Chapter 6 I Have A Plan
The air conditioner continuously blew cold air, keeping the scorching heat out of the room. The dazzling sunlight was blocked by the curtains, and the chirping of cicadas couldn't be heard, only the rustling sound of a pen tip touching paper.
To be honest, if he didn't have to consider anything else, Han Zhou quite liked the tutoring job. Not only did he get a free and delicious lunch, but he also got to enjoy free air conditioning, which was much more comfortable than staying at home.
He said truthfully, "I've never met my mom. She passed away not long after I was born."
The rustling sound paused for a moment, then quickly resumed, followed by Mo Yixia's apologetic voice.
"I'm sorry."
"It's nothing."
Han Zhou felt indifferent. In fact, in terms of family circumstances, he was even more miserable than Mo Yixia, but he didn't intend to elaborate on that and come to an empty conclusion like "having a mother is already a great blessing."
The room suddenly fell silent. Perhaps because the air conditioner was set a bit too low, Mo Yixia got up and put on a jacket, which was the Linbei Middle School uniform she wore yesterday.
After a long while, she spoke, "Actually, I've imagined it more than once: what if I had died the day I was born?"
Han Zhou pondered for a moment, "You wouldn't have met the incredibly handsome me?"
He had learned about the psychology of world-weary people online. Such individuals are often extremely pessimistic, finding no joy in life, and a considerable number develop suicidal thoughts. So, he wasn't surprised by Mo Yixia's words, just a little worried.
Perhaps this was the girl's true inner self.
Seeing no reaction from her, Han Zhou increasingly felt that making this girl laugh was quite difficult. Of course, he would never reflect on whether his jokes were too stale.
He changed the subject, "My mom is not a topic we can discuss, so how about we talk about what you like?"
Mo Yixia's hand paused, "What I like?"
【Daily Mission Two (Mo Yixia): Get ten 'likes' from the target. 2/10. Reward: 1 point】
"Mm."
She thought for a long time before saying, "I like many things: singing, listening to music, claw machines, playing the piano, jump rope…"
Han Zhou initially thought she hesitated for so long because she couldn't think of anything she liked. Who knew she rattled off a long list of diverse things, all without repeating herself?
In summary, besides studying, this girl seemed to like everything.
Thanks to this, Mo Yixia quickly said 'I like' ten times, and Han Zhou successfully completed a mission. However, in contrast, the other mission remained stagnant; he still hadn't seen her smile once.
So he hesitated for a moment and tentatively asked, "Um, don't you like to smile?"
Mo Yixia seemed a bit surprised, and for once, she turned her head to look at him. "It's not that I don't like it. I smile when I should. What's wrong?"
Han Zhou hesitated for a moment, "Then how about… I tell you a joke?"
"Go ahead."
"Ahem, listen closely then."
Han Zhou cleared his throat, seemingly very confident in the joke he was about to tell.
"On a talent show, Zhang San overcame many obstacles and successfully advanced, finally taking the champion's seat. At the awards ceremony, the host smiled and asked him, 'Contestant, what brought you to the champion's podium?'"
Mo Yixia was quite cooperative, instinctively playing the straight man. Without lifting her head, she asked, "How did the contestant answer?"
"'My legs.'"
Mo Yixia waited for a while. Seeing that he didn't continue, she couldn't help but ask in confusion, "And then? Is that it?"
"That's it."
Han Zhou was silent for a moment, seemingly wanting to salvage something, and added, "Did you hear clearly? Zhang San answered that it was his legs…"
"Where's the punchline?"
"My legs…"
The room fell into a long silence.
"Your joke is too stale," Mo Yixia finally offered an evaluation after a while.
"I think you're the one who's too stale."
Han Zhou mumbled, but honestly, Mo Yixia wasn't a cold person. On the contrary, she was quite easy to talk to. It was just that she seemed to have a shell around her, wrapping herself inside and not letting anyone get close.
This is a big problem… I can't even make her laugh, so how am I supposed to make her not dislike me?
Feeling a headache coming on, he got up and walked to the desk to check Mo Yixia's answers.
A moment later, his expression became strange. After carefully choosing his words, he said, "Your math really isn't very good."
"Don't be so insincere. You can completely describe me as a mess."
"It's not that bad. It's my fault for talking to you all this time…"
Mo Yixia admitted, "It has nothing to do with you. My math and physics have always been bad. I actually feel like I did a little better this time than before."
Han Zhou hesitated for a moment, then reached out to pull away the test paper. "Since that's the case, there's no point in doing the math and physics sections now; it's just a waste of time."
However, Mo Yixia held the test paper down firmly and shook her head, saying, "But my mom doesn't think that way. She firmly believes that the more test papers you do, the better, and the worse you are, the more you should do. So I have to finish it."
Han Zhou frowned, "Your mom's idea is clearly problematic. Are you being defiant with her?"
"Believe me, it's fine if you wear a mask like me; my mom won't have any objections. But if you don't listen to her and don't make me finish all the test papers, her attitude towards you will definitely drop to freezing point. She might not let you come tomorrow."
Han Zhou's hand paused. Thinking of that kindly smiling woman, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
Seeing him silently withdraw his hand, the girl's eyes dimmed slightly, and she picked up her pen to continue answering questions.
Han Zhou naturally couldn't see Mo Yixia's gaze, and even if he could, there was nothing he could do. He needed this job for now, no matter what, and he couldn't be dismissed for no reason.
He sighed, "These surveillance cameras are really annoying. It would be great if they all broke."
"Then you can pray for a power outage. My house's cameras don't have backup power, so they're useless if the power goes out."
Mo Yixia said, "But malfunctioning cameras aren't all good. What do you want to do?"
Han Zhou's eyes lit up at her words, as if he hadn't heard her. He suddenly lowered his voice and said conspiratorially, "Do you want to take a half-day break?"
"Yes," Mo Yixia nodded, "but if you're planning to pull the main switch, I advise you to give up that idea early. My mom can see it."
Han Zhou was startled, but quickly reacted, his expression strange. "You haven't already thought about that, have you…?"
Mo Yixia continued, "There is a main switch outside, but unfortunately, if the power goes out after I leave, it will attract my mom's attention. And to prevent me from finding someone to cooperate from the inside, she even had someone put the switch in a position that normal people can't reach."
While shocked by the mother and daughter's battle of wits, Han Zhou couldn't help but wonder, "Your mom can just change the position of the main switch?"
"Of course. I told you my family is very rich, right? The entire Yunhuan community belongs to my family. No one would object if she wanted to mess around."
Han Zhou gasped, his eyes wide. "Are you serious?"
He could tell Mo Yixia's family was wealthy; even the tea set was full of grandeur and the stench of money. But he never imagined they were rich to this extent…
Mo Yixia's tone was calm, "I have no reason to lie to you."
Han Zhou took a deep breath and quickly adjusted his mindset. After all, no matter how rich someone else was, it was still their money. He thought for a moment and asked, "So where did your mom hide the main switch?"
Mo Yixia was startled, not expecting this guy to still be persistent. So, she first feigned a tired stretch, then pulled open the curtains. While enjoying the sunlight, she subtly pointed outside the window, her tone filled with a sense of resigned helplessness.
"It's over there."
Han Zhou was dumbfounded. Who the hell would install a main switch on the outside wall, and so far from the room? This was over thirty stories high. At this height and distance, pulling the switch would probably require summoning Spider-Man…
And to be honest, for whatever reason, deliberately installing the main switch in such a place could already be called capricious.
Mo Yixia had no hope of pulling the main switch; it was, after all, just an absurd idea. However, the moment she closed the curtains, a trace of disappointment still undeniably flashed in her eyes.
Han Zhou happened to notice that dim look.
He still remembered the moment she had just opened the curtains; even though the sunlight was scorching, her gaze was still so bright, like a caged bird longing for the blue sky.
Han Zhou had already learned from their previous conversation that even when Mo Yixia went out for tutoring, she basically had no freedom. On the contrary, going back and forth was even more tiring, which was why she wanted to find a tutor to act as a cover.
Even a brief moment of leisure seemed like a luxury for this girl.
The main switch stood far away on the wall, looking down, as if silently mocking something.
He didn't know why, but Han Zhou suddenly remembered the day he learned he had a terminal illness, his father had left, and he lay at home, waiting to die alone.
The next second, he didn't know if he had a screw loose, but he suddenly took a deep breath, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
"Listen to me, I have a plan."
Damn it, if this is the only way to get fifty points, then I'm going to see it through today!
Mo Yixia was startled, not understanding what this guy wanted to do now. She had just pulled the curtains shut, and as she turned her head, she happened to see the last ray of sunlight fall on his face.
His gaze was exceptionally bright, as if it held the sun.