Glass man

content, you can also get the same opportunity to restart your life. "

"Rebirth, what kind of rebirth do you mean?" Shen Jiqing thought for a while and asked, "Is it similar to reincarnation in Buddhism, or is it another matter?"

"It's not reincarnation, it's the original person, go back to the past." Cheng Jiang said frankly, "There are two mainstream theories. One believes that they can start over completely, and the other hopes to return to an important point in the past. Restart the track that once left a major regret.”

"Is it similar to an evasive mentality?"

"Yes."

"Then you don't believe in rebirth at all?"

Cheng Jiang didn't respond for a while.He seemed to be thinking, and then his eyes trembled, as if he woke up suddenly.

"Avoidance," he murmured and repeated without nodding or shaking his head. "Sorry." He suddenly turned very bluntly, "I guess you are not interested in these trivial matters. Actually, I rarely talk to people like this, because I used to have a little... um, social barrier."

"It's normal for me to hear you talking."

"Really? I'm getting over it."

Shen Jiqing turned off the induction cooker, "Generally speaking, it's better not to classify yourself. If you have psychological hints, it will become more and more serious."

"I didn't classify myself." Cheng Jiang lowered his head, "This is what my mother said."

His face became dazed, and even the last bit of expression disappeared.

☆、chapter4

Cheng Jiang thought of his mother, and sometimes called her "Mom" in his heart, and sometimes called her by her full name in his heart, and he himself didn't quite understand the rules of these appellations.

She has the same surname as Cheng, and there is a moon in her name, so she is called Yuegu.

Thinking of his mother, he naturally thought of Cheng Jiang's own childhood.

My mother used to work as a ticket teller in a small theater in the T district of Lengwan, and later Cheng Jiang also did chores there.Because he spent half of his childhood in it, he has special feelings for it while not being too interested in it.Tried to at least keep the theater running until it closed, not to mention the poor wages.

They also live in the theater.

The theater has a kitchenette for those who live in the dorms.Mom doesn't know how to cook, but Cheng Jiang is not picky about food, and he never refuses her.When she was cooking, he sat obediently on a high stool at the door, watching her stir the batter in a small bright yellow basin, melt a small piece of butter on the pan, and spread the cake evenly, Then wait for the aroma to slowly reach his stool.

When he grew up, he mentioned several times that he wanted to learn, but she always refused to teach him.

"You'll burn your hands," she said. "Clumsy."

"I can wash the vegetables."

"Don't mess with the things in the kitchen, be obedient."

Facts proved that she didn't need to be so worried at all, because when she was finally willing to teach him, Cheng Jiang did a good job the first time.But she was still dissatisfied, feeling that he was timid.

At that time, he didn't know what Cheng Yuegu's compromise about the electric baking pan meant.

Just a few days later, she sorted out two bodies of clothing, took out a fifth of the family's possessions, and filled her old trunks with other sundries.Originally, there were not many things that belonged to her left outside, because Cheng Yue's old things were always packed properly, and she was in a state of being ready to leave at any time.They originally moved to the shabby dormitory at the theater in the T district of Cold Bay because they had no means of livelihood, but when their situation improved a lot after a few years, she was unwilling to move out again, and it has been like this ever since.

She bid him farewell and stepped gracefully onto the long-distance train.

She left their ramshackle little home behind, leaving him forever alone in Cold Bay.

Cheng Yuegu announced his decision on the first day after Cheng Jiang's birthday.

Apart from legally becoming an adult, Cheng Jiang is not fundamentally different from the 17-year-old Cheng Jiang. When I heard about it, even though I had guessed it beforehand, I still found it hard to accept.He didn't ask her why she left, because he was already more or less aware of her intention.

He just asked blankly:

"what about me?"

"Of course you will continue to live here. How you lived before will be how you will live in the future."

Cheng Jiang sat there blankly, lowering and raising his eyes:

"I'll go with you."

"You can't leave." Cheng Yue replied firmly, "The application period for this year has passed."

"I can wait until next year—"

"Little Jiang." She interrupted him, her tone sad but firm, "What kind of place do you think Lengwan is?"

He was puzzled and was asked.Cheng Yue did not want to look at him and turned sideways, one hand resting on her forehead, covering her expression.she says:

"It embraces us."

"It accommodates us." Cheng Jiang repeated slowly.

"Yes. I have never been in such a kind place before I came here. It only accepts and does not judge. Unless a person dies directly because of it, it doesn't matter what you are or what bad memories you have. It will be judged. You can say that it lacks moral restraint." A trace of disgust flashed across her face, "Otherwise that little bitch Kate wouldn't have slept with her own brother in a fair way...but from another perspective , it becomes another kind of morality. Freedom of speech is not advocated here, only freedom of behavior. I used to need these freedoms, but now they are dispensable to me, and Cold Bay is no longer for me. Leave it, I'll be more likely to get the life I want."

"You mean it suits me." Cheng Jiang looked down at the table and said.

"You don't have to go." Cheng Yue got up, walked around the small round table, and pressed his hand pitifully to his childish face, like a piece of cold iron. "Honey, what do you think you are?"

He doesn't need to answer this question, she has already continued.

"I've told you so many times. You're unrealistic, weak-willed, socially handicapped. Oh yeah, and you're gay. Right?"

Cheng Jiang didn't respond to her sharp words, because this was her usual style, and he would make a fuss if he said anything else.Only the last word terrified him.

"How do you know?" he asked feebly.

She patted his face, sat back down again, and began to cut meat with a knife slowly.

"I know you. I'm your mother, and I know you better than you. Do you understand now? I know better than you what it's like out there. You'll be fine here, and you'll be Got it. You can't always think about relying on me for the rest of your life. Sometimes I'm a little disappointed in you. When I'm gone, you should have to make your own plans. I'll leave you what I can. I hope I After you leave, you can completely learn to be alone by being alone."

Cheng Jiang's lips trembled, and finally they were firmly closed.

He lowered his head and began silently testing the hot water with the back of his hand.Shen Jiqing was still sitting at the dining table with his chin propped up, and he suddenly felt that he could no longer force himself to stay in such a space.The scene was chaotic, and he needed to escape for a while from what he was trying to grasp to sort out.

"Are you still insomnia?" Cheng Jiang turned around and asked pleadingly.

"I'm insomnia." Shen Jiqing didn't know what she was looking at, but laughed again, "What's wrong?"

"Help me... watch the baby for a while, okay?" Cheng Jiang promised, "She has fallen asleep and will be very quiet. It will take a quarter of an hour at most, and I will wash up."

Shen Jiqing readily agreed.

"Turn the handle to the right to turn on the hot water," he said.

Cheng Jiang closed the door, took off his clothes, turned around and looked at the mirror again, and turned his face away.

The steam was steaming, he closed his eyes and poured hot water all over his body.Everything in the living room was temporarily away from him, and she came back.Cheng Yuegu, since he stood at the customs and made a phone call, he has never been able to escape from her, and when he entered the bathroom, his thoughts about her also came in.

The phone room at Cold Bay Customs is one of the few places in Cold Bay that is not isolated from outside signals, where calls can be made to other countries.He had obtained situational clearance two weeks ago.He knew that the ship from Cold Bay would arrive in Dublin, Ireland, and then the passengers would be processed to the airport to reach their destination.

Cheng Jiang was a little hesitant when it came to where to transfer to China for the connecting flight.

"Do you have any relatives in China?" the person in charge asked him when he saw this.

He replied: "My mother left Cold Bay years ago and should be there now."

"Are you going to join her?"

"She didn't leave me any contact information, I don't know where she is, and..."

"Wait a moment." The person in charge said, "In order to make it easier for the people of Cold Bay to connect with the outside world, we will provide a free mobile phone number service one day before passengers leave the country. Maybe your mother is also with us before leaving the country." After applying for the mobile phone number, there is a record in the computer. You can try to contact me."

Cheng Jiang stared at him blankly, and asked for a long time:

"I did it...where's the number?"

"We handle the Irish number uniformly." The person in charge replied in a businesslike manner.

"She is in China with an Irish number?"

The person in charge shrugged, "I'm not sure. Hurry up, do you want to contact me? There are still people waiting behind."

Cheng Jiang stared at him blankly at first, then put one hand in front of the cubicle where the person in charge was sitting, and nodded in panic.

"Let me look for it. Your mother's name?"

Later, a staff member taught him to use his ID to unlock the phone and read eleven digits to him.Cheng Jiang made mistakes several times while typing. He held the microphone tightly to his ears with both hands, and listened to the phone ringing for a long time with no expression on his face.Several times in the middle, he raised his head as if asking for help, and looked around, but the staff had already left, and he was still the only one left.

The phone was disconnected.

She changed the phone number.Cheng Jiang thought, put the microphone back.Within seconds, however, the call was returned.With a shake of his hand, the microphone slid down and was thrown into the air twice by the telephone wire, but it barely hit the ground.

He picked up the phone.

"Little Jiang?" asked the voice from the opposite side.He responded softly with a nasal voice.

"How...how did you..."

"I passed the exit visa."

Mom took a slight breath.

"Why?" she asked eagerly. "Aren't you having a bad day?"

"No." Cheng Jiang said, "I just..."

He hesitated for a long time without saying anything, and finally Cheng Yue spoke first.

"My husband and I are currently in the United States." She said, "We have moved here for a year. The visas in the United States are also very complicated. If you leave tomorrow, you will definitely not be able to directly..."

"Sir?" Cheng Jiang asked.

Cheng Yuegu's words were cut off.She paused, then resumed his subject:

"Yes, I have been married for two years."

Cheng Jiang paused and continued:

"Then I..."

"You can do whatever you want, you're an adult anyway. He knows you are there, but he doesn't know where you are. Where did I just say? There is only one boat a year in Cold Bay, so you can only come out first. But you You have to go through very complicated procedures to enter the United States. Your cold bay temporary residence card says you are of Chinese descent, which can replace your Chinese passport, so you must return to your country first. If you are in China..."

A male voice said something in the background, but Cheng Jiang couldn't hear it clearly.He only heard Cheng Yuegu say something like "That's it" and "Great", and then she returned to the microphone.

"Shen Ziwei," she said, "is my husband. He has a son who lives alone in the central city in China. His house is very big, and he can spare a room for you to live in first. You live with him temporarily, Is this arrangement okay?"

no problem.

Water wets his hair and runs all over his body.

He seems to have fallen into a familiar vortex, as long as he reaches out to her, he will lose his direction.Her indistinct face, her echo, she is a lingering shadow, she is the beginning of everything.What abandoned him reappeared in his life, and the shadow grew bigger and bigger, surrounding him.

I will fly back to see you as soon as possible, Cheng Yue said.

☆、chapter5

Cheng Jiang turned his head and saw that the mirror not far away had turned into a large piece of fog.

He turned off the water, walked over in a daze, and looked in the mirror again. There was no one there, only a silhouette.He reached out and tapped a little on it, and then slowly slid to draw a stick figure-style house.Most of the houses in Cold Bay are white, with khaki and brown roofs.Outside the house is a painted tree, and then there are two stick figures, one big and one small.Two squiggly lines hang down from either side of a small stickman's head.

He finally drew smiling faces on the two villains.

The fog gathered and thickened. Cheng Jiang painted all the way, and the paintings on the painting disappeared circles towards the center. So he breathed again, and the disappeared paintings appeared again.He painted the whole glass.I even accidentally drew an extra villain once, and realized it before finishing the drawing, so I randomly smeared out the circle with two small dots and a long line next to it.

"Aren't you unhappy?" Cheng Yuegu asked suddenly on the phone.

"No."

"That man's name is Shen Jiqing, seven or eight years older than you." Cheng Yuegu resumed her normal tone, "I'll ask him to pick you up in person. When will you arrive? I'll tell him to wait in advance. Cheng Jiang? "

Water lay down from the top of his wet head, covering his eyes.

He closed his eyes tightly, inhaled slowly, and then there was a sudden "pounce" sound out of nowhere.He was frightened, and when he opened his eyes, it was the same as when they were closed.The air was dark, and the water still dripped down his head and face, covering everything.The blurred shadow of Cheng Yuegu was finally cut off, and he seemed to have fallen into another strange world in the gap between reality and memory.

Cheng Jiang stood motionless.There is no time, no space, he is only himself.

Someone is knocking on the door.

Benedict.Benedict.

Open the door.

Open the door!

Cheng Jiang couldn't tell where he was for a moment.He seemed to be deep in multiple places at the same time, in a closed space, someone was knocking on the door.is himself.He heard himself knocking frantically on the door.Cynthia was inside, he was outside; or was she outside at last, turned to watch him, and was shut in forever?The sight awakened primal fear in him.It's like the sound of knocking on a coffin, duh.Benedict.Will the dead answer you?

Benedict.

He didn't know when he had squatted down.With his back to the sink, his arms were crossed and his calves were hugged, his eyes were open.He entered the non-existent room, the shadow of the girl faintly reflected on the wall, the home without sound, and the stiff, curled fingers.He dared not move.Leng Wan seemed to be left behind, but he gently put his shoulders on his shoulders in the dark, and came back from somewhere in his heart.

So what if you leave Cold Bay?Isn't the person still the same person as before?

The people outside have changed to knocking on the door.

"You didn't fall, did you?" the man said loudly outside. "Maybe I forgot to pay the electricity bill. They cut off the power here. Are you okay?"

Cheng Jiang's teeth chattered and he couldn't speak a word.

The room where the electricity was cut off should have been pitch black, but his eyes began to turn white, and he didn't know what was wrong.He continued to stay in the small damp corner, there was no sound outside, and he could see the white light dissipate.When it was dark everywhere, he would try to get up by himself, wrap himself up, and leave the room.He couldn't believe he couldn't leave the room.

But almost in the next second, the door suddenly opened.

The sound of footsteps came in, bringing a small wind around his drenched body, and a large towel wrapped him up.A series of things happened very quickly afterwards: he lightened up, the breath of the wind spit on the back of his neck, and in the next second he fell onto the bed in the dark bedroom on the first floor and was stuffed under the quilt.One of Cheng Jiang's wrists was hanging outside, rubbed against the cloth, and then the towel was pulled out from his body and rubbed vigorously on his hair a few times.

There was no drop of water on him.

When entering the exit interview room, Cheng Jiang's clothes were wet with sweat and stuck to his body.The consulate is located in District N, which is a four-hour drive from District T. When they got off the train, they had to go around a lot. No one knew that the consulate would be in such a remote location.

He was uncomfortable and restless.

He temporarily handed Cynthia over to a middle-aged woman in charge of reception, while he went to register.

Cheng Jiang filled out some forms with basic information about him, including home phone number, financial situation and so on.After getting his interview number, he was sent to sit in the waiting area.There were not many people in the waiting area, and in the same row as him was a freckled young boy who looked like a student.

As soon as Cheng Jiang sat down, he came over to say hello warmly.

"Where are you from?" the boy asked, "I'm from District S."

Area S.This name touched Cheng Jiang's memory, and he tried his best to relax, and greeted the other party as naturally and friendly as possible.The boy claimed to be Duffy. He was 14 years old this year, and he played truant from school on purpose.

"You came here by train alone?" Cheng Jiang asked, "Does your family know?"

"They don't understand." The boy said contemptuously. "They think I'm hotheaded. It's because their minds are so stagnant, they are paralyzed! Cold Bay lacks vitality, and we must go outside to seek a future."

What he said was particularly strange, as if he had memorized it from memory.Cheng Jiang thought for a moment, and suddenly remembered another scene.It was on the long-distance bus to the hospital, Cheng Jiang leaned his forehead against the glass window, and they had already entered the relatively busy city again.The car suddenly braked sharply, and all the people in the car hit their front backs with a bang like grains in a can.A group of six young people in front were standing or sitting solemnly on the main road, holding banners in their hands, with bright and large yellow fonts painted on them.

【Cold Bay is dying】

【Do you want to continue living numbly? 】

【Belong to a new generation of revolution, think about what you can do】

【People are paralyzed!Fall!go Ape! 】

"These bastards." Cheng Jiang heard the driver muttering to himself, and then he slammed the horn.He clutched his canvas bag tightly and looked around slowly.The passengers seemed to be used to such meaningless and harmless small-scale protests. They all sat blankly, only a few people were laughing.Cheng Jiang touched his face, and heard a series of horns sounding one after another from the back of the car, which was earth-shattering.

A man in a police uniform was approaching the students holding the banners and began to gently persuade them to leave.

"Forget it, get off early!" the driver said, honking the horn again.A group of passengers stood up straight as if being wound up, and filed out.Cheng Jiang was the last to go down, and across the road, the students were chatting loudly and packing up the banners, seemingly giving in easily.

Cheng Jiang thought of this and couldn't help asking:

"Are you also part of a group that... er, promotes the Cold Bay Revolution or something?"

"You too?" Duffy looked at him in surprise. "No, you don't. You don't look like someone who would sit here."

"Not like?"

"Look around."

Cheng Jiang watched obediently.At this moment, he found that everyone around him had strange expressions, as if they were suppressing some intense emotions, so that their faces were almost distorted.He knows what he looks like without a mirror—Cheng Jiang has been expressionless since birth.It's not that he can't do it, it's just that it is exhausting for him to show it deliberately.

"Why are they so excited?" he asked after reading.

Duffy said, isn't it exciting to explore the unknown world?

You are going on an adventure, Cheng Jiang thought.I'm at a loss.

Cheng Jiang finally gathered a little strength, and the hanging wrist moved a little, touching the corner of the clothes that had just been wiped.His hand was held reassuringly.

"Sorry." Shen Jiqing's voice sounded, "You have been silent all this time, I thought you fainted."

"Thank you." He murmured.

Shen Jiqing was supposed to let go, but Cheng Jiang's hand was out of control, it was like a hook, it rolled up desperately when it came across anything, got stuck, and couldn't be taken off.Still dizzy, he said involuntarily:

"My daughter..."

"In the living room, I'll carry you here."

Cheng Jiang said yes in a low voice.Shen Jiqing got up to leave, but failed - the nails of the person on the bed were still stuck in his hands.He had just passed the hot water, but Cheng Jiang's hands were not warm at all, they were stiff and frozen, like the hands of a dead man.

He pulled again, but didn't.

At this time, Cheng Jiang himself also reacted.He was dying of embarrassment, but the more anxious he was, the more he couldn't control his hands.

"I can't move," he whispered.

Shen Jiqing said it was okay, and then covered his fingers with another hand, breaking off his fingers one by one.Up to now, Cheng Jiang's whole body seems to have been switched on, and he can move freely again.The dizziness finally passed, allowing him to wake up and go through everything in his head.

Cheng Jiang let out a ****-like sigh in his throat, shrank his body under the quilt, and pulled the quilt up to cover his face as unnoticed as possible.Shen Jiqing went out, came back soon, and put the baby girl in the middle of the bed.

Along with it were the clothes that had been folded and placed in the bathroom.

There was no light, so Cheng Jiang sat up, rustling through clothes.Cheng Jiang put the clothes on his head, like a fragile animal being completely stripped and placed in front of people, and frantically putting on a thin layer of respect again.Shen Jiqing still looked a little worried, she didn't speak, but she didn't leave either.

After Cheng Jiang got dressed, he pulled up the quilt and huddled inside to wear pajama pants.

Shen Jiqing was silent, he was always not sure if there was anyone around.

Cheng Jiang's spirit is not very good. Until now, he still can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality.This sense of uncertainty also blunted his perception, and made him have a little bit of subtle emotion for everything in this room—the darkness, the baby, Shen Jiqing—for a moment.After he got dressed, he still sat with his knees hugged, only listening to the side asking:

"Do you want to drink water?"

The author has something to say: Volume 1 is very short, and the real time and space covered are only the first night Shou spent in Gong's house.

But Shou's life before his rebirth and the fragments before he left Cold Bay will be explained in the form of interludes in this volume, trying to complete the basic character background before the opening of Volume 2.

Let’s post a few more chapters today.

(bow)

☆、chapter6

Cheng Jiang didn't want to drink water, even though his throat was really hurting.

But the boy named Duffy was a familiar one.He asked him to help him rehearse, "because the appearance rate is very low." The boy said mysteriously, "Do you know how many people are interviewed here every year? The average is 375. But the only boat that leaves Cold Bay every year is 60 seats, the competition rate is not small, right?"

"It's not small." Cheng Jiang murmured.

"Are you okay?" the other party continued, "Ask me a few questions and see how I answer. I can help you rehearse, too, are you okay?"

Cheng Jiang couldn't refuse.

"What should I ask?" he asked.

"Let me think. Just ask... 'How do you prove that you really intend to leave Cold Bay'."

"How do you prove that you really intend to leave Cold Bay?"

"I know this question!" Duffy said excitedly, and Cheng Jiang couldn't help but backed away.The boy began to talk about everything from how he found out that he was not understood by others, to how he found like-minded classmates, to how they covered the new wall with posters and banners... New wall?

"Why are you putting things on the new walls?"

Cheng Jiang opened his eyes wide.

He listened to how this boy from S District talked about something unfamiliar to him, about the "reboot culture" from S District. "That's why outsiders often come there, you know?" the boy added, "When I was a child, I liked to run over with my classmates to see it, and there were people kneeling all the way from the entrance to the exit—too stupid."

Cheng Jiang said nothing.It's not that he hasn't lived in Area S, but this is the first time he's heard of this peculiar belief.

The new wall, the witch who said "I will be reborn" before dying, him.Could it be a coincidence?

He was distracted again.He's thinking about other things, he shouldn't be distracted.

The light in the room was a little yellow, Cheng Jiang sat down carefully, and nodded to the interviewer.He asked him for his documents, and he gave him his own and his daughter's.

"Within three years old...Okay, so you and your daughter are going to leave Cold Bay."

"Yes."

"Very good. Now, then, let's get down to business."

Cheng Jiang subconsciously sat up straight, twirling the corner of his shirt with his fingers.The serious-faced interviewer flipped through the documents in his hand and said to him:

"First, tell me about your family background."

"I have lived with my mother in T-zone from birth to adulthood. She entered Cold Bay alone during her pregnancy, gave birth in T-zone, and then worked in T-zone for months... cultural theater until the situation. I am currently single and have A child."

"You and your mother." The interviewer quickly recorded on the paper, "You just said it was before you became an adult?"

"Yes."

The interviewer showed a thoughtful expression.

"You don't have an interview record. Then your mother returned to the country alone, why did you choose to stay?"

"Because she thinks I'm not suitable for the outside world. My character, my way of doing things, my...personal tendency."

After Cheng Jiang finished speaking, he realized that his confession might be detrimental to his exit application. He wanted to make amends, but he didn't dare to speak before the interview officer asked questions.He waited anxiously, his eyes aimlessly watching the interviewer's moving pen tip.

"Then tell me why you want to leave now."

"Because I am different from before." Cheng Jiang blurted out, "Now I am looking forward to a new living environment."

Say something more, don't get stuck here.

But he only paused for a moment, and the interviewer stopped writing with great interest, and said in a very old-fashioned tone:

"New isn't necessarily good, you know?"

Cheng Jiang shook his head slowly.

"No need." He murmured softly, "Don't drink water."

He suddenly remembered something, stuffed himself in the quilt and started to say thank you, thank you.This Chinese word became more and more awkward for him, Shen Jiqing laughed.He should be the kind of person who is good at laughing. As soon as the voice comes out, no need to look at the expression, others will feel better naturally.

"Are you afraid of the dark?" Shen Jiqing asked naturally, "I can help you get a flashlight."

"No, I'm not afraid of the dark." Cheng Jiang thought for a while, "I'm just... a little anxious. I haven't slept well during this time."

"Take care of the children?"

"Ah."

He put on his clothes, but he still peeled them off, so he continued to say in a daze:

"She cries like a cat and screams. She wakes up when she is hungry and cries when she wakes up. Every time the milk is cold and has to be reheated. She slept well during the day for the first few days, but woke up frequently at night; But then she cried not only at night, but also during the day. There was no pattern, and our state was always a bit chaotic. I often didn’t know why she was crying: sometimes it was clear that she had just finished drinking milk, changing the pads, and the temperature was just right.”

"Is it tiring to see children?"

Cheng Jiang's voice stopped suddenly, as if he had been strangled by the throat.Then he said in a low voice:

"We are all responsible for our choices, aren't we?"

"Yes." Shen Jiqing agreed, "Sometimes it's not only our own choice, but other people's choice, in the end we are responsible... By the way. Do you have any plans when you come back to China?"

"What?" Cheng Jiang was a little absent-minded.

"Plan? What's the plan?"

The face of the interviewer had a businesslike, inhuman look.

"So, how do you plan your life outside of Cold Bay? Let me ask in detail. Where are you going to go, how do you live, and what kind of new environment are you looking forward to?"

He has prepared this question.

"I came from an English background." Cheng Jiang began to answer cautiously, "I plan to go back to my country—China, and find a way to find a job in writing and writing. I can start with the smallest things and work on them to provide more High-paying position. I will try my best to achieve a stable living situation."

The interviewer laughed.

"Excuse me, where are you working now?"

"Theatre. There are also some trivial matters of copying."

"There is no such good treatment when you go out, sir. At least you can't starve yourself to death in Cold Bay like this... What education?"

His question came so abruptly that Cheng Jiang was taken aback and straightened his back even more, "High school."

"That's even worse. After all, English is not a solid job." The interviewer wrote down with satisfaction, "Do you have any savings?"

"Have."

"Have you also carefully studied our exit guidelines?"

"Varied……"

"According to the exit policy of Cold Bay," the interviewer glanced at him, as if expecting that he hadn't noticed this small detail, "each person who leaves Cold Bay can only carry one suitcase. Personal property will be reviewed and excluded from sending out of Cold Bay. Only one-fifth of the transportation expenses are allowed to be carried with you, and the remaining four-fifths are either handed over to blood relatives in Cold Bay or handed over to the government. Now, how much money do you have in savings?"

Cheng Jiang looked at him with a pale face.

"Will you contact your mother?"

This is why Cheng Jiang is resistant to debating with others: even if it is a brief content, he will subconsciously be speechless.He shook his head subconsciously, but stopped halfway through shaking, and nodded instead.If he shook his head, he couldn't continue to deal with it.

The interview was very different from what I had imagined. It seemed that the person sitting across from him was not just examining him, but was also trying to break down his will to leave through a series of rough questions.

Leaving Cold Bay, in his situation, can he really "live" at the very least?

He heard his mother say, "You won't fit in outside life. I'm doing this for your own good. Do you understand?"

He understands.

He has reached the legal age of majority, and it stands to reason that he doesn't have to listen to her, but he is used to it.The only correct thing he has understood in the past 18 years is to follow Cheng Yuegu's command.And at that time, the quota for going abroad for one year had already been issued, even if he waited until the next year to apply early, where would Cheng Yuegu be at that time?If she could leave him any clues that would allow him to find her, he would definitely be looking for a needle in a haystack.

Besides, can he really muster up the courage to look for her next year?

When Cheng Yuegu asserted that he was not fit to live outside of Lengwan, he was unavoidably shaken:

She is the ultimate authority on his early life.

And the most important thing is: if Cheng Yue is unwilling to let him go with her, how can he insist on following her?How much courage does it take to go after someone who has made up his mind to leave him, regardless of his own pointed out flaws?

he understands.Cheng Yuegu always knows what is right, he understands.Live well in Cold Bay.

and then?

He thought about everything in the past, his life, his daughter, maybe they had no "future" in the first place.Countless small deviations are bound to exist, but what will happen in the end?Cold Bay is a small place, and everywhere is pretty much the same. They live almost the same life day after day, and one day they will go back to their old ways.

No, there is a way out.Mom, the path Mom chose...

Cheng Jiang's mind was blank.He knew he couldn't pause for too long, but he never thought about this question, he could only think about it along with the interviewer's question.All the bewilderment that poured out of him for a moment was blocked by a wall, and on the wall was written:

Leave Cold Bay.

At this moment, he only has this one goal, and he can only have it.He didn't need to think about what he was thinking, he just needed to cut off the guidance of the interviewer and convince him.Cheng Jiang heard his voice pretending to be calm:

"I have reasons why I must leave Cold Bay, sir."

"tell me."

Twenty minutes later, he finally left the door, covered in cold sweat and pale.The interviewer's last question was "Do you still want to leave Cold Bay now", to which he answered "yes".Then the man said