A/N: The title - Living Life, Feeling Rich - is from the song The Life by Fifth Harmony. It is also a working title.

Disclaimer: This is purely a work of fiction. All characters are fictionalized versions of themselves. Unless otherwise noted, I do not own any of the characters in this story. Any similarities with actual persons is unintended. 

x  x  x

Some people were born with it all.

Others were born to play catch up.

x  x  x

A/N 2: This story is written in an experimental set-up. There are a few major story archs, but I am thinking of ways to tie th whole story and characters together. Some chapters are meant to be inspired by songs, and others by prompts. This is a pretty non-traditional mix, so please bear with me! I'm picturing the back drop to be modern-day Beijing, and this will mostly be about the (love) lives of a group of friends.

Major Characters (in no order)

Xu · Ke, known as Kei, 22 (Original Character)
 (image via milkcocoa)
Job: Freelance journalist
Witty and blunt genius with a stellar IQ and EQ. Complicated family. Mother is the heiress to a huge pharmaceutical company; father’s paternity is questionable (has a stepfather). Anchor baby; grew up in the States with her nanny. Estranged from her family – her stepfather actually pays her to not care; wants to be a travel editorialist. Really likes tea and being factually correct. Name literally means Krypton. Best friends with Seonmi since their private school years; knows Luhan from private school. 

Han · Seonmi, 22 (Original Character)
 (image via pinterest)
Job: Hospital intern; gap year before going for medical school
Shy to the outside world, crazy to those that know her. Barely-there businessman father, overprotective aristocratic mother, uptight perfect older sister. Mixed blood; some parts Korean, some parts Singaporean, some parts Chinese. Has homes all over the world. Talented cellist with an incredible memory, but doesn’t seem to be able to get mathematics. Wants to be a pediatrician working in developing countries. Studies like mad; downs coffee like water. Best friends with Kei; knows Luhan from private school.

Kim · Haneul, known as Lisa, 21 (Original Character)
 (image via pinterest) 
Job: University student; part-time at a bank
Shabby and air-headed but adorable, like she walked out of a shoujo manga: average grades, nuclear family, normal life, and very pretty. “Typical” in the sweetest way possible. Makes a lot of mistakes at work and otherwise, but still well-liked by everyone. Easy going, talkative, and hardworking. Has been in China for the last six years because her parents one day decided to just move to Shanghai from Seoul to start a Korean BBQ restaurant. Meets Kei because of her banking job; has a huge crush on Yixing (doesn’t know that he has a girlfriend). 

Lu · Han, 24* (fictionalized age)
 (image via pinterest, oppo)
Job: Nobody really knows; just parties a lot.
Some people are nouveau riche – his family has just been rich for a very long time. Beijing natives rolling in dough and fame. Spoiled with luxuries since young, and dotted on by every female relative because of his dazzling looks and sweet mouth. Acts goofy, but is actually a cynical genius. Despite the money, his family is actually very tight-knit. He “knows a guy” for everything. Recently broke up with a serious girlfriend; has since become great with one-night stands, but remains bad with girlfriends. Really good at soccer. College buddies with Yixing; private school pals with Seonmi and Kei; good friends with Chanyeol.

Zhang · Yixing, 24
 (image via pinterest)
Job: Newbie detective
New to Beijing. Grew up in an educated, upper-middle class family in Hunan. Dad’s a well-known professor, mom’s a stay-at-home. Only child, but not spoiled; respectful and polite to elders. Incredibly intelligent with a didactic memory. Even-tempered, loyal, and logical. Gives off a business-only – almost arrogant – demeanor, but can actually party like an animal. Entering into the seventh year of a relationship with his childhood sweetheart. College buddies with Luhan; good friends with Chanyeol.

Park · Chanyeol, 23
 (image via pinterest)
Job: Law intern for a multinational law firm
Has been stationed in Beijing for the last two years. Grew up happily in a single-mother household. Mom has since remarried, but he gets along well with his stepfamily; economic status has improved substantially since. Sweet talker, so he’s liked by everyone. Very preppy; listens to classical music often and is a great pianist. Designated driver because his alcohol tolerance is awful. Nice and mostly quiet, but has a really sharp tongue. Really popular with women, but only has serious relationships. Good friends with Luhan and Yixing’s crowd.