The travel towards Helena's house was a silent one. Zhou Heng accepted the invitation to live with her, and that gave Helena the strength to get from the ground and walk.
As for the one of being her 'child', he didn't comment on it, Helena also was content enough with having him with her.
He doesn't doubt that if he rejected her there, she will stay crouching in the street for a long time.
The reasons he decided to go with her were the words of the system. He may have made some concessions with the Villain role he was given. But he is still human, he is still Zhou Heng, the system can call itself whatever it wants, but some things will be done in his way.
He also acknowledges his selfishness, ignoring Harding's role as another 'stepping stone' and only being disgusted when Helena is called something like that.
So he decided to give this poor woman some guilty comfort, in any case, he doesn't lose anything, he gathered information about the pit for a long time but it was only the best way to grow stronger at that moment, a better opportunity came so, he won't be nostalgic for a place that only saw once.
Not to mention that only going once and the bit of information he got from the kids could be of use in the future.
In the past, when he looked for jobs to help his family he went with the principles of stability; risky opportunities were good, but any mishap was enough to hurt his home greatly.
He changed many jobs in a short time due to red flags, for him it was more efficient to look for something better than to wait for the improvement of an unfamiliar environment.
The pressure of the Hero that he has yet to meet is already big; he needs and wants to learn the decisiveness he heard from the 'Snake King Story', it will surely be useful not only for the Hero of Bausmat but for the future ones he needs to confront.
He is not a hero from a fairy tale, that arrives at the weak organization and rejects the strong one, for feelings of loyalty and challenge.
Smiling a little, Zhou Heng shook his head, he recently likes to see everything from a 'Hero and Villain' perspective.
After walking to the street where Helena lives, Zhou Heng looked around, it was a very 'residential' zone, with common homes, where more than one family shared a two-floor building. All of them were painted in different colors, adding a brilliant tone to the street.
He could see playful children running and playing around, the parents talking aside, without carriages or any kind of vehicle in the middle. It was the definition of a warm place.
When passing by the side of the children and the parents, they looked at Helena and greeted her with care, Helena responded to them with a smile, but Zhou Heng could see that she wasn't entirely relaxed. Sighing to himself he looked at the house they arrived at.
Helena's house was also a two-floor one, albeit small; it was painted in blue. It wasn't the most pleasing to the eye for an adult, but for a child, it could be the most beautiful.
Zhou Heng looked at the house and directed his gaze to Helena, taking the initiative to start again their conversation, ''I thought that your house was going to be red.''
Helena was looking at him when he was observing the house, listening to his words, she relaxed more, and smiled, replying to him, ''Hehe, but my favorite color is blue, you know?''
She had a playful expression when she said that, Zhou Heng smiled but his heart was cold, feeling uncomfortable, thinking that this may be, one of the 'various reasons' that made her think about him as something special.
Helena took out her keys and opened the door, at her urging Zhou Heng entered the house seeing the interior.
On the left side was a small lounge with a big carpet, a table, a couch, and a shelf filled with books, on the right side were the stairs to the second floor, and the walls were painted in different colors.
He was curious that he didn't see any photography considering Helena's warm and nostalgic personality, but he wasn't going to ask, less he commits a mistake and makes her sadder.
Helena also entered, after closing the door, she put the keys at the table and smiled at Zhou Heng.
''Is small but there are enough rooms, I also have a small kitchen on the second floor if you want to eat something. There is only one bathroom, but is big enough for the two of us.''
''The neighbors are friendly and there are many children about your age. There is also a couple of them that often travel to other cities, bringing interesting gadgets.''
''I have some clothes about your size, if you feel uncomfortable with them, tell me and I will fix them, don't underestimate my craft.''
''Also with the food, I notice that you enjoyed the one that we got earlier, I can proudly say that my cook is far better if it wasn't for the distance and lack of time I could prepare my own meals, but now I can change that and cook whenever you need...''
Helena talked with enthusiasm, she remarked on the good points of living with her, giving her best to entice Zhou Heng to stay with her.
Zhou Heng had mixed feelings inside him, he felt warm, and overjoyed, a feeling that was clear yet foreign to him, motherly love, something he had desired since always.
Yet every time he wanted to be happy with it, he stopped himself. His guts revolved; she was human, she had weakness and strengths, desires and fears, yet Fate arranged her everything for him. When she said that she can change for him and re-arrange her schedule just to cook for him, he stopped listening.
But outside he maintained a smile, even asked her a few questions or commented on a few things. He wasn't in the position to defy the system, the 'Fate', or to refuse Harding for her sake, so he gritted his teeth and compensated the woman in front of him with care in this short time they had.
He remembers earlier when she recognized his emotions and took his mask away, so he put more effort into relieving her, trying his best to not reveal flaws. Knowing that if she noticed, she didn't point it out, the two of them talked and laughed.
Helena showed him the rest of the house and brought him to a small room with a bed, it was very clean and didn't have any personal items, a guest room that will belong to him since today.
''We live alone, so you can relax. I will prepare something, it is already past noon and we have not eaten yet.''
Helena paused a little and looked at him for a few seconds, ''I will call you when it's ready...''
She went out of the room and closed the door.
Zhou Heng sighed and sat on the floor, supporting his back with the bed. He tried to avoid thinking and burdening himself with the situation so he stayed there relaxing, looking at the ceiling and counting cracks or anything to distract his mind.
After an unknown amount of time Zhou Heng, he heard Helena's call from outside the room, saying that the food was ready.
Zhou Heng got up from the floor and stretched his body. He was in a calmer state of mind.
Before going out, he decided to solve a doubt that came to him earlier, but he purposely tried to ignore it and put it away.
''System... Alisa... She has a role in my fate?' '
[The existence known as Alisa Waal, was a non-important character in the Villain's Fate. However, due to the Host's actions, her Fate was affected becoming a small character that once helped the Villain. Her life remains 'Regular' unless the Host decides to fully link his Fate with her.]
'...' Zhou Heng frowned. On one hand, he wanted to retort about how a beautiful and special girl like Alisa was 'non-important'. On the other, he was relieved that she was normal and their close relationship was not arranged by someone or something.
But he decided to continue inquiring, so he asked, ''What will happen if I 'Link' with her?''
[Alisa Waal will become part of the Villain side and her Fate will depend on the Host's actions.]
Zhou Heng had a tangled expression, he muttered to no one, ''Unsurprisingly, the Villain and very probably the Hero decide the Fate of their surroundings...''
He walked to the door and opened it, stepping outside and walking to the first floor where Helena was waiting for him.
He looked in a good state for anyone that observed him, but inside of him, in his heart, he only had a thought.
'What a bad show.'
*****
For the rest of the day, Zhou Heng followed Helena and got to know the street he is going to live.
He learned that the street was named by his inhabitants as River Coral Street, he was quite glad that the future fearsome Villain of Bausmat wasn't going to grow up living in a place called 'Rainbow Street'
Helena's prideful remarks about her food didn't come without justification, they were the most delicious food that Zhou Heng has eaten, in both lives. He was quite regretful that his mental state didn't allow him to enjoy it as the food demanded.
After greeting some neighbors and accompanying Helena to look for some clothes and personal hygiene products for him. Zhou Heng ended the day with another impressive culinary display from Helena.
The next day Zhou Heng got up thanks to the system and greeted Helena that looked a bit gloomy, maybe she was expecting him to oversleep. The two of them knew what was going to start today so it was a silent breakfast.
After preparing themselves, she accompanied him to the bookstore Harding owned. She didn't enter, but her eyes were on his back from start to end.
The bell of the store make its sound, and Zhou Heng was greeted by the rows of bookshelves carefully placed with some rhythmic gaps between them.
At a small desk, a young clerk was working, Zhou Heng didn't recognize him, he wasn't here yesterday when he came.
The clerk looked at him, with a smile, after seeing Zhou Heng's age, he was curious, but seeing his blue eyes and dark blue hair, a wave of realization got him.
''The manager said that you can enter, he is waiting for you.''
Zhou Heng nodded and followed the same way that Harding used yesterday, arriving at a door he entered to a lounge hidden in the seemingly ordinary bookstore.
Jacob Harding wasn't a tall man, the old age didn't help him either, he was two heads taller than the nine-years Zhou Heng, and he had a skinny body. He didn't have any trace of a beard and had short hair. He took care of his appearance and looked very neat.
His hair was entirely white but his amber eyes were shining with vigor, Zhou Heng different from yesterday, understood why he was so excited.
Harding smiled and greeted Zhou Heng.
''Welcome back Heng, do you want orange or apple juice? Today is going to be a bit exhausting, so cold drinks are good for your body.''
''Don't be shy, let's get to know each other more. I even have some interesting tales to tell you.''
The kind smile on his face certainly hid the monster he was.