Invasion of America

Chapter 3 Super Jackpot
When Jennifer appeared in front of Zhou Qingfeng and Selina again, there was a man in the passenger seat. She waved and shouted, "Hey, both of you, get in the car."

"Why?" Selina was worried about where to go, and there was a hint of impatience in her tone.

Jennifer shrugged and said helplessly, “The school clinic has been occupied by a group of hot-headed boys.

They all said they were injured in gym class and insisted I check their sensitive parts.”

She pointed at the man next to her and said, “The principal had to arrange for me and Teacher Raul to do some official business and calm those boys down.

And if anything happens to you two because of my permission, I will be responsible. So."

The male teacher in the passenger seat interrupted, “So, you two either move under the supervision of Jennifer and me, or go to school obediently.

Don't try to be cunning, don't make excuses, don't try to get away. I'm the head of the school committee, and you should be grateful that I didn't tell your guardians that you were skipping classes."

The male teacher was in his thirties, dressed in fancy clothes. His shirt was only half-buttoned, revealing a lot of chest hair. He wore an exaggerated diamond watch on his wrist, which he shook from time to time, deliberately showing off.

His hair, over-sprayed and sticking up stiffly, exuded a pungent chemical aroma, a suffocating mix of strong cologne and body odor.

He makes people unhappy every time he opens his mouth. He keeps chattering, his tone full of narcissism and contempt, and his sneer is sharp and piercing.

Zhou Qingfeng was stunned by this annoying guy, his memory fragments merging with the scene before him. He couldn't help but yell, "You are Raul."

The sound was so loud that it scared both Jennifer and Selena.

Raul also shuddered and looked at Zhou Qingfeng with dissatisfaction, "Yes, I'm Raul, the Dean of Student Affairs. Boy, there's no need to shout so loudly. You're almost deafening me."

Jennifer noticed that the two students were unhappy and said to them in a gentle tone, "Don't worry, the vacation I gave you is still valid.

Come with me to the government office to get some documents, and after that I'll take you to a seaside restaurant for dinner."

White Beach Town is close to the sea and is located in Miami, a city with a developed tourism industry, so there are still some tourists who come to the town for vacation.

There is the most luxurious restaurant in town by the sea, which comes with many entertainment facilities. A meal here can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, so it is considered a high-end place.

Selena was a playful person after all. When she heard that they could go out to eat and drink and have a great time all day, she immediately threw her schoolbag into the back seat of Jennifer's sports car.

Zhou Qingfeng didn't hesitate and got in the car too. Because Raul was the scumbag teacher who won the super prize in his memory.

Florida lottery winners are publicly known. Raul, who is usually unpopular, acted arrogantly when he received his prize, much to the chagrin of many teachers at the school.

Zhou Qingfeng was also quite impressed by this person.

Raul didn't want Zhou Qingfeng to come along. He urged Jennifer, "Drive! Asian guys like to study. He won't go."

Zhou Qingfeng was stunned and immediately realized that the relationship between the two sides could not be harmonious.

Jennifer's face immediately turned cold. "Laur, I gave the two students a holiday, and it was me who decided to invite them. You're just here to relax, so don't make the decision for me, okay?"

Raul immediately put on a smile, but diverted his anger, and his contempt and hostility towards Zhou Qingfeng became even stronger.
-
A whole day passed, and Zhou Qingfeng and Selena played at the beach in Baitan Town until dark.

The night breeze, accompanied by the sound of the waves, brought a sense of coolness and tranquility. Under the palm trees and parasols, rows of self-service barbecue stalls were set up.

Tourists opened boxes of beer and drank them with great enthusiasm. The laughter and the sound of waves mixed together, making the place particularly lively.

Zhou Qingfeng grabbed the tongs and flipped the sizzling steak on the grill, with a look of concentration on his face.

Selena was busy shoveling charcoal on the side. The fire was too strong, and sparks popped up from time to time. The steak was about to be burnt.

It’s just that Zhou Qingfeng’s barbecue skills are not very proficient, and Selena is just making trouble.

The result of their collaboration was a steak that was tough and burnt, totally inedible. Despite this, their interest was not diminished at all and they enjoyed it.

Jennifer, a recent medical school graduate, was in high spirits. She looked at the "deadly steaks" on her plate and couldn't help but burst out laughing, commenting with great amusement:

"You two are a perfect match. One is responsible for burning, and the other is responsible for making trouble. Together, you are a 'barbecue disaster'."

The three of them laughed together.
-
Zhou Qingfeng's grilling skills were poor, so he was replaced by Jennifer. He turned and walked towards the dining table, ready to try his luck with a few more steaks.

At this moment, the news broadcast on the big screen of the seaside restaurant attracted everyone's attention.

"Gaming Commission officials say the upcoming Powerball drawing has reached an unprecedented jackpot of more than $2.1 billion!"

Many tourists gathered under the big screen. They looked up and exclaimed in surprise and exclamation from time to time.

Everyone in the hotel—no, everyone around the world—was watching this unprecedented super jackpot.

The odds of winning a single $2 lottery ticket are about one in three hundred million. While the odds are slim, the sheer size of the prize is enough to make one's heart race.

Who will win the first prize has become the focus of everyone's attention, and it has also stimulated a strong desire to buy.

The deadline for buying lottery tickets is one hour before the draw, and there happened to be a betting station at the seaside restaurant. Tourists who came to eat there joined in the fun and bought a few tickets to add to the fun.

Many people refused to leave after buying the tickets. They simply stood under the big screen, singing and dancing, twisting their bodies happily, as if they had won the lottery.

Zhou Qingfeng's eyes quickly locked on Raul, who was drinking alone at the dining table - four people came out to play, and three of them didn't get along with this guy.

The two students naturally disliked the people in the school disciplinary office, and Jennifer didn't have a good face towards Raul either, but she didn't drive him away out of courtesy.

Zhou Qingfeng had no reason to get close to Raul, but he kept paying attention to this guy - the other party went to a lottery stall, took out money to exchange for a thin lottery ticket, and put it in his pocket.

Combining the current jackpot amount and the memory in my mind, if nothing has changed, the jackpot number on that lottery ticket must be worth more than two billion US dollars.

For a moment, Zhou Qingfeng's breathing became heavier, and he wanted to rush over and knock Raul unconscious, and then grab the thing directly. But in public, there was no chance.

A time reminder suddenly lit up on the big screen at the lottery station - there was only one hour left before the current lottery tickets were sold out.

This news was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing ripples. The crowd surrounding the lottery booth quickly swelled, and the final wave of buying began.

The tourists present were increasingly enthusiastic about the lottery draw. The jackpot was so tempting that so many people wanted to take a chance.

Although they can be purchased online, many people still prefer paper lottery tickets for a sense of ritual.

The amount of the prize pool continued to rise, and the jackpot amount exceeded 2.2 billion US dollars, setting a historical high.

The immersive feeling makes one's heart beat faster, the hot atmosphere makes one's blood rush, and one's mind is swept into an irresistible frenzy.

Zhou Qingfeng's breathing became increasingly difficult to calm down, and his eyes were fixed on Raul's chest pocket like a hawk.

His mind was racing, racking his brains to think of how he could get the lottery ticket without anyone noticing.

That thin piece of paper seemed to emit an alluring glow, and it was his only key to wealth and freedom.

Just then, a waiter walked lightly past the table carrying a tray with several glasses of crystal clear juice on it.

Zhou Qingfeng's mind suddenly lit up, and he immediately came up with an old-fashioned idea.

He quickly stood up and pretended to walk towards the waiter casually, but the moment he got close, his feet slipped and his body slammed into the tray in the waiter's hand.

"Splash—" The juice poured down like a waterfall, splashing accurately on Raul's body. The cold liquid slid down his collar and into his neck, making him shudder all over.

Raul jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on. His face turned ashen, and he turned his head angrily to glare at the waiter, roaring, "What are you doing?!"

The waiter looked innocent. Zhou Qingfeng quickly took the blame, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It's all my fault. I accidentally bumped into him."

As he spoke, he clumsily reached out to help Raul take off his juice-stained jacket, his fingers intentionally or unintentionally approaching his breast pocket.

"Don't touch me, you little bastard!" Raul was still angry and waved his hand violently, pushing Zhou Qingfeng away.

He snorted coldly, took off his coat himself, then carefully took out the lottery ticket from his breast pocket and carefully checked whether it was damaged.

However, too much juice was poured, soaking Raul's entire upper body and seeping through the paper. The lottery lettering was still clear, but it had become sticky.

Jennifer heard the quarrel and came over in high heels, asking in confusion, "What's going on with all the fuss?"

Zhou Qingfeng quickly admitted his mistake and expressed his willingness to compensate for all losses.

Raul angrily raised the wet lottery ticket and shouted, "This kid ruined my lucky numbers!"

"Are you kidding?" Jennifer glanced at the lottery ticket and scoffed. "It's just five randomly selected numbers. How can they be considered lucky numbers?"

"Even if it's randomly chosen, it's my lucky number!" Raul's voice rose an octave, as if defending something sacred. "It can win the jackpot!"

"The probability is one in three hundred million. If you can win, then God will really favor you."

Jennifer waved her hand, thinking Raul was just being unreasonable. "Alright, stop yelling. Buy five more tickets with the same numbers. I'll pay for them."

Zhou Qingfeng's face remained expressionless, but he was ecstatic in his heart and wanted to rush up and kiss Jennifer immediately.

He quickly took the blame. "No, no, no, this is my fault. I should pay for it. Mr. Raul, give me the lottery tickets. I'll buy five new ones for you right away."

However, before Zhou Qingfeng could take any action, Selena had already taken out her cell phone, took a picture of the lottery ticket in Raul's hand, and then walked towards the lottery point without looking back.

Not long after, she slapped a brand new lottery ticket on the table and said jokingly, "Here, stingy guy.

Keep your lucky number safe, it's worth over $2.2 billion, don't get it dirty or lose it."

Zhou Qingfeng wanted to rush over and kiss Selina twice. He was secretly glad that the matter was resolved so smoothly.

Raul was still furious, muttering, "You don't understand, this is no longer my lucky number. My luck has been taken away..."

This was even more ridiculous. Jennifer and the other two were too lazy to pay attention to him. They turned around and left, completely ignoring him.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the restaurant became increasingly tense, like a taut string that could break at any time.

The tourists in the restaurant had long lost their appetite. Their knives and forks were placed on their plates, their eyes all focused on the large screen hanging on the wall.

As the clock hands slowly pointed to eleven o'clock at night, the sound of waves outside the window seemed to become lower, as if holding its breath for the fate that was about to be revealed.

On the screen, the lottery ceremony was being broadcast live in a studio in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida.

Two lottery machines slowly start up in front of the camera, and dozens of small balls roll and jump in the transparent glass cover, deciding who will become the super lucky winner?
The host's voice came through the speakers, passionately describing the grand occasion of this award:
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's jackpot has accumulated to over $2.2 billion! This is a historic moment, and the God of Luck is about to descend!"

When the lottery officially began, the air in the restaurant seemed to freeze.

Everyone's heartbeat accelerated as the ball rolled, and their eyes were fixed on the screen, afraid of missing any details.

"The first number of the white ball is 56."

Zhou Qingfeng's expression froze instantly, as if he had been struck by lightning.

He had just borrowed Selena's phone, found the photo of her lottery ticket, and bought the same five sets of numbers online.

Although this will split the jackpot into three parts, it is better than getting nothing.

However, when the first number was announced, his heart sank - that number was not on his ticket at all.

There was an uproar in the restaurant, and those who had bought lottery tickets were all flushed, as if they had a high fever.

As the first number was announced, half of the people immediately stopped participating and lowered their heads in disappointment.

"The second number is 33."

Zhou Qingfeng's heart sank completely. He clearly remembered the five sets of numbers on his lottery ticket, and neither of them matched.

His heartbeat quickened, his palms slightly sweaty, his mind in a mess, he wondered: "What's going on? Did I remember it wrong? Or is there something wrong?"

His eyes involuntarily turned to Raul at the next table.

Raul didn't sit with Jennifer and the other two, but he didn't leave either. Judging from his expression, he didn't show any joy at all, but rather disappointment.

"The Third Number"

"the fourth"

Five white balls were drawn one after another, and Zhou Qingfeng's brain went completely blank - none of the five numbers he bought matched.

When the last red ball appeared, his hopes were completely shattered and he didn't even get a consolation prize.

Sighs were heard one after another in the restaurant, which were the lamentations of many participants.

Raul was no exception. He threw the two lottery tickets in his hand on the table without even looking at them, as if they were just two pieces of waste paper.

The atmosphere in the restaurant plummeted from highs to lows, with frustration, anger, pretense of being free and easy, and inner jealousy filling the air.

The tourists were like riding a roller coaster. They were excited before the prize was announced, but their interest waned after the prize was announced. They all stood up and prepared to leave, each returning home to find their own mothers.

Five minutes later, the Florida Lottery Commission announced the winning results according to procedure.

"The Powerball jackpot, which has been won for 34 consecutive times, has finally appeared! The jackpot winner is from
The lottery location at the Benotti Resort in White Beach, Miami-Dade County.

Congratulations to the lucky winner who will take home the jackpot of over $2.2 billion.

This is a super, super, super jackpot, over 2.2 billion, to be exact, 2,237,650,000 US dollars!"

The host's voice reiterated during the live broadcast, as if announcing the arrival of a new era. The restaurant suddenly became quiet, even breathing became audible.

Everyone's eyes were stunned for a moment, and then they took out their lottery tickets and carefully checked the numbers several times, hoping that they had just heard it wrong.

The fat black lady at the lottery booth was stunned, then exclaimed: "Ah!"

Because the lottery shop the host mentioned was exactly where she was guarding, and it was she who sold the jackpot lottery ticket.

A full 2,237,650,000 US dollars!

Everyone in the restaurant looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion and jealousy - a super rich man appeared among them!

And this lucky person may be right next to them, or may be a stranger who is complaining.

who is it?

(End of this chapter)