Forced into a romantic relationship

Chapter 152 You let Guzheng answer the phone

Are people arguing over there?

Guzheng also noticed the commotion in the distance. There were many figures standing under the streetlights, seemingly engaged in a heated argument, with shouts and curses that could be heard from afar.

Although it was impossible to hear what the two sides were arguing about from a distance, one could tell from the few words they exchanged how intense the argument was, with both sides exuding a strong sense of tension and seemingly on the verge of a physical fight.

Han Zhou wasn't interested in the argument. He glanced at it casually and then looked away, saying, "Don't worry about it. The school closes at midnight. If we don't go back soon, we'll have to stay outside."

"Oh."

Gu Zheng nodded. She didn't want to join in the fun; she was just a little curious about the reason for the argument.

Han Zhou took out his phone, just about to call a taxi on a ride-hailing app, when the phone rang suddenly. The caller was Chen Long.

Why is this guy calling me at this time?
Han Zhou was somewhat surprised and immediately answered the phone: "Hello?"

"Hey, Han Zhou!"

The noise from Chen Long's end was deafening, with voices mixed with jarring music, sounding like it was in a bar. "It's me, Ah Long!"

"I know it's you, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just suddenly remembered something!" Chen Long probably realized he was speaking too loudly, so he raised his voice and asked, "Are you going back to your dorm tonight?"

"Of course I'm going back. I'm getting ready to go back right away."

"Then I have to remind you, Hai Ge, Lao Huo, and I are all out and won't be going back to the dorm tonight. Did you bring your key?"

"That's not true..."

Han Zhou was taken aback, and said with a strange expression, "Besides, didn't you tell me not to bring my key? You said you'd all be in the dorm tonight and could open the door for me anytime. Why are you all outside now?"

He vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

"What? Speak louder, I can't hear you!"

Chen Long shouted at the top of his lungs, "Anyway, if you don't have your keys, you'd better not come back tonight. You won't be able to get into the dorm!"

"Then I'll come find you to get the keys..."

"It's too late! By the time you find us and get back to the dorm, the school gates will probably be closed! But I think I reminded you to bring your ID card before you left. If all else fails, just find a hotel room outside tonight! That's all. Hey, it seems like he threw up. I'll go check on him!"

Without giving Han Zhou a chance to speak, Chen Long quickly hung up the phone.

Seeing Han Zhou looking at his phone with a complicated expression, Gu Zheng asked in confusion, "Han Zhou, what happened?"

Han Zhou shook his head: "It's nothing, it's just that I probably won't be able to go back to school tonight..."

He told Gu Zheng what Chen Long had said.

At this moment, although he had doubts, he didn't think too much about it and was completely unaware that this was actually a "conspiracy" orchestrated by Lin Anyu.

A "conspiracy" that forced him and Guzheng to stay overnight away from home.

Lin Anyu had watched the movie "The Unmanned Hotel" a couple of days ago and knew that the movie was nearly three hours long. The movie started at eight o'clock and he wouldn't finish watching it until eleven o'clock at the earliest, which saved him the trouble of trying to find a way to prolong the time.

By 11 p.m., Han Zhou definitely needed to return to school as soon as possible, because the drive between the two schools was about 40 minutes, and the school gates of Linda University would close at midnight, so he had to hurry back.

If Han Zhou finds out he can't go into the dorm and doesn't have enough time to think about it, he will most likely choose to stay off-campus for the night.

Of course, asking the dormitory supervisor for a spare key is a viable option, but Lin Anyu knows Han Zhou well. If he can't be 100% sure he can get into the dormitory, Han Zhou will most likely give up the option of going back to school, since going back to the dormitory isn't absolutely necessary.

As for why Chen Long and the others suddenly decided to spend the night outside... that was naturally planned by Lin Anyu.

His claim during a meal that his car had been borrowed was also for this purpose.

Otherwise, if he drove Han Zhou and Gu Zheng back, and Han Zhou received a call deciding to stay overnight, his presence would affect Han Zhou and Gu Zheng's judgment. In short, he would become a third wheel, which was something he didn't want to see.

And that was the whole plan behind Lin Anyu's words, "This is all I can do to help you," during the meal.

He didn't need to make any arrangements for Guzheng; he just needed to make Han Zhou stay overnight outside. As expected, Guzheng would most likely be worried about seeing Han Zhou alone outside, especially since she had just watched a horror movie and might not dare to take the bus back to school alone.

And indeed, just as Lin Anyu had thought, Gu Zheng hesitated slightly upon learning that Han Zhou planned to stay out all night, and asked, "So you're going to stay at a hotel tonight?"

"Okay." Han Zhou nodded. "I'll get you a taxi. You should go home first, or you won't be able to get back if you stay any longer."

Gu Zheng hesitated, ultimately too embarrassed to say something like, "Then I won't go back and will stay outside with you." However, her eyes lit up, and she quickly came up with a solution.

"Don't take a taxi yet!"

She stopped Han Zhou from confirming the order on his phone in time, and then pretended to be unhappy, "Have you forgotten something?"

"what?"

Han Zhou was stunned for a moment, not quite able to react.

Gu Zheng feigned displeasure and said, "I heard you prepared a big surprise for me today, but it's almost midnight, where's the surprise?"

Han Zhou then realized what was happening and panicked slightly, coughing twice before saying, "I almost forgot about it if you hadn't mentioned it..."

Gu Zheng sensed his guilt almost immediately, narrowed her eyes and questioned, "You didn't prepare anything at all, did you?"

His displeasure was written all over his face.

Han Zhou hesitated for a moment, then said with a forced smile, "We have made preparations, but the time is a bit rushed..."

He reached into his pocket, about to take out something he had prepared, but was stopped by Guzheng's voice.

"Never mind, I knew right away that the surprise thing was just Lin Anyu trying to fool me. You only found out about this later, right?"

The girl waved her hand and said, "You don't need to force yourself. I can tell from your expression that you don't have much confidence in what you're going to bring out."

Han Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and said with a sense of relief, "I really didn't have much confidence."

He didn't take the things out of his pocket, not because he thought Guzheng would be disgusted, but because he was worried that she would be unable to accept the disappointment of having her huge expectations dashed, since what he had prepared was hardly a "big surprise".

He scrutinized Guzheng's expression, trying to glean something from her face, but all he received in return was a glare from the girl: "Do you think I'll be very unhappy? Or angry with you?"

"A little," Han Zhou nodded and then shook his head. "Mainly, I think you'll be very disappointed."

From a "dating" perspective, he did absolutely nothing today. He was completely unprepared, and even the movie tickets were bought at the last minute, resulting in him watching a midnight horror movie that nobody would watch. He managed to mess up something he had already agreed to do, which can be considered a complete failure.

"I'm not that petty."

Gu Zheng said irritably, "You didn't say those things, so why should I be angry with you? The only thing that upsets me is that you're hiding something from me. The reason Lin Anyu lied to me with those words was because you were doing something this morning that you didn't want me to see, right?"

Gu Zheng is not a stupid girl; on the contrary, she is very smart. She just doesn't usually overthink things, especially those involving Han Zhou.

She trusted Han Zhou; he might lie to her, but at least he wouldn't use deception to hurt her.

Seeing that Han Zhou remained silent, she continued, "You only promised to watch a movie with me, that's enough. You didn't say anything else, so why should I be angry with you for no reason?"

"Then won't you feel disappointed?" Han Zhou couldn't help but ask again.

To be honest, he didn't even do the simple request of accompanying the other person to watch a movie.

"of course not……"

Gu Zheng shook her head, wanting to deny it, but in the end she honestly admitted it, raising an index finger and saying, "A little bit... but just a little bit!"

She suddenly raised her head and said smugly, "I'm a person who is easily satisfied."

"Really?" Han Zhou couldn't help but tease, "So easily satisfied, yet so eager to be number one?"

"These are not the same thing, okay?"

Guzheng muttered to herself, "Besides, I don't always have to be number one..."

The distant arguing had disappeared sometime earlier, and the night suddenly became quiet. The streetlights cast long shadows of the two of them, stretching all the way to the movie posters on the wall. Han Zhou stared intently at the guzheng, who noticed his gaze and, thinking he was still overthinking things, puffed out her cheeks and said, "Stop looking, I told you I'm not angry."

"I know, but I'm just a little touched. You've suddenly become so understanding, it makes me feel guilty."

"What do you mean by 'suddenly becoming so understanding'?" Gu Zheng asked, looking displeased. "Haven't I always been like this?"

"Yes, it's always been like this, that's why I feel guilty..."

Han Zhou smiled, then changed the subject, saying, "Today's surprise really isn't impressive enough. How about we reschedule? Your birthday isn't far off, how about we do it on that day?"

"real or fake?"

Gu Zheng paused for two seconds, then looked away somewhat awkwardly. "You need to understand, I might not take other people's words to heart, but I will believe what you say yourself. If you lie to me, I will definitely get angry."

"How dare I lie to you?"

"Then I'll remember that. If you lie to me, you're finished..."

Guzheng was clearly delighted, but quickly put on a serious face, turned her head away and muttered, "But you don't need to worry too much. Actually, I don't care that much about whether it's a surprise or not. As long as you have the intention, that's enough. It's not that... actually, I'm just happy as long as you remember..."

Han Zhou listened to her rambling with a smile, then suddenly remembered something, quickly turned on his phone screen to check the time, and his expression changed.

"It happened!"

"What's wrong?" Guzheng looked at him.

"I was so busy talking that I didn't notice the time. Even if you manage to hail a taxi right now, you probably won't make it back to school in time, so..."

"So I can't go back?"

Gu Zheng picked up where he left off, her tone somewhat excited.

"It seems that's how it is..."

Han Zhou sighed; tonight's events had completely deviated from his expectations.

However, Gu Zheng didn't mind, or rather, that was exactly what she wanted to do. She casually said, "It's okay, I can just stay out for one night."

"You?" Han Zhou was taken aback and looked at her in surprise.

"What's wrong with me?" Gu Zheng took out her ID card from her bag. "I brought my ID card with me, okay?"

Before Han Zhou could speak, she urged, "Let's go, or we won't even be able to find a hotel room if we stay any later."

The two found a hotel nearby. Although there were many people staying at the hotel that night, the classic scenario of only having one double room left in the entire hotel did not occur. The two booked two adjacent rooms and then walked towards the elevator with their room cards.

However, just as they were about to board the elevator, Han Zhou suddenly noticed that Gu Zheng's complexion was not quite right and asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No."

Gu Zheng's face turned pale. She secretly swallowed and asked in a low voice, "Don't you think this hotel's layout is very similar to the hotel in the movie?"

Han Zhou was taken aback. He looked around and said with a wry smile, "It doesn't look like it, or rather, it's a completely different architectural style."

He understood immediately; Guzheng had clearly associated the horror scenes in the movie with something else and suddenly felt scared.

"Is that so? But the more I look at it, the more it seems like it..."

Gu Zheng looked around, recalling a place that sent chills down her spine, and said nervously, "Also, don't you think that receptionist's smile was creepy? Just like in the movies."

If nothing unexpected happens, that should be a normal smile he'd give when he sees a young couple checking into a hotel...

Han Zhou mentally scoffed, then comforted him, "Don't think too much about it. Movies are movies, and reality is reality. At least the receptionist in real life won't suddenly disappear like in the movies, right?"

Gu Zheng remained silent for a long time, staring blankly behind her.

Han Zhou turned around and saw that the receptionist who had been greeting them with a smile had disappeared without a trace, and there was not a single person in front of the cashier.

Gu Zheng stared at him blankly, as if asking how to explain this.

Fortunately, Han Zhou didn't need to explain. The next second, the cashier's head suddenly popped out from under the counter. Judging from his clapping, he was probably bending down to tie his shoelaces.

Seemingly noticing their gazes, he gave them a friendly smile.

Han Zhou chuckled to himself; he knew it was a coincidence. He comforted him, "See? I told you it wasn't..."

"Han Zhou," Gu Zheng interrupted him, suddenly looking up at him with a serious expression, "Are you scared?"

"Huh?" Han Zhou was taken aback, and subconsciously replied, "I'm not afraid."

After a moment of silence, Gu Zheng's expression turned serious, and she asked again, "Are you scared?"

Han Zhou was both amused and exasperated: "Don't be afraid."

"I know you're scared, but you don't have to hold it in."

"I'm really not afraid."

"No, you're scared."

"I'm really not afraid."

"You're scared."

"I really don't..."

Gu Zheng punched him expressionlessly.

No, you are very scared.

Han Zhou: "..."

"Okay, I'm scared..."

Thus, Han Zhou, feeling extremely frightened, had no choice but to find the receptionist, cancel the two rooms he had just booked, and ask for a new double room.

Gu Zheng, who was usually fearless, couldn't help but shudder. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the smile on the receptionist's face had become even more eerie...

It wasn't until the two entered the room and closed the door that Gu Zheng realized what she had just done and her current situation, and her heart started racing uncontrollably.

This was a real situation where a man and a woman were alone in a room. It would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous, but it was obviously not a good time to show weakness. She was the one who forced Han Zhou to switch their two rooms to one, and if she acted coy now, he would definitely laugh at her.

With that in mind, she tried her best to appear calm and composed. After repeatedly confirming that no one outside could see into the bathroom, she left her phone and bag on the bed and calmly walked into the bathroom.

"I'll take a shower first."

Besides putting on a brave face, her calmness might also be attributed to the fact that the two had once spent the night together, although this time there was no room separating them at all.

Gu Zheng felt nervous and uneasy, and Han Zhou's mood was naturally not calm either; his breathing became uncontrollably heavy.

He took a deep breath, feeling that everything today was truly unexpected. He never imagined that he would end up sharing a room with Guzheng... Thinking about it, he began to feel sleepy.

In order to get to the coffee shop early to help Lin Anyu deal with his online girlfriend, he got up very early today. In addition, he hadn't had a moment's rest all day, so he felt sleepy soon after sitting down and his eyelids kept drooping.

In his drowsy state, he heard a cell phone ringing by the bedside, so he picked it up and answered the call.

"Hey?"

"It's Uncle Gu... Yes, we're together now... You're asking about Gu Zheng? Oh, she's taking a shower right now."

"Hello? Hello?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before Gu Lang's almost gritted-teeth voice finally came through.

"Let Guzheng answer the phone!"

(End of this chapter)