Assistant Architect

Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

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Chapter 10: Efficiency

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Bi Lele explained: “The little cactus ball grew fromthe root of big one. It was later transplanted into a new pot, so the boss raisedtwo plants since it was a product of the original one.”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

"And that's not only it." Bi Lele craned her neck lookingat the direction of the director's office and then lowered her head, looked atZhang Siyi, then lowered her voice, “There was an intern working with ourgroup from T University about two months ago at the end of May."

“Oh?” Zhang Siyi leaned in closer, eager tolisten to the gossip with rapt attention.

Bi Lele pointed to Zhang Siyi's desk, saying: "You wereassigned to the same desk as the girl was, and she also asked the boss for thecactus."

“Wait a minute,” interrupted Zhang Siyi, “Letme make it clear. I didn’t ask for the cactus on my own initiative, Guo gave itto me it.”

Bi Lele.： "……"

Zhang Siyi repeated thedialogue at that time, Bi Lele turned a white eye: "When you admitted to likingthe cactus, isn't that just a roundabout way of asking him for it."

Zhang Si Yi mouth twitched.The plants were in different pots so naturally he didn't know that the smallone came from the bigger one. So, why is asking about it so weird….

Bi Lele continued: “Inany case, the girl was nice and had a cheerful personality. Although she didn'tsay, it was obviously she liked the boss. When she was picking her plant, shedirectly asked Gu Yu for the small cactus. He didn't directly refuse her, but insteadhe smiled and asked, If I casually give my small cactus to a girl, then whatdoes our relationship mean.?"

Zhang Siyi did not react:“eh?”"

“You are stupid. Thesmall cactus is the child of the big one. Gu Yu was the father to the littlecactus, so if he gives some girl his child to take care of, then what does itmake her… of course, his Wife!" Talking about the director made Bi Lele lookaround anxiously.

Figuring out a piece oftruth, Zhang Siyi was flush with embarrassment.

“At that time, the girlwas stunned and couldn’t speak. She didn’t stay for a long and after two monthsof internship, she left. But after that incident, everyone thought Gu Yu wouldnot give away his cactus to anyone.” Bi Lele said, looking at Zhang Siyiwith a sly look. “I didn’t expect him to give it away now.”

Heart beating faster, ZhangSiyi felt worried. In a flash he had a million thoughts about all that hadhappened the other day. Would he not think he was Gay? Gu Yu overheard all hisex-girlfriend grievances so if he gave him the cactus ball, is he treatingZhang Siyi differently? Is he trying to say something?

Until Zhu Hongzhen snorted: "Don'tlisten to her nonsense. The girls love to make up stories. I feel that the bosstold that to the girl as a euphemism to express his uninterested feelings towardsher. Besides, the ball grows out from the big one. It's not the offspring, it'sa brother!"

Bi Lele said: “The cactuscomes from the same root. If you don't cut it away, then it will sticktogether!” The seeds come from the blossoms and that the offspring, youhave no culture!"

Zhu Hongzhen: “I don'tknow the details, but that's one crazy theory."

Although Bi Lele commentsmade a bit of sense, Zhang Siyi is more inclined believe Zhu Hongzhen’s rhetoric.He took a deep breath, consoling himself: It's an office plant, not a gaything. (=_=)

However, this story alsomakes Zhang Siyi realize that he may not be special to Gu Yu. Although they arefrom the same area and high school, does that really mean anything? Gu Yu isnot only a student of Ningwai, but also a student of T University withcountless schoolmates, not to mention all his colleagues from his profession.

Thinking about this, ZhangSiyi could not help but feel a little disappointed, but he didn't dwell on the subject,so he quickly adjusted his mood.

Because there is no new taskearly in the morning, Zhang Siyi took the opportunity to take pictures of hiswork desk and post them to the circle of friends, Note: “new job!"

All Zhang Siyi wanted to dowas send one photo and put away the mobile phone, but quickly someone commented.The praises Zhang Siyi received made him feel great.

One of his friends, XueWenhan, who is still in the UK studying for a master's degree in a relatedarchitectural field wrote a note. Calculating the time difference, the time wastwo o’clock in the middle of the night. It seems that his friend is stillstaying up late, but whether it is because he is studying or playing, ZhangSiyi does not know.

Many "Congratulations!" messagesappear as well as inquiries about the new job and how he is doing… Zhang Si Yihad no time to reply one by one. He was seeking approval and wanted to quicklyreply with two sentences, but a familiar voice sounded behind him: “Youseem to have a lot of time on your hands."

Zhang Siyi froze and almost droppedhis phone.

Standing at the end of thedesk, unbeknown to Zhang Siyi, Gu Yu appeared behind him. With a cup in hishand, was looking at him with penetrating, sharp eyes, smiling. Without givingZhang Siyi the chance to talk, he said, "come."

Zhang Siyi hurriedly shovedhis phone into his trousers pocket, was with a perturbed mood followed him.

Gu Yu put two chairs infront of the desk. When Zhang Siyi sat in one, a girl with long straight hair came,and asked softly: “Looking for me?”

Gu Yu said “hmm” andindicated with his hand the vacancy to the side of Zhang Siyi, so she can sitdown.

Two people looked at eachother and Zhang Siyi was first introduced himself: “Hello, I am Zhang Siyi.I was just hired yesterday.”

The girl smiled shyly, shookhands with him, softly said: “I heard, I am Du Rui, Hello."

When Gu Yu saw that they hadfinished introductions, he pushed two stacks of information in front of them."This is a design summary of a single youth apartment in S City. It requiresthree sets of plans. Rui Xuan will do two sets and Zhang Siyi will do one set. Wewill meet again in the conference room at 1:30 this afternoon to discuss thepreliminary design plans. The plans need to be refined before the end of thework day."

Zhang Siyi was stilldigesting what Gu Yu said, when he heard Du Rui very simple reply "understood"and then stood up.

“Hey, wait.” Outof the door, Zhang Siyi hurriedly asked her, “He is only giving us onemorning to work on our designs? With lunch break, that only leaves threehours….?"

Du Rui calmly said:“Yes.”

Zhang Siyi was shocked. Whenthey were studying, they were given a week for each assignment. Now he must doit in three hours? This time he can't ignore the project data.

Du Rui, who has more experiencethan him, is calmer. Can he do it?

Zhang Si Yi stiffly returnedto his seat and frantically opened the information about the project to readit. The pressure of Gu Yu assignment is making him distressed. Never mind whatearlier praise he received, Zhang Siyi doesn't have time to think aboutanything! With such constraints, Zhang Siyi's motivation accelerates and isdetermined to make a good plan on time.

Since the project is a“single youth apartment”, Zhang Siyi is more familiar with the work thanhe did with bathrooms in the large office building. After all, he lived in astudent apartment in the UK, and he also experienced many beautiful places whentraveling abroad. He tried to draw from memory but changed it and used modelsinstead. He will just have to wait until the meeting to explain it. Although itwas a bit rough, Zhang Siyi was surprised at his efficiency. If he could havedone this while studying, it would have been so easy!"

At lunch time, Zhang Siyiordered a meal at the company and went to the dining area with his colleagues.

Du Rui Xuan sat two rows awayfrom Zhang Si Yi while Lu Qiao was between them. When she passed by, Zhang Siyiwanted to call out to her and ask her about the plan during lunch time, but DuRui said: “You eat first. I haven’t finished drawing. I'll eat later."

Zhang Siyi thinks about ittoo. She needed to draw two sets, and her workload is much greater than his.

Curious, Zhang Siyi lookedover at Du Rui to see what she was drawing. He was surprised as there wereseveral already finished, beautifully drawn designs on the table.

“Oh my God! Are you drawingdesigns by hand?” Zhang Siyi said shocked.

Du Rui smiled and shook herhead: “No, the drawings have been drawn with a computer. I am making a fewtouches now, so I can add some explanations.”

Zhang Siyi was stammered:“You, you are so good.”

Although the foreignarchitecture department also has related sketch drawing courses, there wasn't arequirement for students to have a high level of hand-drawing. Add that fact tothe popularity of computer design software, Zhang Siyi rarely drew by hand. Withoutthe years of practice at university, he absolutely cannot draw to the sameprofessional level as Du Rui.

Du Rui humbly said: “Thanks,but I'm just ok. Look over there at Yuan Zhicheng drawings. He graduated fromthe Academy of Fine Arts, and his hand drawing really great.”

Zhang Si Yi did not want tosay anything. He wanted to bury his own head in a basin of sand!

His relaxed state of mindfrom earlier quickly dissolved. He only had a half an hour left so once he gotback to his desk, his mind was focused on the task. He used to laze around andcheck his social media accounts, but now, it isn't something he is evenconsidering.

He was looking over hisdesign again when a message appeared at half passed one. Gu Yi had summoned himand Du Rui to meet.

In the discussion room, bothhe and Du Rui placed the designs out on the table for review. It felt like hewas back in University having a weekly project critique and waiting for hisprofessor's approval. Even he knows he was assigned only one apartment whileshe had 2 but seeing the volume of work Du Rui brought to the discussion roomcompared to his own, made him feel wholly inadequate. On top of that, herrenderings where so beautiful to look at! He broke out in a cold sweat.

Gu Yu quickly reviewed thework. He first acknowledged the volume of Du Rui work and then let Zhang Siyi lookat the two designs. "What do you think?"

“Ah, uh, verygood.” The quality of those hand drawn pictures has already shaken ZhangSiyi that he is blinded.

After a careful examination,without any hesitation, Gu Yu was quick to point out several flow problems in DuRui's scheme, one of which was largely useless. She felt like crying.

On the side, Zhang Siyi was feelingapprehensive, only to find out that what he suffered last night was nothing. Itwas shocking. Gu Yu is a terrible person. He is terrible! Even though Du Ruihas worked so hard, he doesn't feel any pity!

When it was Zhang Siyi'sturn, he was prepared to hear the worst. Maybe there was a reason for Du Rui criticism,but he thinks that if Gu Yu also finds faults to his own work, Du Rui mightfeel a little better.

However, after looking overhis design, Gu Yu just nodded and said two words: “It’s good.”

…… Good. that’s it?

Yes, there is nothing moreto say.

For the next phase of thedraft, the Director had Du Rui modify one of her plans, then combine them withZhang Siyi efforts and finally said. "All the toilets are to be managed byZhang Siyi." He nodded at them, and then left.

Zhang Siyi: “…”

Zhang Siyi watched him nonchalantlyleave the room, then turned around to see Du Rui staring at his own drawings.He wanted to ease the directors' words in a small way but didn't know what tosay. Du Rui has worked at the office for a long time. He only just started, sohow is he qualified to offer this senior a comforting word.

Embarrassed, he saw Du Ruiwipe the corner of her eye and look up: “Zhang Siyi, can you talk to meabout the thoughts behind your design?"

Zhang Siyi saw her firm tears and red eyes, but then the girl expression changed, and a hint of stubbornness and determination was seen.

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