Forced into a romantic relationship

In the torrential rain, Han Zhou carried the girl and ran wildly across the muddy road.

Mud splattered everywhere, and even though he was wearing rain boots, his trousers were inevitably covered in mud.

Since he couldn't free his hands, he could only hold the umbrella between his neck and shoulder, which looked quite comical.

But once she regained her senses, Xiao Wang Lengqiu couldn't laugh.

She grabbed Han Zhou's arm, trying to break free from his embrace.

However, with the strength of a twelve-year-old girl who struggles to eat even half a bowl of rice, she naturally couldn't break free as long as Han Zhou refused to let go.

After several unsuccessful attempts, she wasn't annoyed. She simply patted the arms wrapped around her waist and said, "Put me down."

She could feel her weakness, and the sounds she made were barely audible to herself, as if completely swallowed by the heavy rain, but the alien holding her heard them.

Because his brow furrowed even deeper.

But it seemed like he didn't hear it.

Because the other person didn't put her down, but looked down at her and asked in a feigned angry tone, "Do you really like going to school that much?"

Xiao Wang Lengqiu had seen many people truly angry, which was why she was used to saying "I'm sorry." But this person's act was completely fake, and his tone wasn't fierce at all, so he couldn't scare her at all.

Just like yesterday, that handsome face was once again covered in rainwater, and his hair was soaked. He was holding an umbrella when he first appeared, but this alien seemed to have never used it properly.

It's all because of her.

Just like her parents said, she seemed to be causing trouble for others as soon as she got a little close.

She didn't expose the other person, nor did she rush to expose herself. After a moment of silence, she answered the other person's question carefully.

"like."

She really liked going to school. Time flew by at school, and as long as she studied hard, she could grow up faster. But if she didn't go to school and her grandfather wasn't around, she wouldn't know what to do.

Time will pass very, very slowly.

"Think carefully before you answer. Unless you're also a misanthropic person, not disliking something doesn't necessarily mean you like it."

"sorry."

Xiao Wang Leng Qiu didn't understand what the "also" meant. She first apologized subconsciously, but then gave the same answer as before.

"I like going to school."

"So much that you'd go to school even if you were sick?"

Amidst the cacophony of the rain, the alien's voice was exceptionally clear, for he was speaking to her with his head bowed, their faces very close, and she could clearly see the emotions in his eyes—

He started laughing again, as if he could read my mind.

Xiao Wang Leng Qiu suddenly didn't dare to look him in the eye. She turned her head slightly to avoid his gaze and said, "I took my medicine before I left."

She did not answer the question she had just asked.

"Really?"

"real."

She nodded, thinking that the other person was willing to let her down.

“I didn’t see it. And it’s obvious your medicine isn’t working.”

However, the other person did not let go; instead, they hugged even tighter. Although they were laughing, their tone carried an undeniable air of authority: "So I'm planning to take you to the hospital."

Han Zhou had just discovered something. He didn't know if it was because of time travel, but the "experience is the best teacher" principle couldn't work on Xiao Wang Leng Qiu, so he could only send her to the hospital as soon as possible.

"I'm not going to the hospital," Xiao Wang Leng Qiu shook her head.

She was a very sensible child. Even though she was unwilling, she didn't struggle wildly. She just asked Han Zhou to put her down again.

Han Zhou felt like he'd heard similar words somewhere before, but he didn't have time to think about it now. He smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Are you afraid of getting a shot?"

"Yes... a little."

Xiao Wang Leng Qiu's first half of his statement was quite honest, but the second half was clearly a blatant lie: "I just have a bit of a cold, I don't need to go to the hospital or get a shot."

It seems that not being able to joke doesn't mean not being able to lie... Han Zhou shook his head inwardly, but his attitude remained firm: "Even a minor cold requires a trip to the hospital."

A high fever is not an illness that can be toughed out, especially for children, as it can easily cause brain damage.

If he hadn't been unable to find a car, he wouldn't have had to walk all the way; he would have taken Xiao Wang Lengqiu to the hospital long ago.

He pretended not to hear what the girl said next.

Xiao Wang Leng Qiu had been trying to negotiate, but seeing that the other party was starting to completely ignore her, she finally became a little anxious. After hesitating for a while, she carefully raised her hand, took a deep breath, and then mustered up her courage to grab Han Zhou's ear.

Seeing the other person look down at her with some surprise, she suddenly felt nervous. She subconsciously wanted to let go but held back, gently tugged at him, and said threateningly, "Put me down quickly."

Han Zhou almost burst out laughing.

But he held back, first letting out a mock sigh, then saying with a helpless expression, "Tell me why you insist on going to school. If you can convince me, I might consider letting you go."

Perhaps seeing that he was about to give in, Xiao Wang Leng Qiu hesitated for a moment before replying, "I...I need to ask the teacher for leave first."

"That's it?"

Han Zhou raised an eyebrow, clearly finding the reason too weak. "Is there a more convincing reason?"

"It's my turn to be on duty today. If I don't go to school, I'll cause trouble for my classmates..." Xiao Wang Leng Qiu unconsciously increased the pressure on his hands.

"It's just a duty assignment, I can always make it up next time. Is there anything else?"

"Going to the hospital will cost a lot of money, I need to save the money I brought to buy rice this afternoon..."

"No, it's still not convincing enough."

Han Zhou shook his head regretfully, "It seems you have no choice but to go to this hospital today."

The sound of rain grew louder, and rainwater slid down his hair to his cheeks, then rolled down to his chin, and finally dripped onto the cheeks of the girl in his arms.

The girl released her grip on Han Zhou's ear, but didn't wipe it. After a long silence, she said, "If I don't go to school, the teacher will definitely call and ask my parents. They'll be unhappy when they find out." Han Zhou didn't press further.

He could tell that this was the real reason why Xiao Wang Leng Qiu insisted on going to school even with a high fever.

“But you’re sick,” he said.

"But they might not believe it."

"But you don't need them to believe you."

"..."

Seeing the girl in his arms fall silent, Han Zhou didn't know what to say for a moment, so he simply started talking about other things in a casual tone.

"When I was in elementary school, my class often asked us to write essays about fatherly and motherly love. At least half of the class would write about their parents carrying them to the hospital in the pouring rain at night. What would you write about?"

Xiao Wang Leng Qiu was taken aback, not understanding why he would suddenly ask this. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "When I was little... they would buy me pretty dresses."

She rarely sees her parents, let alone experiences with them that are worth writing about in her essays.

"That's it?"

"……Um."

"You always write it like this?"

"It's always written like this."

Han Zhou suddenly laughed: "Then your essay will definitely not get a high score."

Xiao Wang Leng Qiu was taken aback, finding this person really strange. After hesitating for a few seconds, she asked curiously, "And you, what kind of essays can you write?"

"I don't remember, maybe it was when my dad went out drinking and playing cards that he would invite me along," Han Zhou said with a smile.

Xiao Wang Leng Qiu was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously said, "What is this...?"

"It's a failing grade," Han Zhou said with a smile.

The girl opened her mouth, also caught in a moment of not knowing what to say, so she could only mimic his tone and ask, "Do you always write it like this?"

"It's always written like this."

"So...so you always fail?"

"Yes."

Han Zhou smiled nonchalantly, "Fortunately, I started writing argumentative essays later on, and I'm quite good at that."

Xiao Wang Lengqiu stared at the wet face. She remembered clearly that this person had said last night that he was just born, but now he was talking about elementary school and composition, which was obviously contradictory. However, she did not question him, but suddenly asked:

Why did you suddenly bring this up?

"It's like occasionally reminiscing about my youth."

The long run had made Han Zhou's breathing slightly rapid, but he still finished speaking carefully, word by word—

"Since it's something you can't write and won't need sooner or later anyway, it's not a big deal if you fail it, right?"

Xiao Wang and Leng Qiu seemed to understand but didn't say anything.

Han Zhou didn't continue speaking. He was never a good student or a good teacher; those words he just spoke were just a sudden outburst of emotion.

He looked down at the girl in his arms and said with a smile, "Just come to the hospital with me obediently, so that you'll at least have some material to write about your fatherly and motherly love in the future."

"No."

Xiao Wang and Leng Qiu immediately voiced their objections, though it was unclear whether they meant not to go to the hospital or not to use such material in their essays.

Han Zhou assumed it was the latter, because he absolutely had to go to this hospital today.

"Your reasons didn't convince me. Get ready for the injection," he said.

The frequency of raindrops falling on her cheeks gradually increased. Xiao Wang Leng Qiu remained silent for a long time before suddenly raising her hand again. This time, however, she did not grab Han Zhou's ear but instead gently wiped the raindrops off his face with her sleeve before touching her own.

Han Zhou was stunned.

"You agree to go to the hospital?" he asked uncertainly.

Xiao Wang and Leng Qiu shook their heads, then nodded, their expressions somewhat conflicted.

"My duty day..."

"I'll go and talk to your classmates for you."

Han Zhou immediately interrupted her, saying firmly.

The girl paused for a moment.

"But what about the teacher..."

“I’ll talk to the teacher and she will never call your parents. I’ll also hand in your homework for you. If there’s anything else you’re worried about, please continue.”

"Going to the hospital costs a lot of money..."

"I'll figure it out."

"I'm a little afraid of needles..."

"I have a way to make you feel no pain."

"really?"

"of course."

Han Zhou lowered his head and gave the girl a reassuring smile.

"Have you forgotten... I am the all-powerful stick figure?" (End of Chapter)