A/N: I know that in Asian tradition the family name is written before an individual's name, however, for this story I have written them in western format with the individual's name before the family name.
Dave and his father bowed to the man and woman before them.
"I am Shang, and this is my wife, Ling Chen."
"I am David Malucci, and this is my son, David Malucci Jr."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir," the four bowed some more.
There was a slight scuffling from the back of the room as a door opened and a bright eyed little boy ran in, giggling as his nanny and an elegant young woman chased him. As soon as the two females noticed their guests their laughter was cut off and they doubled over in a respective and apologetic bow.
"I am sorry father, I did not realize that you had company," the elegantly dressed young woman spoke, her head still bowed and eyes glued to the floor.
"Ah!" Shang chuckled as his toddler wrapped his stubby arms around his legs. "May I present to you my son Lee and my lovely daughter, Jing-Mei."
She glanced up ever so quickly and Dave immediately recognized her as the girl he had seen in the carriage the day before. Knowing that he was looking at her and recognizing her she smiled weakly, her head bowed once more.
Lee giggled and ran off into the other room. Dave kept his gaze on the young woman before him. After a few more seconds a loud crash and bang could be heard from the room into which Lee had run. The maid bowed deeply again and then scuffled off to hopefully get the child under some level of control.
Jing-Mei backed up respectfully into the other room, throwing Dave a glance that quickly appraised him before turning the corner. Once out of sight she leaned her back against the wall and sighed, closing her eyes. She was not used to interaction with males her own age. Especially White males. She placed her right hand over her heart as she breathed in deeply. She could feel it beating so quickly, nearly racking her body. She opened her eyes once more, both frightened and exhilarated by their brief interaction. How she wanted to peek around the corner at him again! Fearing that she would she gathered up her silk robes and trotted outside to a shrine with lovely incense burning, immediately calming her emotions that had suddenly blossomed. What an adventure! First seeing him on the hill and being able to flirt through eye contact… and now he was here, in her father's house! She desperately hoped that he would stay for a meal. If he did what would he say? What would he do? What would she do beyond the formalities society demanded of her?
"Hey."
A voice startled her and she looked up to see him standing near her. He'd walked within five feet of her and she hadn't noticed until now! She bowed to him. "Hello, Sir."
Dave knew he had to instigate conversation. He knew she had been taught not to speak unless spoken to. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" he prompted.
She reached forward and delicately rearranged some incense and an idol. "Is it? I would not know. A woman of my stature does not spend very much time outdoors."
"Well, you're outside now."
She looked around, but not at him. "You are the boy from the hill, are you not?" she gave him a sideways glance to which he grinned.
"I know beauty when I see it."
She looked down and blushed at his comment. It made her uneasy. She did not know this man and yet here he was, calling her beautiful. "If you are referring to me, then I suggest you take up further studies of beauty." She would only give him a cautious sideways glance to gauge his reaction.
He merely chuckled, not knowing what to say, his hands in his pockets as he slightly leaned against the door frame. "Your name is Jing-Mei, right?"
"Yes," she fingered an idol.
"I'm-"
"You're an American."
"Yes… how'd you know?"
"Your accent."
"Accent? What accent? I've lived here for eleven years!"
"Your speech pattern then."
Dave was puzzled by this woman. "But I speak Chinese better than I speak English…according to my mother at least…"
"Well then, what could it be?" she set down the idol and looked at him for the first time. "Perhaps your shoes? Your trousers? Or…" she ran her eyes up and down his exposed skin for effect, "… your skin?"
His sleeves were up to his elbows and Dave instinctively covered his forearm with one hand as if to hide himself in defense against this witty, young female.
She cocked an eyebrow, waiting for his response. He'd opened his mouth but couldn't think of anything to say back.
"Junior!" his father called. "We're leaving now!"
He snapped his jaw shut, furrowed his brow and gave Jing-Mei one last quizzical stare before striding back to his father.
Jing-Mei smiled at the empty air where he had been standing.
Dave walked home with his father in silence, completely baffled by his exchange with the beautiful Chinese girl. What the hell had she meant by that?! He eventually set his paranoia aside and came to the conclusion that she had been most likely showing off her wit, especially with the way her eyes twinkled with amused fire.
The next morning Jing-Mei sat in her bedroom with her best friend, looking out the window. She watched the people pass by as Quin continued with her endless string on gossip.
"So I said 'No, Mu-Jing is to marry Quan Ching, not Ming.' And what does she say to me? Why the nerve! She tells me that she heard Mu-Jing is to marry- Jing-Mei? Jing-Mei, are you listening?"
"Who is that?"
Quin moved to sit beside her best friend and peered out the window at the busy street. "The old man? Lo's cousin?"
"No… him," she pressed her fingertip against the glass.
"Oh… you could have just said the white boy. That's the Doctor's son, David Malucci Jr. Why?"
Jing-Mei shrugged as she admired him from afar. Quin looked at her friend's daydreaming face with curiosity.
"He looks very… healthy, doesn't he?" Jing-Mei smiled slightly as she continued to watch Dave.
Quin wrinkled her nose at her friend's expression before turning her eyes to the street once more. She suddenly saw the young American in a new light. "Hmmm… he is, isn't he?… wait a minute… Jing-Mei!" She smacker her friend.
"What?" Jing-Mei looked at her innocently.
"He's WHITE!"
Jing-Mei giggled. "So… I can still look, can't I?"
Quin looked at her friend for a minute, trying to decide if her obvious lusting was appropriate or not. "Well… I guess so… under one condition."
"What's that?"
"That you scoot over so I can get a good look also!"
The two giggled as Jing-Mei scooched for Quin and they disobeyed most of what they'd been taught by admiring Dave as he stood outside of a neighbor's house, waiting for his father once more.
"Did you see that?! He just bent down to pick up that rock!"
"Oooh…"
