Forced into a romantic relationship.

“That kid is much more open than I thought. I also remember you saying that he is trying to be an honest person, so if he doesn’t dare to answer your questions directly, it means he has something to hide.”

—Does this count as... not giving a direct answer?

Something inside me seemed to have loosened.

Just then, the last rays of sunlight outside the window disappeared, and the twilight, like spilled ink, silently spread across the window frame, as if to swallow up the last remaining light in the living room.

But the lights in the living room were already on.

"I'd love to experience the sweet taste of romance, but I'm too old and have no experience. You, on the other hand, seem to have quite a bit of experience..."

Ouyang Lianyu placed her hands behind her back, the only way to conceal her nails that were almost embedded in her palms. Then, mustering her last bit of courage, she leaned forward slightly, a gentle smile appearing on her face:

"Han Zhou, can you teach the teacher?"

The air fell completely silent.

She couldn't see Han Zhou's expression, nor could she hear his reply. She could only hear her own heart beating faster and faster. The steam rising from the spout blurred her vision, and she subconsciously pressed her glasses against the table behind her.

Just then, Han Zhou spoke.

"Then you have to call me teacher."

"Huh?" Ouyang Lianyu was stunned. "Why?"

"Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me." Han Zhou said in a serious tone.

"What threesome? I'm not studying that..."

Ouyang Lianyu clearly thought of something terrible, her cheeks instantly turning red. Han Zhou's eyes twitched, only then realizing that this phrase didn't exist in this world.

Could it be that after spending so much time together, everyone's minds have been corrupted by Yixia?

He coughed lightly: "Just tell me, are you going to learn or not?"

"I only need to learn the simple things..." Ouyang Lianyu said softly.

Han Zhou nodded: "Are you still going on the blind date tomorrow?"

"If I go, will you follow me?" Ouyang Lianyu asked in return.

"Yes," Han Zhou replied readily.

Ouyang Lianyu pretended to hesitate for a moment, then put her glasses back on, turned her back, and continued making tea, her voice carrying a hint of amusement:

"Since you'll ruin everything if I go, I might as well not go."

At this moment, Ouyang Wenhao, who had been standing in the entryway listening for most of the day, turned green with rage, but he couldn't show it, lest the children in the kitchen laugh at him.

What truly made him swallow his anger was that the diagnosis report from the hospital showed that his wife's condition was actually improving. This was a miracle that even modern hospitals couldn't explain. After thinking it over, he could only conclude that his prayers that day had worked.

Since heaven answered his prayers, he had to keep his promise.

As long as his wife gets better, he will pretend he doesn't see anything Yu'er does in the future!

Thinking of this, he snorted inwardly, pretending he hadn't heard anything, and slowed his pace as he walked into the study.

Before long, the dinner prepared by Gu Zheng, Zhong Yin, Wang Lengqiu and others was served. There were more than a dozen dishes, which looked quite sumptuous. It was fortunate that Ouyang Lianyu's kitchen was big enough, otherwise there really wouldn't have been enough room for so many people.

Even Mo Yixia showed off her culinary skills, making a plate of chopped chili fish head, which made Han Zhou's heart skip a beat. He hoped that she wouldn't say something like "Gu Zheng should get some brain-boosting" during the meal.

Unfortunately, he has lost all sense of taste and smell, so he can't appreciate everyone's cooking. But that's not a big problem. Even if someone's cooking is bad, he can still eat it without changing his expression and give a sufficiently objective evaluation.

Today's meal is not only to celebrate Ouyang Lianyu's birthday, but also to celebrate the New Year in advance. Ouyang Lianyu's parents already know that their daughter has decided not to spend the New Year at home this year, and they do not plan to go to Lincheng for the New Year. Therefore, the family is destined not to be able to reunite this year, so let's treat this as an early New Year's Eve dinner.

Even so, there was no sad atmosphere at the dinner table, probably because everyone knew that this year would not be the last time they would get together.

Even though the food in his mouth tasted like wax, Han Zhou could still feel the taste of happiness. He himself didn't actually have much happiness to speak of, so everyone's happiness was his happiness.

As the dinner party ended, light snow began to fall outside the window. Everyone was noisily clearing away the dishes, while Han Zhou, who had been idling all day, was in charge of cutting the cake.

The cake blowing ceremony was omitted, and the reason is self-evident: Ouyang Lianyu did not intend to use the number of candles to tell everyone her current age.

And so, the group ended their ten-day trip and returned to Lincheng the next day.

Chapter 712 New Year's Eve

The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Lunar New Year's Eve.

The so-called New Year's Eve means "the old year ends here and a new year begins." Generally speaking, there are many things to do on this day, such as ancestor worship and pasting couplets. Guzheng and Mo Yixia were busy at home, while the Zhongling sisters went out early in the morning to worship their parents.

As a result, the only ones who were free in the morning were Han Zhou, Xiao Xiaoxiao, Ouyang Lianyu, and Wang Lengqiu, who did not need to worry about these things.

Han Zhou originally planned to bring Wang Lengqiu's grandfather to Lincheng, but like Ouyang Lianyu's parents, the old man was also very attached to his hometown and was unwilling to leave his hometown for the New Year. He said that he was fine and there was nothing to worry about, and insisted that Wang Lengqiu stay in Lincheng to have a good New Year.

He didn't even ask where his beloved granddaughter lived.

In fact, Han Zhou left the rented house empty for Wang Lengqiu and the other two to live in, while he returned to his old residence. If anyone was so bored as to come knocking on his door to collect debts during the New Year, he would not be polite.

Fortunately, so far, no one has been that tactless.

When Han Zhou arrived downstairs, Ouyang Lianyu and the others were already waiting in the car. With the new year coming, all three of them had changed into new clothes and looked radiant. In contrast, Han Zhou was dressed rather casually.

As expected, as soon as he got into the car, he heard Ouyang Lianyu's helpless voice: "Let's go to the mall first and I'll buy you some new clothes."

Han Zhou fastened his seatbelt and casually declined, "Isn't that necessary?"

"If Yixia sees this, do you believe you'll have to go to the mall every day during winter break?"

"Fine," Han Zhou had no choice but to surrender.

It can only be said that Teacher Ouyang is indeed Teacher Ouyang. Whenever there is a problem, he will use the guzheng and Yixia to suppress him. This is probably a teacher's basic skill.

"Where's Xiaoxiao?" He took Wang Lengqiu's hand beside him and asked, knowing the answer already.

"Stop pretending, I'm right here!"

Xiao Xiaoxiao stood up, turned around from the passenger seat and glared at him, but as soon as she sat back down, he disappeared from sight again.

Han Zhou couldn't help but chuckle: "Today is New Year's Eve, do you want me to give you lucky money?"

"Hmph." Xiao Xiaoxiao pouted, "I'd rather send it to you."

“Okay.” Han Zhou naturally wouldn’t refuse and stretched out his hand.

"Let's talk about it when we get home!"

"Han Zhou, stop teasing Xiao Xiao."

Ouyang Lianyu was both amused and exasperated. Looking straight ahead, she said while driving, "Have you forgotten that today is her birthday?"

"Of course I didn't forget. It's just that it's her birthday, so I couldn't resist teasing her."

"Why?" Wang Lengqiu asked, tilting her head with a curious look.

"Because this guy doesn't look like he's grown up at all."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiaoxiao became furious. Ouyang Lianyu felt helpless and wanted to let her vent her anger, but the next second, she heard Han Zhou continue, "Just like how Teacher Ouyang didn't seem to have changed at all after her birthday."

Unlike Xiao Xiaoxiao's exasperation, Ouyang Lianyu couldn't help but smile slightly, clearly praising her youth.

So she adjusted her glasses and gently advised, "Xiaoxiao, please bear with it. It's not safe to play around in the car."

I have three tasks to do today: first, buy New Year's supplies such as couplets and firecrackers. Although the New Year's atmosphere is fading these days, we still need to maintain the proper rituals; second, purchase ingredients to prepare for tonight's New Year's Eve dinner and birthday banquet; and third, order a decent birthday cake.

As soon as she got out of the car, Ouyang Lianyu asked in a low voice, "Has your sense of taste returned?"

"It's back to normal. Didn't I send you a message?"

Ouyang Lianyu remained noncommittal, took out a piece of fructose from her bag and handed it to him: "Try it and see what it tastes like."

Clearly, she was skeptical of Han Zhou's words; this guy always preferred to report good news and not bad news in order not to worry others.

Han Zhou took the fructose, popped it into his mouth, and tasted it for a while before saying, "Strawberry flavor."

"Does it need to be tasted for so long?" Ouyang Lianyu asked worriedly.

"My sense of taste disappeared gradually, and it is now gradually returning."

Han Zhou smiled calmly, "Don't worry, it won't affect making the New Year's Eve dinner."

"Then let's try the sense of smell..."

Ouyang Lianyu hesitated for a moment, then turned her head slightly and whispered, "Smell what perfume I'm wearing..."

Han Zhou leaned closer and sniffed carefully for a while: "There's no perfume smell, it's just your own fragrance."

Ouyang Lianyu's cheeks flushed slightly: "Nonsense, I don't have any fragrance on me... It's the smell of shower gel."

"When I stayed at your house, I smelled the same thing," Han Zhou said seriously. "The shower gel you use is different from the one I use."

Ouyang Lianyu felt that she was becoming increasingly thin-skinned lately, so she quickly changed the subject: "Alright, let's go up quickly, Xiaoxiao and the others must be getting impatient."

The two took the elevator to the second floor of the mall. Xiao Xiaoxiao and Wang Lengqiu were standing by the railing watching the children playing bumper cars downstairs. When they saw the two coming, Wang Lengqiu walked over slowly and naturally took Han Zhou's hand.

Seeing this, Ouyang Lianyu's feelings were somewhat complicated, but she did not show it and said with a smile, "Let's go buy clothes while there are fewer people now."

The New Year is the most important festival in China, so shopping malls naturally attach great importance to it. Everywhere is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a festive atmosphere. You can hear cheerful music wherever you go, and the festive atmosphere is very strong.

Seeing Xiao Xiaoxiao looking around curiously, as if she had never seen the world before, Han Zhou joked, "Who was it that said last night that they didn't want to go out?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao seemed to be taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered and pouted, saying, "I can go out whenever I want, it's none of your business."

"It's good to go out more often," Han Zhou smiled.

"You don't need to say it..."

"It's a pity I don't have many relatives, otherwise I would have taken you to visit more people during the Chinese New Year."

"Isn't it good to have no relatives?"

Ouyang Lianyu chimed in, looking helpless, "I've hated visiting relatives since I was a child. They always ask about my grades and job or pressure me to get married. It's so annoying!"

It's clear that she harbors a deep resentment; otherwise, given her personality, she would never have said something like "So annoying."

“I don’t like visiting relatives either,” Wang Lengqiu said softly.

"It's alright, I don't need to visit relatives here." Han Zhou smiled.

"You don't need to visit relatives, but are you going to Guzheng's house to offer New Year's greetings this year?" Xiao Xiaoxiao suddenly asked, looking smug.

"Of course I'll go."

Han Zhou remained calm. "Not only the guzheng, I also plan to visit Yi Xia's family for the New Year."

Ouyang Lianyu looked worried: "Isn't this too risky..."