Forced into a romantic relationship

The first thing Han Zhou did after leaving the hospital was to go to the school to ask Xiao Wang Leng Qiu for leave.

Wang Lengqiu's homeroom teacher, surnamed Chen, was a woman in her early thirties. She wore black-rimmed glasses, and her neat black coat made her look particularly serious.

After listening to Han Zhou's explanation, she pushed up her glasses: "It's okay to ask for leave, but according to school regulations, I need to call my parents to confirm first."

This is the normal procedure. Although Han Zhou brought Xiao Wang Leng Qiu's homework with him, which indirectly proves that the two know each other, he is still a stranger. It is necessary to confirm with the student's parents about the matter of requesting leave.

In rural towns like this, accidents such as drowning happen frequently, so teachers often pay more attention to children's safety. It's worth noting that there are precedents of people pretending to ask for leave to play in dangerous places.

As the homeroom teacher, she has a duty to be responsible for the students' safety.

"Um...Teacher Chen, could you please not make the call?"

To avoid attracting the attention of the other teachers in the office, Han Zhou deliberately lowered his voice and said, "That child is currently in a hospital near the school. If you don't believe me, you can go and see for yourself."

"Sorry, it's not that I don't believe it, it's just the rule."

Teacher Chen glanced at him, not thinking that the disheveled young man in front of her was a bad person, nor did she think that her somewhat withdrawn student would fake illness to ask for leave.

She knew that he was a very well-behaved child.

She picked up her thermos and said frankly, "Most of the children in the school are left-behind children. If something happens to them without their parents' knowledge, it will be difficult for the school to explain. Please understand."

As she spoke, she flipped open the leather class communication book that she had used for many years, her fingertips moving lightly across the pages, searching for the phone number of Xiao Wang Lengqiu's parents.

"Teacher, please do me a favor and don't make this call, okay?" Han Zhou pleaded earnestly.

He certainly had many ways to stop the teacher from making the call, but those methods were only temporary. It would be best to resolve the issue through communication.

It has to be said that being handsome comes with privileges. If it were someone else, Teacher Chen probably wouldn't have wasted her time on this matter. But Han Zhou's face, which "clearly doesn't belong to a bad person," and his disheveled and pitiful appearance, made her willing to make an exception and give him a little more patience.

“Your accent doesn’t sound like a local’s,” she said.

Han Zhou paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, I'm from out of town."

"Lincheng?"

"You noticed it?"

Han Zhou's eyes lit up. Could it be that this teacher was from the same hometown as him? What a coincidence... The "passionate youth" is at it again?
I spent some time in Lincheng when I was in high school.

Well, although we're not from the same hometown, we're practically alumni... Han Zhou thought shamelessly.

However, Teacher Chen seemed to be just mentioning it casually, without any intention of reminiscing with his "alumni," and instead went straight to the point: "Give me a reason why you stopped me from calling Wang Lengqiu's parents?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you that right now."

Han Zhou looked apologetic. Even if Wang Lengqiu's parents had a thousand faults, these words should not have come from the mouth of an outsider like him. It would easily make people think that little Wang Lengqiu had complained about his parents behind their backs many times.

Once these words reach the ears of those two people, the one who will ultimately suffer is the poor girl who doesn't even dare to ask for leave when she's sick.

If he could stay with Xiao Wang and Leng Qiu forever, that would be fine, but he can only exist in this time and space for a month. Sometimes he has to consider the possible impact of certain things on the latter's life.

Of course, he could directly tell Teacher Chen that Wang Lengqiu's parents were bad and ask them to take better care of the child in the future. He could even go directly to those two irresponsible parents and teach them a lesson to vent his anger.

But then?

What should we do about Xiao Wang and Leng Qiu?
When the month is up, the time travel will be but a fleeting moment for him, but for this child, it will still take nine years, every single second. Han Zhou admits that this is somewhat of an overreaction.

After all, if these words were to leak out, the fact that he helped Wang Lengqiu ask for leave today would eventually reach the ears of Wang Lengqiu's parents, and then little Wang Lengqiu would probably be questioned as well.

But "Can you not tell the teacher that I'm afraid of my mom and dad?" was Xiao Wang Lengqiu's request, so he could only do as the child said for now.

"You won't let me call the child's parents, and you won't tell me why... Are you trying to mess with me?"

Despite saying that, Teacher Chen didn't seem angry. She patted the chair next to her, gesturing for Han Zhou to sit down and talk.

Han Zhou sat down casually and tentatively asked, "You just said you were worried about the child having an accident without the parents' knowledge. If I assure you that nothing will happen to Wang Lengqiu, then you won't need to make the call, will you?"

Teacher Chen unscrewed the thermos cup: "I've heard promises like yours countless times. I hear them at least three times a day in the class alone, but very few of them actually keep their word."

"What can a group of children guarantee?" Han Zhou asked curiously.

"I promise I'll hand in my homework tomorrow."

"Um...could it be because I have too much homework?"

Seeing that Teacher Chen suddenly turned to stare at him, he quickly changed his words, "What I mean is, they are just a group of children after all, and their promises should not be taken too seriously."

Teacher Chen lowered her head and took a sip of tea: "In my eyes, aren't you just a child too?"

"..."

Han Zhou's expression froze. He hadn't expected that this seemingly strict teacher would actually have a sense of humor.

Looks like I'll have to use my words more today...

He sighed inwardly and was about to speak when he heard Teacher Chen continue, "I've approved the leave request. I have class later and need to go to the classroom. Once Wang Lengqiu has recovered, you and that child should come together and explain things to me."

Seeing her put the phone book into the drawer, Han Zhou was taken aback and tentatively asked, "Aren't you going to make a call?"

“If you can’t explain it properly next time you come, I will still call you.” Teacher Chen picked up her lesson plan and stood up from her seat.

Han Zhou was still uneasy, so he quickly followed and asked in a low voice, "You're not trying to trick me into leaving so you can secretly make a phone call when I'm gone, are you?"

Teacher Chen paused, turned around to look at him, and adjusted her glasses.

"Do you want me to hit you or not?"

"Of course I don't want to."

"Then you can leave now. Remember what I said, once Wang Lengqiu has recovered, you two should come to my office together to talk things out."

"it is good……"

Watching Teacher Chen leave with his umbrella, Han Zhou looked bewildered. Could it be that the "passionate youth" had really struck again?
In addition to boosting attributes, the "Hot-Blooded Youth" skill also increases luck—and to be honest, he feels like everything he does lately has been going quite smoothly.

He really wanted to chase after her and ask why, but as the school bell rang, Teacher Chen had already gone into a classroom and wouldn't come out for at least forty minutes.

He couldn't wait that long, so he turned around and left the school.

(End of this chapter)