Summer #41

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

Chapter 41

But then Mu Hanxia’s thought goes to something else. To ask her to dinner with Rong Yue, he only needs to call her into his office. There is a water dispenser in his office so he doesn’t need to come to the break room. But he didn’t call her over the way a boss calls a subordinate. Instead, he follows her here to speak to her.

For a second, she doesn’t know how to respond. Right at the moment, her cellphone rings. It’s Lao Fang. She picks up the phone hastily as if to escape from something. With a glance at Lin Mochen, she walks out the break room as she says, “Hi, Lao Fang, yes, that restaurant is right beside the second ring road...”

Lin Mochen stands quietly watching on as she walks further away without even looking back at him.

--------

When Lin Mochen comes downstairs, the real estate manager is waiting beside the car. Seeing him coming alone, he is quite surprised: “Cheif Lin, where’s Manager Mu?”

Lin Mochen replies flatly, “She has something more important.” At the words, he pulls the door open and gets into the car, his black overcoat flattering in the wind.

The real estate manager is quite baffled. Why does he have a feeling that Chief Lin isn’t happy at all?

The car slides through the dark night and soon they get to the hotel where the dinner will be held.

Lin Mochen has completely calmed down and temporarily put aside the bits and pieces of emotions roused by her. Followed by his subordinates, he pushes open the reserved dinner room and sees Rao Wei at the main seat. Rao Wei also sees him and smiles pleasantly, after his eyes seemingly darken slightly for a very brief moment.

Followed by him, the people from Rong Yue all stand up: “Welcome, Chief Lin.”

Lin Mochen puts on a smile as pleasant as the spring breeze and walks over with long strides. He holds Rao Wei’s hands first: “Chief Rao, it’s too kind of you. We Feng Chen are very honored to be able to work with Rong Yue.” He is good-looking. At the moment, his eyes seem to be twinkling, looking around at the people from Rong Yue. Everyone who meets his eye can’t help but think: it was heard that this Chief Lin has an iron hand, but he is surprisingly polite and amiable.

 As the saying goes “People don’t slap in a smiling face,” although Lin Mochen has gained the advantage, he is acting modestly now, which makes Rao Wei feel somewhat better. So he smiles back, “Please don’t say that. Chief Lin, no need to be like a stranger. I’m a couple years older than you, just call me Lao Rao in the future. Come, please take the best seat.”

The gentlemen all get seated.

Wines are toasted and the atmosphere can’t be any better. Rao Wei talks about the tales and anecdotes in Lin City, bringing about hearty laughter from everyone present. Lin Mochen also talks about some funny stories in America in a mild but humorous way. In between, they talk about the prospect of their collaboration. Nothing is mentioned about the fierce fights they had a few days ago.

However, during the dinner, whenever Lin Mochen has small sips from his wine cup, what comes right to his mind is the image of Mu Hanxia. He can’t help but imagine that if she was here right now, she must be an excellent game player. But in her eyes, there must be sly smiles, dismissing these people here as so pretentious.

Huhhh...

At the same time, Mu Hanxia and Fang Chengzhou are also sitting in an elegant small restaurant. Gazing at the glimmering river winding through the city and hordes and hordes of city residents taking walks outside, Fang Chengzhou sighs, “I’ve been in the city for a while but haven’t got a chance to enjoy its beautiful night view.”

Mu Hanxia is placing orders when she hears it. She says with a smile, “Yes, you can’t just go to the Entrepreneur Coffee House for disguised inspections. You should also look at ordinary people like us.”

Fang Chengzhou smiles and nods. This is exactly what he likes about Mu Hanxia. She has no fear and does not pretend things when she’s around him, still the girl whom he knew as clever and warm-hearted from the beginning. He appreciates her temperament as a mixture of an everyday person and an elite. But he doesn’t know that Mu Hanxia was once jittery and cautious in front of leaders too.

She is changing and she is growing. Within as short as six months, as a result of following some highly competent yet at the same time very proud person, she has gradually opened up from the previously timid person and gradually exposes her proud character which had been inhibited by reality.

About this, Mu Hanxia is vaguely clear, not undoubtedly clear.

Then Fang Chengzhou says, “After acquiring Lot A, the estimated value of your company will go even higher, right?” 

Mu Hanxia smiles, “Yes, it’s very likely.”

Fang Chengzhou is acute enough to see the worries on the girl’s face. She has gone absent minded a few times at the table. He says with a little smile, “As to your boss Lin Mochen, someone gave me an estimate of his market value a few days ago and it could be as high as half a billion. Such a young man who is also a foreign graduate. It’s extraordinary!”

The number stuns Mu Hanxia. Yes, he is now worth half a billion. Huhh...

Fang Chengzhou suddenly changes the subject: “Haven’t you two got things settled?”

Mu Hanxia is surprised and then smiles, “Lao Fang, what are you talking about?” Fang Chengzhou just smiles. After a while, Mu Hanxia stops denying. She says in a low voice, “Lao Fang, actually I wanted so much to ignore everything else and just take whatever chance there is.”

The chance might be that even though he is cold-blooded, he is true to me.

The chance might be the love that has got my life tangled will generate a good result, worthy of my courage of treading on thin ice.

But Mu Hanxia didn’t expect receiving a hurried call from the colleague right after the dinner. It was the real estate manager, who is both anxious and puzzled, “Manager Mu, do you know where Chief Lin is?”

It’s nine o’clock at night at the time and she just saw Lao Fang off in his car. Mu Hanxia stands at the intersection alone and asks, “Didn’t he go with you to the dinner with Rong Yue?”

“Yes!” comes the answer, “But we are just finished. He said he was going to the bathroom and then he just disappeared. He won’t pick up calls and he’s not in the car either. The hotel doorman told me just now that he took a taxi and left alone, without saying anything to anyone.”

Mu Hanxia is stunned.

The manager continues, “But at the dinner Chief Lin drank quite some wine. I’m afraid he would get into trouble. I already told someone to look for him at the hotel, but he’s not there! He didn’t go to the office either. Do you know where he is?”

--------

This evening, Lin Mochen’s trusted subordinates of Feng Chen are all searching anxiously for him in every corner of the world. They are very baffled. The boss has always been such a shrewd and steadfast one, why would he do something so cranky and so bewildering today?

They are all searching frantically while Mu Hanxia just stands by the roadside for a moment and calls a taxi to the small restaurant that Lin Mochen once took her to.

It starts to drizzle.

The restaurant is closing for the day, but the owner actually recognizes her and smiles at her when he pulls down the rolling shutter gate. Mu Hanxia then runs to the factory.

That’s where Lin Mochen hugged her from behind that night.

So, his affections to her, did they start from then?

But he’s not there either. The guard is very certain, “Chief Lin hasn’t come. Don’t worry. Won’t I recognize our big boss if he is here? Why would he come here so late into the night?”

Mu Hanxia stands at the factory gate and looks around. The city is quiet and feels boundless in the drizzle. Suddenly she feels a little irritated, what in the world does he want? Is he so certain that she would look for him? But how is it possible for him to do something so childish? Or is he really drunk?

Summer #40

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

Chapter 40

Rao Wei pulls the door open and sees Zhang Yifang standing in front of the big glass window, a slim cigar in his hand. He looks calm as always.

In the room there’s a faint smell of cigarette. A soothing smell.

“Chief Zhang.” Rao Wei calls.

Zhang Yifang turns to look at him and says with a smile, “Come and sit.”

They sit down at the couch nearby. Rao Wei is a little stiff on the face, while Zhang Yifang just watches him with smiling eyes.

“How come you lost Lot A?” Zhang Yifang asks.

Rao Wei: “I’m sorry Chief Zhang. It’s my fault. But trust me, I will think of other ways and get this lot back by all means...”

Zhang Yifang, however, just raises his hand and stops him from continuing. He picks up the tea set on the table and pours a cup for each of them. Rao Wei leans forward and bows, fingers tapping the table lightly, “Thanks, Chief Zhang.”

Zhang Yifang has a little sip of the tea with him and then says, “Rao Wei, do you know where you have failed?”

Rao Wei is quiet for a moment. It’s really embarrassing for a mature person like him to admit his mistakes. But in front of Zhang Yifang, he confesses candidly, “I made the mistake that I just thought about attacking Lin Mochen but instead was tricked by his trap and let him get the bargain.” He pauses and says, “I really didn’t think he could be so bold and crazy.”

But Zhang Yifang slightly shakes his head. “No, your mistake was that you didn’t have a clear idea of Rong Yue’s business principles, my principles.”

Rao Wei suspends.

Zhang Yifang says with an even tone, “Wei, you have been with me for so many years. What do you think is my principle of choice?”

“It’s...profit?”

Zhang Yifang nods, “Exactly. So you haven’t forgotten. Regarding land bidding, the first thing you should consider is what is the most profitable action for us Rong Yue. Undoubtedly it’s acquiring Lot A. It concerns the construction plan of several billion. But you just got the wrong end and thought only about how to snipe a new opponent who hasn’t even got his feet steady on the ground, making it your primary goal. You thought you were much stronger than Feng Chen, so you only thought about offending and neglected defending. Lin Mochen, on the other hand, saw through your mind and made this trap. Wei, you are still too hasty. After all, most people in this world are ordinary or even underhanded ones. None of the opponents you had in the past was as outstanding as him and, with the strength of Rong Yue on your side, you were winning easily. This time you also felt his difference, right? And your mood affected your judgment. But, Wei, profit is the most essential. The old saying― Don’t be pleased by external gains, or saddened by personal losses―has its deep meanings in it. No matter others come with great aggressiveness, evil intentions, or with threats, what you should always keep in mind is nothing but profit. Only in this way could you stay invincible.”

Rao Wei is quiet for a long moment before he nods, “I got it, Chief Zhang. What should we do now?”

“What do you think?” Zhang Yifang turns the question back at him.

Although he is really reluctant, Rao Wei still replies, “The solution with the least cost is to cooperate with Feng Chen to develop Lot A. Only this way can we minimize its impact on our overall plan.”

Zhang Yifang nods with a smile.

Rao Wei sighs lightly and says, “Then I will have someone get in touch with them in a few days.”

But Zhang Yifang says, “No, be quick with it. Don’t delay.”

“Why?”

Zhang Yifang says amiably, “We lost. Don’t be afraid to admit it. Let the collaboration start early and show that we don’t mind. This is the bearing we should have as a Number One enterprise. Then other companies will be more reassured to cooperate with us.”

Rao Wei is more or less struck in his heart and nods, “I see, Chief Zhang.”

--------

The proposal for collaboration quickly reaches Lin Mochen.

He is a little surprised at receiving it so quickly from Rong Yue. After a little thinking, he decides not to get personally involved. Instead, he assigns the manager from the real estate company to respond and work with them. Rao Wei does the same. He assigns the job to a manager from a sub-company instead of handling it himself.

There is some tacit understanding between them after all―it’s kind of embarrassing to see each other right after the fight. Since everybody is working for profit―Rong Yue has to collaborate with Lin Mochen to complete their overall development plan; Lin Mochen has to cooperate with Rong Yue to make profit―let’s just get into contact and reach a basic agreement before the bosses meet.

In the next few days, the collaboration plan is making rapid progress. Other companies are still watching on. But undoubtedly, Feng Chen has made a magnificent first impression in the real estate industry and become someone whom even Rong Yue can’t take lightly of.

The cold war between Mu Hanxia and Lin Mochen continues. Everybody is busy at the company these few days. When the two see each other in the office, although their eyes involuntarily find each other, neither of them says anything. Mu Hanxia knows that many times Lin Mochen is watching her, just as her looking at him when he does not notice. It’s like something important is broken and is left with a hole in it. Water is continuously leaking out, but neither of them is willing to be the first one to mend it.

Soon it’s weekend.

Mu Hanxia also has her own relations to maintain. She calls Fang Chengzhou at her seat, “Hello, Lao Fang.”

Fang Chengzhou’s voice is deep and slow as usual, “What’s the matter, Xiao Mu?”

“Got time this evening? I’d like to invite you to dinner.”

Fang Chengzhou smiles, “Why invite me to dinner?”

Mu Hanxia lowers her voice and says, “To thank you for your help, of course.”

However, Fang Chengzhou says, “But, Xiao Mu, I haven’t helped you with anything.”

Mu Hanxia pauses only a second before she says, “Didn’t you teach me how to play Taichi?”

Her response makes Fang Chengzhou chuckle. He says, “OK. Tell me the location and I will ask my driver to drop me off there.”

After settling the appointment, Mu Hanxia looks up at the clock. Still a few minutes before the end of work day. She grabs her cup and goes to the break room. There aren’t many people in the office at this hour and there’s only her in the break room. She fills her cup with hot water and drinks slowly while leaning beside the window.

The door is pushed open. Lin Mochen walks in.

Mu Hanxia looks up at him. Not sure it’s her illusion or not, He looks a little thinner and his face skinnier after the last few days, during which she didn’t see him up close.

She figures it must be her illusion.

Lin Mochen also stares at her, his hands in his pant pockets and his eyes dark and deep.

He walks over.

Mu Hanxia turns back to look out the window.

“We are having dinner with Rong Yue this evening. Come with us?” He says, “This is the beginning of our important collaboration.”

Mu Hanxia then looks straight his way and says in a matter-of-fact manner, “I’ve asked Lao Fang to dinner.”

Lin Mochen is quiet for a moment and then nods. This is truly something more important.

“Still mad?” He asks in a low voice.

Mu Hanxia’s heart softens.

Summer #39

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

Chapter 39

Lin Mochen stands up and comes over to Mu Hanxia.

She asks, “Where’s Antony?”

“I told him to leave first.”

“Oh. Got it?”

“Hmm, got it.”

They are both quiet for a moment. Maybe because he is in a good mood, his faintly smiling eyes are fixed on her face.

“Let’s go then?” She offers.

Lin Mochen: “Where to?”

Mu Hanxia: “Shouldn’t we go back to the office?” Barely before she finishes the sentence, her wrist is gently grabbed by him. He gazes at her with shiny eyes, “You forgot? You said you would go see the lot with me.”

Mu Hanxia: “Oh.”

There are some things that have signs. There are some things that have forebodings.

There are some things that are inescapable.

Mu Hanxia sits in the taxi with Lin Mochen and gazes out the window at the night falling as a veil. The city shows a special kind of tranquility. A sense of destiny that is so uncertain and unpredictable floods over her heart, just like the falling night.

She knows what is going to happen, knows that Lin Mochen is deep-thinking and highly aggressive, and she knows what he is going to do to her. But, can she not go? No. She wants to go. Yet at the same time in the bottom of her heart she is afraid to go. Her heart is like a tiny fragile boat floating in the dark night. Even though it is noiseless, even though it has a tactless appearance hiding the internal wounds that are unseen by others, it will nevertheless break through the blinding fog and sail toward where it’s supposed to go.

Lin Mochen sits beside her, his elbow propping against the door, also in silence. She is especially quiet today. She even hides her both hands in her pockets. Even though he wants so much to hold them in his hand, all the way to their destination, he won’t be able to. At these thoughts, he chuckles.

Although Lot A is in the downtown area, as previously mentioned, it is surrounded by several other undeveloped lots. Therefore, seen from afar, it is covered with green grass, with a few hills and farm houses. It’s more like a green grass field within the city.

Since it’s not developed and the people here are quite civil, the lot is not formally fenced. The taxi pulls over beside the lot and they two just stroll over to the lot.

The sky is not totally dark yet. The breeze sways the grass on the ground. It’s a vast wildness. The city buildings around it are now the silent background, circling the land that will be theirs.

Mu Hanxia moves silently forward in the grass. Lin Mochen follows her quietly.

She finds a topic: “Last time we had problems with Xie Lin and got attacked at the factory. Now you’ve snatched the land from Rong Yue, don’t we have to hire a bodyguard for you?”

“I will be careful.” He answers, “You be careful too. Don’t go places alone. Try to stay where I can see you. OK?”

Mu Hanxia doesn’t respond.

Walking a little further, there’s a small uphill in front. Mu Hanxia is rather exhilarated at the thought of winning the lot and climbs all the way up in one breath. But Lin Mochen is no slower. With a few strides of his long legs, he’s already standing by her side on the hilltop.

The wind here blows harder. Mu Hanxia tightens her collars and gazes at the grass at the foot of the hill.

Lin Mochen unbuttons his overcoat and wraps her into his arms from behind.

Mu Hanxia is taken aback. His warm embrace feels like the lingering but obscure emotions in her memories have come and wrapped her all over again.

She remains totally still. She wants to break loose but remains still.

He, on the other hand, is very calm, whispering in her ear, “Are you cold?” His lips almost touch her ears.

“No, I’m not.” Mu Hanxia replies softly, feeling both sweet and sad at the same time.

“Oh...” He responds lightly, but his voice has a hint of smile. His arms press harder and he hugs her a little tighter. He says softly, “I have won the first lot in my life. Won’t Summer congratulate me?”

Mu Hanxia feels as if her whole body is on fire. Her cheeks are also burning pink. She says in a low voice, “Congratulations!”

“Use a different form of congratulation.” He says, “Right now, I’m missing a girlfriend.”

Mu Hanxia feels as if her heart was grilled in blazing flames, so itchy and so painful. She turns to look at him, in an extremely short distance. In his arms, she sees his smiling eyes.

She turns back, struggles out of his arms, and starts to run downhill. “Jason, let’s go back.”

Lin Mochen grabs her hand. But the hill ground is not even and she’s stubbornly wrestling with him, which causes them to fall down on the grass and Mu Hanxia to fall back into his arms. She wants to get up, but he just presses her against his chest and holds her even more tightly.

The grass around them gently scratches against their skin. The setting sky. The flashing-by slope. His face blends into the darkness and is not discernible. He just holds her like that, lying on the cold ground under the sky, not allowing her to escape and not allowing her to not belong to him.

“What are you hiding from these days?” The deep and low voice is pressing.

Mu Hanxia suddenly feels it is too much. She looks up and glares at him, “Lin Mochen, didn’t you say that we are not a good match to each other? Then why say all this now?”

Lin Mochen is quiet for a second.

“When did I say that?”Mu Hanxia tries to hold back herself but then answers, “October 23rd.”

That day, Lin Mochen has some impression of that day. Because it was the day they opened their second apparel flagship store in Beijing. Getting drunk, KTV, being with her alone, and her unusual attitude afterward while acting as if nothing had happened... All the memories flow by in his mind and he understands.

Seeing his silence, Mu Hanxia is both angry and sad. She tries to get up and break loose. But he is fast to hold her close again and says, “That’s different. Back then I truly didn’t make up my mind. How can it be the same right now? For how many days have I been courting you?”

Now that he said it, with a hint of disdain in his tone, Mu Hanxia gets even more upset. She replies with a sneer, “Fine, fine, fine. Jason Lin, when you didn’t think we were a good match, we weren’t. Now you like me and I have to like you too. What damn rule is this? You already dismissed me, why do I have to accept you?” She pushes him away with a hard shove, stands up, and walks quickly downhill.

Lin Mochen quickly sits up and looks at her back, skinny but stubborn in the night. This is the first time he hears her say a cursing word and his face also turns extremely cold. Instead of showing anger, his voice slows down with a smile. He says clearly to her back, “Mu Hanxia, it’s fine you get mad and complains about me. I said the wrong thing and hurt you, it’s totally fine that you get upset with me. But Mu Hanxia, Summer, your heart, is here with me. You and me... huh, we both are very clear about it.”

He says it to the point, he reveals the secret she has been trying to hide unsuccessfully. But he says it with such a cold tone that shows absolutely no tenderness. It makes her so sad all of a sudden. She thinks: Why is he always like that? Why is a man always like that, making her both love and hurt?

She stops abruptly and turns to glare at him. Lin Mochen is quite taken aback but looks quietly at her.

One on top of the hill and the other at the foot. With a short distance in between, she looks up at him and he gazes down.

“Lin Mochen, you are always like this.” She begins slowly, “I once came across a passage that says a man always knocks on the door but never pushes it open. He always waits for the woman to voluntarily open the door herself. I did not believe it and wondered how could this be possible. If you like me and I also like you, then we are impervious to obstacles. Nothing can stop us from being together. But the passage is true. You say that you said those words because you didn’t make up your mind. OK, I believe you. After all, people are divided by classes. Back then you didn’t think I was good enough for you. That’s your choice. But you say you have been courting me all these days. All these days, you’re always knocking on the door. When did you ever push the door open and come in? You never said you love me, never showed me your real heart. You picked on me, hooked me up and tempted me. But you just say nothing. You are afraid of being trapped in the love relationship and being dominated by me. Why? Why do I have to open the door myself and come out like a fool? Why can’t you come in and look right at me, be good to me without any reservation, like they way I treat you?!”

Her voice lingers above the empty field. Tears appear in her eyes but she manages to hold them back. She glares at her angrily and is unable to utter another word.

Lin Mochen, for the first time in his life, stares at a woman in such a dumbfounded manner.

Spitting out the thoughts that have been on her mind for so long, Mu Hanxia feels much better. She turns back again and sees the the boundlessly vast world in the transition between day and night. She ignores him and starts to leave.

But the longer she walks the more lonely she feels. Wasn’t it something pleasant that she did just now? But why after slapping him in the face with those words, she also feels some sadness within herself? She walks on absentmindedly and quickly comes back to the path they took just now. There’s still some distance to the main road, but no sound of footsteps is heard from behind. He hasn’t followed.

Mu Hanxia feels even sadder and calls herself useless. Her mind is actually filled with the image of him standing in the gathering darkness and the sound of his voice saying “Summer, you heart is here with me.”

Finally, when she is about to reach the road, someone is catching up from behind.

Mu Hanxia keeps a tense face and refuses to look back at him. She tries to catch a taxi at the roadside. The street light casts two shadows very close to each other on the ground and he says calmly, “We just said that this is a sensitive time as we just beat Rong Yue and we’d better not go places alone. I will take the taxi back with you.”

Mu Hanxia says nothing.

Momentarily, a taxi pulls over.

She gets into the rear seat. Lin Mochen pulls open the door from the other side and aslo gets in.

The taxi merges into the flowing lights of the city. The bustle passes them, leaving them in a dreamy silence.

Neither of them says a thing.

At the hotel gate, Lin Mochen gets out his wallet and pays for the taxi. Mu Hanxia looks up and notices his overcoat stuck with litters of grass, the black leather wallet in his hand, and the slim pale fingers of his. She turns around and gets out first.

With a few steps apart, they get into the elevator and arrive at their floor.

It’s also his arrangement, Mu Hanxia realized a few days ago. There are only the two of them in this hotel. All the other colleagues are in another hotel. Besides, they are also on the same floor. Mu Hanxia frowns a little and tells herself not to think further.

“Ding,” the elevator door opens. Mu Hanxia walks straight to her room without giving him a glance. And he also gos into his room and shuts the door with a cold face.

Summer #38

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

Chapter 38

Coming out from the police station, Mu Hanxia immediately calls a taxi and heads toward the bidding location, without even finding time for lunch.

The taxi is running through the city and her heart is heavy and wrung. She looks down at her watch. Maybe the bidding is almost over.

Can they get the lot? Get Lin Mochen’s target, Lot A?

“Yes, we can.” That is what he said to her in a clear and slow voice in that reclusive club house in a breezy evening.

At that time, she asked, “You are so sure of it?”

Lin Mochen just gazed at her smilingly, “Summer, there’s an ancient idiom in Chinese―Tian Ji’s Horse Racing Strategy[1].”

[Note from the translator: This idiom refers to a fable: There was a horse race where the competitors had to race their horses three times with a different horse each time, conventionally the best one first, followed by the middle one, and the worst one last. The one who won the most times was the winner. Tian Ji’s master didn’t have very good horses. But he helped his master win by using their worst horse to compete against the best ones from others, the best one against the middle ones, and then the middle one against the worst ones.]

Mu Hanxia paused and said, “The worst horse versus the best horse, the best versus the middle one, and the middle versus the worst?”

Lin Mochen replies, “Of course, there’s the need for some adjustment. Since Lot C is most profitable for us, Rong Yue will certainly invest their best resources to guard against us. I have done some setup to convince Rao Wei about this. This will be their focus point of the competition. Besides, they have a better relationship with the government. It’s impossible that we can win Lot C from them. So for the first round, we will give up, let them have a futile attack.”

Mu Hanxia listened thoughtfully and nodded, “Hmm, since we know we won’t be able to win the first round, why bother to spend any energy on it? Why even be their backdrop? Without contrast, their victory is just a victory. It won’t give the judges too much afterthoughts.”

“Exactly.”

At that time, the two of them were sitting in the couch, with a half-meter distance in between. But then, Lin Mochen got slowly closer and put his hand on the back of couch behind her. Mu Hanxia remained calm and pretended that she didn’t notice.

“The second round, Lot B. This round is the key. We will show our full strength, the fabulous design from Antony.” He said, “If we win, that’s good. We will develop Lot B conservatively, even though it might be a little hard for us. But we are not very likely to win because this is also a lot that Rao Wei will fight hard against us. Besides, the first round they win easily without involving any relations, at the second round his relations will be at work even if we are better. There will be people who speak for them.”

At hearing this, Mu Hanxia said with uncertainty, “To Lao Fang, don’t we also have some sense of existence?”

But Lin Mochen shakes his head, “Lao Fang is a smart person. If we don’t have any obvious advantage at this round, he won’t try to help us. There are rules in the political field and they have their ways among themselves. I let you take the lead for a round and next round shouldn’t you let me take the lead?”

Mu Hanxia was slightly taken back by his words, but she thought she somewhat understands.

“Our plan definitely will move them and deeply impress them. Not giving the land to us at the second round will actually make them feel that they owe us somehow. The government in Lin City has a high interest in doing real jobs, so they will feel regretful about the result. The third round, still don’t give us the lot? At the same time, Antony and I will stress that our plan suits Lot A better. Many times, one makes decisions based on both sense and sensibility. Sensibly, they know that our plan is better. Sentimentally, they will also want to give the lot to us.”

Mu Hanxia wa quiet for a long time and then asked, “What will you do after getting this lot?”

Lin Mochen’s eyes were clear and dark, “Offense or defense, either way is OK. If Rong Yue doesn’t intervene and we get to develop according to Antony’s plan, at least we can make some small profit and at the same time establish Feng Chen Real Estate’s first name card in Lin City. If they do―they have to if they don’t want the overall development plan to be affected―then...”

“Then, you can ask for whatever price you like.” Mu Hanxia continued for him quickly.

Lin Mochen was a little surprised. Although the meaning was right, the words said from her mouth had some unpleasant feelings in it. He glanced evenly at her.

But Mu Hanxia looked at him and said, “Jason, in this way, you are forcing Rong Yue to confront you. After all, they are extraordinarily powerful. I’m afraid that even though we win at this round, our future in Lin City will still be very difficult.”

“Isn’t this round difficult already?” He replied, “What Rong Yue is trying to do is preventing us from getting what we want, Lot B or Lot C. They are basically trying to ban Feng Chen Real Estates from the city. They want us to die. Why should I be afraid of them and be soft-handed? Let’s just fight, what to be afraid of? They try to grab things from me, then I will certainly snatch from them.”

--------

After the presentation, the officials hold a discussion one more time.

But this time, everybody is spontaneously quiet. Nobody speaks up.

The Director Mr. Zhou is still the straightforward one. He offers his thoughts with great earnestness, “I think Feng Chen’s plan is excellent, either from the professional perspective or the economic perspective. Since Lot B is already given to Rong Yue, why not give this lot to them for a try?”

Deputy Mayor Mr. Fan remains quiet with a smile on his face. Another official says, “Mr. Fan and gentlemen, this lot is different from other lots. In the past few years, Rong Yue already obtained the surrounding lots and is planning on commercial development. If this lot is given to them, it can be included in the overall plan, which is also very meaningful for our municipal development. If the lots is given to someone else, Rong Yue will really suffer from the situation.”

Mr. Zhou pauses at the words and doesn’t know what else to say.

At the moment, Fang Chengzhou, who has always been quiet, speaks up, “Oh? If that’s the case, we really need to consider our decision carefully. Has their plan been submitted for approval?”

The official replies, “Not yet.”

Fang Chengzhou nods, “Having an overall plan, for an incorporate like Rong Yue, is certainly good. But, since we single this lot out for bidding, it means that we should consider other companies and be fair and square, right? We agreed on Lot B just now that Feng Chen’s plan is very good and we all hope to give them an opportunity to stay in Lin City. Lot A is smallest in size and is the one that suits them the best. Seems the opportunity is presenting itself.” At these words, he starts to laugh heartily. The others also start to laugh.

 Mr. Zhou’s eyes brighten up. He agrees, “Exactly, Lot B and Lot C are both Rong Yue’s. If this plan of Feng Chen’s doesn’t get implemented and is miscarried, it would be a great pity. Please consider carefully.”

The meeting falls into silence. Any one sensible can tell that the wind is starting to blow a different way.

Mr. Fan remains quiet.

The official who firmly stood for Rong Yue is also perplexed. He says, “But, Rong Yue is the more powerful one. Besides, if this lot is given to Feng Chen, their overall plan will be ruined...”

“They sure can collaborate with Feng Chen about the development.” Fang Chengzhou interrupts him smilingly, “That would be something between the companies, not something that we should interfere.” He looks up around him and speaks with a suddenly solemn tone, “I haven’t come to Lin City for a long time, but have been deeply impressed by the city. It’s tidy and elegant. The residents show excellent qualities, and the buildings are especially beautiful. The companies of all sizes are also full of vitality. Rong Yue is our leading company and we should strongly support them. However, competition is inevitable and should be welcomed by us. With appropriate competition between companies, we can avoid a single super power in our local economy and avoid our local economy being too dependent in certain areas. I think we should always keep these issues in mind. Only in that way, could the economic environment in Lin City be more flexible, more mature and even better in the future. That’s all I have to say.”

The meeting room is in complete silence.

Then the applause suddenly rises. Mr. Fan also looks at Fang smilingly and says, “Every word Mr. Fang said is exactly what I have in mind.”

--------

When Mu Hanxia arrives at the bidding hotel, the bidding is already over. People have mostly left and the staff members are cleaning up the tags, tables and chairs at the venue.

The afternoon sun is clear and bright, but she feels as if her heart was filled with cotton―soft and stuffed―and she is unable to discern the feelings. She races to the room where the company representatives were supposed to wait. There are just a few people lingering behind. People from Rong Yue seem to be ready to retreat as well.

She sees Lin Mochen sitting alone in one of the chairs, hands folded on the back of the chair before him. There’s air conditioner in the room. He is only wearing a pitch-black suit, the black overcoat and scarf resting aside. The solitary posture is cool and elite-looking as usual.

But the instinct manifests itself as the riding tide. She knows that he is waiting for her, waiting for her to come.

As if telepathic, Lin Mochen also slowly looks up and looks her way. He smiles at seeing her.

Mu Hanxia can’ help but beam back at him. She sees the sunlight rest quietly between them.

She knows that he has won the lot.