Hard work after winning the lottery

Baixi Village on weekends is like being immersed in a honey pot.

The sunlight generously crossed the eastern mountain, scattering golden rays throughout the entire Hua family courtyard.

Under the old locust tree in the corner of the yard, several hens were leisurely strolling around, occasionally lowering their heads to peck at the grass seeds on the ground.

The air was filled with the fragrance of earth and the faint scent of flowers.

"Catch! Sitao, over here!"

Hua Sile called out in a childish voice, kicking the colorful ball at her feet.

The ball traced an awkward parabola in the air and rolled down to Hua Sitao's feet.

Hua Sitao tried to imitate a soccer player by bouncing on his toes, but he lost his balance and fell flat on his backside.

"Giggle giggle..."

Hua Si'an, who was standing to the side, was so amused that she bent over laughing, and the building blocks in her hands fell to the ground.

Three adorable little figures, dressed in identical overalls, chased and frolicked tirelessly in the yard like three happy little field mice.

In the kitchen, Hua Yun was taking the last plate of pastries out of the steamer.

It was an osmanthus cake made with freshly picked osmanthus flowers and glutinous rice flour. It was crystal clear, steaming hot, and exuded a sweet and glutinous aroma.

She planned to serve afternoon tea to the children and Grandpa Zhou later.

Life is like this freshly steamed osmanthus cake—simple, yet warm and sweet.

A gentle smile unconsciously crept onto Hua Yun's lips.

Just then.

Outside the courtyard gate, a very faint engine sound, completely out of place in this rural setting, could be heard.

The voice was deep and steady, like a lurking beast letting out a satisfied growl.

Immediately afterwards, a completely black SUV silently pulled up outside the Hua family's gate.

The car's lines are sleek and powerful, and the dark-colored windows block out any prying eyes from inside or outside.

It was like an intruder from another world, bringing with it an undeniable sense of oppression, shattering the tranquility of the courtyard.

The playful triplets stopped and stared curiously at the unfamiliar car with their three big, dark, grape-like eyes.

The car door opened.

The first shoe to step out was a shiny black leather shoe, spotless, which looked somewhat out of place on the dusty country road.

Then came a pair of dark-colored trousers, perfectly pressed without a single wrinkle, which hugged her long, slender, and powerful legs.

A man got out of the car.

He was tall and straight like a pine tree, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His well-tailored suit accentuated his perfect inverted triangle physique.

In the sunlight, he tilted his head slightly, as if surveying this unfamiliar courtyard.

He exuded an innate aloofness and nobility stemming from his long-standing position of power.

It was a sharp aura that shattered the leisurely atmosphere of the mountains and fields.

Hua Yun was carrying a plate of osmanthus cakes as she walked out of the kitchen.

Her steps were light and her mood was cheerful.

She was even thinking about whether she should make another glass of fresh juice later, since the kids love it.

When her gaze inadvertently passed over the playing children and landed on the figure at the gate of the courtyard.

When that...

That face, which had appeared countless times in her midnight dreams, yet had been torn apart and buried deep in her memory, unexpectedly came into her view.

"Clang—"

A soft sound.

It was the string of reason in her mind that snapped.

Time seemed to have been paused at that moment.

Everything around us lost its sound and color.

The laughter of children, the clucking of hens, the rustling of leaves in the wind...

They've all disappeared.

The world was reduced to a deathly, suffocating white.

The color drained from Hua Yun's face, as if the seawater had been drained away in an instant, leaving only a pale, ashen white.

Her feet seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move an inch further.

The white porcelain plate in his hand trembled violently, and the osmanthus cakes on it collided with each other, making a soft "tap, tap" sound.

The sound, like a death knell, struck her heart again and again.

Zhou Yanjin!

How could it be him?!

Grandpa Zhou's grandson...it was him!

This thought struck her like a thunderbolt, slamming down on the top of her head, leaving her completely charred and her soul seemingly leaving her body.

A tremendous sense of shock and absurdity, like a tsunami bursting its banks, instantly overwhelmed all her senses.

My mind went completely blank.

My limbs and bones felt as if I had fallen into an ice cave.

She thought that in these six years, she had built a strong enough wall.

She thought she was already tempered and could calmly face all the storms of life.

But she never expected it.

She would see this man again here, in her home, in front of her children, in such an unexpected way.

This is the father of her child.

Zhou Yanjin had obviously seen her too.

When he saw the three almost identical little figures in the courtyard, a fleeting, barely perceptible ripple flashed in his deep, calm eyes.

And when his gaze met that of the woman holding the plate, frozen in place.

That slight ripple instantly transformed into an even deeper shade of ink.

His gaze, like a sharp scalpel, calmly and restrainedly scraped across her pale face, inch by inch.

There was no surprise, no doubt, not even a trace of warmth.

It was as if they were simply confirming a fact they already knew but had never witnessed firsthand.

Finally, he raised his chin very slightly in her direction.

That wasn't a greeting.

It's more like a condescending, emotionless confirmation.

Dead silence.

The air seemed to solidify, making it hard to breathe.

Just as this stagnant atmosphere was about to explode—

"Hahaha! You little rascal, you've finally arrived!"

Zhou Yinchuan's hearty and loud laughter, like a heavy hammer, shattered the deathly silence.

He strode out of the house, leaning on his cane, his face beaming with undisguised joy and pride.

"Come in quickly! Come in and let me see you!"

The old man grabbed Zhou Yanjin's hand, looked her up and down, his eyes full of affection.

"Yun girl, what are you standing there for?"

Zhou Yinchuan turned his head and said to Hua Yun with a smile.

"This is the good-for-nothing grandson of mine I mentioned to you, Zhou Yanjin!"

Hua Yun was suddenly pulled back to reality by the sound.

She shuddered and used almost all her strength to barely steady her trembling hands.

Her fingernails dug deeply into her palm, and the sharp pain brought her back to her senses.

She forced herself to use all the stiff muscles in her face to try and force a smile.

But that smile was uglier than a cry.

She heard her own voice, each word escaping from her dry throat.

The sound seemed to come from another time and space, so distant.

"you……"

"Hello there."

"President Zhou."