Chapter 9: Renowned Far and Wide, Warmth of Hearth and Home

After the success of the sci-fi blockbuster, Zhou Dan firmly established his standing within the industry. The name "Render God" echoed far and wide, and orders poured into his studio like swirling snowflakes, overwhelming in their abundance. What began as a small team had expanded into a professional institution with dozens of elite members, now located in a high-end office building in the city’s most bustling district.

Stepping into the studio, the first thing that caught the eye was the spacious and bright open-plan workspace. Enormous floor-to-ceiling windows poured sunlight unreservedly into the interior, illuminating rows of neatly arranged, professional-grade computer equipment. Screens flickered with complex graphics and parameters, while employees, headphones on, focused intently on their monitors, fingers dancing swiftly over keyboards and mice. Occasional exchanges of words were strictly about technical challenges and creative ideas, filling the space with a tense yet passionate working atmosphere.

Along one wall were several small, separate meeting rooms with glass walls that allowed glimpses of the discussions within. At that moment, in one of these rooms, several project leaders sat in a circle, fiercely debating in front of a large screen mounted on the wall. Papers rustled as they flipped through documents, and a steady stream of technical jargon flew from their lips. Each person strove to support their views on the new project proposal with the most compelling arguments.

Further inside was Zhou Dan’s private office. The room was modest in size but arranged with a minimalist elegance. A large solid wood desk dominated the center, piled with design drawings, the latest industry magazines, and several unfinished model prototypes. Opposite the desk hung a massive whiteboard, covered in colorful marker notes detailing project progress, to-do lists, and spontaneous sketches—dense yet organized. Nearby, a bookshelf overflowed with professional volumes, ranging from ancient art theories to cutting-edge computer graphics, a testament to Zhou Dan’s journey of learning and growth.

That day, Zhou Dan had the rare chance to finish work early and dragged his weary body home. Upon opening the door, he found the apartment in complete disarray: clothes scattered everywhere, instant noodle containers piled in mountains on the coffee table, and cat food spilled on the floor by his feline companion. Immersed in work for so long, he had neglected his home. He shook his head helplessly, thinking, “This hardly looks like a home anymore—it’s a disaster zone. But there’s nothing I can do; projects keep coming one after another, and I just can’t find the time to tidy up.” Just as he was about to start cleaning, his phone rang—a video call from his mother.

“Son, how have you been lately? I saw on the news you’ve taken on another big project. Don’t wear yourself out!” His mother’s concerned face filled the screen. Zhou Dan felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, replying, “Mom, I’m doing fine. Please don’t worry.” But as soon as he spoke, his mother’s gaze shifted behind him to the chaotic room, and her brows furrowed deeply. “Child, why is your place such a mess? Even living alone doesn’t mean you can be so sloppy. And you’re only eating junk food,” she chided.

Embarrassed, Zhou Dan scratched his head and felt a pang of guilt. “Mom, I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t had time to clean. I was just about to start when you called.” His mother’s tone softened with worry. “You must take care of yourself, no matter how busy you are. How about I come over and help you for a few days?” Zhou Dan quickly waved off the suggestion. “No, no, Mom, you stay home and rest. I can handle it myself.”

After hanging up, Zhou Dan rolled up his sleeves and began tidying. Just as he was getting into the groove, the doorbell rang. Opening the door, he was surprised to see his childhood friend, Ah Qiang, long unseen, holding a large bag of takeout. “Heard you’ve been working like a man possessed lately and probably haven’t been eating right. Brought you some good food, and figured I’d check if you’re still alive,” Ah Qiang joked.

Zhou Dan pulled him inside with a laugh. “You’re just in time. Help me clean up this mess.” They ate the takeout while tidying up together. Ah Qiang teased, “You’re a big shot now, but your place looks like a dog’s den. Aren’t you worried people will laugh if they find out?” Zhou Dan stuffed food into his mouth and mumbled, “I just don’t have time. Besides, a home is where you can relax, a bit of mess makes it feel lived in.” Yet secretly, he thought, “Ah Qiang’s blunt, but he’s right. My life’s been too chaotic. I need to adjust and not just bury myself in work.”

When the cleaning was done, the two collapsed on the couch. Suddenly, Ah Qiang leaned in with a mysterious grin. “Hey, Danzi, I recently met a girl—pretty, great personality, and she’s your fan. She thinks your rendering work is super cool. I think you two would hit it off. How about meeting her sometime?”

Zhou Dan nearly choked on his soda, his heart skipping a beat. “Dating? I’m swamped and dizzy with work—where would I find the energy?” But looking at Ah Qiang’s hopeful eyes, he hesitated. After all, he was no longer young, spent all day in front of a computer, and secretly longed for companionship. Finally, he said, “Alright, let’s meet and see how it goes.”

A few days later, Ah Qiang hurriedly arranged the meeting. Zhou Dan left work early, changed into clean clothes, tidied his hair slightly, and stood before the mirror, gazing at his slightly weary reflection with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. “I wonder what she’s like. Will she think I’m too busy to spend time with her? Well, let’s take it one step at a time.” At the meeting spot, he immediately spotted a graceful young woman beside Ah Qiang—big eyes, long hair, and two charming dimples when she smiled. Truly beautiful.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Zhou Dan. “You must be Zhou Dan! I really love your work. Every rendering looks like a piece of art—so amazing!” Zhou Dan scratched his head bashfully. “Thank you, you flatter me.” The three sat down and chatted, the atmosphere initially quite pleasant. But as they talked, the conversation inevitably circled back to Zhou Dan’s work.

Curious, the girl asked, “To create those super cool special effects, you must use really advanced computers, right? My computer has been so slow lately. Could you help me take a look?” Before Zhou Dan could answer, Ah Qiang egged him on, “Danzi, show off your skills and fix the girl’s computer.” Zhou Dan sighed but agreed.

Arriving at her place, Zhou Dan was taken aback upon opening the laptop. It was a mess—random software cluttered everywhere, endless pop-up ads, viruses rampant, and no clear starting point. As he cleaned up, he couldn’t help but chuckle and think, “This computer’s a virus breeding ground. How does she even use it? But seeing her innocent look, it’s kind of endearing.” “You’ve turned this computer into a virus petri dish. You really need to be more careful about what you download,” he said. Blushing, she stuck out her tongue. “I don’t know much about this stuff. I just click things because it’s fun.”

Finally fixing the computer, it was already late. Zhou Dan politely declined her invitation to stay for dinner and left. Lying in bed afterward, he reflected on the day’s experience and laughed softly, feeling a flood of emotions. “Though the romance didn’t take off, these little life moments gave my tired heart a rare break. There’s so much more to life beyond work. I should carve out more time for myself.”

The next day, Zhou Dan returned to the studio refreshed, diving headlong into new projects. Now, not only was he forging ahead in his career, but he was also learning to find warmth and color in the busy rhythm of life, enriching his journey with a vibrant tapestry of everyday joys.