Hard work after winning the lottery

The burning heat coming from my arms was the only reality at that moment.

The flashes of light exploded before my eyes, creating a blinding daylight.

A cacophony of voices surged in like a wave, instantly engulfing her.

Hua Yun subconsciously tightened her fingers, as if only in this way could she find a piece of driftwood to cling to in this extravagant feast.

Zhou Yanjin was that piece of driftwood.

He kept his eyes straight ahead, his steps steady, leading her through the center of the crowd to the center of the banquet hall.

Wherever it goes, the crowd automatically parts to create a path.

Countless gazes, some admiring, some inquisitive, some envious, were like fine needles, all piercing Hua Yun's body.

She straightened her back, a practiced, appropriate smile on her face.

To play the role of a perfect, non-existent female companion.

This is her mission.

Tonight's banquet is a gathering of celebrities, a scene of elegant attire and splendid fashion.

Zhou Yanjin is undoubtedly the brightest star in the sky.

He was like an elegant king, surveying his domain.

"Mr. Zhou, it's been a long time! You're still as charming as ever!"

A middle-aged man with a Mediterranean hairstyle, holding a wine glass, greeted them with a broad smile.

Zhou Yanjin's lips curved into a perfectly balanced smile, neither distant nor overly warm.

"Chairman Li, you're too kind. And this gentleman is?"

He nodded slightly, his tone calm, yet he possessed an undeniable aura.

Hua Yun could sense that the man's gaze lingered on her for a moment, carrying a hint of amazement and speculation.

She smiled slightly and stood quietly beside Zhou Yanjin, saying little.

She was like a delicate, soulless ornament, which he carried around and displayed to everyone.

Zhou Yanjin calmly exchanged pleasantries and conversations with people from all sides.

The conversation ranged from macroeconomics to the latest AI technology, and from the international situation to Zhou's strategic plans for the next quarter.

His voice was deep and magnetic, every word resonant and clear, his logic sharp and his thinking keen.

Hua Yun listened quietly, a bitter ripple rising in her heart.

This is the man she has looked up to for 395 days.

Its radiance is boundless, yet unattainable.

She was merely a temporary shadow beside him, soon to be discarded.

"Mr. Zhou, this is my female companion."

"Mr. Zhou, this is my secretary."

Zhou Yanjin would occasionally introduce people around her, but his introductions were always so brief they were almost stingy.

All she had to do was smile, nod, and then, when he raised his glass, take a small sip as well.

Golden bubbles rose from the champagne in the glass goblet, reflecting in her slightly dazed eyes.

After several rounds of drinks...

The atmosphere gradually became more lively.

Finally, someone turned their attention to Zhou Yanjin.

"President Zhou, our Hongyuan Group owes its success today entirely to the support and guidance of the Zhou family. I must toast you with this glass!"

A seemingly shrewd and capable man is the young master of Hongyuan Group and also a competitor of the Zhou family in a certain project.

He smiled sincerely, but a hint of provocation lurked in his eyes.

Zhou Yanjin's eyes darkened, but he still picked up his wine glass.

"Mr. Zhang, you're too kind. Cooperation is mutually beneficial."

He drank it all in one gulp.

Hua Yun's heart skipped a beat.

It was a full glass of whiskey, an amber liquid that gleamed dangerously under the crystal chandelier.

Once there's a first one, there's bound to be a second.

"Mr. Zhou, a bosom friend afar brings a distant land near! Cheers to our future cooperation!"

"Mr. Zhou, I've long heard of your enormous capacity for alcohol; seeing it today, it truly lives up to the hype!"

Amidst the clinking of glasses, all sorts of people took turns speaking.

They wore enthusiastic smiles and spoke flattering words, while filling their wine glasses to the brim with each passing moment.

Zhou Yanjin accepted almost everyone who came.

This is an unspoken rule in the business world, and also a silent contest.

To back down means to show weakness.

Hua Yun stood to the side, watching him drink glass after glass of strong liquor, her brows furrowing involuntarily.

Her heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, tightening in waves.

Soon, the flames of war spread to her as well.

"This young lady is so beautiful. To be Mr. Zhou's companion, she must be an exceptional person. Come, let me toast you!"

A slick-haired man handed her a glass of red wine.

Hua Yun instinctively wanted to refuse.

But when she looked up, she met Zhou Yanjin's gaze.

His eyes were indifferent, revealing no emotion.

But Hua Yun understood.

She couldn't let him down.

She took a deep breath, took the glass, and drank it down.

The spicy liquid slid down my throat, leaving a burning sensation.

Once it started, it was unstoppable.

Champagne, red wine, cocktails...

She passively accepted one toast after another, playing the role of a qualified female companion who could shield her male companion from drinks.

Alcohol acts like an anesthetic.

This gradually relaxed her tense nerves.

The faces of the people around me began to blur, and the dazzling crystal chandelier overhead began to spin, casting long shadows.

An unnatural flush rose to her cheeks, and her eyes began to glaze over.

But her mind was clearer than ever before.

She kept her eyes fixed on Zhou Yan out of the corner of her eye.

She saw that his once clear eyes were now tinged with a thin layer of moisture, like a cold pool shrouded in fog at night.

When he talks to people, his speaking speed remains steady, but there is an occasional barely perceptible pause.

His hand holding the wine glass remained steady, but when he put it down, his fingertips would tremble slightly.

His steps began to falter slightly.

Hua Yun's heart clenched tighter and tighter.

She knew he was nearing his limit.

Excuse me for a moment.

Zhou Yanjin whispered something to the person in front of her, then turned around and walked towards the restroom.

Hua Yun followed almost immediately.

The banquet hall corridor was covered with thick, sound-absorbing carpets.

The lighting was much dimmer than in the main hall, isolating it from the noise of the outside world.

Zhou Yanjin's figure appeared somewhat lonely under the dim light.

He walked slowly, but every step felt like walking on cotton.

At just around the corner, his figure swayed without warning.

He fell headfirst into the wall.

"President Zhou!"

Hua Yun exclaimed in surprise. Without thinking, she rushed forward and used her slender body to support his body as he was about to fall.

The man's body was much heavier than she had imagined.

Her burning body temperature, penetrating the thin fabric, almost seared her skin.

The strong smell of alcohol, mixed with his crisp and familiar scent of cedar wood, enveloped her completely.

He was putting most of his weight on her.

Hua Yun gritted her teeth and used all her strength to barely support him.

Zhou Yanjin's head drooped limply and rested on her shoulder.

His warm breath brushed against her sensitive, trembling neck.

"Zhou Yanjin..."

She instinctively called out his name.

It's not "President Zhou", it's "Zhou Yanjin".

The man in her arms seemed to move slightly, letting out a muffled, low murmur from his throat.

At this moment, Hua Yun's heart was completely thrown into chaos.

The banquet was drawing to a close.

When Yao rushed over and saw the scene before him, his expression changed.

He himself was also flushed from drinking and his steps were unsteady.

"Hua Yun, President Zhou, he..."

"He drank too much." Hua Yun's voice was a little hoarse.

Yao held his forehead, his face full of frustration and exhaustion.

"Those bastards were deliberately trying to get President Zhou drunk tonight... I couldn't hold on either... Damn it..."

He took out his car keys and a business card from his pocket and handed them to Hua Yun, his speech slightly slurred.

"Hua Yun... please... I really... really can't hold on any longer..."

"This address... is Mr. Zhou's private apartment... You... you must make sure he gets back safely..."

"The car is in basement level B2...that Maybach..."

After saying that, he leaned against the wall and staggered to the other side.

Hua Yun looked at the keys and address in her hand, then at the man who was almost completely unconscious and leaning all his weight on her.

Her mind was blank.

Take him home.

These four words, like a thunderclap, exploded in her chaotic thoughts.

Once upon a time, this was just a distant and humble dream in her diary.

And now, this dream, so absurd yet so real, has landed on her head.