Assistant Architect

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.