Ethan gave a nod, glanced at the ten winning numbers for the first prize, then shifted closer to the glass box.
“Hey pretty girl, should I do the picking or you wanna try? This guy looks like he’s got dumb luck?” The shop owner’s wife smiled at Chloe but shot a mocking glance at Ethan.
Chloe rolled her eyes, “Can you not be so rude?”
Snorting, the woman stepped away.
Hmph, as if a broke guy like that could win anything.
Ethan slid his hand into the box, activated his X-ray Vision, and watched the ping-pong balls swirl around.
Whenever his hand neared one of the first-prize balls, the others would seem to roll away on their own.
Well, well, something’s fishy here.
Smiling faintly, Ethan suddenly reached in and grabbed one like catching a fish, then handed it to Chloe.
Chloe took it and quickly checked the number.
“Ha! 018, second prize, lady, hand over the 500!”
The boss lady froze, eyes going wide as she read the number.
Sure enough—018.
Second prize.
No way that poor guy could be this lucky?
Reluctantly, she went to the counter and pulled out 500 yuan, handing it over.
Chloe chuckled, gave Ethan a thumbs-up, “You’re killing it, Ethan. Again!”
He nodded and went in for another, thinking: With these eyes?
This is basically cheating.
“Hmph, no way he keeps getting lucky,” muttered the woman, eyeing him in disbelief.
Ethan reached in again and grabbed another ball, handing it to Chloe.
“Wanna check this one?”
“Yep!” Chloe slid the money into her wallet and quickly checked the number.
She suddenly slapped her thigh, eyes lighting up.
“Hahahaha! 079! First prize!”
The boss lady stared in disbelief.
Sure enough—079.
A first prize.
“One thousand, now!” Chloe stretched out her hand, putting on a smug grin as she watched the woman hesitate.
Gritting her teeth, the woman pulled out another 1,000 and shoved it over.
Chloe took the crisp bills, fanned them in her hands, and laughed.
“Ethan, we’re winning big! Keep going!”
Flashing a bright smile, Ethan reached in again.
“Tch! If he pulls another first prize, I’ll chop off my head!” the woman snapped.
By this point, a small crowd had gathered, eyes fixed on Ethan.
No one had ever hit first prize in this booth, let alone back to back!
With everyone watching, Ethan raised his hand—this time holding two balls.
“Chloe, double or nothing?”
“You bet!” Chloe quickly took them, checked the numbers, and suddenly bounced on her feet, practically glowing.
“Haha—both are first prize! This is insane!”
The owner’s wife lunged forward to see for herself.
Her jaw dropped.
Two more first prizes, clear as day.”Two draws, both jackpots!”
“No way, this guy’s luck is unreal!”
“He doesn’t even look that rich, but wow, his luck is on fire!”
The onlookers were buzzing with chatter, some already itching to try their own luck.
“Boss lady, two grand, cough it up!” Chloe snapped her fingers at the woman, rubbing her slender fingers like she was warming up for more.
The boss lady shot a nasty glare at Chloe, then at Ethan, teeth gritted, but still turned to pull out more cash.
“Boss lady, seriously, might as well chop your head off and hand it to Ethan!”
The woman’s face twisted with anger and humiliation.
“Go ahead, keep drawing. You hit another jackpot and I might actually start believing you.”
Chloe, clearly enjoying herself, turned to Ethan with a gleam in her eyes.
“Come on, Ethan, keep going!”
She was hyped now, clearly impressed.
“If you hit another jackpot, I swear I’ll give you my first kiss!”
Ethan grinned, nodded, and reached into the prize box again.
This time, he pulled out three balls and handed them over.
“Check these.”
Chloe’s eyes lit up.
Careful as ever, she took the balls and turned around to check the numbers.
Then she literally jumped up.
“Holy crap, all three are jackpots!”
Without warning, she spun back, threw her arms around Ethan, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Ethan blinked, stunned.
That was her first kiss!
She smelled amazing, too.
But just as he started to process it, the moment was over.
He instinctively reached for his pocket—wanted to grab his phone and snap a pic.
Then remembered it was gone.
Dang it.
“Boss lady! Three grand, let’s go!” Chloe handed the balls to her.
The woman stared at the balls in disbelief, double-checking the results with wide eyes.
Sure enough—another three jackpots.
She froze.
“What are you spacing out for? Come on, three grand!” Chloe pressed, practically bouncing on her heels.
The boss lady grit her teeth, clearly suffering as she handed over the money.
Six grand down the drain already—just like that.
Chloe chirped with joy as she counted the cash, giving Ethan another quick peck.
Truth was, she wasn’t even short on cash.
But this win?
Way more satisfying than scoring six mil.
Ethan was on cloud nine.
One kiss on each cheek?
Man, he was living the dream.
If she threw in one more in the middle…
“No way.”
“This is insane!”
“Is the guy some kind of wizard?”
The crowd buzzed louder with each prize.
Some finally couldn’t help themselves and ran to buy something just to get a chance to draw.
Ethan just grinned and pulled Chloe aside, letting the chaos play out.
“I got fourth prize…
a towel.”
“I got a toothbrush!””I’m worse off than you guys—I just got a ballpoint pen!”
A few folks who’d drawn prizes grumbled in disappointment, then turned to eye Ethan with a mix of envy and disbelief.
“Ethan, we’ve still got four more chances. Come on, keep going!” Chloe urged, excitement bubbling in her voice as she noticed no one else was stepping up.
Ethan nodded and walked back to the acrylic prize box.
This time, it wasn’t just Chloe staring intently—everyone nearby, including the shop owner, had their eyes glued to his every move.
They were all dying to know how he kept pulling it off like magic.
In no time, Ethan drew out four ping pong balls—two in each hand—then handed them to Chloe.
“Check ’em.”
She snatched them eagerly, comparing the numbers with nervous anticipation.
A small crowd swarmed in to help check.
Then, suddenly—cheers erupted.
“First prize!”
“All four!
All freaking first prize!”
“Man, this guy’s on fire!”
The way they lit up, you’d think they were the ones who’d won.
Sweat poured down the shop owner’s face.
She stared at Ethan like he was an alien.
‘Is this guy even human?’
Ethan shot her a calm, mocking grin.
Yeah, didn’t think I had it in me, huh?
“I’m calling my husband!” she blurted out and turned to leave.
But Chloe snatched her arm.
“Where do you think you’re going?
We’re still short four grand!”
“I don’t have that much on me.
I’ll get my husband—we run the clinic next door,” the woman explained shakily, pointing toward the adjoining space.
“Huh, you can run, but you can’t hide,” Chloe muttered, reluctantly letting go.
She glanced at Ethan.
“Guess we wait.”
Three minutes later, the owner was back—with a man in a white lab coat towering at six foot one, thickset and broad-shouldered.
He looked more like a butcher than any kind of doctor.
“That’s them!” the owner snapped, pointing dramatically like she’d just uncovered a scam.
“One second prize, ten first prizes!”
The man gave Ethan and Chloe a quick, cold once-over.
“You’re still owed four grand?” he asked flatly.
Chloe nodded.
“Yup.”
He let out a smug snort.
“You did win ten grand, no denying that.
But there’s a 40% tax.
So yeah, I’ve taken care of the four thousand—taxes, you know?”
“Wait, what?” Chloe’s expression went hard, eyes wide in disbelief.
“Why didn’t anyone mention taxes before we started?”
Ethan narrowed his eyes at the man, lips curling ever so slightly.
People in the crowd started murmuring, shooting the guy skeptical looks.
But seeing his intimidating build, they kept their distance, shrinking back.
“What, I can’t say it now?” the man barked.
“This is my place. I make the rules.” He waved them off like swatting flies, clearly done with the conversation.
“Now scram.
You’re in the way.”
“Not happening.” Chloe stood her ground, voice sharp.
“I’m not leaving without my four grand. Either I get it, or I’m camping right here.”