Chapter 435: Strange Situation
When the group of four arrived at the barbecue stall off campus, only one shop had just opened.
After all, it’s just past four o’clock, a time with little foot traffic, so not many shops are open, and there aren’t many customers either.
This barbecue stall opened early since it has air conditioning.
It’s Wang Sicong’s first time eating at a place like this, so he’s quite curious and follows Meng Nan to order dishes by the grill.
Lin Tian and Li go inside the shop, enjoying the cool air conditioning.
After sitting down, Li keeps looking outside, seemingly observing something.
Curious, Lin Tian glances back but only sees the two people ordering. He grins mischievously and asks, "Why are you watching them like that? Are you tired of Qiu Wen and looking for a change? Come on, tell me, is it Meng Nan or Wang Sicong you’re interested in? I’ll help you create opportunities."
"Get lost!" Li withdraws his gaze and curses irritably.
Lin Tian chuckles lightly, unfazed.
Suddenly, Li says, "I don’t believe you haven’t noticed."
"Noticed what?" Lin Tian asks, puzzled.
"There’s something off about Wang Sicong," Li replies.
Lin Tian’s face turns serious. He looks back at Wang Sicong, who is enthusiastically ordering dishes, and asks, "What’s off about him?"
"He seems to be trying to create opportunities to come out with us and even seems to be pleasing us deliberately. Like last time, even if he wanted to build a good relationship with us, there was no need for a luxury private room and top-notch beauties, right? Plus, the reason for this outing is nonsensical, and the timing is odd, so I find it very suspicious. Also, I feel he’s targeting you, so you’d better be careful."
Li’s analysis is thorough, and indeed, it all seems very suspicious.
"Why do you think he’s targeting me?" Lin Tian asks.
"Because both Meng Nan and I are too ordinary, only you would be targeted," Li laughs.
Lin Tian falls silent, Li’s words reminding him of the last time at Fu’s Grand Hotel, the turf of Fu Dahai, where Wang Sicong had a 40% stake.
If there’s no connection between these two people, Lin Tian finds it hard to believe.
Could Wang Sicong have been sent by Fu Dahai?
Just then, Meng Nan and Wang Sicong finish ordering dishes and come in carrying a case of chilled beer.
Meng Nan puts the case of beer down on the floor, takes out a few bottles, places them on the table, then sits next to Lin Tian. He bites open a beer bottle cap with his teeth and chugs down half the bottle with a ’glug, glug’.
"Refreshing." He lets out a belch after putting down the bottle. His eyes slyly glance at Li and ask, "Are you two muttering about me?"
Lin Tian pries open a beer bottle cap with an opener. He could have easily flicked it off with his fingers but that would have been too showy, better to stay low-key.
Lin Tian laughs, "So you noticed, huh? Actually, Li has a crush on you and is asking me to set you two up."
"What the—! No way." Meng Nan exclaims, pulling Lin Tian back a bit.
"He’s interested in you, so why are you dragging me away? Relax, I’m not interested in your girlfriend," Lin Tian jokes.
"Get lost!"
Meng Nan and Li curse in unison.
As they joke around, the owner has already grilled two plates of skewers and sends them over.
The skewers are covered in cumin and chili powder; just a whiff is enticing. Wang Sicong can’t help but pick up a slightly charred skewer and inspect it.
"Is this even hygienic?"
He doesn’t lower his voice, so the owner hears and immediately, irritably, says, "Hey, what’s with your brother’s way of talking? How could our skewers not be clean?"
With that, the owner points to a ’business license’ hanging on the wall and says, "Look, this was issued by the health department. We guarantee hygiene here."
Lin Tian smiles at the owner and says, "Don’t mind him, my buddy is just fussy."
"Hmph." The owner snorts, turns around, and leaves.
Obviously, it’s Wang Sicong’s first time at a place like this and the first time someone’s talked to him like that, so he gets upset and picks up a beer bottle, threatening to trash the place. But in the end, he doesn’t act on it, as Li persuades him otherwise.
After this fuss, Wang Sicong loses interest in the skewers and raises his glass, saying, "Less talk, let’s drink first."
The four of them clink glasses and drink it all in one go.
Lin Tian smiles while observing Wang Sicong, who indeed acts very strange.
He was so eager about skewers when they arrived, yet now he acts dismayed. Such inconsistent behavior is suspicious.
Then, Wang Sicong raises his glass and drinks two rounds with Lin Tian. Watching the others enjoy their food, he finally picks up a skewer to try.
"Hey, what business is your family in, seems pretty wealthy?" Lin Tian asks.
At Du’s Grand Hotel last time, Lin Tian thought it was just a coincidence, but today feels different, even Li thinks Wang Sicong is off.
"Oh, just doing business," Wang Sicong replies.
"What kind of business? I heard last time you guys hold a lot of shares in Fu’s Grand Hotel," Meng Nan seems interested too.
The smile on Wang Sicong’s face pauses, "That’s not true. Who told you that? My family doesn’t hold shares in Du’s Grand Hotel."
Meng Nan becomes even more puzzled, "The manager there said it, he can’t be mistaken, right."
"What? The manager there told you that?" Wang Sicong’s expression becomes unnatural, "Maybe it’s true, my family has a lot of businesses, so I’m not sure..."
Lin Tian and Li exchange a glance. Indeed, this guy is suspicious.
After eating the skewers, Li clearly dislikes them and doesn’t touch them again, only chatting and drinking, most often with Lin Tian.
After two beers, Wang Sicong says beer isn’t enough and orders two bottles of white liquor to play dice with Lin Tian. The loser drinks half a glass of white liquor.
While playing dice, Lin Tian notices this guy is quite skilled. Without using his Spiritual Qi, he wouldn’t win against him.
Is he trying to get me drunk?
Lin Tian laughs silently to himself, not exposing the ruse, just keeping the wins and losses balanced.
Every few sips of alcohol, Lin Tian’s Spiritual Qi circulates throughout his body, evaporating all the alcohol. He needs to stay clear-headed but pretends to be tipsy.
Wang Sicong drinks a lot too but is still in good shape. Obviously, his alcohol tolerance is high.
This round, Lin Tian loses again, and Wang Sicong, holding the bottle, laughs as he pours Lin Tian half a bottle of liquor, "You lost again, drink up."
As he pours, he flicks some powder from under his fingernail into the drink.
Others can’t see it, but Lin Tian sees it clearly and immediately sneers.