We agreed not to date, so why are you crying now that I've become the richest man?

Zhao Peng was still chattering on and on about the match that had just taken place.

"Seven to zero! That's so damn exciting!"

"If you bet a hundred dollars on this score, wouldn't it be a game-changer?"

Ye Chen walked ahead, his hands in his pockets, a slight smile playing on his lips.

One hundred dollars?

Yesterday afternoon, he visited every lottery shop, big and small, in the city.

The entire initial investment of 20,000 yuan was poured into this score that nobody cared about.

The bald boss earnestly advised him, saying that young people shouldn't waste their money.

Ye Chen touched the thick stack of lottery receipts inside his pocket through the fabric.

Portugal beat North Korea 7-0.

The odds for a single match score are a full sixty times.

20,000 yuan principal.

One million two hundred thousand.

In this small county where the average wage is less than two thousand yuan, this is a huge sum of money that can drive people crazy.

But for Ye Chen, this was merely the first stepping stone to building his vast business empire.

"Let's go, Fatty."

Ye Chen patted Zhao Peng on the shoulder, laughing unrestrainedly.

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to see a real show."

***

6 month 24 day.

Out day.

He changed into a clean white T-shirt, pushed open the door, and walked out of the room.

The stairwells of the old residential building were filled with the aroma of soy milk and fried dough sticks.

Downstairs, next to a big tree, several middle-aged women were gathered together picking vegetables.

"The college entrance exam results are out today, right? Old Li's son didn't sleep well last night."

"Absolutely! Getting into university is like a carp leaping over the dragon gate."

Seeing Ye Chen approaching, Aunt Wang from the second floor shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Chenchen, the results are out today. Do you have a good idea of ​​how things are going?"

Ye Chen stopped in his tracks, a bright and cheerful smile spreading across his face.

"It's alright, Grandma Wang."

"This kid has such a good attitude, much better than my rascal," Aunt Wang said with a smile and a wave of her hand.

After buying breakfast, Ye Chen carried the plastic bag upstairs.

Pushing open the door, the atmosphere inside was completely different from the leisurely atmosphere outside.

The television screen was black.

Ye Jianguo and Chen Xiulan took leave for the first time ever, and the two sat side by side on the old cloth sofa.

Ye Chen's examination admission ticket and ID card were neatly arranged on the coffee table.

There was also a piece of paper with the score inquiry hotline cut out from a newspaper.

Ye Jianguo was holding a Hongtashan cigarette in his hand.

He crushed the tobacco into pieces, and it fell onto his trouser leg without him noticing.

Chen Xiulan took a half-dry rag and wiped the already shiny glass coffee table for the fifth time.

"Dad, Mom, let's have breakfast first."

Ye Chen placed the fried dough sticks and soy milk on the dining table, his tone relaxed.

Ye Jianguo waved his hand, his eyes fixed on the clock on the wall.

"I can't eat anymore, I'll eat when the scores come out at twelve o'clock."

Chen Xiulan slammed the rag on the coffee table and glared at her son.

"How can you be so carefree? This is a lifelong commitment!"

Ye Chen pulled out a chair, sat down, and took a bite of the crispy fried dough stick.

lifelong?

His fate was decided the moment he was reborn.

In this life, what he wants is absolute financial freedom, to stand at the very top of the capital chain.

The college entrance examination was merely a ticket for him to enter the arena of fame and fortune.

"The score won't disappear, and checking it on an empty stomach won't add a single point," Ye Chen comforted him with a smile.

Ye Jianguo sighed and rubbed his face.

"You don't understand, this is even more grueling than when I was interviewing for a factory job."

Ye Chen didn't try to persuade him any further. He finished his breakfast in a few bites, then turned around and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

When he came out drying his hair, the hands of the wall clock were pointing to 11:50.

Ye Jianguo had already gripped the landline microphone tightly in his hand.

"Old Ye, don't rush, it's not time yet," Chen Xiulan reminded him from the side, her voice trembling.

"Let me dial first, just in case the line gets busy."

It's exactly twelve o'clock.

Ye Jianguo pressed down hard on the number on the slip of paper.

"Beep—Sorry, the number you dialed is busy..."

hang up.

Redial.

"I'm busy."

Ye Jianguo's forehead was sweating, and his fingers were tapping the keys loudly.

"Why can't I get through to this damn phone!"

Chen Xiulan also got anxious and grabbed the microphone.

"Don't press the wrong number, let me try."

"Hundreds of thousands of students across the province are taking this test; it's no wonder they're not going to pass."

Ye Chen walked over and took the microphone from his mother's hand.

"Dad, Mom, I'll call."

He pressed the speakerphone button, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he dialed a completely different number.

This is a backup score checking channel within the Education Bureau.

In his previous life, he had to look it up several times before he could remember it, but now, thanks to his absolute memory, the string of numbers was etched into his mind.

"beep--"

pass.

A standard announcer's voice came through the phone.

"Welcome to the College Entrance Examination Score Inquiry System. Please enter your examination admission ticket number and end with the hash symbol."

Ye Jianguo froze on the sofa, even his breathing stopped.

Chen Xiulan gripped her pants tightly at her knees with both hands.

Ye Chen glanced at the admission ticket, quickly entered the number, and pressed the hash key.

"The examinee is Ye Chen."

"Chinese language score: 131."

Ye Jianguo slapped his thigh hard. "That's a high score!"

"Mathematics, 147 points."

Chen Xiulan gasped, her eyes widening in shock.

"English, 140 points."

Ye Jianguo's hands began to tremble violently.

He reached for the pen on the table to take notes, but the pen rolled directly to the floor.

"Li Zong, 245 points."

The announcer paused for a moment.

The only sound in the living room was the creaking of the old electric fan.

Total score: 663 points.

The call ended automatically, leaving a busy tone.

The rag in Chen Xiulan's hand fell directly to her feet.

Ye Jianguo opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound for a long time.

The two of them sat there on the sofa, motionless, like two statues.

Ye Chen leaned back in his chair, picked up the bottled water on the coffee table, and took a sip.

His expression was as calm as if he were listening to someone else's grades.

"How much? Chenchen, how much did they say inside?"

Ye Jianguo's voice went completely hoarse as he turned to look at Chen Xiulan.

Chen Xiulan's eyes reddened, and her voice trembled.

"I hear... 663?"

"It's 663." Ye Chen put down the water bottle and confirmed with a smile.

Ye Jianguo jumped up.

"663! My God, 663!"

He paced back and forth in the cramped living room, his face flushed red, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

Chen Xiulan burst into tears.

She bent down to pick up the rag, but her hands were shaking so badly she couldn't hold it.

"This score... is enough to get into a good university, right? Enough for a top provincial university, right?"

Ye Jianguo stopped and retorted loudly.

"What provincial key school?! That's 663 points!"

"Apart from those two top-tier universities, you can choose any university in the country!"

After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards the bedroom.

Chen Xiulan quickly wiped her face and pulled him back.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll pay! I need to book a table at the Great Wall Hotel! I'll invite all my relatives!"

Ye Jianguo is no longer the composed man he usually is.

Ye Chen quickly spoke up to stop him.

"Dad, don't panic."