Forced into a romantic relationship

Chapter 238 Want to Eat?

After finishing his classes during the day, Han Zhou went back to his dormitory, and then, just like yesterday, pushed his cart to set up a stall outside the school. On the way, he sent a message to Gu Zheng.

Since joining the dance club, Guzheng has been taking time to practice at the dance studio every week. Now that he has to go out to set up a stall, their afternoons are basically different, so they can no longer have dinner together every day.

However, Han Zhou doesn't see this as a bad thing. Eating together is one way to enhance relationships, and Gu Zheng should also have her own social circle. Taking some time to eat with her roommates and classmates is beneficial for maintaining relationships with others, and she might even make new friends from the club.

I don't expect them to get along very well, but at least I can't be isolated. However, judging from the current situation, Guzheng and her roommate seem to be getting along quite well.

After all, university is different from high school. There is competition, but grades are not taken as seriously. Everyone has a very calm attitude. As long as they don't bother others, whether they are studying or not is their own business. They won't feel resentful because others are working too hard.

Otherwise, the library would have been blown up long ago.

Moreover, the students who can get into Linyi University are all top-notch students, at least in terms of their studies. Those who complain about their fate are ultimately a minority. No one feels that they are inferior to others. If you can't compete in talent, then compete in hard work. This kind of atmosphere is a very good environment for guzheng.

As for those who once complained or were dissatisfied with her, they may now be living the relaxed environment they wanted and the life they desired.

Thinking about this, Han Zhou suddenly began to agree with a phrase his high school teachers often used—

The essence of the college entrance examination is a selection process.

Although the selection criteria are based on cold, hard grades, under the same educational conditions, grades can sometimes be telling—for example, distinguishing between those who work hard and those who don't.

Of course, this doesn't mean that people with good grades are necessarily hardworking, or that people with poor grades are necessarily not hardworking. Some people may be good for nothing but grades, and some people may not be talented in academics. But overall, this selection method is obviously meaningful.

However, Han Zhou also agrees with another saying circulating online—

The college entrance examination can filter out academically weak students, but it cannot filter out morally weak people.

Of course, you can't filter out scumbags either.

Pushing his cart to the spot where he had set up his stall yesterday, Han Zhou immediately spotted the two women who had been the first to buy the starch sausages. They were standing by the roadside, chatting and laughing, looking quite relaxed.

He pushed the cart over, wondering if the two had already finished get off work. If they could leave at five o'clock, he might be just as happy.

"Classmate, you've finally arrived."

Upon seeing him appear, the two women seemed quite excited. Han Zhou was somewhat surprised and asked in confusion, "Did you wait here specifically for me?"

"You could say that, but we didn't wait too long, maybe only ten minutes or so," the senior student, who was a full twelve years older than him, replied.

Han Zhou nodded, parked the cart, and while arranging various items on the stall, asked, "I'm curious what kind of job allows you to leave at four o'clock."

It's just past five o'clock now. These two waited for him for more than ten minutes. Considering the time they left the company, it means they got off work around four o'clock.

The two women were taken aback. The older woman didn't say anything, but her colleague laughed and said, "What are you talking about? It's still a long way from when we get off work. It's just that our job is to wander around outside. If you're interested, I can recommend you to our boss."

"I'll think about it after I graduate," Han Zhou politely declined. He was just asking casually; he didn't really want to be a wage earner.

"It might be too late by the time you graduate." The woman smiled, and seeing him start heating the oil, she asked curiously, "By the way, classmate, do you only sell starch sausages here?"

"Correct."

"That's such a pity, I was planning to try something different today."

"Are you already tired of it?"

"How is that possible? Just like yesterday, give each of us five more skewers!"

As the spirited shout rang out, more and more customers began to arrive at Han Zhou's stall. Many of them were customers who hadn't been able to buy the starch sausage yesterday. They had all arrived very early today, looking determined to get their hands on the starch sausage.

Another group consists of new customers attracted by the spectacle. They've heard that the fried starch sausages here are incredibly delicious, and they're both intrigued and dismissive, mostly taking a wait-and-see approach, intending to try them themselves before making a judgment.

In addition, there is a group of customers who are fans of Han Zhou's good looks, the vast majority of whom are women. For these people, the starchy sausage is not the most important thing; what matters is seeing the handsome man up close.

Han Zhou's base charm has now reached eight points, and with the boost from "passionate youth," his attractiveness has surpassed that of the past. There are quite a few customers who think, "If I get closer, I can see more of this handsome guy's face."

Compared to yesterday, the guests gathered far too quickly today. Han Zhou didn't even have a chance to read a book; he was basically just repeating the action of dropping and picking up the starch sausages.

He suddenly worried that the five hundred starch sausages he brought today might not be enough. Customers came and went, and Han Zhou was busy but enjoying himself. However, because he didn't even have time to look around, he didn't notice that a girl had appeared under the streetlight in the distance, quietly watching him from across the street.

It gets dark very quickly in October, and the girl stood there until the streetlights came on without leaving, as if she was completely unaware of the passage of time.

Han Zhou was also oblivious to the passage of time, or rather, he simply didn't have time to care about it.

He only knew one thing—the starch sausages he brought today were definitely not enough.

I was busy from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and in less than two and a half hours, all 500 starch sausages I brought were sold out.

Han Zhou sincerely apologized to the customers who hadn't been able to buy the starch sausages, promising to prepare more next time, and then packed up to leave.

He stretched and yawned, twisting his slightly sore neck. As his gaze moved, he finally saw the girl standing under the streetlight.

The autumn night breeze carried a slight chill, ruffling the girl's hair. The streetlights shone exceptionally brightly, like the most conspicuous spotlights, focusing on her pitiful face.

It was Wang Lengqiu.

Upon seeing Wang Lengqiu, Han Zhou was taken aback at first, then, as if he had expected it, he sighed and took out two fried starch sausages that he had hidden in the box. He put them in the pot to heat them up, skewered them with bamboo sticks, and then picked them up and walked to the girl.

This guy is definitely a lunatic… he thought.

As early as yesterday when Wang Lengqiu asked him if he would come out today, he had already guessed that the other party might come. He just didn't expect that this guy would actually stand far away under the street lamp. It looked like he had been standing there for a long time and didn't even notice the leaf on his head.

"Have you had dinner?"

He originally wanted to ask Wang Lengqiu what he was trying to do in a stern tone, but the words that came out of his mouth were just a simple question without much emotion.

Han Zhou was certain that this girl possessed a skill called "Pity Me," making it difficult for anyone to be angry with her.

Wang Lengqiu looked at him expressionlessly and gently shook her head.

"You skipped dinner to come and see me working part-time while I was studying. Do you have that much free time?"

Han Zhou had a headache. He handed her the starch sausage in his hand and said irritably, "Here, have some to tide you over."

Wang Lengqiu stared at him for a while, then reached out and took the starch sausage, but only one skewer.

"Thank you."

"Take them all, these two strings are for you."

Han Zhou raised his hand, looking around nervously as if he had done something wrong, signaling her to quickly take the other string of pearls as well.

"Didn't you also not eat?" Wang Lengqiu asked.

"I'll eat... okay, I didn't eat any, I'll eat them when we get back, but you can take this skewer now."

Han Zhou urged them anxiously, afraid that customers who hadn't bought the starch sausages would see this.

"Thank you."

Perhaps sensing his panic, Wang Lengqiu didn't say anything and took the starch sausage with the same hand.

“I also have something to give you,” she said.

Han Zhou was taken aback, only then noticing that the other person's other hand was hidden behind their back, as if they were holding something.

Under his gaze, Wang Lengqiu slowly took out the thing behind him.

It was a small, transparent white plastic bag containing several soft, white steamed buns.

The girl looked into his eyes, reached out and handed him the steamed bun. Her expression and tone were flat, but you could sense a hint of expectation in them.

"Want to eat?"

(End of this chapter)