Assistant Architect

Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

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…… Eeehh?So fast !!!

Holding thephone staring intently at the screen, Zhang Siyi could not believe he was soquick to bring up the matter of driving.

Zhang Siyireplied quickly: “I have time, but do you really have nothing else to do?”As much as Zhang Siyi wants to see Gu Yu, he is afraid of taking over hisprivate time.

Gu Yu: "Ialready told you, I'll take you out to practice driving. Its better to seizethe moment now and not procrastinate."

Zhang Siyi:“Well, thank you, then I will see you tomorrow!”

The twoagreed to meet at 8:30 the next morning and Gu Yu would come over to his houseand pick him up.

Even thoughthe appointment was early, Zhang Siyi was so excited to meet with Gu Yu that hewould have agreed to almost anything.

When theperson he likes payed attention to him….. Zhang Siyi put his phone aside and huggedhis pillow then excitedly rolled a couple of times on his bed feeling ecstatic.

At thethought of Gu Yu waiting to eat with the mysterious person, Zhang Siyi feltheartbroken.

…… Is it reallynot me that he likes?

…… If Gu Yudidn't like me, why is he treating me so well?

…… Why did he haveme lean on his shoulder in the cinema?

…… And now, he invitedme out to practice driving……

…… Are thesereally just out of the boss’s love for his subordinates?

With hisheart feeling high and feeling low, Zhang Siyi buried his head into his pillow.

After a fewminutes of thought, he remembered something and quickly grabbed his phone. Hebegan to look through his message history on WeChat.

A week ago,Gu Yu's "Hmm" made him feel like Gu Yu didn't care for him at all and thus, ledto his withdrawal. But, that “Hmm,” was it just be because of ……

Scrollingthough the posting history…… Keep going, keep going, keep going.……

Ah! That’s it.——

[January 1, 2015 11:38]

Zhang Siyi:“Are you kidding me? This song is too difficult!”

Gu Yu:“You can practice it slowly in small sections. I am not in a hurryanyways. I'll forgive you when you play it for me."

………………..

Zhang Siyi:“…” Is this the reason? (￣_￣| | |)

Even thoughthe cactus has recovered, Gu Yu won't forgive him until he plays "Summer" on theviolin? But when he asked, he wanted to know what he could do for Gu Yu toquickly forgive him. Its been three months, so isn't the time no longerrelevant? Or, is it just simply: “I'll forgive you when I hear you playthe violin" ???

Zhang Siyionce again smothered his face on his pillow and groaned.

Although hewanted to talk with Gu Yu about it, it was very late already. Besides, healready said goodnight to him and not to mention, the embarrassment he wouldhave if Gu Yu knew how much he fretted over his previous 'Hmm' remark.

Howeverreminiscent of Gu Yu's straightforward character, Zhang Siyi is inclined tothink about his own speculations. – Whydoes it always feel like I'm digging a hole for myself!?

Early thenext morning, Zhang Siyi stood in front of the mirror with two huge darkcircles under his eyes. He wanted to hit a wall!

Afterstruggling with sleep last night, he got out of bed and started practicing theviolin until three in the morning. Due to the disuse of muscles in his arms,his whole left shoulder, neck and both arms and wrists were sore. When hebrushed his teeth, his arm trembled. – Shit! If his hands are going to shake likethat, how will I be able to hold the wheel and drive?

At 8:25,Zhang Siyi went downstairs five minutes earlier than planned and was surprisedto see Gu Yu already waiting for him. He quickly trotted over and asked: “Youare here already. When did you get here?"

Gu Yu wasn'twearing the beige trench coat like yesterday. Instead he wore a warm-yellowjacket which gave him a much more youthful style. No one looking at Gu Yu wouldbelieve he was twenty-nine years old.

"Not long."Gu Yu smiled: "Get in the car first."

Fearing thecircles under his eyes made him look older then Gu Yu, he rubbed his cheeks totry and put some life back into his tired face.

Gettinginto the front passenger seat, he asked: "What about Gu Yao?"

Gu Yuhanded him a breakfast sandwich and said: "She is at home. She is getting readyto go back to school."

Not expectingGu Yu to bring him breakfast, Zhang Siyi was touched by the gesture. He gavehim a warm thanks then asked: "Why didn't she come?"

Gu Yu gavehim a sideways glance: “Do you really want her to come?”

Zhang Siyivigorously shook his head: "No, just curious."

As Gu Yuwas starting the car, Zhang Siyi had his mouth full of food and asked: "Whereare we going to practice?"

Gu Yu:“In the suburbs where there are fewer people. The city area is verycongested with traffic so it's not a good place to start learning how to drive.By the way, did you bring your license?"

Zhang Siyi stoppedchewing. Driver's license?

Gu Yu:“???”

Zhang Siyi:"……" Fuck! How can he forget such an important thing!

Gu Yustopped the car on the side of the road and raised his eyebrows:“No?”

Zhang Siyimechanically swallowed, lowered his head, then called his mother: “Hello, Mom?Are you at home?”

Gu Yu:“…” You forgot it to bring it from Ningcheng?

(=_=)

Yes, ZhangSiyi's driver's license that he got six years ago was stored at home inNingcheng while he was away. Yesterday, when he saw Gu Yu's invitation topractice, he was so excited to accept that he completely forgot the most basicthing.

Fortunately,Zhang Siyi's mother was at home and according to his instructions, she foundhis license in the drawer upstairs in his room. She asked worried: "Why do youwant your driver's license? It's been a long time since you drove a car."

Zhang Siyi:“I know. I'm going to go practice driving with Gu Yu. Help me with my licenseand mail it to the company!"

Hanging upthe phone, feeling sorrowful Zhang Siyi said: “I’m sorry. I guess I willget it in a couple of days.”

Without adriver's license, he can't drive and if he can't drive now, then does he haveto go back home? But it's only been ten minutes together with Gu Yu!

Zhang Siyislumped in his seat with his head down, despondently holding his half-eatenbreakfast sandwich, waiting for Gu Yu's verdict.

Wanting toscold him, Gu Yu turned to look at him, but seeing Zhang Siyi's helplessexpression, he couldn't bear to be harsh towards him. With a lengthy sigh, GuYu then said: "It's Ok. We are out already so let's practice in a parking lot."

Zhang Siyi:“Eh?” He didn't think things would turn out well. Today's plansweren't ruined!

Once again,driving on the road, Gu Yu sighed while shaking his head he flatly said: "Ireally don't understand what goes on in that head of yours. It's such animportant thing and yet, you forgot." The corners of his mouth twitched asthough Gu Yu was laughing at Zhang Siyi's stupidity.

Zhang Siyistole a glance at Gu Yu then continued to eat the rest of his sandwichsilently.

Since ZhangSiyi didn't have his driver’s license, there was no need to drive farther awayto the suburbs. Gu Yu found a parking lot nearby then let Zhang Siyi changeseats with him.

Pointingout the controls, Gu Yu simply explained how to operate the car. Since thetransmission is fully automatic, it is much easier to drive then the manualtransmission car he learned from in the past. All he needs to keep track of isthe accelerator and break peddle.

Slowlypushing on the gas, Zhang Siyi drove around the parking lot to get a feel forit. Next, he practiced parking in a space. During this period, Gu Yu kept hishand on the emergency break incase there was a problem with the accelerator. Hespoke up: "Go ahead and park. Stop and take a look in the mirror."

“Oh,good."

“Thesteering wheel turned too early, back, again…… One turn, that’s it. back,back, yeah, that’s good.……"

“…..”

"Back outand we can move to another space. Do it again from a different angle."

"……….."

“Okay,very good. Next, try it in reverse. Remember to look at the rearview mirror… Slow down, don’t be too fast… That's it. Ok, go back to the steering wheel, ok…”

"………………."

“Ok,shift it to reverse and try it again…. Ok, yeah that's good, stop!"

"………………………….."

“Let’sfind another space……" Gu Yu pointed: "Over there, the one between the twocars."

"Those two cars?Don't I need to practice parking without a car next to me?"

“You'vehad enough practice now, what are you afraid of?”

"What if Ihit the car?"

"Thenyou'll die."

"……! "

“Oh, youpulled in smoothly. It’s good. Go out and look for a smaller spot.”

“………….!!!”

Since hehasn't driven for so many years, it was very stressful. With a racing heart,Zhang Siyi could feel sweat sliding down his forehead. He just finishedparallel parking and felt completely exhausted. Shit! The pressure is toogreat!

Under Gu Yumilitant guidance, he had Zhang Siyi practice almost all the different ways topark. Even so, Gu Yu still felt like it wasn't enough. He asked Zhang Siyi toreturn to previous spaces and try again from start to finish at a faster pace.He spoke: "With continued practice, you will become proficient in no time andwith determination, you will be able to do this will your eyes closed…… Hey, whyare you shaking every time you turn the steering wheel?"

“I, I …”Blushing, Zhang Siyi felt embarrassed. He faltered and looked at his sore armsand didn't know how to explain: "Yesterday, I did a lot of back and forth armmovements… they are a little tired."

Gu Yulooked at him strangely for a minute in thought, raised an eyebrow then asked:"How many times?"

Zhang Siyi:“……” (╯‵皿’)╯(┻━┻

It was noon when Gu Yu decided Zhang Siyi hadenough practice and thus, they returned to their original positions. Exhausted,Zhang Siyi sunk back into the seat and felt like his entire arm was useless.

Gu Yu: "I didn't think you would be able to driveso well so quickly."

Feeling like Gu Yu was always criticizing him and rarely ever getting complements, Zhang Siyi was flattered to hear his praise. Zhang Siyi replied modestly: "Well, it's just parking. I haven't driven on the roads yet." With his humble words, his heart was floating and Zhang Siyi was feeling very happy.

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