C7

Just as Wai Ziqing was about to speak, Jiang Chen gestured with a wave of his hand.

An invisible barrier enveloped the three people in the room.

Time Domain!

He set the flow of time within the Time Domain to accelerate by a hundredfold. Wai Ziqing peered through the window, astonished to discover that the outside world seemed to have come to a halt!

No, it hadn't stopped.

Upon closer inspection, she noticed that cars and people outside were in motion, but their movements were so sluggish that it created the illusion of stillness.

Was this supernatural power?

Wai Ziqing's heart raced with shock.

"Don't be alarmed; I mean you no harm. I surmised that you needed assistance, so I've come to offer my help," Jiang Chen said soothingly.

"Offer help? Who are you, exactly?" Wai Ziqing inquired.

"You may refer to me as the Time Merchant," Jiang Chen responded.

"Time Merchant?" Wai Ziqing was taken aback. What was that?

Jiang Chen elaborated, "Yes, the Time Merchant. Moreover, I can provide you with what you need most at this moment."

"What we need the most?"

"Exactly."

Jiang Chen's expression turned enigmatic as he softly uttered a phrase that resonated like thunder in Wai Ziqing's ears.

"I can offer you time! Or, to be precise, lifespan."

Wai Ziqing's breath quickened as she stared in astonishment at Jiang Chen's refined features.

This enigmatic young man claimed he could trade time?

Had she not seen with her own eyes Jiang Chen's display of supernatural abilities, Wai Ziqing would have dismissed it as sheer fantasy.

But she had indeed seen the ability to shrink space and the Time Domain.

So, taking a deep breath, she said, "Since you've sought us out, it must be about my father, correct? May I ask what we need to provide in exchange for you to extend his life?"

Now she addressed Jiang Chen with a respectful "your," utterly awed by his mystifying powers.

"My price," Jiang Chen stated calmly, "is one-fifth of the value Wai Donglai generated in a year, in exchange for an additional year of his life."

"One-fifth?"

Wai Ziqing was taken aback; she hadn't anticipated Jiang Chen's appetite to be quite so voracious. Considering Wai Donglai's fortune, a fifth of his annual value amounted to tens of millions!

"Is the sum too much? Or does Miss Wai think your father's life isn't worth that much money?" Jiang Chen prodded deliberately.

"Of course not!" Wai Ziqing retorted immediately, her teeth clenched. "Fine, since my father's life hangs in the balance, I'll decide on his behalf. What are tens of millions in assets compared to saving my father's life?"

"Miss Wai, your resolve is even stronger than I anticipated," Jiang Chen remarked, one eyebrow arched as he reviewed Wai Donglai's financials. "I appreciate working with intelligent people."

Half an hour later, Wai Ziqing offered respectfully, "Mr. Jiang, allow me to escort you out."

"There's no need; you can't match my pace. I'll return in three days," Jiang Chen responded coolly.

With that, he vanished in an instant—Earth Shrink!

Even though Wai Ziqing had witnessed this once before, she was still unable to contain her astonishment at the sight. She stared down the deserted corridor, her face a tapestry of complex emotions.

In the preceding half-hour, she and Jiang Chen had finalized the terms of their deal. Jiang Chen had capped the lifespan for each transaction at one year, with the cost varying for different individuals.

Previously, Jiang Chen had made a staggering demand: he wanted the Wai family to part with one-fifth of their annual total value—a figure that was nothing short of terrifying, especially for a family with assets nearing a hundred million!

Had anyone else made such a demand, Wai Ziqing would have had them thrown out on their ear. But faced with Jiang Chen's request, she bit down hard and consented.

Jiang Chen's extraordinary abilities had utterly surpassed Wai Ziqing's comprehension. Indeed, tens of millions was a hefty sum, but for Wai Ziqing, it paled in comparison to the value of her father's life. Money, after all, could be earned back; a lost life was irreplaceable.

Wai Ziqing was at her wit's end.

Furthermore, to demonstrate his sincerity, Jiang Chen had assured Wai Ziqing that he would only collect his payment after she had personally verified everything to be correct. Jiang Chen wasn't concerned about the Wai family defaulting on the payment. He also doubted they had the audacity to do so.

On his first visit, he hadn't prepared his merchandise.

Thus, he had arranged to meet Wai Ziqing again within three days.

After departing from Jade Dragon Villa, Jiang Chen began to wander aimlessly, searching for someone willing to sell their lifespan.

Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was already four in the afternoon.

Jiang Chen found himself in a café, seated by the window, observing the passersby.

In his past life, despite his success, he was always on the go. In this life, as a dependent, he didn't have to worry about his basic needs, but his inner turmoil was palpable.

So, for the first time, he allowed himself the luxury of sitting down to enjoy a coffee in complete leisure.

"Name: Liu Ning

"Age: 34

"Remaining Lifespan: 42 years, 78 days, 14 hours, 56 minutes, 32 seconds"

...

"Name: Chen Qian

"Age: 28

"Remaining Lifespan: 54 years, 124 days, 16 hours, 41 minutes, 26 seconds"

Data about the pedestrians streamed before his eyes, and a slight smirk played on his lips, as he indulged in a sense of superiority over the masses.

"Perhaps, I could call myself the 'Grim Reaper'?"

It was then that he heard a woman's voice, tinged with astonishment.

"Jiang Chen?"

He turned to see a woman in the corner looking at him through her sunglasses.

Her oversized aviators concealed most of her face, obscuring her features.

Yet, Jiang Chen found her voice oddly familiar.

A second glance at the data made him pause in surprise.

The woman then took a seat across from Jiang Chen, removing her sunglasses to reveal a face brimming with excitement.

"It's really you, Jiang Chen!"

Jiang Chen appraised the woman before him. She had chestnut curls and her makeup was impeccable, her large eyes framed by fluttering lashes.

And she was dressed in the height of fashion.

"Luh Shanshan?"

"It took you this long to recognize me?" Luh Shanshan affectionately wrapped her arms around Jiang Chen's arm, bringing with her a waft of perfume.

"You've changed so much."

Jiang Chen was still in disbelief. Luh Shanshan had been his high school deskmate.

Back then, due to malnutrition, Luh Shanshan was frail and pale. Moreover, her family's poverty made her feel deeply insecure.

She was often quiet, and some classmates took advantage of her perceived weakness to bully her.

Jiang Chen's own circumstances in high school weren't great either, but he couldn't stand by and watch the others' behavior, so he frequently stood up for Luh Shanshan.

They had relied on each other. However, after graduation, Luh Shanshan moved away, and they gradually lost touch.

He never expected to run into her here.

Jiang Chen continued, "I heard you went abroad after graduation... What brings you here now?"

Luh Shanshan was visibly surprised and asked, "You don't know who I am?"

"Luh Shanshan."

"I mean beyond that, you don't know about my other identity?" Luh Shanshan pressed.

"Another identity?"

Jiang Chen shook his head; he was genuinely clueless.

"I give up," Luh Shanshan sighed, pouting adorably, "Don't you follow the news? You don't recognize the singer Luh Shanshan?"

Jiang Chen was speechless.

He quickly pulled out his phone and started searching.

Soon enough, he pieced together the truth. The stunning woman before him was the celebrated newcomer singer, the Best New Artist at the 59th Grammy Awards, the annual champion of the 18th season of "The Voice of China," and the voice behind the theme song for the hit movie "Going Eastward" – Luh Shanshan!

Though her career was still young, she had already amassed millions of fans domestically and was currently on a national tour, which had brought her to Jiangzhou.

Jiang Chen, however, had been oblivious to all this due to his lack of interest in showbiz.

Now, he understood why Luh Shanshan was indoors wearing oversized sunglasses, looking so secretive.

Afterward, they caught up on each other's lives over the past few years.

"Jiang Chen, are you married?" Luh Shanshan keenly spotted the wedding ring on Jiang Chen's hand.

"Yes."

Her eyes momentarily lost their sparkle at his response, but she concealed it so well that Jiang Chen remained oblivious.

He, on the other hand, was feeling nostalgic. The girl he remembered as Yellow Hair had blossomed into a stunning beauty and a star in showbiz.

Surely, no one would dare to bully her now.

Their conversation was mostly driven by Luh Shanshan, with Jiang Chen playing the role of the listener, chiming in only occasionally.

"Jiang Chen, what does your wife do?" Luh Shanshan inquired nonchalantly.

"She's a company owner," Jiang Chen replied casually.

"The company must be quite large, right?" Luh Shanshan asked, batting her eyelashes.

"Uh..." Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, "It's decent, fairly well-known locally."

That's a relief.

Luh Shanshan breathed a sigh of relief.

Just a local business owner, and here she was, a celebrity!

"So, your wife must be very beautiful, right?" Luh Shanshan probed further.

Jiang Chen paused, then decided to answer honestly, "Yes, she's attractive and has many admirers."

"Oh."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Luh Shanshan's face, but she pressed on, "So, who's more beautiful, her or me?"

"..."

Jiang Chen was taken aback, not expecting such a direct question. Catching Luh Shanshan's intense gaze, he cleared his throat and declared, "You're definitely more beautiful."

Hmph, Lin Jingqiu, such a sourpuss. No matter how pretty, it's no good with that attitude.

"Gee, Jiang Chen, you're the best!"

Luh Shanshan's eyes curved into crescents as she wrapped her arms around Jiang Chen's arm.

"Cough, Shanshan, isn't this a bit..." Jiang Chen sensed an impropriety.

"What's the issue, Jiang Chen? You were so protective of me in high school. Don't you remember saying you'd always see me as your sister?" Luh Shanshan asserted confidently.

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment before coming to terms with it.

He was a bit older than Luh Shanshan, who was petite and slender in high school. Thus, Jiang Chen had always regarded her as a sister.

Upon reflection, there really wasn't anything to worry about.