Chapter 4: World 004 Part 2
A series of news seemed to follow as Li Chengyi opened a link to a world map. With the barrage of chaotic news popping up, vast amounts of information about the world at large began to surge into his mind crazily.
He put down his phone, lightly covered his forehead, feeling a constant prickling pain from the inside.
An overwhelming flood of information rushed into his brain, integrating with his current memories.
With the influx of information, he finally gained a comprehensive understanding of his predecessor’s situation.
It was a special era, teetering on the edge of peace and war in a bipolar struggle for dominance.
Yi State and White Star were the two poles in this struggle, two major powers.
Earth-Moon was under the impact of a vast empire known as Yi State, unrivaled by any country within Earth-Moon.
He was now living in Suoyang city of Yi State, a country somewhat similar to Hua State in terms of culture, concepts, and lifestyle, albeit with many differences in detail.
As for White Star, his predecessor didn’t know much, after all, it was an empire on a completely different planet.
All he knew was that White Star’s technology was more advanced than Earth-Moon’s, currently holding an advantage in the bipolar struggle.
And his predecessor was just one of the millions of ordinary college students in Yi State.
Had he not come to this world, his predecessor would eventually lower his standards in the face of unsuccessful job hunts, turning to lower-paying and lower-status jobs.
Then gradually improve himself, seek opportunities, increase income, marry and have children, worry about their future, and so on, in a continuous cycle.
Until living out his ordinary and mundane life.
Now, despite having memories of his previous life, many things were not applicable in a different world. Uncertain about the future, whether he could return, or what plans he had, Li Chengyi felt somewhat lost.
He still felt unfamiliar, as if forcibly inserted into a harmonious environment, creating a sense of disorder.
Apart from these, in Li Chengyi’s impression, this world felt very strange in many aspects compared to his previous life.
Sitting for a while and after looking up various information, he checked the time. It was almost time to head to school.
He had agreed to meet with his Advisor Chen Shan in half an hour, just enough time considering the journey.
Ding dong.
Suddenly, a message tone sounded. Just as Li Chengyi was about to put away his phone, he quickly glanced at the screen.
The message would automatically pop up on the bright screen.
“A friend has a bug problem in their small garden. Aren’t you studying in this field? Come to this address and have a look.” – Lin Sang.
Li Chengyi thought for a moment and quickly replied.
“What kind of bug problem? Send me a photo to see.”
“You’ll know when you get here. Just consider it a favor for me. It’s the people you met this morning. Getting on good terms with them will benefit you. Trust me!” – Lin Sang.
“How should we settle the fee?” Li Chengyi asked again.
“Are you really going to charge for helping a friend? Don’t be so petty, okay? Hurry up, you need to be here by two in the afternoon, or don’t blame me if I get mad at you later.” Lin Sang sounded somewhat petulant.
Whenever there was a dispute among the three of them, she would get angry, and the other two would soften and start figuring out how to appease her.
So this tactic was always effective.
Li Chengyi glanced at the address she sent, about thirty-two kilometers away. Public transportation definitely wouldn’t make it in time, leaving only the option to take a taxi. Taxi fare, plus the medicines and bug detection cards needed, would amount to several hundred.
And that’s for a relatively easy problem. For a troublesome one, just the cost of medicines would start at a thousand at least.
While he intended to live according to his predecessor’s habits, gradually transitioning into his own, this request seemed a bit absurd. He didn’t even know those people, meaning he would be doing this favor for Lin Sang.
Setting aside whether it was worth it or not, his memory was still fuzzy, and he wasn’t capable of it now.
Li Chengyi decisively ignored Lin Sang, then switched his phone to silent mode.
Regardless of whether he wasn’t his predecessor, Lin Sang’s request felt like a waste of time and energy without the rose-tinted glasses of love.
Ignoring the vibrations from his phone, he quickly left his home, boarding a public bus at the residential area’s entrance, heading towards the suburban school.
Suoyang University, located in the southern part of the suburbs, was a comprehensive local university.
Covering an area nearly the size of a small town, numerous buildings were orderly spread out.
By the time Li Chengyi arrived, more than twenty minutes had passed.
On the third floor of the school’s main building, he found Office 5 according to the nameplate.
The office door was open, and not far from the door stood two young men talking, both wearing glasses, one tall and one short, both dressed in shirts and trousers, looking refined.
Li Chengyi recognized them as his advisor Chen Shan’s graduate students, essentially his senior students.
“Rong Qing and Xu Nanhao are attending the school seminar, which makes me happy, but I really can’t secure any extra spots. I’ve managed to get far more than other professors already.”
Inside the office, next to the wooden bookcase, a bald middle-aged man with silver-rimmed glasses, dressed in a suit and a dark red tie, spoke in a low voice to a middle-aged woman in front of him.
This was the Plant Care major’s academic advisor, Li Chengyi’s guide, Chen Shan.
Upon seeing Li Chengyi, the bald man gestured for him to wait a moment with his hand, then continued talking to the middle-aged woman.
The two seemed to be arguing over some quota.
Li Chengyi, feeling idle, didn’t know why his advisor wanted him here. His relationship with Chen Shan stemmed from his excellent performance in the Plant Care course during his school days, which earned Chen Shan’s admiration and led to a recommendation to participate in an advanced plant care course.
Chen Shan thus became Li Chengyi’s academic advisor.
Both Chen Shan and Li Chengyi’s predecessor had thought he would naturally apply to Chen Shan’s graduate program.
Unfortunately, Li Chengyi’s talent and performance later proved insufficient.
Eventually, Li Chengyi gave up. After a big argument with his sister, he dropped the specialty course, choosing to graduate and find a job directly.
After talking with the middle-aged woman for a while, she left briskly with a cold snort, taking the form with her.
Chen Shan then tiredly removed his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and looked towards Li Chengyi, who was sitting on the couch.
He had initially held considerable admiration for this disciple.
But now…
He had four students in total, the other three were his graduate students. One is a high-level executive in a large company, another started his professional logistics company, currently on the rise.
Another stayed at the university, having published several top academic papers, with a bright future ahead.
Only Li Chengyi, whom he once had high hopes for, was now…
“Xiao Yi, I’ve checked, and your record hasn’t been transferred yet. You haven’t found a job, have you?” he asked softly.
“No, but I’m on it. Don’t worry, I already have a plan,” Li Chengyi stood up and approached, sensing a hint of regret and helplessness in the man’s eyes.
The voices of the other two senior brothers chatting outside and the imminent arrival of a senior sister by car could be faintly heard in the background.
“Don’t be shy. I know you well,” Chen Shan said quietly. As a mentor and mentee, even though Li Chengyi has become somewhat disheartened now, he decided to give one last push as he also saw an opportunity.
As he spoke, he opened the second drawer of his desk, took out a locked document, unlocked it, and pulled out a brown envelope that had been sealed.
“You can try this company. This is a letter of introduction I wrote. Their general manager is an old friend of mine. It shouldn’t be a problem to arrange a position for you,” Chen Shan handed the envelope to Li Chengyi.
“Teacher,” Li Chengyi was somewhat frozen, not knowing what to say.
“I’m aware of the situation at home, your sister needing money, your parents’ low income, and now the factory is starting to cut wages. But remember, difficulties are temporary. If it really doesn’t work out, just call me!” Chen Shan said earnestly.
“I–” Li Chengyi felt touched. Even though his predecessor is gone, it’s rare to encounter someone who genuinely cares about him in life.
“Remember, don’t waste your talent,” Chen Shan sighed, patting Li Chengyi on the shoulder, pushing the letter into his hand.
Compared to the brilliant paths of his other students, Li Chengyi’s current situation seemed more challenging.
“Thank you,” Li Chengyi stepped back seriously, bowing deeply.
“I will remember.”
“Go on, go on,” Chen Shan waved his hand, looking somewhat forlorn.
He looked down to pick up a pack of cigarettes, took one out to light, but after fumbling for a while, ended up not lighting it.
Putting the cigarette down, he no longer spoke, waved his hand again at Li Chengyi, then turned his back to look out the window at the pink blossoms.
Li Chengyi bowed again and left with the letter.
Walking out of the office, he turned the corner to go downstairs and almost bumped into a red-haired girl in a yellow short leather jacket and tight gray pants.
“Ah, you are…?” The girl paused, seeming to recognize Li Chengyi.
“It’s Professor Chen’s daughter, long time no see,” Li Chengyi recognized her, the girl being Chen Shan’s own daughter, Chen Pi, who had been studying abroad and had only recently returned.
Back then, his predecessor and Chen Pi were quite acquainted, often jokingly saying that once he made his company big, he would hire Chen Pi as his secretary.
Now it seems…
“Chen Pi, hurry over here,” someone called her from the office before she could reply.
“See you at tonight’s alumni meeting,” she smiled and walked away quickly.
Li Chengyi didn’t get a chance to respond before watching her hurry away.
Alumni meetings were for those who had achieved some success, and he, a graduate without even a job…
He glanced back, watching the two successful senior brothers approaching Chen Pi, all chatting intimately.
He could have been one of them in that circle, but…
Without saying anything more, he turned and headed downstairs.
Two cars, one black and one white, were parked a bit crowded downstairs.
Li Chengyi looked around and decided to squeeze between the cars.
Walking quickly and lowering his head, just as he was about to pass through, he suddenly stopped in front of the two cars’ rearview mirrors.
“What is this?”
He closely examined the reflection in the mirror.
In the mirror, there seemed to be a pitch-black pattern on his right hand, like vines or tree roots, extending from the back of his hand to his wrist, resembling something parasitic with roots growing out.
Swish.
Li Chengyi lifted his right hand and looked closer; his hand was clean, without any pattern or even a scar.
He shifted his gaze back to the mirror.
In the car’s rearview mirror, a clear reflection showed a black pattern the size of an egg on his hand.
But in reality, waving his hand, there was nothing there.
Li Chengyi was somewhat stunned, his thoughts drifting back to contemplating his future work and plans.
At this moment, the scene before him momentarily pulled him out of reality, reminding him of the strange experience the night before.
Recalling that very real dream-like experience.
And now this…
“What is this thing?”
He carefully touched the black pattern in the mirror, feeling nothing, but could see that the pattern, its shape, and lines resembled the mysterious, eerie, black flowerbed from before his transmigration.
That dark, bizarre, mysterious flowerbed!
