Time quietly slipped away. As expected, the investigation by the police and the FBI into the 'bar lottery' case reached a deadlock.
This case was a sudden event without any forewarning, and the "crimes of passion" posed a great challenge to the investigation.
Zhou Qingfeng, as an overseas student, had no interactions with the gang or the deceased.
More crucially, after snatching the lottery ticket, he thoroughly cleaned the scene, erasing all possible clues.
No matter how much the investigation expanded, Zhou Qingfeng's suspicion level remained at the lowest tier.
Unless there's direct evidence, the FBI couldn't focus their attention on him no matter how hard they tried.
However, with some gang members gradually being bailed out, the details of the 'bar lottery' case inevitably leaked out.
This news ignited the enthusiasm of various media outlets. Originally, everyone thought the super prize was already decided, but nobody expected such a dramatic twist.
Yet the media frenzy only lasted a few days, soon swallowed by an abundance of other information.
The prize was too distant; most people just treated the news as a topic for casual discussions and jokes over meals and soon forgot about it.
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A month later.
After school at White Beach High School.
Zhou Qingfeng stood at the school gate, looking around, but he couldn't see Selena's figure. He took out his phone, about to dial, but the ringtone rang first.
"Sorry, Victor." Selena's apologetic voice came from the phone. "The cheerleading team has a temporary activity, and if I don't join in, I can't get into the club, so we can't watch the movie tonight."
"Alright, your activity is important." Zhou Qingfeng originally planned to do some 'happy things' with his little girlfriend at the cinema, but now it seemed to fall through. "You go ahead, I'll head home alone."
After hanging up, he checked his watch and sighed silently.
The school bus had already left, and the Congers' house was two kilometers away, requiring at least half an hour of walking.
He looked up at the gradually darkening sky, contemplating whether to start walking on his own, when the familiar roar of an engine came from behind.
"Kid, you missed the school bus again?" A flame-red sports car stopped steadily in front of him, the window rolled down slowly, revealing Jennifer's smiling face.
She wore sunglasses, her golden hair gently swaying in the wind, appearing both dashing and languid.
Zhou Qingfeng looked like he had seen his savior. Without hesitation, he tossed his backpack into the back seat of the sports car and stepped into the passenger seat. "How could the school bus compare to a sports car? I was waiting for you."
But Jennifer shook her head, "Sorry, Victor. I need to move some things, so I can't take you straight home."
"No problem, I'm very willing to be a porter for a beauty." Zhou Qingfeng stuck with the gorgeous lady. "And if you can treat me to dinner, that would be even better."
Because Selena and I originally planned to watch a movie, her mother Julia certainly wouldn't make dinner for me.
Jennifer didn't mind but laughed, "Ever since knowing you, either you hitch a ride from me or take credit for dinner. You're pretty good at taking advantage of me."
The sports car left the campus, speeding along the highway.
The setting sun's glow cast dazzling light and shadows on the car's body.
Zhou Qingfeng leaned back in the seat, savoring the thrill of the wind whizzing past his ears, feeling very relaxed.
After driving for more than ten kilometers, the sports car entered a wealthy residential area in the suburbs of Miami.
The wide and clean streets were lined with neatly trimmed greenery and various luxurious villas, a stark contrast to White Beach Town, akin to the difference between a Dragon Palace and a slum.
Jennifer's car finally stopped in front of a modern-style villa. The white exterior wall paired with large floor-to-ceiling windows was both simple and luxurious.
"We're here." Jennifer took off her sunglasses and looked at Zhou Qingfeng, "Help me move a few boxes later, and I'll treat you to Italian food for dinner, okay?"
"Deal." Zhou Qingfeng agreed readily, pushing open the car door and jumping out. He looked up at the villa before him and couldn't help but marvel: this place is really impressive.
Jennifer walked to the door, entered the password, and pushed it open, signaling Zhou Qingfeng to follow. The interior was exquisitely decorated, filled with a faint fragrance.
She didn't live alone; there were servants in the house, yet she pointed to the corner of the living room at several cardboard boxes. "Those, help me move them to the garage."
This task was too easy. Zhou Qingfeng walked over and effortlessly picked up the boxes, casually asking, "Are you moving houses?"
"No." Jennifer smiled lightly, "Some things aren't needed anymore, so I'm planning to donate them."
"Can I take a look?" With her permission, Zhou Qingfeng opened a box casually, revealing a Hasselblad camera worth several thousand US Dollars inside.
"Are you going to donate this?"
"Yes." Jennifer shrugged. "Don't blame me for being foolish; it's just too complicated, and I simply can't use it. Better to give it away."
Wow... Zhou Qingfeng exaggeratedly exclaimed, "You must be a rich girl, marrying you would save someone twenty years of struggle."
"Twenty years?" Jennifer thought for a moment, then shook her head and sweetly smiled. "I think you underestimate my father's wealth and earning ability."
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Jennifer really took Zhou Qingfeng to have Italian cuisine—for this dinner, they drove more than ten kilometers.
The dinner details need not be elaborated. In short, it was the most upscale restaurant with the most attentive service and the most luxurious enjoyment.
After dinner, it was already 9 PM. Jennifer drove Zhou Qingfeng back to White Beach Town.
"Thank you for the dinner." Zhou Qingfeng felt a bit guilty. He actually did nothing but let the gorgeous lady drive him around.