54: Chapter 54 The Shock of the Huang Siblings

Recognizing Zhao Yang, Zhou Shihui's expression immediately became quite animated: "Zhao... Section Chief Zhao, hello."

Zhao Yang gave a faint smile: "I heard from Huang Zhenhua that your interior designs have won major awards. You'll have to help me with a good design later, so thank you in advance."

"You're... you're welcome." Zhou Shihui was secretly depressed—how could it be this person?

Huang Zhenhua was a bit curious and asked in a low voice, "Old Zhou, how do you two know each other?"

"I ran into Section Chief Zhao and Me—... your sister having dinner together yesterday."

Huang Zhenhua nodded: "No wonder."

"By the way..." Zhou Shihui lowered his voice even further, "How does your sister know a Section Chief from Jinghai?"

The corner of Huang Zhenhua's mouth quirked up: "You're asking about that? Well, that's actually quite interesting."

Huang Yimei was afraid her brother would talk nonsense, so her attention had been on the back row. Although she couldn't hear clearly, she could vaguely guess the content from a few words. She said loudly, "Brother! Don't go making things up about my private affairs!"

Huang Zhenhua immediately shut his mouth and gave Zhou Shihui a helpless look: "This is indeed her private business, it's not for me to say. However, the story of how they met is actually quite extraordinary."

"Brother! You're still talking?" Huang Yimei turned her head huffily and glared at him.

Huang Zhenhua raised both hands: "Fine, I won't mention another word."

"Hmph!" Huang Yimei gave him another warning glare before turning back. Her expression immediately softened as she said to Zhao Yang, "My brother just can't keep his mouth shut; I usually don't like telling him anything."

Zhao Yang smiled faintly: "The bond between you two siblings is truly enviable. It's clear your brother treats you very well."

Huang Yimei's lips curved: "Him? He's alright, I suppose he counts as a qualified brother."

Huang Zhenhua curled his lip and grumbled inwardly—I treat you so well and I'm only 'qualified'? I've spoiled you for nothing!

Watching this scene, Zhou Shihui felt a pang of jealousy. When the three of them spoke, they seemed to completely ignore his existence. He felt especially bitter seeing Huang Yimei in the front seat constantly chatting with Zhao Yang with a face full of smiles.

When the car entered the entrance of Wanquan Xinxin Home, Huang Zhenhua suddenly said, "Zhao Yang, your house is actually in this neighborhood?"

"Yeah, the environment in this community is quite nice."

Huang Zhenhua clicked his tongue: "I know this place. The environment is great, and even though the buildings aren't tall, they all have elevators. The prices aren't cheap. Are we going straight into the underground garage?"

"Yes, I liked the design of this community where pedestrian and vehicle traffic are separated."

As they spoke, Zhao Yang parked the car and took the three of them into the elevator, heading straight for the top floor.

Huang Zhenhua was even more surprised: "Your apartment is on the top floor? This is a duplex structure!"

"Yes, that's why it's hard to decorate; I need you professionals to take a look." Zhao Yang opened the door, "Please, come in."

Huang Yimei was the first to slip inside: "Wow! This place is so spacious!"

Zhao Yang laughed: "It's just a shell of a house with nothing in it, of course it's spacious."

"I'm going to look upstairs!" After saying that, she ran up the simple stairs with a thud-thud-thud, checking room after room and letting out occasional exclamations of wonder.

While Huang Zhenhua examined the layout of the house, he muttered to himself—with a house this big, is Zhao Yang planning to move his whole family to the Imperial Capital? He walked over to Zhao Yang and asked, "With such a large house, you'll be living here with your whole family in the future?"

Zhao Yang shook his head: "Just me."

"Are your parents not coming to the Imperial Capital?"

"My parents have passed away. I only have a few distant relatives now."

"Uh... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"It's alright, I'm used to it." Zhao Yang smiled, "Once the renovation is done, feel free to come over whenever you like. Anyway, it's not far from Tsinghua."

"Really?" Huang Yimei happened to run down from upstairs and asked curiously.

"Why don't you design a room for yourself to stay in when you come to visit?" Zhao Yang joked.

"Okay, okay! I want that room on the south side upstairs; the lighting is great! Haha!" Huang Yimei laughed lightheartedly, "Setting up an easel, with coffee by my side, looking at the scenery outside the window... that feeling would definitely be very comfortable!"

Huang Zhenhua's expression turned strange—do you even hear what you're saying?

Zhou Shihui's face looked even worse; he felt the distance between him and Huang Yimei growing further and further. This Zhao Yang was clearly just a Section Chief, how could he afford such a large house?

"Old Zhou!" Huang Zhenhua suddenly patted him on the shoulder.

Zhou Shihui gave a start: "What are you doing?"

"What are you just standing there for? Take a look! You'll have to help me come up with a proposal later!" Huang Zhenhua said in a low voice, "With a house this big, I'm feeling a bit out of my depth."

"Oh... I'll go look." Zhou Shihui began looking around absentmindedly, but his heart wasn't on the renovation at all.

Meanwhile, Huang Zhenhua called Huang Yimei over and they conscientiously began taking measurements. For something like interior design, looking at the floor plan alone was absolutely insufficient.

After more than an hour of work, Huang Zhenhua had recorded a lot of notes and even took out the company's camcorder to record every part of the house.

Huang Yimei wiped away some sweat: "Finally done!"

"Thanks for your hard work." Zhao Yang smiled, "I'll also have to trouble the three of you to take a look at the unit across the hall. Although the layout is similar, there are still some differences."

Huang Zhenhua was stunned: "Across the hall? That's yours too?"

Zhao Yang nodded: "The property management wouldn't agree to let me seal off the hallway, otherwise I planned to connect the two units."

"My god!" Huang Yimei was also startled, "You actually bought two units of such a large house? How much did you take out in loans?"

"No loans." Zhao Yang said calmly, "I happened to have some money on hand, so I paid in full."

*Gulp!*

Huang Zhenhua and Huang Yimei both swallowed hard.

Good heavens! He's really rich!

Zhou Shihui suddenly thought of something, and a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes. While Huang Zhenhua was looking at the house, he leaned in and whispered, "Zhenhua, something's not right with this Zhao Yang."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"He's just a Section Chief, where did he get so much money? It's probably from corruption, isn't it?" Zhou Shihui said with a serious face, "You have to keep an eye on your sister, don't let her associate with someone like that."

Huang Zhenhua just smiled indifferently: "Old Zhou, you're overthinking it."

"This is a matter of principle. Don't let it implicate you guys when Zhao Yang gets into trouble!"

"Come here!" Huang Zhenhua looked out the door and saw Huang Yimei chatting with Zhao Yang, so he lowered his voice and said, "Zhao Yang is also a painter. When his paintings go to auction, a single piece can fetch hundreds of thousands. His car, his houses—they were likely all earned stroke by stroke from his brush. I really don't understand it; he could clearly be an artist, so why become an official?"

Zhou Shihui showed an expression of disbelief: "Is that true?"

"Absolutely." Huang Zhenhua continued, "If you don't believe me, go check the news. You know the Qingting company, right? A while back they auctioned four paintings by an anonymous artist—those were Zhao Yang's paintings."

"Then I'll go check." Zhou Shihui still didn't believe it, but for now, he could only temporarily drop the subject.

After finishing with the second house, Zhao Yang drove the group away from Wanquan Xinxin Home.

After passing two intersections, Huang Yimei pointed at a road sign in confusion, "Where are we going? This is the direction of Xishan Villa, isn't it?"

"Yeah..." Zhao Yang's tone was casual, "Actually, the one that gives me the biggest headache is the renovation for that villa in Xishan."