Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 11

“Pens down! Pass your papers from the back to the front.”

“Hurry up, hurry up! Stop writing!”

As soon as the morning self-study session began, the English teacher urged the class to take a spelling test.

When Lingxi put down her pen, a chorus of groans rose around her.

“Why are you all groaning? You’ve only written a few words, and you’re already sighing?”

“If you can’t remember, just practice more. The words you memorize belong to you. Looking at someone else’s paper won’t help you during the test.”

The English teacher stepped down from the podium, glanced around to signal everyone to stop, and waited for the first-row students to hand in their papers. She gathered the stack of papers in her hands.

“Alright, class dismissed. Class rep, remember to collect the English homework I assigned yesterday.”

As soon as she finished speaking, another wave of sighs filled the classroom.

The English teacher raised an eyebrow and walked out.

“Hey, Shen Sui?”

A sudden voice made Lingxi, who was about to leave through the back door, pause.

“Looking for someone? Who is it?”

“Oh, oh.” The English teacher nodded, turned as if she was going to help Shen Sui find the person, but the one being sought reacted faster than her.

“She’s here. I didn’t expect you two to be friends. Well, I’ll leave you to it. I’m heading back to the office.”

The English teacher’s words piqued the curiosity of the students sitting near the door. They stretched their necks to look outside.

“Okay, Ms. Wang.”

When Lingxi stepped out, Shen Sui was standing with one hand behind her back. Her white and blue school uniform was spotless, and her neatly tied ponytail made her look even more energetic.

“Shen?” Lingxi hadn’t expected Shen Sui to look for her.

“Mm. Have you had breakfast?”

Like a magician, Shen Sui curved her fingers slightly, revealing a bag of soy milk and egg buns. She took it from behind her back and held it in front of Lingxi.

“I didn’t know what you usually eat for breakfast, so I bought what I usually have.”

Lingxi froze for a moment, reacting a beat too slow.

Seeing that she hadn’t taken it, Shen Sui asked, “You already ate?”

“No.” Lingxi shook her head and took the bag with both hands. “Thank you, Shen.”

Shen Sui didn’t respond but instead walked toward the hallway. “Let’s eat outside. I remember that Mr. Zhao doesn’t allow eating in the classroom.” She paused, then turned back to confirm if Lingxi was following. “You can’t eat at the classroom entrance either.”

Sunlight filtered through the tall trees beside the school building, casting dappled shadows on Shen Sui. Lingxi watched her tall, slender figure and quickly followed.

Shen Sui stopped in front of a flowerbed on the first floor. There were fewer students running around and less background noise, making the place feel quieter.

“I should be the one thanking you.” Shen Sui turned to look at Lingxi. “For what you did yesterday, thank you.”

“No, I…”

Lingxi wanted to say something, to honestly and clearly tell Shen Sui that it was something she should and must do. But the words stopped at her lips.

She couldn’t say it, and Shen Sui wouldn’t understand why it was a given.

“But I still hope you’ll be more careful about your safety.” Shen Sui paused for a few seconds before continuing. “What if there had been no police yesterday? What if you had confronted those people directly? What if something had happened?”

Shen Sui looked into Lingxi’s eyes. For a brief moment, her usually calm, dark eyes wavered, like ripples on a deep lake.

“I would feel guilty,” she said, her voice softer, but her gaze unwavering. “This had nothing to do with you. You shouldn’t have been dragged into it.”

“But I wanted to help you,” Lingxi blurted out.

“And you already did,” Shen Sui said solemnly.

The glaring sunlight slanted in, making her squint slightly.

Lingxi fell silent, unable to think of a better reason to convince her.

“This isn’t an easy situation to resolve. Those people aren’t good news.”

Shen Sui took the egg from Lingxi’s hand and gently tapped it against the edge of the flowerbed. Then, she rolled it between her palms, loosening the shell before peeling it off piece by piece.

After a while, she continued, “Let’s leave it at that. This is enough. Thank you.”

As she finished speaking, she handed the peeled egg to Lingxi. Lingxi looked at Shen Sui’s fingertips, hesitating for a few seconds.

“Then, what do you plan to do about this?” Lingxi asked, ignoring Shen Sui’s previous words.

Shen Sui held the egg in midair, pressing her lips together slightly.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Then I—”

Lingxi wanted to say, “Then I can help you.” But before she could finish her sentence, Shen Sui grabbed her hand and placed the round egg in her palm.

The soft warmth of her fingertips brushed against Lingxi’s skin as the smooth egg wobbled slightly.

“But this is my problem,” Shen Sui said after a pause. “If you want to focus on your studies for the upcoming class division, you should put your energy there.”

“Alright, finish your breakfast. Let’s head back before the final bell rings.” Shen Sui avoided her surprised gaze and gave her hand a light push.

Lingxi was momentarily speechless, stuffing food into her mouth without protest.

After they parted ways, Lingxi watched Shen Sui’s retreating figure, lost in thought.

—

Saturday was supposed to be a tutoring day, but since Lingxi received a message from Shen Sui the day before, saying she had something to do, they postponed their session to Sunday.

On Friday night, a heavy rainstorm seemed to wash away the lingering heat, but that didn’t mean the next day wouldn’t be sunny. On the contrary…

Standing on a slope, Lingxi looked ahead. The road in front of her was completely exposed to the scorching sun. Most pedestrians around her sought refuge under umbrellas, but she simply adjusted her cap and walked straight into the heat.

The slope wasn’t steep but stretched long. After passing the peak, she descended a long flight of stone steps. At the bottom, the sunlight could only reach a small corner.

Ahead, the path split into winding branches, with crooked trees partially blocking the way. Lingxi, dressed in casual clothes—a pair of high-waisted denim shorts and a simple solid-colored T-shirt—reached out to push aside the overgrown branches, clearing a path.

Ignoring occasional sharp twigs scratching her legs, she moved forward, eventually stepping into a large open space filled with discarded furniture and old appliances. She barely glanced at them as she continued.

The sound of her sneakers scraping against gravel was soft, like wind rustling through the bushes.

As she walked further, a few old buildings appeared, their walls cracked. From inside, the sound of mahjong tiles clattering and men’s laughter echoed.

Lingxi stopped, tilting her cap slightly to get a better view.

Nearby, a man leaning against the wall, smoking, noticed her. He nudged his companion and motioned toward her.

“Hey, little girl, are you lost? Big brother can help you find your way home.”

Laughter erupted.

The smoking man tucked his cigarette behind his ear and stepped forward, followed by his companion, both grinning.

“Who are you looking for?”

Lingxi’s expression remained calm. “I’m here to collect a debt.”

—