Jianghai City, Haitian Grand Hotel, Room 666.

“The first five red balls of today’s Double Color Ball draw have been announced. Congrats to all the second prize winners!”

“Next, we’ll reveal the blue bonus number—to determine the grand prize winner!”

“Everyone take note—the prize pool has reached an incredible 230 million yuan. Who will be the lucky one?”

The room that had been buzzing just a moment ago went dead silent. All that remained was the heavy breathing of the people inside.

Everyone’s eyes locked on the TV—and on Wilbert Delphine, who was calmly checking his ticket, number by number.

…

Two hours earlier, at a lottery stand in Jianghai City.

“Hold up. Change that last ticket—I’ll take twenty bets on this one instead.”

Wilbert handed over a slightly amended slip of paper along with forty yuan, laying them on the counter with precision.

The lottery owner didn’t blink. He saw this kind of thing every day—people betting on dreams of sudden wealth.

But Wilbert? He looked dazed, as if the printing hum of the lottery machine was pulling him out of a trance.

2013.

A year that felt both distant and oddly familiar.

Just moments ago, his surroundings had shifted in a flash. One second, he was staring at wild stock charts, his boss barking in his ears—next, it was a lottery clerk staring back at him, with a love song gently playing in the background.

Did he just time travel?

Back to 2013?

If he was standing at the lottery shop again, today had to be the day of the college graduation three-year reunion.

And if he really was back in the past—did that mean he now had knowledge no one else had?

Taking his freshly printed tickets, Wilbert hopped on his mountain bike and darted off towards the Haitian Grand Hotel.

—Beep beep!

Right outside the hotel, just as Wilbert locked up his bike, a car horn blared behind him.

“Well, if it isn’t Wilbert Delphine, the ultimate hopeless romantic from our department.”

Before Wilbert could turn around, a sharply sarcastic voice rang out.

Gus Stevenson.

A classic rich kid. Used his family connections and some startup cash to kick off an import-export business right after graduating.

But what grabbed Wilbert’s attention wasn’t Gus—it was the profile of the woman in the passenger seat.

Mina Brooks.

His ex-girlfriend. The girl he once bent over backward for in college—but who now sat next to Gus.

Back then, Wilbert was the dictionary definition of a simp.

Rumor had it, Mina had already been getting close to Gus while still with Wilbert. After their breakup, she wasted no time and got with Gus immediately.

“Long time no see, Wilbert,” Mina said, barely flashing a polite smile.

“Oh? Still rocking a bicycle? Pretty committed to that aesthetic, I see.”

“I thought you were in finance now. Don’t tell me you messed up a trade and went broke?”

Gus’s voice dripped with mockery.

But reborn Wilbert wasn’t the least bit annoyed. Honestly, he saw Gus as nothing more than a barking stray.

Thinking back to how seriously he once took this couple’s drama made Wilbert want to laugh. He had given them way too much credit.

“And you?” Wilbert smirked as he glanced at Gus.

“Heard you opened an import-export shop that’s been bleeding money every year... Still pretending all’s fine while flirting around with your assistant every day?”

He threw them both a casual glance, his tone laced with quiet ridicule, then turned his gaze towards Mina.Wilbert Delphine had to admit—even though he felt nothing but slight disgust for Mina Brooks now—her face was still as flawless as ever.

Especially those eyes, soft and pleading, like they could effortlessly melt any guy into wanting to protect her at all costs.

And well, that’s exactly how past Wilbert fell for her.

After hearing Wilbert’s words, Mina’s expression flickered with unease, though she quickly composed herself. It was pretty clear she knew all about Gus Stevenson’s shady business outside their relationship. She just didn’t want to give up the lifestyle he provided.

“Wilbert, if you don’t know how to talk, then just shut up!”

“You’re this bitter just because Mina’s with me now, huh? Let’s be real, if you had the money to drive a Ferrari and give her the kind of life she wants, maybe we wouldn’t be here.”

Wilbert gave a dismissive laugh.

“A Ferrari? Come on. Don’t kid yourself.”

“That F430 you drive isn’t even new. Back in '05, it was going for barely 700k. How much did you pay? What, 400k? 500k?”

“Then again, who am I to judge? Some people are just into second-hand goods. I wouldn't get it.”

With that, Wilbert turned and walked off, not even sparing them another glance.

Inside, the vibe was buzzing.

It’d been three years since graduation, and so much had changed. Some classmates even had kids now. Time sure flew.

Wilbert hadn’t been seated long when Gus and Mina walked in, both looking like they’d just swallowed something bitter. And when they saw Wilbert smiling at them? The jealousy was written all over Gus’s face.

“Gus, Mina, long time no see. Come have a drink,” Wilbert said with a calm grin.

The others didn’t notice the tension—Mina and Gus instantly became center stage. One had money, the other had looks. No surprise.

“Hey, why’s Mina walking in with Gus?”

“Wait… don’t tell me you two actually broke up?”

As Wilbert sat there, slightly bored, a familiar voice piped up beside him.

It was Olivia Buffett. Back in college, she and Mina were the standout beauties, though their vibes were completely different.

Where Mina was the delicate, damsel-in-distress type, Olivia radiated sunshine and energy—straightforward and carefree.

“Wow, you’re still this nosy? Three years and you turn into a gossip queen?” Wilbert teased, raising an eyebrow.

He remembered her as someone who barely cared about drama.

“Shut up,” Olivia muttered. “I’ve always been curious. Just low-key.”

“Seriously though, if even you guys broke up, I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

“Come on, spill. What happened? Don’t tell me the ultimate simp finally gave up on his queen?”

Pretty much everyone remembered Wilbert trailing behind Mina like a loyal puppy back in college.

“Nothing huge,” Wilbert replied casually. “Different values. Plus, I couldn’t afford her lifestyle.”

Hearing that, Olivia nodded in sudden understanding.

“Damn. So that’s the kind of girl Mina really is?”

“Well, gotta say, you were bold—chasing a gold-digger with zero cash. Respect.”

Wilbert chuckled and gave a mock bow. “Appreciate the compliment.”

Their eyes met and both burst out in a knowing smile.

But to Gus, watching from across the room, that little exchange made his stomach turn.

He quickly reached over, gently grabbing Mina’s hand, his eyes filled with exaggerated affection as he stood up.