Shadows Far from the Light

After Shen Yanzhou officially decided to join Cheng Ye's project, their collaboration became increasingly frequent. Though Shen Yanzhou tried to remain composed, he knew deep down that he could no longer completely isolate Cheng Ye's presence. Every time Cheng Ye walked into the office with new ideas, his confidence and passion would inevitably stir something inside Shen Yanzhou, causing emotional ripples he couldn't ignore.

That day, they had scheduled a deep discussion at the office. Cheng Ye brought new design sketches to present his latest thoughts.

"Shen Laoshi, I've reworked the overall layout of the building," Cheng Ye said softly, standing by Shen Yanzhou's desk. "I think we could introduce softer curves and more natural elements in this design, making it align better with the theme of 'belonging.'"

Shen Yanzhou sat in his office chair, his fingers lightly tapping the desk as his calm gaze swept over the blueprints. He never gave quick judgments on others' designs, especially Cheng Ye's. The young man's creativity was always full of fresh ideas, which both impressed and unsettled him.

"Curves and natural elements?" Shen Yanzhou repeated softly, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. "That might affect the commercial nature of the building, especially its functionality and structure."

Cheng Ye didn't retreat. He still looked at Shen Yanzhou with warmth in his eyes. "I understand that commercial nature and functionality are the fundamental requirements. But I believe we can strike a balance, meeting the needs of modern architecture while also adding warmth and a human touch."

Shen Yanzhou remained silent for a moment, his gaze still fixed on the design sketches. The curves were indeed different from the straight lines and cold geometric shapes he was accustomed to. Instead, they carried a sense of softness and natural beauty. The design's aesthetic wasn't cold and standardized like commercial buildings but appeared more human-centered, designed for life.

"This isn't my usual style," Shen Yanzhou finally spoke, his voice still calm but betraying a hint of hesitation. "But it does have its uniqueness."

Cheng Ye smiled lightly, with a trace of expectation in his eyes. "Don't you like this style? I know that Shen Laoshi's designs have always emphasized rationality and order, but I hope you can also feel the warmth and humanity in this one."

Cheng Ye smiled lightly, with a trace of expectation in his eyes. "Don't you like this style? I know that Shen Laoshi's designs have always emphasized rationality and order, but I hope you can also feel the warmth and humanity in this one."

Shen Yanzhou stared into Cheng Ye's eyes, full of trust, and an inexplicable emotional ripple surged within him. Cheng Ye had always stuck to his ideals and tried to influence Shen Yanzhou. Shen Yanzhou had always believed he shouldn't be swayed by such emotions. After all, as an architect, he had long learned to suppress all emotions, relying only on calmness and rationality to assess every design.

Yet, at this moment, he couldn't ignore Cheng Ye's persistent passion and dedication. Cheng Ye's words were like an invisible force, slowly stirring the cold indifference and rationality in Shen Yanzhou's heart. That warm emotion seemed to seep into Shen Yanzhou's world, and he hadn't even realized it.

"What you've said, I'll consider," Shen Yanzhou finally said, his voice still calm but filled with uncertainty. "However, I'll need some time."

Cheng Ye nodded and smiled gently. "I understand, Shen Laoshi. I won't rush you. I know every decision you make is well thought out, and I will respect your choice."

Shen Yanzhou sighed softly as he watched Cheng Ye's back as he left the office. For a moment, he suddenly felt that the young man brought him not only new design ideas but also an invisible force that was gradually changing the way he viewed architecture, life, and even relationships.

He had once thought that he could always remain on that lonely iceberg, unaffected by any emotions. But now, he began to realize that Cheng Ye was like a beam of light, attempting to illuminate the shadows that had long enveloped his heart. And he, perhaps, was no longer as averse to this light as before.

That night, as Shen Yanzhou lay in bed, his thoughts couldn't settle. Countless design blueprints intertwined in his mind: curves, lines, light and shadow, and even Cheng Ye's passionate gaze repeated over and over in his head. That warm feeling increasingly overwhelmed him, as though a beam of sunlight had pierced through the ice that had encased his heart, shining into the long-sealed room.

He had once believed that architecture was synonymous with rationality and functionality, an embodiment of calmness and order. But now, he was beginning to understand that architecture could also be sentimental, warm, and humanized. Perhaps, just as Cheng Ye said, the significance of architecture was far more than aesthetic—it was about the sense of belonging it could bring to people.

Shen Yanzhou slowly closed his eyes, and the image of the young man's determined face floated in his mind, along with the words he constantly reminded him of: "Architecture isn't just a place to live, it's a sanctuary where people feel safe."

That night, it seemed like Shen Yanzhou had a dream he hadn't had in a long time—a dream of warmth, light, and belonging.