You and Me in Time (Our Glamorous Time) 你和我的倾城时光 by Ding Mo (HE)

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• I’ve heard good things about author, Ding Mo, but her previous crime thriller novels are reputed to be quite detailed and hair-raising. Since most of my reading is done in the late night hours, I have chosen to pass for now on those ones. This is her brand new novel, hot off the (internet) press, just completed in March. It is a well-written novel with not just a sweet romance but also a good plotline.

  The story is set in a backdrop of intense corporate battles in the bag/handbag industry. While I have read several stories that use the corporate setting before, the business aspect of those stories were literally like backdrops in a play that were dropped in and out out of convenience but not really getting deeply involved in the plot. However, the corporate maneuvering and strategizing in this novel takes center stage, as Li Zhicheng, a former commander in the army, comes back to his family’s ailing corporation, Aida, which is hovering on the brink of bankruptcy, to try to restore it to its former glory days in a competition-intense industry.

  林浅 Lin Qian:
  The novel is told 90% from our female lead’s perspective. It’s written in a light, easy-to-read tone with occasional humor thrown in. Unlike the usual boss-subordinate romances in which the girl is usually an average, not very intelligent assistant or low-level worker, Lin Qian is a young but extremely talented, business-smart woman who can stand and hold her own in front of the men, yet is still feminine and pretty. Lin Qian is a well-created female lead, definitely not a Mary Sue type character. While she is smart and prides herself on her abilities and creativity, she is still relatively inexperienced and cannot compare with the shrewdness of the two most important men in her life, Li Zhicheng and her brother, Lin Mochen. However, there is plenty of opportunity in the story for her to showcase her talents, and we watch as she also matures, both in business as well as in her relationship with the man she loves. Ding Mo has also created her character flaw in that she can be emotional, putting her heart on her sleeve, which is a no-no in the business world.

  厉致诚Li Zhicheng:
  Former commander in the army, this man should not have any business sense at all, given his background. However, his penetrating strategizing leads him to create wonder after wonder and shakes the entire industry. The author actually takes war tactics from Sun Tzu’s Art of War and works them into his business strategy. He is calm, cool, shrewd, and a man of few words. In romance, though, he is persistent, loyal, and although a true manly man (though not in a chauvinistic way), his gentleness and deep respect for Lin Qian are touching. I normally don’t care for the manly man type of male characters, but his reference to Lin Qian as “his woman” and his desire to protect her is all very endearing.

  There are several other well fleshed-out characters in this novel, which is one of the strong points about this story. I won’t mention them all, but I have to talk about the one who has completely won me over.

  林莫臣Lin Mochen (Jason Lin):
  Lin Qian’s older brother. Brilliant businessman and investor on Wall Street, equaled by no one except Li Zhicheng. Even though the two leads are great, I feel like Lin Mochen stole the show for me. The author doesn’t give too much screen time to him. In fact, until the last story arc, most of what we understand about him comes only from short telephone conversations. But, we are given just enough info and exposure to this character to be completely pulled in – his handsome exterior, his hinted painful romantic past, his business success and corresponding superiority to go with it, his unconditional love for his sister that borders on doting on her and makes this cunning businessman so attractive. Aaaaah! Be still, my heart. (BTW, despite being a Wallace Huo fan, I keep imagining Wallace Chung as Mochen.) Lin Qian is so lucky to be protected and loved by these two ridiculously smart and amazing men.

  After a slower, albeit not boring start that sets the scene on the terrible state of Aida Corporation and introduction to our two main leads, the story jumps right into business strategizing. We are given hints to Li Zhicheng’s brilliance, but because the story is mainly told from Lin Qian’s perspective, it is suspenseful as we wonder how in the world is he going to turn the tides around. The author has thought through the plot and the readers are like observers of a brilliant chess game as we watch as pieces get positioned. We can’t guess how the game is going to ultimately play out but it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

  Romance wise, it is a boy-meets-girl, fall-in-love, stay-in-love type of story. Their romance blossoms very beautifully with its fair share of two people learning about each other and being in a relationship. There is no angst in this aspect, which I’m appreciative of. :) They are sweet together. This is a love story, so there is plenty of that, and it will make you smile. (Note: Bed scenes are rather detailed, although not tasteless).

  So summary: nice romance, good characters, great plot!

• Thanks hoju for the synopsis & detailed review. I've also read good reviews on Ding Mo's books but didn't try any bcos I also read my novels at night & don't like to eat shabu shabu like pm, lol. You've recommended & posted a few books but none of them are my cup of tea but everyone knows I like boss & staff novel so I just jumped straight in & I am at chapter 3 now.

  So far so good, the setting as well as the author's writing skill. The guy is a bit 2 cool for my liking so I hope the girl will melt him, lol. Huh, got abt 80 chapters & abt 400k words. Eeeeee, I am a bit scared by these. Can't the China authors edit a bit of their work to make it maybe 60 chapters which I feel is the perfect length for a novel. Anyway, I'll soldier on & I can feel Xinn & Pm wanting to overtake me from behind, lol.

  A word of warning to those who can only read Viet. Your translated book is not ready yet. Only 32 chapters have been translated so be patient & wait. Bongsd, I gonna beat you for once, lol !!!! It pays to be able to understand Chinese even though I can't read, haha.....

• Thanks Hoju for your review and the character descriptions ^^

  Peanuts, you're so heartless. Prepare yourself mentally to translate the 50 missing chapters for me! Hahaha and I'm gonna dream abt XX not you reading this book, little fox! Good night. :P

• Peanuts, are you reading by google translate?

  Yeah, this one is 2.5 times longer than a Gu Man novel. Ding Mo said, though, that the last story arc may not make it to the hard published copy. Her plans had actually been to end it after the second story arc, when LZC (mini-SPOILER) proposes to Lin Qian. The third story arc is about international companies entering into China's market, competing with national brands, acquisitions and hostile takeovers of companies, and Chinese pride. It could contain too much "sensitive" material and never get published. Actually, suspense-wise, I found the last story arc less interesting, but I like it because in some ways, it evens out the ground between Lin Qian and Li Zhicheng, and makes her his equal in their relationship. It was a good way to mature their relationship. (More to say after you've read it... Don't want to put in spoilers.) Plus, big brother Lin Mochen takes on a bigger role here and has my favorite scene of him. <3

  LZC is not my favorite male lead. He's too impassive for my taste, too, but h is likable, especially later. Yes, he melts quite a bit when he is trying to court Lin Qian and even more when they become a couple. It is actually a nice contrast between his cold, business only personality in the office and then when he is with her. Helps him gain brownie points in the readers' eyes.

• Why do I get the feel that this is a mix between Ding Mo's other book "When a Snail Loves" and Tong Hua's "Secret Lost in Time" with all the Wall Street geniuses and both male leads ending with "Cheng"?

  Definately interested and hope to check out this book soon. Thank you for the write-up!

• Yes, google translate, my beloved robot lol. Yet, I also don't understand those wordings from The Art of War written by LZC on paper. I guess one needs to have studied Chinese to understand it. But it is ok bcos I watch enought HK drama to know the corporate tactics, haha...

  I've huff & puff my way to more than a qtr of the novel. OMG, 1 chapter is really long. At times, it feels a bit boring as the author is too descriptive with the corporate stuff. Yet, there are always enough happenings & surprises to keep you going.

  I think LZC can be considerend a 'mensao' male bcos he is really bland & quiet, a man of few words. Yet, it creates an air of mystery in the little things that he did or said. I won't say I like this kind of male lead but he is something diff after I've read so many belly black males, lol. As for the girl, nothing special except more intelligent but still lovely & cute.

  I am not sure what to feel for the supporting males bcos at times I feel they are wasting my time, lol. But they are also interesting enough for me to want to know more about them especially the boss of their number 1 rival. The writer is so cunning to hint that he used to date the female lead but is now married to another woman who is the heiress of another bag coy.

• I agree. I don't adore the male and female leads, but I like them. Overall, it's the story that is the most interesting, although there are parts in the romance that I find touching. May translate one of those parts... or my favorite scene of big brother Lin Mochen.

  Anyways, this is the war strategy after the first story arc, when Lin Qian realizes Li Zhicheng is a lot smarter than she first believed. Going back into the "battle" and seeing how LZC followed out this plan was neat.

  请君入瓮
  “To invite him into the cooking vessel.” Otherwise known as, “give him a taste of his own medicine.” Basically, to use the same strategy that a person devised back against him.

  借刀杀人
  “To murder with a borrowed knife.” To use another person to get rid of an adversary or to use someone else’s hands to do the dirty work.

  声东击西
  “Declaring in the east but then striking in the west.” To divert the attention away from where the real attack is being made.

  城门立木
  “To erect a wooden stake at the city gate.”
  The story behind this: In the ancient Qin state, Shang Yang (an important statesman) ordered someone to erect a wooden stake at the south city gate with the word that, anyone who moved the stake from the south gate to the north gate would be given the reward of 10 gold pieces. The people did not believe that such a simple task could bring such a great reward and no one responded. Shang Yang increased the reward to 50 gold pieces. Finally, someone hesitantly went and moved the stake to the north gate. Shang Yang immediately gave out the reward as promised. The common people all praised the government for keeping their word. This saying now carries the meaning of using a very conspicuous way to get people’s attention, then build one’s reputation and then prove that one will always keep their word.

  以逸待劳
  “To wait at ease for the fatigued.” To hold one’s position at ease while the enemy exhausts themselves in the attack, or to lie in wait for the fatigued enemy to arrive.

• Is this Ding Mo's latest book? I went thru my list and it wasn't there, so I assumed it must be her latest since I've not been updating myself with this author's work.

  I've just starting reading it, thanks to Hoju's detailed review, sounds like a must read esp since I so loved When A Snail Loves. Although I must agree with my shifu that 400k words are a tad too lengthy.

• After I found out Xinn is reading this, I spent all my energy to beat her, lol. I can see the finishing line now, haha...At last, my Lin gege has gone back to China. DM said she may write a book on him. Pls write a book on him bcos he is the most interesting character in the whole book. Without him, I would have abandoned this book ages ago. Initially, I was thinking how dare that hoju relegated my beloved WC into supporting role? She must have wanted to keep the best role for her WH:P After I've gone thru 80% of the novel, I totally agree with her. Hoju, I am sorry for doubting you & I'll trust you with my life in the future, lol.

  I don't like LZC even though he is the lead. I don't admire his personality or body but I do admire his intelligence. He is not evil or bad or anything but he is worse. He is boring, yawn yawn:P His answers are always 'Ah' & my responses are also always 'Urgh'. I feel that he is the most boring boss I've ever read, just like a robot. His interactions with LQ are slightly better but I can't feel any cuteness or love. In fact, I think he is a lecherous boss, eeee:P I've to confess I skipped a bit of their romance.

  The only thing that kept me going with this novel is the corporate battles. I can see Ding Mo really put in a lot of effort into writing them. They are quite realistic & very interesting, a refreshing change from books that just gloss over it. She mentioned that female readers may not like it bcos of the lack of romance & more on the corporate stuff. But I beg to differ bcos in this days & ages, I prefer to read abt an exciting business story than a boring love story. I am always kept at the edge of my seat with all the corporate tactics. Ding Mo is also rather creative with her advertisements:)

• Hey Shifu, I don't want to say this but if I had been homebased, I would hv beaten you flat out. Unfortunately, I was travelling again and I only managed to read four chapters while on transit...sob..sob....(yup...shifu, I just felt your two whacks on my head...haha..). But I've just got back and it shall be all system go again as far as reading is concerned.

  That's what I like about DM too. So much research, effort and understanding of the specific area put into each of her book. But if only she shortens her books a little, would hv been much better for illiterate people like me. Nevertheless, I am already so liking this book albeit all the not so exciting comments on the lead male. Oh btw, I am actually reading it from 91baby site and there couple of chapters at the beginning that are not on the site posted here. But whatever it is....no time to waste....back to the book now.