Sweetheart, It's Time To Pay Your Debt - Chapter 12

Before the start of evening self-study, the homeroom teacher arrived at the classroom to post the monthly exam results and stood at the podium to summarize the class’s performance.

“In this exam, there are 12 students in the entire grade who scored above 600. Our class accounts for seven of them. There are 11 students in the 500 to 600 range, and six in the 400 to 500 range. As for the rest, the scores are quite low. Overall, there’s a decline compared to the last final exam results. Evening study is about to begin, and I see some people haven’t arrived yet. Is it because some are being too indulgent.”

“Reporting.” At that moment, Bo Liye gave the door two light taps and pushed it open, bringing in Qin Mingyan, who had once again secured first place in the grade.

The students sitting below burst into laughter.

The homeroom teacher’s face dropped instantly. “Do you two have any sense of time? Do you know you’re late?”

Students below immediately began clamoring: “What else could they be doing? Just indulging themselves, I guess.”

“Their grades are slipping seriously! These two should have their parents called in!”

One of these two had ranked first, and the other could have reached 600 points with just a few more correct multiple choice answers, they were nowhere near a “decline.” The teacher didn’t actually want to be too harsh, but with the class making such a scene, he could only penalize them by sending them to the corridor for self-study.

In the buildings of Haichuan, there were long connecting corridors on every floor.

After being kicked out, Bo Liye asked dissatisfyingly from behind Qin Mingyan, “Why didn’t you tell the teacher we were at the infirmary changing your bandages??”

Qin Mingyan chose a spot where the wind was weaker and said, “I thought you would say it.”

Tell everyone in public that she had “condescended” to accompany Qin Mingyan to the infirmary? Bo Liye would rather stand here as punishment.

Another silence followed. Bo Liye glanced over. Qin Mingyan had already picked an English reading comprehension task, completely tuning her out. Bo Liye walked a few steps away, intentionally keeping her distance, and lowered her head to start her own work.

About twenty minutes later, Qin Mingyan finished several reading passages. Seeing that Bo Liye had also just stopped writing, she softly called out: “Bo Liye.”

Bo Liye twirled her pen, not looking back. “What?”

Qin Mingyan’s voice was clean and clear. “Xiang Dandan didn’t reach 500 points in this monthly exam.”

Bo Liye whipped her head around. “What did you say?”

When Xiang Dandan first came to Haichuan, she was a “seed student” capable of scoring over 600. This was also why the teachers only questioned them without a strict investigation when Bo Liye and Xiang Dandan’s exam papers were too similar at the end of last semester.

Everyone had assumed the cheater was Bo Liye.

Qin Mingyan nodded and pointed toward the office. “The teacher will definitely call her in for a talk later.”

Just because Bo Liye hadn’t pursued it then didn’t mean she didn’t care. The office window faced right toward them. Bo Liye could barely suppress the smile twitching at the corners of her mouth.

She said with feigned composure, “Oh? What’s there to see?”

Qin Mingyan replied, “I happened to catch a glimpse of her score when we walked in. Since we’re penalized to stand here, I thought I’d mention it.”

Bo Liye returned to coldly reciting classical prose from memory. “Whatever. I’m doing my homework now, don’t bother me again.”

When the second period of evening study began, the teacher indeed called Xiang Dandan to the office. After finishing the lecture, the teacher came out, saw Qin Mingyan and Bo Liye quietly doing their homework, and with a wave of the hand, sent them back to the classroom.

When Bo Liye returned, it was during the class break, and their seats were crowded with people.

Bo Liye frowned in annoyance and grabbed Xia Yiwen by the back of her neck. “What are you doing?”

Xia Yiwen swatted at Bo Liye’s hand. “Hey, don’t pull me! Don’t you know viewing is first come, first served?”

Bo Liye asked coolly, “Then do you know viewing requires the owner’s permission?”

Xia Yiwen froze. Turning to see Bo Liye’s half-smile, she immediately let go of the exam papers in her hand. “I didn’t take them, I didn’t take them!”

The other onlookers immediately let go, each looking as guilty as a thief.

Bo Liye was genuinely amused. She didn’t remember the study materials on her desk being worth such a commotion. “Is there money to be picked up at my seat?”

“Who cares about that?” Xia Yiwen held up a few papers. “We’re just visiting an exam paper that went from a 660 total to a 640 score.”

This time, Bo Liye was stunned too. “How much did you say?”

Xia Yiwen: “641.”

“How is that possible? No points deducted for the essay? And did she have time for the science problems?”

Xia Yiwen really didn’t want to admit it, but ever since the group from No. 1 High School had been “tricked” into coming here by the principal, they had been refreshing everyone’s perceptions. They thought the 622 from last semester was high enough, but now they were seeing a score in the 640 range.

Points lost in Chinese and English, but full marks in Mathematics and Comprehensive Science. Was she even human?

Regardless of how shocked the crowd was, the owner of the papers stood quietly behind Bo Liye. The classroom’s fluorescent lights sharpened Qin Mingyan’s habitual cold expression, silent and still.

Bo Liye snatched the papers back one by one. “Everyone, let go. If you’re so capable, go get the scores yourselves. Stop hovering over someone else’s papers, even sleeping with them won’t change your scores.”

Xia Yiwen gave her a disdainful look and silently mouthed the words: Valuing lust over friendship.

Bo Liye naturally replied, “You’re not as good-looking as her.”

Success, the person left in a huff.

After the crowd dispersed, Bo Liye tossed the papers back onto Qin Mingyan’s desk. As Qin Mingyan sat down, Bo Liye patted her shoulder like a proud mentor. “Well done. You really did me proud.”

Qin Mingyan’s gaze followed Bo Liye’s hand, then she lowered her head to put the papers into a folder.

Following this monthly exam, the students finally felt the urgency of entering their senior year. Fortunately, the sports meet was approaching, finally providing a break in the dull academic atmosphere.

Qin Mingyan spent a week getting the class to sign up for events. Individual and group events were mostly filled, and even the relay race order was pre-arranged. All that remained was the “mystery selection” fun sports event.

It wasn’t that the class wasn’t responding to the call, it was that the teacher organizing the sports meet this year had taken a peculiar path. The fun events only listed slots for singles, doubles, triples, fives, and tens. No specific details were revealed; the rules would only be announced on the day of the meet.

Other groups were fine, but the doubles column specifically noted that participants must be of the same gender. Anyone who heard that felt the doubles event wouldn’t be anything “proper.”

“Keeping it so secret… did they introduce some ‘couple project’ from a variety show?”

“Tch, they think we love dating that much? With the guys in our class, I could do anything and my heart would remain still.”

“Hey, what are you saying? Look in a mirror yourself!”

Distracted by the noise, Bo Liye stopped writing and looked at Qin Mingyan standing on the podium. Her long hair had been tied up neatly again three days ago, and the hickey on her left ear had completely vanished. That slightly cold aura had returned, making her look just like she did when she first transferred.

Bo Liye tapped away on her phone, sending a WeChat message to Gu Baifan.

Thus, when not a single “warrior” in the class was willing to join the doubles group, Gu Baifan raised her hand from the back row. “Monitor, if no one’s signing up, why don’t you lead by example and take a slot?”

The students, who had been listless after a day of classes, suddenly acted as if they’d been injected with chicken blood. “Yeah, Monitor! In other classes, the monitor and sports rep take the lead. You haven’t signed up for anything, surely participating in a fun game is fine?”

“The monitor has to lead, otherwise we won’t participate either.”

Without waiting for Qin Mingyan to agree, they decided for her. “The monitor is one. Who’s the other? Who’s going up?”

“How about the Academic Rep?”

“Hey, aren’t you guys from No. 1 High supposedly united? No one wants to accompany your Number One?”

Initially, Bo Liye wanted to see who Qin Mingyan would prefer to sign up with, propping her head up to see how the introverted girl would solve this dilemma.

Sure enough, Qin Mingyan awkwardly started looking for people from the first row, scanning the students who had transferred from No. 1 High. Everyone she looked at lowered their heads, no one wanted to make a fool of themselves in public.

Bo Liye’s phone lit up in her drawer. Gu Baifan asked: [Aren’t you going to rescue her?]

Bo Liye glanced at Qin Mingyan on the podium and typed casually with one hand: [No, I just want to see her participate.]

[If that project really requires close contact, the look on her face knowing I’m watching while she has no choice but to do it… it’ll be spectacular.]

Gu Baifan: [You’re so wicked.]

Bo Liye curled her lips, continuing to enjoy the sight of Qin Mingyan standing isolated and helpless.

Just then, Qin Mingyan, who had been looking at the front rows, suddenly glanced in her direction. Her eyelids lowered slightly, looking very troubled. A second later, she quickly turned away.

Hmm. She looks a bit pitiful.

As the others clamored for Qin Mingyan to just pick someone, Bo Liye lazily raised her hand. Under the surprised stares of Gu Baifan and the others, she said, “I haven’t signed up for anything either. I’ll go with you.”

The Friday dismissal bell rang just as she finished. Ignoring everyone’s reactions, Bo Liye grabbed her bag and was the first to leave the classroom.

The temperature in Shanghai had dropped sharply over the past few days. Many students had already started wearing their autumn uniforms. The 5:00 PM sunlight was still somewhat warm, and the playground was lively.

Bo Liye walked toward the west gate parking lot, intentionally moving slowly. Passing the basketball court, she heard the sound of running footsteps. She turned to see Qin Mingyan catching up, her breathing heavy and her words disjointed: “Are you… really… participating in the doubles… fun sports meet?”

Bo Liye slowed her pace. Once Qin Mingyan caught up, she asked leisurely, “Why not?”

Qin Mingyan said, “If you’re unwilling, I can ask others again.”

“How could I bear to let the Class Monitor work so hard on my account?”

“The participants get prize money from the class fund; it wouldn’t be impossible to find someone.”

Bo Liye lowered her gaze, feeling a bit annoyed. Once they cleared the basketball court, she directly dragged the girl into the small grove of trees. “You were the one pleading with me just now. I haven’t even let you thank me yet, and you’re already pulling this ‘regret’ routine on me?”

Qin Mingyan looked nervously at the students walking together outside the grove, her face turning pale. “Someone’s there!”

Dissatisfied, Bo Liye looked around and pulled Qin Mingyan deeper into the woods until she found a tree that could hide them. She pinned Qin Mingyan against it. “Qin Mingyan, are you playing with me?”

Qin Mingyan shook her head. The sunlight filtered through the shadows of the leaves, creating sharp silhouettes on her. She pushed lightly against Bo Liye. “In this year’s fun sports meet, one of the events involves a mud pit. That’s why I wanted you to reconsider.”

A mud pit? A bit dirty.

Bo Liye began to feel hesitant. “How about… you find two other people to replace us?”

Qin Mingyan said, “I’m the monitor, I can’t be replaced. I can only try to find someone to replace you.”

“Only replace me?” Bo Liye laughed.

She leaned her upper body in, her palm pressing gently against Qin Mingyan’s waist, like stroking the beautiful feathers of a bird. “Being so considerate of me?”

“I’m worried you’ll regret it at the last minute.”

“Don’t worry. If I promised, I won’t run.”

Qin Mingyan looked thin but felt soft to the touch. Her breath was shallow. Holding her for a long time made one’s heart race uncontrollably. Bo Liye leaned into Qin Mingyan’s ear, specifically picking words the girl couldn’t handle: “Why is the hickey from last time gone? Did you rub it off?”

Qin Mingyan’s hand gripping her skirt curled tight. “It disappears over time.”

Bo Liye acted as if she had reached a sudden realization, saying in a lazy, trailing tone, “Oh, so it’s because it’s been too long? Then why don’t you let me give you a new one?”

Qin Mingyan panicked instantly. She leaned her head back, trying to hide herself. “No… please, it’ll really be discovered.”

Bo Liye let her struggle, then hooked her waist, easily pulling her close again. “Don’t move. Classmates are walking by behind us.”

Qin Mingyan immediately tensed up, remaining motionless. She felt her eyelid suddenly being kissed. It was wet, soft, and fragrant. She froze.

Bo Liye’s movements carried an aura of irresistible pressure. Taking advantage of Qin Mingyan’s dazed state, she suddenly unfastened the top button of the girl’s shirt and kissed down. As the opened collar let in the evening chill, Qin Mingyan gasped softly, “Don’t…”

Hearing Qin Mingyan’s accelerating heartbeat, Bo Liye smiled and asked again, “Kiss here, or on the ear? You choose one.”

Qin Mingyan continued to struggle.

Bo Liye simply stopped asking. She followed her whims, sucking on the pink skin for a while, using the tip of her tongue to lick gently until the mark turned redder and redder, showing a distinct color. A sense of satisfaction welled up, the academic stress of the week seemed to be smoothed away.

“That’s a good girl.”

Bo Liye held her for a while longer before releasing her. She buttoned the girl’s clothes back up, her fingertips brushing against a stray strand of hair. Satisfied, she said, “Let’s go. To my house.”

However, half a month later, when Bo Liye was being held by Qin Mingyan inside a mascot costume, her chest even getting scraped raw from the impact, she finally began to regret participating in the event.