Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

Chapter 51: Struggle

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Zhang Siyi swiftly sent a message to Lu Qiao: “Hey, have you seen the base-map? There is nothing! Not even the surrounding environment. How should this be designed?”

Lu Qiao: “→_→”

Zhang Siyi: “This time I owe you!”

Lu Qiao: “Oh, actually, it also caught my eye.”

Lu Qiao: “Hey, in fact, I have two eyes!”

Zhang Siyi： “……”

Lu Qiao: “Design an office building wherever you want. Just follow the requirements in the task book.”

Zhang Siyi: “…… Is that it?”

Lu Qiao: “I’ve done it like this before. First design and when more detailed conditions come out, modify later.”

Even though Lu Qiao said it can be done like this, Zhang Siyi doesn’t feel it is the right approach to solving the problem. He doesn’t agree with a doing-first-change-later attitude because he feels his efforts and time would be in vain.

Moreover, without any analysis, “just doing it” would disrupt his normal logical thought process. It would be like opting to write a thesis paper first which is inherently more difficult instead of choosing a simpler path like creating multiple-choice questions for a quiz.

Having so much nothingness to work with, Zhang Siyi played around with the shape of the office building according to the volume requested by the project plan. By the evening he thought it was useless and felt frustrated.

Feeling unproductive he sent a message to Lu Qiao: “Qiao Mei, I think we have to go visit the area.”

Lu Qiao: “Hey, is that necessary? The weather is so cold, the business trip is so tiring, the design cycle is still so short, and it’s almost New Year, I don’t want to go!”

“…” This means that I can go but he doesn’t want to go?

Zhang Siyi said: “If you don’t want to go, I will go alone. I checked it. C-City is not too far away and we can take a high-speed train back and forth.  Wait until I collect the information and share it with you then you can adjust your work and work overtime if needed to catch up.”

Lu Qiao seems to have been touched by Zhang Siyi’s work attitude and selfless dedication. He said: “If you say this, I am embarrassed not to go. We have to inform the Boss before going so he can go through company approval which is a paid business trip. Also, there is a higher travel subsidy than usual.”

Zhang Siyi: “So good!”

Lu Qiao: “No way!  Going on a business trip is more tiring then sitting in the office drawing.”

Getting irritated Zhang Siyi replied: “I can just go alone.”

 Lu Qiao:  “Together, together. If you go and I don’t know what the Boss will think? I’m the elder here!”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

After reaching an agreement with Lu Qiao, Zhang Siyi quickly messaged Gu Yu before leaving work: “Boss, I and Lu Qiao want to go to C-City to evaluate the land for the project.”

Gu Yu immediately replied: “Yes, someone from the personal department will help you make reservations.”

Surprised, Zhang Siyi didn’t expect Gu Yu to agree so easily. He was worried that he would say, “no need.”

Gu Yu sent another message: “A few days?”

Zhang Siyi: “No. I will be back tomorrow night.”

Gu Yu: “Well, pay attention to your safety.”

Based on his previous business trip experience with Gu Yu and because the trip will be done in one day, it is necessary to get up very early. He let the personal reserve tickets for the high-speed rail at 7 o’clock in the morning.

Not liking the predicament, Lu Qiao complained: “That’s too early, right!? It won’t take two hours to see a field! I live far away and can’t catch the high-speed train that early. Can we change the time and start later?”

In order to get back home at a reasonable time to work on the plan, he wanted to travel to the sight very early and take notes. This was the first independent project that he was given and he wanted to make every effort to do it well.  However, Zhang Siyi was a bit embarrassed. He made arrangements in a hurry without talking to Lu Qiao first.

Contemplating the issue for a moment, Zhang Siyi suddenly was inspired: “Lu Qiao, the place where I live is 20 minutes from the high-speed rail station. If you don’t mind, you can stay over. One of my roommates is not here and his room in empty. We can go together early in the morning.”

Lu Qiao listened and replied excitedly: “Oh, OK! Of course, I don’t mind. Staying over in one place versus another won’t’ matter to me.”

When the workday was over, Zhang Siyi printed an itinerary for the next day’s business trip. Also, he called Fu Xinhui to let him know of his plans and the guest that would be staying over for one night. Fu Xinhui didn’t have any qualms over the matter and he suggested they all go out for dinner.

Lu Qiao asked: “Is your buddy is the handsome guy who came to KTV last time? He looks  nouveau riche! Before, I heard that you lived in a nice district near xxx station where the rent is very expensive, right?”

Reminded of his financial state, Zhang Siyi replied: “Yes! Super expensive! I barely have enough to eat! If I had known the rent was such a big expense each month, I wouldn’t have lived there.”

Lu Qiao doesn’t know how much the rent for Zhang Siyi apartment costs. He listened and nodded: “Yes. Same here. The rent has always been a huge expense. They have been rising faster than wages in recent years.”  He sighed then continued: “I think I’ll have to move even farther away next year to survive.”

Zhang Siyi was curious and asked: “Where do you live now?””

When Lu Qiao reported the place, Zhang Siyi was surprised. “Isn’t that the last station of the subway line? How do you live so far?  How much time do you take to come to work every day?”

Lu Qiao scratched his head: “It’s okay, forty or fifty minutes. I can take a nap for the duration of the trip on the train.”

Zhang Siyi: “How much farther would you move? What about your commute?”

 Lu Qiao: “I’ll have to go by bus to get to the subway station. Hahahaha!”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

In contrast to Lu Qiao, Zhang Siyi suddenly realized his living conditions were in fact excellent, and most likely would pull hatred, so he started to feel a little uncomfortable.

Sure enough, when Lu Qiao visited their residence, he gnashed his teeth and said: “Four you are the evil second generation!”

In defense, Zhang Siyi pleaded: “I am not rich! Rent is four thousand dollars a month and our wages should be about the same. If I deduct the rent clearly you have more money than me!”

 Lu Qiao was a little surprised: “Do you pay your own rent?”

Zhang Siyi nodded again and again: “Yes!”

Lu Qiao shut his mouth and adjusted his initial thoughts about Zhang Siyi, but he wasn’t entirely convinced. “You pay so much for your rent!”

Zhang Siyi squinted at Fu Xinhui and Fu Xinhui cleverly chose to remain silent.

Lu Qiao is from Mianyang, Sichuan. In the evening, Fu Xinhui invited them to eat at a Sichuan restaurant.

At the start of the meal, Lu Qiao was still feeling displeased. Picking up on the emotions of Lu Qiao, Fu Xinhui was very generous and ordered a set of dishes for the table; spicy shrimp, boiled pork and various vegetables. After two glasses of wine, a belly full, and Fu Xinhui said that he was a friend, Lu Qiao seemed to relax and enjoy himself.

Lu Qiao: “Thhheees meeeet iith ferrry soooft…. iizz guuud.” Dipping his meat in spicy red oil, in drunken words and face flushed, he told Fu Xinhui to visit him in his hometown so he could take them out to eat.

Fu Xinhui laughed and said: “Okay.”

Zhang Siyi didn’t like to eat such spicy foods. With only a few bites, he already had red eyes and a red nose. He didn’t look well. He quickly poured some cold beer to drink. Lu Qiao gave Zhang Siyi a hard time about his lack of ability to tolerate very spicy dishes.

Lu Qiao said: “Don’t be a baby! You also come and eat my hometown Sichuan dishes!”

Zhang Siyi was going to say something, but the spicy taste burned his throat as he swallowed his beer. “cough-cough-gasp-cough-gasp-cough.” Lu Qiao laughed.

As the mood became more relaxed, Zhang Siyi learned more about Lu Qiao family. His parents aren’t well and he has a younger brother. He is now the family’s biggest financial source. In order to support his family, he lives far away so he is able to send half of his wages home.

Zhang Siyi, with sympathy, asked, “Will things be better when your brother is working?”

Lu Qiao:” Compared to how things were before, it is really great now. Life is so much better! When I was studying, I was miserable. Learning the profession is too expensive. In addition to tuition, every year I had to spend money on materials and fees. I was too busy to work and if my parents did not borrow money to strongly support me after college, I would have dropped out of school. Hey, when I got my first month’s salary and when my parents called, we all cried!”

Lu Qiao said again: “As for my brother, whether he works or not, he will always by my younger brother. I have to take care of him to eat and grow up so there is a lot of pressure on me.”

Zhang Siyi listened to this remark and turned his sympathy to Lu Qiao into admiration. Even if he was short and even if he was jokingly called “Joe Sister” by his colleagues, he could not cover up the soul of the man standing upright in his body.

Feeling a sense of shame, Fu Xinhui lowered his head and ate quietly.

Zhang Siyi noticed that Fu Xinhui only had a heavy expression when Lu Qiao mentioned “brother”. He wondered if Fu Xinhui was thinking of his sister. Fortunately, he steered the conversation away from such heavy thoughts. After eating for more than an hour, they finished up and went back home.

Early the next morning, Zhang Siyi was woken up by the alarm clock. He had to wake-up Lu Qiao in order to catch the high-speed train. At the station, Zhang Siyi bought two cups of coffee and gave one to the yawning Lu Qiao.

Lu Qiao held his cup out and up, like an offering and spoke excitedly: “Ah nouveau riche, I never go out to buy this luxury stuff!”

After listening to Lu Qiao yesterday, Zhang Siyi subconsciously wanted to be nicer to him. Both feeling cheerful on the train, Zhang Siyi casually asked Lu Qiao why he studied architecture. Similar to Zhang Siyi, Lu Qiao also thought being in the construction industry would make money. It was only later that he discovered architecture was just a huge money pit.

The people who make the money are the ones who catch the wave. In the early years, the whole country was under development and if you graduated at that time, you were sure to get a good job and make a lot of money. But now, the market is very different. Construction in big cities is nearing saturation and the development in small cities can’t keep up with domestic demand. In addition, second and third-rate schools have broadly opened construction departments in the name of architecture and thus, diluting the value of an architect. A layman wouldn’t know the difference between a correctly trained architect from someone with just a construction certificate.

Despite this fact, Lu Qiao’s outlook is very positive. He said: “I have already learned this line of work and I wouldn’t know what to do now if I changed. My hometown is small and people there don’t talk about design and the salary is lower, only three to four thousand. Even if I go back, the rent is still the same so there won’t be much left over. I save five to six thousand each month renting a cheaper house in Haicheng so it’s much better.”

Zhang Siyi nodded and was quite touched.

Throughout the ride they chatted and go to know each other better. Unexpectedly they learned they both like Sci-Fi and liked movies related to space adventures like “Apollo” and “Star Wars”.

Since the city of C was originally a county town, there was no high-speed railway station.  They first arrived at the nearby city and then took the bus and a taxi to their destination. When they arrived at the designated location it was almost 12 noon.

Although it was a clear and sunny day, it was cold. The wind was quite strong. Zhang Siyi and Lu Qiao felt chilled to the bone. The two walked around the outer road section. As Zhang Siyi saw on the map, there were some irregular areas of farmland and water areas with beaches. There were a few small buildings here and there as though the farmers spontaneously built a structure, then abandoned it. The designated area needed as much land development as was needed when Z-City was planned. Zhang Siyi really can’t imagine an office building being built on such an enormous flat desolate piece of land. The local government’s request seems like nonsense. The cold wind blowing on their shivering bodies increased their desolate mood.

Just then, Lu Qiao suddenly raised his voice: “NASA America to Houston! Repeat!”

Zhang Siyi then blurted out: “We are out of the orbit! Flying into dark space!”

Lu Qiao looked up at the sky: “The hydraulic pressure has leaked, the control system has completely failed, the fuel is going to run out, there is no need to send rescue, no hope!”

Zhang Siyi raised his arms: “Please take care of our family!

Lu Qiao followed his hands and clenched his fists: “For the future of mankind, for the cause of construction!”

The two of them shook their arms together: “Struggle!”

_____________________________

Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

Chapter 50: Puzzle

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After being cut off by Fu Xinhui, Zhang Siyi thought about the many details related to Gu Yu in the past five months from the depths of his memory.     

At the beginning, from when he first saw Gu Yu’s eccentric eyes at the coffee shop, to his unqualified interview notice, to getting a cactus, to the strange feeling of being touched late at night, and also the tape measure gift on my Birthday….

The more Zhang Siyi thinks, the more chaotic his heart is.  However, all these peculiar thoughts percolating in his head were smashed into a knot that could not be understood after seeing his girlfriend on Christmas Day.

Zhang Siyi thought: “If Gu Yu has inexpressible intentions like Fu Xinhui said, then why does he have a girlfriend? Maybe I’m thinking too much? It’s just the fate of being a high school alumnus so that makes me a little special to him…. yes. That’s what it is!”

However, once he adjusted his thoughts and denied there was anything more, Zhang Siyi noticed a sense of loss that he didn’t want to admit.

Ah, ah, ah …!

Tormented by self-entanglement for two nights and two days, Zhang Siyi woke up Monday morning dead as a corpse. Looking at the mirror with two panda eyes, Zhang Siyi decided that he had to stop thinking about it. He hung his head and convinced himself: “Zhang Siyi you big idiot. Listen, Gu Yu is just your boss. He does not have special feelings for you. Do not make up stuff otherwise you will be laughed at!”

After brainwashing himself, Zhang Siyi finally settled down. When he arrived at the company, he went straight to the dining area and gave himself a shot of super-bitter espresso. His mind recovered from the fog and he felt resurrected.

On the way to his desk, he happened to run into the oncoming Gu Yu. Zhang Siyi nodded to the other side and subconsciously kept the normal distance between the straight man and the straight man

Back at his seat, Zhang Siyi took a deep breath with a mad heart, and was about to start drawing. Opposite of him Bi Lele suddenly spoke out: “Hey! Did you notice two people missing from B Group from the previous day’s annual meeting? I heard they were leaving.”

Zhang Siyi curiously raised his ears: “Hmm? Who left the job?”

Bi Lele reported two names. One is Canadian with an architecture masters that had been working more than half a year earlier than Zhang Siyi, and the other was the foreigner Tom!   

Yuan Zhicheng said: “When someone is persuaded to leave at the end of the year, it is in fact, being fired.”

“Why would they be fired?” Zhang Siyi was shocked. He had not been in contact with the Canadian so he didn’t know the persons’ level, however he knew Tom from the Z-City project. His designs were great!

Bi Lele said: “It is not clear. There are many reasons like the talent is repeated or the company doesn’t think you are suitable. The people in B Group should make the final choice. Here, for example, Tom, he can’t understand Chinese. Even if the design is done well, it is a big problem to communicate with colleagues. Every time there is a project group meeting or our study meeting, he has to translate it to understand. It’s okay once or twice, but all the time makes it difficult. In the end, he can only sit there silly. Since he can’t integrate, he can only be eliminated.”

Hearing thus, Zhang Siyi was upset. Although he did not have communication problems, Tom’s ability to draw analysis pictures was much better than him.  Yes, the two people who were persuaded by the company to leave have similarities with Zhang Siyi, and both of them are better than him to some extent. Can he not panic? To tell you the truth, these days near the new year, he went to work a little absent-minded unlike the first two months where he was so focused and serious. Will one day Gu Yu call him into his office and tell him: Zhang Siyi, you are not suitable to work here….

No! Zhang Siyi hugged his head. He once again realized his inferiority. Compared to thinking about whether Gu Yu had any special thoughts on him, it is better to think about how to work hard!

Zhu Hongzhen raised his hand and wiped his sweat. It seems to be a little scared: “But at the end of the year, isn’t that too unkind? Don’t they ever let anyone have a good year?”

Bi Lele said: “It’s all like this. The surname Li who left last year, do you remember? I asked him about the specific situation. He said that the company also sent him a year-end award and a notice. They gave him one-month salary. Also, it is convenient for him because he can start preparing for a new job in advance. Many companies open their doors at the end of the year to deduct the year-end awards, and don’t talk much more morally. Nothing is good. Besides, the annual meeting isn’t mandatory to participate. If you know that you will be fired, what kind of annual meeting will you attend, is it not grief?”

Yuan Zhicheng spoke for the hearts of the people: “Well, let’s get to work, too.”

Also feeling the pressure, Zhang Siyi started CAD, and began drawing more toilets, and more parking lots. In the afternoon, he suddenly received a message from Gu Yu telling him to come to his office.

After being nervous all morning, suddenly seeing such a sentence, Zhang Siyi could only feel terrified. “Boss, are you looking for me?” Under the stress, Zhang Siyi no longer thought about his confused feelings.

He sat down uncomfortably and quietly comforted himself. At the annual meeting, Gu Yu also encouraged him to have fun and get recharged to become an excellent working hard employee next year. Would he get fired now? Except for the small cactus, he did not make too many mistakes, right?  Amitabha, the Buddha bless, all goes well!  

“What are you thinking about? Your expression is so dignified.” Gu Yu looked at him with a funny look.   

 Zhang Siyi: “…no, nothing.”

Gu Yu put away his smile and gave him a piece of information. He was straightforward and said: “The company has just received a government office building design project in the city of C. There is a week and a half from the Chinese New Year for you and Lu Qiao to come up with preliminary plans. When they are finished, we will go to C-Ciity to report and they will select one of your plans for development.

Zhang Siyi was a little unprepared for this unexpected task. He was still worried that he would be fired. As a result, Gu Yu directly gave him a project. This is the first time he has been working on a project alone in six months! He previously worked on a small project with Du Rui to make a single apartment plan. At most, he was only there to provide support.

Even under the pressure of this new task, Zhang Siyi is both excited and flustered.

Only ten days away from the New Year – what pressure! Even though he is feeling worried about doing the job well, Zhang Siyi is very excited about this opportunity: “When is the time to discuss the preliminary plan?”

As if he had some doubts about whether he had given this task to him, Gu Yu dismissed Zhang Siyi with a glance: “With only limited project work for half a year, I will arrange it myself, then let you know.”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

Back to the seat, Zhang Siyi double-clicked on the icon for Lu Qiao and messaged him: “Qiao Mei, Boss let us do the office building plan. Do you know of it?”

Lu Qiao: “Yes! Auntie! I just received the information! The time for battle is here!”  

Zhang Siyi: “…”    

Lu Qiao: “Although you are a few months younger than me, I will not show mercy!”   

Zhang Siyi: “Come on! Who is afraid of who!”  

Lu Qiao: “Don’t die!”

Zhang Siyi was encouraged by the other side and quickly began to view the project materials.

C-City is a county-level city. It has only developed to the city-level scale in the past year. Therefore, the economy is relatively backward. The office building base is located between the government road of the new development zone and the main road of another city, which is just the corner position.

The job specifics include a row of buildings with commercial space, post office and a distinguished government building with three entrances. In addition to an above ground parking lot with fifty spaces, the officials want the new building to be the tallest in order for it to stand out as a landmark building.

 Zhang Siyi estimated the volume of the office building and found that the total building area demand was only over 3,000 square feet. How can this be built? Three hundred squares and one floor to build ten floors? Zhang Siyi’s eyes twitched, and he could already imagine a thin and long matchstick standing on the ground.

 He wanted to study the surrounding environment. As a result, when he opened the base drawing, he was a bit worried. The CAD-based map provided by the local government has only the main road. Apart from the sporadic buildings, there is nothing. The designated building site and the surrounding plots are blank.

Is this a wasteland? They want to build banks, a post office, and commercial offices on barren land? Are they are going to open up a wasteland? This is too damn ridiculous!

Not only empty, but the designated area is still very large. Zhang Siyi has calculated that even if the office building of more than 3,000 square meters is fully paved according to the first-floor area, it only takes up a small corner of the base area.

Zhang Siyi does not believe this! He rushed to his computer to open a satellite map on the Internet and planned to look at the specific situation on the real elevation map. However, even more horrible things happened – Zhang Siyi entered the name of the place and the road name, but found nothing!  Shit, does this land even exist?   

He was scared to find the location of the C-city. With a little bit of comparison to the CAD-based map and the satellite one, he finally found it. Due to the rapid development of the city in the past year, it turned out that the road system on the map has not been updated, so the search function cannot be found at all!

After successfully positioning the map, Zhang Siyi loosened a small breath, but soon found the next problem – the map is too vague. He can’t tell the topography of the land. He can’t see what was already built. There is only vague farmland and houses near the beach at the water. Anything that can be seen faintly on the satellite map aren’t shown on the map from the local government.

The first independent project in his career and Zhang Siyi experienced successive forces to derail him.

______________________________

Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

Chapter 49: Reminder

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Unlike the time when the annual meeting was in full swing, the lights in the KTV room are dim and the sound is loud. Around him, no one heard Zhang Siyi ask Gu Yu to sing a song, and thus he didn’t get anybody’s support and encouragement.

In fact, KTV just provides a place for everyone to gather and not necessarily to sing here. Even though there are twenty people from both architectural firms, there are only seven or eight people who actually sing songs. Most people just chat and listen on the side with their drinks. No one thought about having Gu Yu sing. It just so happened that Zhang Siyi was the first to ask.

Gu Yu held the microphone in his slender fingers while fiddling with the switch on the top. He laughed: “I will sing like you play the violin; just for the person you like…” He turned his head and looked directly at Zhang Siyi and teased: “Are you sure you want to hear me sing?”

“……” go to hell!

Forgetting his own words said to Gu Yu on the high-speed rail, Zhang Siyi didn’t think Gu Yu would remember and throw them back on him. Face red to the root of his neck, provoked, Zhang Siyi snatched the microphone from Gu Yu’s hand, and he had an absurd feeling like he was just molested.

Zhang Siyi thought: “……Why can Gu Yu say this so seriously without jumping in his heart? His expressions don’t change at all! Is he teasing me? But it’s weird to tease a guy like that, doesn’t he feel very embarrassed!?”

Next to him, Gu Yu was leaning back on the soft cushions, trying to cover up his laughter, but it was quite obvious to Zhang Siyi that he was laughing at him because Gu Yu couldn’t stop trembling.

With a bang-ching-bang-ching, Zhang Siyi ground his teeth in anger. Although he felt Gu Yu’s character is bad before, he at least was serious. Now, Zhang Siyi completely does not think so!

Liang Xueying is right, Gu Yu, this person is a belly of bad water, wilting, bad!

Forty minutes passed and everyone was chatting and relaxing in a good atmosphere. A girl shyly asked if Boss was going to sing, but Gu Yu refused.

With so many people, it was hard to organize a dinner so many people are gathering their things to leave. Although the party time wasn’t long, the purpose of making new friends and contacts has been achieved. Many people have added social accounts and emails so if there is further interest, they can contact them privately.

After the fun, Zhang Siyi took the initiative to ask Fu Xinhui if he had a good time in the afternoon and if he wanted to go out to eat. Fu Xinhui put his hands in his trouser pockets with a casual smile on his face: “It was very good. Your company’s sisters are very cheerful.”

After hearing Fu Xinhui, Zhang Siyi felt relieved. Fu Xinhui had a good personality. He was modest and generous, and he was able to get along with everyone. He would be popular everywhere.

It was a bit embarrassing to talk to Gu Yu at the beginning. Zhang Siyi said: “Ignore what Gu Yu said. This person is accustomed to being the boss.”

Fu Xinhui glanced and smiled: “I didn’t think he preached.”

Zhang Siyi: “well, he didn’t mean to say that your life is easy!”

Fu Xinhui looked down at the road and sighed. He said: “He is quite right. I am really ‘very casual’, born casually, grow up casually, study casually, and live casually…”

Zhang Siyi thought that Fu Xinhui had to fall into the ruined state before, and he was anxious to comfort him. Unexpectedly, Fu Xinhui suddenly raised his head and sighed. “I can’t do this anymore, I have to hurry and find what I want to do.” .”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

Fu Xinhui said again: “I didn’t quite understand why you were so invested in your job before, but after today, I know why.”

Zhang Siyi: “Why?”

Fu Xinhui squinted for a moment and gestured and said: “Your colleagues are very cohesive and together you form a team. The feeling of having someone always watching your back prevails and at the lead of this organization is Gu Yu. I found that his eyes were particularly firm and confident. He is the kind of person that knows what he wants.”

Zhang Siyi laughed and said: “Is that how you see it?”

Fu Xinhui gently frowned: “You don’t think so? When he talks to people, his voice is not heavy, he is still very calm, but what he says makes people feel very weighty and can easily give people a sense of oppression.”

Zhang Siyi put away his smile and remembered the debate between Gu Yu and Tong Heyi two months ago. Indeed, as Fu Xinhui said, Gu Yu’s tone is always calm, but so powerful.

Because he was repeatedly being bullied, teased and manipulated by Gu Yu, Zhang Siyi momentarily forgot how radiant the other person is. Now reminded, the advantages that Fu Xinhui reiterated about Gu Yu, magnified.

…… Well, if you think about the goodness of Gu Yu, the other person’s bad character seems to be forgiven.

Is this “In the eye of the beholder”? (=_=)

But Gu Yu is not a “lover” … (=////=)

It’s rare for Zhang Siyi to treat Fu Xinhui. Although he said he wanted to eat at Xiao Yang Sheng Jian, Zhang Siyi isn’t sure if he really wants to or he is just saving himself some money.

The two of them ordered sautéed pork and two bowls of curry beef vermicelli soup. Sitting at a table to eat, they continued to chat. After chatting for a while, Fu Xinhui’s cell phone on the table vibrated. He glanced at it, smiled and swiped the phone to answer. He spoke a few words then hung-up.

Zhang Siyi asked: “Who?”

Fu Xinhui: “One of the girls from your company from KTV this afternoon asked us to eat at night.”

Zhang Siyi smiled: “So soon someone will hook up with you?”

With that, his phone shook again, and Fu Xinhui raised his eyebrows and said, “There’s more than one.”

Zhang Siyi glanced at his quiet mobile phone, envious: “Why isn’t anyone calling me? I sang so well!”

Fu Xinhui smiled a little bit: “It seems that my type of boy is liked by your company colleagues.”

Zhang Siyi flattened his mouth and gave himself an excuse: “It must be because I’m not new.”

However, if you think about it carefully, Fu Xinhui, in addition to his good looks, will cook and do housework. He is considerate and habitually caters to others. He pays attention to details like paying rent in advance. When a group of people eat, regardless of whether it is a barbecue or a hot pot, Fu Xinhui is always on the side of “serving the people”. He is true to his friends. Any girl that can become Fu Xinhui’s girlfriend will be very happy.

Zhang Siyi saw Fu Xinhui still replying to the text message, curiously sneaked over and peeked: “Who is it? Tell me soon! Maybe I know, I can tell you some gossip.”

Fu Xinhui turned the phone to him. Zhang Siyi looked at it and was shocked: “Bi Lele! She is a big rot woman, you must be careful. Last time she asked if we were a couple!”

Fu Xinhui: “…”

Zhang Siyi looked at another number ID and said: “I don’t know this person. She is probably from the other company.”

Fu Xinhui received the mobile phone and said: “Say, there is one thing, I don’t know if I am too sensitive…”

Zhang Siyi: “What’s that?”

Fu Xinhui glanced at Zhang Siyi and said, “I feel like the way your boss looks at you is weird.”

…… What? Zhang Siyi looked up and stared at Fu Xinhui, waiting for him to explain.

Fu Xinhui took the chopsticks and stirred his soup. He took a bite and continued: “While we were at KTV, I caught him looking at you most of the time. He didn’t pay much attention to anyone else.”

Zhang Siyi felt his face start to get hot again: “Are you sure about that?”

Instead of answering, Fu Xinhui stopped moving his chopsticks and looked at Zhang Siyi and asked: “And, I remember when we walked the dog together some time ago, you said that your boss had also joked about us being a pair, right?”

Zhang Siyi: “Well…”

Fu Xinhui said seriously: “Do you really think that if you were straight man, you would make a joke about another being in a gay relationship?”

Zhang Siyi’s heart jumped, it seems that it is not. He remembers that he once went to the office of Gu Yu. At that time, Gu Yu was on the phone, and he was curious and asked if Gu Yu’s caller was his girlfriend. Right! The normal straight male mentality would ask about a girlfriend

“It’s not just that, “said Fu Xinhui. “His eyes are very firm. I think he is the kind of person who knows exactly what he wants. The way he looked at you……. Well, the rest, you will know it yourself.”

Zhang Siyi: “…………(o////o)………….”

Everything that Fu Xinhui has mentioned to this point, Zhang Siyi is completely clueless and can’t understand.

His face was distorted, and he made a war between the heavens in his mind. He retorted: “No, no, no, no! He has a girlfriend! I have seen her!” At such an eager speed, it is not known whether Zhang Siyi is trying to persuade Fu Xinhui or convince himself.  But that’s nothing for Fu Xinhui, Fu Xinhui shrugged: “You don’t have to be so paranoid. Maybe I was wrong.”

Zhang Siyi’s face contorted in a myriad of expressions trying to say something. Finally, he said: “Certainly you were the one making a mistake!”

Fu Xinhui: “…”

Zhang Siyi wants to desperately expel Fu Xinhui’s words from his brain. Even after returning home and taking a bath, he continued to be full of problems. When he thought that Gu Yu might “like him” and “want him”, Zhang Siyi shuddered for fear of something strange, but also because he felt excitement from the bottom of his heart.

There seems to be a clear boundary between the two feelings, like a high wall bisecting it. Inside, he is clinging to himself and outside, there is a poppy that is tempting him all the time……. Oh, my God! Why are you torturing me like this! (#°д°)

At ten o’clock in the evening, while Fu Xinhui was in the living room brushing the hair on Cheer-Up, he heard Zhang Siyi in his room again. First, he heard ‘that noise’: “Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack……”

When Fu Xinhui could not endure, he was about to get up when the sound of the house suddenly transformed into a melodious melody. Fu Xinhui listened to the ear and felt that the tone was a bit familiar. Then he listened carefully. Hey, isn’t this “Liang Zhu”! …… Finally, a good song.**

Under the beautiful music, the restless Cheer-Up calmed down. Also, Fu Xinhui followed along with the music humming. Not two minutes have passed when he heard a crazy cry: “Aaaahhhhhh” and Immediately thereafter: ” Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack…….”

Fu Xinhui jumped straight up roaring: ” Zhang Siyi !!! “

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The author has something to say: The straight man’s mental journey of being bent… So entangled ~_(:3∠)_

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**T/N: The song Butterfly Lovers (Liang Zhu)