At nine in the morning, Yanzhou office workers were already commuting to their workplaces. In contrast, it was time to rest for close to half of the inhabitants in the lower levels of the black streets. Business at night was better for shops in the black streets, and many were already used to this nocturnal lifestyle.

  Of course, for the other half of black street inhabitants, today was just like any other ordinary day as they got ready for work.

  In an apartment on the lower floors, a youngster casually ruffled his hair, put on wrinkled pajamas and rubbed his face casually. He turned on the live streaming platform and started today’s stream with his “just out of bed” look.

  “Hey everyone, it’s me, ‘Lowly Little Worm’! A new day is a humble new beginning……”


  “Lowly Little Worm” was a homestyle livestream host. His streams didn’t have a central theme. He just did whatever he felt like and commented on random topics without any depth. The stream was very ordinary. When he got lazy, he would even take a nap on stream.

  In his own words: “I am but one of countless lowly black street inhabitants always at the bottom of all these colossal skyscrapers where we never experience any sunlight.”


  Since he didn’t have much fame, the revenue his livestream earned was barely enough to get by. His friends and family had suggested him to change to a different type of streaming. His current unorganized approach didn’t have many future prospects.

  But, Little Worm felt that this was his style.

  There weren’t many viewers in his chat. His viewers were already used to his “lowly” introduction and were prepared to view yet another lowly day in Little Worm’s life.

  Just as before, Little Worm browsed through the news and casually remarked on its contents.

  Suddenly, Little Worm’s eyes widened in disbelief as if he had just won billions in the lottery. He shot up and bounced around in glee.

  To his online audience, it seemed like Little Worm was performing a passionate pantomime.

  There were many questions in his chat. Little Worm regained his composure and said with a shaky voice, “Please forgive me for being incapable of controlling my lowly excitement!”


  The seemingly out of sorts Little Worm wiped the snot from his nose and continued with his still shaky voice, “
Then, let me first play Fang Zhao’s ‘Chasing Wind’ to set up the mood.”


  His audience: “.……”


  “WTF?! What is this worm doing? Didn’t he blacklist Fang Zhao’s works because they didn’t fit his casual style?”


  “Who gave you the courage to listen to Fang Zhao? Is that something people like us should listen to?!”


  “Are my eyes playing tricks on me? The person who lives by the mantra “messy is beautiful” just combed his hair!”


  “Did Worm have too much to drink?”


  They took a closer look at the music playlist that had just popped up.

  “Chasing Wind?”


  “Splendor?”


  “The Power of Life?”


  “There’s even the fourth movement from the ‘Period of Destruction’ series??”

  “Such a deranged playlist! What is he playing at?!”


  “What kind of blow has he suffered?”


  “It’s happened! Congratulations, the host has successfully become delusional!”


  “He washed and tidied up! He must be going on a date!!”


  “That doesn’t seem right. Why would he play Fang Zhao’s songs if he’s got a date? It doesn’t add up.”


  “Come back, Little Worm! Can’t we just listen to simple stuff like ‘Blackened Street’ or ‘Degenerate Boy’? Fang Zhao’s songs don’t fit this stream.”


  However, Little Worm’s excitement couldn’t be stopped. He paid no heed to his viewers’ comments

  “A lowly person like me!

  “My dreams have become reality!

  “How long I have waited!

  “The new generation of warp engines is finally complete!

  “The new generation of warp engines will greatly improve the efficiency of interplanetary space travel, decrease travel time and reduce costs. Most importantly, the large spacecraft for outer space immigration will finally be open for ordinary people!

  “Thank you, God! Thank you, second generation warp engine! I can finally afford a flight ticket!”


  Little Worm shared the news he had just seen with his online audience. Some viewers went to the Outer Space Immigration Plan’s star map web page that hadn’t been updated for many years. Now, one planet on the development sequence was finally lit up.

  According to the official source, the emblem of this planet was a sunflower, symbolizing light, optimism and courage. This would be the first stem of the Outer Space Immigration Plan! It would also be the first planet open for large-scale immigration!

  “Applications for the Outer Space Immigration Plan will be accepted starting today. Applications will take 6 months to process. Applicants passing the audit will immigrate in batches. Financial assistance will be available for those who need it.”


  Successful applicants would be entitled to compensation. The government welfare programs ensured that immigrants would lead successful lives. It was way better than living in the black streets that never got to see much sunlight! And, it was a land filled with opportunity!

  Of course, the audit process was also very strict.

  Everyone immediately dropped everything to read the assessment categories.

  “It’s over for me! Credit score is part of it! Credit score will also be assessed! Will a late payment for utilities last year affect my credit score?”


  “Is there any way to salvage a late loan repayment from last month?”


  “Is there any hope for people in debt?”


  “Asking for a friend: how do you deal with a traffic violation record?”


  “Hahahaha, I don’t have any of those issues! Looks like I will be the one taking the first step!”
……

  Some people cheered and hooted throughout the day, while others sighed with remorse.

  Little Worm had no inclination to care about anything else. He washed up, combed his hair and changed into a set of neat clothing. He appeared much fresher and even turned on the dust-covered imitation-sunlight lamp in the corner.

  On his various social media accounts, Little Worm changed the dark and gloomy theme of his personal pages to a bright and spirited background. His changed his profile photo to a field of sunflowers and updated his profile tagline.

  “As long as I am given a tiny bit of hope, lowly me can once again see sunlight.”


  After updating his pages, Little Worm deleted his past stream recordings and posted his first status on his newly revamped social media accounts.

  “Today is yet another day filled with hope!”


  Finding it hard to calm himself down, Little Worm apologized to his viewers and ended the day’s livestream early.

  He came out of his house and looked upwards at the tiny gap in the towering skyscrapers all around him. The tiny gap of brightness was like a crack in the sky.

  For people like him living in the “depths”, even the wind had a stale and putrid smell. People here could only see a tiny bit of blue when they raised their heads and looked upwards.

  He was ordinary, mediocre and lowly.

  He had had dreams in the past, but society and reality had crushed them.

  When he was young, Little Worm dreamed of being a farm owner. It didn’t matter if the farm was small. After growing up, his greatest goal was to save up some money and go on a soul-searching trip. Expensive locations were out of the question. He just wanted to see the farms of Muzhou in person. He wanted to see the vast grasslands, enjoy more than eight hours of sunlight and breathe in the fresh air and smell of fresh produce. However, this dream had never become reality. Instead, it had almost become forgotten.

  When had he lost the motivation to struggle?

  He was trapped in a small space, frittering his time away gloomily, day by day.

  Luckily, a new era had finally arrived!

  It was a new beginning. It didn’t matter if it took more work. People who could work hard would never live too poorly.

  No matter how bad it was, it would still be an improvement to the present.

  “There always has to be some hope in life!”


  A Fang Zhao version traffic safety demonstration was playing on two large advertisement screens on both sides of the black street. Little Worm walked over and watched it from start to finish.

  His neighbor, who was out on a walk, shot him a dubious glance.

  “What are you looking at, Little Worm?”


  “I’m watching Fang Zhao.”


  “Didn’t you dislike him?”


  “Nonsense! I like Fang Zhao the most!”


  ——


  The success of the new generation of warp engines and the news about applications for the Outer Space Immigration Plan caused great waves all around.

  Soon, everyone was discussing the Outer Space Immigration Plan.

  Every large entertainment company held emergency meetings. Even though they already had inside news beforehand and had made preparations, it soon became apparent just how intense the competition and market would be.

  For businesses, this news didn’t just signify new lands. This meant new battlefields and new structures!

  This was like circumventing Earth! There could even be a second home planet!

  Although the application process took six months, many businesses had already started taking action. All their preparation work wasn’t for nothing.

  For example, real estate conglomerates started launching marketing campaigns on land that had yet to be obtained.

  All the large real estate conglomerates launched their brand ambassadors and relied on stars for marketing.

  A certain flourishing real estate firm hosted a celebration for the success of the Immigration Plan and invited many stars to attend.

  It wasn’t just real estate. The textile, food, housing, transport, health and other industries all became inundated with advertisements and brand ambassadors trying to dominate the market’s attention.

  In the entertainment circles, celebrities were busy fighting for endorsements and commercial performers. Some who had left the scene were even called out of retirement by businesses. Anyone who was still idle currently was at the lowest point in their professional career or had simply become forgotten.

  Global top stars like Fang Zhao were watched by everyone from primary school students to retired veterans.

  Fang Zhao’s communications device was flooded with messages. His unread messages showed “999+”.

  Fang Zhao had also accepted an invitation. This invitation wasn’t from any of those big brands, but the Public Safety Bureau. However, unlike before, it wasn’t just a continent-level Public Safety Bureau this time. Rather, it was the Public Safety Bureau’s global headquarters.

  He had received a request to become the ambassador of the Outer Space Immigration Plan.