CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 73: LIFESPAN OF THIRTY YEARS

Upon arriving at the Yu Family, Yu Xiaolian first introduced Jiang Lin and Su Jingchen to Yu Changhe and Madam Sun.

Madam Sun and Yu Changhe were not very surprised to see Jiang Lin because they knew about Yu Xiaolian leaving a message for him.

However, they didn’t know Su Jingchen.

"This child is...?" Yu pointed at Su Jingchen and asked.

Su Jingchen quickly stepped forward to introduce himself and then explained how he met Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Changhe and Madam Sun said, "One day Lian’er went to the riverbank to wash clothes and found a child from Lower River Bend, whom she sent back home. Do you remember?"

Madam Sun smiled and said, "How could I not remember."

She turned to Su Jingchen and said, "Thank you for the silver you gave Lian’er. Actually, sending your brother home was just a small favor. Lian’er is young and naive, yet she took silver from your family."

"Silver?" Su Jingchen frowned and was about to ask more about it when he saw Yu Xiaolian winking at him repeatedly.

Su Jingchen understood and replied to Madam Sun, "Miss Yu kindly sent my brother home. Naturally, our entire family should repay that kindness."

"Did you come to Yangcheng specifically to find our Xiaolian?" Madam Sun asked again.

"I have indeed been looking for Miss Yu, but my visit this time is not solely for her. Recently, I participated in the county’s autumn exams, and today is the results day. I came to check the list," Su Jingchen replied.

Madam Sun exclaimed, "I knew there was something special about this child’s demeanor, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Turns out he’s a scholar!

You’ve already participated in the autumn exams? How old are you this year?"

Su Jingchen replied, "Eleven."

"Eleven and already a child student? Remarkable! This child looks intelligent at first glance," Madam Sun beamed at Su Jingchen.

Jiang Lin interjected, "He’s a Scholar now, and today Su is the top scorer on the list!"

This surprised both Madam Sun and Yu Changhe. Originally, at just eleven years old, they thought he was just trying out the autumn exams. They didn’t expect him to become the top scorer. This child must be a prodigy.

Madam Sun and Yu Changhe did not hold back and lavishly praised Su Jingchen.

Su Jingchen remained expressionless despite the compliments, and Yu Xiaolian wondered if he had a face paralysis disorder.

Madam Sun went to the kitchen to cook, intending to keep Jiang Lin and Su Jingchen for a meal.

Yu Xiaolian led Jiang Lin and Su Jingchen to the stone table in the backyard to sit down.

She then brought out some fruits and snacks from the kitchen.

Su Jingchen looked at the snacks on the table, his expression slightly moved, but he had no intention of eating.

Jiang Lin, on the other hand, was unrestrained, eating heartily as if he were at his own home.

"I want to talk to you alone," Su Jingchen said to Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian nodded, asked Jiang Lin to continue eating, and took Su Jingchen to the pavilion in the second courtyard.

To her surprise, before Su Jingchen said anything, he solemnly bowed deeply to her.

Yu Xiaolian quickly went to support Su Jingchen, saying she couldn’t accept such a significant gesture from a future high official.

"What are you doing? Why the big salute? Besides, I’m a year younger than you."

Yu Xiaolian didn’t have much interaction with Su Jingchen. Initially, she was struck by his appearance.

After a few words, she grew to dislike his personality.

She was lively and liked people as straightforward as she was. Su Jingchen, with his aloof demeanor and calculating mind, made her uncomfortable, especially when his gaze seemed to penetrate her inner thoughts.

"Although I’m not sure if what you predicted will happen, I’ve prepared for it just in case.

My stepmother is currently pregnant with my half-sibling. I... couldn’t bring myself to do what you suggested and harm her.

But I will definitely protect my brother. Trust me!

I came here to ask Miss Yu about any future incidents involving my father. What time? What place? Who? Please tell me. I... don’t want him to die."

When Su Jingchen said this, he kept his head down. Yu Xiaolian couldn’t see his expression, but she inexplicably felt that he seemed like he was about to cry.

She initially acted to win some favor with Su Jingchen, but she mostly felt sorry for little Su Jingyue.

Unexpectedly, Su Jingchen regarded her as a prophet. How could she possibly know the details of his father’s death?

When the author described Su Jingchen’s tragic childhood, it was only glossed over, without any detailed writing.

In the book, Su Jingchen was just a supporting character. After helping Jun Yian ascend to the throne, although he rose step by step, he died not long after becoming a top official, seemingly before the age of thirty.

The author probably created Su Jingchen’s character to illustrate the idea of "heaven’s jealousy of talents."

Yu Xiaolian carefully recalled the details about Su Jingchen’s father in the book but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head. She squatted, clutching her head in agony, her mind blank.

"What’s the matter with you?" Su Jingchen’s expression changed, and he rushed to Yu Xiaolian’s side.

At this time, Yu Xiaolian’s face was extremely pale, but as long as she stopped thinking about the book, her head didn’t hurt.

Recently, she felt her memory becoming increasingly vague, especially the plot of the book, as if she had forgotten most of it.

Afraid of repeating the path of Yu Xiaolian in the book, she wrote down some important events in a diary while she still remembered them.

"I’m fine!" Yu Xiaolian didn’t hide it from Su Jingchen and took out her diary to carefully review it.

’Drought...migration...epidemic...’

’Stay away from Jun Mobai and Yu Yanran...’

’Jun Yian is the future emperor of Great Liang...’

Although Yu Xiaolian flipped through the diary quickly, Su Jingchen still managed to catch some information with his keen eyes.

Yu Xiaolian realized Su Jingchen was watching the diary with horror only when she flipped to his page.

Yu Xiaolian quickly closed the diary and shouted at Su Jingchen, "Turn your head."

Su Jingchen obediently turned around, but he couldn’t shake the image of the large characters in the diary from his mind.

Su Jingchen’s lifespan thirty!!!

He couldn’t believe he wouldn’t live past thirty!!!

"Your father was in your twelfth year. He went to Jiangnan Maizhou for business, and while it appeared that mountain bandits killed and robbed him, it was actually a setup by his partners.

As far as more specific locations and times, I don’t know. If you want to prevent it, advise your father to beware of those so-called friends or dissuade him from doing business in Jiangnan. That’s all I can do to help."

After Yu Xiaolian finished speaking, she closed the diary and put it back in her space.

Now, Su Jingchen’s mind was in turmoil, and his face had become extremely pale.