The Stars In Your Eyes - Chapter 192

Bai Yutang’s eyes glued to the computer’s screen, his slender hands moved in small movements, manipulated the mouse and keyboard. He built the 3D for the living room.

The project they bid and won is a small cluster of luxurious housing. They will only build 12 customised houses. This rumoured to be the housing of Dragon’s agency, the biggest entertainment star’s agency in this country.

Big entertainment agencies will provide a house for their biggest artists, for them to be shielded properly from the press and also easier to control them. The agency used to rent the house, but now they decide to purchase this land in the middle of the city and build 12 houses for their  most valuable star.

That’s why the design had two outer layers of park and small lake, while the house was inside the second layer. The security design is also one of the best.

Their firm won because they use a fluid design, allow the house to change appearance with minor changes, to accommodate the next star who was lucky to get this housing as their residence.

The agency liked the idea so much, because big artists are famous for being picky. After all, this housing needs to be used at least for the next 20 years as their investment. In 20 years, only God knows how many stars will use the house.

The main design was supposed to be Yan Qiuyue and Zhong Fan while Zhu Meng was responsible for the garden and outer layer design. As the most junior member, Bai Yutang’s role is to fill anything they need. Research material, go to the site to measure the land and properties, edit the layout, and million other small yet important things.

Unfortunately, Zhong Fan was still busy with his wedding and honeymoon. Based on previous experience, Zhong Fan delegated his job to Bai Yutang. Since Bai Yutang’s design is neat and ready to use even though not exceptional, Zhong Fan rarely checks it, and once approved he also asks Bai Yutang to revise his own work.

At first, Bai Yutang genuinely helped him because Zhong Fan is his senior, and it’s important to have good team work in this kind of job. But then Zhong Fan didn’t even use the word please to ask for his help. Sometimes he even uses the word “I need this as soon as possible” and urges him to do a double job.

Bai Yutang didn’t really mind since he thought Zhong Fan was busy with his wedding. It’s a once in a lifetime event, so Bai Yutang just works harder and faster.

But now, they already won the project, and it is also one month after his wedding, yet Zhong Fan still delegates some of his tasks to Bai Yutang. The problem is, Bai Yutang didn’t know which one was his responsibility and which one is Zhong Fan’s. There’s a blur thin line since he is the most junior member.

This afternoon they will have another meeting with the client and he needs to finish this 3D for the meeting.

Bai Yutang didn’t even have time to step out from the office for lunch. He grit his teeth and make a bowl of instant noodles to fill his stomach. Luckily he also still brought egg fried rice from their breakfast this morning, so he was not too hungry. He ate at his table while waiting for the 3D rendered.

He sighed and glad his lover never criticized him for whatever he cooked. Since the first time he lives together and cooks for Jian Kang Lu, his lover never once protests about the menu.

Whatever he cooked, his lover always told him that it was delicious. Every single time he serves his cook.

Bai Yutang never had a relationship with anyone before, so he didn’t know many people forgot to say thank you for their partner’s effort. Most people will gradually get used to it, then will think it was their partner’s duty.

A lot of relationships cracked and failed to mend because of these kinds of simple things. Lack of respect, lack of gratitude.

Bai Yutang felt a little guilty when he lied to his lover, telling Jian Kang Lu that he had rice and chicken katsu for his lunch. His lover didn’t like him eating instant noodles too often. Bai Yutang is afraid that if he tells his lover he eats instant noodles then he will receive food delivery for the next few days. It happened before.

Afternoon comes, four of them go to the client’s office with Yao Mingyu, and the two hours meeting is wrapped up.

“I’m looking forward to the development start next two weeks, Mr. Yao. Especially to see the living room in real life.” The client closes the meeting with a smile.

Yao Mingyu smiled back, stood up and shook the client’s hand. His team wrapped up their laptop and papers and walked out from the office.

At the elevator, Yao Mingyu pat Zhong Fan’s shoulder. “Good job with the living room, Zhong Fan. I see that your design has grown up.”

Zhong Fan smiled, “Thank you, Mr. Yao.”

Bai Yutang heard that, and suddenly he felt a pain gnaw the corner of his heart. The living room is purely done by him, all of it. From the initial design until the 3D final result. He was also the one who had been contacting the contractor and choosing the material.

And now all the credit was claimed by Zhong Fan. Not even once he mentioned Bai Yutang’s name nor thanked him.

Days went by, Bai Yutang still had this uncomfortable feeling inside his heart. Now everytime he does the task from Zhong Fan, he doesn’t know whether this is truly his task, or Zhong Fan’s task which was delegated to him.

Helping your teammate is okay, but it was understandable for Bai Yutang to want to be praised for his hard work. He dejectedly accepted all the tasks thrown at him, and felt the joy of working reduced by half.

In fact, Bai Yutang didn’t know if only Zhong Fan or his other seniors also did the same. He only knew Zhong Fan did that because he saw with his own eyes when Zhong Fan got praise while he got nothing at all.

In this silent and bad mood, Bai Yutang still works as usual. Just getting more and more silent. His usual habit and appearance is someone who didn’t stand out, so no one noticed except his lover.

Bai Yutang only told his lover that he was tired due to this project just started. Jian Kang Lu could only silently soothe his kitten’s mood and didn’t ask for more. He learns that if his kitten didn’t want to tell him, he will explode if Jian Kang Lu keeps probing him.

Because of this, Bai Yutang didn’t realise some of his workmates look and treat him differently lately.

One afternoon in September, Bai Yutang, Zhong Fan and Zhu Meng have a meeting with the contractor at the site, and they have lunch together. While talking, one of the contractors congratulates Zhong Fan for his wedding once they know Zhong Fan just became a married man one months ago.

“Congratulations brother! Welcome to the sweet hell!”

“Toast! This needs to be celebrated!”

“Oh, Mr. Zhu already has one daughter. How about you, Mr. Bai?”

“What? You’re still single? Do you want me to introduce you to my niece? She is still in her 2nd year of university. A calm girl and quite lovely, I think she will suit you well.”

The contractor who said that was a 45 year old big man who reminded Bai Yutang of his own father. Bai Yutang smiled, he wanted to refuse politely. But before he even managed to utter one word, Zhong Fan answered for him.

“I’m not sure Mr. Bai wants to date a girl, Mr. Qiu.”

Zhu Meng laughed a bit to hear that. Somehow Bai Yutang felt their words and laugh contain evil meaning underneath. His smile froze.

“Ah, why? You’re already graduated and have a steady job. Let me tell you, if you didn’t hurriedly look for a girlfriend and get married, later you will be too old when your first child is born.”

Both Zhong Fan and Zhu Meng laugh louder. Bai Yutang didn’t like their laugh, nor their gaze at him. He politely answered the contractor, “I’m still struggling financially, Mr. Qiu. I don’t think it was fair for my wife to be if i can’t give her a good date nor future. Maybe later if I already settled.”

This is the fastest way to shut people who want to be a matchmaker for him. Bai Yutang felt he told the truth, since his salary was used for his mother and Bai Yuren’s living while his own living mostly used his lover’s money.

But he didn’t know these people just politely agreed with him while sneering behind. How could they believe this young man struggling financially while all the things he used clearly look good. His handphone alone was very expensive.

Since that day, Bai Yutang realised his workmate’s treatment of him was a little bit different. Their gaze, their words, sometimes contain hidden meaning he doesn’t understand. It bothering him, but since he don’t understand, he tried to brush it away.

Including when he met some of the other team’s members in the pantry while making a cup of coffee.

“Bai Yutang, i like your watch. It looked good, what brand was it?”

Bai Yutang wearing the first watch given to him as his anniversary gift. He always wears that one to the office, since the new one looks even more expensive. “This one? It was from T brand Mr. Li.”

“How much did you buy this?”

Bai Yutang didn’t like when people asked this kind of thing. It was actually a common question, but for Bai Yutang, this kind of question is only suitable for close friends. “Mm.. I didn’t know how much it. I got it as a gift, Mr. Li.”

“Woah, a gift? From who?”

“From my friend, Mr. Li.” Bai Yutang hurriedly answered, and then wanted to excuse himself.

“What a good friend!” Mr. Li and the others laugh while looking at him. Bai Yutang didn’t like it at all.

“I also want to have that kind of friend. None of my friends want to give me a 10.000 yuan watch. Not even my father. Wish i had that kind of friend.” The others commented and followed with another comment.

“Are you sure you want to have that kind of friend?” The other one teased.

“How about your handphone? Don’t tell me it was also a gift from the same friend?” The others laugh again hearing that comment.

Bai Yutang was stiff, he felt their laugh was the same as Zhong Fan and Zhu Meng’s evil laugh the other day. He tried to lift his corner of lips, giving a smile and nod, then hurriedly walked out from the pantry.

Why do they look at him like that? Why did they comment at him like that? He honestly answered his own team mate when they saw his new handphone, and told them that it was a gift.

At that time they asked why Bai Yutang still rides the bus everyday while he can buy a handphone priced almost 10.000 yuan, equal with their two months salary. Then Bai Yutang told them that it was a gift, though he didn’t tell them it was a gift from Jian Kang Lu.

Bai Yutang walked absentmindedly to his table, plopped his body, and closed his eyes for a little bit.

Why he felt their gaze is similar to his university mate’s gaze at his last year in university. A look that judged him as a lowly person. A mocking gaze, as if he was someone who was not worthy. As if he was justified for being ridiculed.