Summer #33

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

Chapter 33

Today is a workday and there aren’t many people in the coffee house. She has drunk up her coffee, so she gets up to buy another cup at the bar counter. She passes a table where there sits an elderly man in his fifties. She has sharp observations so she first notices that the man is using a HP laptop and then he is working on a PPT document but is struggling at drawing a box with the mouse.

Mu Hanxia stops and offers, “Uncle[1], do you need me help you draw it?”

[1: In case some readers don’t know―In China, a respectful and friendly way to address someone who isn’t our relative but is around our parent’s age is to call a male ‘uncle’ and female ‘aunt’, even if it’s a stranger. I can simply translate it into ‘sir’, but... You will see the reason in the next few lines.]

The elderly man looks up at her. That’s a very thin but radiant face, with eyes bright and deep. He wears an old-fashioned Chinese tunic suit, with only a layer of shirt underneath. His shape is thin. As if he’s surprised that there would be someone who calls him uncle, the man is silent for a few second before he smiles, “Ok, help me please. Thank you.”

Mu Hanxia easily draws a few boxes for him and shows him how to use the hot keys. Although the man is old, he is intelligent and learns attentively and masters the skill quickly.

Actually, Mu Hanxia noticed him before. In the last few days there weren’t many people in the coffee house, but he and she were both here most of the time. Besides an elderly person like him sticks out quite obviously in such an entrepreneur’s coffee house. Mu Hanxia asked the waiter at the bar, “Who’s that uncle?” The waiter whispered to her, “Might be a retired professor from a university. The last name is Fang, you can call him Lao Fang [Note: It means Elderly Fang]. He has some research achievement and wants to find investment. At such an old age, it looks kind of pitiable.” Mu Hanxia nods understandingly. So when she sees him struggling with PPT, she can’t help but offer to help.

After helping him Mu Hanxia returns to her own seat without much thinking and goes back to her own plan writing. She’s very focused with her eyes glued on the screen for a long time. Then suddenly a voice comes from behind her, “There’s a grammatical mistake in this sentence.”

Mu Hanxia pauses and turns to look over her shoulder. There is Lao Fang, who has come to stand behind her and look at the PPT she’s been working on. Following his gaze, Mu Hanxia looks back at the screen and blushes. Although she learned English well in high school, it was just a high school level. The business plans in the coffee house are all written in both Chinese and English, she has to constantly consult the dictionary as she tries to proceed.

“Will bring great influence ‘to’ the industry, not ‘in’ the industry.” Says Lao Fang, whose fluent and native-sounding English makes Mu Hanxia envy.

“Oh, thanks.” Mu Hanxia corrects it immediately. “I must have got dizzy at the writing.”

Lao Fang’s eyes are still on her screen. After looking for a moment, he’s somewhat surprised, “You analysis is deep and the view rather sharp. Very good.”

Mu Hanxia smiles and says without showing either modesty or awkwardness, “Thanks for your praise.”

Lao Fang smiles and asks, “You look quite young. About 22 or 23? Which college did you graduate from?”

Mu Hanxia replies, “I have never been to college.”

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Two days have passed and it’s weekend. Mu Hanxia gets up early and goes to a park near the Qing Yu Square. There are some people doing morning exercises. She jogs for a round but hasn’t seen any one familiar, which makes her a little disappointed.

After she jogs for a few rounds and goes to rest by the pond, she sees a slim figure playing Tai Chi in the silk Tai Chi outfit near the pond. Who else is it but Lao Fang?

Mu Hanxia smiles and walks over. She wants to say hi but he seems engrossed with his eyes closed. He looks gentle but silent, graceful but serious, making one unable to disturb. After standing and watching for a while, Mu Hanxia starts to imitate him playing Tai Chi. 

Upon finishing the whole routine, Lao Fang opens his eyes to see there’s a girl nearby, trying to follow his moves. Although the moves are kind of clumsy, they actually show some Tai Chi spirit. He doesn’t show surprise and just stands straight up with a finishing stance. “Why are you here?” He asks.

Mu Hanxia replies, “Here to exercise. Having been in the coffee house all the time recently, didn’t know there’s such a nice place nearby. Lao Fang, so you have also settled down near the coffee house, just to find investment?”

Lao Fang smiles and replies. “Mmm, yes. Have you had breakfast?”

“Not yet.”

“Go together?”

“Sure.”

They walk out of the park. Not far away there are a few restaurants and breakfast stands. But when Mu Hanxia comes to the door to one of them, she tries to back out, “Porridge, egg and pickles?”

Lao Fang says, “Yes. This restaurant cooks the porridge very well, without unwanted oil and salt. I come here very often.”

But Mu Hanxia wants exactly the tastes of oil and salt. She thinks for a moment and turns to see a restaurant with a sign saying “Sour and spicy rice noodle”. So she says, “How about this, Lao Fang? You go ahead and eat here. I go get a bowl of sour and spicy rice noodle first and then join you for a cup of porridge.”

Lao Fang pauses and then smiles. Without pressing her further, he shakes his head and walks into the restaurant alone.

Holding a bowl of rice noodle in her hand, Mu Hanxia stands at the roadside and starts to eat.

Lao Fang sits down in the restaurant and has just picked up the chopsticks, when he looks up and catches a glimpse of her. He gives a few more glances and somehow can’t stand it, so he gets up and walks out again.

Mu Hanxia is surprised to see him out again, “What’s the matter, Lao Fang?”

Lao Fang is an elderly person who has received fine education. He speaks amicably and somewhat disapprovingly, ”How can you eat while standing at the roadside? Come in with me and sit down to eat.”

But Mu Hanxia just carelessly gulps down the last mouthful of noodle, throwing the paper bowl into the garbage can nearby, and says, “Here’s something you don’t know, but we all did this way when we were in Jiang Cheng City. I don’t have that much time, not enough for me to sit and eat slowly.”

Lao Fang looks a her, thoughtfully and speechlessly. Finally he nods, “I see.”

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After a few days, Mu Hanxia goes back to the company. Not long after she sits down, Lin Mochen calls her over.

She doesn’t raise her head but can feel his eyes fixed on her face.

After all... since the day she refused to have lunch with him, she has been hiding in the coffee house. They haven’t seen each other for three days.

“What are you busy at these days?” He asks.

“Your assignment, Qing Yu Coffee House.”

“Any results?”

Mu Hanxia shakes her head, “Nothing really.” Then she looks up at him, “What kind of results do you want me to get?”

Their gazes finally meet. Mu Hanxia looks into his deep and dark eyes and suddenly feels that little cold war the other day has dissipated. Lin Mochen, however, after gazing at her for a moment, suddenly smiles and says, “You are intelligent, flexible, kind, decisive and are not short of ambition. I sent you to the Entrepreneur’s Coffee House exactly because I think you may bring boundless possibilities for me.”

Mu Hanxia is stunned. She has been with him for so long, but this is the first time she hears him speaking so highly of her. She almost suspects he says so to coax her so that she would fall for him. But she knows clearly that Lin Mochen isn’t someone who muddles the business with personal life just for courting girls. If he says so, that’s because he means it.

Her heart can’t stop vibrating with waves of warmth. But she manages to reply calmly, “Oh.”

Lin Mochen watches closely at her slightly blushing face and the evading eyes, and there seem to be some emotions brewing and tangling in his heart. Now he understands it’s something called love and fondness. He wants the same affection from her.

Just leave it there for now and proceed slowly.

He asks again, “Who have you seen at the coffee house lately?”

Mu Hanxia also recollects herself and replies, “Mostly entrepreneurs, and a few investors, but had in-depth conversations with few. There’s also someone special, whom I’m getting close to, by being friendly and frank, you know. But maybe he is really just a down-and-out old man.”

She is vague, but Lin Mochen chuckles, “Don’t act dumb. In your heart you must have figured out.”

Mu Hanxia smiles and speaks no more.

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The night lights are just turned on.

Rao Wei, the General manager of Rong Yue Group’s real estate business division, and a few trusted subordinates are holding a meeting in the conference room. This is not a big meeting and the issue discussed is exactly about Feng Chen.

Although Zhang Yifang also becomes aware of Lin Mochen’s existence, as CEO of the ten billion incorporate, he certainly won’t personally check on things about Feng Chen. The defense plan is undoubtedly the responsibility of Rao Wei, who’s in charge of the real estates business.

A manager says, “Chief Yao, it’s clear that Feng Chen will participate in the government bidding next month, aiming at Lots A, B and C.”

Rao Wei is 35 now and has been diligent and steady. Of course, as a subordinate of Zhang Yifang for a long time, he has also inherited the ruthless style of Zhang. Also, the fact that Zhang Yifang actually thinks so high of such a young fellow as Lin Mochen really makes him rather unhappy. That’s a kind of intuitive unpleasant feeling. He asks, “Is the information reliable?”

“Reliable. The real estate company Lin Mochen bought is not that air-tight. In a few days, their plans may even leak out.”

Rao Wei smiles a little and says, “Based on their capability, it’s impossible for them to get all three lots. For now, a lot with a good size and great potential must be what they eagerly want as a new player. I guess Lin Mochen’s first choice is Lot C, then B, and lastly C.”

“Chief Rao, you guessed so correctly. I heard that’s exactly how they prioritize the lots in the bidding.”

Rao Wei smiles solemnly and says, “If they really get Lot C, then they will be able to establish themselves with a firm foothold in Lin City’s real estate business. The three lots, Rong Yue will all take over. Especially Lot C. Tell the planning department to treat it as the most important project of this year. Concentrate all their energy and invest the best resources. Leave absolutely no chance for Lin Mochen!”