"The Time Merchant?!"
Zheng Bowen repeated the words aloud. As he connected them to the strange situation he was currently in, a vague realization formed in his heart. He turned to look at Lu Li with a startled expression.
"For countless years, I have wandered through this world…"
"I purchase time—lifespan—from those willing to sell, and then resell that time to those who need it and can afford it."
Lu Li spoke calmly and unhurriedly.
"So… Mr. Zheng, I wonder—do you have any time you'd be willing to sell me?"
Lu Li paused briefly, then asked.
Upon hearing Lu Li's words, Zheng Bowen quickly caught a key detail—this mysterious merchant had addressed him by surname, even though he had never introduced himself.
Zheng Bowen didn't immediately refuse, because he truly did need money right now.
At school, the goddess he'd been chasing was about to have a birthday, and Zheng Bowen wanted to buy her the newest model phone—a product of recent technological advances. That's why he'd taken on part-time jobs.
But Zheng Bowen wasn't the kind of person to lose his mind over something like this. He soon started thinking about his remaining time, and a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.
Name: Zheng Bowen
Age: 21
Remaining Lifespan: 65 years 126 days 08 hours 23 minutes 31 seconds.
Lu Li noticed Zheng Bowen's hesitation and calmly reported the string of data visible in his eyes.
Zheng Bowen didn't doubt Lu Li's words. When he heard the number representing his lifespan, his expression brightened, and he quickly decided to sell one or two years.
"I wonder what the price would be…"
Zheng Bowen asked cautiously.
"That depends on the total value you create within one year,"
Lu Li responded concisely.
"If the tangible or intangible value you generate in a year is less than 100,000 yuan, then I will pay you 300,000 yuan for one year of time."
"If it exceeds 100,000 yuan, then the purchase price will be three times your income."
"I'm a student, I don't yet—"
Zheng Bowen began to explain, hoping to exaggerate his value and sell for a higher price.
"Then it's 300,000 yuan for one year. No negotiation. It has always been that way—for thousands of years."
Lu Li interrupted before he could finish, not giving him another chance to speak.
He took out the folder he brought, opened the Time Acquisition Contract, filled in some details on the page, and handed it to Zheng Bowen.
"If you're willing to sell, just sign your name here."
"Since this is your first transaction with me, by the rules, I can only purchase one year of your time."
After that, Lu Li fell silent.
Zheng Bowen carefully studied the acquisition contract.
"Three hundred thousand yuan?"
he calculated silently.
"For ordinary people, this obviously isn't a small amount—most people don't earn that much in a year."
"So exchanging one year of lifespan for 300,000 yuan… seems worth it."
"Besides… with that money, I could buy Qingqing more gifts. She really liked that purse we saw last time."
"Anyway, working a job is just another form of exchanging time for money…"
Zheng Bowen kept trying to convince himself.
His expression shifted several times, and then, after a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth, picked up the pen Lu Li handed over, and signed his name under Party A.
Lu Li's smile grew slightly wider.
All around them, the flow of time remained slow. Everything beyond the two of them seemed frozen in place.
Lu Li took back the contract, glanced at it, and then signed his name—Lu Li—under Party B.
With the final stroke of the pen,
the contract took effect—witnessed by the unseen laws of the universe!
"Well then… this is yours."
Lu Li picked up the black plastic bag containing the 300,000 yuan and tossed it to Zheng Bowen.
Zheng Bowen's breathing grew slightly rapid. He held the bag and opened it—bundles of red banknotes filled his vision.
Suddenly, Lu Li reached out toward Zheng Bowen with a grasping motion in the air.
It was as if something invisible had been pulled from him.
Zheng Bowen visibly shivered. A single strand of hair at his forehead instantly turned from black to white.
Meanwhile, Lu Li's own lifespan increased by exactly one year—365 days!
"This is my contact information. If you ever want to work with me again, feel free to reach out."
Lu Li gave him the number of the unregistered phone he had just activated.
...
After everything was done, Lu Li raised a hand, and the time flow between them and the outside world instantly synchronized.
Inside the one-hundredfold time acceleration, Lu Li and Zheng Bowen had spent more than thirty minutes. But in the real world, only eighteen seconds had passed!
"I'll be going now."
"Goodbye."
Lu Li stood up and gave a slight nod to the still-dazed Zheng Bowen.
He walked out of the noodle shop at a calm and steady pace.
Zheng Bowen watched Lu Li's departing figure.
He felt that man was simply too mysterious—like someone walking alone upon the river of time, gradually fading into the distance.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]