Forced into a romantic relationship

Chapter 286 I'm not willing!
What exactly does Mo Yixia mean?
Han Zhou spent almost the entire afternoon thinking about this problem.

If they adhered to their agreement to tell each other the truth, then she most likely didn't speak sarcastically, and what she said meant exactly what it said.

I can give you the chance to have your cake and eat it too, but whether you can seize the opportunity is up to you. Get the guzheng sorted out first. If you can't even handle that, then don't come to me with this.

That should be... what it means, right?

Han Zhou wasn't sure either.

After all, it's hard to guess what Mo Yixia is thinking. Even if that's really what she meant, he couldn't figure out why she suddenly said those things.

Something's not right, something's really not right...

Something's not right.

Han Zhou was stunned, almost thinking he had spoken his true feelings. Only after listening carefully did he realize it was a clear female voice. He turned his head but didn't see anyone at first. He looked down and saw Xiao Xiaoxiao looking dejected.

"Xiaoxiao? When did you get here?" he asked, puzzled.

"You're the one who ran up to me." Xiao Xiao glared at him. "I've been staying by the school gate the whole time. You saw me but ignored me, and now you're trying to shift the blame!"

"That's not how you use the phrase 'the guilty party accuses the innocent first'..."

Han Zhou explained, "I was thinking about something, so I didn't notice you. I'm sorry."

"Hmph, are you thinking about how to be a scumbag?" Xiao Xiaoxiao pouted.

Han Zhou raised an eyebrow: "To be honest, I think you've always had a lot of prejudice against me."

"Then what's the story with that girl wearing a mask?"

Before answering that question, I'd like to ask you one first.

"You said."

What is our relationship?

Xiao Xiao was taken aback. Although she didn't know why this guy was asking this, she had thought about it not long ago, so she didn't hesitate for long and reluctantly replied, "Classmate and friend."

Han Zhou smiled and said, "Then do you think there's a possibility that we could become a couple?"

"what?"

What I mean is, do you have feelings for me?

"Are you dreaming?" Xiao Xiaoxiao said angrily. "There's no way I could ever like you. Don't underestimate my taste!"

Han Zhou nodded slightly and continued, "Then do you think I have feelings for you?"

Xiao Xiao was startled and instinctively distanced herself from him, her face showing wariness as she said, "It doesn't seem impossible, but I absolutely cannot..."

"Your self-awareness is clearly problematic," Han Zhou interrupted her. "I don't like you either, so you see, isn't our relationship just pure friendship?"

"You could say that..."

Xiao Xiaoxiao maintained her distance from him, her tone very strained.

Han Zhou said without changing his expression, "That's the same kind of relationship I have with that girl wearing a mask."

"Heh, do you think I'd believe that?" Xiao Xiaoxiao sneered.

"Believe it or not, as a friend I feel I have to remind you that your eyes are all red. Aren't you going to go back to sleep?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes: "Do you think I don't want to sleep? I only came out for a walk because I really couldn't sleep."

Even she herself didn't realize that she didn't want to tell her roommate about her worsening insomnia, but at this moment she told Han Zhou the truth as if she had no worries at all.

"That's quite a coincidence. As a friend, that's why I came here," Han Zhou said mysteriously.

Is that why?

Seeing the other person's lecherous expression, Xiao Xiaoxiao instantly became wary: "You want to sleep with me?"

Han Zhou nearly coughed up blood: "I'm trying to help you fall asleep!"

It seems this guy has started talking nonsense because he hasn't slept for too long...

He sighed inwardly, took out a small white bottle from his pocket, and got straight to the point, "This is a specially made sleeping pill; it should help you get rid of your insomnia."

"Sleeping pills?" Xiao Xiaoxiao took the bottle and muttered, "There's not even a label. Could there be something wrong with these pills?"

"The biggest problem with it is that you can't eat too much of it. You can eat one at most at a time, otherwise you'll sleep for a long time."

Han Zhou didn't explain much. The origin of the sleeping pills was hard to explain. Xiao Xiaoxiao could believe it if she wanted to, or he couldn't do anything about it. Whether she accepted it or not was up to her.

Xiao Xiaoxiao didn't suspect that Han Zhou had given her a bottle of tainted medicine to harm her. This trust was unfounded. After hesitating for a while, she asked hesitantly, "Can this really make me fall asleep?"

She has been suffering from insomnia for a long time, and now her insomnia symptoms are getting worse. If she still can't fall asleep, she will consider using a stick to physically hypnotize herself.

"Yes, it's possible," Han Zhou said confidently.

He was almost certain that the sleeping pills were created for Xiao Xiaoxiao, and that was why he was even more curious about Xiao Xiaoxiao's identity, which was why she received such special treatment in the status bar, something he had never heard of before.

"Since you've said so, I'll believe you this once."

Xiao Xiao's face lit up with joy, and she asked, "How much is this?"

"It's free, it's a gift." Han Zhou waved his hand dismissively.

"You must have something you want from me, right?" Xiao Xiaoxiao snorted coldly. She wasn't stupid. The reason this guy was deliberately putting on this act of not needing any reward was just to make a request later.

"You're overthinking it. It's just a gift from a friend."

Han Zhou smiled slightly, then changed the subject, "But as a friend, it's not too much for you to keep my secret, is it?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao said irritably, "About that girl wearing a mask?"

"Yes, I hope you can keep this a secret."

"Hehe, aren't you and her just friends? Why are you afraid of it getting out?"

Han Zhou smiled without saying a word, as if to say, "Just tell me if you'll help or not."

That scumbag...

Xiao Xiaoxiao looked disdainful and said as she put away the small white bottle, "I don't like spreading gossip."

The implication is that he/she agreed.

Han Zhou pressed his advantage, asking, "And what about your roommate...?"

"I'll cover for you a bit, but I don't know if they'll spread rumors."

Han Zhou was relieved. Although Gu Zheng wasn't particularly sensitive to gossip, he still needed to find a way to prevent her from hearing any rumors to avoid any trouble. With that problem solved, all that was left was casual conversation. He casually asked, "By the way, have you decided when you'd like to come to my house with me?"

"I haven't had much free time lately, I'll wait a while."

Xiao Xiaoxiao yawned. She was still very enthusiastic about regaining her memories, but she felt inexplicably lost and didn't want to find the answer so quickly.

Han Zhou nodded, thought for a moment, and asked, "Are you living alone at home right now?"

"Hmm." Xiao Xiaoxiao's expression remained unchanged.

"No relatives?"

"No."

"Does that mean you'll have to spend holidays alone?"

"I want you to take care of it!"

Xiao Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, and after a few seconds she pouted and said, "It's not like I can't live alone..."

Han Zhou smiled and said, "I didn't mean anything by it. Actually, my situation is similar to yours. I just wanted to suggest that you come to my house during the Chinese New Year. I'll invite a few friends so that we won't be spending the holiday alone."

Like Xiao Xiaoxiao, he also had a deep-seated feeling of not wanting to quickly unravel the secret, so much so that he subconsciously wanted to postpone the time as much as possible.

As for the suggestion to invite the other person to spend the New Year together, he didn't really have any particular thoughts. He just suddenly remembered the densely packed "wish list" that the other person had written when he made a wish in Beicheng.

If there's one thing he shares with Xiao Xiaoxiao, it's probably the loneliness of being alone for so long.

"Who wants to spend the New Year with you!"

Xiao Xiaoxiao was somewhat tempted. Wouldn't spending the New Year together mean she could eat this guy's cooking again? That didn't seem like a bad idea... but her mouth was faster than her brain, and she immediately refused, "I prefer to spend the holidays alone!"

"That's such a shame."

Han Zhou did not press the matter further and said no more.

After saying goodbye to Xiao Xiaoxiao, who wanted to return to her dormitory to try out the effects of the sleeping pills, he stood at the school gate silently waiting for Gu Zheng's arrival.

Guzheng arrived quickly, appearing at the school gate not long after. Despite having been busy all afternoon, she still looked energetic, though her expression wasn't very pleasant.

The two walked together toward the cafeteria. Along the way, Guzheng kept condemning Ouyang Lianyu's aunt, as if they had some irreconcilable feud.

Han Zhou was taken aback, thinking that Ouyang Lianyu's aunt had gone back again. However, the more he listened, the stranger her expression became. He then realized that Gu Zheng had taken that woman as the culprit who had kept him busy all afternoon, and he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

He listened without changing his expression, thinking that it would be good to trouble Teacher Ouyang's aunt. However, when he heard Guzheng grit her teeth and say that she was going to settle accounts with the other party, he realized that he could no longer remain silent, so he coughed twice.

“Guzheng, your judgment is too hasty. Those things may not have been done by Teacher Ouyang’s aunt. Don’t be too impulsive,” he said with a righteous expression.

"Who else could it be but her?" Gu Zheng pursed her lips, still not suspecting Han Zhou. "Other things are fine, but a wheelchair can't just take its screws off by itself, can it?"

"Moreover, I asked Teacher Ouyang. When she said that her aunt was a strong suspect, her expression was very complicated. It was obvious that she was reluctant to reveal the real culprit."

She really didn't want to say it aloud, she just didn't want to say it to me...

Han Zhou then feigned surprise: "What? The screws on the wheelchair have been removed one by one?"

"Yes, and all the screws that were removed were very conspicuous, as if they were afraid that others wouldn't be able to put them back together. It seems that guy still has some conscience. He's afraid that if the wheelchair is installed incorrectly, it will end up in Teacher Ouyang's hands, so he doesn't dare to take the responsibility." Gu Zheng said indignantly.

Han Zhou awkwardly touched his nose. Gu Zheng's psychological analysis was correct, but unfortunately, she chose the wrong person to analyze.

"That's really awful... but this is ultimately Teacher Ouyang's family matter, so let's not meddle."

"understood."

Gu Zheng had a stern face. The reason she was so angry was mainly because she felt that what happened in the afternoon had affected the time she could spend with Han Zhou. She even missed such an important activity as the hand-holding game. The culprit was extremely hateful.

The two arrived at the cafeteria, and perhaps because she was in a bad mood, Gu Zheng only ate half of what she usually ate. Han Zhou asked in surprise, "Why are you only eating so little today? Don't you have an appetite?"

"No, I just feel like I've gained weight recently." Gu Zheng poked her round face and said with a distress, "Even though I still exercise every day."

"You haven't gained weight, have you?"

Han Zhou looked the bright young girl up and down, and thought she was no different from before. After thinking for a moment, he added a compliment, "Still as beautiful as ever."

Gu Zheng turned her face away and insisted, "I've just gained weight."

Girls are really strange creatures. They don't like it when others say they've gained weight. Once they hear such comments, they will insist on arguing and use all kinds of evidence to prove that they haven't gained weight.
But once they believe they've gained weight, nothing can change their minds. No matter how much evidence outsiders present to prove they haven't gained weight, they'll ignore it and secretly make a weight loss plan.

Perhaps to make her judgment more convincing, Guzheng lowered her voice and said reluctantly, "My dress has become tighter. What else could it be if not because I've gained weight?"

If it were before, I probably wouldn't have been able to explain it either, but after meeting Senior Zhong Ling today, I know that the reason the skirt became tighter wasn't just because I gained weight...

Han Zhou's gaze fell on Gu Zheng's chest. He pondered for a moment, then shook his head regretfully.

Ok……

It seems I've gained weight.

"What's with that expression?" Gu Zheng raised an eyebrow, keenly noticing Han Zhou's strange gaze.

"It's nothing, I was just looking for evidence that you haven't gained weight."

"Did you find it?"

"Hmm... I suspect you just bought the wrong size dress."

"You actually think I've gained weight, right?"

Gu Zheng rolled her eyes at Han Zhou and said firmly, "Starting today, I'm going to increase my exercise."

"Why not consider eating a little less?" Han Zhou asked with a smile.

Gu Zheng pushed aside the plate on the table, propped her chin on her hand, and said, "Eating is one of my few hobbies. I only like so many things, and I'm not willing to give them up."

"It's not like we're giving up everything, just a part of it."

"That's not OK."

Even if it means compromising yourself?

"It's just increasing the amount of exercise, what's there to feel wronged about?" Gu Zheng asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing, I was just using an example."

Han Zhou shook his head, picked up his plate and said, "Alright, let's go after we finish eating. The ball is about to start, so let's go get ready."

"Okay."

The guzheng's eyes curved into crescents.

(End of this chapter)