Zero Architectural Design Studio

Qiyue posted a simple circle of friends today, a photo of a cake with the caption: "See you later."

It’s been three years, fast.

Half a year, a quiet half year, watching the sunrise and the moonset every day, what a pleasant life.

Qi Yue would set aside half an hour every day to sit on a mat by the window, looking at the distant sky and playing the song "Sheng Sheng Man" on repeat.

"Sister, have you prepared your admission ticket and exam supplies? No, I need to check again."

"Don't worry, I'm ready."

"Alcohol wipes, tissues, painkillers, chocolate, thermos, masks, are all prepared?"

"It's ready, it's ready. You've been nagging about it all day."

"Sister, you've only been out less than ten times in the past six months. I'm really worried you won't be able to find the exam room."

"I still know how to take a taxi. As long as I leave early, I will definitely take you there."

"Sister, I'll go with you!"

"No, I don't want to be useless."

It's been a while since I've seen so many people. No one knows each other. There are three exam rooms, 30 people in each, three hours each in the morning and afternoon: theory in the morning, practicals in the afternoon. "I don't know why an architectural design studio is so formal. It seems like they're selecting the country's elite talents. No, I, Lan Qiyue, am the talent."

Walking out of the design studio, Qi Yue looked up at the sky and said, "Finally, it's over. This past six months of studying 'History of Chinese and Foreign Architecture', 'History of Chinese and Foreign Design', 'Human Engineering', 'Environmental Psychology', 'Environmental Landscape Design'... I'll be going crazy in another month."

"Sister, I'm here, sister, sister."

"Let's go eat hot pot. I'm hungry in the south of the colorful clouds."

"Sister, your exams are really weird. They last all day and you're not allowed to leave until you've finished them all. But this office space is quite unique. It's no wonder you're studying design."

"Okay, how about I come to work here from now on?"

"Really, sister, that's great."

"Dream on! You did terribly on the test, so you'll just have to stay home."

"Then why are you going to eat hot pot? You're unemployed, and you're still spending money."

"I'm not planning to spend my money, I'm planning to spend your money." After saying that, he walked forward without looking back.

The autumn wind is blowing and winter is coming again. What Qiyue didn't expect was that she miraculously passed the initial stage and entered the re-examination.

In the waiting area, Qiyue rubbed her hands nervously, her mind blank. Having been out of the real world for a while, she had even taken a part-time job at a restaurant for two weeks to hone her spoken English skills in preparation for the interview.

During the waiting period, Qi Yue learned through everyone's communication that Zou Muchu, the founder of zero, established the studio seven years ago. In just a few years, it has developed rapidly and become a leader in the field of architectural design.

Zou Muchu, born in the 1980s, has good looks, a good family background, good abilities, is thoughtful, hardworking, and ambitious. Even after returning from half his life, he is still in his early thirties, a true elite talent.

His name is even more meaningful. I heard that it represents his father's love for his mother.

"I like such a heartfelt name." Qi Yue thought.

There is another founder whose name, appearance, and other aspects are unknown. He gives people the impression of being a second-generation rich man with no career aspirations and is just a partner in name only.

"Looking at him, he is a cynical person. Doing nothing is the worst thing for him." Qi Yue thought to herself.

The most important thing about being here is that, according to everyone, it seems that as long as you enter, no matter how old you are, as long as you don't make any principled mistakes, you can work until sunset and retire here directly. This is thanks to the company's humanistic spirit: "Don't forget the past, don't fear the passage of time, walk together all the way, and the future has you."

"I like this concept and this place full of humanistic spirit."

Most of the questions asked during the interview were related to the design of this major. Qi Yue had already forgotten them, but there was one question that was particularly memorable.

Interviewer: "Can you tell me what is most important to you when you come to our studio?"

Qi Yue glanced out the window and said, "Zero, I want to start over. I want to find the meaning of 'myself'."

Qiyue, who had no hope at all, was miraculously accepted. As for the reason for her admission? It's unknown.

"Qi Ji, Qi Ji, you really brought some miracles."

I have spent this meaningless year with some anticipation and some fear. With the admission notice, a new journey of life is about to begin.

After going around in circles, I'm back to the starting point.

You see, in life, there are always a few turning points. As long as you grasp them, the turntable of your life will start turning again.

"If you were worried about my future before, are you relieved about me now?"

First day at work.

"If it weren't so cold, it would be really nice weather. I really like the loneliness of winter now, but I'm afraid of the cold."

"Sister, just wear this."

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"No, there's no problem at all. It's just that you don't look like someone who works in a studio, nor do you look like an art student. You look like a robber. The company can't fire you." As he spoke, he took off the hood of Qi Yue's sweatshirt from his head.

"I don't have a company, only a studio. Besides, the contract has been signed, so there's no chance for me to be fired." After saying that, he put his hat back on.

Zero Architectural Design Studio is located in an old street in Zhongzheng District, Yangbin. It is a small stand-alone building surrounded by quiet specialty shops, selling handmade products, crafts, and snacks. It is particularly quiet because it does not conform to the style of young people. You have to turn in to see the main entrance of the studio. It is true that "good wine needs no bush".

The quaint streets, mostly built of bricks, tiles, and wood, have become lively and charming thanks to the gift of time.

The first meeting is just a necessary step, and the second meeting is what the heart desires.

Qi Yue walked to the front desk and said, "Hello, my name is Lan Qiyue, and I'm a new employee."

The receptionist checked the information and said, "Hello, your department is Design Department 2. Go up to the fourth floor from here and follow the signs."

It’s great to start working at the end of the year. I can have the New Year holiday after just a few days of work.

Following the sign, Qiyue arrived at the fourth floor. Zero is a mature studio in all aspects. From architecture, design to construction integration, its pursuit is "originality" and "perfection".

The first floor houses reception and leisure, the second floor houses construction, the third floor houses architecture, and the fourth floor houses design. Each department has three teams, one consisting of ten people, and two teams of seven people each. Team one is responsible for large-scale commercial projects like hotels, resorts, and supermarkets, while teams two and three handle smaller residential, office, and office buildings.

The fifth floor is the office and entertainment area for the founder and his partners. There is also a special design team. This special team is usually formed temporarily according to needs and is directly deployed by the founder. To go to the fifth floor, you need to take an additional elevator passage.

The first floor has a minimalist decoration style, an open public area, greenery everywhere, visually appealing objects and ornaments, and niche art paintings on the walls, giving people a feeling of pursuing fashion, striving for perfection, and achieving the ultimate.

"Hello, I'm new here. My name is Lan Qiyue."

"Hello, my name is Fang Ruowei. Please wait here for a while, the director hasn't come back yet." As he said that, he led Qi Yue to the rest area on the fourth floor.

It is more like a tea room than a rest area, and it is separated from the office area by a wooden partition. Later, as Qi Yue observed more, she found that each floor had a different design style.

The fourth floor is decorated in an industrial style, with decorative embellishments of gaming elements, and of course, greenery. However, the greenery on the fourth floor is more in line with the decoration style of this floor, and the color is also darker, unlike the light green on the first floor.

"Look, look, this is the first time we have a new person in our department. It's been a long time since we had a new person." Yu Ke said.

"Since the establishment of zero, the employee happiness index is high, the treatment is good, the situation is stable, the turnover rate is extremely low, and we have never recruited publicly from the society. This is the first time." Wang Zi said to Chen Qiao beside him.

"I think you are attracted by the fact that she is a girl, and a pretty girl at that."

"Don't talk nonsense, my wife will hear it and punish me according to the family rules."

"What are you doing here? Have you finished the work at hand?" Chen Zheng walked quietly behind Wang Zi and Shen Qiao.

"Director, there is a new person in our department, he is a post-90s person." Wang Zi said.

"Need I tell you? Go back to work."

Qi Yue saw someone coming in and stood up politely.

"Hello, my name is Lan Qiyue, and I'm a new employee."

"Hello, my name is Chen Zheng. I'm the head of our design department. I'm glad to have you join me."

After a brief overview of the situation, Chen Zheng took Qiyue to each design group to familiarize herself with the environment. He introduced the general situation of the design department, and then said to Fang Ruowei from Group 2, "Ruowei, from today on, Lan Qiyue will be in your group, and Lin Qiao will be in charge initially."

After saying that, Chen Zheng turned back to Qi Yue and said, "I won't assign you any specific work for now. Now, familiarize yourself with the work process, understand the specific operations of each department, and get to know your colleagues."

"Okay, Mr. Chen." Qi Yue nodded.

After Fang Ruowei briefly added Lan Qiyue to the group, she said to Qiyue, "Qiyue, sit here first. If you have any questions, come and ask me."

"Okay, Team Leader."

"Hello, my name is Ruan Yu, you can just call me Sister Yu. I'm a few years older than you."

"Hello, Sister Yu, my name is Lan Qiyue, nice to meet you."

"Don't be so polite. We're all colleagues from now on. If you have any questions, you can ask me. I'm happy to answer them for you."

At the end of the day, Qi Yue's mind was in a mess and she didn't know what to do. She just sat there bored all day.

On the first day, Qiyue probably couldn’t imagine what would happen next, nor did she know whether she would make new friends here and start the next stage of her life.

Of course, this is also a new challenge.