Summer #45

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

Chapter 45

The sunlight is clear and the winter wind is chilly.

Lin Mochen stands in front of the deserted farm field dotted with a few farm houses and large groves of trees. Beyond the field, in the mists, is the city.

Beside him there are two other people. One is the real estate manager Sun Zhi and the other is the owner of this lot. His name is Cao Dashen, a local resident in his 40s. He is overweight and the suit looks very tight on him. He appears to be fierce and rough with a pair of triangular eyes and a high nose bridge.

It was by chance that Sun Zhi learned Cao Dasheng intends to transfer this lot. He reported it to Lin Mochen. No matter from the perspective of price, location, or the difficulty of old house demolition and relocation, this is a good lot.

Smiling amiably, Lin Mochen says to Cao Daosheng, “Chief Cao, although this lot is big, it is in suburban area and right now is the winter of real estate industry. It will be very risky to develop this lot. I can’t easily make the decision to acquire this lot, I’m sorry.”

Rough as Cao Daoshen is, he is not stupid. How can’t he tell that Lin Mochen is trying to cut the price. He says with helpless frustration: “Chief Lin, I really have lost a lot with this price. If you really want it, better hurry up. There are many people who are after me for it!”

Lin Mochen smiles a little and gives Sun Zhi a glance. Sun Zhi receives his hint and puts his arm around Cao Daosheng’s shoulder: “Come on, Chief Cao, your favorite Australian lobsters are ready in the restaurant, the ladies from our public relations department are waiting to drink with you. Let’s talk more at the dinner table.”

Cao Daosheng’s eyes brighten up at these words. Sun Zhi continues: “Chief Lin has an appointment with Chief Rao from Rong Yue in the afternoon, so he can’t go. But it’s fine, let us talk and I will make sure you are well served.” Cao Daoshen doesn’t mind at all. The most important things are lobsters and beautiful girls. So he leaves with Sun Zhi, talking warmly to each other.

Lin Mochen is left alone, standing on the lot.

He does have an appointment with Rong Yue, but it doesn’t really prevent him from having lunch with them. That’s just an excuse. He hates to have lunch with people like Cao Daosheng.

Just like what he told Mu Hanxia earlier―he’s a businessman, but not a barmaid.

At the thoughts of Mu Hanxia, the scenery before his eyes seems to quiet down and soften up. Last night, they talked on the phone and she said she would be back in two days. A faint smile appears at the corner of his mouth.

Not far behind him is the state road, where comes the sound of a car pulling up. Somebody gets out of the car and there’s the sound of suitcase wheels rolling.

Lin Mochen slightly stiffens and turns to look over his shoulder.

Under the bare whiter poplar tree, with her tiny face exposed from the hat and scarf, she gazes at him smilingly, a suitcase in her hand. The taxi drives away behind her.

Mu Hanxia is also studying him who is standing in the grassy field. Still in black overcoat, with deep gray scarf and leather gloves, his figure seems more clear-cut and handsome. He is staring at her with deep and dark eyes. Mu Hanxia feels as if she can hear her own heart beating, strong but tender in the chest.

He comes over in long strides.

Mu Hanxia: “Jason, everything is going well in Beijing. No need to worry now.”

But he says nothing.

Mu Hanxia can’t help but smile again, and not without quite a bit of pride: “I finished everything sooner and came back earlier. They told me you are here, so I came to look for you...”

Before she can finish her words, she is pulled into his arms. Her face pressed against his sweater at the chest, Mu Hanxia’s heart, which has been quelled by distance for so many days, begins to be boiling hot again.

“Got more prowess now? Coming back without any notice in advance?” He says.

“Uhm...,” She looks up and sees the smiles swelling in his eyes. Then he lowers his lips to hers.

After being apart for so many days, this is a long and gentle kiss. They stand under the tree dappled with winter sunlight on them. Occasionally a leaf falls to the ground near their feet.

 His kiss is gentle but deep. A hand behind the back of her head, the other holding her slender waist, he chases her tongue, nibbling and inviting, taking total control and making her give up all her reserve and lose herself into his kiss. Mu Hanxia goes half blank by his kiss, her face burning. Not completely without grievance, she leans against his chest and says softly, “You said you would push the door open but you haven’t kept your promise. You didn’t come to see me during all these days.”

Lin Mochen actually feels his heart get so soft at the words, as soft as her sweet pink lips. He replies, “The collaboration with Rong Yue calls for extreme caution with every move. I didn’t come to you because I was afraid I would get distracted.”

This is the truth and is also words of love. Mu Hanxia nods slightly and says, “Mhm, fine, I forgive you.” It’s the first time that Lin Mochen heard her talk to him in such a sweet and soft tone. He chuckles and presses her harder into his arms.

Mu Hanxia: “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.”

Whenever you are not here, I’m as unmovable as a mountain, nothing can ever touch me.

Once you are here, my heart is like the grasses on the plain, moved by you quietly and effortlessly. It can’t calm down unless I have you.

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Holding her in his arms, he gazes at this land.

Mu Hanxia asks, “this lot looks good. Why would that person want to sell?”

“Because he doesn’t have the capability to develop it.”

“No capability? How did he get the lot in the first place then?”

Lin Mochen smiles and says, “You thought all lots are acquired based on capability? In the early years management of land lots was quite loose. There were many holes in policies, especially about the lots in small counties and towns like this one. Sometimes, a lot could be acquired without much cost if one could find useful connections and play some tricks. Otherwise, how do you think those early moneyless real estate business people got started? Hah, this Cao Daosheng only did some small individual business in countryside. He got this lot early on when he realized the opportunities in real estate industry and has kept the lot since. But he has no money for large-scale development. And he lost money in other businesses, so he wants to sell this lot now.”

Mu Hanxia nods. This sounds like a good opportunity.

“But...” Looking into his eyes, she says, “Currently we have invested a lot of money in the project with Rong Yue, which is well under way. If you want to acquire this lot, do we have enough money?”

Lin Mochen smiles slightly, “Summer, in the business world, not all opportunities show up right when you are ready.”

Mu Hanxia understands the reasoning, but she doesn’t want him to be burdened too much, even though he is so strong and confident in the business world right now.

Lin Mochen lowers his head and presses a kiss on her forehead: “We negotiate first. I will consider all the conditions comprehensively. About money, we’ll think about it when we are really going to acquire this lot.”

“Mhm, Okay.”

They get into his car. Mu Hanxia asks, “Do you have any arrangements in the afternoon?”

Lin Mochen doesn’t answer immediately. There are meetings with Rong Yue and the real estate project team in this afternoon which were scheduled earlier.

Then he smiles: “The main arrangement for today is to take a look at this lot. Now that is done, there’s no other arrangement in the afternoon.”

Mu Hanxia is instantly delighted: “Oh.”

“Where do you want to go?” He asks.

Mu Hanxia looks up at the extremely blue sky. Even those grayish clouds look so soft and lovely. She answers, “Any place is fine. Just go somewhere quiet and comfortable.”

He says, “Okay.”