Forced into a romantic relationship.

This seemed to be a very serious matter for her.

"You protect..."

The elevator doors opened, and Han Zhou laboriously carried the suitcase to Mo Yixia's doorstep. He tried to tell her to take care, but she seemed to have misunderstood him and interrupted him indifferently.

"You can leave now. Don't worry, from today onwards I will protect you by any means necessary and will never let you be replaced."

Han Zhou opened his mouth slightly, feeling a little touched, but then he heard the other person continue to whisper, "With you taking the blame this time, it should be easier to go out next time."

The emotion on Han Zhou's face vanished instantly, replaced by a blank stare.

What are you taking the blame for?

Didn't you say you'd protect me by any means necessary?

Unfortunately, Mo Yixia obviously wouldn't answer her. After handing him her access card, she opened the door and went inside.

Han Zhou had no choice but to take the elevator downstairs.

……

When Mo Yixia entered the house, Jiang Baiqian was sitting on the sofa watching TV. The door opened quite loudly, but she seemed completely unaware that her daughter had returned, and kept changing channels with the remote control with a blank expression, at an increasingly faster pace.

The sound from the TV kept changing intermittently, which was very annoying.

Mo Yixia pretended not to see her mother, silently returned to her room to find a change of clothes, and quietly went into the bathroom.

Throughout the entire process, the two never once met each other's eyes. The atmosphere in the room was extremely oppressive, like two masters poised to strike, waiting to see who would be the first to make a move.

Soon, the sound of running water filled the bathroom.

When Mo Yixia stepped out of the bathroom, she saw Jiang Baiqian walking out of her room, her face unusually gloomy.

"Where's your phone? Why did you bring it into the bathroom?"

The fact that she asked such a question clearly indicates that she had already searched the room.

It must be said that Mo Yixia is quite beautiful after taking a shower. Only at this time will she temporarily put away her mask and baseball cap, fully revealing her jet-black hair and stunning face.

Her hair was wet, her skin was fair with a rosy glow, and there were still some water droplets on her fair neck, making her look even more radiant. Her features were so exquisite that they resembled works of art, with a flawless nose and red lips. Even without makeup, she was still so beautiful that she drew attention.

A beauty mark adorned the corner of her right eye. Her beautiful eyes, which should have been filled with bright brilliance, had become dull and lifeless, now appearing as deep and still as a desolate, lifeless star.

"Don't be so nervous, I just forgot to take it out."

She went into the bathroom, picked up her phone, unlocked it, and handed it to the woman in front of her, her tone as calm as if the woman in front of her was not her mother, but a stranger.

"If you're really that worried, you can install a camera in the bathroom as well."

Jiang Baiqian's expression grew increasingly cold as she took the phone and examined it repeatedly.

The two remained silent.

A major battle is about to break out.

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 go back on his word. He could only grit his teeth and face the consequences.

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, and kept eating in small bites: "If I hadn't protected you, you wouldn't be sitting here 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 are the benefits?"

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 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, which is that 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.”