This Mind-Reading Technique Is Useless. - Chapter 17
Chapter 17: Almost Died. He had a red heart-shaped birthmark on his waist…
Gu Shiying’s illness had drained him of his energy.
Gu Shiying returned to his dorm and slept all afternoon.
When he woke up, it was already 5 p.m., time for lunch at school.
Zhang Zhi’s message arrived at the same time as the end of class.
Zhang Zhi: “Are you feeling better? I brought you some food?”
Gu Shiying was about to reply that he could eat in the cafeteria when Fu Huan came in with a lunch box.
Fu Huan: “Gu Shiying, I brought you dinner. It’s light, so you don’t have to go to the cafeteria.”
Gu Shiying changed the message he was about to send to Zhang Zhi: “Thank you. How much is it? I’ll transfer it to you.”
“Twenty bucks.” Fu Huan had already figured out Gu Shiying and even set his target price.
“…” Gu Shiying glanced at the exquisite lunch box. It must have cost more than twenty. “Are you sure?”
Fu Huan remained calm. “Yes, it’s just porridge and dim sum. The clear broth is just right for you. It’s so cheap without the meat.”
Gu Shiying wasn’t stupid. “Tell me which store it is, and I’ll buy it tomorrow.”
Fu Huan hadn’t expected him to pull that trick. “I just had to go out for something. I bought it on the way back. I forgot where it was.”
Gu Shiying hadn’t expected him to lie so openly. He was at his wit’s end. Fu Huan insisted on taking care of him, constantly making him owe him favors. He couldn’t bring himself to mention the meals he owed. He’d be paying them back in the eons.
The porridge was truly fragrant, though. It had some minced meat, dim sum, and vegetables. It was the size of a grown man. Fu Huan knew his taste.
He felt like he was being manipulated by Fu Huan.
Gu Shiying’s acute gastroenteritis garnered everyone’s concern. Yang Shuheng bought him expensive imported fruit, Guan Yu boiled hot water for him, and Zhang Zhi found time to come over and send him his notes from today’s class, continuing their conversation from that morning.
Zhang Zhi: “Ying’er, let me tell you, I went to a local reunion last time and there was a really beautiful junior schoolmate. She shares your hobbies. Would you two like to get to know each other?”
Gu Shiying: “Shared hobbies?”
Zhang Zhi: “Yes, she also volunteered at the Ren’ai Welfare Home. Didn’t you go there several times last year?”
Gu Shiying: “From our school?”
Zhang Zhi: “Of course. She’s a year younger than us. She’s a good singer and dancer, knows jazz, and plays the piano really well. She’s about 1.7 meters tall, a perfect match for you. She’s tall and thin, and very sweet. Many of the guys we went with that day added her on WeChat. Why don’t you get to know her and become friends?”
Gu Shiying nodded after hearing his enthusiastic recommendation: “Okay.”
Zhang Zhi happily messaged the girl like a pimp, even sending her a photo of Gu Shiying. The girl agreed to let Zhang Zhi send her his business card.
At that moment, a loud bang interrupted Zhang Zhi’s movements. The sound of a flowerpot shattering on the balcony echoed.
Fu Huan entered from the balcony to retrieve the trash can.
Gu Shiying looked up and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Fu Huan: “I accidentally knocked over the flowerpot.”
There was a pot of green ivy in their dorm room, left behind by a senior from the previous class. It was watered by everyone who had time, and the ivy was very resilient and remained strong.
Gu Shiying walked to the balcony and saw that the ceramic pot was indeed broken. “Want to buy another one?”
“Yes, I’ll buy one later.” Fu Huan squatted down to pick up the broken pieces, his eyes wandering over them. Each one was perfectly smooth.
With Fu Huan cleaning up, Gu Shiying didn’t bother.
However, Zhang Zhi’s roommate invited him to play badminton, and before Gu Shiying could come out of the balcony, he was leaving, calling out to her.
“Ying’er, I’ve forwarded you my junior’s WeChat profile. Add her when you have time! The third brother called me, so I’m leaving now!”
Gu Shiying replied from the balcony, “Okay!”
As expected of his good brother!
He observed Fu Huan quietly, only to find him picking up debris from the floor, his expression barely visible. Has he changed?
Although Fu Huan had helped him a lot recently, he still had to maintain his distance and let him know what he should know. Now he should know that he’s attracted to girls, not men.
However, he was thinking of using Zhang Zhi’s words to make Fu Huan understand that he liked girls. When he picked up his phone again, he forgot to add her and instead searched for flower pots online.
Fu Huan came out from behind, carrying a garbage bag.
Gu Shiying expected him to say something, but Fu Huan simply left the dormitory with the garbage. He didn’t notice that Fu Huan had taken a pack of cigarettes and a lighter with him as he passed by his desk.
“You’re trying to kill this tree from the secondhand smoke.” Liang Qi went downstairs after receiving Fu Huan’s message.
Behind the boys’ dormitory was a forest and a small lake. The school was well-maintained and atmospheric, with May Day flags draped from the lampposts on both sides of the road.
Fu Huan was sitting on a bench often used by young couples, puffing away. A few cigarette butts were already in the trash can nearby, one still emitting an unburned spark.
Liang Qi sat down next to Fu Huan and saw him staring at the calm lake ahead, his eyes unfocused. His expression, always aloof and indifferent, was gone, replaced by a desperate expression as if he was about to leap into the water.
“Fu Huan,” Liang Qi patted his shoulder firmly. “What are you daydreaming about?”
That expression was terrifying.
Fu Huan came to his senses and asked, “Do you smoke?”
Liang Qi had no choice but to join him in the smoke. After sharing a cigarette, Liang Qi said, “Are you not keeping an eye on your roommate anymore?”
Fu Huan snorted, his eyes drained of life. “He’s about to meet a new girl.”
Liang Qi rested his hand on the back of his chair. “Honestly, I think you’re really patient. You’ve had a crush on him for a while, haven’t you?”
Fu Huan made no attempt to hide anything: “Yeah.”
Liang Qi: “Have you ever thought about pursuing him?”
Fu Huan: “He’s straight.”
Liang Qi: “Does that mean a straight person can’t pursue him?”
Fu Huan glanced at him: “It would scare me.”
“What era are we in? People nowadays aren’t as homophobic as some traditional people.” Liang Qi said, hinting. “Fu Huan, happiness is something you have to strive for. What if you succeed? Boiling a frog in warm water isn’t realistic. You have to take the initiative.”
Fu Huan: “How do you pursue him?”
Gu Shiying’s life was simple. Besides studying, he worked part-time or volunteered. He’d never been seen in a relationship. Fu Huan felt a bit of a possibility, even a bit relieved. But now Gu Shiying had a crush on someone, and Zhang Zhi was constantly introducing him to other girls. He even had thoughts of meeting other girls. Fu Huan was starting to feel uncomfortable, especially with their recent frequent interactions. He couldn’t just ignore it.
Liang Qi: “You’re asking me? My approach doesn’t suit you.”
Fu Huan: “Indeed.”
Liang Qi: “But the most important thing about pursuing someone is sincerity. Pursuing a girl is different from pursuing a boy. How about this… then this…”
Fu Huan’s tone became increasingly absurd: “Will it work?”
Liang Qi: “How will you know if you don’t try? It’s better than wasting your time here being emo.”
Fu Huan lit another cigarette and disagreed with Liang Qi’s suggestion: “What a stupid idea.”
Liang Qi: “What a stupid idea! You’ll just have to watch Gu Shiying be sweet and affectionate with other girls, and then give him a big red envelope when they get married and have children.”
Fu Huan: “…”
Gu Shiying saw that Fu Huan had been out for a while, and the potted flowers were left scattered and pitiful on the balcony.
He remembered that he had left two pieces of colorful cardboard from his volunteer work last year and could make a makeshift flowerpot.
Being quite handy, he quickly found the cardboard and folded it into a colorful paper pot, then placed the green ivy inside. As long as the bottom doesn’t get wet, it should last until Fu Huan brings back the flowerpot.
After Gu Shiying recovered from his enteritis, he ate bland meals for a few days. Life suddenly lost a lot of its joy, and even class lost its energy.
Thursday afternoon’s last two periods were physical education. At the beginning of the semester, Gu Shiying had listened to Zhang Zhi’s lies and enrolled in swimming lessons with him. However, he had absolutely no talent for swimming, and after more than half a semester, he still wasn’t very good at it.
The two of them changed into swimming trunks and emerged from the boys’ locker room.
Zhang Zhi raised his right arm to show off his biceps to Gu Shiying as they walked.
He boasted, “I’ve been playing badminton every day lately. Look how I’ve been practicing. Can you smell my amazing male hormones?”
Gu Shiying pushed him away with a look of disgust: “Get out! Get away from me.”
The physical education teacher led them in warm-up exercises. Then, those who had learned the basics had free practice, while those who weren’t quite there yet received further instruction from the teacher.
The teacher reminded them how many meters they would have to swim for the final exam.
Gu Shiying’s face grimaced. Why couldn’t he learn it?
Is he really that uncoordinated?
The physical education teacher reminded them, “Students who aren’t very good at swimming should stay out of the deep water. Be careful.”
Then it was time for their free practice.
Zhang Zhi was already competing with the other students, while Gu Shiying was holding the board and practicing kicks. With more practice, he should be able to do it, right?
Gu Shiying wasn’t the only one who hadn’t learned it. There was another girl splashing around in the water just like him.
The girl floundered towards him, nearly colliding with him.
Gu Shiying quickly distanced himself from the other person: “Sorry.”
Girl: “You haven’t learned it either?”
Gu Shiying: “Yeah, I’m a bit clumsy.”
Girl sighed: “I can’t find the trick either. I feel like the teacher is about to give up on me.”
Gu Shiying smiled: “Maybe he’ll give up on me first. You swim better than me, and your form is much more accurate.”
The two rookies exchanged techniques for a while, and then grew bolder.
The girl suggested: “Would you like to try swimming together? Let’s swim to the center line.”
Gu Shiying: “Sure.”
The physical education teacher said he felt pretty good. He’d learned to breathe, and his kicking and paddling movements were all correct. He was just afraid of the water and didn’t dare to swim boldly.
Gu Shiying and the girl encouraged each other, and he let go of the float board and tried to swim.
At first, he swam for a while, then stopped. But then he gained courage. This time, he didn’t choke, and his breathing was no problem. His hard work paid off. He gradually found the trick, and his limbs swam much more smoothly.
However, while Gu Shiying was basking in the joy of his swimming prowess, he unknowingly crossed the designated centerline and swam toward the deep end. As usual, he stopped to stand at the bottom of the pool when he couldn’t swim well, only to find his body sinking lower and lower, his feet unable to touch the ground, his head gradually submerged.
Oh no! It’s deep water!
Fear of water, Gu Shiying, forgetting his teacher’s instructions, took a few sips of water, and even inhaled it through his nose. Suddenly, he felt completely disoriented, his hands flailing in the water!
How could he possibly float?!
Gululu~
Just as his entire body sank, a hand grasped him and pulled him up. A reassuring voice filled his mind.
[Gu Shiying, you idiot, can you stop scaring me?]
You’re the idiot. You almost died.
A few seconds after Gu Shiying was pulled from the water…
[There’s a red heart-shaped birthmark on his waist. Damn it. 】
“Puff.”
Gu Shiying couldn’t help but spit a mouthful of water onto Fu Huan’s face.
Fu Huan: “…”
Author’s Note:
———————-
Fu Huan: [Dog-headed rose] My wife is beautiful, every bit of her is beautiful!