Hard work after winning the lottery

City A, International Airport.

A jet-black Gulfstream G650 private jet, bathed in sunlight, glided silently across the runway like an elegant falcon and came to a steady stop on its private parking apron.

The hatch opened.

A tall, slender figure, exuding an aura of coldness, slowly descended the gangway.

The man was wearing a well-tailored black bespoke suit, and his tie was loosened slightly by his impatience, revealing a well-defined collarbone.

His features were deep-set and his profile was hard, like the most perfect sculpture in the hands of God. However, in his unfathomable black eyes, there was an unconcealable weariness after a long flight and intense negotiations.

Zhou Yanjin.

The head of the Zhou Group had just returned to his city after a two-week-long multinational merger and acquisition negotiation in Europe.

Chief Secretary Ying Zhiyao was already waiting respectfully outside the tarmac.

"President, welcome back."

Zhou Yanjin nodded almost imperceptibly, and without stopping, walked straight towards the black Bentley that had been waiting for a long time.

As he walked, he unbuttoned his suit cuffs and neatly rolled up the cuffs, revealing the priceless Patek Philippe on his wrist.

"Regarding the project follow-up, I need to see the complete report in the conference room at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

His voice, like his personality, was cold and calm, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Yes, President." Ying Zhiyao followed closely behind, reporting rapidly.

The car door opened, and Zhou Yanjin bent down and sat inside.

The cold leather seats inside the car and the metallic-smelling air from the air conditioning vents allowed his tense nerves to relax for a moment.

He took off his gold-rimmed glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, and closed his eyes.

The long and complicated contract terms and the heated negotiations in my mind finally faded away.

The first person he thought of was the old man who lived far away in Baixi Village.

It's been half a month.

Based on his understanding of his grandfather, although the old man said he liked peace and quiet, he was actually a person who valued rules and traditions very much.

He could only stay away from home for three to five days at most, and this was the first time he hadn't returned to the old house where he had lived his whole life for half a month.

I imagine that by the time I returned, the old man must have received the news and gone home to wait for me.

Zhou Yanjin opened her eyes, took out her phone from her pocket, and skillfully dialed the number for the old house.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

It was the voice of Butler Fu, respectful yet aged.

"Young Master."

"Uncle Fu, it's me." Zhou Yanjin's voice softened slightly. "Is Grandpa back?"

On the other end of the phone, Uncle Fu's tone carried a hint of hesitation.

"Young Master, the Old Master... hasn't returned yet."

Zhou Yanjin's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"not yet?"

"Yes, the old man spoke to the old house on the phone this morning and said... he's doing very well there and has no plans to come back for the time being."

There are no plans to return for the time being?

Zhou Yanjin's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the phone.

This is unlike his grandfather's style.

"I see."

He hung up the phone, leaned back in his seat, and stared intently at the neon lights rushing past the window.

Back in the empty and desolate Zhou family mansion, Zhou Yanjin didn't even go upstairs to change her clothes, but went straight into her grandfather's study.

He dialed his grandfather's private number and chose to video call.

After a few seconds of silence, the video call was connected.

A sunlit farmhouse courtyard appeared on the screen.

In the courtyard, lush green grapevines climbed all over the wooden frame, and several small bamboo stools were placed underneath.

In the distance, one could almost hear the clear bleating of sheep.

His grandfather, Zhou Yinchuan, was standing beside a lush green vegetable garden.

The old man wasn't wearing his favorite dark Tang suit; instead, he was wearing an ordinary gray-white cotton-linen short-sleeved shirt and cloth shoes with a little mud on them.

He was holding a water ladle in one hand, happily watering a row of tender cucumber seedlings.

Sunlight shone on his ruddy face, and his once sharp, eagle-like eyes were now filled with a relaxed and satisfied smile that Zhou Yanjin had never seen before.

Seeing his grandson's handsome yet slightly tired face in the camera lens, Zhou Yinchuan grinned.

"Oh, the busy man is back?"

Zhou Yanjin stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure on the screen, momentarily speechless.

He was silent for a moment before finding his voice, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness that he himself was unaware of.

"Grandpa, you've been staying outside for half a month now."

"When do you plan to come back?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yinchuan waved his hand dismissively at the camera, causing the water in the ladle to spill out.

"No hurry! No rush!"

He put down the water ladle, wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, and said in a strong voice.

"I'm doing just fine here!"

"I eat well, sleep well, and can even practice boxing with Lao Hua every day to stretch my muscles and bones."

"The entire Hua family, from the old lady to Yun'er, took excellent care of me. It was much more comfortable than in City A!"

He paused, as if remembering something, and pursed his lips.

"In City A, the constant noise of cars is a real headache. It's so much quieter here!"

As he spoke, he turned his phone camera around as if presenting a treasure.

The camera shook slightly, focusing on the courtyard entrance not far away.

Three little boys, dressed in identical vests and with delicate, pretty faces, were chasing a large white goose, running wildly in the yard.

Their laughter, crisp as silver bells and brimming with vitality, instantly pierced the screen and reached Zhou Yanjin's ears.

"See that?" Zhou Yinchuan's smug voice came over.

"Si'an, Si'tao, Si'le!"

"These three little guys are so cute! So clever!"

He turned the camera back to himself, his face beaming with undisguised smugness.

"Let me tell you, just playing with them for a little while each day makes my whole day better!"

"This is so much more interesting than video chatting with you, you taciturn guy!"

Zhou Yanjin: "..."

Looking at his energetic grandfather on the screen and the three boys running around the yard like little cannonballs, he was momentarily at a loss for words to persuade them to go home.

All the prepared remarks, such as "The old house needs you" and "The family misses you," seemed so pale and powerless in the face of Grandpa's heartfelt and happy smile.

He suddenly noticed his grandfather's eyes.

It was a radiant, inner glow.

Gone was the authority and composure he possessed in City A, and the scrutiny and weariness typical of those in high positions.

Those eyes held only pure, unadulterated joy.

That relaxed and carefree demeanor emanating from his very bones was something Zhou Yanjin had never seen in her grandfather during her entire life in the Zhou family mansion in City A.

In the video, it seems to be Hua Yun's voice that comes on.

"Grandpa Zhou, wash your hands and eat! I've made your favorite mutton soup today!"

"Hey! You're here!"

Zhou Yinchuan responded loudly and waved hastily at the camera.

"Alright, I'm not going to talk to you anymore, I'm going to eat."

"Take care of your health while you're in City A, and don't stay up late all the time."

Before the words were even finished, the video call was abruptly ended.

Zhou Yanjin held up her phone, maintaining the position of making a call, and remained motionless for a long time.

The screen had gone dark, reflecting his own cold and slightly bewildered face.

The clear laughter of the three children and Grandpa's words, "It's much more interesting than video chatting with you," still seemed to echo in my ears.

He slowly lowered his hand and looked around the excessively quiet and enormous study.

The air was filled with a cool, refreshing scent, a blend of precious wood and ancient paper.

Outside the window was a meticulously manicured lawn, everything was orderly, yet lifeless.

This is the Zhou family home, one of the symbols of power in City A, and the place where he grew up.

But at this moment, Zhou Yanjin felt for the first time that this magnificent manor was like a gorgeous yet cold golden cage.