Chapter 7 - Deeply In Love With You [Quick Transmigration]

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well. I have decided to pick up a second Quick Transmigration novel. This time, the gong is the MC and I hope you appreciate this novel as much as I do.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters, or puchase advanced chapters on Gumroad. (40% discount code: DILWY)

Friends

 

 

[Like what, for example?] Zong Que asked as he flipped open his homework.

 

[For example, in peaceful worlds like this, you're not allowed to take lives casually. But if someone threatens your safety, you're permitted to fight back. Or in worlds where survival depends on killing, your first task is to ensure your own survival,] 1314 explained. [We're very humane, Host. No need to be afraid.]

 

[Got it. I'm doing my homework now.] Zong Que took out his phone, glanced at the listed assignments, and picked out math to start.

 

[Oh, alright then.] The system watched him settle at his desk, posture upright, expression focused, and couldn't help but muse silently.

 

This host doesn't seem scared at all... Maybe he'll learn to value his life more?

 

Zong Que, on the other hand, was thinking about something else entirely—about the higher-level worlds that might exist beyond this one, and the unknown realm where the system itself resided.

 

Homework had to be done, of course. But three out of the multiple-choice questions needed to be answered incorrectly. For the fill-in-the-blanks, only the first one was correct; the rest were left wrong on purpose. And as for the long-answer problems, he wrote only the first step for the first question, leaving the rest blank.

 

Being a poor student meant the expectations were lower. Even if he got everything wrong, teachers wouldn't be surprised.

 

Yet the system, peeking at the calculations Zong Que had done in perfect order on scratch paper beside him, couldn't help but be impressed. The answers were flawless. Even playing the role of a struggling student, he was doing it with full commitment.

 

From start to finish, he completed the entire test. With the time spent flipping through books and checking formulas, the night had grown deep.

 

Zong Que looked over his paper, then paused, and in the empty space beneath the long questions, he wrote a single word: "Solution."

 

Just like Lin Heng had said—it was important to show the teacher that at least his attitude had changed.

 

He packed up his things and glanced at the allowance set aside for him. After a moment's thought, he placed it in a small box, tucked it into a locked drawer, and only then stood up to get ready for bed.

 

Life at home was calm and slow. When he woke the next morning, most of the recyclables in the courtyard had already been sold off. The old woman wasn't home, but the food in the pot was still warm.

 

Zong Que had breakfast, washed the dishes, and was considering lunch when the old woman returned at noon, carrying a bag of minced meat.

 

"Let's make dumplings," she said with a cheerful smile. But every offer he made to help was gently but firmly refused.

 

At lunch, the dumplings in Zong Que's bowl were plump, the skin thin and the meat generous. In contrast, the old woman's bowl held mostly vegetarian ones.

 

He stared a little too long. She noticed and chuckled, asking, "Tastes good?"

 

"Yours are all vegetarian," he said.

 

"Too old for meat—it's hard to digest," she laughed. "But you're still growing. Eat more. There's plenty."

 

Without a word, Zong Que took an empty bowl, transferred half of his dumplings into it, and then took half from hers, placing the meat ones in her bowl and the vegetable ones in his.

 

"Half and half. Too much meat gets greasy," he said simply.

 

The old woman paused, holding her chopsticks midair, startled. "You really are…"

 

She let out a long sigh, smiling as she added, "Our Xiao Que has truly grown up."

 

[Host, you're so filial,] 1314 praised sincerely.

 

[It's only fair,] Zong Que murmured as he lowered his head to eat.

 

Perhaps the old woman had grown used to shortchanging herself—but with him, that wouldn't be necessary.

 

School was out on Friday afternoon, and students returned on Sunday. Even though Zong Que repeatedly declined her kindness, his backpack ended up stuffed with snacks alongside his schoolbooks.

 

"Take this carton of milk too—drink more, and you'll grow taller," she said, trying to push it into his hands.

 

[Host, you can usually refuse a parent's kindness, but when it comes from a grandmother, it's impossible. Just accept it,] 1314 advised earnestly.

 

After all, hadn't countless skinny kids walked into their grandmother's homes only to leave rounder, arms full of food?

 

Zong Que swallowed back his protest—You can buy milk at school—and took the carton. "Just this is enough. I can't carry more."

 

"Alright, then. Be careful on the way," the old woman reminded him.

 

"I will," he replied, turning and walking away.

 

He left early and didn't go straight to school. Instead, he made a detour to a shoe-cleaning shop near Ping'an Road to pick up a pair of shoes.

 

At the same time, Lin Heng received a message from him: Are you home?

 

He moved his fingers and typed back: Something up?

 

Zong Que paused on the sidewalk, glancing at the message: I'm returning your clothes and shoes.

 

Lin Heng set aside his fork from the fruit bowl and immediately called. As soon as the call connected, he asked, surprised, "You're already at my door?"

 

There was a note of surprise in his voice that he couldn't quite hide. Zong Que stopped at a red light. "No, just picked up the shoes. You're not home?"

 

The voice from the other end of the line was calm—so calm that even the distant honking of traffic seemed to quiet down with it. Lin Heng stood up and said, "I'm heading back now, I'll be there soon."

 

If they missed this window, it might not be convenient to hand things off later.

 

"Alright," Zong Que replied.

 

He didn't say anything more. Lin Heng chuckled and said, "Then I'll hang up for now."

 

"Mm." The voice on the other end replied again.

 

Once the call ended, Lin Heng couldn't help but smile. "So typical of him."

 

Putting away his phone, he sealed up the fruit plate and placed it in the fridge. "Mom, I'm heading out."

 

"I thought we were going out together. The driver's not even here yet," his mother called from the bedroom, peeking out with a makeup brush still in hand—clearly only halfway through her routine.

 

"A friend's looking for me. I'll take the subway," Lin Heng said as he changed his shoes and opened the door.

 

His mom didn't stop him, just teased, "A friend, huh? Are you sure you're not dating some girl at school?"

 

"No, school has a strict no-dating policy," Lin Heng replied helplessly.

 

"A no-dating policy? If students were really that obedient, your dad and I wouldn't have had a seven-year relationship from high school to college." She chuckled. "Even if you were dating, I wouldn't mind."

 

"I really am not," he said, closing the door behind him. "I'm going. Bye!"

 

"Bye! Be careful on the way!" his mom called out louder.

 

"Okay!" Lin Heng replied.

 

He didn't really believe his mom wanted him to hurry up and find a girlfriend—more like she was just rubbing in her happily-ever-after story.

 

There was a direct bus from Ping'an Avenue to the school, but it was slow. Lin Heng had a subway line that dropped him off right at the school gate. When he got home, he didn't see anyone waiting.

 

He wasn't in a rush to text a reminder. Instead, he walked in, packed up the cleaned shoes, and changed his bedsheets, which hadn't been touched for two days.

 

The washing machine rumbled to life. Outside the open window, the usual weekend cacophony of people and traffic filtered in.

 

Lin Heng glanced outside—cars, buses, crowds... the roads were completely jammed, just as they always were during school weekends.

 

So... Zong Que had been stuck in traffic?

 

At that moment, the doorbell rang. Lin Heng checked the peephole, then opened the door with a smile. "Your injury's healed?"

 

The baseball cap was gone, and there was no white gauze in sight.

 

"Yeah, it's scabbed over now. With my hair down, you can't see it." Zong Que stepped inside.

 

"That's good. It's pretty crowded out there now—why don't you come in for a bit?" Lin Heng moved aside to let him in, then noticed the milk crate. "You even brought a gift? You didn't have to—I didn't really help with anything."

 

Reminded him of New Year's, when relatives always showed up carrying crates of milk.

 

"This isn't a gift," Zong Que said, glancing at the crate before walking in. "Your shoes."

 

Heading to school at this hour really was peak traffic.

 

Lin Heng accepted the bag, a light blush coloring his cheeks. "Sorry, these slippers are for you… but why'd you carry a whole crate of milk all the way here? Can't you get that at the school store?"

 

It had to be heavy, lugging it around.

 

"My grandma gave it to me." Zong Que placed the crate down by the entrance, slipped into the house slippers, and said, "Thanks."

 

Lin Heng blinked, then smiled. "Fair enough."

 

"This is a thank-you gift," Zong Que said, handing over another container.

 

It was a white, transparent food box, and inside were glistening red pieces of shrimp. A spicy aroma wafted out even through the sealed container. It was warm—almost hot—to the touch.

 

"Shrimp tails," Zong Que said simply.

 

Lin Heng had helped him. It was only right to give something in return.

 

Lin Heng pressed his lips together lightly. A small, strange feeling stirred in his chest. "How did you know I like these?"

 

So… that's why he took so long?

 

"I heard you mention it to your classmates last time," Zong Que said.

 

"Thanks… I appreciate it," Lin Heng said, taking the container as he closed the door and headed to the dining table. "Though I just had some fruit, so I can't really eat this now."

 

Shrimp tails after fruit wasn't exactly ideal.

 

"Then just save it for dinner," Zong Que said.

 

"It won't taste as good once it's cold." Lin Heng slipped on a pair of gloves and opened the container with a small smile. "It's been at least an hour since the fruit. A few bites should be fine. You should eat half too—consider it you helping me help myself."

 

Zong Que looked at him for a moment in silence, then walked over and nodded. "Okay."

 

There wasn't a huge amount of shrimp tails, but it was enough for the spicy aroma to fill the entire room. By the time they had finished eating and tidied up to head back to school, night had already fallen.

 

As they stepped downstairs, the school gates loomed just across the street. Lin Heng tossed the trash away and casually asked, "Are we going to split up again?"

 

Zong Que turned to glance at him. "Mm…"

 

Lin Heng thought for a second, then smiled. "Alright then, you go first."

 

So he still hadn't resolved whatever was going on outside school?

 

"I need to drop this off at the dorm," Zong Que said, almost at the same moment Lin Heng had spoken, and both of them paused, surprised.

 

"Do you have something to do?" Zong Que asked.

 

Lin Heng blinked. "Did you already settle that issue outside school?"

 

"Not completely," Zong Que answered.

 

But just being regular classmates wouldn't be a problem. He couldn't ask someone for help and then push them away at the same time.

 

Until he had the money to hire someone to keep watch, it was better to watch over things himself.

 

"Alright, let's go then." Lin Heng considered it for a moment. For now, things seemed relatively safe.

 

Zong Que gave a quiet hum of agreement and fell into step beside him.

 

The boy's posture was tall and straight, his clothes all black save for a pair of white sneakers. It was such a simple outfit, and yet, because of his height and long legs, he looked effortlessly striking. For someone who had always stayed out of trouble, it was hard not to be a little curious about someone like that. Lin Heng glanced at his calm expression and asked, "So… does this mean we're friends now?"

 

Zong Que's eyes flicked slightly toward him. And from his lips came that same familiar, standard reply: "Mm."

 

And in that moment, Lin Heng felt a flicker of joy. Not quite the same as being praised in front of the whole class for placing first—but maybe just a little better.

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter

 

❧ Join Bella Novels' Newsletter by clicking here ↫ and
receive an email for each New Update -͙✧˖*°࿐