When the two arrived at the studio, Zhong Tingyue went straight inside, while Chu Fang checked the time. It wasn't nine o'clock yet, so he didn't rush to clock in. Instead, he leaned against the front desk and nodded to Jiang Wenzhen, asking, "Is there anything to eat?"

"You didn't have breakfast?" Jiang Wenzhen rolled her eyes and took out some snacks from below and placed them on the table.

"I'm hungry." He had hopped all the way from home to the studio, which took a lot of effort. Chu Fang tore open a piece of bread and started eating. After finishing the bread, he patted the front desk and said to Jiang Wenzhen, "Work hard, no slacking off, or I'll fire you."

After saying that, he clocked in for work. At 8:59:53, he let out a sigh: "Sigh, Zhong Tingyue has exploited another seven seconds of my remaining value."

After clocking in, Chu Fang, as usual, first went to the restroom, then poured water, ordered drinks for everyone in the studio, and then went downstairs to get the drinks, a process that took an hour...

And just like that, another whole day passed. Everyone in the studio went home, and Chu Fang stretched and said, "Ugh, I'm exhausted."

Just then, Zhong Tingyue walked out of the office, a helpless expression on her delicate face.

Since being with Chu Fang, she had never felt so helpless.

Everything this man does is so unexpected.

But to be honest, she seemed to quite enjoy Chu Fang's behavior.

"I'm so pathetic..." Zhong Tingyue could only blame herself for this. She walked to his workstation and patted her boyfriend on the shoulder: "Let's go."

"Off work?" Chu Fang asked.

Zhong Tingyue usually works overtime until 11 or 12 o'clock these days, so why did she leave work at 6 o'clock today?

"The materials for the exhibition are all ready," Zhong Tingyue said calmly. "Come with me to meet a client tonight."

Zhong Tingyue rejected all the clients that Chu Fang found for Yuezhifang Studio. The studio's current business is all with old clients, so it needs to make new clients.

Chu Fang asked her seriously, "Is that really necessary?"

Zhong Tingyue had thought about this question carefully, and then replied seriously, "It is necessary!"

She didn't want to be Chu Fang's caged bird; she hoped to carve out her own path through her own abilities.

Most importantly, Zhong Tingyue wants to build her own career and provide her boyfriend with a safety net, so that even if he goes bankrupt in the financial industry, she can still provide him with a comfortable material life.

Only now did Chu Fang finally remember the topic from this morning: "The designer exhibition, right? Are you planning to win an award again?"

Chung Ting-yue has participated in several design exhibitions and won several awards.

“No.” She shook her head. “I mainly wanted to use the exhibition to meet more clients and increase the visibility of my studio.”

"In Shanghai?"

"Guangdong Province".

“Then I’ll go.” Chu Fang raised his arm.

"No, I can only go to the studio alone. I can't waste the studio's money."

"I'll pay for it."

"Alright then."

Upon hearing this, Chu Fang shook his head, looked at his girlfriend, and clicked his tongue, saying, "Zhong Tingyue, you've changed. You're becoming more and more concerned about money."

“... ..."

A short while later, the two arrived at a hotel, where the client, a middle-aged woman in her forties with golden curly hair and a fashionable appearance, was already there.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the curly-haired woman spoke in fluent Shanghai dialect: "My husband and I want a house designed in a modern style, with diversity and innovation, but also retaining a traditional Chinese flavor. After all, we're both quite conservative, and..."

The curly-haired woman started rattling off a whole bunch of requirements, clearly showing she had ideas about her future home. Zhong Tingyue listened attentively, occasionally taking notes.

After the other party finished speaking, Zhong Tingyue asked a few questions, but the curly-haired woman seemed unhappy with her inquiries and said directly, "Don't ask any more questions, how much does it cost?"

"Hmm... ...ten thousand... ..."

Before she could finish speaking, the curly-haired woman's eyes widened, and her voice rose eight octaves: "What?! Ten thousand? Are you robbing me? I've seen design companies charge only a few hundred yuan, some even offer free design services. How come your studio charges so much for design?"

Chu Fang was gnawing on a chicken foot next to him.

Zhong Tingyue tried her best to suppress her helplessness: "Madam, we are an independent design studio that provides clients with personalized, high-quality design and decoration services. We not only design drawings according to your ideas, but also ensure the quality and effect during the construction process. In addition, our studio does not have a construction team."

"It can't be that expensive." You could almost hear the curly-haired woman gritting her teeth, shaking her head. "No way, no way! I'm not going with you anymore. I'm going to go to those big design companies. These studios are just ripping people off!"

After saying that, the curly-haired woman picked up her bag and left without even looking back.

After the curly-haired woman disappeared, Chu Fang continued gnawing on his 'chicken feet,' the crunching sound echoing all around.

"Sigh!" Zhong Tingyue sighed, and could only channel her grief into her appetite, prioritizing filling her stomach.

After finishing their meal and paying the bill, the two left the hotel.

Zhong Tingyue held Chu Fang's arm, rested her head on his shoulder, and looked at the bright lights under the night sky, her voice light and airy: "Chu Fang, why did you choose interior design as your major?"

"Making money! Back then, the real estate market was booming, and designers were making a killing."

"You still need money?"

“Back then, I hadn’t made my fortune yet,” Chu Fang said. “What about you?”

“I studied fine arts,” Zhong Tingyue said slowly. “I’ve always wanted to do interior design and design the warmest homes for people. After graduating from university, I entered this industry. I thought it was an industry that relied on skills, but after working in it for a while, I realized that it is actually a sales job.”

"Our meticulous designs can't compare to someone else's few words; eloquence is paramount, and that's what our clients think too. They always believe our designs are utter nonsense, just scribbles and drawings, and not worth that much money..."

Zhong Tingyue described the current state of the interior design industry: backstabbing, deceit, and cheating clients for money... These things had been buried in her heart for a long time, and the curly-haired woman today had stirred up her old feelings again.

Chu Fang listened quietly to his girlfriend's story without saying a word.

"Those clients don't seem to think about it. Do they believe in free lunches? Why would those big design firms offer such low prices, or even free designs? Don't they make money? Yes, they do, very much so. The bulk of their profits comes from construction..."

When Zhong Tingyue saw those customers who had been deceived and whose houses had been damaged, crying so miserably, she couldn't help but feel sympathy for them.

This is also one of the reasons why she didn't want to stay at Yatengyige any longer.

After Zhong Tingyue finished speaking, Chu Fang said, "Let me give you a piece of advice: put aside your desire to help others, respect their choices, and laugh at their fates. As long as it doesn't happen in front of you, don't pay attention. Even if it happens in front of you, try to keep your eyes closed, and when the other person makes a mistake, just keep laughing at them."

Zhong Tingyue rolled her eyes: "You're so mean!"

Chu Fang didn't refute, but instead pulled out a cup of milk tea from somewhere and looked at his girlfriend with a serious expression: "I'm asking you this once, am I being mean?"

“Hehe… …” Zhong Tingyue laughed suddenly, “You’re such a nice person.”

Chu Fang held the milk tea to her lips, and she took a small sip, her mouth filled with sweetness.

This is the significance of having a partner; Chu Fang was able to give her the greatest care when she was down, fully satisfying her need for emotional value.