Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 67

Yin Tao and Qin Sui went to review the playback of the newly filmed scenes. After watching frame by frame, Yin Tao smiled, picked up the megaphone, and announced that they would continue filming after dinner. Only then did Qin Sui start walking back.

Qin Sui said, “It’s so hot.”

Immediately, an assistant handed her a small handheld fan, sending a cool breeze her way.

Qin Sui glanced at it but didn’t take it.

Lingxi understood and accepted the fan instead. Qin Sui gave a faint smile and asked, “How long have you been here?”

The two walked together to the rest area, where an assistant had already set up a folding chair for Lingxi.

Lingxi replied, “For a little while.”

They sat down, and a standing fan nearby was turned on. The wind blew from Lingxi’s side to Qin Sui’s.

Qin Sui took a sip from her water cup through the straw and asked, “Which line?”

Lingxi thought for a moment. “When you said, ‘How can you be sure it’s me, Lieutenant Du?’”

Qin Sui looked at her with interest. “You remember it that clearly?”

Lingxi instinctively avoided her gaze, rubbing the tip of her nose. “What were you betting on just now?”

Before Qin Sui could answer, Yin Tao walked over from a short distance away, casually grabbing a reclining chair and sitting in front of them.

Fanning himself with a large palm fan, he sighed, “It’s so hot! Even the rain doesn’t help in this weather!”

“So, how long are you staying here?”

“Wait, didn’t you say you were super busy recently?”

Yin Tao didn’t need anyone to respond—he could keep talking from start to finish all by himself.

“Excuse me, Mr. Wei, sorry to interrupt, but your order has arrived.”

A man in a suit approached, followed by several others, each carrying delicately packaged meal boxes.

Before Qin Sui could say anything, an assistant stepped forward to unfold the table.

Lingxi nodded. “Mm, put them here.”

Yin Tao clapped his hands. “Wow! We’re in for a feast!”

“Little Wei is amazing—finally thinking of us poor souls.”

Lingxi ignored him. After waiting for the food to be set out, she reached over, placing the lighter, low-calorie dishes in front of Qin Sui and shifting the heavier, greasier ones to Yin Tao.

Yin Tao pretended to wipe his tears, but before his hand could reach his face, he stopped.

Qin Sui leaned against the cushion of her folding chair, her legs crossed casually. Supporting her chin with one hand, she gazed steadily at Lingxi, a faint smile on her lips.

Lingxi broke apart a pair of disposable bamboo chopsticks, carefully removing any splinters, then handed them to Qin Sui after checking them thoroughly.

She then repeated the process, breaking another pair and picking up Qin Sui’s bowl. “This place’s steamed bass is pretty good. The fish is tender—you should try it.”

“The shrimp is fresh too. Just arrived today.”

Qin Sui chuckled. “Alright.”

Lingxi set aside the chopsticks she had used to serve Qin Sui’s food as communal chopsticks. Then, as she picked up a third pair for herself, she caught sight of a hand reaching toward her out of the corner of her eye.

“You’re not hungry?”

Lingxi looked curiously at Yin Tao’s outstretched hand.

Yin Tao opened his mouth, his expression incredulous, as if he wanted to say something. After a moment, he turned to Qin Sui.

Qin Sui didn’t say anything, just let out a soft chuckle.

Yin Tao rubbed his hands together. “Wait, what’s going on with you two?”

“You’re even showing favoritism?”

Lingxi swallowed her bite of rice before asking, “What favoritism?”

Her expression remained neutral, her tone calm, making it seem to any outsider as if Yin Tao was making a fuss over nothing.

Yin Tao choked on his words, huffing as he dragged his chair closer to Qin Sui. “Fine, she’s as dense as a rock. I won’t ask her—you tell me.”

“Hmm?”

During this brief exchange, Qin Sui’s expression remained composed, her acting skills fully utilized to conceal any emotions.

She suddenly looked up at him and also asked, “What favoritism?”

Yin Tao gritted his teeth at their responses. “Don’t try to fool me—just say it!”

As he spoke, he dragged his chair even closer to Qin Sui. Just as he was about to sit next to her, Lingxi lifted her eyes slightly, frowning at him.

The scorching, dazzling sunlight cast a glare, yet at the same time, it felt like an icy blade piercing through the cold wind, aiming right at the back of his head.

“W-What?”

Yin Tao instinctively stopped moving, frozen in place.

Lingxi glanced at the small gap between him and Qin Sui, barely half an arm’s length, and suppressed the displeasure rising in her heart.

Lingxi said, “You’re blocking the fan.”

“Oh… I didn’t notice.”

Yin Tao turned around, saw the standing fan still blowing, and quickly shifted back to his original seat.

As the cool breeze brushed past again, dissipating the heat, Lingxi noticed Qin Sui lightly nodding toward her. “Come sit over here. It’s windier on my side.”

Lingxi looked at her for a few seconds before leaning slightly toward her. Suddenly, Qin Sui reached out, pulling her folding chair closer as well.

A faint scent of rosewood mixed with a hint of white magnolia lingered in the air, yet it was the deep, rich amber undertones that enveloped Lingxi, leaving her neither room to retreat nor advance.

It was the precise fragrance that struck her olfactory senses. Lingxi instinctively took a few shallow breaths before restraining herself, attempting to move back.

But before she could, Qin Sui held her still, one hand resting on her collar, the other reaching for the sunglasses still hanging there.

Qin Sui asked, “Isn’t this inconvenient?”

A deeper wave of fragrance washed over Lingxi, overwhelming her senses.

She felt the warmth of Qin Sui’s fingertips brush against her neck, her knuckles pressing lightly against her collarbone, even shielding her from the cool breeze seeping through.

Lingxi swallowed softly, only realizing her reaction after the fact.

Qin Sui lowered her head slightly, making it difficult for Lingxi to see her expression.

Taking off Lingxi’s sunglasses, Qin Sui pressed a finger against her shirt, buttoning it from the bottom up, stopping at the second button from the top—leaving the very last one undone, as if out of courtesy.

Then Qin Sui pulled back slightly and gave Lingxi a casual glance. “Hanging it there—how are you supposed to eat?”

The heat that had just been suppressed surged back, even more intense than before.

Lingxi responded in a barely audible voice, “Oh.”

Qin Sui placed a piece of braised beef into her bowl. “Eat.”

Lingxi nodded again. “Alright.”

Yin Tao, watching them from the side, was speechless for a long while. Though he had countless questions, he didn’t know where to begin.

For instance, what was this oddly sweet and sour romantic atmosphere?

How did Qin Sui manage to make the usually dense Lingxi act like this?

How did the fearless Little Wei suddenly become so obedient—only to Qin Sui, no less?

And among their circles, there had always been a rumor that Qin Sui could charm both men and women, but in Lingxi’s case, it seemed completely one-sided.

Now, Yin Tao felt the rumor needed an update: Qin Sui had her wrapped around her finger, and Lingxi didn’t even realize it.

Too many questions, but no outlet for them, leaving Yin Tao struggling through a meal that tasted utterly bland.