Hard work after winning the lottery

The scalding tears, like molten iron, not only burned Hua Yun's hand but also branded Zhou Yanjin's heart.

At that moment, his heart was gripped by a sharp pain.

Breathing became somewhat difficult.

He looked at her trembling shoulders, at her stubborn way of biting her lower lip to keep herself from making a sound, and a thousand words stuck in his throat.

For the past five years, has she been silently shedding tears and spending countless lonely days and nights like this?

He dared not think too deeply about it.

That belated, overwhelming wave of regret and heartache almost drowned him.

Hua Shu's taut, iron-like face seemed to soften slightly without her noticing.

The murderous aura that seemed to want to kick the person out immediately subsided somewhat.

He was a rough man who didn't understand any grand principles, but he could see the sincerity and regret in a man's eyes.

Zhou Yanjin took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil in her heart, but her gaze never left Hua Yun.

His voice was lower and more resolute than before.

"Third, and most importantly."

This sentence was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, making everyone's hearts jump.

Zhou Yanjin slowly shifted her gaze from Hua Yun and looked solemnly at the elders of the Hua family once again.

"My feelings towards Huayun are nothing but irreparable guilt and a responsibility I must bear..."

He paused, seemingly carefully choosing his words, each one spoken with utmost caution.

"More importantly, it comes from genuine respect and...appreciation."

The moment the word "appreciation" was uttered, even Hua Mutou, who had been silent all along, paused slightly in his hand as he was fiddling with the walnuts.

Li Guifen and Grandma Hua exchanged glances, their wariness completely replaced by a complex sense of inquiry.

"In my eyes, she has always been an outstanding woman."

"And in these five years, she has been an even more remarkable mother."

He spoke these two sentences with neither arrogance nor servility, yet every word was sincere, as if he were stating an undeniable fact.

Hua Yun's crying abruptly stopped.

Incredulously, she slowly raised her tear-streaked face.

This was the first time she had heard such a straightforward affirmation from this high and mighty man.

It wasn't because of the child, nor because of responsibility, but rather an affirmation of her as a person.

Zhou Yanjin met her tearful gaze. This time, he did not back down; his eyes were filled with unprecedented honesty and passion.

"So, I hope to have the opportunity to get to know her again and pursue her."

"I will spend the rest of my life making amends for the mistakes I have made."

boom!

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the small main room.

Hua Yun's mind went blank for a moment, as if "buzzing".

Pursue...pursue her?

Does he even know what he's saying?

"I hope to date her with marriage in mind."

Zhou Yanjin's next words were even more shocking, causing everyone to gasp in astonishment.

He seemed oblivious to the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, his gaze remaining firmly fixed on Hua Yun's face, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable firmness.

"In the future, we will give her a formal status and give Si'an, Sile, and Sitao a complete and warm home."

This is no longer a request, but a declaration.

A man's most solemn declaration regarding the future of the woman he loves and the children he has.

His gaze shifted to the girl who was completely stunned, and his tone became even gentler, each word like a feather, lightly brushing against her chaotic heart.

"Hua Yun"

"I know this all came as a complete surprise to you."

"I know it will take a very long time for you to rebuild your trust in me."

"It's okay."

He spoke softly, with a calming power.

"I'm willing to wait."

"I am also willing to use all my future actions to prove it to you and to all the elders."

He looked around at everyone again, then slowly straightened his back.

Those deep black eyes shone with a light never before seen—the light of a man determined to protect his home.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was resounding and echoed in everyone's ears.

"From now on, I will never let you and the children bear any hardships alone again."

"so……"

His gaze finally returned to Hua Yun, where there was a request, an expectation, and even more so, a deep-seated, burning emotion that he himself had not fully analyzed.

Please give me a chance.

"It also gives us, each other, and the children, a complete opportunity."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Yanjin's words were clear, logical, and extremely sincere.

He not only expressed his determination to acknowledge his son and take on the responsibilities of a father, but also placed Hua Yun in an equal position where she is respected and sought after.

What he wanted wasn't just the child; he wanted her, he wanted this family.

Zhou Yinchuan, who had been silent all along, finally found an opportunity to speak.

His cloudy old eyes glistened with tears as he stood up and bowed deeply to Hua Mutou.

"Old comrade-in-arms, it is my Zhou family that has let down your Hua family. It is my fault for not raising this grandson well."

"That brat is ruthless and decisive in business, but he's as dense as a block of wood when it comes to romance!"

He sighed, then said firmly, "But every word he said today came from the bottom of his heart. I swear on my life, if he dares to let Yun'er suffer even the slightest grievance again, I'll be the first to break his legs!"

These words, which were half apology and half guarantee, undoubtedly added a heavy weight to Zhou Yanjin's promise.

The expressions of the Hua family members truly softened.

The scrutiny in Hua Shu's eyes gradually gave way to a complex contemplation. If what Zhou Yanjin said was true, this would undoubtedly be the best outcome for his daughter and grandchildren.

Grandma Hua and Li Guifen exchanged a glance, and the wariness in their eyes completely disappeared, replaced by a hint of hope and consideration for their daughter's future.

No one saw Zhou Yanjin as a high-and-mighty CEO anymore, but as a father who had made a mistake and was now desperately trying to make amends for his children.

Hua Yun still didn't look up, her long eyelashes still glistening with tears.

But her hand, whose knuckles had turned white from exerting too much force, loosened slightly without her realizing it.

The palm of my hand bears deep crescent-shaped marks from fingernails.

Her heart was already in turmoil, filled with a mix of emotions.

She had imagined countless ways Zhou Yanjin would react after learning the truth—whether he would be forceful, indifferent, or try to resolve the issue with money.

But she never expected that he would so solemnly declare his pursuit and marriage proposal in front of all her family members.

This made her feel unprecedentedly flustered, and a... palpitation that she herself dared not admit.

A subtle silence fell over the living room.