Zheng Juan sat on the ground, covered in dust, but her heart was aflame with excitement. Struggling to get up, the pain almost brought her to tears, yet her face was glowing with incontainable joy. She clung to her phone, her voice trembling as she asked, "Mr. Han, are you... are you sure? Is it 400 million, not 40 million?"
"Yes, Ms. Zheng, I am certain," Han Tao's voice came through the phone, serious and earnest. "The money has indeed been credited to Mr. Xiao's account, and the source is the National Lottery Center's prize redemption account. Such a large amount is not a small matter, so I verified it three times."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Juan almost screamed. She covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling with excitement. 400 million, it was an astronomical figure! Although she had no legal background, she knew that this amount of money was significant. Moreover, the money had been credited after her divorce from Xiao Ran, what did this mean?
Her mind spun rapidly, pondering the ownership of this money. Suddenly, she realized that if Xiao Ran had bought the lottery ticket after their divorce, then the money should not belong to their joint marital property. But if he had bought it before, then it should be her share too!
Thinking this way, a strong conviction arose in Zheng Juan's heart. She firmly believed that Xiao Ran had bought the lottery ticket before their divorce, because he couldn't have suddenly won such a huge prize after their divorce. Moreover, Xiao Ran had previously offered to leave the marriage with nothing, which further strengthened her belief. She thought that Xiao Ran must have known he would win the lottery, which was why he had been so eager to divorce her.
Zheng Juan took a deep breath, calming her emotions. She said to Han Tao, "Mr. Han, I am sure Xiao Ran bought the lottery ticket before our divorce. You must help me apply to the court to freeze his bank account, so he can't transfer this money."
Han Tao was also somewhat excited upon hearing this. He knew that if this case succeeded, he would undoubtedly gain fame in the legal community of Sucheng. He quickly said, "Ms. Zheng, please rest assured, I will do my utmost to help you. I will prepare the necessary materials and apply to the court to freeze Mr. Xiao's bank account."
After hanging up, Zheng Juan felt as if she had reached the pinnacle of her life. She imagined what kind of life she could lead with nearly 200 million yuan. She could pay off all her debts, buy a big house, and even travel the world. Her heart was filled with anticipation and dreams.
However, she also knew that this path would not be smooth. She would have to face Xiao Ran's resistance and the court's decision. But she believed that if she persisted, she would win this lawsuit. Because she believed that justice and fairness would ultimately be on her side.
The moment Zheng Juan hung up the phone, her heart was pounding as if it was going to leap out of her chest. She knew that once this news spread, it would cause a huge sensation. But at this moment, she had to contact Zhang Zihao immediately, because she knew he was the only one who could help her sort out her thoughts in this matter.
"Zihao, it's me." Zheng Juan's voice was filled with urgency, "I know you might be angry now, but please let me finish what I have to say."
On the other end of the phone, Zhang Zihao's voice sounded cold and hard: "I know what you want to say, but this is not the time. Don't you know how big this matter has become?"
Zheng Juan took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice calm: "I know, but this matter concerns both of our interests. Xiao Ran's sudden wealth did not come from starting a big business or inheriting an estate. It's because he bought a lottery ticket and won the jackpot."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zihao was stunned. He had never considered this possibility in his analysis, after all, in his opinion, a person like Xiao Ran would never buy a lottery ticket. But now, Zheng Juan's words made him reconsider.
"How much did he win?" Zhang Zihao's voice was tense.
"400 million yuan after taxes." Zheng Juan's voice was filled with regret, "Just imagine, these 400 million yuan should have been ours."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zihao's heart trembled. 400 million yuan was also a huge amount for him. Moreover, this should have been their joint property.
"When did he buy the lottery ticket?" Zhang Zihao asked hurriedly.
"Han Lawyer has checked it, it should be two days before or on the day of my divorce with Xiao Ran," Zheng Juan replied, "Only those three days, and the lottery draw was held on the same evening, with 100 jackpots totaling 500 million yuan, all won by Xiao Ran alone."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zihao understood the situation. He knew that if they could prove that Xiao Ran bought the lottery ticket before the divorce, then even if he redeemed it after the divorce, the 400 million yuan would still belong to the joint property of the couple.
"So, what we need to do now is find evidence that Xiao Ran bought the lottery ticket," Zhang Zihao said gravely, "If we can prove that, then we have a share of these 400 million yuan."
Zheng Juan nodded: "Yes, that's what I think too. Moreover, Xiao Ran immediately told me that he wanted to leave the marriage with nothing. If he didn't know he had won the lottery, why would he propose such a thing?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zihao's heart moved. Indeed, if Xiao Ran didn't know he had won the lottery, why would he propose such a request?"
When Zhang Zihao heard this, he felt a stir in his heart. Indeed, if Xiao Ran didn't know he had won the lottery, why would he have proposed such a thing? There was clearly something fishy about it.
"Alright, let's split up and work on it," Zhang Zihao said, "You go and talk to Xiao Ran, see if you can get any information out of him. I'll go to consult Han Lawyer about our next plan."
Zheng Juan nodded: "Okay, I'll be careful."
After hanging up the phone, Zheng Juan's heart was filled with anticipation and nervousness. She knew that this game had just begun, and she and Zhang Zihao must do their best.
In the hustle and bustle of the city, Xiao Ran's name shone like a brilliant star, suddenly illuminating people's world. All this stemmed from the immense prize she was about to receive - a fortune worth 500 million yuan. However, behind this lay a carefully planned scheme.
Xiao Ran, a highly intelligent woman, had already known that she would win the lottery. This confidence was not unfounded, but rather the result of her prolonged in-depth research and precise analysis of the lottery market. She understood that this prize would be a significant turning point in her life, so she had prepared well in advance.
Her marriage to Zhang Zihao was originally a transaction where each took what they needed. Zhang Zihao coveted her family's power, while she saw potential in his abilities. However, as time passed, Xiao Ran gradually realized that this marriage was not what she desired. Therefore, she decided to divorce and chose to leave with nothing, ensuring that the immense prize would not become a joint asset of the couple.
When Xiao Ran told Zhang Zihao about her winning, his reaction was unexpected. He was overwhelmed by the sudden good news, as if he were in a dream. He felt immense excitement and joy, but also a sense of dizziness, as if he had lost the ability to think.
"Zihao, we're going to be rich!" Xiao Ran's voice was filled with anticipation and delight. She imagined the luxurious life they could have if they split the immense prize evenly. She even suggested quitting their jobs and immigrating to a foreign country, far away from this city filled with gossip and controversy.
After hearing Xiao Ran's suggestion, Zhang Zihao also fell into deep thought. He was indeed tired and weary of his current life. He had to face countless accusations and insults every day, enduring his wife's unreasonable demands and threats. He had long been tired of this life and wanted to escape from this stressful environment.
However, he also understood that he could not give up everything easily. He still needed to rely on his father-in-law's power to enhance his status and influence. But now, with this immense prize, he could break free from these shackles. Even if he only received half of the money, it would still be two hundred million yuan! He could use this money to fulfill his dreams and wishes, living a life truly belonging to him.
With this thought in mind, Zhang Zihao finally made a decision. He nodded, indicating his agreement with Xiao Ran's suggestion. He said calmly, "Alright, then you keep an eye on it and make sure we get the money as soon as possible." However, his voice trembled uncontrollably, revealing his inner excitement and nervousness.
After seeing Zhang Zihao's expression, Xiao Ran also understood his current mood. She gently held his hand, offering him some comfort and support. The two sat calmly on the bed for a while before Xiao Ran stood up to leave the room. As she walked to the door, she turned back to Zhang Zihao and said, "Dad, Mom, Gangzi (possibly her younger brother or relative), I have something to tell you..."
Not long after, the entire neighborhood heard the cheers coming from the Zheng family. Their voices were filled with joy and excitement, as if the whole world were cheering for them. However, soon after, this news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the neighborhood and even the entire city.
Xiao Ran had won the lottery - a total of 500 million yuan! Even after taxes, there was still 400 million yuan left! This news quickly became a hot topic and the focus of people's discussion. However, people also realized that this prize belonged to the couple's joint assets. Even if Xiao Ran divorced and went to claim the prize, she still had to hand over half of the money to Zhang Zihao. But even so, half of 500 million yuan was still an astronomical figure, enough to change the fate of ordinary people.
The Zheng family, a humble household that had never caught much attention in the neighborhood, suddenly seemed to have been blessed by the God of Wealth. They won a massive lottery prize, leaving everyone around them in disbelief. Two hundred million yuan, a astronomical amount for ordinary people, was enough to change their lives forever.
However, when this news spread, the once peaceful alley erupted in a storm of commotion. Many elderly neighbors who had never had much contact with the Zheng family suddenly started visiting, all for one purpose - to propose marriage. In their eyes, Xiao Ran and Zheng Juan, the divorced couple, had once again become the most sought-after individuals, solely because of this unexpected windfall. Even their divorce mattered little in comparison to the allure of those two hundred million yuan.
Zheng Juan was indulging in her fantasies at that moment, dreaming of using the money to immigrate to a faraway country and living a worry-free life. However, a phone call suddenly shattered her illusions. It was Han Tao, her lawyer, and her only hope at that moment.
"Ms. Zheng, I suggest you reach a settlement with your ex-husband," said Han Tao, shocking Zheng Juan out of her reverie. She couldn't believe her ears, "Why?" she asked anxiously, "Shouldn't you be freezing Xiao Ran's assets?"
Han Tao sighed helplessly, "Because your husband bought the lottery ticket after their divorce." These words felt like a heavy blow to Zheng Juan's heart. She never expected that the two hundred million she had been longing for would vanish into thin air due to such a trivial detail.
"It's impossible!" Zheng Juan screamed in disbelief, "This is so unfair, and I can't accept this outcome." She couldn't bear the thought of losing those two hundred million, nor could she accept that it was all because of such a minor detail.
"It's not a mistake," Han Tao reiterated, "Your divorce took effect at 11:30 am, and Xiao Ran bought the lottery ticket at 2:11 pm. The surveillance footage and the timestamp on the lottery ticket both confirm this." His voice was filled with helplessness and regret, "Now, your ex-husband has sued you for concealing Zheng Jie's identity, claiming that it caused him significant emotional distress and demanding compensation."
This news was a double blow for Zheng Juan. She stood frozen, feeling as if all her strength had been drained. Two hundred million yuan, gone just like that! Her heart was filled with resentment and anger, unable to accept such a cruel reality.
"I suggest you try to reach a settlement with your ex-husband," Han Tao continued, "Otherwise, the chances of you winning this lawsuit are very slim." His tone was filled with advice and sympathy, "I know it's hard to accept, but that's the truth."
Zheng Juan could no longer hear what Han Tao was saying. Her mind was consumed by a single thought: No! That's my money! My money! She couldn't accept this reality and couldn't forgive herself for her previous actions. She felt as if her world was crumbling down, all her hopes shattered in an instant. She screamed hysterically, as if trying to vent all her pain and resentment. However, it was all in vain, as the damage had already been done.