This Mind-Reading Technique Is Useless. - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Disinfection. Make him owe me another meal.

Gu Shiying followed the address Yang Shuheng had given him.

It was a Northeastern barbecue restaurant set up in a tent. The proprietress spoke with a genuine Northeastern accent. Passing by other tables, she noticed the portions of barbecue were generous, not small; two large skewers were enough to fill anyone up.

Yang Shuheng waved at Gu Shiying: “Ying’er! Here!”

They were quite easy to spot.

The restaurant was filled with camping chairs, giving it a camping atmosphere.

Gu Shiying and Zhang Zhi occasionally went out for dinner, but they usually went to old restaurants on small streets, more down-to-earth, while this place had a trendy feel.

“Hello.”

“Little Gu, come on, sit here.” Shitou patted the seat next to him.

Gu Shiying really didn’t want to sit next to him, but he hadn’t done anything actual harm to Yang Shuheng yet. He wondered if he could get more information today.

He sat down anyway.

“See you again, Brother Shitou,” Gu Shiying greeted them openly.

They were all older than Gu Shiying and Yang Shuheng, something Gu Shiying had overheard from Yang Shuheng over the past few days.

The last time, they had just finished their performance, and they all looked tired and hungry, but they still weren’t very enthusiastic towards Gu Shiying, and even ignored Yang Shuheng’s words.

Gu Shiying keenly noticed that there were significant issues among the members of Yang Shuheng’s band.

The lead singer, Big Brother, was the oldest among them, at twenty-eight. Compared to the others, he was indeed much calmer. Gu Shiying knew that under their Douyin videos, fans had paired him and Brother Shitou with a “parents’ love couple.”

This band, really, wasn’t very popular, and they were all influenced by the usual Chinese entertainment formulas.

They were creating personas, hyping up their couples, and rooting for their teammates, but now it was clear that they weren’t actually in harmony.

If it weren’t for the power of mind reading, Gu Shiying wouldn’t have known the complexities of the world outside his ivory tower.

When men have a barbecue, beer is a given. Gu Shiying’s alcohol tolerance isn’t great, and since he’d just recovered from a cold, no one was pushing him, so he just ate with a straight face and said very little.

However, Brother Shitou seemed to be mediating, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up a bit.

Gu Shiying chatted with them about trending gossip and anecdotes. During this time, Gu Shiying tried to get in touch with their thoughts.

The group ate from nine to eleven p.m., and according to their usual schedule, they usually went out in the evening, but today, due to special circumstances, they ended the performance early.

As far as Gu Shiying knew, their performances were always in the evening, so ending at nine o’clock today was quite early.

When he arrived, he could see that everyone looked a little uneasy. Even Yang Shuheng was a little quiet tonight, and the bassist even made a few sarcastic remarks to him.

Seeing Yang Shuheng looking unhappy, Gu Shiying thought of Fu Huan’s comments about him smelling good. He sniffed his own clothes, but they only smelled of laundry detergent. How could they smell good?

While the other four were chatting, Gu Shiying whispered to Yang Shuheng, “Heng, do I smell good?”

Yang Shuheng leaned closer, “No, I can’t smell it.”

Gu Shiying was certain: He just said he didn’t smell good, so what could that bastard Fu Huan be thinking?

“I thought I did.”

“What? Did someone say you were not well?”

“That’s not the case,” Gu Shiying said, changing the subject. “By the way, why did you finish so quickly today? What happened?”

Yang Shuheng forced a smile, “Nothing, we just finished early.”

As soon as Gu Shiying mentioned this, Shitou, who was standing next to him, looked over and smiled at him.

The lead singer said, “It’s late, Ah Heng, why don’t you go back to school? We need to go too.”

Shitou’s face was flushed from drinking, but his eyes showed he wasn’t drunk. In fact, his eyes kept darting around, clearly showing no intention of paying.

It was then that Gu Shiying realized that while they had all agreed to leave, no one had reached for their phones to pay.

Only Yang Shuheng skillfully scanned the QR code on the table to pay.

Gu Shiying: “…” No way, Yang Shuheng really was treating.

He noticed Shitou’s body swaying slightly as he stood up, so he pretended to help him up.

Gu Shiying: “Brother, you’re not drunk, are you?”

Shitou: “You underestimate me, don’t you? How could I possibly be drunk? I could handle another dozen!”

Gu Shiying: “Really?”

Shitou: “Little Gu, next time your cold is over, let’s play with each other!”

Gu Shiying boasted to him: “Sure, I’ll definitely beat you.”

Finally, he’d read Shitou’s mind.

[Yang Shuheng will be kicked out of the band tomorrow. No one will have to play with this young man anymore!]

Everyone? Could it be that all the band members have a problem with Yang Shuheng?

What happened?

He could sense something had happened tonight.

What should he do? They were about to leave, and he didn’t know what was going on.

Gu Shiying tried to get closer to the bassist who had been playing with Yang Shuheng, deliberately picking up his bag and pretending to accidentally touch his finger.

After what happened today, Yang Shuheng probably won’t come back. What a shame! No one’s going to buy me cigarettes anymore, and I’ll never get any more money from the rich second generation.

Gu Shiying: What the hell?

What about the lead singer, the one Yang Shuheng praised for his talent?

Gu Shiying slipped on the water and helped the lead singer: “Sorry, I slipped.”

Lead singer: “Oh, it’s okay, be careful.”

[I’m sorry, Yang Shuheng, but there’s nothing we can do. Let’s just treat this as a farewell dinner.]

Just as Gu Shiying was feeling distressed, a tall, drunk man stumbled up ahead and bumped into Yang Shuheng.

The man muttered, “Why aren’t you looking where you’re going!”

Yang Shuheng didn’t say anything, but Shitou suddenly leaned forward and pushed him. Completely fooled, Yang Shuheng crashed into the man who had bumped into him.

The tall, burly man said, “What the hell?”

With that, he turned and tried to fight back. Gu Shiying, quick-witted, pulled Yang Shuheng away, avoiding the blow.

At that moment, Shitou fought back: “My brother hit you, and you dared to fight back!”

Gu Shiying: “?” Is Shitou a troublemaker?

The more he spoke, the angrier the tall, burly man became at Yang Shuheng, and a fistfight ensued.

The tall, burly man had come with a friend, and seeing his friend being beaten, the other man joined in the fight.

Gu Shiying had absolutely no desire to get involved in Shitou’s deliberate provocation.

“What the hell! Stop it!”

But it was no use. Even Yang Shuheng had impulsively joined the fray, and Gu Shiying couldn’t pull him away.

Someone grabbed a portable chair and smashed it on Gu Shiying’s head!

Just as he raised his hand to block the blow, a long leg kicked the man in the waist, sending him crashing down onto the nearby Stone Brother, both of them falling to the ground.

The boss and the waiter immediately separated the two men fighting.

Gu Shiying then looked up at the newcomer: “Fu Huan?”

Fu Huan: “What a jerk! He came out to start a fight.”

Gu Shiying explained: “I wasn’t fighting, they were.” He raised his hands to prove his innocence, only realizing afterward that his gesture was odd and why he had to explain to Fu Huan.

Someone was controlling the situation, and neither side clashed further. The other party was also reasonable, and they excused themselves by saying they had been drinking and lost control of their emotions, and the two dispersed.

As for the boss, they were used to big scenes and said nothing more.

Liang Qi supported Yang Shuheng, who had been punched several times.

Stone Brother and the lead singer also left in a taxi, still upset.

Gu Shiying noticed Yang Shuheng’s handsome face was slightly swollen. “Heng, are you okay?”

Yang Shuheng’s arm, struck by a punch, “It hurts like hell!”

Liang Qi: “You were fighting pretty hard just now.”

Gu Shiying then looked at them: “Why are you here?”

Liang Qi glanced at Fu Huan and smiled meaningfully. “We were out for a late-night snack and happened to see you fighting.”

Gu Shiying had been defending himself and hadn’t fought, but he had been hit on the shoulder and was rubbing it. However, he was thinking about Brother Shitou’s deliberate provocation and felt the need to talk about it openly.

Gu Shiying: “Heng, you weren’t the one who hit anyone first.”

Yang Shuheng realized belatedly: “What?”

Gu Shiying: “I saw it. You were just trying to let it go, but Shitou deliberately provoked him, and then we discovered the argument. Have you ever thought about why he did that?”

Yang Shuheng recalled the events leading up to the fight. He had indeed not intended to argue with the person who bumped into him: “I really didn’t mean to make a fuss, but…” He began to wonder if it was just as Gu Shiying said.

Gu Shiying didn’t give him a chance, instead giving him three quick jabs: “Did something happen with your band tonight? Do you always pay when you go out to eat? Never split the bill?”

Yang Shuheng had never thought about it, but he was still stunned when Gu Shiying brought it up.

“How did you know that?”

As roommates for over a year, Gu Shiying knew Yang Shuheng wasn’t short of money, but he knew it was all his family’s money. After a few days of inquiries, it seemed he wasn’t making much money from the band, and it even seemed like he was even contributing to it.

Gu Shiying: “I saw it.”

Liang Qi: “Sounds like they’re being taken advantage of.”

Fu Huan: “Yeah.”

Yang Shuheng said weakly, “But they don’t have much money, do they? I think it’s okay for them to pay.”

Gu Shiying urged him to be more clear-headed: “But you’re just a student, and doesn’t your band have income? Why can’t they use their income to pay the bills? Why do you always pay? Also, what happened to you tonight?”

Yang Shuheng saw that Gu Shiying was genuinely worried about him, so he said, “My guitar broke during the performance tonight. There was no sound when I went on stage. I had a stage accident.”

Liang Qi’s mind raced: “How many times have you had a stage accident?”

Yang Shuheng counted carefully: “The third time in this period.”

“People can’t keep making the same mistakes,” Gu Shiying concluded. “Are they planning to kick you out of the band?”

Yang Shuheng scratched his hair and argued, “No way. Why would they kick me out?”

The answer to that question was known only to Yang Shuheng.

Fu Huan: “Let’s go back to school first.”

Yang Shuheng returned to his dorm, filled with doubts he hadn’t considered until now. He sat in a chair, speechless and speechless.

Gu Yu looked from Gu Shiying to Yang Shuheng, wondering how the three of them could be like this after just one outing.

Gu Shiying wanted to comfort Yang Shuheng, but Fu Huan stopped him.

Fu Huan: “Gu Shiying, come to the balcony.”

Gu Shiying followed him to the balcony: “What’s going on?”

Fu Huan held an iodine cotton swab: “Apply some medicine.”

Gu Shiying: “I’m not hurt.”

Fu Huan pointed to the back of his left hand: “Here.”

Gu Shiying glanced down. Someone’s nails must have scratched his skin, and he hadn’t even noticed.

Fu Huan grabbed his wrist and blew on it: “We need to disinfect it.”

No, just apply the medicine. Why are you blowing on it?

[Can you please stop worrying me? If I don’t arrive on time tonight, this idiot will definitely get his head chopped off.]

[Make him owe me another meal.]

Gu Shiying: “…”

A mixture of emotions washed over him. It was so awful that Fu Huan had taken the opportunity to owe him another meal.

Author’s Note:

———————-

Fu Huan: [Dog-headed with a rose] Honey, blow me some more sometime.

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100 random red envelopes~