C1 I Can See the Remaining Lifespan
Jiang Chen, 27 years old. A retired elite and a celebrated young entrepreneur in the city. Tragically, he lost his life while heroically saving a child from being struck by a vehicle. Following a review by the relevant authorities, Jiang Chen has been posthumously honored as a Hero and named one of the province's ten most distinguished young individuals.
– People's Daily.
...
On Blue Planet, in Jiangzhou City.
"What rotten luck, truly rotten..."
"All I did was get hit by a car, and now I've ended up in a parallel world..."
"In my past life, I was an entrepreneur, but here, I'm just a freeloading son-in-law in the Lin family. What a huge gap..."
The heavens opened up, pouring down rain. Jiang Chen took shelter in a phone booth, looking utterly bedraggled.
He had crossed over to another world and assumed the identity of "Jiang Chen" on this parallel Blue Planet.
With no parents to speak of, Jiang Chen had no ties holding him back.
But his counterpart in this world seemed to be faring quite poorly.
Jiang Chen's grandfather was a renowned local doctor who once saved the life of the Lin family's patriarch.
Out of gratitude and a desire to connect with the Lin family, the patriarch promised his granddaughter, Lin Jingqiu, in marriage to Jiang Chen.
However, Lin Jingqiu was a well-known female entrepreneur in the area.
The Jiang Chen of this world, on the other hand, was an utter failure, a complete nobody.
As a result, even though they were married, Lin Jingqiu hardly regarded her "husband."
During his two years with the Lin family, Jiang Chen frequently endured mockery from his mother-in-law and wife, suffering considerable indignity.
And tonight, he had stormed out of the house after another bout of frustration.
"Being reborn is like a fresh start. I need to make a solid plan..."
Thankfully, Jiang Chen was an optimist at heart. Thus, he quickly came to terms with his new reality.
Suddenly, he noticed a bizarre interface appearing before his eyes!
"Hmm?"
He glanced around at the people nearby, only to realize he could see a strange set of data associated with them.
The man closest to him was a middle-aged man clutching a briefcase, rushing past in a hurry.
Name: Hu Guangquan
Age: 45
Remaining Life Expectancy: 43 years, 56 days, 13 hours, 7 minutes, 31 seconds
"What... What is this?"
Jiang Chen was astounded, taken aback by the abrupt transformation before his eyes.
He quickly glanced in another direction and spotted a young woman sprinting with her bag held over her head.
Name: Mei Sha
Age: 24
Remaining Life Expectancy: 37 years, 69 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes, 54 seconds
"Can I actually see other people's lifespans?"
Jiang Chen was taken aback.
Could this be the fabled golden finger that comes with transmigration?
But this golden finger had appeared so unexpectedly that it felt unreal to him.
He shifted his gaze to a portly middle-aged man nearby, who was wielding a large umbrella. Despite the pouring rain, he seemed quite composed.
Name: Guo Dabiao
Age: 48
Remaining Life Expectancy: 3 minutes, 30 seconds
"He has only 3 minutes and 30 seconds left to live?"
Jiang Chen's eyes bulged. The plump man, Guo Dabiao, had a ruddy complexion and appeared to be the picture of health.
"3 minutes, 30 seconds..."
"3 minutes, 29 seconds..."
"3 minutes, 28 seconds..."
Jiang Chen fixated on Guo Dabiao, eager to confirm the reality of his newfound ability.
At the end of the street lay a crossroads, with a shopping mall just a short distance to the right.
Guo Dabiao seemed to be heading towards the mall.
Suddenly, the sky blanched, a lightning bolt cleaved the air, followed by a thunderous roar.
Yet, Guo Dabiao paid no mind to the storm, pressing on with urgency.
Inside the phone booth, however, Jiang Chen's breathing grew more labored.
In his eyes, Guo Dabiao's life was ticking away in a final countdown!
"10 seconds..."
"9 seconds..."
"8 seconds..."
The lightning intensified, crackling fiercely in the sky.
"3 seconds..."
"2 seconds..."
"1 second!"
At last, as Jiang Chen counted down the final second, Guo Dabiao reached a large banyan tree.
Boom!
Lightning struck the great banyan tree, transforming it into a blazing inferno that engulfed Guo Dabiao.
Ah!
A woman's scream pierced the air as chaos erupted on the street, with some people dialing the police and others calling for an ambulance.
Jiang Chen bowed his head, concealing the shock in his eyes.
He realized that Guo Dabiao had been fatally struck by lightning, dead on arrival.
His powers were indeed real.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his ears.
"Ding! The Time Management System has been bound to the host, and the initial mission is about to be released."
"The Time Management System?"
At that moment, four options appeared on Jiang Chen's interface:
"Time Buying"
"Time Selling"
"Time Acceleration"
"Time Deceleration"
"What's this?"
He clicked through them, examining each one carefully.
Just then, a BMW screeched to a halt at the curb.
The door swung open, and a woman in an apricot-yellow trench coat stormed out.
She was strikingly beautiful, with radiant eyes, pearly teeth, elegant brows, and a slender, graceful figure.
This was Jiang Chen's wife, Lin Jingqiu.
"Jiang Chen, why aren't you answering my calls? What are you doing hiding out here? Do you have any idea how hard I've been searching for you?" Lin Jingqiu berated him on sight.
"Why are you here? What are you up to?" Jiang Chen inquired.
"That's my question for you!" Lin Jingqiu snapped, clearly agitated, "If my mother hadn't called us to go to the hospital together, I wouldn't have bothered to come looking for you. You're driving me insane!"
"Your phone is off. Why are you skulking around here by yourself?"
"Do I need to report my every move to you?" Jiang Chen retorted. He wasn't fond of his so-called wife.
In his memory, Lin Jingqiu had always been particularly harsh towards his ex.
"You—" Lin Jingqiu's voice hitched, taken aback by Jiang Chen's defiance. He had never before dared to speak to her in such a manner.
Little did she know, Jiang Chen was no longer the same man.
"Hmph, you spineless fool. If it weren't for my father, I would've divorced you long ago! You've caused my father so much grief, and yet you still dare to speak to me with such insolence? Have you no sense of decency?" Lin Jingqiu fumed with anger.
"If you want a divorce, then let's divorce. Do you think I'm desperate?" Jiang Chen said with complete indifference. "But don't go around making false accusations. How have I caused my uncle such grief?"
"It's all your fault. When my dad heard about our argument, he got so upset that his chronic illness acted up. He's been taken to the hospital!" Lin Jingqiu was livid.
"Uncle is sick?" Jiang Chen was taken aback.
In his mind, Lin Zhenhai was the only member of the Lin family who had been kind to him.
In his past life, he was a retired soldier who believed strongly in the clear distinction between debts of gratitude and grievances.
So, it was only natural that he was concerned.
"Which hospital? Hurry and take me there."
"Who are you trying to fool with your feigned concern?" Lin Jingqiu's expression was icy. "I just hope you won't cause any more problems for my family. We're already resorting to prayers and offerings!"
With that, she got back into the car.
"Aren't you getting in?"
Jiang Chen promptly got in after her. Regardless of what Lin Jingqiu said, he was determined to see Lin Zhenhai.
...
Inside the hospital room, Lin Zhenhai lay unconscious on the bed.
Lin Jingqiu gazed at her father, her face etched with concern.
She turned to her mother and asked, "Mom, how's dad doing?"
"Jingqiu, life has been so hard for us," Huang Wan, Lin Jingqiu's mother, was shrouded in gloom. "The doctor just told me that your father's condition is very serious! He..."
"What happened to him?" Lin Jingqiu pressed for answers.
Huang Wan looked at her daughter and suddenly burst into tears. "The doctor said we need to start preparing for your father's funeral!"
"What?" Lin Jingqiu went pale.
Jiang Chen stepped forward to offer comfort. "Auntie, please don't lose hope. There might still be other options..."
"Get out!" Huang Wan exploded with anger upon seeing Jiang Chen. "You've been nothing but a burden, living off us for the past two years without contributing anything positive. If it weren't for you upsetting my husband, he would never be in this condition. How can there be such an ingrate like you in the world? You have the nerve to show up here? Leave! Just seeing you makes me furious."
