Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 14

“Reschedule the tutoring session?”

At the end of the hallway outside the office, Lingxi asked in confusion.

Shen Sui stood in front of her, holding a notebook and a pen. “Yes, I just found a new part-time job.”

Lingxi became alert. “Is it another late-night job?”

“…”

Shen Sui remained silent, showing no emotion.

Realizing she might have overreacted, Lingxi cleared her throat. “I’m not trying to interfere. I just wanted to say…”

“Did you change your bandages today?” Shen Sui interrupted her.

“Not yet.”

“Then I’ll go with you to the infirmary at noon.”

Lingxi suddenly recalled how Shen Sui had accompanied her before. She hesitated when she remembered the complicated expression on Shen Sui’s face when seeing her wound. “I can go by myself.”

Shen Sui didn’t respond.

Lingxi moved her bandaged hand slightly, struggling to stretch her stiff fingers. “Actually, it’s healing well. Maybe this time, I can even remove the bandage.”

Having her right hand wrapped for so long had caused her unnecessary trouble—she couldn’t write, hold things, or even open small bottle caps.

But it wasn’t a serious injury, just a cut. In the past, she had faced countless dark souls, endured the corrosion of her flute, yet she had never been this cautious.

For someone who wielded weapons, getting injured was as normal as eating three meals a day.

Shen Sui raised an eyebrow. “Are you a doctor?”

Lingxi shook her head. “No.”

Shen Sui glanced at her slowly moving fingers. “Then listen to the doctor.”

“I’ll wait for you downstairs after school.”

“Alright.”

Lingxi gave in. She had no way to refuse Shen Sui’s words, even if she was only a fragment of the divine spirit.

Their silhouettes stretched across the grayish-white tiles, blending together.

From a distance, they looked like a teacher sternly questioning a student, while the student raised their hand to answer seriously.

Shen Sui absentmindedly ran her fingers over the maple-leaf-shaped clip on her pen, her peripheral vision catching their shadows on the ground.

…

At noon, Lingxi knocked and pushed open the infirmary door.

“Oh, you’re here.”

Ever since she returned to school after her injury, Lingxi had been coming to the school nurse for dressing changes.

She had thought about doing it herself, but…

Even before she could act on it, people around her had already rejected the idea.

Shen Sui nodded slightly. “Sorry for the trouble, teacher.”

Lingxi followed suit. “Sorry for the trouble, teacher.”

The school nurse chuckled. “Oh, if only all students were as well-behaved as you two.”

“Go sit over there. I’ll get the medicine.”

Shen Sui sat in the accompanying seat, while Lingxi took the middle seat at the dressing table.

The white gauze wrapped around her hand was carefully removed. With proper treatment and protection, the wound had improved significantly compared to when Shen Sui first saw it. At least, there were no more bright red bloodstains.

“Hmm, it’s healing well, and there’s no infection.”

“Will it leave a scar?” Shen Sui suddenly asked.

“Hmm…” The school nurse dipped a cotton swab in medicine and gently applied it. “It’s hard to say.”

Lingxi turned her head to look at her, while Shen Sui frowned slightly.

Lingxi, as her hand was being treated, tried to avoid Shen Sui’s gaze. “It’s fine. I took good care of it, so there won’t be a scar.”

Sensing her worry, the school nurse reassured her. “You’re still young. As long as you take care of it, you’ll recover.”

Shen Sui pressed her lips together and said nothing. Lingxi wanted to comfort her but couldn’t find the right words.

“Don’t move.”

Suddenly, a hand pressed gently on Lingxi’s shoulder, steadying her.

Shen Sui stood beside her. She didn’t apply much force, but Lingxi felt it clearly and froze.

The medicated cotton swab continued to apply ointment to the wound. There shouldn’t have been any sensation, yet Lingxi felt a strange tingling, as if something was gnawing at her skin. She didn’t understand the feeling.

After the treatment, they thanked the nurse and left the infirmary.

…

That night, the school was much quieter. On the track field, a few figures were still running.

At the school’s forked road, Lingxi instinctively walked toward the back gate, but Shen Sui called her.

“Let’s take the main gate today.”

“Alright.”

The main gate was much livelier than the back. Some parents were still waiting outside.

A large road stretched ahead, with the colorful lights of a bustling night market faintly visible in the distance.

The hot breeze didn’t cool them down; instead, it felt even warmer.

They walked along the well-lit pine road. Occasionally, a car sped past. Lingxi lagged a step behind before circling to Shen Sui’s right side.

Neither of them spoke. It wasn’t until they reached a large bookstore that Lingxi suddenly realized they had taken the opposite route from Shen Sui’s usual way home.

Shen Sui stopped, looking up at the bookstore sign before turning to Lingxi.

“Want to go in and take a look?”

The divine spirit wanted to buy books?

Lingxi suppressed her curiosity and agreed. “Alright.”

…

The bookstore was spacious, spanning two floors. Books were well-organized by category, making it easy to find specific topics.

Wide aisles separated the bookshelves, and nearby were chairs and tables for customers who wanted to read inside.

Passing by the fiction and classics sections, Lingxi noticed some students in the same uniform as hers sitting on the floor, absorbed in their books.

The environment was elegant and quiet, with air conditioning running all day.

“What do you think?”

Soft light cascaded down as Shen Sui ran her fingers along the spines of the books.

“It’s nice.”

“Do you feel safe here?”

Lingxi wasn’t sure why she asked but answered seriously. “Yes.”

Shen Sui nodded slightly. They walked to the end of the bookshelf, where a potted plant stood.

“No need for night shifts here.”

“The environment is good too.”

“So,” Shen Sui paused, looking at her, “you don’t have to worry about my new job.”

Lingxi was stunned. So, all this was just to reassure her?

Shen Sui had taken her around the bookstore just to ease her concerns.

Lingxi found herself speechless.

“Focus on healing and studying well,” Shen Sui said softly.

Lingxi thought for a moment. “Then can I visit you here?”

The bookstore’s lights cast a gentle glow over Shen Sui’s face. After a moment, Lingxi heard her say, “Of course. A bookstore never turns away customers.”