Chapter 362

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

"Brother Zhu, I see you've been busy for half the day too. How about you draw a ball and go queue up? I'll let the customers behind you draw the rest themselves."

As Hu Xiaoyun spoke, she reached to take the lucky draw box from Zhu Chang's hands.

"No no no! Not busy, not busy at all!"

Hearing this, Zhu Chang immediately stepped back several paces, clutching the box tightly, his expression stubborn: "Let me do it. No one's drawn the red ball yet. I'll wait a bit longer! Once there are fewer white balls inside, I'll definitely draw it!"

"But... this was originally arranged by the Boss for me to do. You've been troubled for so long, I'm a bit embarrassed."

Seeing his unwilling-to-give-up look, Hu Xiaoyun said with some awkwardness.

"Not troublesome, not troublesome at all!"

Zhu Chang waved his hand dismissively, jerking his chin toward Lu Feng's Shop: "Xiao Yun, go do whatever you need to do. If Boss Lu asks later, I'll explain to him!"

Seeing him so insistent, Hu Xiaoyun could only nod: "Alright then, I'll get back to work. Thank you, Brother Zhu."

Business hours were almost here; diners would soon enter to order. She couldn't delay here too long.

Watching Hu Xiaoyun walk back to the shop, Zhu Chang breathed a sigh of relief, then continued hugging the lucky draw box and calling out loudly.

"Come come come! Everyone who hasn't drawn yet, look this way! Boss Lu's special roast duck today is only two ducks. Draw a red ball and you get to eat. Want roast duck? Hurry up and try your luck!"

With his shout, the queue grew lively again. The diners behind crowded forward to draw.

Only, those people behind — their luck today didn't seem too good either.

Zhu Chang carried the box far out, yet the red ball still hadn't been drawn.

Every time a diner pulled a white ball from the box, the smile on Zhu Chang's face grew a bit more radiant.

As the number of balls in the box gradually dwindled, his smile grew ever more radiant.

"My turn! Let me draw one!"

A rough voice reached Zhu Chang's ear.

He looked up. The speaker was a burly man in a black tank top, muscles bulging like hard stones.

Zhu Chang recognized him. This man was also a regular at Lu Feng's shop — Zhao Yan, a fitness trainer at the nearby gym.

Before, Zhao Yan had recommended Zhu Chang join his gym, swearing that in a few months he could completely transform Zhu Chang's physique.

But Zhu Chang had refused.

On one hand, he didn't want to spend the money; on the other, he was lazy.

"You sure you want to draw? I recall you fitness types avoid greasy stuff, right? Roast duck is this oily. Aren't you afraid eating it will waste all that training?"

Zhu Chang looked Zhao Yan's chicken (muscles) up and down, asking with a puzzled face.

"It's just one roast duck. No big deal. I'll do a few extra sets of barbell, run an hour — this bit of calories burns off in minutes. Can't miss Boss Lu's roast duck!"

Zhao Yan waved his big hand carelessly.

Speaking, he stretched his hand toward Zhu Chang, thick fingers spread, exuding power: "Hurry up and hand over the box. I have to taste Boss Lu's roast duck today!"

"Fine, you draw then. Only one ball allowed!"

Seeing his generous manner, Zhu Chang said no more and passed the box over.

Zhao Yan thrust his rough big hand into the box, groping around for a long while.

The balls inside clattered as he stirred them, yet he didn't pull one out.

His expression was grave, brows deeply furrowed, looking hesitant.

Zhao Yan's hesitation had a reason — his luck had never been good.

He'd once dreamed of striking it rich overnight. Every day after work he'd buy a lottery ticket at the stall downstairs from the gym.

He persisted for two full years, never winning even a one-yuan prize.

He'd joined every supermarket lucky draw too.

He saw others win rice cookers, electric fans; at worst a pack of tissues.

He only ever got "Thank you for your patronage."

Even buying drinks at a convenience store, he'd never won a "buy one get one free" reward.

Over time, Zhao Yan lost all confidence in his luck.

Now with his hand in the box, he felt every ball he touched was a white ball.

"Big bro, hurry it up!"

Seeing his hand grope inside for ages without pulling out, Zhu Chang couldn't wait any longer.

He glanced back toward the restaurant gate.

Business hours had arrived. The front diners were already entering the shop.

He was still waiting to draw the red ball and go buy roast duck!

"What's the rush! It's coming!"

Zhao Yan, urged on, grew flustered and irritated, muttering a reply.

Then, going by instinct, he grabbed a ball and yanked it out: "You're the one!"

"Hahaha, groped half a day and still didn't get it."

Zhu Chang looked at the white ping pong ball in Zhao Yan's hand and couldn't help laughing.

"This rotten hand..."

Zhao Yan stared at the white ball, face instantly flushing red. He reached to draw again: "No! I'm drawing once more! I refuse to believe I can't get the red ball!"

"Hey hey hey! No!"

Zhu Chang reacted extremely quickly, hugging the Lucky Draw Box and stepping back a large step: "Lu Boss said it already, each person can only draw once per day! No matter who it is, it's all the same!"

Zhao Yan's hand stopped in midair, frowning somewhat dissatisfied as he said: "There's such a rule, why didn't you say it sooner? If I'd known earlier I should have chosen more carefully!"

"Xiao Yun said it from the start, you didn't hear clearly yourself, who can you blame? Besides, you didn't ask me before you drew!"

Zhu Chang said with a face full of righteous indignation.

Zhao Yan glared at Zhu Chang's face, puffed up with anger, the White Ball in his hand almost crushed by him.

Ever since he started queuing he had been smelling the fragrance of Roast Duck, the Glutton in his stomach had long been hooked, how could he possibly be willing to just give up like that?

"You wait!"

Zhao Yan threw the White Ball in his hand to Zhu Chang, his voice carrying an unwilling-to-lose momentum.

He had always followed the rules in Lu Feng's shop.

Before, someone had wanted to cut in line, and it was him who voluntarily stood up to maintain order.

But today this Roast Duck's fragrance was really too tempting, now there was only one thought in his head: he must eat Roast Duck!

"Hey hey hey, you can't draw again!"

Zhu Chang hugged the Lucky Draw Box, looking at Zhao Yan with a vigilant face as he said: "You also know Lu Boss's rules, if you violate the rules, even if you draw it, it won't be sold to you."

Zhao Yan suddenly grinned, showing two rows of neat teeth, his thick fingers pointing behind him: "Relax, I will of course follow Lu Boss's rules, it's not me drawing, it's them drawing!"

Zhu Chang looked in the direction he pointed, and was stunned on the spot.

Only now did he notice that the ten people standing behind Zhao Yan were all wearing black fitness tank tops.

The black tank tops had the gym's logo printed on them, the style exactly the same as the one Zhao Yan was wearing.