Assistant Architect

Chapter 118: Missed

Chapter 118: Missed

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Although Zhang Siyi knows there isn’t anything going on, he can’t help but feel upset!! Scrolling down, Zhang Siyi found another photo with Gu Yu from last month when Tao Fei first started with the company. It looks like they were at lunch and Gu Yu was bowing down studying the menu, gently smiling. The note read: “Even after so many years after graduation, your male god looks as handsome as ever.”

..... your male god? Who is the ‘you’ he is speaking to? Big T alumni? A mutual friend of Tao Fei and Gu Yu?

Below the photo is a note: “Ok, if I get the chance, I’ll take one and show you!”

By reading the messages, it wasn’t hard for Zhang Siyi to infer what happened. Their classmates probably asked Tao Fei to take pictures of Gu Yu and post them for all to see.

Aah! I want to tell the world that Gu Yu is already taken! Let those who covet his beauty go away!

Looking through Tao Fei posts, Zhang Siyi was surprised at how many selfies and messages he posts. It appears that he updated his status every day.

Closing the WeChat app, Zhang Siyi put away his phone and forced himself to calm down and focus on his work. At the end of the workday, Zhang Siyi went to the subway station and sat down on a bench at the platform to wait for Gu Yu. He received a message from him telling Zhang Siyi that he was going to be fifteen minutes longer.

In order to avoid the potential speculation from colleagues, Zhang Siyi and Gu Yu agreed to leave the company separately but wait at the station. If by chance they were spotted on the train together, they could easily pass it off as happenstance.

While waiting for Gu Yu to arrive, Zhang Siyi was getting a little bored of the mobile game he was playing. Staring at the screen, Zhang Siyi felt a hot thing suddenly touch his cheek. Thinking it was Gu Yu, he joyously smiled, looked up and said: “What are you doing?”

However, when Zhang Siyi looked up, his face froze because it wasn’t Gu Yu. Instead, it was Tao Fei and he was holding a hot cup of coffee; the things he used to touch his face.

Tao Fei joked: “Who are you waiting for?”

Zhang Siyi turned to anger: “No one.”

Tao Fei: “No one? Two trains already went by but you didn’t get on.”

Since Haicheng is a large urban center, the pace of life is fast. During the peak period, subway cars arrive at the platform approximately every 5 minutes. As it is rush-hour, there are throngs of people coming and going and there really isn’t a reason for someone like Zhang Siyi to be sitting around and waiting.

However, since Tao Fei brought up this point, it means he must have been watching Zhang Siyi secretly and he himself wasn’t getting on a train. Otherwise, how would Tao Fei know how many trains Zhang Siyi missed?

Since he was caught off-guard, Zhang Siyi was nervous and was acting a bit odd: “Why didn’t you get on the train?”

Surprisingly, Tao Fei bluntly stated: “I’m watching you.”

On high alert, Zhang Siyi asked: “Why are you looking at me?”

Tao Fei laughed and said: “To see when you leave.”

“...... You must be bored.” Standing up silently, Zhang Siyi took a step back and kept a distance from him.

Tao Fei took a sip of coffee and squinted at him: “Oh, now you move?”

“Hmm.” Zhang Siyi is dying and Gu Yu still hasn’t come! If he doesn’t leave first, then it will be too awkward if Gu Yu shows up now.

Just as Zhang Siyi was going to say goodbye, Tao Fei interrupted him: “Since you are living with my Brother, why don’t you leave work together?”

Dumbfounded, Zhang Siyi was internally panicking. He was not good a lying! He already tried to dodge Tao Fei question the first time and now he was asked something else. Racking his brain, he replied: “He still has work to do.”

With a deep and overly dramatic way, Tao Fei said: “Oh” and continued to stare at Zhang Siyi with a grin.

Zhang Siyi: “...” .....Fuck, how is there nothing wrong with this guy!? Why do you keep staring at me?

A thought suddenly came to Zhang Siyi’s mind. – Tao Fei, is it possible that he secretly loves Gu Yu?

Even though he and Gu Yu are already together, Tao Fei doesn’t know. With his curiosity and close attention, is it possible that Tao Fei is trying to guess what type of relationship Zhang Siyi has with Gu Yu? Now, as a result, Tao Fei is considering him as a potential ‘love-rival’?

..... Well, good fucking logic! It makes sense!!!

Also, when Tao Fei, with his eccentric neither male or female beauty stands with Gu Yu, they look like a gay couple. When Tao Fei posts such tender looking photos of himself with Gu Yu on his social media pages, is it not to declare his sovereignty to the outside world?

The more Zhang Siyi thought about it, the more hostile he became towards Tao Fei. He needs to back off! As much as Zhang Siyi wanted to blurt out the truth, he also knows Tao Fei is loud and flamboyant character. Tao Fei doesn’t seem to understand other people’s limits. Zhang Siyi believes if Tao Fei learned the truth it would spur him to be more aggressive in his pursuit of Gu Yu. ...... Oh shit! Absolutely-cannot-stimulate-him! Besides, what if I guessed wrong?

......

For a few weeks, Zhang Siyi’s brain was like a washing machine on the spin cycle; spinning frantically then finally coming to a stop with exhaustion.

Lost in his thoughts, Zhang Siyi noticed the subway car approaching the platform. He quickly spoke to Tao Fei: “I’ll take my leave” and hurriedly got into the train car.

Tao Fei: “.....”

After the door was closed, Zhang Siyi was relieved. He turned to look out the window to see if Tao Fei was still there. Unexpectedly, he saw Gu Yu coming down on the escalator. As the train doors closed, he caught a glimpse of Gu Yu looking at him, seemingly in deep thought. —I thought you said you’d wait for me? Why did you get in the car?

Zhang Siyi wanted to cry without tears – help! let me out! As the train sped away, Zhang Siyi also saw Gu Yu turn his attention to Tao Fei.

With the blood drained from his face, Zhang Siyi was so angry that he wanted to break out of the train and kick Tao Fei!

Raising his hand in greeting, Tao Fei said: “Ah Brother, are you finished with work? I just met Zhang Siyi at the station and talked with him for a few minutes.” Tao Fei pointed at the train leaving and laughed: “Unfortunately, he just left.”

“What did you talk to him about?” Gu Yu frowned.

“Ah nothing really. I asked him what he was waiting for.” Tao Fei said and then asked with a puzzled expression: “Aren’t you living together now? Why don’t you go home together?”

Calming down, Gu Yu paused for a second then explained: “Even if we live together, our work hours might not coincide.”

When the train on the other side of the platform pulled in from the opposite direction, Tao Fei waved and left: “Then I will go first. See you tomorrow.”

Gu Yu: “...well, goodbye.”

Watching Tao Fei leave, Gu Yu pulled out his mobile phone that had been vibrating non-stop from of his trouser pocket. Zhang Siyi sent Gu Yu a number of WeChat messages.

Zhang Siyi: “[Kitten Crashes]”

Zhang Siyi: “I am already on the train!”

Zhang Siyi: “I just saw you come down!”

Zhang Siyi: “[Kitten crying]”

Zhang Siyi: “I’ll wait for you at the next stop!

Zhang Siyi: “[Cry] [Cry] [Cry]

......

Amused by Zhang Siyi’s flirty cries, Gu Yu laughed joyously and retuned a ‘Little Fox Kiss’ expression “I am coming. Wait for me.”

Five minutes later, the second subway train slowly pulled into the next station platform. Looking through the window of the door, Gu Yu saw Zhang Siyi across the glass looking sad and resentful. Having been forced apart, he felt like the stars Altair and Vega.

For three and half days, they have been separated and now they finally stand side by side. However, because they were in public and therefore, constrained by societal norms, they can’t express their love like a regular couple; no holding hands, no hugging. The inability to express their love makes it very difficult for Zhang Siyi and Gu Yu.

When Zhang Siyi got back into the train car, he was crammed together with Gu Yu. For once, they were thankful for the crowd during the rush-hour as it created the opportunity to be pressed together.

With eyes full of both joy and sorrow, Zhang Siyi gazed at Gu Yu. Gu Yu was also watching Zhang Siyi with affection. As Gu Yu quietly took Zhang Siyi hand, he maneuvered his body to block peoples’ view of their entwined fingers.

Even with this simple action, Zhang Siyi’s eyes lit up and he smiled broadly. Squeezing Gu Yu’s hand, he could feel the warmth. Like a drowning man being offered a piece of driftwood to grab onto, all of Zhang Siyi’s grievances and depression disappeared in an instant!

With both heartache and relief, Gu Yu sighed.

Zhang Siyi whispered: ” It’s just Tao Fei....”

Gu Yu interrupted him in a low voice: “Tell me when we leave the station.”

Zhang Si Yi nodded and obediently shut his mouth.

With only four short stops on the route, Yuanshan Garden is fortunately close to the company. As they walked up the staircase to the sidewalk, Zhang Siyi eagerly complained: “I met Tao Fei at the subway station! He guessed that I was waiting for someone. I was afraid he would figure out that I was waiting for you so I jumped onto the incoming train car. Damn it!”

Gu Yu smiled at him and said: “The next time he asks again, just admit that you are waiting for me.”

Zhang Siyi hurriedly replied: “But what if he figures out that we are together?”

Gu Yu: “Even if he figured it out, let him guess. Although he is a high-profile person, he won’t gossip about it.”

Zhang Siyi: “Oh ...”

Gu Yu’s attitude made Zhang Siyi feel relieved. He asked: “How are the bids going this time?”

Gu Yu: “It’s going well. The plan Tao Fei previously made was rejected, but luckily, there was time to make changes. Tao Fei drafted a design with changes, but the results are still uncertain. It will depend on board of directors’ support and some luck.

Zhang Siyi: “Do we have support?”

Gu Yu smiled and glanced at him: “There is support. He is the one who suddenly called me out after eating at home last month.”

“Is he one of your friends?” Seeing Gu Yu nod, Zhang Siyi wondered: “Since it’s a friend, why are you still uncertain?”

Gu Yu: “The board has more than one member. There are shareholders, investors, government representatives.... Everyone has their own position and vision and that friend only represents one of them.”

Zhang Siyi: “So complicated!”

Gu Yu smiled and patted his back: “Take it one step at a time. First, let’s start with the design and later, worry about the board of directors.”