Forced into a romantic relationship

Chapter 166 Yixia, My Yixia!
"It really is a great place, a romantic spot."

As the sun slanted westward, it burned the horizon a fiery red. The afterglow fell on the rooftops, leaped off the windowsills, swept past vehicles and crowds, and finally kissed the face of the girl in the blue dress at the bottom of the slope, causing a faint blush to creep onto her cheeks.

Han Zhou hesitated, but when he looked at the girl beside him with her hands behind her back and walking briskly, his urge to complain inexplicably vanished.

Regardless of the actual quality of the romantic spots we visited today, the fact that they made this guy happy means they must be pretty good places to go.

But to be fair, this guy seems to have a more girlish side after taking off his school uniform...

"It's really good."

He casually echoed the sentiment, then stretched his arm and yawned.

It was nearly dusk, and the streets were bathed in a crimson glow. An unidentified bird perched on a telephone pole, its wings folded to its sides, tilting its head as it gazed at everything on the ground.

To such a creature, there is no difference between tourists and local residents on the street; in its eyes, they are all just flightless creatures. Of course, it cannot understand that today is a very important day for these flightless creatures.

Do you think so too?

Mo Yixia turned to look at Han Zhou, the setting sun casting a reddish hue on her long hair. "So, which place do you like the most?"

"My favorite place..." Han Zhou thought for a moment, "It should be Muqing Garden."

The scenery of Muqing Garden is surprisingly beautiful, with a natural and refreshing beauty. I don't know why it hasn't become a well-known tourist attraction in Yecheng. There are hardly any tourists from other places nearby, making it quite quiet.

"What about you?" he asked.

“Of course it’s the Bridge of Hearing Hearts,” Mo Yixia said without hesitation. “After all, I heard your thoughts through it back then. It’s a truly magical place.”

"My innermost thoughts?" Han Zhou's expression instantly turned wary, and he asked cautiously, "What are they?"

He certainly didn't believe that Wenxin Bridge could make people hear their thoughts, but he had no doubt that the guy in front of him had the ability to "read minds".

"Let me think, it's probably like this..."

Mo Yixia hesitated for a moment, seemingly recalling something, then suddenly raised her hands high, her voice fervent, "'Yixia, my Yixia! You are mine! It's just that you're not an adult yet, but next year, I'll definitely have you...'"

She paused, lowered her arms, and resumed her usual demeanor, saying lazily, "The rest is too vulgar, so I won't say it. You should know better than me what you're thinking."

Han Zhou's lips twitched. Before he could speak, he saw the other person looking at him with some dissatisfaction: "But I heard it so clearly, didn't you hear what I was thinking?"

"No, actually you didn't hear very clearly..."

"What were my thoughts at that time?" Mo Yixia continued to press.

"did not hear."

"You heard me."

"I really didn't hear it."

"I definitely heard it."

Han Zhou said irritably, "I almost pulled you off the bridge with me. I was completely focused on crossing the bridge, how could I be listening to your thoughts?"

"That's right..."

Mo Yixia looked thoughtful, then nodded as if understanding, "Then as compensation, I'll tell you directly now."

"Let's forget it, I don't want to hear it." Han Zhou was on high alert, afraid that this guy would say something nonsensical again. "It's better to keep it a little mysterious."

"Fine, if you don't want to listen, then so be it."

Surprisingly, Mo Yixia didn't persist as he expected. Instead, she gave him a look that said, "You've really lost out," and then said nothing more.

Han Zhou was stunned. Could it be that this guy really intended to tell him his true thoughts?
The slope was long and its destination was unknown. The two slowed their pace, feeling the slight coolness of autumn, and walked up the slope at a leisurely pace.

After a while, Mo Yixia suddenly said, "There's another reason why I like Wenxin Bridge: the temple next to it is very humane, and I got a good fortune slip."

She shouldn't have brought it up, because once she did, Han Zhou's face was full of helplessness. He sighed and said, "It is indeed quite humane. You must have drawn that fortune stick at least ten times... Although we don't need to believe in this, you should at least show some respect for the temple when you draw the fortune stick."

Mo Yixia said calmly, "Paying for a redraw is a clear rule of the temple. I'm just following the rules honestly. What's disrespectful about that?"

"That's why I'm wondering how a temple like this can keep operating for so long..."

Han Zhou muttered to himself that he had never heard of a temple where you could draw a fortune stick a second time if you weren't satisfied with the first one, and the worst part was that it had actually become a paid service...

"Of course it's because the fortune sticks at this temple are very accurate," Mo Yixia said dismissively. "People with ability have privileges, just like me."

Han Zhou wisely refrained from asking about her abilities, and instead complained, "You can draw lots at this temple repeatedly, so you don't know which one is accurate. How accurate can it really be?"

“Of course, the most accurate one is the good one.” Mo Yixia looked at him strangely. “Isn’t the point of repeatedly drawing lots to get the best one? Of course, we won’t accept any of the others that we’re not satisfied with.”

Seeing the other person's self-righteous attitude, Han Zhou was amazed. This girl's shamelessness was beyond targeting any one person; even metaphysics couldn't stop her...

But this can be seen as a kind of "my fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens"...

He was both amused and exasperated, and asked curiously, "So what kind of auspicious fortune did you get?"

Mo Yixia seemed to have been waiting for him to ask a question. She pretended to recall for a while before slowing down her speech and saying, "'Go straight to the Immortal Rock to learn immortality, but who knew that once the emperor proclaims it, the blue sky and the sun and moon will always shine brightly, and a righteous heart will spread fame throughout the four seas'... This is a fortune slip."

"Sounds pretty good." Han Zhou pondered for a moment, then asked, "What do you mean?"

They consulted monks at the temple separately when they were interpreting the divination slips. The monks said that only the person interpreting the slips could understand the meaning, otherwise it would bring bad consequences. At first, he thought it was quite mysterious, until he saw the monk openly searching for how to interpret the divination slips on his phone right in front of him...

The reason they don't allow multiple people to enter together for fortune telling is probably to prevent them from being ganged up on...

Han Zhou found it hard to describe his feelings at the time. Fortunately, interpreting the divination was free, but he guessed that guy would be too embarrassed to accept money.

Mo Yixia, unaware of his current mood, replied, "Be consistent from beginning to end, don't waver, keep your mind focused, and you'll encounter many helpful people."

This is the interpretation of this fortune slip.

Han Zhou pondered for a moment and then asked, "Does it mean that you will have a benefactor to help you in your endeavors?"

"Pretty much." Mo Yixia nodded. "As long as you keep enriching yourself, you can achieve higher ideals. In order to successfully give birth to a boy or a girl, in addition to enriching your knowledge of reproduction, you also need to be generous to others and do good deeds in life. These are the things to note when seeking pregnancy and children."

Han Zhou's expression remained relatively normal upon hearing the first part, but he was instantly dumbfounded upon hearing the second half, even doubting his own ears: "What the heck? Praying for pregnancy and children?"

“Yes.” Mo Yixia glanced at him indifferently and said matter-of-factly, “I drew lots to pray for a child.”

Han Zhou's lips twitched, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood: "Don't be ridiculous!"

"Is it absurd? What's so strange about being prepared?" Mo Yixia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking at him with a half-smile. "You don't actually think I'm praying for a marriage, do you?"

Han Zhou's expression froze, and his face became somewhat unnatural. He had actually been thinking that just now...

"That's not it."

Of course, he wouldn't admit it, and feigned composure to deny it, saying, "Speaking of which, the scenery in Yecheng is really quite nice, with a kind of indescribable local charm. No wonder it has become a well-known tourist city."

Mo Yixia could naturally see through such a clumsy attempt to change the subject. She gazed at the city that the other person had described as having a lively atmosphere and sighed, "You guessed right, I did indeed pray for a marriage match. I don't know what you're feeling guilty about."

Han Zhou remained silent.

“If you have someone you like and want to pursue them, you need to learn the art of relationships between men and women, and how to cultivate love. Only by doing so can your path to love develop smoothly.” Mo Yixia softened her voice and said in a slightly gentle tone, “That’s the answer to love. Although I don’t know how to cultivate love yet, I am well-versed in the art of relationships between men and women… It seems my path to love will be very smooth, right?”

A gentle evening breeze blew by, lifting the girl's long hair and skirt. She held down the hem of her skirt with one hand, lifted her hair with the other, and turned to look at the setting sun.

Besides the sunset, you can also see Yecheng's largest lake, Baishui Lake, in that direction. At this time, most of the sun has sunk into the water, and the surface of the water looks like it's on fire, sparkling and merging with the blood-red sky, like a burning painting.

The air was briefly still, then another gust of wind blew by.

It tears apart the setting sun, stirs the lake's surface, and lifts the girl's toes.

The next moment, the girl in the blue dress seemed to become part of the scene in the painting. Her slightly reddish long hair disappeared into the sunset, while her azure dress sank into the lake.

The shimmering light blends seamlessly with the sky, making one wonder whether the girl comes from heaven or exists on earth.

Han Zhou was stunned. He subconsciously held his breath, and the words "The art of getting along between men and women that you're talking about isn't driving, is it?" got stuck in his throat and gradually disappeared.

I was afraid of disturbing this scene.

Do you think it will go smoothly?

After a while, the girl in the painting withdrew her gaze. The setting sun cast a red glow on half of her face, and her expression was vivid as she faced Han Zhou's profile. "If this fortune could come true, I would be really looking forward to it."

This girl, who hates anticipation, said "I'm really looking forward to it" for the first time.

For a moment, Han Zhou almost couldn't help but surrender. This guy only made a slight move, and he almost couldn't defend himself. He almost said some things that he shouldn't have said.

"Yixia, my Yixia! You are mine!"

The other person's obviously nonsensical words still faintly echoed in his ears, and what was terrifying was that similar thoughts actually surfaced in his mind...

That's terrifying... Besides mind reading, could this guy also have the ability to foresee the future?
Han Zhou was filled with mixed emotions. He barely managed to calm himself down and said vaguely, "I guess so, if you're not referring to having a child..."

"is it?"

Mo Yixia observed him carefully for a while, and perhaps having obtained a satisfactory answer, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said with a faint smile, "Would you like to hear what the fortune slip I drew at the beginning was?"

"It must be a bad omen, otherwise you wouldn't keep asking for it again."

“Hmm.” Mo Yixia said calmly, “‘When the wind blows, the candle is lit and the shadow is sparse, it seems to spread out like flowers in a mirror. The rivers and mountains are waiting to be gathered, but how can we know that they are just a fleeting illusion?’ The meaning of the divination is that there is no need to seek anything, as everything is predetermined. All things that are sought and hoped for are like a dream, which cannot be obtained. This is all fate.”

"That really sounds like a terrible omen."

Han Zhou sensed a heavy feeling that no matter how hard they tried, everything would ultimately be just a mirage.

Mo Yixia nodded slightly and continued, "If you pursue love, even if you seem to be lovers for a while, it will eventually come to nothing and there will be no follow-up. Several pursuits will ultimately be like a dream without a happy ending—that is the meaning of this fortune stick."

The fate of wanting but not getting seems somewhat tragic, but Han Zhou didn't feel too much about it. Neither he nor Mo Yixia believed in these things. They would take a good fortune sign as a blessing and not be discouraged by a bad one.

However, thinking about it this way, it's not so hard to understand why the temple allows repeated fortune-telling; it gives one a sense of having one's destiny in one's own hands.

Of course, it would be even more enjoyable if it were free...

Thinking of this, Han Zhou shook his head with a wry smile: "You didn't spend all that money for nothing. Just get the fortune slip you want, why bother interpreting the first one?"

He didn't think Mo Yixia would be discouraged by this, so he was a little puzzled as to why she would bring up the fortune stick.

And indeed, that was the case. Mo Yixia said calmly, "It wasn't just the first fortune stick. I had that monk interpret all the fortune sticks I drew. It would be too unprofessional to interpret fortune sticks on my phone in front of us, so I added some extra work for him."

Han Zhou was stunned for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "So that's why I've been waiting for you for so long..."

That's definitely his style.

Mo Yixia asked, "Speaking of which, where's your fortune slip? I saw you drew one slip and then stopped. Was it because you got a good one the first time?"

"No, that's not it. I just don't want to waste money." Han Zhou glanced at her and said meaningfully, "Only a fool would spend money on something like this."

"It seems I am the fool you were talking about."

Mo Yixia wasn't angry. She slowly said, "Then aren't you tempted? She's rich and naive, fair-skinned and beautiful, and she's also an expert in the art of relationships between men and women. You'd be hard-pressed to find a girl like that even with a lantern, right?"

"If you hadn't said those last words with that subtle expression, I might have been moved..."

Han Zhou twitched his lips, shook his head and sighed, "The fortune I drew meant that I should stay away from love to avoid experiencing its bitterness."

Mo Yixia clicked her tongue: "Oh... someone always acts so serious, but it turns out they're also seeking a marriage partner."

She thought about it seriously, "Shouldn't this be called a repressed flirt?"

Han Zhou was startled, but quickly regained his composure and said irritably, "What's so strange about that? What else should someone my age be asking for if not marriage?"

"Tsk, tsk."

Mo Yixia turned her head away, saying nothing, yet it seemed as if she had said everything.

Han Zhou remained expressionless. As the last rays of the setting sun disappeared into the water, he said, "Alright, it's getting dark. Let's find a place to eat. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

"As long as it's not a fish."

"Shall we find a restaurant nearby?"

"You decide, I'll pay."

Mo Yixia raised her chin slightly, displaying the composure of a young heiress, and asked again, "He's rich, naive, fair-skinned, and beautiful. Aren't you tempted?"

"Not moved."

"Someone was practically screaming 'Yixia, my Yixia! You're mine!' just now, yet they managed to resist the urge to say they weren't tempted... Is that strong willpower or cowardice?"

Mo Yixia sighed deeply, making no attempt to hide the disdain in her eyes.

Han Zhou was taken aback, but he didn't believe that this guy could really see through everything. Even if he could, he couldn't admit it. So, he calmly took out his phone and started looking for suitable restaurants nearby.

but……

Looking at the girl's profile beside him, he suddenly realized something.

At this rate of development, he probably won't be able to hold out until the day he never says those words again...

What should we do then?

"Like a swan that flies into a cage, it wants to turn over but cannot. It is difficult to get out from the north, south, east, or west. This divination truly suggests endless regret."

This is the content of the fortune stick he drew, and the meaning of the stick is indeed as he said: seeking marriage is an act of getting caught up in the web of love, and it is best not to touch it, so as not to end up in a dilemma.

Either don't get involved, or if you do, get out as soon as possible. If you really can't get out, then you must think of a way to eliminate the disaster in advance, so that you may be able to alleviate the bad situation.

"Is this thing really that accurate...?"

Han Zhou sighed inwardly and led Mo Yixia in one direction.

The streetlights on the slope came on, casting long shadows of the two people.

I've written more and more, but I still haven't gotten to the moon-viewing scene. Jumping straight into the snow-capped mountain climbing scene would be a waste. I'll write a little more tomorrow, otherwise Yixia's story will end after the snow mountain scene.
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(End of this chapter)