going to get lost in a hotel. Probably just went to the restroom.”
His tone carried a faint hint of reproach. To him, Jiang Ci was a blind man—an unfortunate, but not someone who warranted his daughter running about with concern.
Su Yue sat back, reluctantly nodding. Her father had a point. Still, a strange uneasiness settled in her chest, hard to shake.
—
At that very moment, in a secluded part of the hotel, far from the prying eyes of the guests, groans of pain echoed in the air.
A man lay curled up on the ground, clutching his abdomen. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his face was twisted in agony.
“Hit him! I don’t believe we can’t take down a blind man!” Xie Fei roared, voice hoarse and trembling with disbelief.
He hadn’t anticipated this. Even blind, Jiang Ci moved with deadly precision. A single kick from him had sent Xie Fei flying backward.
The others staggered up from the ground one by one, hunched over as they cradled their stomachs. The look in their eyes was no longer one of contempt—but fear.
How could a blind man fight like this?
Jiang Ci stood a short distance away, his figure tall and commanding. Not a wrinkle marred the black suit he wore, and his expression was like snow—cold, pale, and utterly ruthless.
The men before him—those so-called wealthy sons raised on luxury and leisure—were nothing but cowards when faced with true strength. They were used to partying and posturing, not real combat. And Jiang Ci… he was forged from fire, literally and figuratively.
Compared to them, he was a weapon honed sharp. And today, they had made the mistake of provoking the blade.
They had only just noticed that Jiang Ci was on the guest list. Blinded by arrogance and numbers, they simply wanted to make an example of him. Who would have thought—within moments—they would become the ones sprawled across the ground, beaten senseless, while Jiang Ci, the so-called blind man, stood tall and untouched.
Though these young men didn’t hail from the most powerful families, their names still carried weight in elite circles. They were the type used to flattery, surrounded by people who catered to their whims. But now, bruised and humiliated, fists still smarting, they were no longer the hunters—they were the hunted.
Originally, a few of them had joined in simply to help Xie Fei teach Jiang Ci a lesson. A bit of fun, they thought. But now, provoked by shame and defeat, their tempers boiled.
On the sidelines, little Xiao Haohao stood with both hands covering his mouth. Fear and anxiety had faded from his eyes, replaced by admiration so deep it glowed.
Daddy is amazing. Daddy’s a hero. He’s fighting the big bad guys!
He looked at the collapsed “bad guys” on the floor, eyes sparkling. With tiny legs pumping, he ran back toward his father’s side.
“Ahhh! The bad guys caught Haohao! The bad guys caught Haohao!”
Before he could reach his father, a strong arm yanked him back. Xie Fei hoisted the small child up roughly from behind.
“Little brat, don’t move! Or I’ll really hit you!” Xie Fei growled, baring his teeth. His voice was edged with pain—he had already taken two solid kicks from this fiery child.
Tears welled up instantly in Haohao’s big round eyes. Struggling in Xie Fei’s arms, he whimpered pitifully and cried out, “Dad… Daddy…”
Jiang Ci’s face darkened.
Xie Fei held the child tightly, glaring at Jiang Ci, his voice low and vicious. “Jiang Ci, go ahead—fight back again, and I’ll make sure this little illegitimate son of yours pays for it. Let’s see which one breaks first—your fists, or his bones.”
Originally, Xie Fei hadn’t intended to hurt the child. His target was Jiang Ci, the man who had bankrupted the Xie family and publicly mocked them as ‘dogs with nowhere to run.’ That humiliation had festered in his chest for months. Today, at Guo Sheng’s wedding, he had unexpectedly run into Jiang Ci, who’d been lying low under the Jiang family’s roof.
It was fate. A chance to vent the rage he had buried deep.
He never expected Jiang Ci—blind as he was—to fight like a trained beast. Four against one, and still they couldn’t land a decent hit. The humiliation only grew worse.
And now, with the child in hand, Xie Fei felt a surge of power.
But Jiang Ci’s voice dropped low, cold and bone-deep. “If you dare touch a single hair on his head… I’ll make sure the Xie family goes bankrupt.”
Xie Fei’s grip on Haohao’s wrist tightened.
That was the very threat he hated most. Yet, Jiang Ci… he was blind. Useless. Abandoned by the Jiang family. No longer the brilliant heir once destined to inherit everything. What was there to fear?
“If you don’t fight back,” Xie Fei said through clenched teeth, “your bastard son will be just fine. I’m not a monster, after all.”
With that, he barked, “Hit him.”
Zeng Cheng, who had earlier taken a punch to the chest from Jiang Ci, was still clutching his ribs. But at the command, he grit his teeth, forced himself upright, and aimed a hard punch at Jiang Ci’s chest—the same spot that had been hit earlier.
The sound of fist meeting bone rang out.
Jiang Ci didn’t flinch. He staggered back half a step, then steadied himself, unshaken.
Another man, still holding his stomach, sneered and kicked Jiang Ci hard.
Jiang Ci said nothing. His brows furrowed, lips pressed tightly together. His fists clenched by his sides, veins straining beneath the skin.
“Daddy! Daddy! Haohao wants Daddy—!” the child cried out, tears streaming down his small, red cheeks. His soft, chubby limbs flailed desperately in Xie Fei’s grip, trying to break free.
And then—the lights in the banquet hall dimmed. A romantic melody filled the air as the wedding ceremony officially began.
Su Jindong poured a glass of juice and passed it to his wife. “Ruru, the banquet’s starting.”
“I know. Sit properly,” Fang Ru muttered, casting him a sidelong glance. “So many people are watching… don’t lean so close.” Twenty years of marriage, and the man still acted like a teenager in love.
At their table, Su Yue sat anxiously. She checked her phone for what felt like the tenth time in five minutes. The bride and groom had already made their entrance, but there was no sign of Jiang Ci. Her fingers trembled slightly.
Ding.
Anger Value: 30.
Her head suddenly throbbed, and a sharp bell rang out in her mind, so loud it nearly drowned out the wedding march.
Su Yue’s eyes widened.
Jiang Ci is angry.
Something had happened.
Fighting through the sudden wave of nausea, Su Yue stood up abruptly and turned to her father. “Dad, Jiang Ci’s been gone for too long. I’m afraid he got lost. I’ll go look for him.”
Without waiting for a reply, she hurried out of the hall.
A hotel waiter opened the banquet doors for her.
“Excuse me,” Su Yue asked the attendant at the entrance. “Have you seen a man with a scar on his face, accompanied by a small child?”
The waiter nodded immediately. “Yes, I did. They asked for directions to the bathroom. I pointed it out to them.”
“Thank you.” Su Yue turned on her heels and rushed toward the direction of the restrooms.
The corridor was quiet, the soft hum of piano music floating in the air. Su Yue paused in front of the men’s bathroom and called out loudly, “Jiang Ci? Xiao Haohao? Are you inside?”
Silence.
She called again—louder, more urgent—but no answer came. Only silence, thick and unsettling.
Su Yue’s heart began to pound. Something was wrong.
She pulled out her phone and immediately dialed Jiang Ci’s number. She had saved it the last time he called her.
The dial tone rang.
Beep… beep… beep…
No one answered.
Clutching her phone, Su Yue turned to leave, trying to stay calm, trying to think—but just then, from the side, she heard a faint noise.
Her head snapped in the direction of the sound.
It was coming from the escape stairwell.
A chill ran down her spine.
Tightening her grip on the phone, she redialed Jiang Ci’s number. With each step, she moved closer to the white-painted emergency door, the unease in her chest rising like a tide.