After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 3

Luo Chuchen was still staring in surprise at the young master clutching his stomach nearby when the person beside him gently pinched his chin.

The man said with a laugh, “After all these years, you still haven’t broken the habit of grinding your molars when you’re upset?”

Luo Chuchen froze for a moment, then his face lit up with sudden delight.

“Jue-ge?!”

He turned his head and saw a tall, upright man standing beside him, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe and a fine gold-and-jade belt around his waist. When he glanced toward the young master in the distance, his aura was cold and imposing. But when his gaze met Luo Chuchen’s, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, and his deep voice carried a hint of laughter. “You’ve grown a bit taller, Xiao Chen.”

With that, he properly wrapped his hands around Luo Chuchen’s waist and lifted him up.

Luo Chuchen: !!

Before he could react, Liang Jue had already lifted him, spun him around once, and set him down again. Liang Jue’s movements were effortless despite Luo Chuchen weighing at least a hundred jin, he felt as light as a feather in his arms.

Liang Jue remarked, “Still so thin.”

Luo Chuchen’s face flushed instantly.

He took a step back to create some distance and said, somewhat awkwardly, “Jue-ge, we’re still out on the street.”

The steward and Shechuan finally snapped out of their daze and approached. Shechuan addressed him as “Young Master Jue,” while the steward called him “General Liang.”

“General?” Luo Chuchen asked curiously. “You’ve become a general?”

Liang Jue’s fingers itched with the urge, and he couldn’t resist pinching Luo Chuchen’s cheek again. “It’s a long story. I’ll explain it to you somewhere else.”

“As for that guy…” Liang Jue frowned as he glanced over. The young master was being helped up by his servants, still cursing under his breath.

Luo Chuchen stopped him. “Forget it, Jue-ge. It’s better to avoid trouble.”

He didn’t know how Liang Jue had become a general, but he suspected his rank wasn’t high. If an imperial official got into a fight and the young master’s father complained to the emperor, he feared Liang Jue might face punishment.

Liang Jue didn’t object and agreed. He let the young master be escorted away by his servants before leaning in slightly to ask, “Do you still want to buy chestnut pastries?”

After all the commotion, Luo Chuchen had lost interest in buying pastries. He waved his hand dismissively and walked with Liang Jue toward his family’s carriage, though he hesitated slightly.

Liang Jue smiled and asked proactively, “Have you just returned to the capital? Are you planning to stay at Lord Chu’s residence?”

Luo Chuchen confirmed, and Liang Jue tactfully said, “In that case, you should head home first. I’ll come find you tomorrow, alright?”

Luo Chuchen nodded, a little embarrassed, and tugged at Liang Jue’s sleeve. “You’ll remember to come find me tomorrow, right?”

Liang Jue laughed heartily. “I will. See you tomorrow.”

Luo Chuchen didn’t linger any longer. He boarded the carriage and waved goodbye to Liang Jue through the window. Shechuan, concerned about him catching a chill, quickly closed the window and remarked, “Young Master Jue has changed so much. To think he’s become a general in the blink of an eye it’s truly unexpected.”

Luo Chuchen replied, “I don’t think he’s changed that much.”

Shechuan said, “Young Master, you grew up with him, so of course you wouldn’t notice much difference. To us, it’s like night and day.”

Luo Chuchen thought for a moment and smiled. “Then why don’t you compare him to how he was when he was even younger?”

Liang Jue had arrived at the Pingyang Marquis’s residence when he was nine years old.

Liang Jue’s father and Luo Chuchen’s father were comrades who fought side by side on the battlefield. Over twenty years ago, they returned victorious and were both granted the rank of general. Unfortunately, in a subsequent war, Luo Chuchen’s father returned with merit and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Pingyang, while Liang Jue’s father perished in service to the nation, leaving behind a widow and an orphan.

The Marquis of Pingyang initially assumed that the mother and son, under the protection of Liang Jue’s father’s military achievements, would be self-sufficient. However, he later discovered that they were severely bullied by their clan members, and Liang Jue, at nine years old, had only just begun his elementary education. Coincidentally, Luo Chuchen, four years his junior, was also about to start his studies, and a tutor had been hired. After discussing with Liang Jue’s mother, the Marquis of Pingyang decided to bring Liang Jue to the marquis’ residence, where he would live, eat, and study alongside Luo Chuchen.

Luo Chuchen still remembered the first time he met Liang Jue. Liang Jue stood straight beside the Marquis of Pingyang, his eyes firm yet tinged with nervousness. He opened his mouth and called out, “Young Marquis.”

Liang Jue had an untamable wildness about him, but due to poor living conditions, he was thin and frail, which made him appear somewhat pitiable. If Luo Chuchen hadn’t known his background, he might have thought his father had picked up a stray child.

“No need to be so formal. You’ll be studying together anyway,” the Marquis of Pingyang said. “His name is Luo Chuchen. You can call him whatever you like.”

With that, the Marquis of Pingyang left, allowing the two to get acquainted on their own.

Luo Chuchen had never had a playmate before. Having lived a sickly and solitary life in the marquis’ residence for years, he was overjoyed to see Liang Jue. The moment the marquis left, he abandoned all pretense of restraint and said, “My mother usually calls me Brother Yu. You can call me Chuchen or Little Chen. I’ll call you Brother Jue, alright?”

Liang Jue, encountering such an enthusiastic peer for the first time, was stunned for a moment before replying somewhat dazedly, “Alright.”

Luo Chuchen pulled Liang Jue to sit by the table and shared his favorite pastries with him. At that time, Luo Chuchen was only five years old a delicate, jade like little child standing on tiptoe to hand Liang Jue a sweet cake. Liang Jue, blushing, accepted it and said, “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” Luo Chuchen said, his excitement making his cheeks flush. Though his health was poor and he was slightly breathless, he was unreserved and unabashedly stared at Liang Jue. “You’re my first friend. From now on, we’ll be best friends!”

Looking back now, both of them were rather foolish.

The carriage soon arrived at the Chu residence, the estate where Old Master Chu had lived while serving as prime minister. Luo Chuchen had visited a few times as a child and still had some recollection of the place.

Shechuan helped Luo Chuchen out of the carriage, glanced at him, and remarked, “After chatting with Young Master Jue, you seem much more spirited, Young Master. Madam and the others will be pleased to see you later.”

The estate was quite similar to the residence in Yunzhou, with many flowers and plants planted throughout, though it was several times larger. The winding pavilions and towers gave it a secluded, serene ambiance.

Mindful of Luo Chuchen’s poor health, Steward Jiang took him directly to the prepared courtyard, named the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. It featured a pond and a tower, and was said to have excellent feng shui. Originally, it was where Old Master Chu had intended to live after retiring.

The servants of the Chu residence quickly delivered the luggage to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. While Shechuan unpacked, Luo Chuchen tried to help but was shooed away to lie down in the bedroom.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, he couldn’t help but think back to his earlier encounter with Liang Jue.

Liang Jue had truly changed so much,

Luo Chuchen’s thoughts drifted aimlessly. Back when his parents sent him to Yunzhou, he had only managed to bid Liang Jue a hurried farewell. At that time, Liang Jue was already sixteen, much taller than him. Having been raised in the Marquis’ residence for six or seven years, he was healthier than most boys his age, with bright, expressive eyes and a constant smile.

Luo Chuchen was deeply reluctant to part, so Liang Jue patted his head and promised they would surely meet again. He had already discussed with the Marquis of Pingyang that he would leave the residence to pursue his own ambitions and would make every effort to stay in touch.

Little did Luo Chuchen know that later, after his parents passed away, while he was studying in Yunzhou, he lost all contact with Liang Jue.

So he had joined the military and even became a general.

Luo Chuchen secretly compared the present Liang Jue to the one from his memories. His complexion was much darker now, and he had grown even taller almost a head and a half taller than before.

He was also much stronger. Back then, Liang Jue could only lift him with both hands during playful moments, but now he did it with such ease.

The more he thought about it, the more his cheeks inexplicably warmed. Luo Chuchen decided to get out of bed, still in his day clothes, and found a young servant by the door. He casually asked a few questions, and the servant said he knew where Liang Jue lived.

He instructed the servant to wait outside the study, then went in and wrote a brief note, inviting Liang Jue to meet at the Ruyi Tavern at noon the next day. After sealing the letter, he entrusted the servant to deliver it to the general’s residence.

He carefully emphasized that it was from Luo Chuchen.

After completing this task, Luo Chuchen felt much more at ease. He took a moment to check his life value.

56%

Wait, 56%??

There will be a double update later today ovo,