Suddenly Became a Boy – What Should I Do? - Chapter 77.3

Lin Xin stared at the sign outside the lottery shop for a full five minutes and thought, “There’s no greater truth than this.” Resolving to take his chances, he walked inside.

“Want a ticket? The draw’s about to happen. You still have time,” the cashier said.

“Sure, give me ten sets of numbers—one for each ticket,” Lin Xin replied confidently. After all, more numbers meant better odds, right? But when he reached into his pocket, he found only two lonely coins. Embarrassed, he quickly changed his request. “Actually, just one set will do.”

“Want to pick the numbers yourself?” the cashier asked.

Lin Xin had already lost his enthusiasm. “Doesn’t matter. Just randomize it,” he muttered.

“Got it.” The cashier handed over a slip of paper with a random set of numbers. Holding his “hopeless hope” in his hand, Lin Xin sat down among the other players to await the 9:30 PM live draw.

The first number was called. “5!”

Lin Xin glanced at his ticket. The first number matched. Those who didn’t even get the first number had already packed up and left. Lin Xin stayed, eagerly awaiting the next draw.

“21!” The second number also matched. Lin Xin was stunned. By now, the store was empty except for him, with discarded losing tickets scattered across the floor.

The cashier came out with a broom, clearing the litter. Noticing Lin Xin was still seated, he asked in amazement, “Wait, are you still in? Five numbers already, and they all matched?!”

Just as he finished speaking, the sixth number was called. Lin Xin, clutching his ticket, turned to the cashier, dazed. “Yeah… and the sixth one too.”

“Wow! A ten-million-yuan jackpot!” the cashier exclaimed. “This is the first time I’ve seen it happen in real life! I guess luck really exists!”

Lin Xin burst into laughter. “Ten million! I won ten million!” He quickly tucked the ticket safely into his pocket.

The TV host’s voice recapped the results. “This draw has two first-prize winners, each receiving five million yuan. Second prize went to two winners, and third prize to three…”

“Only five million?” The cashier’s casual use of the word “only” when referring to five million felt oddly out of place.

But Lin Xin was already overjoyed. Five million was more than enough for him to face Cheng Shiyin’s mother with confidence. He excitedly dialed Cheng Shiyin’s number to share the good news, but his phone chose that exact moment to die.

He reassured himself, “No problem. I’ll just tell her in person.”

Meanwhile, at Cheng Shiyin’s home, she had just wrestled her phone back from her mother. Her first priority was to call Lin Xin and explain that her mother had only been joking—there was no intention of breaking them up. But all she got was the automated message, “The number you are calling is currently unavailable.” Worried about Lin Xin, she decided to visit his dorm in person.

She changed at lightning speed and was about to put on her shoes when the doorbell rang. Hopping on one foot, she opened the door, only to find Lin Xin standing there. He was soaked with rain, but his face shone like the sunny skies above.

Before Cheng Shiyin could say a word, Lin Xin lunged forward, scooped her up, and spun her around, laughing loudly the whole time.

Cheng Shiyin wondered, “Has Lin Xin gone mad?”

The commotion at the door woke her mother, who groggily came to see what was happening. Before she could fully process who was there, Lin Xin swept her up as well, spinning her in the same tornado of laughter.

By the time both women were set back down, they were too dizzy to stand. Cheng Shiyin’s mother leaned against the wall, clutching her head, as Lin Xin cheerfully bowed to her.

“Good day, mother-in-law!” he declared, his voice brimming with energy.

She thought, “he’s definitely lost it,” covering her face as she slumped against the wall. She didn’t even notice Lin Xin pulling two pieces of paper from behind his phone case and handing them to her mother. The next moment, she was hoisted onto his shoulder and carried off like a bandit abducting a bride.

Cheng Shiyin’s mother, still recovering, stared at the papers in her hands. One bore a series of numbers, “05, 21, 13, 09, 88, 60.” Next to it, in pencil, was written, “Worth five million?”

Author’s Note

There are no legal lottery systems like the one described here in mainland China. This concept was inspired by Hong Kong films and refers simply to a lottery requiring six numbers.