"Ahhhhh! I can't finish writing this! There's simply no way I can finish!"
A burst of wailing echoed through the room.
A girl was slumped over her desk, scribbling away like a madwoman.
People often say that the ultimate pursuit in life is nothing more than landing a stable job.
Su Ci, a fresh college graduate, had decided to embrace the warmth of her motherland and join the ranks of civil servants. That way, she could contribute bricks and mortar to the nation's construction while securing a stable job with five major insurances, a housing fund, and standard nine-to-five hours.
To achieve her dream of passing the civil service exam as soon as possible, Su Ci studied with the same fierce intensity she had brought to the college entrance examinations.
However, right in the middle of a frantic study session, blackness suddenly fell over her eyes, the entire world seemed to spin, and she lost consciousness.
Amidst her fading awareness, Su Ci felt herself tightly enveloped by a warm force, as comforting as returning to her mother's embrace. It felt wonderful, and then she knew nothing more.
When Su Ci opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hazy, boundless, and empty white space where nothing else existed.
Looking around with trepidation, she called out in slight terror, "Is anyone here? Is there anybody?"
Suddenly, a man dressed in ancient official robes materialized out of thin air right in front of her.
Startled, Su Ci leaped back a few meters and cast a wary, uneasy look at the man before her.
The man was tall and had a stern expression.
He introduced himself: "I am an official of the Underworld, and my name is Xie Bi'an. Su Ci, you have been pronounced dead. But because it is not yet your time to die, the Underworld is now offering you a chance at rebirth."
An Underworld official? Dead? Reborn? Su Ci listened in total bewilderment, then sluggishly blinked and stared blankly at the man.
She thought to herself: *Good grief, have scam artists' scripts gotten this absurd these days?*
Seeming to sense Su Ci's disbelief, the man explained, "You don't need to doubt it; you have indeed passed away. Due to prolonged sleep deprivation, your heart gave out, and combined with intense emotional fluctuations, it triggered this tragedy."
"According to your original destiny, you should not have died so young. This was an error on our part. Therefore, in accordance with the regulations of the Underworld, we will provide you with a certain amount of compensation."
Su Ci was left speechless, and unhappily retorted, "No, big brother, do scammers play like this nowadays? Even lying requires some basic rules, you know. Listen to yourself—who is going to believe this nonsense?"
"An Underworld official, no less? Why don't you just say you're the King of Hell? Please, what era is this, and you dare to pull a scam like this! You're openly promoting feudal superstition. Don't make me call the police and have Officer Friendly arrest you as a fraud!"
Xie Bi'an frowned, but he didn't argue with Su Ci.
Unflustered, he took out a mirror and held it up to Su Ci.
In the mirror, Su Ci lay lifelessly on a hospital bed, her mother sobbing uncontrollably in her father's arms, while her father wore an expression of utter grief.
A number of people stood around them, and upon closer inspection, they were none other than relatives of the family, trying to comfort her parents with sorrowful faces.
Seeing this scene, Su Ci was instantly dumbfounded; she was forced to believe that she was truly dead.
"Do you believe it now?" Xie Bi'an said. "Don't worry, though. As long as you are willing, you can start a brand new life right away."
Su Ci hesitated for a moment, thinking of all the dreams she had yet to fulfill. Besides, she had just decided to take the civil service exam—how could she give up so easily?
So, she asked tentatively, "Then can I return to my original world? I just graduated, and I don't want to die like this; I still have many things left to do."
Xie Bi'an shook his head. "I'm sorry, you cannot go back. You are already dead in your original world. However, as compensation, we will arrange for your parents' later years."
"In addition, I can give you a chance to choose a world you like to be reborn into."
Su Ci gritted her teeth and made up her mind. "Fine, I accept. But I have one condition: I need a golden finger to help me blend into the new world."
Xie Bi'an thought for a moment, nodded, and agreed. "Very well. Now, choose a world."
With a wave of his hand, countless glowing doors appeared before Su Ci.
Each door was labeled with the name of a different world: martial arts world, Western fantasy world, anime world, immortal cultivation world...
Looking at the numerous options before her, Su Ci felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
She glanced at Xie Bi'an, took a deep breath, and fixed her gaze on a door labeled "immortal cultivation world".
"I choose this one!" Su Ci pointed at the door of the immortal cultivation world and said to Xie Bi'an.
Xie Bi'an took a look and asked, "Are you sure? Once decided, it cannot be changed."
Su Ci nodded and said firmly, "I'm sure! I choose this world."
Xie Bi'an flipped through the logbook in his hand and gave Su Ci a profound look. "Very well, then I wish you smooth sailing in the new world and that all your wishes come true."
With that, he gave Su Ci a gentle push, and she drifted lightly into the doorway.
In an instant, the brilliant light vanished along with Su Ci's figure.