Chapter 12: Help (1/2)

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When Zhang Siyi arrived at home, he heard the rhythmic music in the living room before entering the door. Upon entering, the delicious aroma of tomato beef sauce assaulted his senses.

Zhang Siyi stepped on the back of his shoes to quickly take them off. His looked around for the source of the fragrance: “Aha! You are cooking!”

“Why are you back so early?” When he heard the door, Fu Xinhui turned his head to see who I was. He was standing in the kitchen wearing an old, worn blue plaid apron that looked like it was from a different era, with chopsticks in hand, dipping them into the sauce and tasting it. At first glance, his tall figure looked particularly funny, but the whole scene in general seemed so comfortable, he wanted to shout, “I’m home!”.

Zhang Siyi put on his slippers and went over to look what Fu Xinhui was cooking: ” Wow, homemade pasta? Did you make me some?”

Fu Xinhui took the plate and turned to hide: “No touching” I thought you were working late!”

Zhang Siyi followed and turned, “Don’t be so mean, let me eat too. You haven’t put the pasta in yet. Just add some more to the pot.”

With the pot in hand, Fu Xinhui moved around to try to avoid Zhang Siyi following like a master teasing a dog, only to give up and make more. At this moment, Jiang Hai also came back. Seeing Fu Xinhui’s cooking, he reacted the same as Zhang Siyi and asked for his share.

“Fuck you. It’s my food! Even if I’m at home, I’m not your babysitter,” Fu Xinhui, muttered.

Zhang Siyi slurped up a mouthful of red sauce.: “So good! You don’t have to look for work, just stay home to cook for us.”

Jiang Hai is also chiming in: “You cook so well that you can stay at home to cook for us while we bring home the money to support you!”

Fu Xinhui laughed: “Fuck off, both of your salaries is not even more than my pocket money!”

They all laughed together then sat down to eat. Lately, the trio rarely had time for a common meal. Jiang Hai went downstairs to the restaurant to pick up some additional seafood for them to eat.

Fu Xinhui had gone to the supermarket in the afternoon to buy ingredients for his dinner. Besides the Pasta and sauce, he also bought a few side dishes and drinks. He placed them all on the coffee table, so they could gather around to chat and eat together.

“Why do you suddenly want to cook? “Asked Jiang Hai.

Fu Xinhui replied, “I’m tired of takeout and It’s nice to have a change”

While studying abroad they were exposed to many different cuisine flavors. Thinking they would have to cook when they returned in order experience those flavors, they were surprised upon their return to find the domestic restaurant industry so developed and thus took the lazy way out and ordered takeout on a regular business.

Zhang Siyi collapsed on the sofa and burped, touching his belly, said: “I used to think convenience store food was pretty good, but now, this dinner has reminded me how inadequate they are. I won’t be able to use the microwave anymore.”

Fu Xinhui changed the subject and asked Zhang Siyi: “how was work today?”

“Exhausted. I was so busy all day.” Although busy and tired, Zhang Siyi felt very fulfilled. When he thought about all the work he sorted through today, he was full of accomplishment.

Zhang Siyi spoke of his three hours of work in the morning. Jiang Hai listened and commented: “It seems that your boss is quite good. The head of the design department I work for is unreliable. There is no practical experience at all.”

Zhang Siyi was curious: “What do you real estate companies usually do?”

In the industry, the real estate company is commonly known as “Party A” where Jiang Hai is located: “The real estate company buys land everywhere. For example, if the government has a commercial property, the company buys it and then asks different design departments to bid for the contract according to the rules. To put it bluntly, we are the ones who choose which departments can develop the property. The people calling the shots also have a professional background. Then whoever has the highest score will be chosen to use the design but if the people in the design department of Party A are not reliable, even with superb designs, they won’t win the contract and will lose money.”

Fu Xinhui, who was listening on the side, laughed ha-ha, and said to Jiang Hai: “Doesn’t that mean Zhang Siyi is there for you to abuse?”

Zhang Siyi: “…”

Jiang Hai: “You can say this as a joke, but under normal circumstances, we are also very reliable.

After all, no one wants to lose out repeatedly. Its very labor intensive and costly. When small companies can’t figure out the problem, then the big designs companies are contacted. At that time, I can’t say who abused who.”

After talking with his roommates for an hour, Zhang Siyi return to his room and its almost nine o’clock.

He reached for the drawings he brought back with him from work, along with the “Architect’s Handbook” given to him by Zhu Hongzhen. Just after two pages his mind is not with the task.

It’s so hard. It’s so boring. I don’t want to draw.……

Stomach full of food and drink, Zhang Siyi is lazy at the moment. Although he is thinking about the homework, he can’t muster up the strength to do it.

He suddenly thought about the message he sent to his friends this morning. Wanting to check the comments his friends wrote, he got his phone out. There are more than 30 postings and one private message from his mother asking about the job details.

Mom: “Son, did you find a job?”

Zhang Siyi smiled and typed back: “Yes, mom, I am going to work now!”

He returned the news of other people one by one, and then carefully scanned through all the messages again. He didn’t see anything from his ex-girlfriend. Zhang Siyi was hoping she would respond when hearing about his new job.

After thinking about it, he couldn’t resist telling her, so he sent a note to the other party, but instead, a screen popped up. “XXX. You are not his (her) friend. Please send a friend verification request first…”

Fuck! She already deleted me? Not even a chance to be a friend?

Zhang Siyi was so angry that he immediately deleted her information and decided not to have any contacts with his ex-girlfriend. Not long ago, when he returned to China, he saved his living expenses to buy a Fendi bag for her. This is too embarrassing.