Summer #32

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

Chapter 32

It’s a brightly sunny day in the winter. Both Lin Mochen and Mu Hanxia are sitting in the conference room, listening to the reports from the real estate sub-company.

On the wall, is the map that Lin Mochen encircled Mu Hanxia with on the other night. Mu Hanxia still feels rather bashful at the sight of the map.

“There are five lots that will become available in the next quarter, but we think that only three of them are valuable to Feng Chen.” The general manager Sun Zhi says, “Lot A is in downtown area. The location is the best and the price is the highest. But this lot is not easy to get, as the land surrounding it has mostly been obtained by Rong Yue. It isn’t hard to imagine that Rong Yue is going to make a whole development plan and is waiting for this lot. Besides, this lot isn’t too big. If we are going to develop it alone, the profit will be relatively limited. Not to mention that Rong Yue is determined to get it. And they have a good relationship with the government. To bid for this lot alone, I think it will be extremely difficult. So I don’t really recommend.”

People are all listening quietly. Mu Hanxia also gets the idea. To put it simply, Lot A is well-located, expensive, and small in size. It also has a strong competitor and therefore is not suitable for Feng Chen, a new comer in the business.

Sun Zhi continues, “Lot B and Lot C are both at the near downtown area. Their locations are similar, and we think they have the most potentials for development. Lot B is a little bigger and for Feng Chen the funds may be a problem. Lot C is the best either with its size, location or the cost budget. Besides, there’s a small lake near Lot C, which has a very good view. In one word, such a lot is the first choice for real estate development. It’s just unknown what Rong Yue thinks of these two lots. But they may not be interested in these separate moderate-sized lots. They usually do bigger projects.”

Mu Hanxia’s eyes brighten at the words. That means Lot C is the best target for a new comer such as Feng Chen.

“Could you put the three lots in order?” Mu Hanxia asks.

Sun Zhi answers very decisively, “C is greater than B, and B greater than A. For us Feng Chen, they are respectively top choice, middle choice, and bottom choice.”

Mu Hanxia turns to look at Lin Mochen, but he remains silent, obviously lost in thoughts.

After the meeting, Mu Hanxia lingers in the open office area for a while, before she can’t help but knock on the door and gets into Lin Mochen’s office.

But he’s on the phone, speaking fluent English with a faint smile at the corner of his month.

Mu Hanxia can only catch a few random words, such as “a company”, ”the best designer”, ”join us occasionally”, ”bid for a lot”, and son on. She listens quietly.

After he hangs up, their eyes meet.

Mu Hanxia: “Who’s it?”

Lin Mochen replies with a chuckle, ”A friend in America. His name is Antony and he’s an architect. I asked him to come pay me a visit and take the title as chief designer for the company.”

Mu Hanxia instantly sees the point. Feng Chen is a new company and a small one, which gives a impression that it’s much weaker than Rong Yue. But Lin Mochen graduated from a renowned university overseas. Adding the weight of a foreign designer, it will certainly make a very different impression.

She mutters, “Isn’t that the paper company trick...” Lin Mochen hears her clearly and replies with a sudden deep voice, “What are you saying?”

“Nothing.” Mu Hanxia says quickly.

They stare at each other for a moment. Once again, Mu Hanxia quickly feels unable to withstand his look. These days, it’s fine when they talk about business. But when they are together alone like now, his eyes seem to become somewhat pressing and it makes Mu Hanxia’s stomach full of butterflies.

Lin Mochen checks his watch and says, “Go have lunch. Let’s talk about the real estates while eating. I made a reservation at your much-liked... ” Before he can finish, the cellphone rings.

He glances at it and picks up with a weak smile, “Hello, Serena.”

If Cheng Weiwei makes Mu Hanxia a little uncomfortable, Mu Hanxia doesn’t really mind her. But Xue Ning is someone she really minds. As even in his subconscious, she has to admit that she herself is no match to Xue Ning in many ways. This kind of helplessness at knowing that you can never catch up with her really hurts one’s self-esteem. Everybody will think Xue Ning is a much better match to Lin Mochen. Although he has never said so, doesn’t he think so in his mind?

“Thanks for introducing me to the deputy mayor Mr. Yin.” Lin Mochen is talking on the phone with a smile.

“I will be outside.” Mu Hanxia whispers and gets up to leave. Lin Mochen: “Serena, hold on for one second.” Then he looks up at her, “Summer, why leave in such a hurry? Haven’t you agreed to have lunch with me? I’ve made a reservation at your much-liked Qing Yue Xuan restaurant.” Before she can reply, he returns to speak to the one on the phone, “Sorry, please continue.”

Mu Hanxia stares at him quite dumbfounded. Then her eyes rest on the phone by his ear. When he talked to her just now, he didn’t cover the phone, which means―Xue Ning could hear it very clearly.

Mu Hanxia suddenly has a complicated feeling. The next moment he has finished his call. He stands up, picks up the coat, and walks over to her. He gives her a glance and says, “Let’s go.”

Mu Hanxia doesn’t move. But she put up a smile on her face, “Jason, the way you said it may cause Serena to misunderstand our relationship. Don’t you think that’s inappropriate?”

“I’ve never started with her. Whether she misunderstands or not, what does it has to do with me?” he says.

Their gazes meet. Mu Hanxia can’t find any words to say, so she just turns and walk toward the door. He walks leisurely by her side and suddenly speaks, “Should I give Cheng Weiwei a call as well?”

Mu Hanxia is stunned. It is as if the mountain that has been silent for ages suddenly is going to split apart. And he is the one who tears it open and forces her to face the reality. She says, “You don’t need to be like this.”

Lin Mochen replies, “I must be like this.”

Neither of them speaks any more, and the next minute they already come out of the office and into the open area, where there are still seven or eight employees in there seats. Lin Mochen is still thinking about how to close in on this woman at lunch, when Mu Hanxia speaks up smilingly, “Chief Lin says everybody has worked hard and he’s going to treat us all at Qing Yue Xuan.”

Qing Yue Xuan is both expensive and delicious, so the colleagues all cheer at the news, “Thank you, Chief Lin!””Thanks, Jason!” Mu Hanxia grins. She walks back to her seat and sits down. Someone asks, “Manager Mu, don’t you go with us?” Mu Hanxia replies without even lifting her head, “I still have something to do. You guys go. Remember to eat my portion for me.”

Lin Mochen is still where he was, with his hands in the pant pockets and the usual coolness on his face. He is quiet for a moment and leaves with a little chuckle.

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Mu Hanxia isn’t a saint, she can’t stay calm before the affection shown by Lin Mochen, not to mention that he has always been a hidden but addictive part in her heart. Her heart is in a tangle.

So she hides into the Qing Yu Coffee House again. Hidden in here is much better than seeing Lin Mochen all the time at the company.

The wind stops in the afternoon, and the sun is warm and quiet. Mu Hanxia sits in a corner of the coffee house, writing the business plan of Feng Chen. Although Lin Mochen thinks lightly of her and doesn’t believe she could find adventure capital, She still wants to give it a try.