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1 Year of Beginning

“Give me one year of your life and I’ll give you the money you need.” Feng Mian is a normal and down to earth modern woman. She just wanted an ordinary life, an ordinary job and find an ordinary man to marry in the future. (Yes, all should be ordinary). But when family matters took a turn for the worst, she faced a huge dilemma called shortage of money. Suddenly, a contract came due to a series of coincidences. Zhang Liang was fed up with his father's (yes, father not mother) matchmaking schemes for him. He wanted to have a peaceful year because this was his chance to expand his business overseas, yet his father didn’t seem to get the message. When an ordinary fresh graduate employee in his company accidentally saw a scene, he decided to take the chance. “Since she has a normal background with nothing remarkable, nothing should go wrong, right?” Browsing through the contract, Feng Mian gritted her teeth. 'Fine. It was just one year of my life anyway. I wouldn't lose a lot.' But was it true? Or would that one year turn out to be a ride full of ups and down for both of them? ... Story set in modern era in fictional country. This story is purely fiction, any similarities with real life's event is purely coincidence. Special thanks for CatarinaM2811 for making the cover Word count: 900-1800 words/chapter Discord: https://discord.gg/pBy2wGB ... Thorough the Years' Series: 1. 1 Year of Beginning [complete] 2. 2 Years of Restarting [complete] 3. -Work in Progress- 4. -Work in Progress- 5. -Work in Progress- 6. -Work in Progress- 7. -Work in Progress- The series are all STANDALONE, meaning you don't have to read the other series in order to be able to follow this story. You can just read one and you still didn't lose anything. Each of the series have different main leads but they all happen in the same universe (and similar timeline, some are overlapping but mostly not) ... Other novels: -Flowers Bloom from Battlefield [complete] - Under the Veil of Night [complete] - 7 Path of the Lilies [on long hiatus] - Villain Lady [complete] - Science and Fantasy [complete] - Forgotten Legend of the Bloodied Flower [on going] - The Quiet Empress [on going] ... Note for those who read Sorahana's other novels: This novel took a different approach compared to my other novels because it focused heavily on romance and also in main lead's perspective. follow me on IG: @sora100518

Sorahana · Urban
Not enough ratings
198 Chs

New Year Dinner (2)

"That's enough brats," Zhang Yi stopped them from talking much more. He pointed to the food that the servants had placed on the table. "Time to dig in."

"Right."

The two women hurriedly picked their seat. Zhang Ai had changed her dress into a beautiful short sleeve red dress. There was embroidery at the hem of her dress made with golden thread, which looked very suitable for her.

Zhang Xue looked in Zhang Ai's direction for a few seconds. "I didn't expect you to pick that dress considering how you love shorter dress."

"Da Jie picks it for me."

"Oh?"

Lu Di La arched her eyebrows. "We're eating in the garden. If you wear short skirt, you might fall sick."

Feng Mian nodded in agreement. She was wearing a long sleeve dark red dress. There were a lot of options of dresses that Zhang Liang prepared for her. Somehow, he managed to fill up the dressing room with so many dress. In the end, she picked this one because the dark red color contrasted with her skin and highlighted her features.

Though, she didn't really wear any makeup nor anything like that, so she was still quite plain.

All of them sit in order of the three siblings' age. The older one, Zhang Xue would be right beside Zhang Yi followed by Lu Di La. Afterwards, it was Zhang Liang with Feng Mian by her side and lastly Zhang Ai.

After praying to give thanks for the food, they waited for Zhang Yi to start. Once he began to eat, the rest also dig in. Lu Di La and Feng Mian cooked noodles, sweet rice balls, spring rolls, and dumplings. They made enough for the six of them to eat together.

"You're still a good chef as ever," Zhang Xue praised when he was finished. He looked at Lu Di La. "You should cook more often."

Lu Di La arched her eyebrows. "And who'll take care of the company if I'm also busy cooking at home?"

"Right…."

Zhang Xue recalled that their fridge was already full with cakes and some other types of sweet that he made. Lu Di La often gave them to the managers because it would be impossible for the two of them to eat so many cakes unless they wanted to get diabetes.

Feng Mian put down her chopstick. She didn't expect that the difference in ingredients quality would affect the taste of the dishes this much.

"We should eat together again soon," Zhang Ai suggested excitedly.

"You just want to eat, right?" Lu Di La shook her head. If only she was not sitting so far away from Zhang Ai, she would have already flicked the little lass's forehead again.

Zhang Ai grinned. "Both Da Jie and Er Jie are good chefs. I want to eat more of your cooking."

"Come and visit, then."

"Can't." Zhang Ai furrowed her brows. "I'll be participating in the next drama selection as the second female lead. If I get selected, I'm going to be very busy."

Feng Mian's eyes widened. She thought that the Zhang Family disliked entertainment, so they never meddled in that business. But it seemed that their little sister would begin her career there?

Zhang Liang looked at his father. "You have finally given in, Father?"

Zhang Yi shrugged. "Since this brat is very demanding, I don't see any reason why I should keep on rejecting her request."

"I'm not demanding!"

"Yes, you are."

Zhang Ai pursed her lips. "I want to be an actress, so I'll work hard. I didn't try this just because of a spur in curiosity, Daddy."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Daddy!"

Feng Mian smiled bitterly. It was clear that Zhang Yi was displeased by Zhang Ai's decision to enter the entertainment industry. In his opinion, she should just follow his arrangement and manage the business. Unfortunately, the little lass didn't want to listen as she had her own opinion.

Zhang Xue sighed. "Father, just let Xiao Ai try. It won't hurt to let her try entering the entertainment industry."

"See, Daddy! Even Xue Ge agrees."

Zhang Yi snorted. He was sure that Zhang Xue would be the one hiring more guards to watch over Zhang Ai in her company. Even though his eldest son looked the most amiable here, he knew that outside, the twins were famous because of their coldness and capability. They were also very protective for each other and would not let any harm fell on their family members.

Lu Di La leaned closer to Zhang Xue. She whispered, "This time, please tell me when you start hiring so many guards before I find that dent in the bank, ok?"

"Yes, Sweetheart, I will."

Zhang Xue recalled the time when there was an incident, and he used so much money just to hire guards. Lu Di La was angry when she found out that he squandered so much. Fortunately, everything ended well afterwards.

Zhang Liang nodded. "Just leave it to me."

"You're not any better."

Zhang Liang arched his eyebrows. "At the very least, I know how to manage it so that we won't get bankrupt afterwards."

"That's…"

"Just admit that you're bad at management economy, Xue."

Zhang Xue rolled his eyes. He felt that his wife purposely used this chance to hit him because she couldn't do it at other times.

Feng Mian blinked her eyes, finding herself at loss in their conversation. "Zhang Ai, do you know what your brothers are talking about?"

"Not sure." Zhang Ai shrugged. "But I can see that Da Jie is angry at Xue Ge."

"Oh, why?"

"Probably because he can't give Da Jie children?"

Feng Mian: "…" Zhang Liang, Xue Ge, what did you teach your little sister?

Zhang Xue, who had just calmed down, nearly slipped onto the table. He looked at his sister in disbelief. "Xiao Ai!"

"What?"

"Watch your mouth!"

"Fine, then probably because Xue Ge is bad at managing the company so that Da Jie had to be the one who managed it," Zhang Ai corrected her words. However, it sounded a bit harder to believe considering the two of them had been married for quite some time.

Zhang Xue hid his face with his palm. His cute sister is so savage today.

Zhang Liang patted his brother's back. "She's just a bit blunt because of the alcohol."

"Wait, Xiao Ai, you drink alcohol?"

"I'm already 23, why can't I drink?"

"That's…."

The legal age to drink was different from each country and here, they could drink from 20 to 22 years of age. Sometimes, it depended more on their family too.

Zhang Xue felt that it would be useless to talk with Zhang Ai anymore. The little lass was also still busy stuffing herself with candies. He turned his head to look at Zhang Liang.

"Let's just talk about your progress in marriage."

"I have nothing to report to you."

"Don't be so cold. Even if you don't have the ceremony, do you already have your first kiss?"

*cough*