Chapter 2: Traveling Through the Pages?

Ming Dai was shocked. "How is that possible? I’ve only been dead for less than five hours, I probably haven’t even been discovered yet—how could I already be cremated?"

Double Doors straightened up, speaking with a heavy tone. "Miss Ming, it’s been five days since you arrived in the Underworld. Your senior discovered your body on the second day and notified your parents. After learning you died of natural causes, your parents entrusted your senior to handle your cremation. So..."

Ming Dai hadn’t realized how quickly time had passed, but she could understand her parents’ actions. In their eyes, research was always more important than her.

Back then, after being pressured into having her, her parents felt they’d fulfilled their duty. Before she was even a month old, they left the country together to pursue their careers, leaving her as if she were a hostage with her grandparents.

It wasn’t that they didn’t love each other—on the contrary, they were so in love that there was no room for a child between them.

If they hadn’t been forced to have her, Ming Dai suspected they would’ve remained childfree their entire lives.

So now, what she mourned most was the loss of her wonderful life and the long string of zeros in her bank account, not her parents’ coldness.

The three ghosts across from her sat down again, watching Ming Dai warily.

"Miss Ming, your soul being taken by mistake was indeed our staff’s negligence. Any requests you have, we’ll do our best to fulfill," Double Doors said.

Ming Dai’s eyes lit up as she looked at him. "Can I just live the easy life here in the Underworld? All meals, lodging, and entertainment included!"

She’d already noticed several attractive lady and gentleman ghosts! She couldn’t help it—she was a sucker for good looks.

Double Doors looked troubled. "I’m afraid that’s not possible. Ghosts can only stay in the Underworld for three days. If you don’t leave after that, you’ll be completely annihilated."

Ming Dai was dubious. "But what about your staff? Aren’t they ghosts too?"

"They are," Double Doors explained, "but there’s a severe staffing shortage in the Underworld right now. All of them passed exams several lifetimes ago, queued for multiple lifetimes to get their positions. Especially now, everything’s handled online, and the lists are announced three lifetimes in advance. There’s no way I can get you in."

Ming Dai slumped in her chair, deflated.

"So I have to reincarnate now, right? Can you at least give me a good life next time? Born into a wealthy family, not needing to work or study—preferably as a man. I’ve never been a man and want to experience what it’s like to pee standing up."

Silence was her only answer.

"No way! You can’t even help with that?" Ming Dai was getting angry. "Then why’d you tell me to make requests? Are you just stringing me along?"

The young man on the other side burst into tears. Number 38, the young lady ghost, lost her patience, grabbed him by the collar of his suit, and threw him out for a beating.

Double Doors spoke apologetically. "Miss Ming, the thing is, there’s a small problem with your reincarnation quota."

Ming Dai looked at him warily. "What problem?"

"Well, in the Book of Life and Death, you’re not marked as deceased. Technically, you should have lived to a hundred. But now that you’re dead, the system hasn’t had time to allocate you a reincarnation spot."

Ming Dai clutched her chest. "So, how long will I have to wait for a spot?"

"Um… seventy years," he replied.

"Seventy years?!" Ming Dai’s finger trembled as she pointed at him.

Double Doors nodded furiously. "Yes! Just seventy years. Normally, a reincarnation spot opens up automatically after death."

Ming Dai swallowed hard. "Can I wait here for seventy years?"

He gave an embarrassed smile. "Sorry, you can only stay here for three days."

Ming Dai was furious.

"So you mean I’m just supposed to sit here and wait to be annihilated? Who’s your supervisor? I want to file a complaint!"

"No, no, Miss Ming, please sit down, I have another way." Double Doors and the young lady ghost who’d just run in quickly calmed her down, gently coaxing her back into her seat.

Once she’d calmed, Double Doors pulled out a travel brochure from who knows where.

"Here’s the thing, Miss Ming. Since this major error was made by our staff, we’d like to offer you a Book-Travel experience as compensation."

Book-Travel? Ming Dai skeptically eyed the travel brochure he handed over.

"Book-Travel Manual—premiering in the Underworld, a custom journey just for you!"

Below was a series of custom options, which immediately piqued Ming Dai’s interest.

Seeing her waver, Double Doors seized the opportunity. "You can state your requirements, and I’ll tailor a journey just for you—guaranteed fun!"

He quickly added, "But nothing too outrageous, all right?"

Ming Dai eyed him suspiciously. "It’s not some tragic story, is it? No melodrama?"

Double Doors shook his head decisively. "Absolutely not. Your role is just a background character, using this world for rebirth. You won’t have to participate in any plotlines."

Ming Dai was finally satisfied and considered her requests.

"I want to be born into a wealthy family, never lacking food or drink, with nothing to do. I also want a smart brain and a healthy body."

She would have to go to school and interact with society, but she didn’t want to start from scratch in hardship again.

"No problem at all!"

"And I want a storage space—it’s essential for transmigration, right? Preferably with a spiritual spring or something."

Double Doors nodded. "That’s absolutely doable, but no spiritual spring—the world you’ll be in won’t allow it. I’ll give you a planting space with unlimited storage that you can access freely, which is very popular."

"Then fill it with supplies suitable for the world I’m going to," Ming Dai demanded.

Double Doors and Number 38 exchanged a few words, grimacing at the cost. "Fine, we’ll cover that expense."

Ming Dai nodded in satisfaction. "And you have to convert the money I had when I was alive, so I can spend it there. Otherwise, I’ll never rest in peace!"

"That’s easy. I’ll convert it into gold, the universal currency—it’s accepted in all worlds."

Ming Dai nodded, but then a thought struck her. They were agreeing too readily—could this be a scam?

"My memories will stay intact, right? Are there any obligations? Is it really all free?"

Double Doors shook his head firmly. "You’ll keep your memories. The whole journey is free, and since this is the inaugural mission, you’ll even get a newbie gift pack."

Ming Dai perked up, beginning to look forward to it. After all, transmigrating was every novel-reading girl’s fantasy, and now she could experience it for real—what a thrill.

"Can I know exactly where I’m going?"

Double Doors smiled and shook his head. "That’s confidential, company policy. Think of it as a little surprise for your journey. You’ll receive a guidebook when you get there."

"All right," she conceded.

After asking a few more questions and negotiating for some extra perks, Ming Dai checked and signed the contract.

Once the papers were signed, they took her by elevator to the upper floors, and after a brief tour, into a company.

Seeing the sign—Underworld Travel Agency—Ming Dai felt a surge of excitement. Her Book-Travel journey was about to begin!

Soon, someone led her to a large mirror.

The mist swirling inside looked a bit frightening.

A service lady beside her spoke patiently. "Just step through, there will be no discomfort during the journey through time and space."

Ming Dai nodded, gathered her courage, and stepped inside.