Forced into a romantic relationship

Chapter 30 It's your turn to use any means necessary.
Han Zhou had no idea how Mo Yixia had negotiated with Jiang Baiqian.

However, when he visited her the next day with trepidation, Jiang Baiqian showed no signs of anything amiss and remained as enthusiastic as before.

And he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he always felt that there was a hint of encouragement and expectation hidden in the other person's eyes.

Han Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In a sense, Mo Yixia actually deceived him yesterday, because she didn't mention the serious consequences of going out rashly at the time, but only brought it up afterward.

But by then it was too late to back out. The deed was done, and Han Zhou had no way to back out. He could only grit his teeth and face it.

However, Mo Yixia chose to face her mother's anger alone afterward, without letting him be affected at all, which shows that although the other party had some ulterior motives, she did not intend to harm him.

Han Zhou actually felt quite sorry for Mo Yixia. Her father had passed away a year ago, and her mother was so domineering and dictatorial that she had almost deprived her of all her freedom. She was helpless and alone and could only use all her wits to deal with her mother. It was no wonder that she developed a misanthropic mentality.

However, so far, he has not directly sensed Mo Yixia's dissatisfaction with the world. It seems that she has a lot of thoughts hidden under her hat and mask, which she has never truly revealed.

The entire morning was completely peaceful. Jiang Baiqian didn't even mention yesterday's events once. As usual, she prepared the meal, greeted the two of them with a smile, and left with her bag when it was almost time.

Everything was as usual. Han Zhou was relieved but also a little surprised. He wondered how Mo Yixia had talked to Jiang Baiqian. It was a bit too much that she didn't even ask a single question.

Or perhaps things aren't as serious as she's making them out to be?

Mo Yixia did not hide anything and briefly told Han Zhou about her conversation with Jiang Baiqian the day before during dinner.

Han Zhou was stunned after hearing this, almost dropping his chopsticks. After a long while, he lowered his head and said with a look of grief and indignation, "Is this what you told her?"

"Yes, that's what I said."

As usual, Mo Yixia pushed a plate of fish in front of him.

Han Zhou could no longer eat the fish. He even worried that there might be poison in the food. He took a deep breath, stared at the other person, and said, "I remember you said you would protect me."

Mo Yixia now had a particularly good appetite, eating her food in small bites: "If I hadn't protected you, you wouldn't be sitting here right now."

"But you are clearly fabricating facts and making me take the blame for something that isn't mine!"

Mo Yixia remained calm and composed, saying without even looking up, "Apart from changing the person who suggested going out from me to you, everything else is largely true and doesn't count as fabricating facts."

Han Zhou realized for the first time that this guy was quite shameless, and gritted his teeth, saying, "This is the biggest difference! I've become the one who proposed and carried out the trip, what's the difference between this and kidnapping!"

He suddenly remembered that when Jiang Baiqian brought over the fruit that morning, she seemed to be holding a kitchen knife. At the time, he didn't think much of it, but now he felt a chill run down his spine.

"It's not that serious. I insisted that your access card was broken, and I even told my mom that you only took me out on a whim when you got to the entrance of the community. You planned to take me around while borrowing my notes, saying that studying should be balanced with rest."

Han Zhou was taken aback for a moment, then said with exasperation, "Why did you have to add that I wanted to show you around? When you lie, you have to combine the truth with the lies, and downplay the important points. Why didn't you just say it was for studying?"

Is this guy's focus off-topic...?

Mo Yixia gave him a strange look: "It's okay to just talk about studying, but do you think my mom will believe it?"

"That's true..."

Han Zhou thought for a moment, then seemed to suddenly realize something, and asked strangely, "I've already taken all the blame in this story, so what role do you play in it?"

"A pure-hearted high school girl who is focused on her studies, and although she resists fiercely, her willpower is somewhat weak, and she is ultimately seduced by your sweet words..."

"Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense. There's no way your mom would believe this."

Han Zhou interrupted Mo Yixia impatiently. He wasn't actually that angry, and he knew the real situation was probably not as simple as she described. But this girl had been behaving so infuriatingly today...

Mo Yixia raised her head slightly and said, "Of course she won't believe it, but no matter what, the fact is you don't need to leave, and you don't need to thank me."

Can you please think carefully about who would be the reason I leave...?

Han Zhou's lips twitched, and he suddenly noticed that the other person's expression seemed a bit softer than before, so he asked curiously, "You seem pretty happy?"

Mo Yixia didn't deny it: "Because I gained three benefits from this negotiation."

"What's the benefit?"

Han Zhou was stunned. He didn't expect that this guy could gain something from arguing.

"First, I took advantage of last night's argument to vent my anger and successfully expressed my long-standing dissatisfaction."

"Secondly, my mom and I reached a new agreement to increase the rest time in the morning and afternoon to thirty minutes."

"third……"

Mo Yixia gave Han Zhou a meaningful look. "After this incident, it will be much easier for you to go out next time." Han Zhou's face darkened. "There won't be a next time! Even if there is, I won't take the blame for you! No way, you've taken all the benefits, and I haven't gotten anything. You have to compensate me."

"How will you compensate me?" Mo Yixia said meaningfully, "Will you make me smile at you ten times a day?"

Han Zhou was startled. What was wrong with this guy? He guessed his true thoughts in an instant.
He seized the opportunity and said with a sneer, "Not ten times, but twenty times, and each time you have to take off your mask and smile."

"Are you sure?"

Mo Yixia said calmly, "My mom could see this on the security camera. The innocent high school girl was forced to take off her mask and force a reluctant smile at the beastly teacher..."

What kind of innocent high school girl is this...?

Seeing that this guy was getting more and more outrageous, Han Zhou quickly interrupted, "Then you don't have to take off your mask, but you have to laugh at least twenty times a day!"

"Okay, I agree, but you have to agree to one condition."

Mo Yixia nodded and naturally took the compensation and started to exchange it for conditions. "Actually, I did make some concessions in this negotiation. That is, we can no longer wear masks at home after school starts."

Han Zhou was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, as if his heart had been suddenly touched, and he felt a strange sadness in these words.

Perhaps for this girl, the mask is not just about preventing her mother from reading her lips; it is also a way for her to protect her hidden inner self.

Compromising on this point might mean that the girl will lose even more freedom in the future...

But Han Zhou quickly realized he was overthinking things.

Mo Yixia said, "But it's okay, we can practice ventriloquism together. When you get back, search for relevant techniques online and start teaching me from tomorrow."

Han Zhou's face darkened. Everyone else was preparing to develop new skills, why was he feeling sorry for this guy? He firmly refused, saying, "You don't have time to learn these things now, and I don't need to learn them either. I'll be going to school after the semester starts, and then..."

At this point, he suddenly fell silent.

"They won't come, right?"

Mo Yixia picked up where he left off, her tone as calm as ever.

She didn't seem to care much, and after a pause, she continued, "As my teacher, you should satisfy my desire to learn, even if it's just teaching me the basics of ventriloquism—I need it."

Han Zhou realized that Mo Yixia was serious. Perhaps his previous guess was correct. The mask had a special meaning for this girl, and taking off the mask might not be a pleasant thing for her.

He didn't know why he had suddenly fallen silent, and said irritably, "You're a teacher when you're useful, but you're used as a scapegoat when you're not. You're really something."

Mo Yixia didn't reply, but suddenly said, "Last night I heard from my mother that you looked for me at the birthday party the night before last because you were worried that I wouldn't be able to take off my mask to eat in the crowd."

Han Zhou was taken aback for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Why did your mom bring this up when you were arguing?"

"Of course it's to belittle you, to say that you're meddling in things that don't concern you, and that you're worried I won't have anything to eat, making it seem like she can't cook."

Seeing Han Zhou's expression stiffen, Mo Yixia lowered her head and pursed her lips, "You don't actually think she was trying to praise you, do you?"

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

Han Zhou glanced at the characters casually and asked, "By the way, you still haven't told me how you managed to get your mom to keep me, the scapegoat, here."

"I gave her a condition she couldn't refuse."

"What conditions?"

"My test will be extended to ten days, which is seven days later. I promised my mom that all my grades would improve dramatically by then, and I would be able to reach more than 80 percent of the total score in each subject. Since it was the first time I had made a promise to her, she accepted it."

Han Zhou's eyes widened: "Are you crazy?"

Even a math and physics whiz would shake his head at this guy's math and physics skills. How could he possibly get 80% of the total score in just seven days?

Mo Yixia continued, "By the way, I also told her that this was your idea, that you made a pledge, and that you would leave if you couldn't keep it."

Han Zhou was struck dumb, his face filled with disbelief: "No, you clearly said you would protect me by any means necessary..."

What kind of protection is this? They're clearly trying to harm him!

"Yes."

Mo Yixia pulled down her baseball cap and said seriously, "I've already gone to any lengths to protect you, so now it's your turn to go to any lengths to make me keep my promise."

【Daily Task 1 (Mo Yixia): Collect 2/10 smiley faces out of 10 targets to earn 1 point】

(End of this chapter)