Sweetheart, It's Time To Pay Your Debt - Chapter 1

September, Golden Autumn. The fragrance of sweet osmanthus drifted through the air.

At the Haichuan International High School commendation ceremony, the principal was announcing the winners of this year’s mathematics competition one by one. Behind her, the large screen rotated through photos of the elite students.

Following a series of photos featuring award-winning students with thick glasses and dull expressions, a single photo of a girl suddenly appeared on the screen.

The girl wore the indigo Haichuan blazer, her matching bowtie neatly fastened at the collar. Her long hair draped over her back, and her lean, pale face gazed calmly forward. Her pupils were deep and clear, radiating a sense of cold, distant detachment.

Standing to the side, the principal introduced the student’s competition results, she had achieved the highest score in the Shanghai academic competition this session.

Qin Mingyan. She had transferred from Shanghai No. 1 High School to Haichuan International High School during the second semester of her sophomore year. Her excellent grades allowed her to adapt quickly to the new environment, not only did she rank first in the grade at the end of last semester, but this competition result had also given the high-profile Haichuan a reason to boast.

Haichuan was traditionally known for its luxury. Over half of the students had their paths abroad pre-arranged by their families upon enrollment, they were only at Haichuan for a brief transition while they were young. Such academic success was indeed worth celebrating. The principal’s white pearl pendant shimmered against her hair, lending a rare touch of softness to her otherwise vigorous and resolute persona.

Discussion broke out among the students below the stage.

“With that many awards, she could probably be fast-tracked to Peking University, right? How much did Old Zhang spend to get her into our school?”

“It’s over for us. In a year, Haichuan is actually going to produce a top scorer for the Gaokao.”

“Is that photo correct? How can a bookworm who does nothing but study look that good? Which class is hiding a person like this?”

“I knew Qin Mingyan was incredible! To be in a class with those useless rich kids and still do so well, she really makes No. 1 High proud!”

“Shh, keep your voice down!”

While the praise and gossip in the auditorium had yet to subside, the students waiting behind the red curtain for their awards watched expectantly. None of them noticed the door at the end of the corridor being hurriedly shut. The wind chimes by the door rang out with the breeze, a crisp sound of youth.

Inside the storage room, shadows shifted behind pure white gauze curtains, faintly revealing two blurred figures.

Bo Liye had finally vented enough. She released her lips and lightly traced two fading finger marks on Qin Mingyan’s face. A low laugh suddenly rang out.

The voice was low and gentle, exceptionally clear in the quiet storage room, echoing the dim and damp environment.

“Excellent student, first in the competition, fast-tracked to a prestigious school… so impressive.”

Her fingertip pressed against the wound on Qin Mingyan’s lip. Her long fingers tapped and rubbed, smearing the seeping traces of blood across Qin Mingyan’s lips. The girl, who usually looked like sculpted ice, finally had a touch of vivid color.

The commendation ceremony on the main stage had officially begun. Principal Zhang’s voice reached every corner of the hall through the microphone, the third prize winners were currently receiving their awards.

“The principal has high hopes for you. If you don’t go up for your award, won’t she lose face?”

Bo Liye stared at her, waiting for a minute, but the Qin Mingyan before her remained cold faced with her eyes tightly shut. Her messy hair and injured lips made for a wretched sight, yet even while subdued by another, her thin back remained ramrod straight.

Bo Liye’s expression instantly chilled. The previous smile in her almond eyes vanished into a dark gloom. Her crimson lips parted slightly: “You really don’t want to talk to me that much?”

Qin Mingyan’s eyelids flickered. She kept her head lowered, her metal Haichuan school badge hidden in the shadows. Her voice was dry and hoarse: “I don’t.”

“Then how will you prove it?”

“I’m afraid of making you angry.”

After a few seconds of a subtle standoff, Bo Liye smiled again. Her bright yellow bowtie, distinct from everyone else’s, made her look incredibly radiant. Whether it was her high ponytail or her over the knee socks, she overflowed with the vitality unique to her age.

“Then wouldn’t it be fine if you just coaxed me a little?”

Bo Liye acted as if she had finally repaired a handy toy, leaning in to flick open one of Qin Mingyan’s shirt buttons.

From the middle school division to the high school division, there was no one who didn’t know the name Bo Liye. She was the only daughter of the Bo family. Whether it was her mother, who was renowned in politics, or her father, who topped the Shanghai wealth rankings in business, she was the “pearl in the palm” among a crowd of privileged children.

Coupled with her consistently excellent grades, teachers usually turned a blind eye even when she broke school rules.

The principal’s voice drifted in from outside, the ceremony had reached the second prize winners.

Bo Liye heard her own name.

“It’s your turn to go up and receive your award,” Qin Mingyan reminded her.

Bo Liye didn’t speak.

Qin Mingyan’s brow furrowed tighter. Bo Liye’s restless fingertips were no longer satisfied with the soft skin of her waist and moved upward until they stopped at a clasp.

With just a light squeeze, it would come undone.

The thin curtains, tossed by the wind, reflected the golden glow of the sunset, yet Qin Mingyan remained as indifferent as a silent statue. From her face, one couldn’t see the slightest hint of what was happening beneath her clothes.

A small pill of lint had formed on the edge of the cotton fabric. Bo Liye mindlessly plucked it off, hearing a soft snap as it recoiled.

Snap!

Qin Mingyan’s breathing grew heavy.

Just as she raised her hand to stop her, Bo Liye forcibly pressed it down. A clasp was flicked open, and Qin Mingyan’s breath finally hitched: “Don’t!”

Bo Liye laughed, mocking her: “So afraid of people knowing that the ‘pride of the school’ is in here fooling around with me in disarray? Where was this cowardice when you dared to agree to my terms in the beginning?”

Though her words were mocking, her actions didn’t go any further. She helped Qin Mingyan fasten the clasp again.

She had only recently “obtained” Qin Mingyan, she couldn’t push her too hard all at once. Especially not in this storage room which, despite daily cleaning, still smelled of cheap dust.

A provincial second prize was indeed worth celebrating, but it paled in comparison to a first prize.

But Bo Liye didn’t mind. If not for the disparity in their academic standing, Qin Mingyan wouldn’t have become her tutor, nor would she be financially beholden to her. If not for that, Bo Liye would be like the crowd below the stage, only able to look at Qin Mingyan from afar.

The awards stage considerately skipped over Bo Liye. In half an hour, the certificate would simply be lying on her desk.

Next was the first prize group, the smallest group and the climax of the ceremony. Hearing her name, Qin Mingyan tried to break free from Bo Liye’s grip to head out.

Bo Liye had reached the end of her patience. She yanked Qin Mingyan’s hand and bit down on her slender collarbone. As the loose bowtie slid down, their breathing rose and fell. The hot air mingled with haphazard biting, and body temperatures began to feverishly rise.

When a soft tongue licked across her skin, Qin Mingyan’s pale neck suddenly tensed. Bo Liye clamped her hands onto Qin Mingyan’s shoulders to prevent her from leaving. The white school shirt gradually became translucent as it soaked through.

Only when Bo Liye was satisfied with this “mark” did she lift her head. Her moist lips were equally crimson as they brushed against Qin Mingyan’s ear. Her voice was low and soft. Her hair fell against Qin Mingyan’s neck, her elegant perfume mixing with the newly acquired scent of clean soap.

Fused together, the scent was unexpectedly pleasant. It bred a kind of soul-hooking allure.

“Think of a reason to explain yourself to the principal. In half an hour, at the South Gate parking lot… will you come back with me?”

Qin Mingyan’s eyelashes trembled. A ripple finally appeared in her stagnant eyes, a look of relief that was immediately replaced by tension. She covered her bitten collarbone and looked down at the girl embracing her in such an ambiguous posture. A hint of wariness surfaced deep in her pupils.

Bo Liye met her gaze composedly.

The expected outburst of shame and anger didn’t come. Qin Mingyan’s gaze dropped again: “I still need to go to the classroom to get my workbooks. The notebook where I marked your mistakes is also there.”

Bo Liye went quiet for two seconds, a flush of red blooming in her beautiful almond eyes as she smiled. “Fine. I’ll give you another ten minutes. Is that enough?”

Qin Mingyan said, “It’s enough.”

Bo Liye pulled away the hand Qin Mingyan was using to cover her shoulder. She thoughtfully straightened the other girl’s collar and even tied the bowtie perfectly. She spoke in a soft, drawn-out tone: “Don’t make me wait too long.”

She pushed the door open and walked out first. Outside, the award ceremony had failed to produce the first place winner, which seemed to make the principal quite dissatisfied. Even the noise of the spectators below had quieted down.

Walking with light steps, Bo Liye fished her phone out of her pocket. As expected, she saw a photo of the principal’s black expression sent by a friend.

Scrolling up, there were messages asking why she hadn’t gone up to accept her award.

Bo Liye picked one person and gave a symbolic reply: [Boring]

The use of phones wasn’t banned at Haichuan, the rules only prohibited electronic products during class. The person on the other side seemed to be camping for a reply and messaged back instantly: [True, it is boring. It’s not like we’re relying on these competitions to get into university anyway. Don’t know what there is to celebrate.]

[But Qin Mingyan didn’t show up for her award either. [Photo.jpg]. You should have seen the principal’s face, she was fuming, lol.]

The spoiled rich kids who lived for pleasure and had their futures mapped out were naturally at odds with the high-achieving overachievers. Disagreeable messages came one after another. Bo Liye frowned, tossed her phone back into her pocket, and headed to a nearby restroom.

After washing her hands, the scent belonging to Qin Mingyan was thoroughly washed away. Bo Liye slowly placed her hands under the dryer.

The warm air dried the last of the moisture. Her skin felt a bit dry, it was a pity she hadn’t brought hand cream but at the thought of Qin Mingyan coming to her house tonight, Bo Liye’s mood brightened. She replayed what had happened in the storage room.

When Qin Mingyan’s photo appeared on the big screen, she had guessed people would come asking about her. She should have called Qin Mingyan out even earlier, then there wouldn’t have been so many admirers staring at Qin Mingyan’s face.

Bo Liye still remembered the first day she met Qin Mingyan.

She had just woken up from a nap. In her hazy vision, the afternoon sun had cast a soft golden glow over Qin Mingyan as the homeroom teacher brought her in. It was impossible to look away.

Bo Liye had tried many methods, yet Qin Mingyan’s attitude toward her remained extremely cold, no different from how she treated any other student. But everyone had a weakness, especially a high schooler like Qin Mingyan who had yet to step into society.

Bo Liye couldn’t help but look forward to tonight’s tutoring session.

Calculating the time, Qin Mingyan should be getting lectured by the principal right now. Thinking of a way to compensate her, Bo Liye took out her phone, intending to ask the housekeeper to prepare a more lavish dinner tonight.

Just as she opened her phone, a message from an unknown number suddenly popped up on the screen.

Bo Liye’s grip on the phone suddenly tightened. The previously composed girl looked around panickily at the students coming from the finished assembly. The sound of their chatter approached.

She quickly ducked around a corner and hurried into the restroom stall she had just left. She locked the door tight, her hand holding the phone beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

She was not unfamiliar with this number. Since the summer break, this number had been harassing her with intermittent messages. But she didn’t dare investigate the person behind it.

Because that person knew her preferences, her habits, and even more so, her feelings for Qin Mingyan. Those messages could absolutely not be seen by a second person.

Bo Liye took a deep breath and opened the text. The black font pierced her eyes:

[Sweetheart, are you with that woman?]

[Why did you stay inside for so long?]

[You are mine! You are mine!]

Bo Liye’s face turned pale. She quickly deleted the three messages until the screen was clean, as if nothing had happened.

But it was only “as if.” Very soon, a new message appeared on the screen:

[Sweetheart’s tongue is so soft, so pink.]

[I want to kiss it too.]