Summer #26

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

Chapter 26

Lin Mochen’s business in Lin City is progressing very smoothly. In less than a month, the new store is almost done with furnishing. The Southwest Division of Feng Chen is also established. The office is located in an office building in the downtown area.

Since a few employees, including Mu Hanxia, come with him from Beijing, the company has also rented two well-furnished three-bedroom apartments near the office. Lin himself occupies one of the rooms.

In the morning, Mu Hanxia opens the door and is ready to leave for the office with two female colleagues, when she hears the opposite door swinging open and comes Lin Mochen’s deep voice with a hint of smile, “... Serena, thanks for your introduction. But I have an important appointment with a supplier to inspect some fabrics and can’t go meet with you. How about next time?”

He walks out, dressed in his black suit, the top button of his shirt unbuttoned. He hangs up the phone and glances at them. Then he smiles, “Morning.”

The other two colleagues have been in the company longer than Mu Hanxia. One of them jokes, “Jason, that Serena is always trying to see you. Last time when she came to the company we all saw her. Such a great beauty. Would she possibly be our future lady boss[1]?”

[Lady boss here is used to mean the wife of the boss. I’m not sure if there is a better way to say it in English.]

Like the other two, Mu Hanxia also looks at him with a little smile.

But Lin Mochen says: “There’s no such thing. It’s only some business relations. I have no interest in her.”

The three of them are somewhat surprised at his frank answer and are speechless for a moment. Then the same colleague smiles: “Yes, yes. It’s not easy to become our lady boss.”

Lin Mochen responds with only a smile.

In the next two months, all goes on smoothly and eventlessly. No big changes are made.

The first and second stores of Feng Chen have opened in Lin City. They have a lower cost in all aspects, the customers here are no less strong than in Beijing, and Lin Mochen’s team are really good at operation and management. Also, Feng Chen has a stylish, simple and quality brand image. So, when it appears in the downtown shopping center, it quickly becomes popular and is rewarded with a huge business success. After only running for a week, the two big stores have taken about 10% of the market share in its category. This is a terrifying figure. The whole Lin City seem to know the brand overnight and are eager to shop there.

These days, Mu Hanxia has also been extremely busy. For a few times, she has run into Lin Mochen on the phone with Serena. It seems that he only goes once or twice after Serena calls him several times. There doesn’t seem to be any real progress between the two of them. Probably sensing the distance Lin Mochen has been trying to keep, Serena hasn’t shown up in front of them for a long while.

On the other hand, Lin Mochen now calls her Summer all the time. And gradually, this name spreads among the colleagues and becomes her English name.

The disaster strikes in a late night in November. 

Lin City is not very cold, but it is terribly humid. Mu Hanxia is soundly asleep, when there starts the banging on the door. She and the other two female colleagues all get up at the sound and open the door. The male colleagues next door are all standing there fully dressed, their expressions solemn. Lin Mochen wears a dark jacket, his hair still a little ruffled. He glances at them and says, “Let’s go.”

Mu Hanxia quickly asks, “What happened?”

A male colleague answers, “The factory reported just now that a lot of fabrics have problems.”

Everybody’s heart twitches at the news.

The factory is located at the suburban area of the city. Lin Mochen negotiated with a local company to do the manufacturing at their factory. Beijing Feng Chen sends people over to monitor the production process and control the quality. The quality control specialist was the first one who discovered the fabric quality problems.

The sky is still dark outside, but in the workshop it is bright as daylight. Mu Hanxia and a few others, following Lin Mochen, all stand in front of the stacks of fabric. The young specialist is very upset. Holding a piece of fabric in his hand, he reports: “Chief Lin, this batch of fabric definitely can’t be used. I’ve checked. The material is problematic. Neither flexibility nor abrasion resistance meets the standard. If used for production, the product may not look different, but the quality will definitely be unacceptable. This will damage our image as a high quality brand. What’s more, I have a feeling that the fabric has other problems and need further inspection...”

“How can it be? None of the several batches of fabric Chief Xie supplied had any problem.” Someone says, puzzled. “Can it possibly be some mistake? Should we call them to double-check?”

Everybody looks at Lin Mochen. His face is all coldness, but in his eyes there is a hint of smile. He says nothing. So they all quiet down.

Someone pats the specialist on the shoulder and says, “Many thanks to you. We signed as a strategic partner with Chielf Xie and inspection is waived. Without you, the problem would never have been discovered.” But the specialist replies in a low voice, “Chief Lin told me early on that no matter whose fabric it is, especially those from Chief Xie, should be inspected carefully, even if it is said to be inspection-waived. ”

They are all stunned. Mu Hanxia, however, has calmed down and looks at Lin Mochen. He speaks evenly: “Don’t spread the news yet. And don’t contact Xie Lin at all. Let everything keep going as usual. Seal all these fabrics in the warehouse. Manager Xu, contact the Beijing factory and ask them to send fabrics over immediately. That’s it.”

“Yes, sir.” The manager in charge of production leaves with the assignment. The rest just remain silent.

After a while, someone speaks up: “Chief Lin, the evil Xie Lin is to be blamed for this. But, he’s been here in the local business circle for many years. The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent. Shouldn’t we...”

But Lin Mochen just smiles a little, and suddenly fixes his eyes on Mu Hanxia, “Summer, you are the marketing manager. What do you say? What shall I do to take over the local market?”

Everybody now looks in her way.

Mu Hanxia is quiet for a moment. Then she smiles, “Then take it over. What native serpent? If you don’t beat it, it won’t be docile. If we shun the first serpent, what should we do when we are confronted by the second, third ones?”

The others are all used to her diligence and steadiness and therefore are surprised at the defiant words she says. But at the same time, their battle spirits are roused by her words. So they question Lin Mochen’s decision no more. And Lin Mochen, he just gives her a glance and smiles.

He was just going to get the words out from her mouth, because he knows the bold heart that’s hidden within her.

And she did say it.

All the disruption is concealed by the dark night.

The rest of the night, Mu Hanxia remains in the factory, deploying the materials and rearranging the production schedules with colleagues. Lin Mochen and other two managers stay in an office, discussing on and on. Actually, Mu Hanxi found that he has some principles of his own about how to appoint people. Take herself as an example. Although he takes her along very often and thinks high of her, he only involves her in the marketing planning and management aspects, that is, the brighter sides of the position. But he never gets her involved in those under-table schemes.

Summer #25

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

Chapter 25

Chief Zhang, who is the host today, smiles: “This is a friend of mine, Miss Xue. Like Chief Lin, she is also back from America to start her own business. I took the liberty to invite her to our dinner.”

Miss Xue stands up and holds out her hand to Lin Mochen: “Nice to meet you, Chief Lin. I’m Xue Ning. You can call me Serena.”

Lin Mochen smiles lightly and shakes hands with her, “Nice to meet you, Serena.”

Xue Ning also responses with a little smiles, “I heard about you when I was in the U.S., Jason.”

Chief Zhang, who’s standing by them, interrupts, “Oh? Miss Xue graduated from Cornell University. Do the two of you happen to be alumni of the same university?”

Lin Mochen replies, “I graduated from Columbia University.”

Someone else nearby says with a smile, “Both from famous foreign universities. Super! Super!”

Xue Ning smiles and then holds out her hands to Mu Hanxia: “Manager Mu, nice to meet you!”

At the first glimpse of her sitting alone in the corner, Mu Hanxia is already amazed by her outstanding appearance. Now when formally greeted, Mu Hanxia still feels somewhat stunned.

Xue Ning is so beautiful. Black silky hair, a face creamy white as a polished jade, clear eyes, and rosy lips, it’s the kind of beauty that’s unusually fair-looking, graceful and gentle. It’s hard to tell the brands of her clothes, but apparently their texture is superb, and style delicate. Besides, her disposition is fabulous. Her eyes are like the polished black gem and make your heart skip a bit when they gaze at you. Mu Hanxia holds her hand in hers, feeling like holding a soft piece of jade.

Meeting her tender eyes, Mu Hanxia’s heartbeat quietly speeds up a little. She smiles, “Serena, nice to meet you!”

“Chief Lin, Miss Xue, please take the head seats.” says Chief Zhang.

Xue Ning glances up at Lin Mochen. He bows slightly, beckoning her to go first. Xue Ning lowers her eyes smilingly, withdrawing a glance that’s already extremely charming. They walk over to the table together.

A sudden but strong thought pops up in Mu Hanxia’s mind: they look like a perfect match for each other!

Wines are toasted, the hosts and guests talk and laugh so loudly.

From Mu Hanxia’s perspective, Lin Mochen, whose face is slightly red from the wines, looks more handsome and imposing among the group of business people. He occasionally exchanges a few words smilingly in a low voice with Xue Ning by his side. What they’ve been talking about, she can’t tell. But Xue Ning’s cheeks are also red, her eyes bright with flowing colors.

Chief Xie, who has finished drinking with everyone else at the table, wants to drink with Xue Ning. Xue Ning waves her hand and says that she doesn’t drink. But Chief Xie won’t give up and just keeps urging. Xue Ning frowns slightly, and Chief Zhang tries to help: “Xie Lin, can’t you take it easy?” Then Lin Mochen picks up his glass of wine and smiles, “Chief Xie, you are prejudiced. You only drink with the beautiful lady.Why don’t you drink with me, your business partner?”

Xie Lin chuckles and dries the glass with Lin Mochen, which puts an end to the incident. Xue Ning pours a hot cup of tea, hands it to Lin Mochen, and asks in a low voice, “Jason, are you doing OK?”

Lin Mochen smiles lightly, “I’m fine.” But Xue Ning grabs his arm and squeezes it a little, signaling him to drink no more. Lin Mochen glances at her hand, smiles, and nods.

Mu Hanxia is smiling all the time and interacting with those sitting beside her. However, even though it’s so noisy around her, she just feels a little absent minded. She feels like a bottle of bitter water was spilled in her heart, the light bitterness spreads all over quietly. But a few times, she feels Lin Mochen’s eyes rest on her.

Somehow, the education experiences of those two are brought up again. Someone suddenly asks, “Manager Mu is so young and so talented. You must have graduated from some famous university too, right?” And everybody looks in Mu Hanxia’s way.

Mu Hanxia pauses a little and says, “I don’t...”

Lin Mochen interrupts her suddenly, “I’m lucky that I could invite someone so talented as Manager Mu to help me. Diploma is just unimportant and irrelevant here.”

People are all taken aback, but then nod in agreement with smiles. Then the subject is changed to something else.

Mu Hanxia speaks no more. She looks up and meets Lin Mochen’s eyes. They gaze at each other for a moment before looking away.

When the dinner is over, they go downstairs. Chief Zhang arranges a car to send Lin Mochen and Mu Hanxia to the hotel they are going to stay. Xue Ning also has her own driver waiting. Her car is a Bentley.

They wait for the lady to go first. Xue Ning walks to her car and then turns around, “Jason, about the favorable policy for start-ups...”

Lin Mochen walks over and starts talking to her again.

Mu Hanxia remains where she is, looking up at the fountain at the hotel entrance that’s like a crystal curtain, as well as the glowing neon lights. She is somewhat lost in her own thoughts.

After a while, Lin Mochen walks back and the Bentley is gone. He gives Mu Hanxia a glance and says, “Let’s go.”

The driver is from Chief Zhang, so they can’t talk too much in the car. Lin Mochen keeps his eyes shut all the way, and Mu Hanxia just stares at the night view of Lin City outside the window. When they arrive at the hotel, Mu Hanxia goes to check in first, then they take the elevator upstairs.

There’s no one else in the elevator. So it feels quiet and empty. Lin Mochen starts, “Go to bed early. We have a lot of things to do tomorrow.”

Mu Hanxi: “Mmm.”

Seeing her extreme quietness, Lin Mochen speaks no more.

“Ding...” They step out the elevator and go into their own rooms.

The hotel was reserved by Lin Mochen earlier, a five-star one. Mu Hanxia has never stayed in such a good hotel. It’s so splendid, so clean and elegant. But she lies in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. After a while she suddenly realizes the problem -- she’s hungry. The kind of dinner they had, how could it fill her stomach?

She sits up, gets out of the bed, and leaves the room.

Lin Mochen takes a shower first after he gets into his room. Then he lies in bed and picks up the cellphone. What he sees first is the number Xue Ning left him just now. He remembers the pretty and graceful image of Xue Ning. Although he doesn’t know her background, she must have a strong one since Chief Zhang and others treated her so politely as an important guest. What’s more unusual is that she is a woman who gives people a comfortable feeling.

After a moment’s quietness, he then sees Mu Hanxia in his mind. She was extremely quiet and a little preoccupied today at the dinner. He drops the cellphone and picks up the internal phone, dialing the number of next door. Before the call gets through, he already has a habitual smile showing at the corner of his month.

But, nobody answers the phone.

--------

There’s a small street near the hotel. The night lights have just been turned on and all kinds of food stands are ready for business, their aromas flowing into the nostrils of people passing by. Mu Hanxia feels so familiar. She finds a relatively clean stand and sits down. She orders some kebabs and beers, chats with the owner, leaving all the messy tangles out of her worries. She feels so relaxed.

But when she is half-way through with the food, she receives the message from Lin Mochen: “Where are you?”

Mu Hanxia stares at it for a while, then replies: “I’m having a midnight snack.”

“Address?”

She sends him the address.

Shortly after, he walks over from the street intersection. With a piece of potato in her mouth, she glances at him under the dark night sky. He no longer wears the suit. Instead he has on a navy blue casual outfit, unexpectedly handsome and radiant.

Mu Hanxia doesn’t even want to give a second look.

He comes to her table, glances around, but sits down at last.

“What’s the matter?”

He looks at her coolly: “You run around in an unfamiliar city so late in the night. What if something happens?”

Mu Hanxia smiles slightly: “Sorry. This is so close to the hotel and there are so many people. Based on my rich midnight snack experience, nothing will happen. And you...would you like some food too?”

“No, thank you.”

Mu Hanxia doesn’t try to persuade him any more. Instead, she orders the eggplants that he likes. After a few minutes, the eggplants are grilled and sent to the table. She takes out a pair of unused chopsticks, split the sticks apart and rubs them carefully before handing them over to him: “Give it a try? The taste is good here.”

He glances at her, takes over the chopsticks and gives it a try.

They just sit there and enjoy the food like this, neither mentioning the dinner this evening or Xue Ning. In the soft street light, the smoke rises leisurely from the barbecue stand. Some people pass them on bicycles. Mu Hanxia looks up and smiles at him from time to time, enjoying the food enormously.

Lin Mochen came unperturbed but didn’t expect he would eventually sit at the street side like a young fellow, eating barbecue food with her. And it feels so natural. In his heart, he feels so calm, so at home.

After finishing the food, Mu Hanxia takes out her purse to pay, but Lin Mochen pays with his money. They walk side by side along the small path dappled by street light, walk along the big street so quiet in the deep night, and then walk to the brightly lit hotel entrance. Mu Hanxia suddenly recalls the last night they met in Jiang City, when they walked silently together for quite a distance just like this. But then he mercilessly gave her a stab in the back.

If this guy doesn’t say anything, you will never know his heart.

At the door of Mu Hanxia’s room, she looks up at him smilingly: “Good night, Jason.”

Lin Mochen gazes at her, his eyes as dark as the night sky.

“Good night, Summer.”

(I guess there are some readers who are following the story. I apologize to you for the slow progress of translation. I have been so busy lately and will stay busy for a while. So the translation may not come out as frequently as before. But I will try to find time for at least a few more chapters, hopefully until the couple formally establish their romantic relationship. Again, thank you for visiting my blog space and bearing with my less-than-satisfactory English. -- Palmtree H.)

Summer #24

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

Chapter 24

When Mu Hanxia gets home, it’s already past 2 in the morning. Probably because it’s a weekend, people next door haven’t gone to bed yet. Light shows through from under their door.

Mu Hanxia goes into her room very quietly and changes her clothes. Then she goes to wash herself quickly in the bathroom and finally lies down into the bed.

Out the window, the night gets even colder. The withering trees are growing old quietly. Somewhere the water tap is not completely turned off, or the pipe is leaking, making the very clear “drip, drip” sound.

Mu Hanxia turns and tosses and can’t fall asleep.

After a while, when she finally feels sleepy, the people next door suddenly begin the bed shaking sound. And it’s 3:30 in the morning. Mu Hanxia snatches the pillow and covers it on her ears, but it simply doesn’t work tonight. The annoying sound just keeps pouring into her ears and drives her sleepiness away.

She holds back for a long time and finally can’t hold any more. So she gets up, opens the door and slams it shut, so loudly that the walls seem to be shaking. It suddenly becomes quiet next door. Next, she rushes to the bathroom. With the door open, she presses down the handle of the toilet tank, making the flushing sound. After all this, she goes back to her room, locks the door, and lies back down.

It is still quiet next door.

Mu Hanxia suddenly feels very complicated, hard to tell whether she’s feeling better or even worse. She stares blankly at the little bit of frost-colored moonlight beside her bed. After some time, the squeaky sound of bed shaking from the other side of the wall comes back again.

Mu Hanxia grabs her ear buds, puts them on, and lies there completely motionless.

The next day she gets up much later than usual. When she pulls the door open, the couple are having breakfast in the living room. Before they show anything on their faces, Mu Hanxia smiles first and says very politely, “I’m so sorry. I came home very late last night. I’d drunk some alcohol for my work-related stuff and might have made quite some noise. I apologize if I disturbed you.”

Before the girl can say anything, the guy smiles, “It’s all right. We’re watching a movie and didn’t quite notice. Have you eaten yet? Would you join us?”

The girl also smiles.

Mu Hanxia shakes her hand hastily, “No, no, thank you. I have to go to the company for some extra work.”

Getting out from the apartment and closing the door behind her, Mu Hanxia lightly heaves a breath and gets into the subway station.

--------

Lin Mochen still feels some headache as a result of over-drinking last night. But he is in a good mood, because the two big stores have both been launched with success. The influence they have in the apparel business circle of Beijing is phenomenal. The income of each store has far exceeded other brands. Now a substantial amount of profit is flowing into his pocket on a daily basis.

He notices that Mu Hanxia hasn’t arrived when he gets to the office. In the past, she always arrived before him. Lin Mochen has been drinking his coffee for a while when, through the glass wall, he sees Mu Hanxia walk in with a cold face.

Lin Mochen gazes at her. She doesn’t look his way, but just takes her scarf off and talks with the colleague beside her, finally showing her sweet and warm smiles.

“Ah, yes, it’s way too cold outside.” Her voice can be vaguely heard.

So it’s because of the coldness. Lin Mochen turns his eyes away.

However, it’s not long before he notices that something is wrong. Although she is still highly attentive and effective and all smiles when he assigns her work several times during the day, she doesn’t meet his eyes.

It’s almost noon and there are not many people in the office now. Lin Mochen picks up the internal phone and calls her: “Come in here.”

Mu Hanxia takes her time before walking into his office. She looks up at him smilingly, “Jason, what’s the matter?”

Lin Mochen gazes at her eyes: “What did I say to you last night?”

Mu Hanxia is stunned.

They look at each other, his eyes so compelling. Mu Hanxia turns her head slowly aside and smiles with a self-mockery: “You said...I haven’t done my job well enough.”

 Although Lin Mochen can’t drink much, he behaves well after getting drunk and seldom says something inappropriate. He really doesn’t remember clearly what happened last night. He just vaguely recalls that he was in the same room with Mu Hanxia at some time. Seeing the natural look on her face with the stubborn and hurt emotion hidden in her eyes, at the moment, he believes what she says.

So he smiles lightly and says, “Why, feeling bitter because of the boss’s criticism?”

Mu Hanxia: “Can’t I?”

“No, you can’t.”

Mu Hanxia responses with a “humph” under her breath.

He looks at her seemingly still unpleasant eyes, is silent for a moment, and speaks again, “I said wrongs things after getting drunk. I must have been joking. Your work performance is rather good, but can be better. You understand?”

His voice is unusually warm and gentle. Mu Hanxia feels as if her heart is stroked lightly by something. She keeps her face straight for a while and then can’t hold back her smiles, “I understand.”

Seeing her smiling face, Lin Mochen feels somehow happy too. He says, “Go with me to Lin City next week.”

Mu Hanxia is very surprised: “Lin City?”

“Yes, Lin City in the big southwest region. We are going there to open stores.”

--------

Three days later.

The plane is flying through the ocean of clouds; the sun is high and bright. It’s the first time for Mu Hanxia to travel by air, not to mention traveling first-class. She leans against the broad and cozy chair, gripping the armrest with both hands, but can’t help looking outside at the sunshine, the clouds, the sky, and the far, far away ground.

“Scared?” Asks Lin Mochen, who is sitting by her side.

“How can it be possible?” Mu Hanxia replies, trying not to show anything.

Lin Mochen just smiles.

Mu Hanxia asks, “Why go to Lin City for the business?”

Lin Mochen answers, “Establish the brand in the first-tier city and then harvest profits in the second-tier cities.”

Mu Hanxia thinks for an moment and agrees it’s right.

“But why Lin City?” She asks again.

Lin Mochen puts his book down and looks at her: “Didn’t you do the regional economy analysis? Lin City is the most developed city in the whole southwest region and is the rising center of the region. Besides, I’ve found partners and funds, why shouldn’t I go?”

Mu hanxia replies with a “Oh” and says, “Lin City is good.”

After a while, she starts again, “I heard from Su Yin that you were born in Lin City?”

Glancing at her, Lin Mochen replies, “Yes.”

But Mu Hanxia pursues no further. She picks up the newspaper to flip through.

Lin Mochen reaches out and gives her a gentle pinch on the back of her neck.

“You are so appropriately smart.”

--------

Once they arrive in the city, they are picked up by a car arranged by the partner company and dropped off directly at a luxurious hotel in the city. Pulling the door open into the private dining room, they walk into the glamorous light. A few people already are sitting at the round table.

Lin Mochen walks over with smiles on his face and greets each of them, with Mu Hanxia at his heel.

“How are you, Chief Zhang? Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Ah, Chief Lin, please don’t mention it.” A middle-aged lanky man says smilingly, “You are doing so wonderfully in Beijing. Now you are willing to come develop with us in Lin City, how could we not welcome you with all our heart?”

Lin Mochen smiles lightly and shakes hands with another man with a big size: “Chief Xie, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Looking forward to our collaboration.” Chief Xie’s eyes are almost squeezed into a thin line: “Chief Lin, we’ve come to agreement on the phone that the fabrics from my factory will be supplied to you exclusively starting next month. Let’s make money together, Haha!”

Lin Mochen replies, “That’s for sure. You are introduced to me by Chief Deng from the Ru Yi Group, and we certainly will collaborate. Besides, it’s all because you that we can have fabrics with such a low price and high quality. I appreciate it very much.”

Chief Xia laughs loudly.

“This is our marketing manager, Mu Hanxia.” Lin Mochen introduces. Mu Hanxia greets each of them with her sweetest smiles. She is honey lipped and soon the bosses all smile: “Manager Mu, you’re so charming.” “So young and so talented!”

There is also a woman who sits at the table, quietly watching them with smiles all the time. Mu Hanxia and Lin Mochen have noticed her since the moment they walk in.

So Lin Mochen inquires, “And this is?”

Summer #23

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

Chapter 23

Summer is gone and Autumn is here.

Two months have slipped by like the light between fingers.

Today is a cool sunny day, Mu Hanxia is standing under a big tree by the street side, drinking from a water bottle. Nearby is a scene of excitement. It’s the grand opening of the second store of Feng Cheng this year. Right now, it’s filled with customers inside. At the door there are piles of flower baskets and the ground is covered with colorful confetti.

Her cellphone rings. She sticks out her tongue at the name on the screen before picking up, “Hi, Jason.”

“Where are you?”

“Outside the door.”

“What are you doing there?”

“...taking a rest.”

Sure enough, Lin Mochen chuckles on the other end, “While I’m working like crazy here, Manager Mu is taking a rest? Come up here.”

“Oh...” Mu Hanxia hangs up the phone and goes back into the store.

There are a few small offices on the second floor. Some store assistants greet her while walking past: “Hi, Manager Mu.” “Hello, Manager Mu.”

Mu Hanxia nods smilingly, no long blushing with timidness as two months ago.

Lin Mochen sits in one of the offices, a stack of data reports in his hand, talking to the store manager beside him. He is wearing a solid black suit and a white shirt, complete with a dark red tie. Plus the wrist watch and leather shoes, he gives a noble feel all over. Just sitting there in a casual manner, he is already very imposing.

Mu Hanxia walks over.

The store manager has finished his report. He smiles at Mu Hanxia and walks out. Lin Mochen looks up at her, “Boss Mu, where have you been enjoying yourself?”

“Boss, I was just taking a break outside...”

The corner of Lin Mochen’s mouth goes up a little, but he does not keep on ridiculing her. Mu Hanxia sits down beside him, picks up some of the reports, drags the laptop over, and starts to continue the work with him.

“The W3-11 product?”

“It sells 33 pieces, mostly sizes M and L.”

“Gross interest rate?”

“33%.”

“Data on the same day from the first store?”

“Forty-three pieces, 45%, M, L.”

“Percentage of inventory?”

“40%, plenty. Five styles need to add inventory.”

...

The two of them go on rapidly with one asking and the other answering. Employees sometimes pass their door, but none dares to make any noise lest they would disturb them. They have the same concentrated look and apparently collaborate perfectly in such a manner.

In fact, at the very beginning, Mu Hanxia couldn’t follow Lin Mochen’s thinking pace and searching speed. The first time she assisted him, she looked in the computer for some data for 10 minutes and still couldn’t find it. Lin Mochen sneered at her right on the spot, “Ahh... I hired a log for myself?”

At that time she even argued, “Such a huge computer system, and a whole desktop of data reports. How could one possibly find the data from them so easily?”

But Lin Mochen just fixed his eyes on her, “Every single outstanding marketing manager I’ve ever met had all the market data printed in their mind. With no exception. Otherwise, how do you think they could maintain the extraordinary acuteness about the market? Mu Hanxia, you are really hard-working.”

Mu Hanxia was stunned at his words.

Lin Mochen ignored her after that.

After a while, she got close to him and whispered, “Jason, I was wrong. I was too narrow. Thank you for teaching me.”

He glanced at her.

She put on that meek and compliant attitude.

They looked at each other for a moment, and his palm gave her a gentle pat on the head: “What else is delaying you? Get to work.”

......

Having worked for quite a while, she feels a little thirsty. Glancing at the cup beside her, she notices it’s empty. Just as she reaches for it to get a refill, a hand stretches over and grabs it first.

Lin Mochen stands up, with the two cups in his hand, and walks toward the drinking water machine.

Mu Hanxia gazes at his back while he bends to fill the cups, and feels her heart as gentle and hazy as the night outside the window.

Lin Mochen turns around and their eyes catch each other.

His eyes are deep quiet water.

Right at the moment, the store manager and a few other managers come over, all beaming: “Jason, the opening today is so successful. Shouldn’t we have a celebration dinner?”

Lin Mochen smiles too, “OK. You folks pick the place.”

There’s a burst of cheers.

They go to the most expensive seafood restaurant nearby. The atmosphere is excellent and they all eat to their heart’s contend. Even Lin Mochen has drunk a lot. He sits at the head seat, eyes clear and bright and expression a little laid back.

After the dinner, the group is still unsatisfied and cries for Karaoke party. Lin Mochen agrees readily. They then go to a Karaoke club, ask for a luxurious private room, and order a lot of beverages and snacks.

A few vivacious girls run to pick songs. Someone asks, “Boss, would you sing a song for us?” Everybody cheers for the suggestion. But Lin Mochen just leans in the coach and says, “You guys enjoy yourselves.”

Of course no one will pursue the request again.

Mu Hanxia picks up a popcorn and pops it into her mouth. Actually, she likes to sing. But the colleagues are all nice to her, she’d better not torture them...So, forget it.

“Won’t you sing?” Asks Lin Mochen, who is sitting next to her, his voice slightly husky as a result of drinking.

Mu Hanxia shakes her head.

“Awful to hear?”

Mu Hanxia gives him a fierce stare.

He chuckles.

Mu Hanxia: “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.”He says slowly, “Thought you would be very active on occasions like this.”

Looking at his eyes that are darker than usual, Mu Hanxia suddenly realizes, could it be that he’s a little drunken? Somehow her spirit suddenly rises high, and with a light “Humph”, she picks up the juice and drinks quietly beside him. He doesn’t speak either. With his eyes half closed, he listens to others’ singing with her.

After a while, his cellphone rings, the ringing sound can hardly be heard in the noisy music.

He picks up: “Huh...you are in Beijing now? I’m outside with people form the company. Ok, I will send you the address.”

Putting the phone down, he waits a while and calls someone over, “Xiao Wang, go take someone in from the lobby.”

“Boss, who’s it?”

“Cheng Weiwei. She heard that we are celebrating and wants to join us.”

 They immediately understand.

Everybody knows Cheng Weiwei, because her Yong Zheng is a major client of Feng Cheng. Each month, a significant part of Feng Cheng’s production goes to the multiple stores of Yong Zheng. In the last two months, Cheng Weiwei flied Beijing several times, and every time she would visit their company.

There are guesses about the relationship between Lin Mochen and her. But except for business, they do not seem to have other interactions. Beside, Lin Mochen never goes to Jiang Cheng, so gradually few people gossip any more.

When Cheng Weiwei came to the company she met Mu Hanxia. She was surprised the first time at seeing her. But they don’t have much contact.

Shortly, Xiao Wang leads someone in. Long flowing hair, delicately applied make-up, a dark red embroidered cape, the slender legs, and high heels, Cheng Weiwei looks dazzling in the colorful lights that flow around.

“Hi, Chief Cheng.” “Hello, Chief Cheng.” Everbody greets her. Some who are more familiar with her even exclaims, “Wow, Weiwei is so pretty today!”

Lin Mochen also greets her with a nod.

Cheng Weiwei glances around smilingly, pausing a second on Mu Hanxia who is sitting next to Lin Mochen, but quickly fixes her eye on Lin Mochen, “Jason, a total victory with the second store today. Congratulations!”

Lin Mochen smiles back: “Come sit here.”

Some get up and some move back to make way for her. Mu Hanxia instinctively moves aside to give her the space beside Lin Mochen. Cheng Weiwei sits down and turns to talk with Lin Mochen, without even a glance at Mu Hanxia.

People go on having fun.

Mu Hanxia chats with a colleague beside her, smelling the very light perfume on Cheng Weiwei. Her talk with Lin Mochen can be clearly heard.

“Class brother, congrats!”

“Thank you.” Their wine glasses click lightly together.

“I’ve brought good news too. Feng Chen’s sales at Yong Zheng has risen another 15% this month. Class brother, how would you thank me?”

“How do you want to be thanked? How about I give you a set of our new products from this season?”

“Just like that? You are really good at calculating, class brother. Both saving money and making me your live advertisement, right?”

“Hah...”

......

Mu Hanxia gets up to go to the bathroom.

--------

Outdoor, the stars are twinkling brightly.

Mu Hanxia is leaning in the corridor to feel the cold air. Someone walks over.

She turns around, and there stands a male colleague from the designing department. He is about 25 or 26 years old, tall and skinny, and looks gentle-mannered . His face blushes a little as a result of drinking. His eyes are especially bright, fixed on her.

Mu Hanxia gives him a small smile.

“Hanxia, here you are. Why no go in?”

“I’m here to catch a breath.”

“Oh.” This is a typical technology type of man, standing beside her and gazing at the sky as she does, trying unsuccessfully to say something.

“Hanxia, do you have a boyfriend?” His ear-lopes are all red.

Mu Hanxia is taken aback. When she was in high school, she received a few love confessions. But these last few years it seldom happened. Somehow, she gets nervous as well: “Huh?”

“I... like you. Would you consider...”The tech guy’s voice is very low but also very sincere.

Mu Hanxia blushes. Fairly speaking, this colleague is not bad. He graduated from a famous university and is very competent at work. He is honest and kind with people. She never would have imagined that such a person would confess his love to her.

She turns to looks at him. She is about to say something when she notices that on the other side of the glass door behind them, there’s someone standing.

Lin Mochen.

Hands in his pant pockets, he peers at them. No, more precisely, he is peering at her. It is gloomy here, but his face looks gloomier.

Mu Hanxia stares at his eyes and her mind can only think of one thing: this spot is so far from the private room, why is he also here at this end?

But the tech guy is still gazing at her earnestly. Mu Hanxia withdraws her gaze, looks at the one in front of her, and says apologetically, “Thank you, but sorry.”

...

The guy walks away very disappointed. The surroundings become quiet again.

But for some reason Mu Hanxia’s heart beats so fast, just like the few stars in the sky above her, bright but cold, flickering silently. She turns to open that glass door, only to find Lin Mochen is no longer there.

She thinks he must have gone back to the room, but after a few steps, she sees the door of a smaller room is half closed with light slipping out, someone is vomiting in there.

She sticks her head in and sees the back of Lin Mochen. Arms propping on the sink, his head hangs and his face pale.

This is a lounge, not a karaoke room. Mu Hanxia immediately pushes the door open and walks over to him: “How come you get like this? Why not drink less if you can’t drink?”

Even though Lin Mochen is drunk, his behavior is still graceful. He takes a towel and lightly wipes the corner of his mouth before saying: “I’m really not good at drinking. But there’s the drinking culture here in China, no matter for business or for personal purposes. If I don’t treat my employees sincerely, how can I make them willingly work hard for me?”

This sounds reasonable. But Mu Hanxia glances at his slightly red but very pale face and wonders whether he is really drunk or not.

He gives her a glance and dumps the towel aside. Then he turns to sit down in the coach and closes his eyes.

Mu Hanxia asks, “Cheng Weiwei is still in that room. Aren’t you going back?”

He says indifferently, “Let her be there if she likes. I’m not a barmaid.”

Mu Hanxia chuckles involuntarily. Seeing his bad look on the face, she goes to the drinking water machine to get him a hot cup of water. Then she hears him speak: “Why not accept him?”

Mu Hanxia looks at the water filling the cup, its surface reflecting the broken gentle lights. But her heart is very quiet at the moment, so quiet as if something is going to break out.

She walks back to him with the water, and says flatly, “I just don’t like him.”

Lin Mochen opens his eyes, without taking the water from her, asks with his slightly husky drunk voice, “Who do you like then?”

Mu Hanxia is quiet for a while, then she suddenly smiles. But she says nothing.

Lin Mochen stares at the smile lingering at the corner of her month, suddenly grabs her hand and drags her into his arms. Mu Hanxia is stunned, only sensing his hand locked around her wrist and the tender warmth in his arms, mixed with the light smell of alcohol.

Her world comes to a sudden stop at this moment.

But the next second, he let her loose and lies back into the coach.

Mu Hanxia is still muddled in her mind. Now she is sure that he is truly drunk. Because he smiles calmly and coldly, just like the smile he has when he makes a business decision.

He says, “Mu Hanxia, don’t fall in love with me, and stop attracting me. Because we are not a good match for each other.”