Assistant Architect

Chapter 41: Golden Retriever

______________________________

Feeling afraid, Fu Xinhui frowned and sat there motionless.

When Zhang Siyi saw signs of movement, he seized the opportunity to continue talking to him about his own experience: “I’ve also felt the same. In fact, after graduation I could have gone back home to live. My parents would have continued to raise me and feed me, but what does it mean? If I did that, I wouldn’t feel alive. My dad will always look down on me. He would think that I was never able to achieve success. I want to prove to him that I am not a waste. I must stand on my own and push forward so I work hard and work overtime. I want to make a fortune by myself. This is my pursuit!”

With still red eyes, Fu Xinhui slowly put down his hand, and watched the water vapor rise from the hot pot with a gloomy look.

Zhang Siyi knows that he is listening, so he continued: “I know my current pursuit may not mean much to you. My family economic conditions are far away from yours. It might be that the cost of living is like pennies in a bucket for your parents. They can afford a few more sons like you so you can continue to be so capricious and do nothing.”

Originally Zhang Siyi wasn’t sure what words to say to his friend, but as he spoke, he felt more and more certain: “I didn’t advise you before because no matter how you live, you have your own reasons for planning and considering where your life will go. But, now it’s different. Heartless Han, you are my good friend and I can’t see you being so depressed. No matter what they say your family is not a reason for your self-destruction. Don’t forget that you are already a grown man. You are free so pull yourself together and live! You are smart and in good health both emotionally and physically and you have many friends. What can’t you do? Anyway, I will always be with you. If we have money, we can enjoy hot-pot and if we don’t, we will eat instant noodles. Either way, we will be happy to live our lives!”

Fu Xinhui’s gaze slowly moved to Zhang Siyi face. He did not expect his usually silly, stupid and cute friend to say such a thing. Fu Xinhui was really touched: “Thank you.”

Fu Xinhui picked up the glass and touched Zhang Siyi’s glass. Drinking both glasses empty, Zhang Siyi clenched his fist in the air waving and said with excitement: “You can do it!”

“Yeah.” Fu Xinhui finally smiled. The fragility in his eyes slowly dissipated, and he re-emerged with a hint of hope. He learned Zhang Siyi’s tone: “Just do it!”

Chuckling, Zhang Siyi smiled and looked at the boiling hot pot: “Come on, the beef is boiled. Live to eat another day!”

The two men ate the hot pot to the bottom and with another bottle of beer finished, they were red faced and full. The coldness of winter struck their faces as they left the hot-pot restaurant. Walking slowly, the two swayed home with content stomachs.

After walking for a while, Fu Xinhui suddenly asked Zhang Siyi: “You say you want to make money, then what if you had money?”

After eating and drinking, Zhang Siyi’s brain wasn’t working quite right. “Eh?”

Fu Xinhui asked again: “If one day you have a lot of money, so your pursuit is completed, then what will you do?”

Zhang Siyi: “I haven’t thought so far ahead. I guess I hope that I will become famous at that time like a big architect who is respected by thousands of people. Then I would have another starting point. Anyway, as long as there is a reason to pursue something, then I can get up every day happy to live.”

Fu Xinhui was silent and looked thoughtful.

Zhang Siyi paused for a few seconds then continued: “Unfortunately, I am still a poor man and I can’t even afford the rent of a square meter house in Haicheng. Even though I haven’t asked for a penny from my family, if I didn’t have help then I would have eaten dirt. Sometimes I think life is really difficult. It’s so hard to make money!”

Zhang Siyi opened his arms and embraced the cold blue sky and said with emotion, “Hurry and rain down coin. Let me experience the feeling of drowning in lots of money!”

Fu Xinhui smiled and rubbed his hands in his trouser pockets. He also looked up at the sky and said: “I just said that I don’t know what I want because I really have the feeling of drowning in money.”

Zhang Siyi: “...”

Fu Xinhui lost his voice: “I can’t understand why so many people are frantically pursuing the life of the rich. In my opinion, life is good and complete now. I am able to be with the people I like every day and talk about things; don’t quarrel, can eat food, can buy gifts on special days, buy a house or rent a house, why does it matter? Why do you need so much money?”

Zhang Siyi choked on his words. While he knows Fu Xinhui is saying this from the bottom of his heart, he can’t help but feel a bit irritated. “Only the rich can say such words. All my hard work and still, I have a few bucks a week left to eat instant fish flavored pork rice. I only had a good meal with you. I’ll take ‘too much money’ any day!”

Fu Xinhui smiled and said: “It doesn’t cost much to eat. If you want to eat well, I’ll invite you to eat every day.”

Zhang Siyi was just joking. He didn’t expect Fu Xinhui to take it seriously. He wrinkled his face again: “No, I am not a little white face that you have to support. I will continue to eat my fish flavored pork rice.”

Fu Xinhui: “...”

Zhang Siyi: “To tell you the truth, I think the position you are in is a blessing. Even though you have a hateful sister, they don’t prevent you from pursing your own life. With your family background and financial ability, you are standing at the end of many people’s goals. You have to grasp these resources and be strong as soon as possible.”

“I know ...” Fu Xinhui, lowering his eyes and pondering: “I’ll think about it. You can rest assured.”

Since Zhang Siyi has been home for a three-day holiday, he has been sleeping in too much in the mornings and thus can’t seem to sleep at night. He was on the net for while thinking about Fu Xinhui’s suffering at home and the conversation he last had with Gu Yu. He was feeling annoyed and before he realized what he was doing, he unconsciously found the score to song-r and downloaded it.

“......” (=_=) Forget it, just be free to practice.

Zhang Siyi took out the violin and began to play the music on the screen: ” Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack......”

A few minutes later, Fu Xinhui’s roar sounded at the door: “Zhang Siyi!!! You have some nerve playing in the middle of the night!!!”

Zhang Siyi: “.........”

Returning to the company the next day, out of the elevator and towards his desk, Zhang Siyi met Gu Yu while he was attending the landscape wall. Zhang Siyi was going to say hello, but Gu Yu gave him a faint look and walked right passed Zhang Siyi. Shit! He really is mad!

In the morning, the Ministry of Finance informed the staff to pick up their New Year’s Day holiday card as well as handing in their meal refund tickets. Jubilant, Zhang Siyi prepared his receipts in advance and headed to the finance room early in the day. After receiving subsidies, he whispered to the cashier: “Miss, when will our salary and quarterly bonuses be issued?”

Finance attendant replied: “I will send it in the afternoon! I will send it in the afternoon! Go back and wait.”

With a wide smile on his face, Zhang Siyi waited from ten in the morning until three in the afternoon for his paycheck. When he saw his salary card text message “On January 4th your account number XXX received transfer of 26,890.00.” he practically jumped out of his seat and danced.

Ah-ah-ah-ah! Twenty-six thousand! A lot of money!!

In his mind Zhang Siyi quickly calculated; tax deduction is seven thousand, ‘Love My Job’ is one thousand, so the bonus from City-Z project is around eighteen thousand!

Ah, ah, ah, ah, for giving me so much work, Gu Yu, I love you.!!!

Excitedly holding his phone and hopping around, Zhang Siyi has never seen so much money. He decided! Determined, he was going to go back home and continue to practice the violin!

On his way home at night, Zhang Siyi, full of enthusiasm, went to the deli to buy a roast goose and planned to celebrate his first achievement in his life with Fu Xinhui.

Arriving at home, Zhang Siyi took out the key to open the door. He heard a hair dryer coming from the room and was about to call FU Xinhui name when he felt something on his feet. He looked down: “Eh? What is this dog doing here?”

A golden-haired retriever puppy was sitting in front of Zhang Siyi with his tongue out panting, “ha Chee ha Chee”, drooling and, looking at the goose in his hand.

Fu Xinhui came out with a hair dryer and shouted: “Cheer-Up! Come back!” Seeing Zhang Siyi standing in the doorway, he turned off the hair dryer: “You are home early today.”

Zhang Siyi turned his face and pointed at the hairball on his feet: “You said, think about it, and the result is to buy a dog!”

Fu Xinhui came over, crouched down and picked up the little golden hair puppy in his arms. Smiling he asked: “Isn’t the dog cute?” I went to several pet stores before I choose one. It took me all day.

Speechless, Zhang Siyi asked: “I asked you to talk! Why didn’t you discuss it with me if you want a dog?”

Fu Xinhui patted the dog on the head and stood up strangely: “Didn’t I tell you I was going to raise a dog?”

Zhang Siyi is a bit frazzled: “I thought you were just joking! Well, even if you wanted one, I thought you said you would consider a dog when Jiang Hai moved. Does he know you have a dog now? Is he ok with that?”

Fu Xinhui shrugged: “Jiang Hai called me today about it.”

Zhang Siyi was surprised: “Wha-? Why is it so sudden?

Fu Xinhui explained: “Since he and Tian Jing have been together, he has rarely come back. It’s difficult for me to ask for his rent when he isn’t living here so I told him if he doesn’t want to stay then to tell me directly. Well, he called me to today and said he wasn’t going to pay rent for the next quarter. I haven’t had time to tell you. He will come back in two days to pack up his things.”

Zhang Siyi: “...”