Chapter 2: The Stubborn Class Monitor
Hua Du Residential Complex is located in the old district, east of Lincheng City. It's a bit out of the way, requiring a ten-minute bus ride after taking the subway.
Stepping out of the bus stop, Han Zhou couldn't help but sigh. This cursed weather was truly unbearable. The air conditioning on the bus made no difference, and he was drenched in sweat after only two minutes.
Perhaps it was due to the extreme heat, even the cicadas chirping in the trees sounded weak and sickly.
He quickly arrived at the entrance of Hua Du Complex. The old guard in the security booth was fanning himself with an electric fan. He clearly recognized Han Zhou, fanning a palm-leaf fan and greeting him, "It's hot, hurry on in."
"Thank you, sir."
Han Zhou entered the complex and soon walked into a unit building. However, the elevator seemed to be suffering from the heat too. For some unknown reason, it didn't respond no matter how many times he pressed the button.
"Eighteenth floor, huh."
Han Zhou sighed and had no choice but to take the stairs. Modifying his status only temporarily saved him from the crisis of death, but it couldn't free him from his sickly body. He wondered if he could get a 'strong and healthy' status in the future.
He was quite optimistic, already thinking about the future when his life was still hanging by a thread.
After climbing seven floors, Han Zhou was about to rest when he saw a girl in a sports T-shirt and shorts standing at the stairwell.
The girl was about 1.6 meters tall with shoulder-length hair and healthy, wheat-colored skin. Her figure was firm and shapely, and her back looked graceful, full of youthful vitality. She was resting, leaning on a barrel of purified water.
Hearing footsteps, the girl subconsciously turned around and immediately saw Han Zhou, drenched in sweat. She was startled at first, then smirked, "How does it feel when the elevator breaks down?"
"Very tiring," Han Zhou panted heavily. "But are you serious? By the looks of it, you're not planning to carry that water up to the eighteenth floor, are you?"
The girl's gaze faltered slightly. It was true that she was strong, but carrying water up to the eighteenth floor was too much of a hassle. She was just wondering whether to leave the water there when he hit her with that question right away.
She put on a brave face and forced a nonchalant smile.
"That's right, I'm not as delicate as you. I'll just consider it exercise."
She had a round face and a very cute smile, her eyes like crescent moons. Just by her appearance, no one would have imagined that this was a formidable person planning to carry a barrel of purified water up to the eighteenth floor.
And she was Han Zhou's high school class monitor, Gu Zheng.
【Name: Gu Zheng (Unlocked)】
【Intelligence: 7】
【Charm: 8】
【Stamina: 7】
【Skills: Efficient Learning, Proficient Throwing, Sports Aptitude, Always Striving for First, Striving for Perfection】
【Current Status: Full of Vitality: Body and mind are in good condition】
Damn, this guy's stamina increased?
Whenever he saw Gu Zheng's data, Han Zhou would lament that people's physiques truly couldn't be generalized. Putting everything else aside, a girl having a stamina of 7 was quite exaggerated. He remembered their class's PE teacher only had a stamina of 6...
Regarding skills, according to Han Zhou's guess, a skill would only materialize when a person's certain ability or trait reached a certain level. Simply learning something wouldn't form a corresponding skill; there had to be a certain level of comprehension. As for what specific level, he wasn't very clear.
He had always envied Gu Zheng's 'Always Striving for First' skill. This skill was very powerful. As long as Gu Zheng fully devoted herself to a certain field and developed a desire to win, her learning ability would slightly improve. Paired with 'Striving for Perfection,' it was simply invincible, no wonder he could never outscore her.
It was a pity he didn't get that skill back then, but instead drew a not-very-useful throwing skill.
Han Zhou's most interesting skill was undoubtedly 'Long Illness, Expert Healer.' This should be a skill formed because he had been terminally ill but kept living. It gave him a certain resistance to germs and allowed him to slightly discern if others were sick. Unfortunately, the second ability's effect was minimal, so he had never used it.
"What are you thinking about?"
Gu Zheng's clear voice suddenly sounded.
"Nothing," Han Zhou reined in his thoughts and asked, "Need help?"
"Forget it, you're struggling just climbing the stairs. What if something happens to you? I don't want to have to carry you downstairs later." Gu Zheng didn't hide the disdain on her face. "Make some time to exercise more."
Han Zhou leaned on the handrail, resting, and said with a wry smile, "I wish I could."
"What, your illness hasn't recovered yet?"
Gu Zheng was one of the few people who knew Han Zhou had been seriously ill, but she only knew it was severe, not what kind of illness it was.
However, he had always been vague, and aside from being a bit weak, he seemed normal, so she had almost forgotten about it.
Han Zhou smiled and replied, "I've recovered, at least better than before, and I'll keep getting better."
"That's good." Gu Zheng picked up the purified water and said as she walked upstairs, "But you should be staying home. Why are you coming to see me on such a hot day?"
Han Zhou lazily followed, weakly saying, "I can't live without you."
"You're talking nonsense again." Gu Zheng's voice held a hint of helplessness.
Despite their banter, the two still managed to get the water up to the eighteenth floor together, stopping and resting along the way, taking a full seven or eight minutes. The main reason was Han Zhou's extreme weakness; his legs were almost jelly after climbing, and Gu Zheng had to help him into the living room.
"Where are your parents?"
He slumped into a chair, took the towel Gu Zheng handed him, and asked breathlessly.
Gu Zheng expertly replaced the purified water. "They're on a business trip. I couldn't find the water delivery number, and the delivery guy wasn't around. On top of that, the elevator broke down. How unlucky! Even more unlucky was turning around and seeing you show up."
"What does that have to do with me...?"
Han Zhou felt he had contributed a little just now.
Gu Zheng pouted, went into the bathroom to wipe off her sweat, and tidied her hair before walking into the living room and opening the refrigerator.
The refrigerator was full of cola and a row of mineral water.
She poured a glass of ice water for Han Zhou and then opened a can of cola, chugging it down.
It took Han Zhou a long while to recover. He held his water and grumbled, "But your complex's elevator really needs to be fixed. This isn't the first time it's broken down."
Seeing his deeply resentful expression, Gu Zheng suddenly couldn't help but laugh and even pulled out her phone, ready to capture the moment.
However, Han Zhou wouldn't let her have her way. Taking her by surprise, he touched her neck with the cold bottom of his cup.
Gu Zheng flinched, almost spilling her cola. She turned to punch him but held back, complaining, "What are you doing!"
【Daily Mission One (Gu Zheng): Cause the target's heart rate to accelerate ten times 1/10, reward 1 point】
Han Zhou glanced at the status bar without a change in expression and said, "That's physical cooling. I remember you're afraid of heat."
"I'm afraid of heat?" Gu Zheng sneered. "I just hate sweating, and the air conditioning is on in the room, so I don't need you to cool me down."
【Daily Mission Two (Gu Zheng): Collect ten 'I'm afraid' statements from the target 1/10, reward 1 point】
Han Zhou sighed, "I remember you had the same expression two days ago when you said you weren't afraid of ghosts."
"What do you mean by that? Do you think I'm afraid of ghosts?" Gu Zheng raised an eyebrow. "I told you, I'm never afraid of those things."
【Daily Mission Two (Gu Zheng): Collect ten 'I'm afraid' statements from the target 2/10, reward 1 point】
"Perfect then, I've been looking forward to this."
Hearing this, Han Zhou nodded with satisfaction, then pulled out his cracked-screen phone.
"What's perfect?" Gu Zheng suddenly had a bad feeling.
"I've been afraid of ghosts since I was little and wanted to watch horror movies but didn't dare to watch alone. Since you're not afraid of ghosts, it's perfect that you can watch one with me."
Han Zhou turned on the TV and cast the image from his phone onto the screen. Eerie music flowed out, immediately making Gu Zheng's scalp tingle.
【Daily Mission One (Gu Zheng): Cause the target's heart rate to accelerate ten times 2/10, reward 1 point】
"Watch... watch a horror movie?" Gu Zheng clutched the cola can in her hand, secretly swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
Han Zhou pretended not to notice and said with a helpless expression, "Yeah, you know, I have very few friends. Lin An Yu is only brave when it comes to women, so you're probably the only one willing to watch a horror movie with me."
"Why do you think I'd watch with you...?"
"If you're afraid, that's fine. No pressure."
"I said I'm not afraid!" Gu Zheng quickly retorted.
"Then, Class Monitor..." Han Zhou was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to her and asked plaintively, "So, you just simply don't want to watch with me?"
This hateful guy, acting pitiful!
Gu Zheng was indignant, but she was a sucker for this tactic. After hesitating for a long time, she reluctantly said, "Then... then I'll watch with you, fine."
"Anyway... anyway, I'm not afraid!"