Forced into a romantic relationship

Chapter 299 Flirting
At this moment, Han Zhou was naturally unaware of the conversation taking place in the milk tea shop.

After failing to figure out Zhong Yin's purpose, he quickly put the matter out of his mind and climbed into bed to study something more important—

Status bar upgrade.

Even though it's no longer an urgent matter, he still has high expectations for the new features of the four-level status bar and checked his current status before upgrading.

【Name: Han Zhou】

【Intelligence: 7】

【Charm: 8】

Stamina: 8 (Temporary)

[Skills: Efficient learning, Culinary proficiency, Speed ​​reading, Knowledge gained through experience (enhanced), Powerful throwing, Photographic memory, Adrenaline, Inference, Animal affinity, Guilt-free, Craftsmanship skills]

[Occupations: College Student, Master Chef, Skilled but Incompetent Doctor, Passionate Youth, Mission Master, Fearless Warrior]

[Inventory: 16 Power Pills, 1 Mission Detector, 3 Sleeping Pills, 1 Interesting Fortune Telling Card, 1 Mysterious Lucky Pouch, 1 Custom Status Generator (Temporary), 1 51% Future Simulator]

[Current Status: On the Verge of Death (Temporarily Fixed): Your breathing is long and powerful, your heartbeat is active and strong, your vitality is as vigorous as fire, your overall physical fitness has been greatly enhanced, and your physical functions far exceed those of ordinary people.]

[Random Status: Leave it to fate: You will now be more likely to trigger temporary and event quests, depending on the arrangement and control of heaven and destiny.]

[Profession Status: Passionate Youth: You are a passionate youth who dares to do good. When this status is activated, all your attributes will receive a slight boost. Good deeds will be rewarded more easily, and this status can be activated or deactivated at any time.]

[Status bar level: 3, current points remaining: 681]

"Upgrading the status bar requires 500 points, and the remaining 100-plus points should be enough to handle most emergencies..."

With this in mind, Han Zhou did not hesitate and decisively chose to upgrade the status bar.

As with the previous two upgrades, this one was completed quite quickly, and a series of characters popped up shortly afterward.

Status bar upgrade complete, current level: 4

[New products are added to the store every month, giving you a higher chance of finding high-quality items.]

[The maximum number of status effects that can be active has been increased, so please unleash your imagination even more boldly]

[Task acquisition channels have been broadened, and the probability of triggering tasks has increased. In addition to daily tasks, the number of points obtained through any means will increase by 20%.]

[Added function to explore and modify the status of a specified target]

Points required to advance to the next level: 2000

……

Han Zhou quickly finished reading all the information.

Compared to the three-level status bar, the four-level status bar doesn't add many new features; it mainly upgrades the existing functions.

However, he was not disappointed, as both the new product launches and the increased ways and amounts to earn points were very useful to him.

The meaning of "increased maximum effective status" is not hard to understand. Simply put, statuses that could not be modified before due to their exaggerated descriptions may now be able to be modified successfully.

With a try-it-out mentality, Han Zhou set "senior chef" as his profession and then tried making some modifications.

[Advanced Chef (Modified) → Advanced Chef: Just as an army has its commanders, so too does culinary skill. For three hours after this state is activated, your understanding of any designated dish will reach its peak. When engaging in culinary competitions, you will have a higher probability of overwhelming your opponents with your presence. During this time, your charm will slightly increase, making it easier to attract attention. When you win the spotlight, you will have a certain probability of creating a glowing golden dish. Cooldown: Three hours]

"This actually succeeded..."

Looking at the new status with its maximum effect, Han Zhou was both surprised and delighted. He had tried to modify various professional statuses before, including this "Advanced Chef Handsome", but most of them ended in failure.

Now even the "glowing dish" effect added with a joking mindset can be achieved, so it seems that the saying "please use your imagination more boldly" is not just empty talk.

He was quite satisfied with this.

Having abandoned the idea of ​​going out to find a place to cook a meal right now, Han Zhou turned his attention to the only new feature that appeared after the status bar upgrade.

In short, the new feature allows him to spend points to designate a target, investigate and modify the target's current status.

His assessment of this feature was lukewarm.

It's not that its function is mediocre, but rather that its practicality is mediocre, and the places where it can be used are relatively limited.

Han Zhou had noticed before that, apart from himself, the states of people like Gu Zheng Lin Anyu were constantly changing, and most of them were insignificant moods, sometimes one or two, sometimes none, and even if they could be changed, there was no need to change them.

Because it was so insignificant, he used to rarely pay attention to the well-being of those around him.

The problem is that, apart from those close to him, he has no interest in wasting points checking the status of unrelated people, let alone modifying it.

He doesn't use it where he can, and he's too lazy to use it where he can't. In short, at least in Han Zhou's opinion, this new function is not very practical.

Of course, if you happen to see someone in a "dying" state, then this function can play an extraordinary role.

Han Zhou wasn't in a hurry to draw conclusions. He planned to find an opportunity to study it properly later. Speaking of which, he still couldn't see Mo Yixia's condition, so he could test it out with that guy...

I think I'll pass; I have a feeling I'll be discovered. But if it's just a quick glance, it shouldn't be a problem, right...?

Han Zhou's mind was filled with random thoughts, and he soon fell asleep.

He had class the next morning, so he got up early as usual, bought breakfast at the cafeteria, and ate as he headed to the classroom, thinking about how to ask Xiao Xiaoxiao about her insomnia.

Xiao Xiaoxiao is probably completely unaware of this, and it's unlikely she'll get any answers from asking her...

As Han Zhou was pondering, he suddenly felt someone pat his shoulder. He turned around and saw the tall and imposing Zhang Tao standing behind him, smiling and greeting him.

"Morning."

The temperature was dropping day by day, but Zhang Tao was still dressed as if it were just the beginning of autumn, carrying a book and a pencil case, obviously going to class.

"morning."

Han Zhou smiled and, noticing the backpack containing his live-streaming equipment, asked curiously, "Senior, do you bring these things with you to class too?"

Although Zhang Tao had raised the issue of how to address him several times, he still habitually referred to him as "senior."

It's mainly because it's easy to pronounce.

"How could that be?" Zhang Tao chuckled. "These devices are expensive and fragile. I only bring them with me when I'm going to do a live stream."

So, are you planning to start a live stream?
Han Zhou hesitated for a moment: "It seems like the content of your live streams is usually extreme sports..."

His expression was strange. He thought to himself, "Zhang Tao actually plans to do a live broadcast at the school. Could it be that he wants to do a skydive from the top of the teaching building?"
Zhang Tao could tell from his expression that he had misunderstood, so he smiled and explained, "Most of the time it is extreme sports, but sometimes we also do live streams of exploring haunted houses or late-night adventures."

"Like today?" Han Zhou understood.

"Yes, there was a lot of demand for a nighttime visit to the freshman girls' dormitory. I heard there have been rumors of it being haunted lately, but as you know, I can't possibly get into that place. So I found a well-known haunted location online and plan to check it out tonight."

Han Zhou was taken aback for a moment, then gave a wry smile: "Your courage is admirable."

Although he doesn't believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits, he always holds them in awe and doesn't intentionally play any ghost hunting games. It's clear this senior is truly fearless, speaking as if it's just a routine visit, suggesting he's probably been to many haunted locations before. No wonder he's called "reckless."

Whether this should be called courage or recklessness is a matter of opinion.

"Don't make fun of me. What's so admirable about this? I just like seeking thrills."

Zhang Tao shook his head and smiled wryly, then sincerely remarked, "To be honest, although I dare to do many dangerous things, I would never dare to jump off a cliff to save someone like you did."

Although extreme sports are dangerous, they are still within the scope of sports. They just require higher physical and mental qualities. Jumping off a cliff without any safety measures is really suicidal, which he believes he cannot do.

"I was just lucky. If I had to do it again, I definitely wouldn't dare to jump," Han Zhou said with a smile.

"Look at what you're saying. How many people don't even have the courage to jump once?"

Zhang Tao didn't continue the topic. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "By the way, I'm thinking of changing up my livestream style tonight. I'm planning to find a few people to go ghost hunting with. Are you interested?"

Seemingly afraid that Han Zhou might misunderstand, he added, "I was just asking casually, it's okay if you don't go."

He had invited Han Zhou to participate in extreme sports several times before, but he was worried that it would leave him with the impression of being persistent and clingy.

Han Zhou had no interest in spirit hunting, but he didn't refuse outright. Instead, he said, "I'll think about it."

"Okay, if you're going, remember to contact me before 6 PM so I can make arrangements in advance."

Zhang Tao smiled, and the two parted ways downstairs at the teaching building.

Han Zhou arrived at the classroom, found an empty seat by the window, and began to read the news report that Zhang Tao had just sent him.

The report was simple, describing how strange things were happening in an unfinished building, such as crying and footsteps in the middle of the night, lights that flickered even though there was no electricity, and blurry ghostly figures seen from afar outside the window... It seemed quite plausible.

However, these kinds of reports usually have a common problem: no matter how vividly they describe the strange events, they can't provide any concrete evidence of the existence of ghosts or monsters.

And yet, they still managed to make a documentary about it...

Han Zhou shook his head inwardly, but did not directly question the authenticity of the report. After all, if he had to say, the description in the report was quite similar to Wang Runxue's description last night. If there could be "ghosts" in the school, then there could naturally be "ghosts" outside the school.

Hoping that there might be some common ground between the two incidents, Han Zhou became quite engrossed in reading the report.

What are you looking at? Let me see.

Not long after, a sleepy voice interrupted Han Zhou's thoughts. He saw Xiao Xiaoxiao throw her book on the table, then sit down next to him with a yawn, patting her face haphazardly with both hands, looking like she hadn't slept well the night before.

Han Zhou glanced at her and handed her his phone.

Xiao Xiaoxiao glanced down at the phone, then her eyes widened instantly, as if she had suddenly woken up. She quickly handed the phone back, forcing herself to remain calm, and said, "Looking at this so early in the morning, are you... have some kind of mental problem?"

Han Zhou observed her expression discreetly and probed, "Similar things have been circulating in the girls' dormitory for a long time, didn't you know?"

"Stop talking nonsense! There's no such thing in the girls' dormitory, and even if there were, I wouldn't know!" Xiao Xiao's face flushed slightly, and she kicked him angrily.

Han Zhou was taken aback, wondering why this guy was reacting so strongly. He looked down and realized that the news page on his phone had disappeared at some point, replaced by an indecent pornographic website with a woman covered in men on the cover.

At the very top, there is a line of large, eye-catching text—

"Passionate hookups, available nationwide."

His lips twitched, and he finally understood what had happened. He quickly exited the page, thinking to himself that if it could automatically redirect to this kind of website, the source of this report must be questionable. He wondered where Zhang Tao had found it...

He coughed to cover his embarrassment, clicked back into the news article, and pushed the phone towards the other side, saying, "You misunderstood, I meant this..."

"I'm warning you, if you show me any more of that indecent stuff, don't blame me for being rude..."

Xiao Xiaoxiao decided to give Han Zhou a chance. She snorted and turned to look at him, stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage, gritting her teeth and saying, "You bastard, I'll fight you to the death!"

Han Zhou sensed something and saw the page on his phone automatically redirect again, displaying a new, erotic cover with a striking headline at the top—

"Want to hook up? Tonight at midnight, let's get passionate and intimate."

His eyelids twitched, and he took a deep breath, saying, "I can explain."

Xiao Xiaoxiao didn't believe it and was ready to fight him without saying a word.

Han Zhou pressed her head down expressionlessly to prevent her from getting hurt by her wild punches, then exited the page and re-entered it under her angry glare.

"This is what I just saw."

"You bastard, let go! Go ahead and let go if you dare..."

Looking at the ghost story on the screen, Xiao Xiaoxiao's momentum gradually weakened. She realized that she might have misunderstood Han Zhou, but she didn't apologize at all. She slapped away the hand that was pressing down on her head and curled her lips in disdain.

"What's the difference? This isn't anything good to look at so early in the morning."

"..."

At the back of the classroom, Zhou Ting, who had been silently observing the two, nodded to herself, becoming even more certain of her earlier guess—

There is something wrong with these two people!
Before coming to the classroom, Xiao Xiao looked like she hadn't slept enough, but once inside, she naturally sat down next to Han Zhou. Now, she was suddenly full of energy, chatting and laughing with Han Zhou...

Isn't this flirting?
Han Zhou was unaware that someone in the classroom had redefined the term "flirting." After observing Xiao Xiaoxiao, who was still angry, for a moment, he asked, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"I caught a cold last night, so it's no wonder I couldn't sleep well."

Xiao Xiaoxiao snorted coldly. She could still recall those embarrassing pictures, and felt both ashamed and angry, so she spoke very rudely.

Han Zhou didn't mind and asked the question that concerned him: "Did you take cold medicine before going to bed?"

"Nonsense, don't you take medicine when you're sick?"

Did you take cold medicine and sleeping pills together?

"What's it to you..."

Xiao Xiaoxiao didn't really want to talk to him at first, but when she noticed that his tone had suddenly become serious, she cooperated and asked nervously, "What's wrong? Can't we eat together?"

"Answer my question first, this is important."

"Well... it can't really be said that we took them together. I took the cold medicine first, then the sleeping pills, with about a minute or two in between... Is there a problem?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao answered truthfully, muttering under her breath, "So these two things can't be eaten together. Why didn't you tell me before? No wonder I kept having nightmares last night..."

"A nightmare?" Han Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly, as if he had suddenly realized something, and repeated, "You had a nightmare last night?"

"Yeah, so what if you had a nightmare? Why are you so agitated?" Xiao Xiaoxiao was startled and looked at him questioningly. "Why do you seem so strange today..."

"Do you remember what kind of nightmare it was?" Han Zhou interrupted her, speaking seriously. "Answer my question first, and I'll tell you later if you have any questions."

He suspected that the problem might lie in this so-called nightmare.

(End of this chapter)