the plot has requirements that cannot be avoided.
DPC probably won't force the player to do anything sexual with Zoey (and would that be good news?

) but it will almost certainly force us to watch in amazement as MC and perhaps the LI we chose in chapter eight have their next crisis of conscience.
"go talk to her!!! you need to rid your heart of any doubts before you build our love nest of rose petals and cotton balls!"
"please put your underwear back on, I can't...I need to clear up with Zoey first, I haven't heard from her in months, but in a corner of my heart I've always hoped she'd come back!!!"
so might as well get over it, MC will be shocked by Zoey (as we can already see in the interlude when Neil tells him about her arrival)