Fortune Across the World

Chapter 3: Wishes and Rebirth

"What about her parents?" Ding Qiyu asked, curious if the original owner of her current body had similar parents. Even if they did, she thought, they would merely be strangers with familiar faces-no longer her own mother and father.

"Uh... I can only access the memories of the body you currently inhabit," Xie Bian replied. "To learn more about the original owner's past, including her parents, I would need to return to the underworld. From what I can gather from the available memories, there is no information about her parents. You were taken in by an old beggar, who later passed away, leaving you to fend for yourself."

"No need to check." Ding Qiyu thought there was no point in digging into a past that wasn't hers. It was surprising, though, how tough her parallel life's circumstances were. She frowned, biting her lip before asking, "You mentioned you could grant me a wish." Her tone was firm, as if fearing Xie Bian might back out of his promise.

"Yes, that's right," Xie Bian confirmed without hesitation, but quickly added, "Just don't ask me to change your fate. That's beyond my power. In reality, there's no such thing as a predetermined fate. What people call fate is just the path you carve out for yourself, with only past and present tenses, no future tense."

"No fate?" Ding Qiyu murmured thoughtfully.

"Of course not. If we deities of the underworld had to pre-design everyone's fate, we'd be overwhelmed! Besides, if that were the case, every deity would have to be a novelist. Someone like me, who's a science student, wouldn't even qualify for a job in such a divine government agency," Xie Bian joked, relieved to see Ding Qiyu calming down. "So your destiny, or trajectory, is something you create yourself. It's not up to us, and I can't change it."

Ding Qiyu shook her head. "I didn't want you to change my fate anyway."

"Changing fate is off the table, but you can ask for a certain ability or something tangible. I could make you look more handsome or beautiful, taller, slimmer, or smarter. Or I could give you some money, but I'd have to exchange my own savings at the Underworld Citizens Bank for some worldly currency, and it wouldn't be a huge amount. I'm just a small-time official who doesn't get many offerings," Xie Bian said with a shrug.

Ding Qiyu considered his offer. Physical changes could be achieved through exercise. Changing her looks would mean she wouldn't be herself anymore, and she was already satisfied with her appearance. Her intelligence and knowledge seemed adequate as they were. As for money, she believed she could earn it herself, and Xie Bian implied he couldn't provide much anyway. After all, she didn't doubt her ability to make a living in a less advanced society. Then there was the idea of an ability...

After some thought, Ding Qiyu decided to take a chance, given that her belief in scientific materialism had been shattered upon meeting Xie Bian. "You know, I actually like girls. So, I'd like the ability to have children with them... Can you do that?" With her family no longer remembering her, she wouldn't have to worry about their concerns regarding her relationships.

"Huh? You want to become a man? That's not doable. Each person's gender is recorded in the Life Information Management System from birth. I could alter your appearance, but making you a real man would create a mismatch between reality and records. When it comes time for soul collection, the discrepancies would cause an investigation, and I'd be in big trouble. I can't risk my job for that," Xie Bian quickly refused. He valued his stable job and didn't want to jeopardize it with such a risky request.

"Hold on!" Ding Qiyu's raspy voice managed to stop Xie Bian's rambling. "I didn't say I wanted to become a man, nor do I wish to. I just want the ability to have children with someone else. Can you do that?" In this new world, alone, Ding Qiyu longed to build a new family, to find someone she loved who loved her in return. If she could have children, it would be the happiest life she could imagine.