Assistant Architect

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Patting his back, Gu Yu watched Zhang Siyi’s thoughtful expression: “I’m only reminding you to think for yourself. Think about what he is teaching, but don’t make waves. There isn’t a problem with listening and keeping your opinions to yourself.”

Zhang Siyi nodded: “I know.”

At the end of the street, they turned around to head back to the Hotel. Zhang Siyi was thinking about his roommate and couldn’t help complain about the situation: “My roommate isn’t easy to get along with. I’ve hardly spoke ten sentences with him. Anyway, since you have a large room with a double bed, should I talk to Liao Jun and find an excuse to stay with you tonight?”

Gu Yu shook his head and calmly said: “No. We are in a hotel. The two rooms are less than ten meters apart so what reason do we have to stay in the same room? To showcase our relationship?”

Not being able to stay with Gu Yu, Zhang Siyi frowned. Pouting, Zhang Siyi opened his mouth to say something, but closed it instead. – You won’t even let me sleep with you on my birthday! Isn’t that a good enough reason!

Reflected by the change of expressions on Zhang Siyi’s face, Gu Yu watched his mood swing. Since it was already past nine at night, the streets were fairly empthy as most people were at home getting ready for bed. He glanced around and noticing the empty street, he grabbed Zhang Siyi’s wrist to pull him around the corner to the shadowed side of a building. 𝒇𝑟e𝙚𝑤𝙚𝐛𝗻𝐨ν𝚎𝘭.c𝐨m

Pressing him against the wall with both hands in darkness, Gu Yu kissed Zhang Siyi aggressively. With the rhythm of deep kisses, he tightly entwined his fingers with Zhang Siyi’s. Not wanting to let him go, but unable to proceed, he slowly released his lips with an audible sound.

At the end of a kiss, Zhang Siyi panted and a pair of bright eyes gazed at Gu Yu... Well, he forgave him.

Early the next morning, Zhang Siyi was awakened by a soft voice before seven o’clock. He frowned and strained his ears to make out what was being said. Liao Jun seemed to be on the phone: “I arrived at noon yesterday. I’m at the hotel now..... It’ll be two weeks..... I miss you too....”

It was the first time Zhang Siyi heard Liao Jun talk in such a gentle manner. Zhang Siyi wondered if he was talking to his girlfriend. Not wanting to interrupt him, he continued eavesdropping while lying in bed.

“What did you do during the day?..... Hmm, mmm..... What did you eat for dinner?.... I’m going to the project site shortly.... Well, I’ll say goodnight in advance....”

Good night? This situation and dialogue were very familiar. It reminded Zhang Siyi of the weekly call he would make to his ex-girlfriend while he was abroad. Does that mean Liao Jun’s girlfriend is abroad? Maybe in Europe or the United States?

Liao Jun hung up the phone and the room was quiet once again.

Despite the lack of sleep the night before, a little while later, Zhang Siyi reached for his phone under his pillow to check the time. It was 6:55. He sent a message to Gu Yu: “Good morning!” [Adorable Kitten]

Since Gu Yu hadn’t reacted to his text, Zhang Siyi thought he might still be sleeping. Feeling annoyed, he continued to stare at the phone, squinting. Ten minutes later, the phone vibrated with a new message: “Why are you awake so early?”

In the dialog box, Zhang Siyi teased: “How can you sleep so well without me!?” [Heartbreak]

Gu Yu: “...”

Gu Yu: “[Little Fox Kiss]”

Gu Yu: “Put on your clothes and come to my room.”

Suddenly, Zhang Siyi bounced out of bed and quickly put on his shirt and pants.

Even though Liao Jun rarely took the initiative to talk to Zhang Siyi, as he hadn’t fallen back asleep, he spoke up: “Why are you leaving so early?”

Zhang Siyi: “Well, I’m going out for a morning run.....”

Liao Jun: “Oh.”

Grabbing his mobile phone, Zhang Siyi left the room without looking at Liao Jun. Once he found Gu Yu’s room, he lightly knocked twice on the door.

Soon, the door opened and an arm stretched out to pull him inside the room then pushed him onto the bed. Giddy, Zhang Siyi gladly fell onto the soft blankets.

While Zhang Siyi was dressed, Gu Yu was only wearing a cotton t-shirt and boxers that he slept in. Admiring the view, Zhang Siyi couldn’t help but notice the obvious bulge Gu Yu had below. Zhang Siyi felt like his nose could to start spurting blood at any moment.

Quickly, Gu Yu stripped off Zhang Siyi layers then got in bed. Close now, along with the tingling sensation of his love’s faint breath along his neck, Zhang Siyi could smell Gu Yu’s natural body odor. How could something he normally experienced every day at home feel so different today? It was intoxicating.

As Gu Yu grabbed his waist to pull him down, he opened the sheet for both of them and said: “Lay down and rest with me for a while.”

Zhang Siyi: “...” Shit! That’s it!?

His request seemed to contradict his obvious hungry behavior earlier when he opened the door. Zhang Siyi felt confused. However, on second thought, the frequency of their lovemaking has been slowly decreasing from the initial three times a day to the current two times a week.

Even though their frequency was perfectly normal, he couldn’t stop himself from feeling insecure and thinking that he was losing his charm.

However, as if Gu Yu could transmit the amount of love he had for Zhang Siyi by the strength alone, Gu Yu held onto him tightly. He buried his head against Zhang Siyi and made his insecurities disappear.

In his heart, Zhang Siyi grumbled. Fuck! You don’t give it, when I want it, and when I don’t want it, you give it...... Bastard!

Never the less, since he wasn’t truly angry, in the arms of Gu Yu, Zhang Siyi easily relaxed and really fell asleep. An hour later, Zhang Siyi woke up suddenly and glanced at the clock: 7:55. Shit! Yesterday Professor Cui told everyone to meet in the lobby at eight in the morning to begin their work.

For the first time, Gu Yu hadn’t woken up on time for an appointment. Quickly, while Gu Yu went to the bathroom to wash, Zhang Siyi got dressed in a rush then left to go back to his own room.

As soon as he came out, he bumped into Bi Lele as she was going downstairs.

Bi Lile’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She blurted out: “You slept with the boss last night?”

“No!” Zhang Siyi vehemently denied, turning red. He explained: “I got up at 7 o’clock this morning. I had to check with the boss about something just now.” Zhang Siyi thought he offered a good excuse because his roommate, Liao Jun, could verify his story. However, his messy hair and sloppy clothes weren’t very convincing.

A strange smile appeared on Bi Lele’s face. She looked at Zhang Siyi thoughtfully then followed her roommate, Sister Ye, downstairs.

Her Stare made Zhang Siyi feel like he wasn’t wearing any clothes. Shaking his head to wake himself up, Zhang Siyi returned to his room. To his surprise, Liao Jun was just leaving and like Bi Lele, when he saw Zhang Siyi, he also had a strange look on his face.

Since he was in a rush, he didn’t pay attention to him and went quickly to the bathroom to wash his face. When he saw himself in the mirror, he realized the shirt under his hoodie was buttoned up twisted and crooked.

“..........” Fuck! So embarrassing!!!

Even though Zhang Siyi tried to tidy himself up as fast as possible, he arrived downstairs late.

Arriving a few minutes before him, Gu Yu was talking to the professor and telling him a reason for their tardiness: “This morning, Zhang Siyi asked me about some details related to ancient buildings and we lost track of time. He may still be in his room.”

Professor Cui smiled and waved his hand dismissively: “It’s not a problem. The young guy is very eager to learn.”

While the excuse may have fooled the Professor, there were others in the group that were less convinced. Of course, this was a simple hiccup and soon, the group’s attention was quickly diverted to the prospect of intense survey work ahead.

Hundreds of large and small buildings in the three-hectare site area needed to be examined. Not only did they need to measure each building, they needed to assess the amount of work that would be required for renovation. Moreover, the interior space of the ancient city was the residence of many people which wasn’t open to the public, making it more difficult to accurately investigate.

After dividing the labor up among the group, everyone set out to complete their tasks. Zhang Siyi and Liao Jun’s assignment were to compare the original base drawings to the data on-site and make changes as necessary. While Ye was managing the records, Bi Lele was responsible for classifying the residences. Professor and Gu Yu were interviewing people.

Although there were six people working on the project, only Zhang Siyi and Liao Jun had to do any type the physical labor. Squatting down and reaching up all morning while they measured the different walls and structures, Zhang Siyi felt like he had done enough exercise for a lifetime. By the end of the morning, his back was hurting. Now, he was very grateful for the restraint Gu Yu showed this morning.

After lunch, the group continued to work diligently on their tasks. In the evening, when everyone looked at the base to see how much was completed, even though they investigated over forty buildings, they only saw a small corner of the over-all plan finished.

With eyes covered in dark shadows, Zhang Siyi felt like his future was bleak.

Unlike yesterday, Zhang Siyi didn’t take a walk in the evening after dinner. Instead, he went back to his room and fell asleep. After ten hours of rest, he eventually woke up. Liao Jun asked him with a smirk: “Why didn’t you go jogging early this morning?”

Zhang Siyi: ” ...”

Today’s assignment wasn’t any different from yesterdays. In the evening, when they returned to the hotel, Gu Yu excused himself from dinner because he needed to pack his belongings so he could catch his flight back to Haicheng early in the morning. Professor Cui nodded with understanding and made sure to remind him to make contact if there were any problems. 𝐟re𝐞w𝐞𝒃𝓃𝒐𝐯𝚎𝒍.c૦𝚖

When Zhang Siyi heard Gu Yu, his heart sank.

Gu Yu pulled him to the side and whispered: “Lets go for a walk.”

Zhang Siyi was feeling upset about his missed birthday and gave him the cold shoulder. He replied: “I don’t want to. I’m going to sleep.”

Gu Yu: “...”

Feeling peevish, Zhang Siyi washed his face, then went to bed. In the middle of the night, his sleep was disturbed by someone licking his lips and he seem to hear Gu Yu saying Happy Birthday. Zhang Siyi was too tired to open his eyelids. He wanted the annoying person to stop harassing him in his sleep.

......

Waking up in the morning, he was a bit confused. Did he dream that he was kissed last night or not? Laying on the bed, Zhang Siyi sighed. How could Gu Yu come to his room in the middle of the night?

Since the ancient city was far from the airport, Gu Yu was already gone when Zhang Siyi woke up in the morning. Realizing he was gone, Zhang Siyi had no energy to get up. His heart left with Gu Yu.

After washing, knowing Gu Yu must have said goodbye, he mustered up the courage to check his mobile phone for messages. Unexpectedly, there was a WeChat message from Gu Yu right after midnight: “Find an excuse to go to X Hotel at X street at 6 o’clock in the evening.” ^_^