Forced into a romantic relationship

Chapter 49 You're quite busy with your work.
When Han Zhou stepped off the subway, it was already completely dark.

He and Guzheng spent a lot of time in the park. Afterwards, that guy insisted on letting him experience the feeling of a swing spinning 360 degrees in the air. If he hadn't refused, he might not be back alive now.

Neither of them mentioned the graduation photo again. They played until dark before leaving the park. After taking Guzheng home, he took the subway and left.

Today's harvest was quite substantial. Excluding the daily tasks, I actually earned 60 points in one go, and now I have a surplus of 33 points.

Like Mo Yixia's side quest, Han Zhou also didn't quite understand how to complete the temporary quest involving the guzheng. If the former was somewhat traceable, then this time he really had no clue.

When did he start showing favoritism towards the guzheng? Was it because of something he didn't know?
Or perhaps the preference doesn't depend on what he did, but rather on how the guzheng felt?

I don't understand it, I just don't understand it at all.

Han Zhou simply gave up thinking.

He originally planned to use two points to exchange for a Power Pill to test its effects, but after thinking about it, he didn't do so.

This stuff has a rapid wound healing effect, and he was worried that if the medicine was too strong, the bruise on his left eye would disappear overnight, which would be problematic.

Others might not care about this, but it could very well arouse Mo Yixia's suspicion; that guy is quite perceptive.

He believed that Mo Yixia would pass the test tomorrow, so the two would inevitably meet again, and he had to take this into account.

Not only that, he also planned to bring his panda eyes to the Zhong sisters, hoping that this pitiful appearance would make them feel even more guilty, so that he could take the initiative in their future interactions.

On his way home, Han Zhou looked at a lot of small cards on the ground that offered special services. These things weren't available a while ago, but he didn't expect them to reappear today.

However, it's normal for this thing to appear a few times occasionally, and it will disappear quickly if left alone. He usually ignores it.

He wasn't planning to pay any attention to it today, but something interesting happened: he actually happened to see the person throwing small cards on the ground.

The man was short, his face was hidden in the shadows, and he was throwing cards in a furtive manner. He even threw them into other people's yards from time to time, which was utterly despicable.

This scene was quite unusual, and Han Zhou couldn't help but take a few more glances. However, he didn't want to get involved with these messy people and things, so he quickened his pace, intending to leave as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly, the short figure suddenly became familiar under the streetlights ahead, and his face became clear as he turned around. After seeing the other person's appearance, Han Zhou was taken aback.

The shorter man in front of him had obviously seen him too. His body trembled, his hand movements instantly stiffened, and even his expression became tense.

Han Zhou remembered this person; he was one of the group that had come to his house to collect a debt not long ago. The guy had been very rude and foul-mouthed, so Han Zhou had a very bad impression of him.

Their eyes met under the streetlight, and for a moment they both felt a little uncomfortable. The awkwardness was hard to describe; they didn't know whether to leave or stay, and their expressions were quite complicated.

Han Zhou hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "Well, you seem to be quite busy with work..."

The shorter man forced a forced smile, his gaze lingering for a moment on the man's bruised left eye, instantly conjuring up an image of the man being beaten up for not being able to pay back his debts: "You've had it pretty tough too..."

The two fell silent, and for a moment they even felt a sense of mutual pity.

The short man hesitated for a moment, then suddenly pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tentatively asked, "Want one?"

"No, haha, I can't smoke."

"Really? Hehe, I'd forgotten."

The short man put the cigarette in his mouth.

"Hehe, hehe..."

The two chuckled awkwardly, and Han Zhou started to leave, but then he saw another figure appear in the distance, muttering, "Shanzi, how's it going? Hurry up and get going, it's so hot..."

The next second, the voice abruptly stopped, because the speaker had also seen and recognized Han Zhou. He was one of the debt collectors who had come to collect the debt, and his expression upon seeing Han Zhou was equally uneasy. What kind of situation is this? They were acting all high and mighty when they came to collect the debt, and now they're practically advertising their services right in front of the debtor…

With no one around and two adult men on the other side, Han Zhou felt a bit dangerous. So, without making a sound, he put his hand in his pocket and gripped a packet of ketchup he always carried, as if he were holding a gun with the safety off.

If things go wrong, he plans to repeat his old trick and reveal his terminal illness again.

The two short men keenly noticed this movement, and were startled. They exchanged a glance and saw the seriousness in each other's eyes.

What does this kid mean? Is he going to pull out a weapon?

They were on guard, silently reaching for their lower backs as if touching a dagger they carried.

Seeing this, Han Zhou sneered inwardly, thinking to himself, "So these two really want to make a move. Are they planning to force me to pay my debt in a place like this?"

He watched their movements closely, prepared to change "on the verge of death" to "on the verge of death" at any moment.

"On the verge of death" is far more terrifying than "on the verge of death," and he doesn't believe that someone in this state can't defeat just two people.

Both sides harbored their own ulterior motives, and due to the weather, sweat began to bead on their foreheads. They faced each other in a tense and solemn standoff.

"Honey, what are you doing here?"

Just then, a questioning voice suddenly rang out from the side of the road. The short man's expression changed, and he quickly looked over. He saw a middle-aged woman with a tired look standing under the street lamp, looking at the three people present with some strangeness.

The shorter man was terrified, but feigned composure, asking in confusion, "Wife, what are you doing here?"

"I was working overtime at the factory, and I just got off work and went home." The woman was a little suspicious. "Weren't you supposed to be working as a designated driver? What are you doing in a place like this?"

"Oh, a friend of mine suddenly got drunk and called me to take him home. You see, this is the guy, one of my coworkers at the construction site during the day."

The short man feigned helplessness and gave a look to the person next to him. The latter immediately understood and quickly pretended to be drunk, making incoherent noises, pushing and shoving, and even planning to unbuckle his belt and urinate on the roadside.

Han Zhou was secretly amazed, thinking to himself that this guy was really going all out, his act of being drunk was so lifelike, he probably had used similar tricks before.

Sure enough, the middle-aged woman quickly turned her head away upon seeing this, not daring to look anymore. The short man pretended to be annoyed and punched the guy, saying disdainfully, "Wake up, kid. We're almost home. If you need to pee, go home!"

He glanced at the woman helplessly and said with a wry smile, "Anyway, honey, you go home first. I'll take this guy home and then head back immediately. I won't be doing any more chauffeured driving today."

The woman glanced at the difference in their physiques—one tall and muscular, the other short—and asked with some concern, "Can you really take him back by yourself?"

"No problem, his house isn't far from here, just a few steps away. You should go back now, it's hot outside."

The woman hesitated for a moment, then nodded, saying with some concern, "Then honey, be careful. I heard that some people have been throwing those shady little cards around here lately, the kind you see under your feet. It might not be safe. I won't walk this way home anymore."

"Yes, we should definitely be careful."

The short man, without batting an eye, said, "If we're going to take a longer route, we might as well just take my electric scooter. That would make commuting much easier."

"How about that..."

Listening to their conversation, Han Zhou thought to himself that the short man's mental fortitude was really strong; he could lie without even blinking. He felt even more disgusted and walked straight toward the woman.

He didn't want to complain, but rather because his home was in the direction the woman lived.

However, the short man clearly didn't think that way. He was startled when he saw this and quickly gave Han Zhou a pleading look, as if begging Han Zhou not to tell his wife about those things.

Han Zhou ignored her; he wasn't that free. He brushed past the woman and hurried home.

(End of this chapter)