Yan Huirou maintained her position, pressed against Jiang Xidai. This posture seemed to give her a greater sense of security. She breathed evenly—then gradually took deeper breaths, controlling her heartbeat to remain steady. Yan Huirou kept her eyes tightly closed, her face showing no ripple of emotion, but in truth, she was far from as composed as she had appeared during her conversation with Chen Cha’an. After all, all signs indicated that what she was now forced to confront would shatter the illusory beauty before her.
Yan Huirou poked the compressed package with her consciousness. With just a gentle touch, a colossal amount of information, like a compressed nuclear bomb, exploded in her sea of consciousness. Her mind seemed unable to withstand such an assault. Her vision immediately went black, and her head throbbed excruciatingly. As darkness enveloped her, Yan Huirou thought with a hint of self-mockery, what an exceptionally familiar feeling…
A small, confined underground chamber, its surroundings constructed from cold, hard metal, giving it a solemn appearance. A large triangle was etched onto a honeycomb-like metal plate, each corner overlapping with smaller triangles—the emblem of the Inter-world Human Data Research Center.
The dim room, with the sound of slow footsteps, suddenly became bright and dazzling as all the lights switched on.
“Hello, I am MAX, the intelligent system robot for this interview.” A square robot on the table twisted 360 degrees, its electronic display screen showing a cute cartoon expression. MAX seemed to be trying to calm the human interviewee, but in reality, it had already begun scanning.
From the robot’s perspective, a young woman sat on a similarly metallic chair. She had an elegant and pure appearance, with a small mole at the corner of her eye. She wore no makeup, nor did she conceal her excessively pale complexion and slightly fatigued demeanor. Her build was slender.
MAX quickly scanned her, simultaneously recording her facial information and iris characteristics. “Congratulations, your application materials have been approved. Next, we need to verify your basic information.”
“Mmm.” Her voice was surprisingly soft and gentle, unlike her pale complexion.
“Please tell me your name, gender, and age.”
“Yan Huirou, female, 20 years old.”
“Your university education experience is blank, but MAX has retrieved your high school and previous academic records. You could have applied to a good university. In September 3110, you also received invitations from five research universities in the main city, but you chose not to enroll in any of them, and there is no relevant information in your submitted materials. Why?”
Yan Huirou: “Mmm, I didn’t choose to go to university. There wasn’t enough time, and the tuition fees were very expensive. There was an accident at home at the time, and I didn’t have the extra capacity to afford it.”
“Understood. Your family was composed of a same-sex marriage: your mother Yan Ran, a professor at North City University. Your other mother, Yu Lixin, an artist. And a younger sister, Yu Huaiyi, a ninth-grade student at Interstellar North Experimental Middle School. All have currently passed away. Is this true?”
“…”
“Apologies. MAX does not intend to make you feel sad, but this is an important part of the interview. Please just answer truthfully.”
“True. Two years ago, there was a major traffic accident involving the low-altitude vessel of Revelation One, resulting in 23 deaths, 4 severe injuries, and 12 missing persons. I wasn’t on that flight at the time. Both my parents unfortunately died despite rescue efforts, and my sister suffered severe burns but survived…”
Yan Huirou composed herself, answering as calmly as possible: “For the past two years, I’ve been raising money for her treatment and taking care of her daily life, so I temporarily gave up my studies. However, three months ago, she also passed away.”
“Understood. Your physical examination report shows that your various indicators are generally qualified, with no history of hereditary diseases or high-risk illnesses, but your physical fitness is low. Do you not usually have a habit of exercising? Our research center conducts physical tests every month, and the results are linked to salary. The working hours are long, and there are high demands on staff’s physical stamina. Can you accept this?”
Yan Huirou smiled gently. “Yes, I wasn’t very active before. But it’s okay, I can learn.”
MAX: “Alright. The position you are applying for is highly dangerous. You will need to sign a life-and-death waiver before onboarding. Allow MAX to ask, why did you choose this position? Based on various metrics, MAX believes you are more suited to be a researcher rather than working in the execution department.”
“How about ‘interest’?” Yan Huirou’s brows relaxed. “Perhaps… this position doesn’t have strict educational requirements. I’m tired and just want direct employment; I don’t want to study for a few more years and bother myself again.”
The scanner above her head emitted a faint “drip-drip” sound. MAX displayed a serious cartoon expression, looking as if it was sulking. “Monitoring shows your heart rate has abnormally increased at this moment. Please answer truthfully.”
Answer truthfully, huh…
Yan Huirou shifted slightly, leaning back in the chair, her head drooping to one side. “My sister’s medical treatment incurred a lot of debt, and I need a high-paying job to repay it.”
She wasn’t lying. Without professional training, lying wouldn’t fool the precise MAX scanning system. But in truth, it wasn’t entirely about that either.
Yan Huirou was born into a happy family. Not extremely wealthy, but her mothers had a very good relationship, the family was harmonious, and she had a lively and cheerful younger sister. She grew up surrounded by love, rarely hearing her mothers quarrel, and even rarely encountering the darker side of society. Perhaps the biggest upheaval was when Yi was naughty again, cried after being jointly lectured, and then, after making a grand vow to “never speak to Mom again,” ran to squeeze into Yan Huirou’s bed and steal her blanket.
At the time, she only thought it was ordinary.
When she was eighteen, she had just finished high school and received the admission letter from her desired university. Her two mothers, one with summer and winter breaks, the other essentially self-employed, could take her sister traveling. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Yan Huirou was attending a summer camp during that period, so she missed the opportunity to be on that flight.
If she could have had a choice, she probably wouldn’t have wanted to stay and face all this alone. But fate never gives people choices. It’s the same for all of us.
After the accident, none of her family terminals could be reached. Yan Huirou even learned the news by browsing headlines. She stared at the flight number for a while, both strange and familiar, telling herself over and over that she might have remembered it wrong, but not daring to verify. She could only lower her head and dial repeatedly. At that time, she felt no grief internally, until the hospital called. Yan Huirou’s thumb trembled as she tried to press the green answer button, but it wouldn’t respond. Only then did she realize her phone screen was covered in tears, and the touch screen had malfunctioned.
She didn’t have time to pack, rushing urgently to the accident site. Her parents died on the spot despite rescue efforts. The scene was extremely tragic; the only survivor was her sister, Yu Huaiyi.
During that period, her sister was a big reason Yan Huirou managed to keep going. After all, her sister only had her as a relative—even though Yan Huirou herself had only just come of age.
Yi was severely injured, with large areas of burns all over her body, facing numerous and costly reconstructive surgeries. Day after day, the medical bills poured into the hospital, almost a bottomless pit. The savings her mothers left were spent clean in the first year. In desperation, Yan Huirou could only try to borrow money from relatives and friends.
Most of her friends hadn’t started working yet and couldn’t lend much. Relatives… her mothers’ relationships with their original families didn’t seem very good, perhaps sometimes not even as close as near neighbors.
As for how she endured that time, Yan Huirou’s memory was always a hazy gray. Her mind was constantly filled with money. Sometimes, money was life.
But this was also her greatest regret.
Under MAX’s gaze, Yan Huirou lowered her head, caressing an electronic watch on her wrist. On the small, square screen, there was a photo. It was a slender, spirited girl who didn’t look very much like her, wearing sportswear, holding a ball, and smiling brilliantly at the camera.
Yan Huirou felt suffocated looking at it. She turned off her sister’s screen saver and lifted her gaze. However, her steadily rising heart rate seemed to betray her emotions.
MAX, by observing human micro-expressions, concluded, “You seem very sad. Debt should not be the core factor for you applying for this position.”
What she regretted most was—
Yan Huirou had neglected Yu Huaiyi’s psychological problems during that time. The girl’s brilliant smile and agile figure in the photo had never reappeared since the traffic accident.
“…Sis, don’t wipe it anymore, it hurts a little.”
Every night and morning, Yan Huirou knelt on the bed, taking out lotion to rub over her sister’s scarred body. Those fire-scorched areas had no pores and would be very uncomfortable if not carefully tended to.
Yan Huirou lightened her touch, coaxing her, “It’ll be better soon, just bear with it.”
“I don’t want to wipe this.”
“But…”
“I just don’t want to! Don’t talk! Get out!” Her sister suddenly broke down, using her movable fingers to snatch the bottle and smash it at Yan Huirou. The milky white cream spilled all over Yan Huirou, and the bottle shattered into pieces on the floor.
Such incidents had happened more than once since Yi had taken off her bandages. Yan Huirou felt for her, always enduring silently, then cleaning up the mess and gently encouraging her, “It’s okay, medical technology is developing very fast. What can’t be done now will definitely be possible in the future.”
“Who says? I can’t run anymore, I can’t even stand up, turning over is impossible.”
“Who said that? Bionic prosthetics are already very close to real ones now,” Yan Huirou still answered patiently.
“Those high-precision ones are too expensive, Sis. We couldn’t afford them even if we sold the house.”
“Don’t worry about money,” Yan Huirou said. “Yi, I have a way. Just focus on recovering.”
Yan Huirou’s hand, cleaning up the shards, paused. A sharp edge pricked her fingertip, a tiny bit of blood oozing out.
She actually wanted to say, Yi, at this moment, dignity doesn’t count for much.
The money Yan Huirou earned from odd jobs in her spare time couldn’t cover the exorbitant surgery costs at all. Relatives also realized it was a bottomless pit. Yu Huaiyi’s condition often relapsed due to low immunity, and each hospitalization cost a huge sum. Each family had its own difficulties and was unwilling to lend her money. At rock bottom, Yan Huirou had exhausted all pleasant and harsh words. Finally, with no other recourse, she had to kneel and beg each one. After begging one family, she would go to familiar old classmates, which was often the most psychologically stressful time.
Yan Huirou never complained; she no longer had the extra mental energy to voice it. But to be poked in the spine and told such things so bluntly in front of Yu Huaiyi, she still felt a little sad.
Yan Huirou pursed her lips, her smile somewhat strained. “No, you need to take good care of your body so I can find a nearby job…”
“Are you blaming me?” Yu Huaiyi seemed to have sunk back into her own world. Since her burns, her emotions had been extremely sensitive, like PTSD. “Even with the prosthetics off, am I not still crippled? Like a monster! Mom and Dad are gone, why did you save me? Why didn’t you let me leave beautifully? Does seeing me like this make you feel good inside? I want to die, let me die!”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
That was the first time Yan Huirou had lost her temper with her. Her voice rose slightly, becoming much sharper. “Am I tormenting you, Yu Huaiyi? You are tormenting me. How many times a day do you throw things at me? How many times do you pinch and bite me when I change your dressings and care for you?”
She didn’t want to argue, but she truly felt suffocated. After all, she endured grievances in public, ran to the hospital until the smell of disinfectant made her want to vomit, and then came home only to face her sister’s hysterical tantrums and accusations. The accumulation of these things, perhaps not anger, but a sort of breakdown.
That day, she heard Yu Huaiyi sobbing. Yan Huirou calmed down, quickly softened her voice, and comforted her for a long time. Only after Yi cried herself to sleep did Yan Huirou tiredly stand up and quietly leave the room.
She walked to the living room, hugging her knees, without any immediate desire to sleep. She sat in the darkness, silently shedding tears for a long time. Debts were still owed, all kinds of them. What about tomorrow? From repaying large sums of money to daily meals, everything needed her attention.
Her phone terminal flashed with an incoming call. Yan Huirou quietly wiped away her tears, answered the phone, and lowered her voice. “Cha’an?”
“Yan Yan, I don’t know the specific path you asked about. But the Transmigration Bureau I joined has an external writing event. This time it’s my project. The theme is a romance novel. Do you want to try it?”
“Writing?” Yan Huirou said softly. “I don’t have experience writing novels, and I don’t have much time.”
“Uh-uh, it’s not a traditional long novel, you don’t have to write an entire book. The world setting, main characters, male and female leads, and so on, will all be provided. You might just need to fill in some details. What we’re currently lacking is original character design, similar to OCs… I don’t know if you’ve ever played with that.”
“Original character design?”
“Yes, it’s not long, but quality is required. Our team has everything else done, it’s just… hmm… a bunch of science students, and their writing skills are worrying. What they write is either ‘silly-sweet’ or ‘greasy-cringe’ male leads. So we want to solicit externally. A character outline of a few tens of thousands of words is enough, it’s very simple.”
“The highest prize money is 100,000. I recommend you try it, after all, you… have been in a difficult situation recently.”
One hundred thousand?
Yan Huirou, her face streaked with tears, gently trembled her eyelashes.
She truly needed that money. She answered without hesitation, “Okay, I’ll try. Send me the requirements.”
