Chapter 73 Ugly.
The days seemed to be fast-forwarded.
Wu Suowei lay on the creaking old desk in the rental house, his chin almost poking into the drawings.
The tip of the pen scratched across the sketch, making a rustling noise.
This palace-themed public restroom...Isn't the client's brain clouded by the fumes from the imperial kitchen?
We need to have the royal style of carved beams and painted rafters, control the cost budget, and consider the sewer pipes... This job is really not a job for humans!
But Party A said money is not a problem...
Hey hey hey hey...
My stomach growled.
Wu Suowei rubbed his stomach irritably.
I was feeling stingy last night and just ate two dry buns. Now I'm starving.
He cursed: "Damn it, drawing a toilet is harder than serving my ancestors..."
He glanced at the deflated biscuit jar in the corner, debated for three seconds, and finally decided to save the money for breakfast.
Drawings are important, but money is more important.
The sound of the door lock turning suddenly rang out.
Wu Suowei shuddered. At this point, besides Jiang Xiaoshuai, there was only...
The door was pushed open.
Chi Cheng's tall figure was blocking the door, holding an insulated bag in his hand, and the aroma of soy milk and fried dough sticks came in domineeringly.
He glanced inside the room and his eyes fell on Wu Suowei's face, which was still frightened but trying to remain calm.
Chi Cheng sneered in his heart.
This little stingy guy must have not had breakfast again. Look at his pale face.
He deliberately slowed down his pace as he walked in. The sound of his leather shoes stepping on the concrete floor was so clear that it made Wu Suowei's scalp tingle.
"You...why are you here again?" Wu Suowei's voice was a little dry. He tried hard to show some momentum, but he lacked the confidence.
He shifted his butt uneasily on the chair, his eyes wandering, not daring to look directly at Chi Cheng.
"Didn't we agree on this? I won't ask for your help with my own affairs!" He said this quickly and urgently, as if to give himself courage.
Chi Cheng didn't answer immediately.
He dropped the thermal bag on the table piled with drawings and tools with a bang, which made Wu Suowei's eyelids jump.
Chi Cheng pulled over the only broken chair in the room that was still usable, sat down with his legs stretched out, and his two long legs almost filled the pitiful space in front of Wu Suowei.
He then slowly raised his eyes, with a playful smile on his lips.
"Who lent me some strength?" Chi Cheng's voice was low, a little hoarse from just waking up. "I spent Guozi's money."
He nodded his chin towards the bag of breakfast. "He owes me."
Wu Suowei was stunned.
Guo Zi? Guo Chengyu? Spend his money? This logic... seems to be correct?
My tense nerves inexplicably relaxed a little.
It’s not Chi Cheng’s money... then... it seems acceptable?
He swallowed and his stomach growled again, louder than before.
"Oh..." Wu Suowei glanced at the steaming insulation bag, then quickly retracted his eyes, forcing a little bit of pitiful pride, "Well... well, Guo Chengyu's money... is spent."
There was a mixture of "reluctance" and "as it should be" in his tone, and he felt a little embarrassed.
The smile in Chi Cheng's eyes deepened, with a hint of evil satisfaction.
He knew that this little money-grubber couldn't handle this trick.
He reached out and pushed the bag towards Wu Suowei: "While it's hot."
Wu Suowei moved his fingers, but finally succumbed to the protest of his stomach and the temptation of food.
He quickly untied the bag and took out the still hot fried dough sticks and warm soy milk.
The aroma of the food relaxed his tense nerves a little.
Chi Cheng didn't look at him again, and turned his gaze to the design drawings spread out on the table.
It depicts the intricate structure of a palace roof, with various sizes and materials marked next to it.
Chi Cheng's brows furrowed slightly.
He was silent for a few seconds, and finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but it was like a bucket of cold water:
"ugly."
"..." Wu Suowei's high emotions were stuck in an instant. The excitement on his face froze, and then collapsed little by little, turning into incredible grievance and shame.
"Ugly?! What's ugly about it?! This is art! It's a concept drawing! Do you know how to appreciate it?!" He retorted with his neck stiff, but his confidence was clearly lacking.
He also knew that his painting was not good-looking. After all, the client's request... had a kind of beauty that was like a missing brain stem.
"Okay... I know my drawings are ugly... I know I don't know anything... I'm just a random person who changed his ways..."
He stared at his fingers stained with pencil dust, his voice gradually becoming quieter. "I just want to... I just want to finish it quickly... get stronger quickly... I don't want to be a burden... I don't want your dad to think... that I'm a useless person who only holds you back..."
These words, carrying with them the pressure of the past few days and the deepest anxiety in my heart, poured out uncontrollably.
He was not complaining about Chi Cheng, but rather accusing himself of incompetence.
Chi Cheng looked at the drooping, furry head and listened to the muffled voice that sounded aggrieved and stubborn.
He had seen Wu Suowei's sunny and silly side, he had seen him be stingy and calculating, he had seen him show his claws and fight back fiercely, he had also seen him trembling with fear, but he had rarely seen him like this... taking off all disguises, revealing his vulnerability and unwillingness.
Little thing…too much pressure.
A strange feeling flashed through Chi Cheng's mind.
He walked up to Wu Suowei, but did not pat his head or pinch his neck as usual.
He stretched out his hand, and with his fingertips covered with thin calluses, he rubbed Wu Suwei's drooping forehead somewhat roughly, yet with a hint of awkward soothing intent, and wiped off some of the pencil dust that had rubbed on it.
"What's the rush?" Chi Cheng's voice was still low, but it was less cold than usual, with a hint of... gentleness that was barely noticeable. "I'm here, what are you afraid of?"
Wu Suowei gasped and glared at him: "How can I not be anxious? I can't get paid if I can't hand in the drawings!" Money! That's his lifeblood!
Chi Cheng leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them.
Wu Suowei could even smell a faint smell of tobacco and an indescribable, oppressive aura on him.
Chi Cheng locked his gaze on him, with an unquestionable certainty: "This little thing won't be difficult for you."
Wu Suowei's heart skipped a beat.
Chi Cheng's eyes were too focused and his tone was too certain, as if he really believed that he could handle this mess.
This feeling of being affirmed is... strange.
He subconsciously avoided Chi Cheng's gaze and lowered his head to look at the blueprint. His fingers unconsciously scratched the edge of the blueprint and he muttered softly, "...That's easy to say."
But Chi Cheng's words were like a small stone thrown into the lake of his restless heart, creating ripples.
It seems... not so hopeless anymore?
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