Chapter 16 - 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)

Innocence

 

 

News of what had happened to Lin Heng hadn't spread widely among the students. But the school had clearly responded—security measures were heightened, day student IDs were checked more strictly, and safety awareness campaigns were launched. Even Lin Heng's residential complex had beefed up its security: delivery people and pedestrians now had to register at the gate.

 

"What's going on lately? Everything's gotten so complicated. I was late getting home because they were checking every day pass." One student muttered.

 

"I heard a day student was being stalked," another chimed in. "They even came to scout out the school."

 

"Those people must be nuts. Still, better safe than sorry."

 

"Yeah, seriously…"

 

...

 

"You've installed a new camera and a door jammer," Zong Que remarked during lunch break when he visited Lin Heng's home and noticed the new surveillance equipment and the metal stopper at the entryway.

 

"It makes me feel a bit more at ease," Lin Heng said with a faint smile.

 

"You did well," Zong Que said.

 

Even with bodyguards, things could slip through the cracks. Knowing how to protect oneself—that was what truly mattered.

 

As Lin Heng set his bag down, he remembered all the things this young man had told him before: Don't go to remote places alone. Always be aware of your surroundings. He'd never felt it was excessive for a boy to take precautions.

 

"Actually…" A thought had risen to Lin Heng's lips, but he cut himself off halfway, words catching in his throat.

 

"What is it?" Zong Que asked.

 

"It's nothing. Come eat—Auntie made fish today," Lin Heng called out with a smile.

 

"Alright." Zong Que didn't press him. He washed his hands and walked over.

 

…

 

"Hai-ge, those punks got caught by the cops," a thin, dark-skinned man reported as he stood by the private booth.

 

The man seated in the center, cigarette between his fingers, looked up. He stubbed it out and waved the woman at his side away. "What happened?"

 

"That kid, Lin Heng, called the police. They were arrested that same night," the man said.

 

"Let them rot. Just a bunch of underaged idiots—they'll be out in a couple of days at most," Brother Hai replied dismissively.

 

"But the student's family already filed charges. It's being treated as criminal attempted robbery," the man added. "That's not so simple."

 

If the case went to court, they—those who had incited the act—might end up implicated too.

 

"Quite the ruthless move…" Brother Hai lit another cigarette, exhaling deeply. "Pulling up the weeds with the roots, huh? Bold kid. We paid cash to those guys, right?"

 

"Qian Qiang didn't even give a name. Those punks were too eager to take the money—they have no clue who hired them," the man said with a sneer.

 

"Tell Qian Qiang to lay low for a few months. Once things quiet down, he can come back." Brother Hai took another drag and exhaled slowly. "Getting backed into a corner by a damn student—what a joke."

 

"Hai-ge, that student isn't just any kid. His family lives up in the Yunding Villas," the man said, eyes glinting.

 

In City C, where housing prices were sky-high, Yunding Villas were some of the priciest. You couldn't buy a single unit there without at least eight figures.

 

"Someone that rich is mingling with the Liao family?" Brother Hai sat up straighter, clearly surprised.

 

The interest they charged on their loans probably wasn't even enough to buy the kind of purse or car rich people casually threw money at.

 

"He's a student. At school, people don't really look at family wealth," the man explained. "They say the Liao family's hospital bill was covered by a donation from a benefactor. But word is, it came from Lin Heng's family."

 

"Must be drowning in money," Brother Hai scoffed, flicking ash from his cigarette. He gave a low hiss. "Still, let's keep our heads down for now. Once the heat dies down, we'll deal with the Liao family."

 

"Got it," the man chuckled knowingly.

 

…

 

"No leads. Those punks couldn't remember any names or faces—just said they got a few hundred yuan to rough someone up," Zheng Jiang's voice came through the phone. "There's not much to go on. Not even enough for a sketch."

 

"Alright, I understand. Focus on keeping him safe for now." Zong Que ended the call just as another message arrived.

 

Ji Zhou: I've identified the people you mentioned. The compressed file has been sent—please check it.

 

Zong Que opened the message to find a row of files. The first one bore the name Qian Hai.

 

At the top left corner of the document was a one-inch, ID-style photo—exactly the same man Zong Que had seen standing outside the elevator that night.

 

Zheng Jiang wasn't a professional investigator, but the person Zong Que had hired clearly was. Every detail had been meticulously compiled.

 

This group, led by Qian Hai, operated under the guise of microloans, but in reality, they were loan sharks charging exorbitant interest.

 

The profits were split among several parties. And even if charges were pressed, the most they would face was the court voiding any interest rates exceeding four times the legal limit.

 

But at the heart of all this mess was Liao Yan's father and his gambling debts.

 

Zong Que: Help me locate Liao Yan's father.

 

In this society, it was nearly impossible for someone to truly disappear. Whether riding transit or paying for a meal, there were always traces. Even if he used only cash, a single misstep could give him away.

 

Whoever sowed the seed must eventually reap the consequences.

 

Ji Zhou: The price is thirty thousand.

 

Zong Que: Deal.

 

…

 

Life at school, meanwhile, remained calm and steady. The once-tense atmosphere had gradually relaxed after several uneventful days.

 

But Lin Heng had started to behave a little… strangely.

 

To Zong Que, it wasn't anything too unusual—he was just more absentminded than before, checking his phone more often, with a vague air of melancholy hanging about him, as if something was weighing on his mind.

 

"Something happened?" Zong Que asked during the break, setting down his pen.

 

The boy beside him paused mid-stroke, then instinctively replied, "It's nothing."

 

"You've been zoning out more than once or twice," Zong Que said. "This doesn't look like 'nothing.' Problems don't go away just because you bury them."

 

He tapped two parts of Lin Heng's paper. "This step, and this one—both are wrong. Planning to fall out of the top three in the grade next time?"

 

Lin Heng looked up at him, slightly taken aback. His tone had been calm, but his words had cut deep. He opened his mouth to speak. "I…"

 

That… that was what they called a wake-up call.

 

You can't solve a problem by running from it—but that didn't mean you could solve it just by staring at it, either.

 

Because he had fallen for someone he shouldn't have.

 

Lin Heng had once imagined what kind of girl he might marry someday. He thought about it a lot, but never really came up with an answer. His parents' love seemed beautiful—but he couldn't picture his own.

 

And then, without realizing it, the answer appeared right before his eyes.

 

He had never thought he would fall for a boy.

 

But now that he had, he couldn't stop himself.

 

He didn't know when it started, or what, exactly, he liked about him.

 

Maybe it was everything.

 

And that's what made it so hard.

 

[Host, saying things like that is a recipe for a fight.] 1314 chimed in, snapping out of the drama it had been watching.

 

It couldn't help much with the mission, but Lin Heng had always been a model host—until now. That line was practically an invitation for an argument.

 

[It's fine. He knows what's really important.] Zong Que replied.

 

Lin Heng was someone with a clear head. He knew how to plan for his future, and he followed through. He also knew exactly what he wanted.

 

Clear-headed and rational. Gentle and kind.

 

Those were the qualities that had drawn Zong Que to him as a friend.

 

"I don't want to," Lin Heng said suddenly, his gaze softening as it met Zong Que's. He smiled. "Thanks for helping me fix the mistakes."

 

That's right. He didn't want to keep getting stuck in these tangled thoughts.

 

He couldn't let himself be trapped by this confusion.

 

"You're welcome," Zong Que replied.

 

"But… you're really mean," Lin Heng added, tapping the paper lightly with his pen. "When I help you correct your mistakes, I always do it nicely. But when you do it, there's always some kind of threat."

 

"I wasn't threatening you." Zong Que raised an eyebrow slightly.

 

"You startled my poor heart," Lin Heng said with a grin. "It won't recover unless you buy me a drink."

 

He was sure of it now.

 

He liked Zong Que. Really, really liked him.

 

Just looking at him made him happy. He wanted to be around him.

 

Even if Zong Que didn't return his feelings, he knew—at the very least—he wouldn't be disgusted by them.

 

There were openly gay couples in the school, well-known and accepted. When Zong Que heard about them, he never reacted with curiosity or judgment. He just listened—and that was all.

 

Zong Que asked, "What do you want to drink?"

 

"Black tea," Lin Heng answered, still smiling.

 

Romance wasn't on Zong Que's mind—not now. The goals he wanted to reach demanded all his focus. The same went for Lin Heng.

 

Now wasn't the time for distractions.

 

What he could do was help him reach those goals.

 

And then he heard the one word he had quietly hoped for—

 

"Mm."

 

Ah… I really do like him.

 

…

 

Summer bore down in waves of heat. As the final exams loomed, Liao Yan finally returned to school and quickly threw himself into study.

 

Pen refills were replaced one after another, test papers grew thicker by the stack, and on designated weekends, classrooms were cleared to serve as exam halls for the graduating seniors.

 

Though they weren't sitting for the exams themselves, the atmosphere filled many students with both longing and pressure.

 

"I heard that after the college entrance exams, you get at least three months of vacation. Sounds like heaven."

 

"They say college life is way easier. You can date if you want, spend hours on your phone if you feel like it."

 

"That depends. My brother's university schedule is packed from morning till night. I used to admire how he got early admission—turns out he just enrolled in another version of high school."

 

"Well, your brother's major probably offers research grants. Honestly, I'd trade free time for financial freedom any day. Spend money however you like? That's the dream."

 

"Even if you get into the major you want, your schedule will still run morning to night," Lin Heng said, dropping off some of his books at Zong Que's dorm.

 

It was closer than heading back to the teaching building. Zong Que's dorm was on the ground floor—much more convenient than climbing stairs.

 

"Whatever the schedule, mastering something always takes effort," Zong Que said as he set the books down on his bed.

 

There wasn't much space in the eight-person room—apart from the beds, there was nowhere else to keep them.

 

"True." Lin Heng smiled. "Then how about we tackle some actual college entrance exam papers these next two days?"

 

Zong Que looked at him.

 

Lin Heng explained, "Once each subject exam ends, the questions usually get released pretty quickly. The teachers here always base final exam questions on that year's college entrance exams format. Want to give it a shot?"

 

"Mm." Zong Que agreed.

 

"Then stay at my place these next couple of days. I'll let my mom know I won't be coming home for now." Lin Heng pulled out his phone, then added, "You should check in with your family too."

 

They each made their calls. When it came to academics, parents were always a million times supportive.

 

Lin Heng finished quickly. Zong Que's elder, on the other hand, couldn't help adding a few more reminders. He stepped outside to take the call, and when he finally hung up, he looked up to see Lin Heng walking toward him on the sun-drenched balcony.

 

Sunlight poured down like gold, casting a shimmering halo over the boy's figure. His eyes were clear and bright, glowing beneath the light.

 

"So?" Lin Heng asked playfully. "Did your parents agree to let me lure you home?"

 

Zong Que blinked. "Mm?"

 

"You're so pure," Lin Heng chuckled, tilting his head.

 

1314 nodded enthusiastically. Its host hadn't even been in a relationship before—pure to an almost unbelievable degree.

 

Zong Que: "……"

 

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