Assistant Architect Chapter 1: Coffee

Chapter 1: Coffee

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Zhang Siyi lifted his hand and swiped his phone screen. To his surprised, the current displayed ti was 11:35.

When he first sat down, it was 10:40. The beautiful girl with expertly applied makeup and delicate curly hair in front of him had been scolding him for at least one hour. The other party didn’t seem like they were going to stop anyti soon. The cup of latte in front of her was completely cool now. Zhang Siyi wondered how she can talk for so long without having a drink. Is she not thirsty?

Although he is listening, Zhang Siyi is really bored, and his focus is elsewhere. Scanning the area with his eyes, he notices a mix of traditional elents with contemporary European styles giving the café a sleek yet comfortable atmosphere. In particular, the decorative, dark green star lights around the room are quite interesting. The table and chair positions are arranged perfectly to maximize the space inside the cafe. None of the tables were empty....

“Hey, are you listening?” The girl’s high voice abruptly pulled back Zhang Siyi’s attention.

“Yeh, I heard.” Zhang Siyi adjusted his body and quickly refocused his eyes back to the girl.

While talking, the girl’s long delicate fingers with painted nails flew in front of him like a colorful butterfly, as if to conduct a passionate “sonata”, but unfortunately, this sonata is entering a boring repetitive major.

She continues to complain: “How many tis have you taken the initiative to ask out since returning to China? I can count them on one hand.... three. Only three tis!! One ti, you overslept, and the other two tis added together are not even a day. I really don’t understand why you are so busy all the ti! Before while abroad, I know you were very busy studying architecture. I have endured the ti spent at ho while we spent apart, but now you have graduated and returned to China. You haven’t found a job yet. What are you doing at ho all day?”

“Looking for a job ...”

“Looking for a job, 24 hours a day? Don’t you have ti to go out and eat with ? I called you the day before yesterday to ask you out to a movie. You promised , but we ended up not going. Why? You said your portfolio wasn’t finished, but then I saw you chatting with your friends online. You have ti for friends but not ?”

Zhang Siyi argued. He took a break from doing his howork and checked his social dia page for updates. It wasn’t for more than five minutes.

... well, maybe it was more like fifteen minutes.

“You have ti to chat with your friends online, but you don’t have ti to watch a movie with ?”

Zhang Siyi wanted to say “yes”, but he was afraid such a remark would evoke the girl’s fury and tear him to pieces, so he endured and did not answer.

Even so, it did not stop his innermost feelings:accompanying you to watch a movie ans I must take a shower, wash my hair and clean up otherwise you criticize . If I’m not wearing the right cloths, you scold . If I say anything other than “like” towards the film, you get angry at . Then, when the movie is over, I must accompany you ho which is 45min each direction let alone my own commute so with all ti spent..... Of course, it’s easier to chat online with friends!

Frowning again, the girl suddenly thought, “Didn’t you already graduate? What else do you have to do?”

“As I explained already, the designs I made while studying weren’t enough, so I need to take this ti to make more drawings.

“Why didn’t you do it while you were studying? Did you not have ti?”

“At that ti, there were other things to worry about. The architecture departnt was not only about designing, but also about architectural structure and environnt as well as architectural history. There were also various software programs I has to learn!”

“Busy playing gas? Or busy chatting online?

“.....”

“Zhang Siyi, why don’t you take care of yourself when you go out? Your hair is so ssy, and you have dark circles under your eyes. What ti did you get to sleep last night?” You used to never have acne on your face! But look at you. You have two spots on your forehead!”

“I thought everyone who studies architecture is very clean-cut. When I first t you, you were so well dressed and fashionable...”

“...” (I wanted to impress you at that ti!)

“But look at what you have beco. No one believes that the slob in front of is learning architecture!”

Zhang Siyi can’t help but say: “You have not seen the state of the departnt mbers right before our projects are due. It’s not uncommon for people to stop washing their hair or bathe for a month!”

“The girl showed a shocked and disgusted expression, but in less than two seconds, she complained: “But you have graduated now, and aren’t working so why are you still acting like that. Ah!”

“I said I was doing my ...”

“Don’t keep talking about your portfolio. What about the days when you first returned to China? I invited you out, but you are always with that guy nad Fu Xinhui. You are now renting a house and living together. You go out with him and he even cooks’ als for you!”

When his girlfriend ntioned this, Zhang Siyi was anxious: “Can you not think about it, I am really just friends with him.”

“Ha?” The girl sneered. “I haven’t said anything and yet you are so anxious to argue! Do you know that there is a word called ‘to cover the glory’? I have long heard that there are many gay people learning design.”

Zhang Siyi is a little annoyed: “You think your boyfriend is gay?”

“I just want you to keep your distance from him!”

“Please, I’ve been with him for four years, and if he’s gay I’d have noticed it by now. Besides he used to have a girlfriend!” As far as his relationship with Fu Xinhui goes, Zhang Siyi does not know how many tis he has had to explain this her. She is doubtful and always feels like he is lying to her.

“What are you so angry about? I just ntion Fu Xinhui. Do you have sothing to hide?”

He was a straight man who was repeatedly suspected by his girlfriend to be gay. How could it still be so difficult for her to understand. Zhang Siyi was depressed: “If you wanted to take out today just to go through these old accounts, I really do not have ti for you. I did not sleep until four in the morning today, and you woke up at nine, so now I’m tired to death!”

Instead of being calm, the girl grew more agitated. She raised her voice and said, “Do you think I want to rehash the sa grievances? Every ti I see you, you look dead. I have been waiting for you at ho for two years, but when you ca back, you only took the initiative to contact a few tis!”

Zhang Siyi’s was so angry that his face was turning blue. Before returning to China every year, he would buy many gifts for his girlfriend. He could see the delight in her eyes when she happily received them, but he didn’t know what has happened in the past two months. As ti passed, her temper was getting worse and worse. She has beco a different person.

The girl did not wait for Zhang Siyi to answer. Her barrage of words didn’t seem like they were going to end anyti soon, until her statent, “If you are going to act like this then don’t bother relying on . Do you know how disappointed I am with you now!

Before Zhang Siyi even knew what was happening, he impulsively said, “Since you are so disappointed with , then let’s break up!” This is his first ti he took the initiative to break up. After the angry words from both parties subsided, they instantly fell into a strange silence.

Zhang Siyi regrets it a little, but he really can’t stand it anymore. At least today, he doesn’t want to be the “good guy” anymore.

Looking at each other in silence, the girl’s face turned blue and white. She was startled. With the beginning of tears forming in her red eyes, she suddenly stood up. She grabbed the cup in a hurry with a shaking hand then aid for Zhang Siyi. Splash!

Just as he was thankful for his agility, in the next second a noise ca from behind. Zhang Siyi turned his head to see the young man behind him.

Long legs.... well-proportioned face.... perfect build.... One word describes his features: handso

Dressed in plain white T-shirt and simple slacks with a large album under his arm, he looked like an approachable person soplace between a strict white-collar worker and a laid-back scholar...... Of course, if you ignore the large coffee stain from his waist to his hem.

His other hand was in the process of pushing back his seat. Apparently, he was preparing to leave, but because of Zhang Siyi’s dodging, he was covered in coffee instead. Now, the unabsorbed coffee is continuing down his pant leg, trickling onto his clean vintage shoes and looking miserable.

“S, sorry...” Zhang Siyi hurriedly apologized.

The man held up an arm halfway and stared at him, furrowing his brows with dislike. With such a simple facial action, a cold shiver ran down Zhang Siyi’s back.

Under the impulsiveness of the girl, her wrath has co on to others. It is extrely embarrassing, but she is still mad, and does not want to apologize to the third person. Hearing Zhang Siyi’s excuses, she had a very legitimate reason for throwing the coffee, so she picked up her bag and stomped away angrily. She left the ss for her forr boyfriend to clean up.

Zhang Siyi looked at the handso guy with wide eyes. What should I do with this situation? Apologize? Offer money? Help him wash his clothes? Or do I offer a business card and leave it to a phone call to settle the problem later?

Zhang Siri doesn’t want to get more involved then he already is. He would rather spend more money right now to solve the issue imdiately. Based on how the man is dressed, it shouldn’t cost too much as he isn’t wearing designer clothes.

“Ah.... this thing...” Zhang Siyi took a minute to look around for a paper towel to offer and wipe up the ss.

However, before he finished, in a low tone that revealed a hint of indifference and alienation, the man interrupted: “Forget it.”

“...” Forget it? He was splashed with a cup of coffee instead of a glass of mineral water!

But the other party did not give Zhang Siyi much ti to think. After finishing the two words, he turned and left. Just as he approached the door, he turned his head and looked back at Zhang Siyi’s deflated figure.

Zhang Siyi stunned in place, suddenly rembered the verbal lashing he received. His girlfriend was talking for over an hour with him. How long was the man sitting behind him for and how much did he overhear?

With Zhang Siyi sloppy appearance and his girlfriend thinking he is gay...... no wonder he turned tail and left in a hurry. Oh, this is fucking embarrassing! Upset at himself he sighed. I’m so stupid.

Taking a deep breath, he reassured himself repeatedly–the city is so big, he can’t possibly bump into the handso man again. In a few days the incident will be forgotten. Just let it go! After returning ho, Zhang Si Yi turned on the air conditioning and flopped on his bed giving him a mont respite from the ntal and physical exhaustion the break up caused.

Upon Zhang Siyi return to China, he and his 2 friends decided to share a three-bedroom apartnt located in the Haicheng part of town which is one of the most prosperous locations in the city. The rent is naturally not low, but with the three of them living together the rent is 4000 each due monthly.

When Zhang Siyi boasted in front of his friends, they really didn’t give him a penny. He said that he would make money himself after graduating. He didn’t want to burden his family. But even so, the rent for the first three months was payed due to the left-over money from studying that his family gave him. The currency that wasn’t spent was all converted into RMB for his expenses. Now almost two months have passed, and he didn’t have a job. Since another month’s rent is due soon, he will likely only be able to eat dirt!

After a long sigh, Zhang Si Yi got up from the bed to turn on his computer. He wanted to see if anyone responded to the resus he sent to various architectural firms, but his mailbox was empty.