Zhang Jiren took the folder and took a quick scan of the report Tang Beixuan handed to him. He had to admit that the man had a lot of progress and improvement over the weeks since he started working with his team. He was starting to learn more and had been contributing ideas to their newest project.

  "This is good," he admitted before taking his pen, encircling one part of Tang Beixuan's report. "Except for this." He tapped his pen on the paper and looked at Tang Beixuan. "I don't suggest the replacements for this. We don't need to cut that much. As much as we want to lessen the cost, we can't sacrifice the quality. This material is prone to overheating, so it's better for us to be safe than be sorry later."

  "I see." Tang Beixuan agreed with him. "I understand." He made a mental note to compare the materials being listed for this project for future references.

  Zhang Jiren leaned on his seat and shut his eyes. He wasn't feeling well since the weekend, but he couldn't slow down his pace at work at this critical time.

  "Are you okay? You don't look good at all." Tang Beixuan furrowed his brows. This was the first time he had seen his cousin looking like this. "Did Zhang Liang do something?"

  "Yes, he did. He proposed a marriage between him and Li Meili. Why did you think I intervened?" Zhang Jiren said in return.

  Tang Beixuan's posture stiffened at once, understanding what his cousin was talking about. So Li Meili's parents still persisted in setting her up for a marriage arrangement? But there's something he couldn't understand.

  "But why?" He questioned Zhang Jiren, who raised a slender eyebrow at him in return.

  "What do you mean why?"

  "You, why did you help me and Meili? Won't the Zhang family gain more advantage if Zhang Liang managed to convince the Li family to marry her off to your brother?"

  Zhang Jiren narrowed his eyes at that. Of course he was aware of that. Wasn't that why he blocked Zhang Liang's way so he wouldn't be able to marry Li Meili? How can he allow the Zhang family to gain more through using the Li family?

  Not only was Li Meili his twin sister's best friend, but he owed the woman big time for looking after Tang Moyu when he couldn't. This was the least he could do for her sake, not allowing any of the Zhangs to ruin her happiness with Tang Beixuan.

  "You don't want me to meddle in your affairs?" However, he couldn't allow Tang Beixuan to know his real reasons at the moment. Now that they were starting to get along, he didn't want to create a conflict with Tang Beixuan, in fear that it would give his twin sister more reasons to hate him.

  "So you did it for me?" But it seemed like Tang Beixuan wasn't willing to let him off the hook yet. If he didn't stop Zhang Liang now, his twin sister would go head to head against the Zhang family soon and that was what Zhang Jiren was trying to avoid.

  Zhang Jiren only shrugged. He didn't care what Tang Beixuan thought of it as long as he could keep Zhang Liang at bay. He also didn't think his sister would approve of Zhang Liang becoming her best friend's husband. Knowing her personality, Tang Moyu would take it against the Zhang family for touching her bottom line.

  "But won't Zhang Liang turn this against you? I know the two of you don't get along, but I don't want to be the reason he starts scheming against you."

  "You worry too much. Even if it isn't you, he will find a way to nitpick on me. Don't take it to heart. This is an issue between me and Zhang Liang. You don't have to bother yourself with it."

  Tang Beixuan couldn't believe that his cousin was willing to help him to this extent. He only mentioned Li Meili due to a slip of his tongue and yet Zhang Jiren took the initiative to help him by stopping Zhang Liang from pursuing his woman.

  "But…" He wanted to contest that he didn't want to trouble him with this. As much as he was grateful for Zhang Jiren's help, he didn't want to be in debt to him.

  "I'm fine." Zhang Jiren rose to his feet. "Didn't you say that you need to leave early today?" He said, trying to change the topic between them.

  "Yes. I'm meeting with my sisters for dinner." Tang Beixuan grinned. Now that his Moyu Jie's schedule seemed favorable, how can he not take this opportunity to spend time with his sisters? This was something they couldn't freely do when they were still bound to the Tang family.

  "Wanna join us? I don't think my sisters would mind if I bring a plus one." He invited Zhang Jiren. His Wan Jie liked this cousin from the Zhangs, in fact, Tang Beixuan agreed now that Zhang Jiren seemed normal compared to the other Zhang family members.

  Zhang Jiren shook his head and ran his fingers through his mane. As much as he would love to join them and see his twin sister, he couldn't face her like this, so he would have to brush off Tang Beixuan's invitation. This was one of the rare occasions where he wasn't feeling well, but he had always been alone and he was already used to it.

  "No, you can go without me. I don't want Cousin Moyu to be wary of me. This should be an enjoyable night between you and your sisters, so don't worry about me. We can set another time for dinner."

  "Alright. Your loss, not mine." Tang Beixuan hummed and left Zhang Jiren alone. Since he was done with his work today, he didn't need to stay here any longer.

  If Zhang Jiren knew what would happen next, he would have stopped Tang Beixuan from leaving……