1 Year Of Beginning

Feng Mian finished the warm milk and looked at the television once more. It was just a few minutes yet the advertis.e.m.e.nt had played again. It seemed that Zhang Liang was determined to hype this as much as possible for the white day.

And with the image in the advertis.e.m.e.nt being Zhang Liang, Feng Mian had the feeling that the newspaper would be filled with news about him. When talking about romantic rumors from the Zhang Family, all fingers would be pointed at Zhang Xue. This time, they would be able to see the one from Zhang Liang.

As she was about to shut the television down, Feng Mian's eyes were drawn to her own expressions. She was looking at Zhang Liang, but the camera somehow managed to capture it from above. Her cheek was flushed red, yet there was a light in her eyes as she quivered the name of the man before her.

"Brother Liang…"

Feng Mian nearly dropped the empty glass, but she held on. She passed the glass to the servant outside and returned back to her room. Since Zhang Liang hadn't returned home yet, Feng Mian set the pillow in the middle as usual then lied down on one side with her face facing the pillow.

That expression she made just now didn't just contain surprise.

'Since when did I no longer see him just as a 'brother?'"

Feng Mian chose to call Zhang Liang with the name 'Brother Liang' simply because she hoped that she would have a trace of longing expression in her face. After all, the term brother would remind her of her brother, who hadn't gone home for nearly a decade. But when she saw her expression just now, it was completely different from what she would have when she thought of her brother.

Completely different.

Not wanting to think about it again, Feng Mian pulled the blanket and closed her eyes. She didn't dare to think of the consequences because she didn't want to create her own bad ending.

…

Ring! Ring!

Feng Mian was in her studio when she heard her phone rang. When she woke up this morning, Zhang Liang had long left, which eased her because she felt that she wouldn't be able to act normal around him. She had been working on several pieces of drawing, which was actually the representative of her lives so far. Of course, not all of them have humans as the main subject because Feng Mian thought of incorporating other images.

"Yes."

"MIAN'ER! OH MY! DO YOU SEE THE ADVERTIS.E.M.E.NT?"

"Uh, yeah?" Feng Mian knew that it had aired since yesterday, but knowing Yu Yan, her best friend must haven't watched it at all. After all, they were all busy with their work and didn't have the leisure time to watch television.

Yu Yan nearly screamed. "The one in the advertis.e.m.e.nt, it must be President Zhang and not Patissier Zhang, right?"

The Zhang twins have similar appearances yet different works. Because of that, people often used their work as the way to identify the two of them. President Zhang referred to Zhang Liang while Patissier Zhang referred to Zhang Xue.

"Yes."

"I knew it!" Yu Yan made a clasped fist. Everyone was debating which one it was because the twins looked exceedingly similar to one another. If it was Zhang Xue, there would be a flood of news calling him as two timers because he had married. But if it was Zhang Liang, there would be another flood of news, asking who the woman was.

Yu Yan lowered her voice. "The woman, that's you, right?"

"Uh, don't let anyone know, please."

Feng Mian didn't want to come to work again right now. If she wore makeup and properly did her hair, she knew that she would look the same as the one in the advertis.e.m.e.nt. The black mark under her eyes was still there, but it had eased a bit thanks to her sleeping habit lately.

Of course, she didn't have any intention to have it return back if possible.

Yu Yan grinned. "Of course, I won't. I'm just curious, who did the makeup? You look so different."

Feng Mian: "…"

���Wait, I didn't mean that you didn't look pretty. However, it's quite a contrasting view if I compared it to your messy appearance when you just finished an overtime work."

Feng Mian laughed dryly. "It's just a light makeup to cover up the dark circle under my eyes."

"Huh?"

"You can't believe it?"

"NO!" Yu Yan nearly screamed loudly. In her eyes, Feng Mian looked so different. Even when she had just come for her internship, Feng Mian always dressed so simply with her hair slightly messy because of running.

"Believe it or not, I barely do anything."

"Can you do magic?"

Feng Mian rolled her eyes. "Hello. We're living in the real world and not in the fantasy world."

Yu Yan rubbed her forehead. "I really need to see for myself how you transformed yourself. I'll come to visit you soon."

"Finish your work first. I heard that you got an important task from the manager, right?"

"Yeah, I need to prove that I'm capable of handling this much. This is my chance to get the promotion."

"Good luck, Yu Yan."

"Yes!"

Feng Mian hung up and focused her attention to her drawing. The one in front of her was the drawing of two fishes, one big and one small. The bigger one was about to leave the canvas while the smaller one couldn't follow because the current was too high. She was left behind.

The darker color represented her sadness and desperation when her brother left her back then. She was nothing more than a junior high student back then when her father left and her brother disappeared to join the army. There was not even a single news from her brother except for the transfer of money he did every year to support them.

The drawing was complete. Feng Mian was only doing some final touches to clear the lines. Her eyes looked at the smaller fish as her lips smiled bitterly.

'I wonder when the small fish will be able to swim against the current and follow after the bigger ones to the broad world.'

Knock! Knock!

"Yes?"

Feng Mian inspected the painting once more. After making sure that it had dried, she closed it with a cloth and walked to the door. Over there, she saw Butler Lou holding a letter.

"Madam, this is for you."

"Letter?" Feng Mian picked up the card and began to read. It was an invitation letter to a dinner with Mr. Kira and many other important guests. Reading the letter, Feng Mian felt that she was truly inside a big trouble this time.

Butler Lou nodded. "Master hoped that you could attend the dinner because it'll be important for his business."

Feng Mian sighed. "I understand. I'll talk to him."

Closing the door, Feng Mian took out her phone and began to search her contact. The name 'Demanding Demon' was very eye catching as she quickly dialed the number.

"Yes?"

"Brother Liang, do I really need to come to dinner? Can't you come alone?"

"I have already used the excuse that you're unwell last time. If you don't come again, it'll be quite suspicious for them. Don't worry, I'll try to make the talk as fast as possible then fetch you from the ladies."

Feng Mian blinked her eyes. "Are you sure that it'll be alright?"

"Yes. The deal is important, but it doesn't mean I can't discuss the term at later times. Besides, the one who discussed the terms are mostly our subordinates. He just asked for this dinner because he wanted to get closer with his partners," Zhang Liang explained.

"Really?"

"Yes. Do you think that business discussion only lasts for a minute then it's over? There are a lot of things put into considerations, which is why the negotiation usually lasts quite long. I won't make it difficult for you. If you don't wish to eat there, you can ask Chef Lu to cook first and just enjoy talking there."

It was then Feng Mian recalled that her table manners was poor. Compared to the nobles, she would look like a country bumpkin. "If you're fine with being seen as someone with poor manners, I don't mind eating there."

Zhang Liang chuckled. "It's fine. I know that you'll do just great."

"En."

"I will be coming home late for the next few days, so you can sleep first."

"I never waited for you." Feng Mian retorted.

Zhang Liang laughed. He bid his farewell and hung up. On the other side of the call, Feng Mian was still looking at her phone screen. Her lips curled up.

'Why are you being so kind to me? I'll just end up getting used to this if this continues.'

As time passed, Zhang Liang often put her into more consideration. Feng Mian leaned to the wall behind her. She muttered to herself, 'Admit it, Feng Mian, you're attracted to him.'