After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 51

Luo Chuchen stared at the letter for a long time.

He couldn’t quite describe the feeling in his heart.

He thought his earlier words should have been enough to make Liang Jue understand that he had no special relationship with Xu Changlin.

Luo Chuchen couldn’t pinpoint what exactly he was worried about, but he felt certain that Liang Jue cared about his connection with Xu Changlin.

After reflecting all morning, he realized Liang Jue had started acting strangely ever since Xu Changlin appeared.

By explaining the history between him and Xu Changlin, their relationship should return to normal!

Luo Chuchen waited with nervous anticipation.

However, in the following days, Liang Jue seemed to have disappeared entirely.

At first, Luo Chuchen waited for a few days, expecting Liang Jue to visit as usual with interesting stories or gadgets.

But even when the art academy reopened, Liang Jue never showed up.

Luo Chuchen sent Shechuan to inquire at the general’s residence, only to learn that Liang Jue had been extremely busy lately and was never home. When asked when he would return, no one knew.

Hearing Shechuan’s report, Luo Chuchen felt at a loss.

In the past, whenever he wanted to see Liang Jue, the latter was always available at home or would spontaneously visit him.

Even though their lives and careers had little overlap, as friends they still spent plenty of time together.

But now he realized that if Liang Jue chose to disappear, it would be nearly impossible to find him.

This situation continued until the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

That morning, Liang Jue surprisingly sent a gift to the marquis’ residence as a festival greeting.

The messenger was an unfamiliar soldier.

Luo Chuchen carefully observed the soldier and asked if Liang Jue had any plans for the day. The soldier’s reply was identical to what they had heard before from the guards at the general’s residence.

He said Liang Jue had been very busy recently and had left early that morning for the military camp outside the capital.

Yesterday? He had apparently gone to the palace to discuss matters with the emperor.

The day before? The soldier couldn’t remember clearly, but the general had also been away from the residence since early morning.

Luo Chuchen was half-convinced, half-doubtful.

He felt Liang Jue couldn’t possibly be this busy. There had been busy periods before, but Liang Jue would always find time to visit him.

Now, despite sending several invitations with various excuses for Liang Jue to visit, Liang Jue never came.

At most, he would send a reply saying he was occupied with matters today or yesterday, promising to visit next time.

Luo Chuchen let the soldier leave. Pressing his lips together, though feeling disheartened, he went to the Chu residence as promised to have yuanxiao with his uncle.

During this period, he occasionally accepted Chu Yuanzhu’s invitations for meals at the Chu residence.

Perhaps because he had made things clear last time, Xu Changlin no longer made any special gestures or remarks toward him.

After finishing the yuanxiao, they enjoyed snacks while admiring the moon in the courtyard.

Chu Yuanzhu seemed intent on bringing them together again. Halfway through, he pretended to have matters to attend to and tried to leave.

Luo Chuchen caught up and grabbed his uncle’s sleeve. “Uncle, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Chu Yuanzhu shrugged when held back. “Silly boy, I’m creating an opportunity for you.”

He gestured with his chin toward Xu Changlin by the pavilion. “Such a proper young man, and it seems he holds a favorable impression of you. I thought since you liked him, spending more time together would be nice. Your uncle thinks that sometimes it’s better to keep company with reliable people. Lately, hasn’t someone stopped reaching out to you?”

Luo Chuchen had been worn out by Liang Jue’s recent attitude and had no energy left to pretend in front of Chu Yuanzhu.

He sighed and said, “Brother Xu and I have no special relationship.”

Chu Yuanzhu raised an eyebrow. “Really? When I passed through Yunzhou earlier, I heard ”

Luo Chuchen, feeling helpless and somewhat resigned, replied, “Those are just rumors. I have no interest in same-sex relationships. At the time, I only intended to befriend Brother Xu. I don’t know why it sparked so much gossip. Both Brother Xu and I have clarified the matter.”

Chu Yuanzhu was taken aback.

He scrutinized Luo Chuchen with a look of surprise.

Luo Chuchen let him look without reacting.

After a moment, Chu Yuanzhu spoke seriously, “If that’s the case, then I’m relieved.”

Luo Chuchen thought, Relieved about what?

Chu Yuanzhu didn’t elaborate further and waved a hand dismissively. “It was my misunderstanding. I was going to tell you that there’s a Lantern Festival tonight and you could take Xu Changlin to enjoy it. But now, it seems unnecessary.”

Mentioning this only deepened Luo Chuchen’s melancholy.

Chu Yuanzhu let him go, and Luo Chuchen aimlessly wandered the capital with Shechuan.

As they strolled, they eventually found themselves in front of Liang Jue’s general’s residence.

The two soldiers on duty at the gate straightened their backs immediately upon seeing Luo Chuchen.

Luo Chuchen had no intention of entering.

Standing at the foot of the steps, he asked, “Has your general returned today?”

As expected, the answer was no.

Luo Chuchen wasn’t surprised. He pondered silently, Is the general’s position really so demanding after the New Year? Or is something major about to happen? But my uncle doesn’t seem particularly busy.

As he walked on, Luo Chuchen looked up and unexpectedly saw the brightly lit Lantern Festival.

He had wandered onto the street where the festival was being held.

Shechuan glanced at him tentatively and asked, “Young master, shall we take a look around?”

Luo Chuchen pressed his lips together and said, “Very well.”

He walked listlessly into the crowd, thinking that if Liang Jue were at home, he might have been able to invite him out to fulfill their earlier agreement.

Come to think of it, why had Liang Jue suddenly proposed that bet with him at the riding ground? And the agreement was for Luo Chuchen to accompany him to the temple fair.

In the past, if Liang Jue had simply asked, Luo Chuchen would have agreed without hesitation. There was no need for a bet.

And then they had encountered Nie You at the temple fair.

Nie You had acted as though Liang Jue would definitely accompany Luo Chuchen to the fair.

For a moment, Luo Chuchen felt he had grasped something important, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

The festival was crowded.

Luo Chuchen walked side by side with Shechuan, who occasionally tugged at his sleeve to remind him to watch his step and avoid bumping into others.

Shechuan said worriedly, “Young master, it’s very crowded today. Please be careful.”

Luo Chuchen nodded. Knowing he was in a gloomy state of mind, he simply held onto Shechuan’s arm and let himself be led, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.

It wasn’t until Shechuan shouted, “Young master, be careful!” that Luo Chuchen began to snap back to reality.

He was abruptly pulled back as Shechuan dragged him behind himself.

In the spot where he had just been standing, a man in black night attire and a mask with strange patterns now stood, holding a dagger and squinting at him.

Startled, Luo Chuchen watched as the man brandished the dagger and charged toward him.

Shechuan shielded him, grabbing various items from a nearby stall to fend off the attack. The surrounding crowd scattered in chaos, fleeing in all directions.

This man was only the first of many several other assassins, wearing similar masks, closed in with daggers in hand.

Luo Chuchen and Shechuan had no time to react, forced to retreat and evade as best they could.

As the killers drew nearer, Luo Chuchen broke out in a cold sweat. In his daze, he even felt that being stabbed to death here might be an inevitable outcome.

So, when a dagger lunged straight at him, knowing Shechuan was overwhelmed and unable to dodge in time,

Luo Chuchen closed his eyes.

Accompanied by a sharp, searing pain in his shoulder, the last sound he heard before losing consciousness seemed to be the voice of Liang Jue, whom he hadn’t seen for days.

In a tone he had never heard before urgent and panicked,

Shouting his name loudly.

“Luo Chuchen!!!”