"Not bad! This potion can be considered high-grade!"
"Three attempts, and he succeeded on the second—his mixing technique is very skilled!"
"He learned a new gene potion in such a short time. It seems he has considerable talent as a gene engineer!"
...
The interviewers held the berserk potion that Feng Lin had just successfully concocted, examining it repeatedly with endless praise.
"Feng Lin, congratulations! You're exactly the talent we're looking for—solid theoretical knowledge and strong hands-on skills! We can sign the contract now!" the lead interviewer said with a smile, tapping a finger to project a virtual contract before Feng Lin.
It was a virtual contract, but equally valid, as it registered your virtual ID.
And the virtual ID was fully linked to one's real identity, making it completely binding.
Since Feng Lin had come for the interview and gone through all the trouble to pass, he naturally wouldn't refuse. To be cautious, he still read the contract carefully three times, finding no legal loopholes. It was a three-month internship contract with a monthly base salary of 50,000 star coins, with the possibility of becoming a regular employee if performance was outstanding.
Although the contract was for three months, there would be holidays during the New Year, allowing him to return to Earth for the family ranking competition. The college entrance exam was still six months away, giving him plenty of time—the internship wouldn't interfere with that major event.
After considering all factors, Feng Lin didn't hesitate and signed his name on the contract.
But he didn't notice that as he signed, the interviewers exchanged glances, their expressions oddly secretive.
Once the contract was signed, the lead interviewer asked with a smile, "Feng Lin, when can you start working?"
"The sooner the better! I'll follow the company's arrangements!" Feng Lin replied, showing the self-awareness of a newcomer to the workplace.
Hearing this, the interviewers exchanged looks again, satisfied smiles spreading across their faces.
"Great! We'll book a spaceship ticket for you right away—from Earth to Mars, a six-hour trip." The lead interviewer immediately began operating, ordering the ticket online with an eagerness that suggested he wanted Feng Lin to leave at once.
Feng Lin found it a bit odd but didn't dwell on it.
Soon, the lead interviewer finished the booking, and the spaceport's official website sent an electronic ticket with the details.
"Harley-989 passenger spaceship, departure time: tomorrow at noon sharp, luxury cabin, special seat No. 11!"
The Harley-class spaceship was a renowned luxury vessel in the galaxy, and they'd even booked him the most expensive special seat—Giant Gene really knew how to treat people!
Feng Lin was quite satisfied, yet deep down, he couldn't shake a faint sense of unease.
But the contract was signed and legally binding; backing out was useless.
Giant Gene was a titan in the solar system's gene pharmaceutical industry, and he had nothing—what could they possibly want from him?
Feng Lin chuckled to himself and stopped overthinking.
"I'll take the ticket! I'll depart on time tomorrow!" He nodded to the interviewers, ready to leave.
Since he was going out to work, he first needed to ask his teacher for leave and say goodbye to his family. Otherwise, disappearing inexplicably again would cause no small uproar.
With a thought, his figure vanished from the spot.
The five interviewers watched him leave with smiles, but as Feng Lin disappeared, their smiles quickly faded, replaced by numb, indifferent expressions.
...
The vast virtual universe stretched out, stars glittering, the Milky Way cascading—a sight that made one linger.
Unfortunately, there was no time to wander here. Feng Lin felt a pang of regret, but he'd have to come back another time to experience it.
He left the virtual biopod and checked the time, finding that half a day inside had only been thirty minutes outside.
Thinking of his earlier worries, he silently laughed at himself for being overly anxious.
Seeing that it was getting late, he headed home.
Tomorrow was crucial; he needed to prepare early.
"Feng Lin, you're back!" When he arrived home, his parents had already returned from the factory. Seeing him, they immediately launched into a scolding.
"How could you go out for a part-time job for seven days without telling us?"
"You had us worried sick! We thought something had happened to you!"
...
The reproachful words were laced with deep concern.
Feng Lin felt a warmth in his heart.
"I'm about to graduate—I'm an adult! Isn't it normal to go out and work?" He smiled, careful not to let anything slip.
His parents looked tired after a long day's work, and after the scolding, they lacked the energy to continue.
To steer them away from further questions, Feng Lin quickly changed the subject. "Oh, right! I used the money from my part-time job to buy some intermediate nutrient fluid. It can replenish energy and also help my younger siblings with nutrition to boost their cultivation talent!"
He walked to the refrigerator and took out five bottles of intermediate nutrient fluid.
"Yay! We get to drink intermediate nutrient fluid again!" His younger siblings immediately pounced on him like carefree little gluttons.
His parents stared at the nutrient fluid, a mix of emotions washing over them—guilt, regret, and helplessness.
Guilt that as parents, they couldn't provide their children with good conditions to thrive.
Regret that with enough nutritional support, Feng Lin wouldn't have such poor cultivation talent. He was already a senior in high school, yet his life force was only 0.4, with no hope for the college entrance exam. He'd have to work at the family factory, a future with no prospects.
Helplessness because they were low-ranking members of the family, with no way to change things.
The intermediate nutrient fluid tasted far better than the low-grade kind, but while Feng Lin's naive younger siblings drank it with blissful satisfaction, his parents found it flavorless.
Feng Lin could see what they were thinking but didn't tell them that he was no longer the same person.
Such a drastic change, if blurted out, would only shock them and cause unnecessary worry.
He resolved simply to protect this family, to give his parents and siblings a peaceful, stable life.
With that thought, his determination to break away from the family grew stronger.
"Mom, Dad, I've already asked for leave from school. I'll be going for another part-time job in a few days," Feng Lin said.
His parents paused mid-sip of their nutrient fluid.
His father's face was etched with worry. "How long will you be gone? Don't miss the internship at the family factory, or the steward will come down on us."
"Don't worry, just a week," Feng Lin lied with good intentions.
If he didn't return in a week, the family would investigate, but Feng Lang would handle it—he wasn't concerned.
Hearing this, his parents nodded and didn't object further.
After all, it wasn't a bad thing. The money earned could be used to supplement Feng Cheng and Feng Xin's nutrition, enhancing their cultivation talent so they wouldn't end up like Feng Lin.
With Feng Lin steering the conversation, the atmosphere gradually lightened, and dinner was filled with laughter.
As night fell, his parents took his younger siblings to bed.
Feng Lin returned to his dim bedroom, and his smile immediately faded.
For once, he didn't force himself to train but lay down to sleep.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, he found himself unable to fall asleep for some reason.
Tomorrow would be a day that changed his fate. If he took the right step, the world would open up before him, boundless and free.
If he made a mistake, he'd have to forcibly break away from the family and wander the universe alone.
Feng Lin was confident he could leave, but taking his parents and siblings with him? That would be far harder.
So, unless absolutely necessary, he couldn't selfishly abandon them.
This trip—would it go as he hoped?
If not, then he would...
No, it had to work...
It had to...
In a daze, Feng Lin drifted into sleep.
The next morning, before dawn, his eyes snapped open.
Acting as if nothing was wrong, he tidied up the room and packed all his life potions—precious resources vital for his upcoming cultivation.
With one last, deep look at his sleeping parents and siblings, he turned and walked away resolutely.
Mom, Dad, goodbye!
Little brother, little sister, goodbye!