C8 The Superstar Luh Shanshan

He gently ruffled Luh Shanshan's hair, a gesture that seemed to transport them back to their days on campus. They exchanged a knowing smile.

Before they knew it, night had fallen.

"I have to go," Jiang Chen said, glancing at his watch.

"Already?" Luh Shanshan was clearly reluctant to see him leave.

"Yes," Jiang Chen replied with a smile. "It's late. Shouldn't you be heading back too? Celebrities are supposed to be busy, right?"

"I finally have a bit of free time," Luh Shanshan grumbled. "Next week is my concert. You'll come, won't you, brother?"

"A concert?"

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Great," Luh Shanshan beamed. "Jiang Chen, make sure you're there. Don't you dare stand me up."

Long after Jiang Chen had departed, Luh Shanshan's gaze lingered in the space he'd vacated, filled with reluctance to let the moment go.

She then pulled out her phone and dialed a number. "Hello, Elder Tang, I've found him."

"Him?" The elder's voice conveyed surprise. "Miss, are you referring to Jiang Chen, the one you once vowed to marry?"

"Yes, but he's married now," Luh Shanshan's voice was tinged with sorrow.

The elder's excitement was palpable. "Wonderful! Miss, the lady has been eager to see you and Qin Zhong from the Qin family together. Now that Jiang Chen is married, perhaps you can move on."

Luh Shanshan's response was sharp. "Marry Qin Zhong? Not a chance! Elder Tang, I need you to look into someone for me."

"Who might that be?"

"Lin Jingqiu, Jiang Chen's wife."

"And why investigate her?" Elder Tang's surprise was evident, but then a realization dawned on him, prompting a hurried question. "Miss, you haven't given up, have you? I must remind you, meddling in someone's marriage is highly unethical."

"Enough with the lectures!" Luh Shanshan snapped. "Just get me everything on Lin Jingqiu: how she married Jiang Chen, the state of their relationship, oh, and..."

...

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen continued his casual stroll, the hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

He meandered into a secluded alleyway. The sky had darkened, and the alley was deserted.

Shortly after Jiang Chen slipped into the alley, two shadowy figures trailed behind him, each with a DSLR camera slung around their neck.

Upon reaching a split in the alley, they lost sight of Jiang Chen. Panicked, they began frantically searching.

Suddenly, Jiang Chen's voice emerged from behind them.

"Looking for me?"

Startled, they wondered how Luh Shanshan's enigmatic boyfriend could appear and disappear so mysteriously.

Yet, as they spun around, their professional instincts kicked in, and they aimed their cameras at Jiang Chen.

This was an incredible chance to capture Luh Shanshan's secret beau on film. They couldn't let it slip away.

But, before they could even press the shutter, the camera was forcefully snatched from their grasp.

"So, you're the infamous paparazzi, huh? You know it's wrong to snap photos of people without permission, right?"

"You—"

In the dim lighting, the reporters were left bewildered, unable to discern Jiang Chen's quick actions.

"This is your first warning. If you're caught again, don't expect me to be so lenient."

With that, Jiang Chen walked away with the camera, leaving the reporters exchanging confused glances.

"What do we do now?" one of them asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

Luh Shanshan was a rising star, a singer who captivated many with her beauty and melodious voice, yet she remained single.

Her love life was of great interest to the public, with countless rumors swirling about her potential suitors, none of which had been confirmed by her.

These reporters had finally snagged a photo of Luh Shanshan with Jiang Chen, and her demeanor suggested a close relationship.

Publishing this photo would be a sensational scoop!

They had visions of promotions and pay raises dancing in their heads, but Jiang Chen's vigilance had caught them off guard.

As one reporter lamented their misfortune, his portly colleague chuckled smugly, producing another memory card from his pocket.

"Hehe, good thing I backed it up earlier. We would've really lost out otherwise!"

"You're a lifesaver! Let's release this scoop tonight!" exclaimed the previously anxious reporter, elated at their good fortune.

...

Chapter Eight: The First Target

The stars ascended into the night sky as the city lights flickered to life.

At 8 PM, Jiang Chen stood in the plaza, observing an "Elder Tang" character nearby.

He had been watching the Elder Tang Duck for quite some time. The mascot energetically waved flyers and occasionally posed for pictures with tourists.

It wasn't until the crowd thinned that he removed his headpiece, revealing a young, sweat-soaked face.

"Name: Wang Wei."

"Age: 20 years old."

"Remaining life expectancy: 64 years, 245 days, 17 hours, 42 minutes, 46 seconds."

Jiang Chen believed he had found his first target.

For starters, the young man had a long life ahead of him.

Moreover, at the age of 20, he was likely a university student.

Taking on such a demanding and low-paying job suggested he was in need of money.

Thus, Wang Wei was an ideal target for Jiang Chen.

At that moment, Wang Wei had just pocketed two hundred yuan, a smile on his face as he changed out of his costume, ready for his next gig.

The night was far from over for him, and rest was not yet on the agenda.

As he pondered his options for his next meal, Jiang Chen approached him.

"Hello," Jiang Chen greeted, his face concealed behind a mask he had picked up on a whim.

"Hello, can I help you?" Wang Wei asked, stepping back cautiously, on guard.

The sight of a masked stranger at night was unsettling.

Jiang Chen made a sweeping gesture.

"Time Domain, accelerate, one hundredfold!"

An unseen barrier surrounded them, creating an extraordinary atmosphere.

Wang Wei instantly sensed something amiss and gazed outward in astonishment.

The world outside – cars and pedestrians – appeared frozen in time.

He spun around to confront Jiang Chen.

"How did you do this?"

"What do you want?"

"Who are you?"

The young man's composure surpassed Jiang Chen's estimates. Despite being startled by the spectacle, he remained collected, his alertness affording him a semblance of calm.

Jiang Chen was quite pleased with the situation he had orchestrated. His dramatic approach was designed to produce exactly this kind of impact.

Otherwise, if he had approached Wang Wei out of the blue with talk of buying life, he would surely have been dismissed as either a lunatic or a fool.

"Allow me to introduce myself," Jiang Chen said in a gentle tone from behind his mask. "I am a Time Merchant."

Wang Wei was even more astonished. "Time Merchant?"

"Indeed, I have been traversing the mortal world for a very long time."

"I purchase life spans from those willing to sell and then resell them to others who have the need and means to buy." Jiang Chen spoke calmly and deliberately.

"Mr. Wang, I sought you out because I sensed you needed help. Would you be willing to sell any excess life span to me? Of course, I would offer you a fair price."

"Do you know me?"

Wang Wei was taken aback as Jiang Chen had correctly guessed his surname. But from Jiang Chen's voice alone, Wang Wei was certain they had never met.

Nonetheless, now was not the time to dwell on such details.

Contemplating Jiang Chen's proposal, Wang Wei didn't outright refuse, as he was indeed in dire need of money.

He was courting the campus belle, whose birthday was fast approaching. He wished to gift her the latest model of the popular fruit-branded smartphone for her birthday, which was why he had taken up a part-time job.

But then...

"What's the price?"

"Also, how can I know how much life I have left? What happens if I die?"

Wang Wei posed two questions.

Sensing Wang Wei's reluctance, Jiang Chen promptly responded with precise details.

"Name: Wang Wei"

"Age: 20"

"Remaining lifespan: 64 years, 245 days, 17 hours, 30 minutes, 16 seconds."

"That's the entirety of your time."

"I'm only interested in purchasing one year of your time. As for the price, it will be based on one-fifth of the annual value you generate. The worth of a year's life varies from person to person."

"However, since your annual value creation is currently under 100,000, I will offer a uniform price of 300,000."

Wang Wei was taken aback, "300,000?"

Jiang Chen had a contract ready and handed it to Wang Wei.

The "Time Auction Contract" was something Jiang Chen had prepared in advance.

"If you agree, just sign here, and we can start our transaction," Jiang Chen said calmly.

Wang Wei scrutinized the contract and found no hidden pitfalls.

He began to ponder the offer.

For an average college student, 300,000 was a substantial sum, practically astronomical.

Indeed, even among the working class, few could boast an annual income of 300,000.

"With this 300,000, I could cover my living expenses, send some money to my parents, buy more clothes for Fei Fei, and even take her traveling..."

"After all, working part-time is essentially trading time for money, and I certainly don't make this much..."

Wang Wei's face was a kaleidoscope of emotions. For an ordinary person, the idea of trading lifespan for money was overwhelmingly astonishing.

Yet, ultimately, he steeled himself, persuaded himself, and signed "Wang Wei" on the contract.

Once he finished, Jiang Chen took the contract and added his own signature.

As Jiang Chen's pen left the paper, the contract took immediate effect.

Wang Wei was enveloped by an inexplicable sensation, feeling a sudden weakness wash over him.

Simultaneously, streaks of grey appeared amidst his black hair.

"The contract is now in effect. This is all yours."

Jiang Chen set a bag down at Wang Wei's feet. Wang Wei quickly opened it to find a sea of red bills inside!

This money, procured from Wai Ziqing, served as an initial deposit.

"If you're unsure, feel free to count it. Here's my contact information. If you wish to continue our dealings, you can reach out to me."

"You understand the need for confidentiality regarding today's events, right? Otherwise, the repercussions will be severe."

Leaving behind a business card and a stern warning, Jiang Chen retracted his domain.

He preferred not to engage the Time Domain unless necessary.

After all, while only a few seconds had passed in the outside world, Wang Wei and he had just traded away over thirty minutes of their lives.

Wang Wei remained rooted to the spot, his expression one of bewilderment. As he watched Jiang Chen walk away, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something profoundly mysterious about him...