Chapter 11 As If Reborn

The main world.

Daylight broke, and West Sea City welcomed another morning.

The eldest brother opened the door, expertly tying his tie, preparing to leave for work. Behind him, the bleary-eyed second brother emerged from the same room, yawning.

The house only had four rooms: one for their parents, one for Zhou Jing, and the last two divided among the three younger siblings. There were no rooms left for the eldest and second brothers.

Last night, neither of them dared to disturb Zhou Jing, who had just received the bad news. They could only make the youngest brother sleep with their parents, freeing up a bed for the two brothers to squeeze into.

Like countless young people in the interstellar era, the two had long since moved out to make their own way. However, after receiving a text message from their father yesterday, informing them that the family had been selected for forced immigration, they both rushed back, arguing vehemently to ensure that this quota would not fall on them.

They had worked so hard to build their careers and lives in the local area, how could they immigrate?

On the other hand, the third brother, Zhou Jing, had only graduated recently and hadn't found a job yet. No one was more suitable to bear the immigration quota than him.

Brothers were brothers, but the accounts still had to be settled.

So, after Zhou Jing returned to his room yesterday, the eldest and second brothers discussed with their parents all night, deliberating how to persuade Zhou Jing to accept this arrangement with a calm and rational attitude, laying out the advantages and disadvantages. But the conclusion they reached wasn't very optimistic.

Because everyone had been caught off guard by the sudden bad news yesterday, they hadn't been able to control their emotions, and their tone had probably caused Zhou Jing to develop a strong resistance, which would make it difficult to persuade him later.

The eldest brother put on his coat, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, glanced at Zhou Jing's closed door, hesitated, and suddenly spoke:

"He doesn't seem to have left his room all night."

The second brother was taken aback: "Now that you mention it, it seems so."

"Since last night, his room has been too quiet…"

The two exchanged a look, just as they were about to knock on the door.

Just then, with a swoosh, the door opened.

Zhou Jing walked out, looking natural. He glanced at the two of them and said casually, "Getting ready to leave?"

The eldest brother was stunned by Zhou Jing's calm tone, feeling somewhat at a loss:

"Uh, yes… you're awake?"

"Good observation."

Zhou Jing rolled his eyes and brushed past them to get a glass of water.

The eldest and second brothers exchanged a surprised glance.

What's going on? This isn't right.

They had discussed it last night. The third brother would either be angry and cold, or confused and withdrawn today. How could he be so calm, as if nothing had happened yesterday?

"Are you… okay?"

The eldest brother asked tentatively.

"What could be wrong with me? I'd be fine even if you got fired." Zhou Jing took a sip of water, his tone casual.

"What kind of talk is that… cough, about the forced immigration…"

"Alright, you don't need to worry about this matter." Zhou Jing interrupted, waving his hand.

Does this mean the third brother has accepted it?

The two were pleased, but also somewhat surprised.

Only one night had passed, and the third brother had already completed his mental preparation? His acceptance was a bit too strong.

But that's also true… the third brother is usually quite rational. Giving him a night, he probably realized that this is the best solution.

The second brother said with relief, "Third brother, you're right to think that way. Don't resist interstellar immigration. This is already the eleventh batch of immigrants to that planet, and the facilities are probably all complete. The government gives great immigration benefits, and good days are ahead! Anyway, you don't have a career now, so go there for a few years and you won't have to worry about anything! And it can also help me get a scholarship, a win-win!"

Zhou Jing glanced at him and said quietly, "You speak very nicely, don't say it again in the future."

The second brother looked sheepish.

The eldest brother looked at Zhou Jing, suddenly feeling strange.

How did he feel that the third brother's temperament had suddenly changed?

He used to be so gentle and refined. After one night, it seemed like he had changed a bit…

Zhou Jing glanced around and saw that no one was in the living room, so he asked:

"Where's Zhou Wei'an? Is he awake yet?"

The eldest and second brothers were stunned, not expecting Zhou Jing to call their father by his name.

…Although they also did it in private, the third brother had always been gentle and refined. This wasn't like him.

"He's probably not up yet…"

Hearing this, Zhou Jing pointed to Zhou Wei'an's door: "Go call him, I have something to say to him."

"Why don't you just…"

"Hmm?"

The second brother immediately chickened out and obediently ran to knock on the door.

He didn't dare to provoke Zhou Jing now, for fear that Zhou Jing would turn on him.

After a while, Zhou Wei'an and Zhao Jing walked out of the room, finding Zhou Jing sitting in the living room, with the eldest and second brothers awkwardly accompanying him.

Seeing that Zhou Jing's expression was calm and composed, both of them were a little dazed.

"About yesterday…" Zhou Wei'an opened his mouth, about to say something.

But Zhou Jing didn't give him a chance and went straight to the point:

"I can accept the forced immigration quota, but I have conditions."

Zhou Wei'an was stunned, the speech he had prepared to persuade him suddenly stuck in his throat.

He hadn't expected that Zhou Jing's attitude would change by one hundred and eighty degrees after just one night.

“…You say.”

"If I take this quota, we'll be even from now on. I'm moving out, and starting today, don't bother me."

Zhou Jing's expression was calm, and he had made up his mind.

A person can't choose their birth family. Sometimes they are blinded by the identity of "family" and beautify their image. It wasn't until one day that they stood from an objective point of view and saw the true appearance of their family, suddenly realizing… that they were too different from what they had imagined.

Love for children is never an obligation, nor is it a matter of course. There are six children in the family, not only one, and it's impossible to treat everyone equally without any bias. He understood his family's decision. From a rational point of view, he was indeed the most suitable. If he wasn't the immigrant, the family would probably wonder why… but that was meaningless to him.

If a candidate wasn't decided, the arguments would continue endlessly, and his family would definitely bother him from time to time. He didn't want to waste time arguing with his family about this matter, and now he just wanted to use all his energy to study Star Realm Transmigration.

Only by living alone could he avoid interference and concentrate on exploring this sudden ability.

Since he had a way to solve the forced immigration, he might as well take the quota. In the future, they would be even.

Zhou Jing had thought it through. There were still two months until the immigration ship. Becoming a super-powered individual before then could avoid forced immigration. This was still his goal… but no longer for his family, but for himself.

Anyway, his family's original intention was just to push the quota to him, so after he took it, no matter how he solved this problem, it would have nothing to do with them.

Since they were already prepared to not see him again, then whatever path he took in the future would have nothing to do with them either.

Having reached this point, it was better not to stay!

Looking at Zhou Jing, who was different from before, Zhou Wei'an was instead unaccustomed and hesitated:

"If you need any financial compensation, I…"

"No need, keep your money."

Zhou Jing was expressionless.

He would need rent to rent a house. Although he hadn't found a job, he still had some savings, which he had saved little by little from his daily allowance.

He had originally planned to save up for tuition for a higher institution, but now it was unnecessary.

Seeing Zhou Jing suddenly become so indifferent, everyone felt unaccustomed, but they couldn't blame this change, after all, they had made the choice first.

Zhou Wei'an hesitated for a few seconds and coughed, "There's something I'm afraid you've forgotten. Boarding the immigration ship is in two months. During this time, you need to complete the personal information declaration process for immigration."

"I know."

Zhou Jing had checked the information last night.

Forced immigration had a series of procedures, such as filling out information, interviews by the Immigration Bureau, physical examinations, etc. Before the boarding date of the immigration ship, the person concerned needed to complete these procedures. Declarations on behalf of others were invalid.

Only after completing the declaration, determining which family member would bear the forced immigration quota, and then having the Immigration Bureau visit to confirm and enter the information into the database, would the immigrant be truly determined.

Seeing Zhou Wei'an hesitate, Zhou Jing's mind turned, and he roughly understood the other party's concerns. He said indifferently:

"If you're worried, I can declare it now, and then move out."

“…That’s fine too.” Zhou Wei'an had nothing to say.

Zhou Jing didn't delay and directly took out his phone and computer, logged into the Immigration Bureau's website, entered his identity information, and completed the information declaration in about twenty minutes.

The screen displayed "Entry Successful." Zhou Jing turned the computer around and showed it to Zhou Wei'an.

"Is that alright?"

Zhou Wei'an nodded silently.

"That's good." Zhou Jing stood up and returned to his room.

After a while, he came out with a backpack and a suitcase.

After returning, he had packed his luggage.

There wasn't much to bring: a portable computer, a few clothes, a few books, and a few posters he took down from the wall.

This appearance of being prepared early made Zhou Wei'an and the others stunned.

"Are you leaving now? Have you found a place to live? Where are you going to live?" Zhao Jing couldn't help but ask.

"There will always be a place to live."

Zhou Jing walked to the door, thought for a moment, and said:

"The family address is here, I can't change it, I can only declare it here, so I'll come back once when the Immigration Bureau visits. At other times, we'll have nothing to do with each other."

Zhou Wei'an and the others stared blankly at him.

Zhou Jing took one last look at this familiar house, turned his head, and stepped out.

The closed door blocked his quickly departing figure.

A person's transformation sometimes takes a lifetime, and sometimes it only takes a moment.

Things that he used to care about suddenly felt unworthy.

Once a decision was made, he wouldn't stop.

In the house, only Zhou Wei'an and the others were left looking at each other, with bewildered expressions.

This decisive and swift style… was completely different from the Zhou Jing they remembered.

They had never seen this side of him.

They realized for the first time that Zhou Jing's gentle and refined personality could be so resolute.

Everyone was a little confused and puzzled.

Although they knew they were indebted first, could a person really have such a big change in just one night?

…

Dragging his luggage and carrying his backpack, he walked out of the building.

The warm morning sun shone on his shoulders.

Zhou Jing took a deep breath, filling his chest, and felt a strange, tingling thrill in his heart.

It was like casting off restraints and looking forward to the future.

It was as if his life was only truly beginning today!