Hard work after winning the lottery

Zhou Yanjin's gaze finally moved slowly upwards from the faded cotton dress she was wearing, and finally landed on her downcast eyes, which were trying their best to hide something.

His Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.

He didn't touch the cup of tea immediately.

Those deep, cold eyes scrutinized her quietly and intently, inch by inch.

It's like recognizing an old object that has been lost for a long time but has suddenly reappeared before your eyes, completely unrecognizable.

Hua Yun felt her scalp tingling.

Her hands, held at her sides, had nails that almost dug into the tender flesh of her palms again.

Every second was torture.

Just as she was about to give up, and her carefully crafted mask was about to shatter, she was on the verge of collapse.

He finally moved.

Long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles gently pinched the small white porcelain cup.

The warmth of her fingertips, penetrating the warm cup, seemed to carry a scorching electric current, instantly burning Hua's distorted heart.

Thank you.

His voice remained as clear and cold as ever, devoid of any emotion.

The two words, seemingly light and airy, felt like two invisible mountains, crashing down on Hua Yun's shoulders.

She felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and almost immediately straightened up, retreating quickly back to the safe area by the kitchen door in an almost fleeing manner.

It was as if that was her only refuge.

Zhou Yinchuan saw all this and assumed it was just a shy young girl, so he burst into laughter, breaking the momentary stalemate.

"Look at you, you scared Yun'er as soon as you arrived!"

He glared at his grandson with feigned displeasure, but his tone was full of undisguised smugness.

"Yun girl, ignore him. This kid's always been this cold and aloof; he's not likable!"

Li Guifen quickly smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Yes, yes, our Yunyun is just timid and shy."

As she spoke, she lovingly took her daughter's hand and gently patted it, but the moment she touched it, she was startled by the astonishing coldness of the hand.

Her smile froze as she looked worriedly at her daughter's pale face, but in the end, she said nothing in front of the guests.

Soon, Hua Mutou and Hua Shu returned from Xishan, breaking the delicate atmosphere in the courtyard.

Night slowly fell.

Under the old locust tree, the square eight-immortal table was soon filled with plates of steaming farm-style dishes.

The water spinach with garlic sauce, freshly picked from the field, is a vibrant, lush green.

The aroma of the mushroom and chicken soup, simmered slowly over a low flame, filled the entire courtyard.

There were also lake fish that had just been caught from the reservoir that afternoon, steamed to preserve the freshness of the fish to the greatest extent.

A dim, yellowish incandescent light shone from under the eaves, casting a soft glow that bathed everyone's face in a warm halo.

However, this light could not penetrate Hua Yun's heart.

The atmosphere was unusually subtle at dinner time.

No, perhaps to outsiders, it was a dinner party where everyone enjoyed themselves.

Only Hua Yun felt like sitting on pins and needles.

She sat silently among the three children, like a puppet whose soul had been ripped away.

Everything around seemed to be obscured by a thick layer of frosted glass, making it blurry and indistinct.

Grandpa and Dad's hearty laughter.

The sounds of Mom and Grandma enthusiastically urging each other to eat.

Grandpa Zhou Yinchuan spoke with a strong and cheerful voice.

All of this seemed to come from a very far place, drifting and uncertain, not very real.

In her world, all that remained were those few grains of white rice in the bowl.

She mechanically rummaged through the food with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and couldn't even taste anything.

Chewing and swallowing.

Every movement felt like completing a difficult but necessary task.

In stark contrast to her stiff silence was Zhou Yanjin's composure.

He took off his sharp suit jacket, leaving only a fine white shirt with the cuffs neatly rolled up to his forearms, revealing an expensive watch.

He should speak to Hua Mutou in a calm tone, with the respect due to a junior.

Even when the most curious Si Tao opened her big, bright eyes and asked him, "Uncle Zhou, does your watch light up?"

He would turn his head slightly and patiently answer, "Yes, it's clearer at night."

His posture was elegant and proper, perfectly blending into the lively atmosphere of this rural courtyard.

It was as if he was born to be the center of attention.

However, only Hua Yun knew that all of this was just an illusion.

Beneath that perfect, flawless mask lay a pair of eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

His gaze was like an invisible spider web.

Fine, resilient, and silent.

Every now and then, during the pauses between his conversations with others, in the instant he raises his glass, or in the moment he lowers his eyes in thought, he would do this.

That gaze would then fall upon her, subtly yet precisely.

It carries no warmth, yet it possesses a scrutinizing and probing quality that almost dissects a person.

His gaze occasionally swept over her white knuckles as she gripped the chopsticks tightly.

Sometimes his gaze would linger on her drooping, seemingly fragile neck.

Every now and then, his gaze would sweep over the three children beside her, who were engrossed in eating and bore a resemblance to him in their features.

Hua Yun could clearly feel that gaze.

Rumors are on the back.

It felt like countless fine steel needles were densely packed into her back, leaving her with nowhere to hide and nowhere to escape.

All she could do was devote all her attention to taking care of the child.

She lowered her head and used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish belly meat, which was Sile's favorite food, and carefully removed every tiny fish bone.

"Eat slowly, don't choke."

She picked up a tissue and wiped away the oil stains from Si Tao's lips.

"Your mouth looks like a little kitten's."

The children became her only and strongest shield.

As long as she looks at them, she can rightfully ignore everyone else and not respond to any probing.

Just then, Si'an, who had always been the most well-behaved and sensible, suddenly picked up a piece of bright green stir-fried vegetables from her bowl.

He stretched out his little arm with difficulty, and with trembling hands, he reached over the table and accurately placed the chopsticks of vegetables into Hua Yun's bowl.

Then, he raised his little face, revealing an incredibly bright smile with a hint of self-satisfaction, and said in his childish voice:

"Mom, this green vegetable is delicious."

That clear "Mom" was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating invisible ripples on the dining table.

Zhou Yanjin's hand, which was about to pick up the wine glass, paused almost imperceptibly in mid-air.

That pause lasted only a fraction of a second, so fast that it was almost impossible to catch.

But Hua Yun saw it.

In that instant, her heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand, suddenly tightening, and even her breath stopped.

It’s over.

This thought, like a thunderclap, exploded in her mind.

The color drained from her face instantly.

However, looking into her son's clear, untainted eyes, the panic that had overwhelmed her was suppressed with all her might.

She must not panic.

Absolutely not.

With difficulty, she managed to pull the corners of her mouth upward, trying to give Si'an the same gentle smile as always.

But that smile was as pale as a fragile piece of paper.

"Thank you, baby."

Her voice trembled slightly, without her even realizing it.

"You should eat more so you can grow taller."

As she spoke, as if to cover something up, she immediately lowered her head, picked up the piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks, and slowly put it into her mouth.

Zhou Yinchuan was unaware of the undercurrents that were brewing in the blink of an eye.

He only saw the child's sensible and adorable side, and was immediately overjoyed, turning to his own grandson with a smug look on his face.

"Yan Jin, look! Look!"

He pointed at Si'an with his chopsticks, his face full of pride.

"I knew Yun'er knew how to raise children! Look at her, how sensible and considerate she is! She's so much better than you were at that age!"

Zhou Yanjin's gaze had slowly shifted from Si'an back to Hua Yun's pale, downcast face.

The depths of his eyes held turbulent, unfathomable emotions.

Faced with his grandfather's praise, he simply gave a faint "hmm" and said nothing more.

But that one word made Hua Yun feel that the mountain weighing on her had become even heavier.

For Hua Yun, this meal felt like an eternity.

Every minute, every second, is like being slowly sliced ​​to death.

She could even clearly hear her heart pounding desperately and helplessly inside her chest.

She couldn't eat anything.

My stomach felt like it was stuffed with a wad of water-soaked cotton, heavy and cold.

She only hoped that this torture would end as soon as possible.

Let her escape from here.

Escape from this man's sight.

Escape this suffocating atmosphere.