"Hello, Mr. Yu! We've reviewed your medical records, and I'm pleased to inform you that you fully meet the criteria for volunteer participation in our research institute's program. Please proceed to Central City A of District 19 by noon tomorrow. The exact address will be sent to your phone—please keep an eye out for it."
"That fast?" Yu Jing asked, surprised.
"Our staff are known for their efficiency," the woman on the phone replied with a graceful chuckle.
"Wait a minute—I haven't even confirmed I'm willing to participate in your experimental program. I don't even know the specifics. Could you explain more in detail?" Yu Jing questioned, his tone cautious.
"Not a problem at all, Mr. Yu. We've already purchased a high-speed train ticket for you from the nearest station to City A, the top-tier hub in District 19. The train departs in an hour and a half. You may retrieve the ticket using your ID. Upon arrival at our institute, you'll be provided with first-class accommodations. Our staff will then walk you through the detailed procedures, and all testing will respect your personal consent."
"If you decide not to participate once you arrive, we will also cover your return ticket. If you choose to come, please make sure you arrive before 6:00 p.m. this evening. Do you have any other questions?"
The sheer speed and fluidity of the response left Yu Jing momentarily stunned.
"...Are you an organ trafficking organization?" he asked, half-joking, half-serious.
The woman laughed softly. "If you have any doubts or concerns, you're absolutely free to decline the train ticket. Our institute will never force anyone to participate. Please rest assured."
"...Alright." Yu Jing ended the call, completely unsure what else to say.
No sooner had he hung up than two text messages popped up on his phone. One provided a detailed address for the institute in City A, while the other confirmed his train ticket had been successfully booked—first-class, the highest-grade seat available, worth half a month's wages from his part-time job.
"Is this just bait to lure in bigger prey? Spend a few hundred on a ticket in exchange for my organs? But then again, City A has strict law enforcement. I've never heard of any major crimes happening there in recent years. The address isn't even in some remote corner—it's near the city center…"
Yu Jing stared at the small handbook in his hand—the one that held his self-made plans to earn money. Now he weighed it against the strange but potentially life-changing invitation from the institute.
"What if it's real? Legitimate research institutes like this are easy to distinguish from scams. If it's a national-level project, it could easily be backed by tens of millions—or even billions. Giving a million to volunteer 'lab rats' like us wouldn't be out of the question… Even if it turns out to be nothing, I'll have only lost a day. I can still start my money-making plan tomorrow."
"Besides… maybe they chose me because of the latent virus in my body. That's also possible…"
Yu Jing never hesitated when it came to action. Without a second thought, he picked up his phone and sent a resignation request to the supermarket where he worked part-time. Then he went to his room and changed into something more casual—a gray hoodie, a pair of sweatpants, and clean skate shoes.
While searching through his clothes, he stumbled upon a few photos from his time at the Intermediate Potential Academy.
In the photo, a much stronger-looking Yu Jing was competing on behalf of his school at a county-level athletic event. Now, that once-robust physique seemed noticeably thinner and weaker. What had changed?
He tucked the photos beneath his clothes in the bottom of his bag. Stepping out of his room, he glanced at his mother's bedroom. She was already asleep.
His mind was made up.
Clenching his fists, Yu Jing left home and made his way to the county's train station.
Boarding the premium business-class carriage, Yu Jing found himself surrounded by white-collar elites—most carrying briefcases, their suits pristine, their expressions calm and dignified. Compared to them, he—a young man from a humble family in a third-tier county—stood out like a sore thumb.
"Looks like not everyone in business class is rich. Only three of these people are actually real bosses," he murmured to himself.
Yu Jing was observant by nature. As he sat there, his sharp eyes swept over the carriage, quietly analyzing the subtle differences in behavior—distinguishing those who wore a "noble" facade from those who truly had substance. Not out of malice, but habit.
City A—the central hub of District 19—was the most prosperous urban center in the region. The cost of living was easily ten times higher than Yu Jing's small hometown, if not more. And money alone wasn't enough to survive here. Without an A-class household registration, one needed tremendous wealth to even earn the right to stay.
"One day," Yu Jing whispered, "I'll change all of this."
He pulled his hoodie up over his head, hiding his face as he blended into the crowd.
"Is that a kid from the slums? Xiao An, come to Mommy right now. Be careful—you might catch something from him."
The glamorous woman in front of him, adorned in expensive jewelry, quickly pulled her daughter aside as they passed him.
Yu Jing's clothes and demeanor clearly didn't match the high-end streets of the city center. But he didn't react. He just kept walking.
Walking through the bustling city streets, Yu Jing couldn't help but glance around at the towering skyscrapers—buildings that would be unimaginable in his small hometown, where farmlands bordered humble homes. Around him, office workers in sharp suits carried briefcases and held high-end smartphones, discussing business deals and corporate strategies.
There was a flicker of envy in Yu Jing's heart, but nothing overwhelming.
He understood well that even if he had passed the ability test and entered a prestigious ability academy, at best, he would have been allowed to live in an A-class city for just four years. During his time at the academy, he would be ostracized, and once his training was complete, he would be forcibly sent back to work in his C-class county. Sure, as a graduate of an ability academy, he would never have to worry about basic needs in his hometown—but living permanently in a city like this? That was a dream forever out of reach.
It was precisely this sense of injustice that had led Yu Jing to write a personal essay during his ability assessment—one that expressed his thoughts in the form of prose. The result? His Category A score was wiped clean. Truth be told, if he hadn't used such subtle and poetic phrasing, the other sections might have been scored zero as well.
Of course, his decision to give up the ability path was also driven by his mother's illness—and the latent virus hidden within his own body.
"Shangdong Road… Where's Punk District, No. 315?" he muttered.
It was Yu Jing's first time in such a big city. The scale and complexity of it all felt overwhelming. Fortunately, luck was on his side—he quickly spotted a public bulletin board with a detailed city map.
Following the directions carefully, he arrived at his destination: a relatively old building with a distinct punk-style architecture. It stood out against the more modern surroundings. On one of the building's side entrances, a bronze door bore a small metallic plaque.
—District 19 Advanced Institute of Life Sciences—