Assistant Architect

Assistant Architect by Xi He Qing Ling

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Moving off to the side, Gu Yao reached for her phone, but instead ofcalling her brother she opened WeChat to look at the social media circle offriends. She was looking for the post that Zhang Siyi mentioned and as shethought, there weren't any new posts this week from her brother. She turned offher phone, adjusted her demeanor and returned to the table looking distressed.She asked: "Brother Siyi, I forgot to charge my phone last night and It just shutdown when I tried to make a call. Can I borrow your phone?"

Her question pulled Zhang Siyi out of his reverie. Only half payingattention he said: "Uh, yeh sure." He unlocked his phone and handed it to herwithout complication. On second thought, he realized that Gu Yao would becalling her brother on his own phone. Wouldn't Gu Yu think it was Zhang Siyitaking the initiative to call him? Acting coy, Zhang Siyi could feel his facebecoming flushed. (q//a//q)

……

Receiving his phone, Gu Yao smiled and moved over to the side. Hercuriosity got the better of her and like before, she opened Zhang Siyi's WeChatto forcibly peeked at the chat records between Zhang Siyi and her brother. Sheselected her brother's avatar, opened the page and scrolled through the posts.Looking at the news through Zhang Siyi's perspective, she saw:

Empty?

Cactus?

Tape measure?

……(⊙口⊙)……

What's all this? Why has she never seen thisinformation before!

Quickly realizing the truth of the matter, GuYao's understanding of her brother completely changed. She didn't expect herperfect, black-belly, and invincible brother, to be so lovesick! Oh My God! Hesent all this WeChat information to Zhang Siyi privately!

Gu Yaocovered her chest and took a deep breath to settle her heart. If a boy did sucha romantic gesture for her, she wouldn't be able to resist. But to drag itout… It's stupid! Shit. Why can't he just be blunt? Previously, Ga Yao onlyspeculated that her brother might like Zhang Siyi and now she is 100% certain.

She sighed.Although she complained about her brother's approach, on second thought, sheunderstands that the situation isn't so easy. After all, Zhang Siyi was raisedas a normal boy. How would he respond with the knowledge of being the object oflove from another man? In order to gauge Zhang Siyi's limits, Gu Yu can onlyendure it himself and carefully test Zhang Siyi time and time again. Also, arash confession isn't in her brother's character. He would never risk exposinghimself unless he was absolutely positive.

Gu Yao washappy for her brother because he was able to fall in love, but she also feltsad for the immediate situation; her brother's one-sided love. It was hardenough to find 'normal' love, let alone the love from the same gender.

It's commonfor little girls to fantasize about perfect love just like in a fairy tale. Theprince and princess will be happy together forever. Gu Yao is no different.Although she isn't a little girl anymore, she believes true love is thegreatest blessing one could achieve in their lifetime. Is it so wrong for herbrother to love Zhang Siyi? If her brother could be with him then she willcheer for them on the side. Feeling good about her decision, she felt joyoustears on her cheeks. She laughed and pulled herself together. Closing the app,she dares not delay anymore and called her brother.

The phonerang three times before her brother picked it up: “Hello?"

Hearing herbrother answer the phone, she doesn't know if her recent thoughts have changedher perception, but this greeting her brother gave was unlike anything sheheard when she normally called her brother. The gentle and joyous tone wasoverpowering.

Gu Yao:“Brother, it is me!”

Gu Yu: "…… Oh, what’s going on? Are you with Zhang Siyi?"

The twodegree drop in tone just now…. It wasn't just Gu Yao's illusion! She hastenedto explain the current situation. She told him about the date, utilizing her threetickets that has expanded to four, and now his invitation. They talked for morethan a few minutes.

After Gu Yulistened to his sister's synopsis, he replied: "You mean to tell me that ZhangSiyi had a date with friends which you invited yourself to join and evenincluded me into this scenario?"

Gu Yao:“…” Why does it seem like her brother is a little angry?

Sure enough,in the next second Gu Yu addressed her more formally: “Gu Yao, first I haveto criticize your behavior as it was rather rude." Taken by surprise, Gu Yaoshrunk her neck down and lowered her head. She listened to Gu Yu's continued scolding:"Since Zhang Siyi didn't take the initiative to invite you, how can you justbutt into his affairs like that? Not only do you not know his friends, but youalso have not known him for very long. Are you saying that in such a shortperiod of time your relationship with Zhang Siyi is better than mine?"

Gu Yao:“…” She heard the tone of the last part…. So thick with contemptand resentment.

Gu Yu:“You are supposed to be an adult that will soon enter society. Why are youstill acting so brash? It's not sensible."

This time GuYao really wasn't pretending. To receive her brother's scolding for workinghard on his behalf for what her heart believed in, she felt wronged. Feelingsorrowful, tears fell: "Brother……" Having grown up with her brother'scriticism since childhood, like a conditioned reflex, she didn't argue withhim.

Gu Yu pausedand then spoke to her gently: "Okay, then. There is no need to delay lunch so Iwill come over later for the movie. I hope you can adjust your behavior andlearn something from this incident."

The changein her brother's tone made Gu Yao feel relieved: "Yes. I know."

Having beenscolded severely by her brother, she had a hard time adjusting her mood. Returningto the dinner table, Gu Yao handed he phone back to Zhang Siyi and sat downwith her head down and an unhappy face.

He Chengtiansaw her and was concerned: “What's the matter?”

Gu Yaowanted to pretend that she was calm and said "Nothing" but with the pitifulface and teary eyes she is unknowingly showing, no one believed her.

Zhang Siyi watchedher as she sat down and gently asked: “What did your brother do?”

Gu Yaolooked at Zhang Siyi at a glance. Ah! He really understands! Now with ZhangSiyi's question, she really couldn't help herself and unloaded some of her grievances:"Well, he said I don't know you well enough and shouldn't have interjected……"Blinking, Gu Yao realized her behavior was out of line and not somethingrighteous. With guilt she apologized: "I'm sorry."

The three ofthem were stunned. He Chengtian spoke first: “Why is your brother so strict?What do you have to be sorry about? Since you are here, we can get to know eachother and become friends." Saying thus, He Chengtian said it to comfort thegirl. Gu Yao's ability to apologize for her own mistakes made He Chengtian likeher more.

From thebeginning, He Xueying only politely greeted Gu Yao and payed no attention toher. After hearing her explanation, the traces of jealousy hidden in her heartalso vanished. He Xueying smiled at Gu Yao: "We are all from the same city. Ifnot for Zhang Siyi, we would have never met. It must have been what fate wantedso don't think about it so much!"

Since thetwo siblings offered comfort to a near stranger, he felt relieved that therewouldn't be any animosity between them. Now, he only cared about one thing: "Isyour brother coming?"

Gu Yao'smood improved a lot: "Well, he will join us later for the movie."

He Xueyingnodded: “Then there is no need to change tables."

Although hehad butterflies in his stomach, Zhang Siyi breathed a sigh of relief. He isboth afraid and excited to see Gu Yu

Thinking ofthe battery problem Gu Yao had with her phone, He Chengtian was attentive toher need so he took out a charging cable from his bag and asked her: "Yourphone is an Apple model, right? You can use this if you need to."

Feeling abit embarrassed, Gu Yao accepted the offer and used it to charge her nearlyfull battery in her phone. (=_=)

Zhang Siyiwas still struggling over the issue of whether or not he needs to tell He Chengtianwho Gu Yao brother is. However, he can't bear to break the harmoniousatmosphere, so he set aside his thoughts. -Ah forget it…. Eat first, thenworry about crossing that bridge later.

Abundant andloud laughter could be heard from their table during their lunch. They reminiscedabout their childhood adventures including the role-playing games they hadplayed. Who was it that broke their leg? Who was the one who fell and chipped atooth? Listening quietly, Gu Yao also laughed at the stories alongside them.

RememberingQu Miao's wedding, Zhang Siyi was curious: "He Xueying, why weren't you at QuMiao's wedding?"

He Xueying smirked:“Qu Miao's wedding? She has hated me since we were kids. Other thanshowing off her new husband, there was no reason to invite me."

Not only wasZhang Siyi a little surprised, but so was He Chengtian who seemed to have heardthis for the first time.

Zhang Siyiasked: "Weren't you guys always playing together as kids?"

He Xueying scoffedand looked at Zhang Siyi and said: "That was only for appearance sake. I grewup better-off then her family and with my brother as play-mates, I was alwayssounded by a group of boys. I remember she used to be so angry with me all thetime. She was just pretending to be a good friend. I think she…… Well, theworld of young girls is hard to understand. It's all in the past now so it'snot worth talking about any longer."

Listening togossip piqued Zhang Siyi interest and although he wanted to hear more, hisphone's vibration tuned his attention elsewhere. Gu Yu sent him a new textmessage: "Gu Yao said her phone's battery was dead and she forgot to tell methe theater address. Where are you?"

After ZhangSiyi texted the address, Gu Yu returned with "Great." Looking at both hiscurrent response and his previous "hmmm" text, Zhang Siyi felt excited andanxious.

Changing the subject, He Chengtian asked Zhang Siyi about his proposal: "Sisi, have you thought about my offer?"

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