Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 69

Lingxi walked half a step behind Qin Sui, staying slightly to her side, while the assistant followed them from a short distance behind.

Neither of them spoke along the way, and the atmosphere felt heavy.

After a while, Lingxi seemed to snap back to life, like a machine suddenly powered on. She finally said, “We didn’t talk about much.”

“Yin Tao’s cigarette smell was too strong. It was uncomfortable to smell.”

“When you left, I was wondering if that smell would also bother you, so I decided to wait a bit before following you.”

Lingxi lifted her eyes slightly, looking at the dim yellow streetlights by the road.

But at that moment, Qin Sui had already turned around quickly and walked away. The distance between them grew longer and longer. As Lingxi watched her fading figure, she suddenly felt a bit panicked.

She had thought she didn’t care. Yin Tao had only mentioned past events.

But now, Lingxi realized—she did care.

Back then, she had been wondering, who could Qin Sui not catch up with? And when she smelled Qin Sui’s perfume, she thought, that person must have no taste.

Lingxi saw the sports car she had parked outside. In the daylight, it looked flashy and unique, with sharp edges and smooth lines.

It should be one of Yu Tao’s favorite cars, but for some reason, now, under the silent night sky, even its sharp edges seemed dulled.

Cars from the film crew passed by them one after another. Their headlights flickered and then went out, blending light and shadow for a moment before separating again.

“But you stopped to wait for me and let me catch up.”

“Why?”

The night wind brushed past her hair, making it sway. The sound of the wind whistled past her ears and echoed again when Lingxi heard herself ask, “Why do you want to be my caged bird, Qin Sui?”

Her tone was calm, even light, but the moment her words fell, the person in front of her stopped.

Lingxi continued, “Was it the old me, before my memory loss, who forced you?”

“If it was, you can tell me.”

Moonlight turned into scattered specks, falling on them. The sound of cicadas rose and fell, drowning out Lingxi’s voice. Qin Sui turned her head slightly to look at her, her expression indifferent.

Time seemed to freeze as they stood still, eyes meeting.

At that moment, countless images flashed through Lingxi’s mind—or maybe nothing at all, just emptiness.

Looking deeper, she realized that in that empty space, in those countless images, she kept wondering—if Qin Sui answered “yes,” how would she react? If Qin Sui answered “no,” how would she react?

But she felt no emotions. Her guarded expression left Lingxi unable to read her.

Qin Sui remained silent for a long time, simply gazing at her. The light reflecting in her dark pupils was faint, as if it could pierce straight into Lingxi’s heart.

After a long while, the cicadas’ cries made Lingxi’s eardrums ache. Finally, Qin Sui spoke, one word at a time: “Who is this pitiful little white rabbit?”

The corners of her eyes drooped slightly, her voice soft but carrying a chilling sharpness that made Lingxi freeze.

Instead of answering with a simple “yes” or “no,” Qin Sui threw a question at her, catching Lingxi off guard.

Lingxi stared at her, stunned for a long time, then finally made a small sound: “Huh?”

Qin Sui asked again, “How pitiful? How much like a little rabbit?”

“What kind of rabbit makes you so concerned?”

Lingxi was completely baffled by the sudden wave of questions. She said, “What rabbit? Where is a rabbit? There’s no rabbit.”

After she spoke, they looked at each other again until Qin Sui raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. She closed the distance between them, then turned and walked forward.

Lingxi instinctively followed, calling after her, “Qin Sui?”

“What’s wrong?”

Qin Sui didn’t say another word. Lingxi followed her past the sports car until they reached the nanny van that had been waiting at the roadside.

The assistant ran forward to open the door, revealing warm yellow light inside.

Standing at the door, the assistant bowed slightly. Qin Sui did not pause, stepping inside the van directly. The assistant remained by the door as the van door stayed open.

Someone inside seemed to call for the assistant, who then stepped in as well. The door slowly slid shut.

Lingxi sighed. Without Qin Sui’s perfume, the scent of cigarette smoke on her own body became overwhelming.

She muttered, “This smell is really awful.”

“Hope Yu Tao doesn’t scold me when I return the car.”

Lingxi turned to the driver, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, and reminded him to drive safely on the night road. Then she walked back.

Yu Tao’s car was still there; she had to drive it back.

But once she got in the car, finally shutting out the loud cicadas, she found herself unable to move.

She leaned back against the seat, tilting her head slightly, her gaze unfocused.

In a daze, Lingxi realized—Qin Sui must have misunderstood what Yin Tao had said about the “little white rabbit.”

After a moment, Lingxi took out her phone and sent Qin Sui a message on WeChat.

[Let me know when you arrive.]

The moment she sent it and turned off her phone, someone suddenly knocked on her car window.

Lingxi took a moment to react. The person outside tapped their fingers lightly, signaling her to roll down the window.

The night breeze rushed in, blowing away the stickiness on her forehead.

Qin Sui reached out her hand. “Car keys.”

Lingxi handed them over.

Qin Sui took half a step back. “Get out.”

Lingxi tilted her head slightly, then got out of the car.

Qin Sui led her around the car to the passenger seat. With a light click, she opened the door and motioned for Lingxi to get in.

Lingxi, through the windshield, watched Qin Sui walk around to the driver’s side and get in.

The car door closed with a muffled sound, cutting off the cicadas’ cries once more.

“Why were you running?”

Qin Sui said, “You followed me the whole way, always half a step behind. But the moment I got in the van, you turned back quickly.”

Her voice was low, magnetic, carrying a hint of irritation. In the quiet car, it sounded especially clear.

Lingxi blinked instinctively. “You got in the van, didn’t you?”

Qin Sui didn’t answer. Instead, she handed her a tube of ointment. “Put this on.”

Lingxi blinked again. “Huh?”

Qin Sui looked at her expressionlessly. “Say ‘huh’ one more time.”

Lingxi fell silent.

She took the ointment, saw the label, and finally understood.

Qin Sui suddenly said, “This ointment has no strong smell. You can use it without worry.”

Lingxi looked up in surprise. She had never mentioned this habit to Qin Sui before.

How did she know?

But Qin Sui didn’t explain. She simply watched as Lingxi applied the ointment.

After a moment, Qin Sui smirked slightly. “So, you don’t like little white rabbits?”

Lingxi nodded. “Mm.”

“Not even pitiful ones?”

“Mm.”

“Not even strong ones?”

“Mm.”

Qin Sui chuckled. “So, you like me?”

“Mm.”

Realizing what she had just admitted, Lingxi froze.

Qin Sui smiled. “What a coincidence. I like you too.”