A life of financial freedom

Jiang Wenzhen left the office. Zhong Tingyue worked for a while and felt a little tired. Then, she opened the package. Inside were some small gifts and a beautiful invitation.

Zhong Tingyue read each word carefully: "International Interior Design Awards..."

Then, a look of surprise appeared on her exquisite, almost perfect face. She was stunned for nearly ten seconds before she came back to her senses.

She said in an incredulous tone, "I actually got shortlisted?"

As an interior designer, especially one with self-pursuit, Zhong Tingyue often submitted her work to various interior design awards, hoping her style would be recognized and to make a name for herself.

She submitted to many awards, from international prizes to unknown small awards.

Her motto was: be inclusive.

Her works could reach the international stage and also be accessible to the common people.

Most of her submissions were like throwing stones into the sea, with no response. Some entered the competition but did not win.

This International Interior Design Award was one of the design awards she had submitted to, and it was a high-end, worldwide, top-tier interior design award.

The International Interior Design Award allows designers to submit their work independently. The judges select one hundred participants from the entries and invite them to the award ceremony.

Zhong Tingyue's face was like ice and snow melting, and the corners of her mouth turned up, revealing an unexpected smile.

But soon, her smile froze.

"Late September..." Zhong Tingyue frowned.

The International Interior Design Award ceremony was in late September, and it was abroad.

However, she was very busy in late September, preparing for her wedding.

The timing was too tight.

If it were in Shanghai, she could still try to make it, but it was abroad.

Zhong Tingyue sat in her chair, staring blankly ahead.

"Hey, hey, hey..." Chu Fang waved his hand in front of Zhong Tingyue. "Ms. Zhong, what's wrong? Thinking about a man?"

Zhong Tingyue came back to her senses and rolled her eyes: "Thinking about a woman."

"Wow." Chu Fang sat on the desk, with a strange smile on his face. "When you're thinking about it, can you include me? Preferably a three-person scene. I can handle it."

This was crucial and important.

Zhong Tingyue nudged her husband. His mind always wandered so fast, thinking about inexplicable things.

Chu Fang said with a smile, "Tonight, Brother Liu is treating us to dinner. Do you want to come along?"

He had promised the security guard, Brother Liu, a few days ago that he would treat him to dinner.

If it were a regular person, Chu Fang wouldn't go to dinner. He didn't owe a bunch of meals, but this was Brother Liu. He had known Brother Liu for seven or eight years.

They had known each other since buying a house in Zhonghai Mingyuan, and they had a good relationship.

Although Brother Liu was a security guard, Chu Fang didn't make friends based on money.

Zhong Tingyue shook her head: "I'm not familiar with Brother Liu, so I won't go."

"Okay." Chu Fang nodded.

He knew that Zhong Tingyue didn't like to attend these gatherings. He was just asking casually.

"Then come home early, don't work overtime."

"Okay, I know. Why are you nagging like my mother?"

"Because I'm your dad."

"..."

After seeing Chu Fang off, Zhong Tingyue sat in the office, staring ahead, lost in thought.

Should she go to this International Interior Design Award?

... ...

Security guard Brother Liu's wife and children came to Shanghai and would be staying for more than half a month, so they rented a short-term apartment.

At this moment, Liu Ge's wife, 'Zhang Mei,' looked at the wine in front of her and said with some heartache, "Honey, this bottle of wine has been treasured by Dad for a long time. It's very expensive. Are we just going to drink it like that?"

"Wine is meant to be drunk, not treasured," Security guard Brother Liu said, setting the table. "Besides, we're treating CEO Chu today. CEO Chu has taken care of me a lot in Zhonghai Mingyuan. I should naturally return the favor."

"Why are you so stingy?"

Zhang Mei muttered: "This wine is worth at least a thousand yuan. Your dad couldn't bear to drink a sip, and you're going to drink it all. You've only been a security guard in a fancy neighborhood for a few days, and you've become so generous."

Zhang Mei didn't speak and went to the kitchen to bring out the dishes. Liu Ge had a son and a daughter, both of whom could walk. Seeing this, the two children clamored, "I'll bring the dishes."

Zhang Mei carried the dishes, and the two children followed her, pretending to carry the dishes carefully, until the dishes were placed on the table, and the two children slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Mei smiled and poked the foreheads of the two children: "You two little rascals."

They didn't carry any dishes, but they put on a good show.

One would think these two children prepared the feast.

The table was full of delicious food. Zhang Mei wiped her hands: "Honey, all the dishes are ready. Why hasn't CEO Chu arrived yet? Call and ask."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Liu Ge immediately jumped up: "He's here."

Then he opened the door and said with a smile: "CEO Chu, you're here."

"Brother Liu, we're outside now, so don't call me CEO Chu," Chu Fang said helplessly. "I've said it many times, call me Chu Fang, or even Little Chu or Little Fang."

"That won't do," Liu Ge refused.

"Sister-in-law, you have to discipline Brother Liu," Chu Fang said to Zhang Mei, handing her the gift.

"Of course, I will," Zhang Mei said. "You shouldn't have brought a gift."

"It's just a small thing."

With Chu Fang's arrival, the family banquet began.

Tonight, Liu Ge only invited Chu Fang, which showed how much he valued him.

Chu Fang also gave Liu Ge face. Although he drove, he still drank some wine.

The family banquet ended late at night, and Chu Fang called a driver.

Watching the car disappear, Zhang Mei slowly withdrew her gaze: "These rich people are quite easy-going. They seem gentle and don't have that condescending attitude. And you invited him to dinner, and he still came. He's a good person."

"Of course, he's a real rich person, unlike those rich people in our poor hometown. They act like they're the boss after having a little money. They're far behind CEO Chu in terms of money and attitude," Liu Ge replied.

Liu Ge had seen many rich people, but few were like Chu Fang: low-key, gentle, and with the same attitude towards everyone, not changing because of money or status.

"Hey, what are you two holding in your hands?" Zhang Mei suddenly noticed something in the hands of the two children. The two children quickly pressed it into their pockets, but Zhang Mei snatched it out. "Where did these two red envelopes come from?"

"The big brother gave them to us," the two children answered honestly.

Zhang Mei opened the red envelopes, and inside were two checks for 50,000 yuan each.

"Honey, honey..." Zhang Mei excitedly tugged at her husband.

Liu Ge was about to send a message to Chu Fang to ask about it when he saw a message from Chu Fang, saying that it was New Year's money for the two children.

"Honey," Zhang Mei looked at her husband.

Liu Ge thought for a moment: "Keep it."

It wasn't appropriate to return the money, it would be a slap in Chu Fang's face, so they had to accept it and repay the kindness in other ways in the future.

Zhang Mei looked at the numbers on the check: "Rich people are so nice..."

The two children looked at each other: "Mom, this is what the big brother gave us."

"Mom will keep it for you, and give it back to you when you grow up."