Summer #52

Don't Turn from Summer (莫负寒夏) by Ding Mo (丁墨)

Chapter 52

The winter in Beijing is much colder than in Lin City, the snow half-a-foot deep. At dusk, the sky is dark as in a deep cave. Bracing against the wind, Mu Hanxia goes down the stairs, waving good-bye to a few colleagues, and walks toward Lin Mochen’s home.

In the apparel business, she needs to come often for monitoring and communication as a representative of Lin Mochen. This time she listens to him and stays temporarily at his home. But of course, she hasn’t gone to sleep in his master bedroom. Instead, she takes the guest bedroom.

This gives her a strange feeling. The spacious and empty rooms, with apparent simplicity and hardness, are also full of the traces he has left. The row of shirts in the closet, the shaver and man’s perfume in the bathroom, and a thin blanket of light gray color on the couch―does he wrap it on himself when he feels cold while at home alone?

Sometimes, she is a little lost in thoughts, imagining living together in this house when both of them return to Beijing, just like he said. Seeing each other all day and every day like that. That must be a very intimate relationship.

Being with him, living with him, intimate beyond word. Just thinking about it makes her dreaming and longing.

She sits in his dark-colored leather couch with the blanket wrapped around her, and holds the fast food she just bought downstairs, eating and smiling.

Honestly, the relation between Lin Mochen and her can’t be considered very warm and thick. The night he declared his love to her, she did feel him truly passionate and irresistible. But in work and life, he is still the cool and sensible one. If the work calls for it, he will still send her to Beijing for the business. He won’t be over-emotional and won’t find it hard to be left without her. His passion toward her mostly shows in late nights, when there are only the two of them and when she sees his assertive tenderness and his suppressed desire as a man.

This affection between them is really light, as if there’s no way to fully let it out, because of their more frequent separation than being together, and because of him being methodical and restrained. But then Mu Hanxia thinks about herself. Isn’t she the same kind of person? They are already business partners with excellent mutual understanding. Even when they can’t help but fall in lover later on, they still share the same understanding and sensibleness.

She guesses that maybe their love is not very deep and sturdy yet. He knows that their relationship has been disturbed by many things. But like Lin Mochen, she also believes that this situation is just temporary. If they hang in there and get over this period of time, when the business becomes stable, their relationship will enjoy a very very good advancement.

Besides, who can say that their feelings toward each other are not silently growing in a winter night like this?

Thinking about him, and here he is. Here rings the call from Lin Mochen.

Mu Hanxia stands up and walks to the window, gazing out at swirling snow in the vast city.

“Hi,” She smiles before saying anything, “What’s up?”

His voice seems to be tinted with the damp and cold air of Lin City, “Hmm. We’ve got the Lot B from Cao Dasheng.”

Mu Hanxia is silent for a few seconds and then smiles, her eyebrows curved up.

“Congratulations.”

“When are you coming back?”

“Need a couple more days. I’ll try my best to be faster.”

“OK.” His voice is slow and lazy. Mu Hanxia can almost see him sitting in the couch in his room, gazing out into the dark night outside the window.

“This lot is even larger than Lot A. There’s a spot in the northwest that has the best view.” He says, “I plan to keep it and build a single house there.”

Mu Hanxia: “OH? Okay.”

He is silent for a moment and then says, “We live there together in the future?”

Mu Hanxia feels as if her heart has been flooded by sudden surges of warmth. She never cries easily, but right now at these calm words of his, her eyes suddenly turn red. Maybe it’s because of the frustration due to separation, maybe the loneliness in such a winter night, or maybe it’s the implication of home in this promise of his.

He and she, the two of them, are both longing for a place called home?

She replies in a low voice, “Let me think about it first.”

Lin Mochen chuckles slightly, in a confident way.

Mu Hanxia can’t help but smile too.

“Come back early.”

“Mhm. Mochen...I miss you.”

The 26-year-old Lin Mochen, sitting in the skyscraper of this southwest metropolitan city, the tie still unremoved from his collar, looks up out the window at the drizzling rain and the misty night, smiling all along.

“I also miss you a lot.”

--------

The next day during work time, Mu Hanxia receives another call from Lao Fang.

He brings her good news, “Xiao Mu, they reviewed your application and said there’s no problem. But they will need a written exam and a video interview. It’s a short call and they want to do it tomorrow. What do you think?”

Mu Hanxia is both nervous and excited and certainly says Okay. Since Lao Fang told her about it the other time, she has tried to find time going over English and some courses whenever possible. When she’s in Beijing, she has also spent a lot of time on it.

After reminding her of some more precautions, Lao Fang hangs up.

Mu Hanxia sits quietly for a long time. The first thing she thinks about is not whether she can make it or not. Rather, she thinks that since there’s already progress, it’s time to tell Lin Mochen. Remembering the words he said last night, she feels even sweeter, so sweet that it spreads into her heart and lungs.

What if...he can’t let her leave the business, or doesn’t want her to leave him and go abroad? It’s not that she hasn’t thought about it. But when actually facing the situation, she really doesn’t know how to make up her mind.

She has always been a decisive person and at the moment a decision comes to her mind―follow her own heart.

Her heart, which side is her heart with?

The studies are important. How she wishes for a complete overturn of her own life

But, can she bear to leave him?

She doesn’t want to leave him, doesn’t want to leave this man.

But then, on another thought, how can the situation become really bad? So calm and sensible as he is, maybe he would support her more than she does herself about going abroad? Besides, he’s so rich now, it’s even possible that they will visit each other every month after she goes. After all, it’s not something he can’t afford.

Mu Hanxia decides, after she gets home from work this evening, she will call him.

--------

Lin Mochen’s cellphone goes off at past ten in the night.

He’s already back in the hotel, reading a magazine while relaxing in the couch. The development of Lot B has begun. The Lot A under collaboration with Rong Yue has also entered the phase of main building construction. The major work is done and he is actually less busy than earlier.

Smiling slightly at the sound of the ring tone, he grabs the phone and glances at the screen. But he doesn’t connect it immediately.

The call is not from her, but from Sun Zhi.

Sun Zhi seldom calls him the boss at this time of day.

Unless it’s extremely urgent.

Outside the window, the night is already deep. Stars are hidden from sight, and the chilly wind carries traces of snow. Holding the phone in his hand, Lin Mochen stares at it for a few seconds, before he put the magazine aside and picks it up.

--------

Mu Hanxia has been quite busy today. It’s past eleven when she gets home. But she doesn’t think he has gone to bed. And, she has to tell him the happening today, not wanting to keep it to herself any more.

She has thought it through. Whether he would be willing to let her go or not, whether his reaction would be gentle or strong, it’s OK as far as they are both candid.

As soon as she gets home, she crawls into that blanket of his, settles herself in the couch, and dials his number.

 “Ring...ring...ring...ring...”

The phone keeps ringing but not one picks up.

Mu Hanxia stiffens. Normally, he would have finished his day’s work by this time of day. And he is too energetic to have gone to bed at this time.

Why not pick up the phone?

She thinks about it and dials the number of the land phone in his hotel room.

Still no one picks up.

Maybe something urgent are keeping him busy?

With this thought, Mu Hanxia goes to brush her teeth and take a shower. After changing into her nightgown, she goes to lie down in bed.

It’s almost midnight.

After lying there for a few moments, she suddenly sits up and starts to call him on the cellphone and land phone again. But still no one picks up. A strange feeling comes to her, and she calls Sun Zhi instead. But still, no one picks up.

Mu Hanxia sits stiffly for a long while. She looks up suddenly and catches sight of the vague stars covered up by the clouds. That is the lengthy and silent winter in the north. 

Summer #51

Don't Turn from Summer (莫负寒夏) by Ding Mo (丁墨)

Chapter 51

Neon lights, tasty wines, hearty laughs and pleasant chats.

This is the most expensive clubhouse in the city, and this is the coldest but also most heated night in the winter time.

Lin Mochen and Mu Hanxia sit in the rosewood chairs, his arm behind her. She pours him a hot cup of tea, helping weaken the strength of alcohol a little. From outsiders, there are the same weak smiles on their faces. They seem to have merged into the dazzling lights and enchanting wines, but they also seem to be keeping their distance.

Across the table, Sun Zhi is taking the role of getting Cao Dasheng drunk with the help of a few subordinates. Apparently this is where Cao Dasheng likes the most. His face burning red because of too much drinking, his eyes shining, he keeps gripping Sun Zhi’s hands and tells him, “Chief, Chief Sun, since your money is ready, let’s sign the contract right away. What to wait for? Since we’re having such a delightful conversation, I’m not going to consider other buyers! I’ll do Chief Lin the favor! Chief Lin, right?”

Showing a smile as pleasant as the spring breeze, Lin Mochen picks up the glass and toast to him. Sun Zhi gives Cao DaSheng a heavy slap on the shoulder and says, “Chief Cao, rest assured, the bank has got our money ready and we’ll sign the contract in a day or two. No problem! The day after tomorrow, right on the day after tomorrow, you just wait to count your money. Hahaha!”

Cao Dasheng keeps nodding his head and seems very happy, so happy that he starts to get his hands fumbling restlessly on the female secretary he has brought along.

Mu Hanxia can hardly bear the scene and lowers her head. Lin Mochen whispers to her in a voice only the two of them can hear, “Sorry for contaminating your eyes. The Lady Boss is the same as the Boss, having to fake smiles. Try to bear it just a little longer.” Mu Hanxia can’t help but smiles.

The scheme-filled dinner is finally over. But Cao Dasheng, with his nature exposed, calls loudly for Sun Zhi to arrange “the following activities.”

Mu Hanxia acts as if she hasn’t heard a word, while Lin Mochen already speaks with a smile, “Chief Cao, please excuse me from joining you. My own lady is here and I must take her home.”

Cao Dasheng glances over to Mu Hanxia with a dubious eye but doesn’t insist. He even calls out to Mu Hanxia, “Sister-in-law, you take care. Chief Lin and me are brothers from now on. Anything happens to you in Lin City, just come look for me.”

Mu Hanxia smiles and says “thank you”.

Sun Zhi, followed by a group of people, leave in cars, while Mu Hanxia and Lin Mochen just take a taxi.

In the flowing night light, Lin Mochen is a little tired. Holding her hand in his, he leans back against the seat and closes his eyes. Mu Hanxia gazes at his profile.

Actually she understands why Lin Mochen brought her to the dinner with Cao dasheng. A few days ago, he also took her to see that lot when Cao Dasheng was present. All this is to make Cao Dasheng believe that Feng Chen doesn’t know the truth yet and is eager to get that defective lot from him, and to make him believe that Feng Chen will soon bring money to sign the contract with him. See? The boss has even taken his woman to see the lot and has promised a big house on the lot as their dear new home. How can this not be true?

“Will he fall for it?” she asks in a low voice.

Lin Mochen opens his eyes. There isn’t any laziness in the eyes. Instead they are quiet and deep.

“He will.” He replies, “Simply because of one word: greediness. This kind of people this like a hungry dog, if the interest thrown his way is big enough and attractive enough, he will follow my way.”

Mu Hanxia leans against his shoulder.

“I’m going to Beijing again tomorrow. You be careful with everything.”

Lin Mochen isn’t someone who would act intimately with a woman in public, but now, he takes in the fragrance of her hair, presses against her soft cheek, lowers his head and finds her lips which he starts to kiss.

Mu Hanxia stays very close to him in the dim light, the corner of her eyes catching glimpse of the taxi running forward smoothly and noiselessly in the dark night. There is a sense of distance and solitude, but it still makes her feel boundlessly beautiful.

After a while, his lips leave hers. His eyes are very close to hers, both smiling. Mu Hanxia reaches out to give his chin a light pinch, “Hey, be honest, the night life Sun Zhi took them to, have you ever been there?”

“Ahh...do I look like a guy who has unsatisfied desires and needs to find comfort at those dirty places?”

Mu Hanxia: “Oh, so you don’t have unsatisfied desires. That’s good.”

With a calm face, Lin Mochen reaches out and gives her a hard pinch on her waist. Mu Hanxia cries with a loud oach.

---------

Antony, Lin Mochen’s classmate, has always been a merry young man. Since he came to help Lin Mochen in China, he has a feeling that he has found the new value of his life. Starting an enterprise in the great time of Chinese economic development, is there anything more exciting than this?

And Lin Mochen has made secret plans to find some geological survey agency to conduct a more accurate survey on Cao Dasheng’s two lots. Antony volunteers to take the job. In fact, the sinister Cao Dasheng also lowers Antony’s bottom line, who agrees with Lin Mochen on defeating this evil guy with schemes and plots.

It’s a beautiful sunny morning. The streets are filled with flowing vehicles.

Followed by his assistant, Antony comes out from the survey office. In his hand, are the two sealed reports. They will be able to tell whether there are serious geological problems with the Lot A Cao Dasheng is trying to sell them. And the reports will also tell them the value of the other lot he has.

Antony has to sigh with admiration that Lin Mochen is really a careful and detail-oriented guy. With such a strong witness as that street girl, he still needs this solid evidence.

There are many people at the peak hour, and the two are walking very fast. Some young fellow on a bicycle rides past and accidentally bumps into them. Antony lets out a painful cry, and that young man also falls down hard. But he hurries up and helps them pick up the documents, full of apologies. He leaves in a hurry only after making sure they are both unharmed.

Even with such a small unpleasant incident, Antony’s excitement is not affected. He knocks the dust off the envelopes, calls a taxi with his assistant, and rushes back to the company at the earliest time possible.

The newly arrived reports are now lying on Lin Mochen’s desk. Black ink on white paper, they clearly tell everybody that beneath the surface of Lot A there’s all soft soil which is difficult for foundations to stand on. Although it can still be developed, the difficulty will be very big and the investment has to be greater. Whereas, there’s no problem with Lot B.

After reading the two reports, Lin Mochen nods slightly and says, “proceed according to our original plan.”

--------

The company that Cao Dasheng claims to own is actually about a dozen people he hires working in two residence suites he rents, half of whom are his relatives. His is a typical briefcase company.

But in the eye of his several sidekicks, Cao Dasheng is in a very high spirit lately. On the one hand, Feng Chen, the most famous company in Lin City nowadays, is going to buy a lot from him. But they all know that lot is a useless one with soft soil. A great fortune is about to fall into his pocket in exchange of that rotten land.

On the other hand, the other lot he has is about to have a cooperative party. Cao Dasheng isn’t as rich as Lin Mochen, so he can’t buy a whole real estate company. If he wants to develop Lot B and make money, he has to cooperate with a real estate company with valid credentials. Originally, they have been in contact with several companies and got pretty good terms. But there comes a new company the last few days, which is said to have venture capital and likes the lot and offers very good terms. But they just require them to sign the contract immediately and get the money in place so that the project can start as soon as possible, because they think right now is the best time since the real estate market is just about to revive in China. They even provides Cao Dasheng with a stack of investment analysis reports.

Cao Dasheng doesn’t understand the big trend of real estate market, but he is so temped by such positive opinions of the company. However, the money he needs to develop Lot B has to rely on Lin Mochen. But it so happens that, after having made the appointment to sign the contract and exchange money and the lot one of these days, Lin Mochen told him the last minute that Rong Yue has some things coming up and he has no spare time, being trapped in endless meetings several days in a row. So he’s unable to sign the contract. In short, Feng Chen keeps postponing.

However, Lin Mochen especially gives him a call and tells him very earnestly, “Chief Cao, we will definitely purchase this lot. It’s just that I’m fully occupied by the business with Rong Yue and can’t find time now. I really can’t offend Rong Yue, I truly hope you’d understand. If I don’t want the lot, why would I keep contacting you? To be honest, it’s really hard to find such a good lot as yours in Lin City. Therefore, Chief Cao, please rest assured. There will be no change of the price and terms that we’ve agreed upon. Just give me a few days. As a compensation, I will give you 0.5% more on the price.”

Thus, Cao Dasheng can’t urge him any more. Half a percent, that isn’t a small amount. Besides, Lin Mochen’s business with Rong Yue is really bigger than with his.

But, the company who’s going to work on Lot B with them can’t wait any longer. The two parties have signed the agreement of intent, and are just waiting for the formal signing of the contract. One of the bosses of that company is a foreigner, who is flying abroad very soon. After urging them several times, that company gets impatient and tells Cao Dasheng, “Chief Cao, our CEO Max is flying to England. If we can’t sign before he leaves, then after he comes back, we’re not sure if he will change his mind. After all, there are quite many projects that we can invest in. If you really can’t get money around, maybe we cooperate next time?”

Cao Dasheng says, “Don’t, please don’t. Our luck draws us to each other and that must mean something. After all, we’ve been talking for so long about this lot and the cooperation plan is almost finalized.”

That other one asks, “So can we sign the contract?”

Cao Dasheng clenches his teeth and says, “Yes, I can! But can we postpone the money transfer deadline for two weeks? Because I have a big amount of money that won’t be transferred to me until some time later.”

The other one says it’s fine after reporting to his boss for approval.

So they pick the date and sign the contract, agreeing that in two weeks the money from both parties will be in place for the cooperative development, and no violation is allowed.

However, starting from the day after the signing, Cao Dasheng can no longer get through when he dials Lin Mochen’s phone. It’s the same when he tries to call Sun Zhi.

He doesn’t think much of it for the first few days. But then when more days pass by, he can wait no more. He brings some people to look for Lin Mochen in his company but are driven away by some muscular guards who look more like moving workers.

“Our Chief Lin is super busy. How can you just force in when you haven’t even an appointment?” Even the front desk lady who he tried to talk to during previous visits appears not to recognize him.

Cao Dashen is furious. So he falls back on his old hooligan ways, gathering a bunch of gangsters, trying to stir up somethings. But Lin Mochen is long prepared for it, protected by bodyguards every time he goes out. And so, Cao Dasheng can’t find him or do anything at all.

Soon, it’s almost time for the money transfer deadline of Lot B.

Cao Dasheng calls Sun Zhi again and suddenly gets through. Sun Zhi smiles warmly on the other end, “Chief Cao, what’s the matter?”

Cao Dasheng almost hollers, “Sun Zhi, what do you mean? You said you would sign the contract soon. But now what the hell do you mean? I’ve already, I’ve already...”

Sun Zhi smiles slowly and says, “Cao Dasheng, isn’t it just that you’ve already signed Lot B to another company and now you don’t have money to pay your part? We’re not going to buy such a rotten land as Lot A. You’ve treated us like idiots for so long. Let’s keep the peace and leave it behind, OK?”

He is about to hang up when Cao Dasheng yells really anxiously, “Wait! You don’t want Lot A, what do I do now? Chief Sun, Chief Sun, please talk to Chief Lin again, it’s my fault hiding the situation of Lot A from you, but it’s not totally unable to develop. I’ll give you discount, sell it cheap, really cheap. What do you think? Without the money, Lot B, Lot B...I’ll have to break the contract and my rights will have to be transferred!”

But Sun Zhi just smiles on the other end, “Well, then, why don’t you go ahead and transfer Lot B?” 

Summer #50

Don't Turn from Summer (莫负寒夏) by Ding Mo (丁墨)

Chapter 50

Does someone ever tease his own girlfriend like this? Mu Hanxia: “Mhm, milk is just fine too.” Taking the wine he hands over, she sits down in the couch by the window with his arms around her. The light is serene and the stars sparse. The room is warm and cozy with the heater on. Everything is so cozy.

“You didn’t date someone when you were in high school?” He suddenly asks.

Mu Hanxia gives him a surprised glance and answers, “Of course not.” After pausing a little, she continues, “My mom was badly sick at that time, I could barely copy with daily hospital visits those days. Besides, I never thought about dating in high school. Why would I do such a thing that could ruin my own future?”

Mu Hanxia glances up and catches the faint smiles at the corner of his mouth. She is baffled: “What are you laughing at? What’s laughable about this?”

“Nothing.” Naturally Lin Mochen won’t tell her too much about his thoughts at the moment. But the corners of his eyes and tips of eyebrows are tinted with slight delighted smiles. He puts down the wine glass, pulling her over to his laps, lowers his head and asks, “So...with me, this is your first time?”

Mu Hanxia answers with a “mhm” and says, “What’s wrong with dating for the first time? Am I not doing well? What a nice girlfriend!”

Lin Mochen is amused. Lowering his head, he starts to kiss her.

They kiss for a long time, some emotional turbulence going on quietly―seducing, tempting and coming closer―of which only they themselves know. But they come to a stop with Mu Hanxia successfully defending her last frontier and Lin Mochen wanting even more. Lin Mochen is a noble man. If he can’t get further with implicit or explicit suggestions, he will only gracefully continue to... seduce, instead of forcing her.

He has long taken off his suit jacket. Wearing just the shirt and the suit pants, his one arm leisurely rests on the armrest, with her lying against his chest. She is also very relaxed. Never before has she ever imagined herself being so relaxed in a man’s arms. She rests her head on his shirt against his chest and plays with his other hand.

“When your classmate mistakenly took you as a waitress, why didn’t you explain?” He asks.

Mu Hanxia answers, “Didn’t think there’s any need. Those who care about me won’t change their attitude based on whether my circumstances are good or bad. As to those who don’t care, whether I clarify or not just doesn’t matter. But I just don’t understand one thing―I had little connection with her in high school and never offended her. Why she... doesn’t seem to hope to see me do well?”

Lin Mochen stokes her long hair and replies, “What’s strange about that? You were so outstanding in high school. You were better than her and she naturally would be jealous. Summer, not all bad intentions have rational explanations. Ah, we will see plenty of those mediocre people in our life. They always remain where they are on the road, focusing their eyes on others, and won’t really achieve anything. But we are different. We only need to move forward.”

His words make Mu Hanxia sigh to herself. She reaches out and wraps her arms around his neck: “You said it so well.”

Her hug makes Lin Mochen feel so comfortable that he can’t help lowering his head to kiss her again.

Half of the night, they just idle by, talking, kissing, hugging, and giggling, so close and so tender. The stars outside the window and the clouds in the sky are all reflected in each other’s eyes.

Mu Hanxia also tells him about the unfortunate happenings of her family years ago.

In fact those weren’t very unusual happenings. In this world, poverty and sufferings, difficulties and struggles are happening every day.

But Mu Hanxia and Lin Mochen are born different people. Even though he is from a divorced family, he never had to worry about money and circumstances. He wouldn’t have a time that he could hardly survive. He couldn’t even imagine a time when there’s no food in the family or when a hundred yuan would be an impossible amount to get.

But Mu Hanxia has been like this. She is like most of us, coming from a very common family which is not rich but enjoys the common happiness. However, an accidental strike of some unforeseen event could drag the family down. For example, her mother’s serious illness.

The family became short of money and turned to chaos. Smiles disappeared from their faces. Her father no longer smiled, neither did her mother, and nor the once lucky and proud Mu Hanxia. Father started to run shipping business just to make a little more money for medical expenses. At the time she was in the final year of high school, and had to visit the hospital every day. But she never told anyone her difficulties.

Then, Father had an accident and died with a huge debt.

Mu Hanxia almost fell apart.

......

“My mind wasn’t steadfast enough at the time.” In his arms, she said gently and slowly, “Clearly as I knew I could only change my fate by getting admitted into a college, I knew only after I got admitted, could I find ways to apply for charitable assistance. But I could not stop thinking what I could do even if I got admitted. Who would take care of my mother? Hire somebody? How could I trust them? What if no charity or company would want to assist me even after I got admitted? With only scholarship from the college, it wouldn’t be enough at all. There would be no way out whatsoever. Admitted, not way out. Not admitted, no way out either.”

Holding her hand in his, Lin Mochen’s eyes are like quiet water, flowing silently.

What then?

Then, the day before the College Entrance Exams (CEE), she received the notice of her mother in critical condition one more time. She was sleepless the whole night that night. The second day, when she sat in the exam venue that was filled with nervous atmosphere, she just felt as if the whole world was falling apart. No one could help her. No one understood the heavy burden on the shoulders of this eighteen-year-old girl. In the whole world, it felt like no single other person would face it with you.

Then, it was no surprise that she failed the CEE and couldn’t get into any college. For some time, she was do disappointed and distressed. But she didn’t even have time to complain or to look for other solutions. Instead, she found a job in the supermarket near home, because only this way, could she take care of her mother at home.

Then, three years later, her mother passed away, full of apologies and sorrow. But for Mu Hanxia, who had settled her mind during the three years, there was only love to her mother. She didn’t have the least complaint. She said to her mother, “Mom, leave with peace and rest assured. We both tried our best. If you live in heaven, be happy and be free of illness and suffering. As for me, I will live well. I don’t feel I lost anything. This is just the way of my life. If I lose something, then I’m sure I have gained something as well. I gained the three years we spent together and I have absolutely no regret of that.”

......

“Later I gradually understood,” Mu Hanxia says, “There are many beautiful things in life that can be easily taken away by fate. So I told myself to live the present all the more and always try to enjoy the present.”

She smiles, but with a slightly absently look, and says, “However, if I could choose for a second time, I would calm myself down for the CEE and try to get a good score, instead of being totally beaten by the frustration. It was me myself who didn’t follow the path well.”

Lin Mochen has been listening quietly. But he suddenly grips her hand hard at these words: “What’s so bad about this path? There’s me on this path.”

His voice is low and tender in the deep night. Mu Hanxia is so touched. She looks up at her, murmuring coyly and vaguely, “But my classmates all follow their paths well. Seeing them still makes me somewhat regret about myself. I have always been trying to catch up. But it’s so hard...”

“You don’t need to catch up with them.” He says, “You will have the best in the future.”

“Mhm.” She will get the best, she decides, through her own hard work.

Kissing her, he is also thinking that he will give her the best.

His Cinderella has descended to the mortal world to experience all those hardships before coming to him.

But he just wants to get the best from the world and put them all at her feet.

--------

The next day, Lin Mochen instructs Sun Zhi to keep in-depth contract with Cao Dasheng, showing a determination of acquiring the lot by all means.

Summer #49

Don't Turn from Summer (莫负寒夏) by Ding Mo (丁墨)

Chapter 49

They walk on and go into the the hotel’s grand hall.

It’s around eight or nine o’clock in the evening. The hall is brightly lit and looks splendid. Mu Hanxia goes in to a 24-hour convenience store attached to the hotel to get some feminine products and refuses to be followed by Lin Mochen. So Lin Mochen just waits in the couch by the door.

Carrying a shopping basket in her hand, Mu Hanxia is standing in front of the shelf making her choices when suddenly comes a voice of surprise: “Mu... Hanxia?”

Mu Hanxia turns to look over her shoulder. Lin Mochen, who’s not far from the door also looks up.

It is one of her high school classmates. After a moment’s pause, Mu Hanxia also calls out the other person’s names: “Chen Sijin?”

Chen Sijin is wearing an aqua blue night dress, exposing much of her shoulders and back. She wears a delicate makeup, looking slender and pretty, with her hair combed into a bun. It’s a good-looking woman. Her arm is in the arm of a young man in his formal suit. They appear to be just back from an evening banquet.

Seemingly surprised, Chen Sijin eyes Mu Hanxia and says, “My old class monitor, why are you here? Aren’t you...working in Jiang City?”

He intently surveys Mu Hanxia straight up and down a couple times, which makes Mu Hanxia somewhat uneasy. In fact they weren’t very familiar in high school. Mu Hanxia only remembers that she was a rather introverted girl, good-looking, with average grades. Can’t imagine she turns into such a radiant figure nowadays.

Mu Hanxia answers with a little smile, “I recently came to work in Lin City.”

“Oh.” Chen Sijin nods. Glancing at the simple casual outfit she’s wearing, she seems to understand, “You are ... the waitress in this hotel?”

Mu Hanxia is stunned, but she just smiles without saying yes or no.

But Chen Sijing takes it as a silent admission. The look in her eyes... is somewhat hard to describe. They seem to say “so it is really what she’s doing.” There’s a little pity and a little sense of being superior, very obvious.

So, Mu Hanxia has no desire to say anything else. Just as she is ready to say good-bye, the man beside Chen Sijing suddenly speaks up, “Linda, who’s this beautiful lady?”

Chen Sijin gives him a glance and pouts prettily, “She is my former classmate, Mu Hanxia. Hanxia, this is my boyfriend, Bob. He is the executive manager of Welson Company in the great southwestern region. I’m here to attend the company’s anniversary banquet with him.”

Mu Hanxia smiles, “Nice to meet you.”

She is just about to say goodbye, when Chen Sijin starts emotionally, “Actually Hanxia was also one of the top students in our class. If it’s not that something happened to her family―her father got into an accident and owed a big debt, and her mother was seriously ill so she had to look after her every day―she wouldn’t have tumbled in the College Entrance Exams. Hanxia, we are all old classmates. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask. Those classmates of ours are doing pretty well nowadays. We may not be able to help with big things, but we will do our best with small things. To be honest, don’t blame me for being outspoken, I think you’d better work hard to improve your diploma. Don’t drift around like this, get a stable job, right? Hanxia, good luck!”

Her words seem to be really sincere. Her boyfriend Bob also looks at her with a gentle expression. Mu Hanxia is silent for a moment, musing: “Whenever was I ‘also’ ‘one of the top students?’ I was THE top student of the whole grade. ” But this thought only makes her sigh for herself. At last, she just nods with a smile, “Thank you.”

“Mhm.” Chen Sijin smiles, “We will wander around a little more and won’t hold you up any longer.” 

“OK.”

Chen Sijin leans against Bob’s shoulder, looking at Mu Hanxia no more, and says in a sweet voice, “Go buy a lipstick for me. You can find it at the counter. Hurry!”

“Summer, these are?” Interrupts a clear but low voice.

The three of them all come to a pause.

Lin Mochen stands behind Chen Sijing and Bob, the black overcoat in his arm, the amber-colored sleeve button glimmering in the light. He gives just one glance at those two and walks straight to the side of Mu Hanxia. Winding his arm around her waist, he says in a low voice, “I’ve been waiting so long. Turns out you run into former classmates here?”

The overly gentle tone makes Mu Hanxia gives him a couple extra glances before she makes the introduction: “My high school classmate Chen Sijin, and her boyfriend Bob. Sijin, this is Lin Mochen, my...”

“Boyfriend.” Lin Mochen smiles slightly and extends his hand to Bob, “Nice to meet you.”

Bob stiffens a little. “Lin Mochen? Are you not... the Feng Chen CEO Lin Mochen?”

Lin Mochen glances at him and then glances at that not-so-agreeable girlfriend of his. Hah, this guy knows the right clue to pick up.

His tacit acknowledgement makes Bob excited. He grasps his hand and shakes it nonstop: “So nice to meet you. Really, really nice to meet you. I’ve heard of you for a long time. What a pleasant surprise to see you here. What a pleasure. Chief Lin is such a celebrity in the great southwestern region recently. My CEO even said that you’ve changed the development mode of a whole industry. He wants so much to get to know you as well...”

“Thanks for the compliment. But it’s your Chief Deng who’s the best of the industry.” Lin Mochen says with an even tone.

The two men chat on, mentioning Mu Hanxia as Feng Chen’s marketing manager in between their exchanges, which makes Bob look at her with new attitude and even shake hands with her again. Whereas Chen Sijin is dumbfounded by the news. She moves her lips a little but can’t utter a single word. All she can do is watch them with forced smiles.

But when she peers at Mu Hanxia again, she realizes that she’s actually different from a supermarket sale assistant who she heard Mu Hanxia was. Although she’s wearing a casual outfit, the textile and workmanship are both quite good, not the kind that a store assistant can afford. Her face is light-colored and fresh-looking, at least well cared for recently, having no sign of being exposed much in the sun or wind. What’s most important, she actually has such a boyfriend, tall and handsome and holding a position even higher than Bob. His financial strength must be even greater. He is better than Bob in every way, and Mu Hanxia herself has actually got to a middle-level manager position.

She has actually turned her own life over.

For a long moment, Chen Sijin doesn’t know how to feel.

Of course, Mu Hanxia has noticed the somewhat awkward expression of her old classmate. In fact, when Chen Sijin deliberately showed off herself at the beginning, Mu Hanxia didn’t think about fighting back and show off herself. But Lin Mochen just pops in all by himself. One has to know that most outstanding young men will lose much of their glamour when put in front of Lin Mochen. No wonder Chen Sijin is not happy now.

At last, Bob has Lin Mochen’s name card in his hand and sees them out the small convenience store with great courtesy, holding Chen Sijin with him...

Mu Hanxia and Lin Mochen take the elevator upstairs. He says in a low voice, “Drop by my room for a moment?”

Mu Hanxia: “OK.”

His room is a suite, much larger than Mu Hanxia’s room. After coming into the room, he opens the refrigerator, taking out a bottle of red wine and two glass cups.

But Mu Hanxia doesn’t have the refined habit of drinking wine anytime. She asks, “Got juice?”

Lin Mochen chuckles and replies, “No, I don't. Next time I’ll prepare kid’s milk.”