Don"t Turn from Summer (莫负寒夏) by Ding Mo (丁墨)
Volume II The Too Beautiful Me
Chapter 20
A few days ago, Mu Hanxia rented her room. It’s the smaller room in a two-bedroom apartment. In the other room is a couple. Since she’s new and is polite and modest with everything, they are getting along fine, except during the night.
Another deep night, Mu Hanxia is sound asleep and then she jerks awake. In the next room, there’s the very rhythmic squeaking sound of the bed. She silently grabs her pillow and presses it against her ears.
The moonlight by the bed flows like clear water, dimly lighting up the s.p.a.ce. Although she is not quite used to the house renting, the climate, or the x.x.x on the other side of the wall... all these things about Beijing Drifters [1], she still has some vague aspirations in her heart.
[1: The phrase means those who come to Beijing from other places to find a living but can hardly settle down as a regular resident in the city, mostly because what they earn can hardly support their living expenses there.]
In this quiet deep night, she suddenly thinks of Lin Mochen.
She remembers the last night they met in Jiang Cheng. When she turned around and saw those deep dark eyes of his, how could she have imagined that he was secretly planning to follow her to Hainan and then give her that stab in the back?
To say that Mu Hanxia doesn’t mind what he did in the least bit, it’s impossible. But as she told He Jing, she can understand. Based on the weak relation between Lin Mochen and her, could she possibly hope that he would pity her and give in to her in the business world?
But those are no longer important. What’s important, is the opportunity that Lin Mochen offers, possibly the best opportunity she could ever have at the present. She has to grasp it firmly.
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The next moring, while those in the next room are still quietly asleep, Mu Hanxia has left home. First taking the subway for 30 minutes, then bus for another 30 minutes, she arrives at Lin Mochen’s company. From now on, it will also be her company.
The first thing today is to complete the employment procedures. The HR director is a efficient yet amiable lady in her 30s. But she is slightly taken aback when she sees her educational background on the form: “You’re a high school graduate? And your undergraduate diploma is earned through self-education?”
Mu Hanxia answers, “Yes.”
The director nods, “OK, I see.”
Mu Hanxia asks, “Director, the employees at the company, they all have very good degrees, right?”
The Director gives her a smile and says, “That’s probably right. The colleagues in the Designing Department mostly hold degrees from Tsinghua or other renowned foreign inst.i.tutions. In my HR Department, the worst is from People’s University. But, I think as Jason hires you, he must have his reasons. Just work hard.”
Mu Hanxia says smilingly, “I will, thank you.” But inwardly she still gets a little nervous because of her words.
“Oh, there’s only you in the Marketing Department right now. So please sit with the colleagues in the Designing Department for now.”
Mu Hanxia is stunned.
The office area is an open s.p.a.ce with all the employees sitting together. Only Lin Mochen and a few directors have their own offices. There are only a dozen employees in the office now. As soon as Mu Hanxia sits down in her new seat, a young girl nearby sticks her head over, “Hi, I’m Luo Kun from the Operation Department.” Another young man stands up: “Hi new colleague, I’m Chen Zhiduo from the Designing Department.”
Mu Hanxia shakes hands and says hi with each of them, sensing their kindness and gracefulness, so different from those supermarket employees.
Right at the time, Lin Mochen arrives.
“Chief Lin.” “Morning, Jason.” Many employees greet him. He holds a cup of coffee from Starbucks, suit jacket in his arm and the shirt and tie neatly worn. He smiles lightly, giving a warm scholarly feeling in his expression. Mu Hanxia suddenly realizes -- so this is what he’s like in front of his own people.
His eyes rest on Mu Hanxia as well, and he walks toward her. Mu Hanxia stares at him, thinking to herself that it must be some kind of a hoax that he asked her to come be the “marketing manager.” There’s only her in the department, which makes manager or a.s.sistant no difference at all.
Although having these thoughts, she puts on a professional smile on her face. Lin Mochen stops to stand beside her. They quietly glance into each other’s eyes, and he puts his arm lightly around her shoulder, facing everybody: “Everyone, this is the new manager of our Marketing Department, Mu Hanxia. She has made wonderful achievements in the supermarket system in Jiang Cheng. I hope in the future Manager Mu will work with us to achieve the goals of our company.”
Unexpectedly, Mu Hanxia feels a surge of warmth in her heart. Applause rise around her. She hurriedly bows, “Thank you!” The hand on her shoulder slips off with her bow. When she looks up, he smiles a little and turns to his office.
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The following time of the day, Mu Hanxia just sits in her seat to go through the company files. It’s such a surprise. The Feng Chen by Lin Mochen is actually in the apparel business. Mu Hanxia feels it difficult to a.s.sociate Lin Mochen with apparel business. But this, however, explains why the apparel at Yong Zheng was done so professionally and effectively.
Lin Mochen has bought an apparel factory, which is in the suburban area of Beijing. The main parts of the company include the Designing Department, the Operation Department and the Human Resources Department, all working on the management and services in the storefront which will open next month. The others are just some loose positions, such as administration, finance, front desk, and of course her own grand Marketing Department.
Soon it’s noontime. Luo Kun and Chen Ziduo beside her are both out on errands. The other colleagues either order carry-outs, or go out for lunch. Mu Hanxia is not familiar with anybody, so she goes downstairs alone. Standing in the street, all she sees are fancy restaurants. She doesn’t want to go to those.
The most affordable and civilian friendly restaurant is KxC. But even that costs 30 yuan, plus she does like the food their.
She is still hesitating in front of the KxC when a voice comes from behind, “Didn’t I offer you enough salary? You can’t even afford this junk food?”
Mu Hanxia turns around. The sun is so strong that the white shirt on Lin Mochen feels dazzling to her eye. She answers, “Afford...yes I can afford. But what a waste to spend my 30 yuan on this. Besides it doesn’t taste good at all.”
Lin Mochen gives her a glance and says, “Follow me.”
So Mu Hanxia follows him, pa.s.sing through the long street and going around the small alleys, to a restaurant that looks rather quiet and elegant. Mu Hanxia is a little embarra.s.sed with the prospect of scrounging a free meal from him, but Lin Mochen doesn’t even plan to ask for her ideas and just leads the way in. She has some questions for him anyway, she decides.
They walk in. There are quite many customers at this hour. In the hallway, a waiter walk past them with a plate filled with food. Lin Mochen turns sideways to shun him, leaning lightly on Mu Hanxia. He is a head taller than Mu Hanxia, whose shoulder is now against his chest. Neither budges, as if they haven’t felt anything. But Mu Hanxia feels her heart ripples slightly like a lake, very quietly. Next second, he moves away and leads the way toward an empty table.
Mu Hanxia sits across him at the table. He picks up the menu and pa.s.ses it to her. Mu Hanxia waves her hand, “I don’t know what to order. You do it please.”
He glances a her and opens the menu: “Anything you’d like to eat?”
Mu Hanxia thinks to herself, his gentleman manners on the surface is really flawless. She smiles and says, “I’ve tasted none of them. Anything will do.”
So, Lin Mochen beckons the waiter over and orders all the signature dishes in the restaurant. Mu Hanxia stops him hastily, “Well... Chief Lin, that’s more than enough. We won’t be able to eat them all up.”
Lin Mochen has a coolness on his face, “Hmm. I don’t like to waste. If you can’t eat them up then pack them up.”
Mu Hanxia: “...”