a.s.sistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

______________________________________

Chapter 19: Rent

______________________________________

Four thousand a month, twelve thousand a quarter. — s.h.i.+t. Why is the rent so expensive? ！

Only 9300 was deposited into Zhang Siyi account. Looking at his bank statement, he experienced an unprecedented state of anxiety. Even if he thought about it previously, the reality in front of him made him panic.

Wanting to prove his independence to his parents and not become a burden, Zhang Siyi months ago told them he won't spend his father's money. Even worried, Zhang Siyi doesn't want to ask his parents for money now and he is embarra.s.sed to speak with his cla.s.smates who also pay rent.

It's just so hard. Jiang Hai and Fu Xinhui still rely on their parents. He doesn't feel comfortable asking for Fu Xinhui's help because Zhang Siyi has a job. He thinks it's weird for a working person to borrow money from someone that doesn't have a job.

Under the pressure of becoming a responsible adult, Zhang Siyi could not help but reflect on his carefree days while he was studying abroad. Even with the high cost of tuition, books, apartment rent, and living expenses, in those years, the silver credit card was just numbers.  Home was like an inexhaustible cash machine. While spending a lot of money, he never thought about what this number meant for his parents. He doesn't know what it is like to be honest. As long as he graduated from college and if he had a foreign degree then making money was a matter of course. It was only now that he has learned that money isn't easy to come by and that life is hard.

Going home from work, Zhang Siyi melded into the crowd on the subway. There is no excitement today. Thinking about his rent plus expenses and future cash flow issues, he sighed and felt exhausted. Life must go on. If he can't move forward, then he only has his own incompetence to blame.

Flas.h.i.+ng through the window, Zhang Siyi sees a series of advertis.e.m.e.nts as the subway zooms down the track. One catches his attention: Sea Merchants Silver Card – No annual fees, no handling fees, apply now! Having experienced the use of credit cards while abroad, he immediately sent a letter to MSC Bank when he got home. He used the card service center to make a consultation call and discovered he could apply for a silver card if he provided a formal work contract and proof of income. His short-lived relief was crushed. When he went to the bank with the relevant information, the representatives told him it takes three weeks to process. Zhang Siyi is going to go crazy. After two days, his rent is due! Biting the bullet, Zhang Siyi can only go back to Fu Xinhui and ask for help.

He decided to give Fu Xinihui six thousand first and keep 3000 for himself for living expenses. He specially invited him downstairs to eat at the small restaurant to eat and discuss things. Fu Xinhui calmly listened, tilted his head and said: “I have already payed the rent for you.”

The rental contract was signed by Fu Xinhui and the landlord. Therefore, Zhang Siyi and Jiang Hai were subletting the room and didn't need to directly negotiate with the landlord.  Instead, they gave the rent to the Fu Xinhui.

“Ah? “Zhang Siyi stayed,” Why did you hand it in so early?"

Fu Xinhui said: “Generally, payment is due one week in advance.”

Zhang Siyi said: “So why don't you say so earlier!”

Fu Xinhui looked at Zhang Siyi seemingly saying, 'do you take me for an idiot?' "I already knew from your previous payment history that you wouldn't have money early this time. I don't like to collect debts. Anyway, don't worry."

Zhang Siyi: "…" The feeling of being thoroughly seen through by his friend….

He hastened to make sure that he would pay off the rest of his rent when he was paid next month, and stressed that he applied for a credit card, so he will be able to pay it back as early as three weeks later.

“Well, whatever.” Fu Xinhui waved his hand.

Zhang Si Yi wiped the sweat from his brow. His nouveau rich cla.s.smate didn't know the joys of the worry.

Because of the rent, Zhang Siyi began to subconsciously spend money conservatively. He wouldn't blink at buying seven or eight specialty drinks at the convenience store. Previously he would buy what he felt like, but now he must make careful calculations and consider what to spend his money on. In order to save money, he decided he needed to start cooking his own meals.

As they say, from poverty to wealth is easy and from wealth to poverty is hard. Zhang Siyi is no exception. Such days made him feel like his current situation was a far cry from the image of an urban white-collar architect that he daydreamed about. But this is real life; cruel; helpless.

Zhang Siyi thought to find respite from his financial woes by looking for some variation at work. If he continued to paint more tedious core functions and parking lots, he will go crazy.

As Su Yuan mentioned, painting these types of details is not his specialty. He wants to do something that was more in line with his educational background.

Zhang Siyi decided, today, when he goes to hand in his a.s.signment to the Director, he was going to muster up the courage to talk to him about his dissatisfaction with the status quo. Maybe Gu Yu will give him something else to do after listening to Zhang Siyi ideas.

“I've mentioned this place once before, how come you haven't changed it yet?” “Gu Yu marked his drawings, eyebrow slightly frowned,” What are you thinking? I can tell you have been distracted today. Don't you want to go home at night?"

“…” Zhang Siyi had just gathered a little courage to be taken away by Gu Xiao's remark.

“Take it and fix it.” “Gu Xiao returned the picture to him with no expression on his face

Silently retreating, Zhang Siyi took the picture, and wanted to cry without tears.

After returning to his desk, Zhang Siyi mulled his thoughts over and decided to bring up the topic with Gu Yu again. One needs to fight for their beliefs! Half an hour later, Zhang Siyi with a modified drawing, a deep breath and soft knock on the gla.s.s door, he went to see Gu Yu.

“Come in.” The indifferent and cold voice came from inside. Zhang Siyi's heart went into his throat, pushed the door open.

“Finished?" Gu Xiao lifted his head from his work with a serious expression on his face. He has already changed the work twice. If there is still something wrong, then he is a failure. Zhang Siyi obediently gave him the drawings. Gu Yu glanced at them and finally nodded his head: “yes."

Gu Yu rubbed the bridge of the nose and his expression relaxed slightly: “OK, go back and take a good look on your own. It is such a simple thing, and the next time…. I have no patience to teach you repeatedly."

Zhang Siyi "……"

Gu Yu sees that Zhang Siyi is still sitting and not walking. He looks up again: “What else?”

Zhang Siyi face flushed: “Gu Yu, I have something I want to talk about…."

Gu Yu put down his pen and crossed his arms: "and?"

Zhang Siyi: “I …”

The internal phone on Gu's desk suddenly rang. He made a slight gesture and picked up the phone: "Now? Well. Ok, I'm coming," and hung up the phone. “I have to go to the Chief's office. We will talk about it later." Gu Yu stood up to leave.

Zhang Siyi: “…”

Zhang Siyi returned to his seat, hanging his head, looking exhausted. If one looked closely, one could see his inner soul gently rise out of his body.

Just then, from across, Bi Lele suddenly said: “There is big project coming!”

Zhu Hongzhen is curious: “What big project?”

With antennae on her forehead detecting, Bi Lele is like a bee that smells flowers. She is excited: “The heads of the departments. Both Boss and Child Labor of the landscape group are headed in the same direction! She turned back to him. "I just saw you return from Gu Yu office. Did you hear anything inside?"

Zhang Siyi held up his heavy head and confused: “Ah, Gu Yu said that the Chief is looking for him.”

Anyways, what does it matter to him. He is a small fry and will spend the rest of his life drawing parking lots, stairs, toilets….  Just as Bi Lele suspected, a few minutes later, they came to summon the staff for a meeting.

Gu Yu ordered nearly half of the group to come to the conference room, including Bi Lele, Zhu Hongzhen and Yuan Zhicheng. Finally, with a last glance around the room his eyes fell onto Zhang Siyi and paused, then said, “Zhang Siyi, you are coming too.” He froze for three seconds. As if the concubine, who had been snubbed for a long time, had been turned over by the emperor, Zhang Siyi hurriedly stood up, both excited and frightened. With a thumping heart, he grabbed a pen and paper then went to the conference room with everyone.

After sitting down, in addition to their Group A, half of the meeting room was full of faces he was less familiar with. With the arrival of Tong Heyi, he confirmed that the other half were members were from Group B.

What kind of project is it, that you need more than 10 representatives from each group for a meeting? Newcomer Zhang who has been in the job for less than two months, is witnessing a huge event for the first time.

Both Gu Yu and Tong Heyi stood in front of everyone holding a stack of papers in their hands. They simply made an opening statement.

Gu Yu said: “We have just been invited to a bid for a large-scale planning and construction project, located in the economic area of the eastern new district of Z City, F province, with a planned area of about 250 hectares.” The partic.i.p.ating compet.i.tive bidding units of this project are all well-known large design inst.i.tutes in the country, because the X house for some reasons cannot partic.i.p.ate, the lack of access as a subst.i.tute for the invitation, today was notified, so our time is very tight, the bidding date in the middle of next month, from the understanding of the project to the bid review, only 2 weeks … “

There was an uproar under the seat, and there were a few seconds of talk, and there was tension and excitement.

Only Zhang Siyi has a blank expression on his face. Wait, 250 hectares? 1 hectare seems to be 10000 square meters, that 250 hectares is 250 … 0000 square meters? What!?

This is the area of more than 300 football fields! Borderless is an architecture firm not a construction business. Why take on such a huge construction project? What the h.e.l.l is going on?

__________________________________