Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 20

Lingxi arrived at the classroom early.

She placed breakfast on Shen Sui’s desk and put her backpack into the drawer.

The breakfast was something Lingxi had bought early in the morning. She rode her bicycle through the streets and alleys to an old, well-known shop, getting beef pot stickers and a simple red date soy milk.

The clash of savory and sweet flavors could easily set the mood for a pleasant day.

The classroom was empty. No one else had arrived yet. Lingxi looked at the seat beside her, lost in thought.

She wasn’t sure if the decision she made was right.

But there was one thing she couldn’t ignore.

Shen Sui’s smile, the warmth of her palm, and the way she reached out to her so decisively—it was like underwater grass swaying with the waves, wrapping tighter the more one struggled.

“Ahem.”

A soft cough suddenly came from behind. Lingxi quickly looked up to see Shen Sui walking in from the doorway.

She wore the school uniform: a neatly pressed sky-blue shirt with a row of buttons fastened perfectly down the middle, layered with a navy-blue knitted cardigan—the winter version of the formal uniform.

Her long hair was tied at the back, revealing a slender, fair neck. One hand rested on Lingxi’s desk as she leaned slightly forward to look at her.

“What are you thinking about, sitting here alone?”

Lingxi looked up and met her eyes. The dark pupils reflected a bright glimmer.

Thinking for a moment, she answered honestly, “I was thinking about when you’d arrive.”

Shen Sui seemed surprised by her directness. She paused briefly, then averted her gaze and took a step back. The other hand, which had been hidden from view, suddenly appeared in front of Lingxi.

A breakfast bag dangled from her slender fingers.

“Xiao Qi’s soup dumplings. Have you had them before?”

Lingxi looked at her, then picked up the breakfast she had placed on the desk earlier. “I bought you their pot stickers.”

The delicious aroma spread through the classroom. Lingxi carefully bit a small opening in her soup dumpling. The milky-white broth inside shimmered with oil, releasing a rich fragrance.

Beside her, Shen Sui took a bite of the crispy edge of a pot sticker. The crunch was crisp and clear, mixing with the savory scent of beef.

Xue Yuanlong walked by, then suddenly stopped and sniffed the air before leaning toward them. “Smells amazing! I knew it had to be soup dumplings!”

The classroom was silent. No one responded to him.

“Uh, can I…”

“No.” “No.”

Before he could finish, both girls rejected him at the same time.

“Just one? Only one?” he tried negotiating.

Lingxi glanced at him and, without hesitation, stuffed the last two dumplings into her mouth.

Shen Sui reached out to stop her but was a second too late.

The rich broth instantly burst in her mouth, filling her throat with umami flavor.

Lingxi frowned slightly.

Two dumplings at once weren’t a big deal, but they were a bit too hot.

Shen Sui stood up and brought back a cup of cold water, handing it to her.

“Protecting your food like this isn’t the way to do it.”

Lingxi took a sip, letting the cool water ease the heat. As she swallowed, she tilted her head up at Shen Sui, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

“It’s delicious.”

Shen Sui reached out and brushed away a stray strand of hair from her face. She seemed a little helpless but spoke softly, “That’s still not okay.”

**Ring, ring, ring…**

The next second, the school bell rang.

During class, Shen Sui still helped Lingxi, guiding her through problems step by step.

The way Shen Sui held her pen so meticulously influenced Lingxi as well.

The only difference was that when Lingxi made a mistake, Shen Sui would lightly tap her paper with a fingertip, signaling her to review it. But when she got it right, Shen Sui would smile at her.

It was like a new reward system to encourage Lingxi’s learning.

Sometimes, when the literature teacher was unavailable, Shen Sui would lead the morning self-study session.

Standing at the podium, she scanned the classroom, monitoring their dictation practice. No matter how many times her gaze swept the room, it always lingered the longest on Lingxi.

Even as she walked through the rows, supervising, her route always began and ended with Lingxi.

After morning self-study, Shen Sui would collect the piles of literature assignments to take to the office, but she never got to carry them herself.

Lingxi would always grab them first, standing by the door with a tall stack of papers, tilting her head to look at Shen Sui from behind them.

Shen Sui would step forward to take them, but Lingxi, despite holding so many assignments, was still agile enough to dodge her and dash up the stairs first.

By the time Shen Sui caught up, the assignments were already neatly placed on the literature teacher’s desk, and the “culprit” was walking toward her with a victorious smile.

Lingxi’s grades steadily improved. After breaking into the top ten, she kept rising until she finally secured second place. The two of them firmly held the top two positions.

On Christmas Eve of their senior year, Lingxi took Shen Sui to the Christmas tree she had decorated. The surrounding lights twinkled, and beneath the tree were carefully prepared gifts. Lingxi played her jade flute, creating a melody as a backdrop for Shen Sui’s wishes.

When Shen Sui opened her gift, besides a brand-new fountain pen, she also found a jade flute.

The flute’s body was clear and smooth, resembling the one in Lingxi’s hand.

“I remember you said you liked it.”

Shen Sui was momentarily stunned as memories flooded back. She recalled standing outside a music store, looking at something she wanted but couldn’t have.

The person before her and the flute in her hand seemed to glow softly, making everything feel surreal.

“Now, it’s yours.”

Lingxi smiled and held out the flute with both hands, but in the next moment, Shen Sui bypassed the gift and embraced her.

The warmth from their exposed skin spread through their bodies. The chilly air that could turn breath into mist vanished instantly.

Looking at the colorful Christmas tree behind Shen Sui, Lingxi felt something take root in her heart. The scarf around her neck, which originally belonged to Shen Sui, now carried her warmth.

Under the glow of the lights, a faintly raised “S” could be seen embroidered on it. Lingxi traced it with her fingers, gently and carefully.

On New Year’s Day, snowflakes drifted down from the sky. As Shen Sui gazed out the window, wondering what Lingxi was doing, the sound of a flute outside drew her to the balcony.

Lingxi, wrapped in the scarf Shen Sui had given her, stood in the vast white snow, playing the jade flute. The melody carried through the air like a dazzling beam of light, shining solely on her.

That feeling was incredible.

Winter wasn’t so cold after all, Shen Sui thought at that moment.