Hard work after winning the lottery

My thoughts returned.

Zhou Yanjin raised her eyes and looked at her grandfather.

"Grandpa, I think I vaguely remember this place."

His tone had lost some of its previous caution and gained more of a probing quality.

"It is said that rural tourism has developed in a very distinctive way in recent years."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yinchuan's eyes lit up!

"You knew too?!"

He slapped his thigh suddenly, as if he had found a kindred spirit, and leaned forward slightly in excitement.

"It's more than just unique! Let me tell you, my old comrade-in-arms described it on the phone... cough, I mean, he said it was practically a paradise on earth!"

The old man's expectant gaze, like two clusters of blazing flames, was fixed directly on Zhou Yanjin.

In those eyes, there was a longing for reuniting with old friends, a yearning for rural life, and an unconcealable, childlike joy.

Zhou Yanjin's heart was gently touched by that gaze.

How long had it been since he had seen such a vivid and lively expression on his grandfather's face?

An idea had already taken shape in his mind.

He accompanied them personally.

It allows Grandpa to have fun without worry, and it can also be considered... a field trip.

Combining business assessments with family trips is perfectly in line with his usual style.

He had even begun planning the itinerary in his mind, considering whether he should have Ying Zhiyao prepare a more detailed document in advance.

However, almost at the same instant.

Another, much larger and more urgent term forcefully occupied his thoughts—

Cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

Next week, a crucial negotiation concerning the Zhou Group's strategic layout in the European market over the next five years will enter its final stage.

As the commander-in-chief, he absolutely could not be absent.

time……

Zhou Yanjin's brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again almost imperceptibly.

His silence made the atmosphere in the restaurant subtle once again.

The light in Zhou Yinchuan's eyes dimmed little by little as his grandson fell silent.

Having lived to this age, how could he not see the difficulty in his grandson's eyes?

Yes.

His grandson is the head of the Zhou Group, a very busy president.

His one minute could be related to a contract worth tens of millions.

Was this sudden idea of ​​mine... too impulsive?

A sense of loss, accompanied by a touch of self-mockery, welled up in my heart.

Zhou Yanjin clearly noticed the change in her grandfather's eyes.

That dimness, like a tiny needle, pierced his heart.

He made the decision almost immediately.

"grandfather."

Zhou Yanjin spoke again, his voice steady and firm, carrying an undeniable power.

"If you want to go, I'll go with you."

"As for the timing," he paused, a sharp glint of strategic brilliance flashing in his deep black eyes, "I will arrange it."

The words "I will make arrangements" were like a resounding promise, temporarily smoothing away the last trace of gloom in Zhou Yinchuan's eyes.

Dinner is over.

Zhou Yanjin did not linger in the living room, but went straight to the study on the second floor.

His steps were steady and powerful, and his back was as upright as a pine tree, giving people a sense of absolute control as always.

It seemed as if there was nothing in this world that he couldn't arrange.

The study door was gently closed, isolating it from the outside world.

The decor features cool tones, clean lines, and custom-made Italian furniture. The air is filled with the subtle scent of cedar and the aroma of paper and ink.

He didn't turn on the main light, only leaving a table lamp on.

A halo of dim yellow light enveloped him, subtly peeling away the mask of composure on his face.

He sat down in the large leather chair, his weight causing the chair to tilt back slightly.

With a light touch of the fingertip, the laptop screen instantly lights up.

The deep blue light reflected in his eyes, like two bottomless, icy pools.

On the screen, an electronic calendar, so densely packed, occupied the entire field of vision with a cold and absolute air.

Zhou Yanjin's gaze swept over them swiftly, like the most precise scanner.

Then, the frame freezes.

His fingertip hovered over the time coordinate of next Wednesday.

There, it was firmly nailed down by a bold, red-highlighted entry.

[DE Group, final acquisition negotiations, Zurich.]

A line of cold characters stood before him like an insurmountable barrier.

DE Group, a long-established European energy giant.

The Zhou Group had been secretly planning this acquisition for two whole years.

As the chief architect and ultimate executor of the entire plan, he must personally attend the negotiation table next Wednesday.

This is the final push.

This is related to the Zhou family's territory and influence in the international new energy market over the next five to ten years.

There must be no room for error.

And Grandpa...

Zhou Yanjin's gaze slowly moved to a note next to the schedule, which he had temporarily outlined with a dotted line.

[Baixi Village, itinerary preparation.]

The two time frames overlapped so glaringly.

The confident assurance he had when he agreed to his grandfather's request was shattered by reality at this moment.

Zhou Yanjin slowly leaned back, her entire body sinking into the soft chair back.

He raised his hand, his long, slender fingers pressing hard against his throbbing temples.

A deep sense of powerlessness, mixed with a barely perceptible regret, quietly spread across his eyes like ink in a painting.

For the public good.

He really wanted to go and see Baixi Village.

What does a village that can be rated S by the investment department but has not yet been heavily invaded by capital look like?

The data in the report is cold and hard.

He trusted his own eyes more.

On-site inspections are a business habit ingrained in his bones.

For personal reasons.

He also wanted to go and see for his grandfather.

Look at that old comrade-in-arms who can make Grandpa laugh like a child on the phone.

Let's see what kind of life that old friend, whom Grandpa described as a life-or-death bond, is living now.

But he couldn't go.

Zhou Yanjin lowered her hand, her eyes now completely clear of emotion, leaving only a calm rationality.

He stood up and stood quietly in the study for a moment.

Then, he turned around and opened the door.

……

Zhou Yinchuan's room was completely different from his own study.

There is no cold metal or glass; all you see is warm, solid wood.

A faint, lingering scent of sandalwood, reminiscent of bygone days, filled the air.

When Zhou Yanjin knocked on the door, the old man was wearing his reading glasses and carefully examining a yellowed black-and-white photograph by the light of the bedside lamp.

Hearing the knock on the door, he looked up and saw Zhou Yanjin. His smile immediately spread across his face.

"What's wrong, Yan Jin? Have you planned the itinerary? I trust you the most!"

The old man's tone was full of trust and expectation.

This expectation made Zhou Yanjin's heart feel gently pricked by that invisible needle once again.

He walked to the bedside, but instead of sitting down, he leaned forward slightly.

This posture allowed him to look directly at his grandfather, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.

His voice was lower and slower than it had been in the study.

He carried a hint of apology that he himself was unaware of.

"grandfather."

"Tell me the specific date after you and Grandpa Hua have agreed on it."

"I will arrange the best car and the best entourage for you to ensure your comfort and safety throughout the journey."

Zhou Yinchuan's smile froze slightly.

He understood the subtext in his grandson's words.

Arrange vehicles, arrange personnel...

He alone was not included.