Forced into a romantic relationship

Chapter 26 He passed away last year.

The next day, the sun was blazing.

"I reckon this debt was recently incurred by Han Long. If that's the case, it's troublesome. There might be more and more people coming to collect the debt. Should we consider moving?"

The air conditioner was on in the room, and the cool air it blew out was exceptionally refreshing.

Han Zhou had just finished teaching Mo Yixia, and the girl was doing the corresponding practice questions, while he was silently pondering what happened last night.

"I'd rather not go yet. Moving will cost a lot of money, and finding a suitable place will take a lot of time and energy. Besides, I'll be living at school after the semester starts, so I won't be able to go home very often..."

"Dong dong dong."

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the study door, and Jiang Baiqian appeared in the doorway, smiling as she said, "Did I disturb you? You must all be tired, so rest for a while. I've cut some fruit for you."

Mo Yixia usually ignored this mother and didn't even turn her head. However, she understood the word "rest" very well. She put down her pen and started to stretch her body, then took off her school uniform jacket, probably because she felt hot.

Han Zhou couldn't pretend to be deaf and dumb like her, so he went to the door, took the fruit plate, and said "thank you".

Mo Yixia has 20-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon, and spends most of her time studying. This intensity is so great that even Han Zhou, her teacher, finds it hard to keep up, let alone the students.

However, Mo Yixia herself never complained about this, presumably because she had tried but failed, so she didn't dare to offer any random opinions.

Jiang Baiqian still had her makeup on perfectly. After looking at her daughter in the room for a while, she asked, "How did your studies go today?"

"better."

Just like yesterday, Mo Yixia spoke before Han Zhou could.

"is it?"

Jiang Baiqian smiled broadly, then her gaze fell on Han Zhou, as if she wanted to confirm something with this teacher once again.

Han Zhou smiled and nodded: "Your daughter is right, she has indeed made considerable progress compared to yesterday."

Jiang Baiqian was very happy and said with a smile, "Just call her Yixia or Xiaxia. It sounds too strange to always call her your daughter."

She thought to herself, "Come to think of it, Xiaxia has never called Teacher Han by his name or addressed him as 'teacher.' She always calls him 'that guy.' Is it a common problem among young people these days that they don't use his name?"
Han Zhou smiled without saying a word. He needed Mo Yixia's consent before he could address her, lest he accidentally anger her again.

His relationship with Mo Yixia is quite delicate. Calling them friends is not quite right; perhaps "a community of interests" would be more appropriate. They each get what they need, and it's all tacitly understood.

Jiang Baiqian didn't want to leave just like that, so she pulled Han Zhou aside and chatted for a while about the birthday party last night. After learning that the pretty girl was his class monitor, an excited smile immediately appeared on her face, just like those girls in Han Zhou's class who used to ship couples.

It was noon, and Jiang Baiqian had already prepared the meal and left as usual. In fact, Han Zhou had never known what Mo Yixia's family did. Judging from Jiang Baiqian's attire, she didn't seem to be going to work. However, although he was puzzled, he never asked her.

It's not that Mo Yixia would hide anything; she can basically answer any question. It's just that she doesn't seem to like talking about her mother in too much detail and tends to avoid such topics.

Therefore, Han Zhou basically didn't ask.

As lunchtime approached, Mo Yixia quickly heated up the food, without asking him for help throughout the process.

Han Zhou didn't forget his gluttonous persona, and dawdled over his meal at the table.

While they were eating, Mo Yixia suddenly pushed a plate of fish towards them. However, instead of asking him to rack his brains, she lowered her head and said, "If you promise me one thing, I'll agree to let you call me Yixia."

Han Zhou chuckled, then lowered his head and said irritably, "Then how about you promise me one thing, and I'll agree to let you call me A-Zhou?"

Mo Yixia considered for a moment, then shook her head and said, "A Zhou sounds too awful."

"Yixia doesn't sound good either."

"Are you sure?"

Mo Yixia looked up into his eyes.

"Okay, it sounds a little better than A-Zhou..."

Mo Yixia said, "Then as a testament to our calling each other by our names, let's each grant the other one request, but only for today, and it must be reasonable. You can refuse if you feel it's inappropriate."

"And calling witnesses by name... is that really necessary?" Han Zhou knew this guy was up to something again and asked suspiciously, "Besides, I already owe you a request, don't I?"

"That request has no restrictions. I want to save it for when necessary, and I trust you will keep your promise."

This guy's statement was too dangerous, Han Zhou reminded him: "Saying there are no restrictions is too much of an exaggeration. If you asked me to jump off a building, I definitely wouldn't agree."

He thought about it for a while and felt that the suggestion didn't seem to have any problems. After all, he could refuse if he felt it was unreasonable, and he could also make a request to the other party—hmm...it wouldn't be too much to ask her to laugh ten times, right?

"Alright, what do you want me to do?"

Mo Yixia shook her head slightly and said seriously, "We need to learn how to address each other first."

"Oh, that's quite sophisticated."

Han Zhou was both amused and exasperated, then his expression turned serious as he asked, "So, Yi Xia, what do you want me to do?"

"Han... what's your name again?"

"Are you serious?"

Mo Yixia didn't look at him: "Han...Han Zhou, I need you to take me out of the neighborhood this afternoon." "I suddenly realized that I really am not worthy to call you by your name. Let's eat, let's eat."

Han Zhou started shoveling rice into his mouth, looking utterly frustrated. What a joke! Unless he could make the neighborhood lose power, how was he supposed to take this guy out?

Mo Yixia was silent for a moment, then said again, "It won't be long."

Han Zhou glanced at her. Apart from initially mentioning the "foodie plan" and asking her to chat, this guy rarely made any other requests. He decided to ask first.

So he said seriously, "Tell me first what you're going out to do."

Mo Yixia said calmly, "There's a concert over at Linshui Bridge. I'd like to go see it."

"A concert?" Han Zhou quickly refused, "No, no, it takes too much time, and you have to buy tickets."

"I misspoke. It wasn't a concert, but an open-air performance, and there were no tickets."

Han Zhou frowned and said, "Would someone really perform outdoors on such a hot day?"

At times like these, those who hold outdoor concerts are mostly not celebrities or internet personalities, but rather small groups or individuals with little fame. Otherwise, why would they hold an outdoor concert under the scorching sun? Wouldn't that be torture?

He then asked, "Do you know those people?"

"I know him," Mo Yixia admitted frankly, then said, "I'll just take a look and come right back; it won't take long."

Seeing that Han Zhou remained silent for a long time, she ate her food in small bites, her voice devoid of emotion, "If you don't want to, then forget it."

After a moment's thought, Han Zhou roughly understood the significance of this matter to this guy.

Her sudden suggestion to go meant she was interested and seemed prepared to take the risk; her saying no and not even considering using yesterday's terms meant that the matter wasn't particularly important to her.

Is it something that's optional...?

However, since you're interested, this might be an opportunity to improve your chances of getting along with me.

He lowered his head to avoid the camera and said helplessly, "Who said I didn't want to? I'm thinking of ways to get out of the community, but you should think it through. This method is becoming increasingly rare, and it won't be so easy to leave the community next time."

Mo Yixia looked at him for a while, then suddenly lowered her head and pursed her lips.

【Daily Task 1 (Mo Yixia): Collect 1/10 smiley faces out of 10 targets to earn 1 point】

Han Zhou was taken aback. He laughed already? Why?
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Did you just laugh?"

This time, Mo Yixia didn't say that she didn't have a face, but admitted, "I guess so, because you very consciously thought about the next time you go out, didn't you?"

Han Zhou was taken aback. What did this mean?
Unfortunately, Mo Yixia did not explain her intentions.

Han Zhou spent some time and soon came up with a preliminary plan: he would pretend that his access card was broken and that Mo Yixia would have to escort him out of the community, and then use this as an opportunity to escape.

You can make up any reason for leaving, but it must be something that benefits your studies.

His current excuse is to borrow Guzheng's notes. Jiang Baiqian knows Guzheng and is also aware of her excellent grades, so this will not seem too abrupt.

Moreover, I believe that Guzheng's notes will definitely impress Jiang Baiqian, and at the same time, I can also meet Guzheng. It's like killing two birds with one stone.

However, before that, it is necessary to make sufficient preparations, arrange the venue and necessary exercises, and give Jiang Baiqian the feeling that "my daughter is really studying hard lately" and "Teacher Han is really trying her best to teach her well", so that she can accept the sudden behavior of borrowing notes.

Of course, I'll have to demagnetize the access card when I get back, since he used it to get in this morning. Suddenly saying the card is broken will definitely arouse suspicion. I'll also have to bring the broken card back tomorrow...

I feel the risk is still quite significant.

After listening to Han Zhou's general plan, Mo Yixia remained silent for a while before saying, "You seem to be very experienced in making excuses."

"Who am I doing this for?"

Han Zhou was sweating profusely at this moment, and said irritably, "In short, if your mother gets angry, you must do everything you can to protect me."

"Is this your request?"

"This is your duty."

It was already four o'clock, Han Zhou's off-get off work time. Not long ago, he had deliberately gone out to the entrance of the community to pretend to use the access card, and only just returned. If he hadn't been in a "dying" state, he probably would have been exhausted.

Mo Yixia can't use her phone freely, so I can't contact her by phone and have to resort to this stupid method.

The two performed a few acts under surveillance before preparing to leave.

Looking at Mo Yixia in the room, Han Zhou suddenly became curious. He figured it was okay to talk about her father instead of her mother, so he asked, "By the way, why haven't I seen your father before?"

Mo Yixia seemed a little absent-minded as she took out her access card from the drawer, her voice muffled behind her mask.

"He went to study in Qishi."

Han Zhou was stunned.

What? He passed away last year?
(End of this chapter)