Quick Transmigration: Super Sweet! Suddenly Became the God’s Beloved - Chapter 3

Xie Qingci glanced casually at the group and decided not to pay them any further attention.

He leisurely finished his two meat buns, rummaged through his bag, and pulled out four oranges. Without a word, he handed two to Xie Mingze.

Xie Mingze didn’t ask any questions this time. He cheerfully peeled the oranges and ate them with relish.

Watching him, Xie Qingci couldn’t help but think how easily people of this era were satisfied.

He began peeling his own orange, savoring the sweet, refreshing taste as it spread through his mouth. It was quite pleasant.

Meanwhile, Huo Changfeng, sitting nearby, felt increasingly annoyed by the intense gazes of Xu Xiaoling and Liu Shengsheng. Their stares even affected his appetite.

He frowned slightly and quickened his pace, finishing his entire boxed meal in just a few bites.

As he was packing up his empty lunchbox, Huo Changfeng glanced up and noticed Xie Qingci holding several oranges.

Having just finished a greasy braised pork dish, Huo Changfeng’s mouth felt a bit oily. He realized that while his bag was packed with food, he hadn’t brought any fruit.

After a moment’s hesitation, Huo Changfeng turned to Xie Qingci. “Comrade Xie, do you have any more oranges? I’ll trade you two milk candies for two oranges. What do you say?”

Xie Qingci glanced up, his expression indifferent. “I’m sorry, Comrade Huo. This train journey will take another two days, and I need to save these for my younger brother. I can’t trade them.”

Huo Changfeng’s face stiffened. Having been pampered his entire life, this was the first time he’d been so bluntly rejected. He felt a prick of resentment, but knew better than to press the matter further.

Across the aisle, Xu Xiaoling seized the opportunity. “Comrade Xie, it’s just two oranges! We’re all being sent to the same rural area—shouldn’t we help each other out? Comrade Huo is offering a sincere trade with milk candies. Your outright refusal is rather cold-hearted, don’t you think?”

Xie Qingci raised his gaze, a hint of icy composure in his eyes. “Comrade Xu,” he replied calmly, “my younger brother suffers from motion sickness. These oranges are to help alleviate his discomfort.”

“As his older brother, my priority is naturally his well-being. While mutual support among us is important, we must first ensure our own families are settled before we can consider helping others, wouldn’t you agree?”

Xie Mingze, standing beside him, was initially taken aback, wondering when he had started getting carsick. But he had always unconditionally obeyed his elder brother; whatever his brother said, went.

He immediately chimed in, “That’s right! My carsickness is terrible. My brother specially bought these oranges for me. If I traded them away, the whole trip would be unbearable.” As he spoke, he furrowed his brow slightly, feigning discomfort.

Xu Xiaoling pursed her lips but persisted, “But Comrade Xie, you’re eating them too! Why can’t you spare a couple to trade with Comrade Huo?”

Xie Qingci’s brow furrowed slightly, finding her argument absurd and suspecting she might have mental issues.

He retorted coldly, “Comrade Xu, I’m also suffering from carsickness. Besides, these oranges are mine. I have the right to decide how to use them. Your meddling is unnecessary.”

Huo Changfeng, already humiliated by the rejection, was simmering with resentment. Xu Xiaoling’s interference only made the situation more awkward, drawing curious glances from nearby passengers that felt like thorns in his back.

His dissatisfaction with Xu Xiaoling’s recklessness and Xie Qingci’s lack of consideration deepened, his expression darkening.

Xu Xiaoling’s face flushed crimson under Xie Qingci’s blunt retort, a mix of anger and embarrassment. She was about to retort when Huo Changfeng intervened.

“Comrade Xu,” Huo Changfeng said, striving for a calm tone, “Comrade Xie is already feeling unwell from motion sickness. It’s only natural he doesn’t want to switch seats. We’re all comrades heading to the countryside together, and we’ll be working together for a long time. Let’s not let such a small matter cause any unpleasantness, shall we?”

Huo Changfeng desperately hoped to defuse the awkward situation and prevent further escalation.

Hearing Huo Changfeng’s words, Xu Xiaoling’s anger immediately subsided. Though still resentful, she feared damaging her image in his eyes and swallowed the retort that had been on the tip of her tongue.

She glared at Xie Qingci before turning away, falling silent.

Song Qingqing and Liu Shengsheng, who had been sitting nearby, wore embarrassed expressions as they witnessed the scene unfold.

Xie Qingci lowered his gaze, glancing sideways at Huo Changfeng, who was now playing the good guy. He let out a silent, derisive snort.

This male lead is such a hypocrite, he thought. He stayed silent and let the situation become awkward, but now he jumps in to play the hero? He really knows how to pick his moments to cultivate a good image.

Huo Changfeng was only seventeen, a year younger than the original owner of Xie Qingci’s body. At that age, it was understandable for him to act a bit rashly.

With this thought, Xie Qingci composed himself and closed his eyes to rest.

The next two days passed uneventfully.

At noon, the train slowly pulled into Xiangyang County Station. The group disembarked in an orderly manner, following the flow of passengers.

After leaving the station, they boarded a bus arranged to take them to the Youth Office.

Xie Qingci’s face was slightly pale. The bus reeked of an indescribable mix of odors.

It was the height of summer, and the group had spent three days on the train without bathing, only able to wipe themselves down with towels.

Now, the accumulated stench of sweat, sourness, and other foul odors filled the bus, making Xie Qingci feel nauseous.

Shortly after the bus started moving, one person couldn’t hold back any longer and dry-heaved loudly.

Then, the foul vomit erupted like a burst dam, spewing onto the aisle in a torrent.

Instantly, the aisle became a mess, and the acrid, sour stench spread rapidly through the bus.

Xie Qingci frowned slightly, instinctively closing his eyes and holding his breath to ease his discomfort.

The female educated youth sitting across the aisle paled instantly and let out a piercing scream. Her brow furrowed, her eyes reddened with distress as she shrank into her seat, desperate to distance herself from the vomit.

The other passengers were equally tormented by the foul odor, and chaos erupted in the bus. Everyone scowled, covering their noses and mouths with their hands as they scrambled to open the windows, hoping fresh air would dissipate the stench.

Someone urgently shouted toward the front of the bus, demanding the driver stop immediately to clean up the mess.

The bus driver responded nonchalantly, “You city kids are so delicate. Can’t even handle a little smell on a bus ride? We’re almost there anyway. Just bear with it and stop fussing.”

A hot-tempered male educated youth shot to his feet and retorted loudly, “Driver, this stench is making us dizzy! We’re not trying to cause trouble—cleaning it up would make everyone more comfortable. How is that being delicate?”

The other educated youths chimed in, and the bus erupted into a cacophony of voices.