1 Year Of Beginning

Zhang Liang chuckled at Lu Di La's answer. He put down the tube as he sighed. The way it was done was wrong. He would need to review the steps again to make a better one.

"You're a better actor compared to Xue."

"Thank you."

"But you still can't fool my eyes."

"I see."

By now, Zhang Liang didn't bother to keep his act as Zhang Xue anymore. Since Lu Di La had found out about it, he didn't want to waste his time acting as his brother anymore.

Lu Di La arched her eyebrows. "You seem to be very serious about this project. Is the deadline really close?"

"I want to finish it before next month."

"That's…" only a week's away.

Zhang Liang noticed Lu Di La's expression, but he didn't explain and just put it away. His hand began to take another batch of liquid chocolate that was cold yet it was not frozen. It was maintained at the temperature where it would not freeze yet and still could be molded.

Lu Di La looked at Zhang Liang. "Do you also want to finish everything in just a week's time?"

"No. I just plan to show the chocolate first. As for the sales and the wrapping, it can be done in September."

Next month was September, which meant that Zhang Liang was truly racing against time. Thinking about how much of a workaholic this man was, Lu Di La could only shake her head. Compared to Zhang Xue, Zhang Liang would surely do anything to make sure he finished his work.

"You have just had enough sleep and now you're abandoning it just to finish this? Is there any offer?"

"No."

"Then…"

"I have my own reason. You can rest first if you want. I won't let you get hurt here."

Lu Di La nodded. She knew that Zhang Liang had his own way if he wanted things to work according to the way he wanted. Since the two of them switched places, it was only natural that Zhang Liang protected her in Zhang Xue place. Well, in any case, she doubted that there would be anything that happened here.

This was a closely guarded place.

"Don't forget to rest."

"Yes."

…

Days passed quietly. Feng Mian stared at her phone as she colored the painting before her. She used the photo of Zhang Liang that she found to use as the subject for the young man. Their features were strikingly similar, but the young man was much younger than the current Zhang Liang.

After all, she modeled it after the young Zhang Liang too.

Knock! Knock!

"Yes?"

Feng Mian walked out and saw Zhang Xue standing. He grinned. "Liang just called me. He'll return back this afternoon, so I'll bid my farewell first. I'm afraid that I won't be able to say anything to you if Zhang Liang returned even faster."

"Oh? Why?"

"Why? That annoying younger brother will surely kick…."

"You can get out now, Xue."

The cold tone entered the two people's ears. Feng Mian glanced to the side and smiled at the sight of the familiar man whom she loved. Zhang Xue noticed the change in her expression as he sighed. How come she was so perceptive?

Behind Zhang Liang, Lu Di La walked and crossed her arm. "So, do you have fun when you're staying here, Xue?"

"Di La!" Zhang Xue beamed when he saw her. He quickly ran over to her side and shook his head rapidly. "How come I have fun without you? There's no way I can possibly have that much when you're not here with me."

"Don't be ridiculous, Xue. I'm sure you're happy that you didn't have to work on the doc.u.ment."

Zhang Xue: "…" busted.

Lu Di La didn't know whether to laugh or cry when she saw her husband's expression. He looked like a child who had just received scolding after being found out lying. She turned his head to Zhang Liang and Feng Mian.

"I'll be going now, Liang, Mian'er. I still need to teach my husband a bit of knowledge so that he can replace me when I need to take vacation."

Zhang Liang nodded. "Don't overdo it, just leave everything to Xue if you can't handle it."

"Don't worry. I'll surely dump everything on him."

Zhang Xue: "…" why are you two scheming against me? He wanted to file a protest! It was unfair!

Feng Mian giggled at the two's exchange. She pulled the door and locked it again before turning to look at Zhang Liang. The most noticeable was the dark circle under his eyes. It seemed to be bigger than the last time she saw him nearly a week ago.

"Did you not sleep in time, Liang? Don't forget to take care of your health too."

Zhang Liang merely laughed dryly. "There'll be an announcement from Zhang Sweet Company. I want you to be present."

"Huh? Me?"

"And you too, Xue and Di La."

Zhang Xue was still walking with Lu Di La, intending to just leave this place before he got hit again. Little did he know that his younger twin brother would suddenly ask him for something again.

"Why do you even want me to go?" Zhang Xue was looking at Zhang Liang with confusion.

Lu Di La laughed. "He's going to announce a new type of sweet. At the same time, I'm sure that it's already the time to share the news of his collaboration with Mr. Kira."

The two companies have been in collaboration for so long. However, it was mostly just Zhang Liang tagged on what Mr. Kira had already had overseas. Gradually, their customers accepted their product well. Because of that, the two of them agreed to create a branch in this city and also in Mr. Kira's city.

Zhang Xue's eyes widened. He looked at Zhang Liang in disbelief. "If you have already agreed to open up your own store, it means that you have already gained the proper footing in the international world?"

Zhang Liang shook his head, amused by his twin older brother's lack of knowledge. "This is still the early stage, Xue. I'll still need a lot of things to work on before I can possibly create another store on my own. For that, I'll slowly introduce the brand from our family."

It wouldn't be easy to gain foothold in the business world. Trends often change overtime, but there were some brands that would always stick to one's head when they talked about something. This was what Zhang Liang aimed for.

At least for now, he wanted to introduce his brand.

Feng Mian was more clueless about the business world, but she knew that it must be a good thing based on their expressions. After all, Zhang Liang had told her that he wanted her time for one year precisely because he was confident that he would start to make his name in just one year.

Now, eight months have already passed and Zhang Liang has already started to show the result of his hard work.

Zhang Xue tilted his head. "It's complicated."

"You just learn this type slower, Xue. Anyway, I have already added the budget for the research. It seems that you need to stock more for the next time."

"More amount….?"

Zhang Xue's brain blanked for a moment before he realized that his younger twin brother must have talked about the stock of chocolate in the lab. He had already filled a storehouse filled with chocolate not long ago when he heard that his brother wanted to make the sweet on his own.

There should be a ton of chocolate inside that storeroom. Now Zhang Liang said that it was not enough?

"Liang, how much did you use?"

Zhang Liang blinked his eyes innocently. "I just borrowed a few hundred kilos."

Zhang Xue nearly vomited blood when he heard what Zhang Liang said. Didn't he just use the laboratory for a week's time? How come he managed to use up so much resources just like that? Come on, the price for the chocolate was not that cheap!

"You…don't treat money like dirt!"

"I think that sentence should be directed at you. Who else would have poured out all their money just to hire a very 'talented' soldier.'"

Zhang Xue's face reddened. Back then, he used up a lot of money to hire the soldier to protect him and Lu Di La. Even though it was a good use of the money, he spent too much. Zhang Liang could easily earn more talented soldiers with the same amount of money.

Even Lu Di La scolded him so badly after that incident.

Lu Di La patted Zhang Xue's back. "Liang started to mass produce the sweet once he got the right composition. He ended up using the chocolate you have stored there."

"You should have used the one in the factory!"

"Too lazy. Now, you should leave, Xue."

"Now you're kicking me out?"

"Yes."

In the next minute, Zhang Xue was kicked out of the house while Lu Di La walked out gracefully.