Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

Chapter 27: Project Bid

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Although there wasn’t specific work for him to do, he was happy helping his colleagues, but now he was denied the opportunity. He didn’t like feeling unneeded. He understood the consequences if the knowledge he spreads has, so it makes sense to go back home, but being directly told by Gu Yu to leave made him feel abandoned.

Zhang Siyi is already exhausted from his lack of sleep. Being bombarded by this emotional onslaught makes him feel even more uncomfortable. He can’t think anymore! Zhang Siyi angrily shut the computer and left!

On his way home, he was feeling so desperate that when he got to his room, he simply collapsed on his bed and slept for the afternoon. After waking up, he felt empty.

The feeling was like winning a big prize in a dream. He cheered and screamed, jumped up and down, exuberant in his feelings. It consumed all his energy and physical strength. Then waking up, there was nothing.

Zhang Siyi, who has calmed down, recalls the heated questions he asked Gu Yu while in the bathroom and his nothingness turned to fear. Fuck! He dares confront his Boss! Did he have his head down? Is he the one to blame? He felt that Gu Yu could be so stingy he would find faults. Maybe he would find a reason to fire him? His churning thoughts became worrisome. Did Gu Yu tell him to go rest because it’s a disguised repatriation? Will he be unemployed? Zhang Siyi was so scared that he quickly called the company’s front desk and asked if he had vacation days.

The younger girl at the front desk told him that he has vacation time available. Overtime work is not paid for, however, if you work overtime for more than five hours a day, you can change for a half-day holiday. For more than eight hours, one can exchange the time for one day. Also, time can be accumulated up to six months and be used on a later date.

This half-month was busier than usual, so his overtime hours added up to a full five-and-a-half-day holiday. In order to go on vacation leave, one needs to fill out paperwork in advance and get the leadership to sign them.

Zhang Siyi came back without doing any formalities. He could not help but rush: “So I have to go back to the company to make a vacation leave now?”

Front desk girl replied: “No, Director Gu has spoken with the personnel department already. The paperwork has been signed to allow anyone on your project team that wants to, to be able to take a vacation starting this afternoon.”

Zhang Siyi breathed a sigh of relief. Anyway, potentially seeing Gu Yu again in the short term will certainly be very embarrassing, and he has not been able to rest well since he started working. Enough!

However, hanging up the phone and lying on the bed, Zhang Siyi thought of Gu Yu’s pale face and felt a little guilty. He knows now what Gu Yu knows about the project and yet, he left. Gu Yu doesn’t have that option. He still must push to the very last minute, bid, fail, then face everyone else knowing the loss was inevitable. What kind of mentality and willpower is that?

In the evening he got up and went to find something to eat. Being so busy at the office with overtime, Fu Xinhui was a bit surprised to see his sluggish figure. “You were like a small energy robot moving around like clockwork for the past few days, what happened today?”

Zhang Siyi glanced over at him: “Oh… our bidding project is done.”

Fu Xinhui glared at him: “Isn’t that a good thing? Are you hurting because you don’t have work? Why does it look like you got dumped?”

“…” Zhang Siyi felt helpless. The subject matter of his office wasn’t something Fu Xinhui was part of, so it wasn’t something for him to know. If he started speaking his thoughts, he was afraid he would suffer internal injuries.

Fu Xinhui did not express sympathy, but instead advised him: “I have told you long ago. Don’t invest so much emotion into your job. It’s just a job. Look at how you are now – lost three souls! There are so many variables in the world, so you can’t predict everything. You are going to burn out with these extreme ups and downs that you won’t be able to live past thirty!”

Zhang Siyi was said to be poor, and Fu Xinhui’s persuasion was not unreasonable. In fact, to some extent, what he said was very similar to Gu’s phrase “Importance is not the result, it is the process”.

That’s right. He is a genuine ordinary man, but he’s not fine. How can he go to work in a sullen way and be happy in the blink of an eye? He did not care for the quiet and steady manner that is typical of Fu Xinhui’s red-blooded indifference. Interrupting Zhang Siyi’s cranky thoughts, Jiang Hai came over with his girlfriend. Not having a good meal together for half a month, Fu Xinhui called Jiang Hai in advance while Zhang Siyi was resting earlier.

Currently, Jiang Hai is in a period of love. Every day, he and his girlfriend are together, so Fu Xinhui told him to bring his girlfriend too. His friend suggested going out to eat. Since Fu Xinhui and Zhang Siyi had no reason to refuse, they booked a restaurant and ordered a table of good food. Jiang Hai’s girlfriend looks different from Su Yuan and Ren Mengyu and is different from Zhang Siyi’s ex-girlfriend.

Su Yuan is the mature intellectual type while Ren Mengyu is a white rich beauty and delicate female. Zhang Siyi’s ex-girlfriend is beautiful, but a hot-tempered miss. Jiang Hai’s girlfriend looks gentle and petite. Although not particularly beautiful, her looks make one feel comfortable and welcoming.

“What is your name?” Zhang Siyi asked with a bright smile.

Jiang Hai gave Zhang Siyi a slap at back of the head: “don’t mess with my girlfriend!”

Zhang Siyi “……”

Fu Xinhui burst out laughing then said: “It’s the first time I saw Jiang Hai so jealous!” He glanced at Zhang Siyi innocently on the floor and felt a little distressed.

His girlfriend also laughed with a smile and replied: “Call me Tian Jing. Pleased to meet you. Jiang Hai has mentioned you several times. I am in your care.”

Courteous and cheerful, points! Listen and speak, add points! Sweet voice, extra points!

As they were waiting for their food, their conversation was naturally about the recent events in their lives. They learned that Tian Jing graduated from the architecture department of a normal university in China and entered the company where Jiang Hai worked. Since Jiang Hai was a good friend and his family is in good condition, it didn’t take long for them to hook up.

Jiang Hai introduced his girlfriend to Zhang Siyi and Fu Xinhui. Tian Jing was a little envious: “you three have a good friendship. After graduation, I separated from my college classmates. They went back home, and I am the only one in Haicheng. I rented a house with my ex-boyfriend, but now I’m left alone.”

Jiang Hai immediately took hold of her hand and said, “But you have me now.”

Tian Yu Jing turned to Jiang Hai and sweetly said: “I mean before I met you.”

Over dinner there were many other times the couple sweetly expressed their feelings; kisses, being close, holding hands…  Once when Tian Jing got up to use the restroom, Jian Hair frequently turned his head to look her way. For Zhang Siyi and Fu Xinhui, the look of obsessive love was simply unbearable, however for the young couple, their words and deeds weren’t excessive at all. It is quite normal to express love when you are in love!

Under such display of affection, Zhang Siyi felt lonely and he wants to fall in love too. Maybe he should find a girlfriend to enrich his private life so that he can relieve some pressure from work.

However, Zhang Siyi soon remembered his last break-up. The relationship seemed to be going well, although it was hard to truly tell because of the distance between the two. It wasn’t until he moved back to China that they argued about all kinds of things. Especially in recent months when he was looking for a job. He was so stressed about his life that it effected his relationship. After a period of separation, he felt so much better and more relaxed. Hey, it’s not easy to talk about a love, after all, the right girlfriend is not easy to find.

After dinner, Jiang Hai graciously bought movie tickets, so the group could go see something together. It was a chance to show some goodwill in front of his girlfriend, and besides, Fu Xinhui and Zhang Siyi certainly don’t mind watching a free movie. They took a taxi over to the theater. Fu Xinhui offered to buy coffee and called Zhang Siyi to help him.

Zhang Siyi followed him and said: “Ha-ha, free movies and coffee. I’m taking advantage of it today!”

Fu Xinhui smiled: “Sooner or later you will owe me!”

In fact, Zhang Siyi remembered. He still owed Fu Xinhui rent. Ah, the life of eating dirt. He felt a little embarrassed.

At the cafe, Zhang Siyi ordered a cup of Mocha. Fu Xinhui said: “Why are you ordering that. You always complain it’s too sweet.”

Zhang Siyi replied: “I’m tired of regular coffee. It’s all I’ve had at the company these last few days, so I want a change of taste.” In fact, Zhang Siyi wants to drink something sweet, to fill up on his own high blood sugar and drown his inner bitterness.

With their coffee in hand, Fu Xinhui and Zhang Siyi walked back to meet Jiang Hai who got the movie tickets ready. Zhang Siyi took two sips of his mocha and couldn’t stand it. He stared at Fu Xinhui’s latte. “Hey, I told you so…” Fu Xinhui snorted, but he still changed drinks with Zhang Siyi. “Jerk”

Tian Jing watched the two bickers like a married couple and then exchange drinks. Holding onto Jiang Hai’s arm, she sniffled a laugh.

Jiang Hai asked her what she was laughing about. She whispered something in Jiang Hai’s ear. Jiang Hai also followed Fu Xinhui and Zhang Siyi and couldn’t help but smile.

Zhang Siyi: “Hey, why are you so smiling at us?”

“Nothing. Nothing….” Jiang Hai shook his shoulders and turned his back.

Zhang Siyi: “…”

Fu Xinhui: “…”

Due to Zhang Siyi accumulated overtime and general lack of rest, he fell asleep in the cinema with a crooked neck and mouth slightly open. Fu Xin-Hui looked at him several times but could not bear to wake him up. Seeing him sleep in such an awkward position, he tried to help correct his posture several times.

Tian Jing happened to sit between him and Jiang Hai and quietly asked him: “Hey, do you like him?”

Fu Xinhui: “…”

At the end of the movie, Zhang Siyi woke up for the last few minutes at the end. He had to guess what the movie was about. Out of the cinema, Zhang Siyi was about to ask Jiang Hai how her girlfriend planned to go back, when he smiled and said: “I will send her back, you should take a taxi home.”

Zhang Siyi smirked with a “I understand” expression. Be leisurely at night, huh? Unexpectedly, Tian Jing on the side also smiled at him in an “I understand” way and said: “You too”

Zhang Siyi thought that this girl was simply not understanding. When he got on the bus, he asked Fu Xinhui afterwards: “Uh, is Jiang Hai’s girlfriend misunderstanding something?”

Fu Xinhui spread his hand: “God knows what these women are thinking right now.”

” Zhang Siyi: “…”

Zhang Siyi was silent for a while and said: “Well, according to this pattern, what if Jiang Hai goes to live with his girlfriend next year?”

Fu Xinhui doesn’t care: “Then it will just be the two of us.”

Zhang Siyi: “That 10,002, rent. I can’t carry it evenly!”

Fu Xinhui: “Don’t worry. You still pay four thousand. If Jiang Hai intends to move out, I will raise a dog. I’ve always liked Golden Retrievers. When I let the big dog live in the Jiang Hai room, I will pay the rent for two people.”

Zhang Siyi: “………”

There are so many things wrong with this statement, Zhang Siyi brain hurts. One-third of the rent is for a dog? What would Jiang Hai think after he moved out that a dog moved into his room? Also, it won’t be three classmates living together, but two guys and a dog. He is always getting misunderstood. Why are things moving in an even more ambiguous direction?

Irritated, Zhang Siyi squinted at Fu Xinhui: “Why don’t you find a girlfriend?”

Fu Xinhui: “Why? Are you looking for a girlfriend?”

Zhang Siyi: “Don’t you envy Jiang Hai? With a girlfriend you can live together and have sweet honey every day. It’s like winning life!”

Fu Xinhui as if to see through everything, said: “That they did not fight? It’s not always so. Arguing is tiring. I think it’s nice of us to be like this right now.”

Zhang Siyi: “…” us? Why are you taking me with you?

Fu Xinhui felt his chin and planned for the future: “After I get a dog it will be better, I tell you. That kind of big dog is particularly loyal. When its raised around you, it will wait daily for you to get home. Then it will eat with you, sleep with you, and will be happy to accompany you everywhere….  And I’m not going to lose my temper with you … What else do you want a girlfriend for?”

Zhang Siyi powerless spit out. Damn it, you and the dog after a lifetime to forget it!

Fu Xinhui said, suddenly said: “Eh, your birthday is coming, isn’t it?”

Zhang Siyi almost forgot. His birthday is next Sunday, November 23: “Well, it’s coming soon.”

He was too busy to forget, I did not expect Fu Xinhui to remember.

Fu Xinhui said: “When the time comes, everyone will gather again.”

Zhang Siyi sorry: “Well, it’s been a month since the last get together. I think everyone is busy. I’ve been working overtime, so I don’t know when I’ll have the opportunity to ask and even if I ask, will they even have time to make plans? I don’t even like cake.”

Fu Xinhui: “anyway, I am free. If they can’t come, I’ll accompany you.”

Zhang Siyi felt a touch of emotion in his heart. He was absolutely lucky to have a friend like him.

The next day Zhang Siyi woke up and remembered that this day is the bidding day.

Has Gu Yu taken the team members to Z City already? Has the bid started? If the bid fails, will they come back that night? He hesitated for a long time but could not resist knowing the news. He asked Zhu Hongzhen for Bi Lele WeChat then added each other as a friend and sent a message: “Lele, I am Zhang Si Yi….”

Bi Lele: “Aunt Four Ah, what?”

Bi Lele: “We arrived last night. Presentation started at eight in the morning and they are now in the city hall. One by one they present their designs. It’s not our turn yet, but soon.”

Zhang Siyi: “Ah? It’s almost the turn! Then why are you still free to return my news?”

Bi Lele: “The bidding is the speech of the boss. We don’t do that much other than answer any questions asked. I could take a nap.”

Zhang Siyi: “Oh…” Thinking of Gu Yu getting up to make his presentation speech, Zhang Siyi thinks about how overbearing he could be. Normally, one might feel insignificant and irritated, but instead he simply feels the eloquence with which Gu Yu debates is magnetic and handsome. He suddenly wishes he was there to watch Gu Yu make his presentation in person.

Zhang Siyi also asked: “How many are there with you?”

Bi Lele: “There are not many people just 5 totals; 2 from the landscape group, Ji Feiyu, Yuan Zhicheng, and me. Tong Heyi didn’t come. It’s strange. Normally on big bidding projects there are more people to increase the firm’s image and momentum.” Zhang Si Yi kept his mouth shut.

He is both anxious and annoyed. If that bathroom event didn’t happen at noon yesterday, would Gu Yu have taken him to Z-City? Even if he is just patch worker, can’t he also add momentum to the team? But instead of supporting him behind his back, he confronted him hard.…… Is Gu Yu going to feel disappointed? Is he going to be frustrated? How much has it affected him?

Bi Lele: “Are you worried about the result? Ha-ha, Piggy and Xuan Xuan also sent a me message. Rest assured, you will be the first to know!”

Zhang Siyi is very sorrowful, he is not worried about the results, he is worried about their emotions!

After that Bi Lele had no further news, Zhang Si Yi still feeling a bit mad at Gu Yu, he sent him a text. “status?” Gu Yu did not reply, and he also knew that he would not reply. He is under pressure now. The other possibility is that he does not want to care about Zhang Siyi at all.

Zhang Siyi passed the afternoon leisurely and at 7 pm, the phone vibrated again, and his heart followed.

Knowing what the result would be, he didn’t want to face it. He was trying to figure out what words of comforting he needed to say for Bi Lele sake.

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Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

Chapter 26: The Standard

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Before Zhang Siyi had time to react, Gu Yu first spoke: “Are you awake?”

With a muddled head, Zhang Siyi responded with a sleepy “Hmmmm”. With facial contours cast in shadow from the bright lights behind, he saw the figure of Gu Yu standing above him.

“Did you sleep all right? “Gu Yu’s voice is a little hoarse.

Zhang Siyi sat up, his brain was still dull, and he couldn’t figure out the situation: “Okay, what time…”

“It’s almost nine o’clock,” Gu Yu stood up and said, “I bought you breakfast and woke you up. Go wash your face and come and have something to eat.” He then left the room.

Shit! It’s almost 9: 00? Doesn’t that mean it’s almost time to work? Zhang Siyi quickly put on his socks and shoes and went to the bathroom.

When the cold water splashed his face, Zhang Siyi felt invigorated and excited, but something wasn’t quite right. Now that he was awake, his mind was processing the events that just transpired.

Gu Yu was going to ask him to get up for breakfast. He was not awake, but then he woke up. Then, thinking about what woke him up, the sensation he felt was of something soft touching his face. And when he opened his eyes, he and saw Gu Yu face cloaked in shadow right above him. Gu Yu was very close, and it was not like the type of distance that a boss would call for his subordinate to get up…

If he didn’t wake up at the time? What was he doing? Zhang Siyi’s head is in a cloud, and the whole person has a very strange feeling. Thinking that Gu Yu may have touched him, he neither feels sick or weird, but instead he felt nervous, shy and a kind of anticipation.

Feeling confused he further thought about the situation. How could Gu Yu touch him? Maybe he was trying to wake him up vigorously! It must be that Zhang Siyi has confused his dreams with reality.

After washing his face, he went back to his desk. On the large discussion table Zhang Siyi saw a series of small breakfast bags. He grabbed one with soy milk and buns, then went to his seat. He noticed Zhu Hongzhen next to him with dull eyes staring off into space and slowly biting a roast chicken rice ball and chewing it mechanically. “You stayed up all night?”

Zhu Hongzhen gave a simple “hmm” sound. In these last three days, his normally round and shiny fat face is like a white bone sucking away the essence, dry and dull.

Bi Lele wore a blanket on her back and was sleeping on her desk. Yuan Zhicheng was also sleeping on his desk with his chin poking out of his blanket. Many non-project team colleagues have come to work in the morning and saw the clear evidence for their overnight stay. Sympathetic staff members have expressed their condolences.

Trying to stay quiet, Zhang Siyi tipped-toed over to see the text on Bi Lele’s screen. This move woke her up. Zhang Siyi quickly raised his hands and made a surrender: “Sorry, I woke you.”

Bi Lele rubbed her eyes and said Feebly, “It’s all right, I didn’t fall asleep much, and I didn’t finish it at all.” With that, she grabbed the mouse and continued working.

Zhang Siyi looked at this girl who usually jokes around and loves gossip and sees a very tired, unkempt, quiet girl instead. The whole person exudes an indestructible energy from the inside and out just like being criticized and still refusing to accept it. Zhang Siyi exhausted spirit also feels the sway of Bi Lele determination.

“Do you want to see it?” Bi Lele smiled and showed Zhang Siyi the results that have been completed.

Okay!” Zhang Siyi pulled over an office chair.

Bi Lele started from the beginning. The first one shows the urban texture map of Z City which is adjusted to blue gray scale. There are black graphics to enhance the text. There is a small white line and a row of English in bright colors. It has a very dignified, clean-cut look. Then there is poetic quote, a guideline related to “water”, accompanied by the artistic landscape of Bi Lele –

Water is the source of life,

Water is a symbol of wealth.

A field of water protection will be green around，

Two mountain Pai send the youth to come.

City, born of water.

Zhang Siyi saw that when he translated yesterday, there was no such thing as “a water-protecting field will be green, and two mountains will be sent to Qinghai.” He asked: “Did you add these?”

Bi Lele: “No, after you went to sleep, the boss came over and looked at it. He asked me to add it and said it is Wang Anshi’s poem, expressing the relationship between water and homeland.”

Indeed, Z City has a major water way effecting the surrounding land. Because of serious water pollution, there are large areas of farmland surrounded by sewage. The leading port divides the plot and fragments the land. It makes people want to sigh.

The two poems Gu Yu included added a finishing touch, not only making the scrolls more poetic, but also directly presenting their vision of the new district to the audience. Sure enough, after the introduction, the next big picture is the aerial view of the plan they made.

A total of 250 hectares of land has been layout in an orderly manner. Under the renderings of the rendering company, the whole area is surrounded by clouds and the atmosphere is magnificent. The leading port is surrounded by blue waves.

Zhang Siyi shocked: “it’s amazing…

Bi Lele perked up at the comment and her tiredness seem to fade: “Although there are no flowers, we are not bad, right?”

Zhang Siyi nodded desperately: “I think it looks better than the daffodil!”

Bi Lele laughed and said: “Ha ha ha, I like your honesty!” She went on, and there were quite a few colleagues around who came closer to watch.

From the initial planning background

After the bird’s eye view, the formal planning content is next and highlights the history of urban development starting from the initial planning background. It also includes the prospect of regional planning and the analysis of the regional state of affairs. Zhang Siyi saw that the photos he took were also put in and the color was sketched by Yuan Zhicheng. His heat jumped at the parallel display.

Then there is the planning function strategy, which mainly locates the plot attributes and major systems of the area. Followed by the specific urban design with spatial structure, landscape design, ecological design etc… Also included is the development timing, which is very logical in its implementation. Last, is the detailed block design and architectural style control which is where Zhang Siyi’s residential land plan is included.

At the end of the text, the company’s background and all the members involved in the project were introduced

Chief Designer: Gu Yu (national first-class registered architect)

Tong Heyi (Dr. Architecture)

Planning consultant: xxx (registered town planner）

Landscape planning: Chen xx

Designers: Ji Feiyu, Bi LeLe, Zhicheng, Zhu Hongzhen, Zhang Siyi……

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Aah! aah! aah! aah!……!

Zhang Siyi’s eye locked onto his name in the group of people and felt such happiness. Zhang Siyi has a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, he is not nothing and is also helpful to the team!

Although Bi Lele quickly turned the page over, it still couldn’t dispel Zhang Siyi’s feelings – his name appeared in such a big project! Zhang Siyi imagines himself holding the Pulitzer Prize trophy to the peak of life that day, flowers! Applause! Flash! Head held high!!!

Wait, Zhang Siyi noticed Child Labor’s name is also there.

He asked Bi Lele: “Is this not the plan of our group? Why is Tong Heyi also named as a chief designer?”

Bi Lele turned back and glanced at it. “Yeah, we’ve been involved together. It is reasonable to say that people in B Group should also be written after our names. Hey, this is not the point, the text is more powerful. It’s also a gimmick. I used to be asked to write a bunch of names of people who didn’t participate in the project.”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

Bi Lele: “The important thing is that after winning the bid, the bonuses are all in our group, hehe!”

Zhang Siyi was also excited. He asked Lele: “If there is, how many bonuses will there be?”

Bi Lele: “I don’t know. It is said that there are 800,000 bonuses for this bid. If the bid is 20%, it will be sent to the project team separately. There will be at least one or two thousand for each person.”

“Ah! One or two thousand! A lot!” Zhang Siyi excitedly rubbed his fingers. With the salary that he earned the rent for half a year is not used!

Bi Lele laughed at him: “Wait, there is more! The winning bid is only the beginning. It does not include the subsequent design fees.”

Zhang Siyi: “What is the design fee?”

Bi Lele: “This is a big piece of land and there are many phases of development. Now is only the planning phase. The subsequent phases will also need architectural designs. Even though it’s not a guarantee, because you already won the bid, the chances to win for other phases of the project increase. There are many things you can do later. It’s the tip of the iceberg!”

After Zhang Siyi heard Bi Lele explanation, he was on cloud nine. Anyway, he was a small salted fish. As Su Yuan said before, the company recruited him to start work. They didn’t expect him to hold up the fort alone.

As she spoke, the last page was displayed. With the same color palette as the cover, there were three English letters: End

Colleagues who watched behind them burst into applause. Everyone was full of confidence when they saw such a perfect bidding plan.

Bi Lele was both moved and emotional: “Tomorrow the bid starts and there are many details that haven’t been finished.”

Zhang Siyi asked, “Like what?”

Bi Lele flipped through the pages and rattled off a bunch of issues: “Ji Feiyu found a rendering company to do the night scenes, but they haven’t come out yet. The boss just finished the development capacity control last night. I have to P-Map, ah right also the ecology of the landscape. The water treatment plan needs to be put in….”

Bi Lele in a hurry she pulled up her sleeves and said: “No more talking! I must do it! Or it will be too late!” She had not slept all night, and in the morning, she had squinted on the table for a little while, but now she was completely invigorated.

Zhang Siyi was anxious to ask: “Is there anything I can help?”

Bi Lele: “ah? Then you translate the two poems that the boss added. Also, there was a map of the road system before.  There are several places where the colors are not right. You help me change it. Lu Qiao helped before, but he went to sleep and hasn’t returned yet.”

Zhang Siyi was infected by Bi Lele’s attitude of excellence, and he was full of fighting spirit: “Give it to me!” Maybe Lu Qiao did not follow the color of Bi Lele’s color palette yesterday. Although it is similar, it looks a bit strange, like the difference between genuine and pirated. When Zhang Siyi used software to adjust it, he also found out that Bi Lele’s color and matching techniques are very good. Her talents, such as planes and advertising design, may have a promising future.

After breakfast, Zhang Siyi helped with various tasks all morning that he felt out of breath. He never worked so hard. If he went to college with the same mindset as today…. No, no, no, don’t think about it. Stupid, the past can no longer comeback, and even if it was back again, the environment was so stress-less it was hard to find such great motivation. It’s really right to come here, Zhang Siyi thought happily.

With his intense focus, Zhang Siyi finally finished, only to realize that he had been holding back the Queen of the morning. After sending the picture to Bi Lele, he rushed to the toilet, pulled down his trousers and sat down on the toilet relieving his bladder. Suddenly sitting, he was feeling so comfortable… Now that he was there, he was feeling a little lazy and didn’t want to get up. Zhang Siyi suddenly heard a voice from far and near –

“Gu Yu, have you worked overtime in the whole group yesterday?” Is this voice a Chief?

“… Hmmm.” This is Gu Yu.

The director sighed and said: “I have told you that the selection is already fixed. The design institute does not want a conservative standard design, so I advise you not to fight too hard. The power of seventy or eighty is enough.”

Gu Yu seems to be silent for a while, then said: “I know.”

Chief: “Well, I can see your ability and hard work, but sometimes don’t be so stubborn…”

The two talked a few more words, Zhang Siyi sat in the cubicle. With the current atmosphere he dares not come out.

Default? The standard? What does this mean? Who has chosen this bid?

So, all of them were kept in the dark, toiling for this big half month just to be a cannon fodder for people? Are you sure you will lose? And Gu Yu knew all this but didn’t say anything!?

Zhang Siyi instantly fell from the brilliance of glory in the clouds to the bottom of a cold pit. He was shocked. When he didn’t hear any sounds outside, he stood up on numb feeling legs and opened the door. He saw Gu Yu standing in front of the sink facing his direction, surprised. “You have heard it.”

Zhang Siyi: “…” It was very unexpected to see Gu Yu still standing there. Zhang Siyi doesn’t know why he didn’t leave before or say anything. Watching Zhang Siyi appear from the stall gave Gu Yu a surprise.

Zhang Siyi wanted to pretend he didn’t hear anything but could not. Blood drained from his face and he accused Gu Yu: “Why hide from us?”

As soon as the remark came out, the anger in Zhang Siyi’s belly poured up, and the thought that a group of them were still scrambling to do their best, foolishly looking forward to the final victory, he suddenly felt that Gu Yu was too much.

Gu Yu looked at him and explained, “What matters is the process, not the result.”

Zhang Siyi hurriedly said: “Even if you know the result, if you let us do it, we will do it well!”

Gu Yu said: “That is not the same, letting and wanting are two different things.”

Zhang Siyi was choked by the remark, and suddenly roused his voice with anger: “So you’re not keeping it from us? Look at us work hard, full of hope, and then slapped in the face again. How many times will be able to return after feeling so disappointed?”

Gu Yu opened his mouth to refute, but was speechless for a moment.

Zhang Siyi: “Then I would rather fail in the initial group competition!”

Speaking of this, he suddenly remembered the back of Tong Heyi sad departure at the meeting that day, he asked: “She already knew?” What the director told you on Halloween was not a conflict in creative design, but news of an internal bid, right? She didn’t just leave because of the mood, you didn’t want to give up directly and took over the project!”

Gu Yu is silent. His face is very white with shades of blue under his eyes.

Zhang Siyi don’t know where he got the guts to confront Gu Yu. He dares question his boss so loudly.

Maybe it was because of all the hard work he and his coworkers have put into the project and maybe he wasn’t afraid, but he just wanted to release his emotions. He did not expect to hear a satisfactory answer from Gu Yu’s mouth.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yu was silent for a long while, and suddenly asked him: “Why are you doing architecture?”

Zhang Siyi was asked, what does this matter have to do with building?

Gu Yu also asked: “If you don’t win the bid, do you think that this half-month has no meaning?”

Zhang Siyi raised his voice, anxious: “Of course, but I don’t want to work hard for a false goal!”

Gu Yu staying calm responded: “Building this road, is not what you do this moment. The results can be seen in the next moment. This bid is not our end. If you are rushing to win the bid, it is not called hard work, but called utilitarian heart.”

Zhang Siyi is so angry-damn it. He wants to refute, but, damn it, Gu Yu is too eloquent!

At this moment, someone came, and the two did not stand in the toilet to continue the confrontation. Angry, Zhang Siyi’s legs carried him out one step at a time. He imagined that on each and every step he was stepping on Gu Yu.

Returning to the office, seeing everyone still immersed in work, like a group of fanatics who have been brainwashed by the sales organization, Zhang Siyi has another painful feeling. Everyone is drunk, and I am alone. Mourning his misfortune, he sighed.

Moments later, Gu Yu sent a message: “Don’t talk about this matter with the others. It will affect the morale of everyone.”

Zhang Siyi gnashed his teeth and knocked on the keyboard: “I didn’t intend to say it.” – He didn’t understand at all, since the results were all fixed, what’s the point!? How is everyone going to stay calm afterwards?!

Gu Yu said again: “Tomorrow, I will bring Ji Feiyu and Bi Lele to Z City. If you have nothing to do, you can go home this afternoon. You have worked many hours of overtime. You should have accumulated enough time for a holiday. Go think about things.”

Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

Chapter 25: Overnight

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Zhang Siyi was so ecstatic that his hair was on end. After his self-confidence and self-esteem have been consistently challenged these last few months doing tasks under the extremely demanding supervision of Gu Yu, has he now gained some sympathy?

Therefore, Zhang Siyi was so flattered at this moment, he jumped out of his seat and quickly grabbed a pen and notepad, headed over to his office and prepared to listen to Gu Yu’s teachings. At the same time, he feels that he is no longer a draftsman, but a real designer! He leaned in to listen intently.

Gu Yu said: “Before you do residential planning, you must first forget that you are a designer.”

Zhang Siyi: “???”

Gu Yu explains: “Currently in China, it is not the design ideas, but the regulations, market demand and development profits that determine the appearance of the house. The planning of the house is based on the comprehensive consideration of regulations, fire codes, traffic flow, floor area ratio, the combination of cash flow, turnover, marketing and other issues, in short, this is a logical mathematical problem.”

Zhang Siyi’s face is blank. This seems to be a little different from his imagination!

Gu Xiao paused and asked, “Are you okay with math?”

Zhang Siyi: “It’s very good…”.

“Okay, let’s continue,” Gu Yu nodded and glanced at the section of the plan that they had already done. Then, “The directors of the planning board of Z City only provided an outline for the plan, scope, and purpose. Since it isn’t a final plot construction plan, it does not specifically address various functions with detailed indicators, so we must come up with answers based on the local statistics bureau on the new district’s demographics such as population growth rate, local residential style, planning height control, etc. A reasonable indicator will make the subsequent arrangement look more reliable.”

Clasping a pen and wide eyed, Zhang Siyi has been knocked unconscious by this string of nouns. He wants to take notes, but he doesn’t know what variables to write.

In advanced, Gu Yu gathered the data necessary for calculations. He calmly brought out a calculator, a blank sheet of paper, and pen and in front of Zhang Siyi, quickly began to list a string of values. He handed the paper to Zhang Siyi and said: “These figures set up the rules of the game. You make arrangements and combinations to play the game.”

Zhang Siyi: “………”

“Similar to the parking lot planning from before, residential planning is not about starting with the building alone. One must start from the flow of traffic on the roadways and determine the main entrance, internal axis, road traffic, etc.…… Gu Yu took one of the plots as an example. He picked up a pen and draw on the side of the map. “The difference between them are that the parking spaces are mostly fixed 3 meters by 6 meters whereas the houses have more variables like height requirements. There are lighting requirements as well, but the principle is exactly the same no matter if the content changes.”

After drawing the road network, he pulled open the drawer and grabbed a small homemade plastic building block from inside. He said: “We assume that this is the size of a single-family house.”

It is like a special plan for the same scale. The building blocks are just the size of the house. Gu Yu put them one by one on the map and quickly draw a decent picture of the house.

Zhang Siyi is simply stupid. In a project that he sounds so complicated, it seems like playtime for Gu Yu. At the rate he was drawing, it looked like he could finish the whole area in twenty minutes!

“Do you understand?” Gu Yu looked at him. “If you don’t have any more questions, go try and draw.”

Zhang Siyi seems to understand and nod his head and go out. It is not that he has no problem, but he does not know what questions he can ask. Outside the office, the pizzas that were ordered have been delivered and the entire office is filled with a rich cheesy scent.

“Four! Come and eat! Supreme seafood is being robbed!” Bi Lele screamed at him with a pizza. Zhang Siyi put down his notebook with no words and the sheet of statistics that Gu Yu wrote to rush and grab the pizza.

Already seven o’clock, more than half of the group is still there. Due to the refinement plan, even the original non-project team Du Rui and Lu Qiao were temporarily transferred. Although it is overtime, the office staff are full of enthusiasm. Without complaints, the transfer has invigorated the group and the good mood is very infectious.

Everyone is talking about the similarities between B Group and H Design Institute plans. People are guessing whether there is a spy in the company. It’s a conspiracy.

“Impossible! H Design Institute is a large-scale business. With such capabilities, they don’t need to engage in low means to prevent the small firms like Borderless to compete on a bid.”

“The element of a city flower is inherently easy to think of….”

“…but the elements have different usages. Does it include a flower pattern?”

“This is not clear…”

After listening to a few people, Zhang Siyi was worried: “If the plan of the Design Institute is really similar to B Group, will we have a chance of winning? A group plan has already been smashed once by B Group’s plan. If the Design Institute’s plan is even better then our Group B, then when it comes time to put it on the table, would it even be a contender?”

Everyone is somewhat silent. Ji Feiyu promptly encourages everyone: “Gu Yu said, since it is done, we must believe that our plan is the best, although the total effect is not dazzling, but our content is very rich!”

Zhu Hongzhen also said: “Yes, those who are not allowed to be the city government are real-handed, we still have a good chance.”

A few simple words have suddenly stimulated everyone’s confidence. Zhang Siyi shoved the last bites of pizza in his mouth and with a purposeful clap of his hands, he psyched himself up to tackle his house planning problems.

Everyone was about to start work. Du Rui suddenly looked at Gu’s office and asked: “Has the boss had any food?”

Zhang Siyi stunned, indeed, it was almost eight o’clock, and Gu Yu had not come out of his office since the time he was inside.

Bi Lele saw a few pieces of pizza on the table and didn’t finish eating. She blinked at Du Rui and said, “Go give a few pizzas to the boss!”

Blushing Du Rui had a thin face and shouted: “You do it.” Then she hurried back to her seat.

The task of delivering the pizza to Boss was handed to the position of Zhang Siyi, who was closest to Gu Yu’s office.

Zhang Siyi walked to the door of Gu Yu’s office with a box and heard the faint voices from inside. He was a bit unsure of whether or not to knock on the door, hesitating for two seconds, there was a voice from Gu Yu: “Who? Come in.”

Zhang Siyi almost forgot, this door is frosted glass, even if he does not knock on the door, Gu Yu can also see someone outside. He pushed in and saw Gu Wei standing by the window with his mobile phone, still talking on the phone –

“In short, this time I’ll be very busy and won’t be back at night….” Gu Yu turned to look at Zhang Siyi and immediately said to the human on the phone. “Well, I know, I am going to eat now, you should rest early. Good night.”

Zhang Siyi listened to the intimate tone of Gu Yu’s speech, and the gossip cells in his mind started to brew again – but not going home at night? Take some rest first? Gu Yu lives with someone? girlfriend? Intimate people? Wife?

Zhang Siyi specially glanced at Gu Yu’s right hand and saw that there was no ring on his ring finger. Could he be in a relationship?

Zhang Siyi don’t know what to think. Seeing Gu Yu hang up the phone, he instinctively blurted out: “Is that your girlfriend?” Perhaps it was because Gu Yu jokingly asked him if Fu Xinhui was his boyfriend, so he returned the question. But Gu Xiao took the phone, just looked at him and smiled then laughed.

Zhang Siyi： “……”

Gu Xiao looked directly at the pizza box in Zhang Siyi’s hand and said, “Is this for me?”

Zhang Siyi felt perturbed, but he still replied honestly: “Well, since the group couldn’t go out to eat, we used today’s bonus for pizza instead. Here are a few slices for you.”

Gu Xiao asked him to put it on the table and let him out. Zhang Si resolutely returned to his seat and clearly felt the difference in the number of paragraphs between himself and Gu Yu. …. ah! Why did he laugh? Is it by default? Why didn’t he answer me?!

At 9:30 in the evening, the office is still brightly lit.

A few hours later, Zhang Siyi only slightly digested the data and rules that Gu Yu said, and finally began to draw the road network. He noticed the difference between the smooth road network that Gu Yu drew in comparison to his own wavy work and sighed. Zhang Siyi was concentrating on his drawing that he didn’t notice the top of his head was dark.

Looking at Zhang Siyi so absorbed in what he was going, Gu Yu wasn’t sure when to interrupt him. He placed one hand at his table and leaned over. With a slender finger he pointed towards the edge of the screen. “This side”.

Zhang Siyi wore headphones, intently drawing and suddenly caught by the person next to him. A hand appeared in front of him, pointing. Zhang Siyi practically jumped out of his seat, startled. He quickly took off the headset and looked at Gu Yu who was observing him.

Gu Yu whispered in his ear, “Have you considered the road retreat?”

Zhang Siyi looked back at the drawing with a red face and pointed to the Blue line he had drawn: “Well, this one.”

Gu Yu: “Very good but remember to draw red after the retreat.”

Zhang Siyi can only hear the loud thumping of his heart. Every time he is praised by Gu Yu, he is never calm. “I…, I painted a bit slow.” Zhang Siyi said.

Gu Yu: “Slow is irrelevant. As long as the ideas are right, all the conditions are considered clearly, and the feelings are slowly conveyed. As they say, practice makes perfect.”

Slow doesn’t matter? Isn’t time already very scarce? Seeing that others are doing things so fast, Zhang Siyi is afraid that he will drag everyone down!

Zhang Siyi: “There are still nine days left. What do I do if I can’t finish drawing?”

Gu Yu calmly said: “You won’t have a problem finishing. You have me.”

Zhang Siyi “……” Crap. That sentence is so domineering! Zhang Siyi feels electrocuted. What to do! What to do! Ah, ~~!

Gu Yu left Zhang Siyi to his task and went to walk around the room to evaluate the progress of everyone else. He was very satisfied with the work everyone has completed thus far so he let everyone go back home for tonight. Work can continue tomorrow.

For the next few days, the project team stayed at Borderless until 10 in the evening every night. The refinement of the project is not only to refine the detailed level of the major functional sections, but also to provide guidance on street space and architectural style as well as to arrange fine landscape planning and ecological planning. The night lighting design of the whole district is even more detailed as the design is derived from the shape of the iconic building in the commercial center of the area. Finally, it will take a few days to make a full set of 3D renderings for the company.

Because of the huge number of tasks, more people are starting to work even later overtime hours. Gu Yu’s principle of doing things is “today’s today”. Generally, tasks assigned that day are expected to be completed that day. If its not done, then it will cause a delay for the next step which in turn would cause more accumulated delays.

Under the control of Gu Xiao, the overtime work of the crowd has been to the utmost minimum. The light of hope remains in people’s eyes. Even when everyone stayed up for a few nights, they are still motivated to continue as if the extra time working was nothing.

However, the four lounges in the company aren’t enough to house everyone. Many people bring their own folding beds and put them next to the desk. They can work until two or three in the morning then sleep for three to four hours, then get up at six or seven in the morning.

Under such a tight situation, Zhang Siyi finally ushered in his first day and night in his career.

In fact, two days earlier, he was already working until midnight then going home and then arriving back at the office by 8am the next day. Since Zhang Siyi lived close, he always went home to sleep better. Anyway, the taxi fare was also reimbursed by the company.

It was only in the last two days that it was very urgent. Everyone counted the second hand. Even eating and going to the bathroom felt like a waste of time.

Zhang Siyi’s housing plan has been completed with the help of Gu Yu. He continued to act as a patch in the later stages. He was so embarrassed to be idle that he made himself available if needed, so he simply followed around everyone in the office these last two nights.

Since the text was to be presented in both Chinese and English, Zhang Siyi concentrated his efforts into translation. Originally, there was no international student in Group A. The only professional level English-speaking girl in the group felt overwhelmed every time she was asked to translate because she had to juggle her design tasks with the pressure of also translating. Now with the help of Zhang Siyi, she is so happy that she is sobbing: “Four aunts Ah!” You’re the mascot of our group!”

Zhang Siyi: “Aha?” When did he become a mascot?

The girl said: “You are a good person, willing to help, and can build stuff!”

Zhang Siyi’s hands-on ability is not only manifested in the pumpkin lantern. Half a month ago, the girl bought a bookshelf to assemble which Zhang Siyi helped with.

When studying abroad, Zhang Siyi’s design classes often require them to do manual models. The architecture department is equipped with an oversized model studio with various sawmills, laser engraving machines, 3D printers and other model instruments… Zhang Siyi doesn’t like drawing pictures, but he likes to build them.

Fu Xinhui also said he would have been a great carpenter in ancient times, but this skill did not seem to be particularly useful to Zhang Siyi now.

First of all, from a professional point of view, computer software is now so developed, most construction companies do not have the conditions and time to let the designer build physical models. Secondly, from the point of view of wooing a girl, this is not something to brag about.

When Zhang Siyi learned to use the engraving machine, he also used a cork to engrave a “ghost” in the studio and gave it to his ex-girlfriend. However, because the symbolic meaning wasn’t good, she didn’t want it. Indeed, a piece of broken wood is better than a bag and a necklace? Even if you are looking for a blind date, the meaning of doing a manual model is not as great as the significance of repairing a water pipe.

Therefore, his advantage may only be slightly downgraded to medial tasks. His ability is highlighted when buying assembled furniture and making pumpkin lights.

The girl stood on the side and watched the English on the keyboard without stopping. While continuing to talk about him: “Good character, soft and cute, can laugh, take pictures beautifully, and translate!”

Zhang Siyi: “……” Seems to have mixed in some weird adjectives.……

She said with emotion: ” It’s no wonder that the Boss is so fond of you!”

Zhang Siyi: “……” Wait, where did she see that Gu Yu, uh, liked him? Don’t say it’s about the cactus again?

“Hehe,” Zhang Siyi, laughing, “You must have got it wrong, he’s pretty much treats me like everyone else.”

The girl said: “No way! He gave you a cactus!”

Zhang Siyi: “…” Sure enough!

The girl said with a smile: “You also gave him your pumpkin lantern. It is still in the most prominent position on his desk. Every time one goes to Gu Yu’s office, they can see it. Give and gave…  you two are so ambiguous!”

Zhang Siyi listened with a face of constraint: “I think you are sure…… There’s something…… Got It……. Wrong…….”

The girl continued: “I haven’t made a mistake! We all think that the work is very special for you. Let’s go to the office to think about the girl who gave the gift. Is there any gift for his birthday? Yours! The pumpkin lantern is the first one to be put on display!”

Zhang Siyi: “But it’s just a pumpkin lantern, it’s not worth it.”

The girl looked at him with a “you won’t understand it anyway” expression on her face.

Zhang Siyi paused and asked: “When is Gu Yu’s birthday?”

The girl blurted out and said: “On January 8, the Capricorn man symbolizes absolute consciousness, ideals and ambitions…”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

It seems that this girl also feels the same as Du Rui.

This translation was translated to five in the morning, and for several days of high-intensity work, Zhang Siyi couldn’t open his eyes until the end.

Colleagues are still encouraging each other: “Hang in there… today and another night, to tomorrow night and will be free!” Yes, by the last two days, most people’s work is done. The reporting day is the day after tomorrow and generally most are finished. The last task is putting all the text onto the plan drawings and that responsibility is Bi Lele.

Bi Lele stared at the computer screen with utmost attention and was already immersed in the work. Also, reluctant to go to sleep since others are still working, Zhang Siyi saw several girls giving Bi Lele help. He turned his head to see Gu Yu’s office lights are still on. He whispered to  Zhu Hongzhen: “Boss hasn’t slept?”

Zhu Hongzhen A haggard face: “You don’t have to worry about him, he has a rollaway bed in his office. When he is tired, he will sleep.”

Zhang Siyi nodded and looked at the results of the concerted efforts of everyone. All the work that everyone has contributed and the comradery between them gave Zhang Siyi and overwhelmingly good feeling. He felt hopeful – yes, they will win the bid!

Ji Feiyu saw a few people around the room on the verge of collapse, and quickly said: “You guys go to sleep first, don’t stay up late!”

Zhang Siyi couldn’t stay awake anymore and walked to the lounge swaying. The whole person fell on the little single bed and lost consciousness.

Since it’s not be his own bed, he is a little uncomfortable when he falls asleep. As he is slowly waking up, he feels something itchy on his face. It seems that something is touching him.

Zhang Siyi opened his eyes in an uncomfortable way. The lounge was a dark room with no windows, and the front was dim. The doorway was open with a bright light.

In the mist, he saw a familiar face.

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