The Path to Balance
Chapter 1: A Busy Beginning
Ah Yu sat in the department manager's spacious but slightly cluttered office, a mountain of documents piled up in front of him, his computer screen constantly flashing with emails and work documents waiting to be processed. Since being promoted to department manager, his life seemed to have been caught in a high-speed vortex, keeping him incredibly busy. Overtime had become commonplace, and business trips were so frequent that he had almost forgotten the warmth of home.
Zhong Hua looked at the darkening sky outside the window, a sense of loneliness rising in her heart. She understood the nature of Ah Yu's work, knowing he bore the heavy responsibility for the entire department, but whenever she sat alone in the empty living room at night, that loneliness would still quietly creep in. Her painting studio was in its development stage, and she needed to devote a lot of energy to its operation and creation, but deep down, she still longed for Ah Yu to spend more time with her.
Su Yao dragged her weary body home after a long international business trip. Looking at the house, which hadn't been properly cleaned in a while, and her husband's slightly tired face, yet still forcing a smile, she felt a pang of guilt. The expansion of this international business meant she and her husband had less and less time together, and she was genuinely worried that if this continued, their relationship would slowly crack, and their home would no longer feel like a home.
That day, the three of them gathered together, their faces showing signs of exhaustion and helplessness, yet they all understood each other's predicament.
"Sigh, when I get busy with work, I can hardly take care of my family. What should I do?" Ah Yu frowned and broke the silence first, her words full of distress.
Zhong Hua sighed softly: "Yes, I understand that you are busy with work, but sometimes I still feel quite bad."
Su Yao chimed in, "Me too. I always feel like I owe my family too much, and I'm really afraid it will affect my relationship with my husband."
So they decided to sit down and have a good talk about their ideas and experiences on balancing family and career, learn from each other, and try to find a way to balance both.
Chapter Two: Ah Yu's Change
Ah Yu realized that if he wanted to spend more time with Zhong Hua, he had to start by fixing his chaotic work schedule. In the past, those unnecessary social engagements often took up his precious time after work, leaving him exhausted and delaying the time he could spend with Zhong Hua at home.
He began to become more decisive, learning to decline unnecessary social engagements. Whenever he received an invitation, he would weigh it in his mind; if it didn't substantially benefit his work, he would politely decline. At the same time, he also started thinking about ways to improve work efficiency. At work, he would make a list of his tasks according to their importance and urgency, focusing his energy on important and urgent matters first, avoiding wasting too much time on trivial matters.
Previously, when writing a proposal, he might spend a lot of time rummaging through various materials without finding a clear direction. Now, he conducts thorough research beforehand, then calms down and uses efficient thinking frameworks to organize his thoughts. As a result, he is not only faster but also produces higher quality work.
On one occasion, the company had originally scheduled a three-day business trip. After careful consideration, Ah Yu realized that most of the work could be completed in two days through online meetings and cooperation with local colleagues. After communicating with his superiors, he adjusted the business trip plan and managed to squeeze out a day to go home early to be with Zhong Hua.
That day, when Ah Yu arrived at the door ahead of time with Zhong Hua's favorite snacks, Zhong Hua was both surprised and delighted, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
"Why are you back today?" Zhong Hua hurriedly went to greet her and took the things from Ah Yu's hands.
"I adjusted my work schedule a bit, so I can come back to be with you sooner." Ah Yu smiled and hugged Zhong Hua. At that moment, they both felt a long-lost warmth.
Chapter Three: Zhong Hua's Adjustment
Zhong Hua understood that while the studio's development was important, the time she spent with Ah Yu couldn't be completely consumed by work. She began to examine her work rhythm, no longer blindly pursuing rapid business expansion, but focusing on steady and solid progress.
When accepting drawing projects, she becomes more selective, no longer accepting all offers, but prioritizing projects that showcase her artistic style without requiring excessive time and effort. For example, she once had a commercial illustration project with a generous fee, but the deadline was extremely tight, and the style differed somewhat from her strengths. After much consideration, she politely declined.
She set fixed work hours for herself. Every morning, when she was full of energy, she would focus on painting. In the afternoon, she would handle the operation of her studio, such as communicating with clients and arranging art exhibitions. In the evening, regardless of whether her work was finished, she would stop to prepare a warm dinner and wait for Ah Yu to come home so they could enjoy it together.
On weekends, she no longer locks herself in her studio and buries herself in painting like before. Instead, she takes Ah Yu for walks in the countryside to enjoy the beauty of nature and temporarily escape from her busy work. Once, they went to a lake in the suburbs. The lake surface was sparkling, and a gentle breeze caressed their cheeks, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers.
"I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time. It feels so good," Ah Yu said with emotion, holding Zhong Hua's hand tightly.
“Yes, we should try to make more time to enjoy life in the future,” Zhong Hua replied with a smile, leaning on Ah Yu’s shoulder. The two of them quietly looked at the beautiful scenery in front of them, as if all their fatigue and worries had been washed away by the lake.
Chapter Four: Su Yao's Efforts
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