Knock! Knock! Knock! Dave had no idea what he was doing. Knock! Knock! Knock! The door swung open and Dave bowed deeply. "Mr. Chen."

"Ah, Mr. Malucci," the elder man bowed slightly. "What may I do for you?"

"Actually, I received word that your daughter Jing-Mei wasn't feeling too well."

Jing-Mei? She never told me anything. But, please, come inside. I will have my maid bring you to her."

Dave slightly inclined his head. "Thank you."

After waiting for a few moments after Mr. Chen had left a maid appeared and led him into the garden where Jing-Mei was idly fingering a flower, lost in thought.

"Mistress, Mr. Malucci is here to see you."

Jing-Mei looked up in surprise as the maid stepped away and Dave approached. He smiled tentatively. "Hello Jing-Mei."

She slightly inclined her head. "David."

"So." Dave gave a quick look around the garden. "I told your father that you weren't feeling well and that I was here to check up on you."

"Oh," her sudden intake of breath and pause told him that she was a bit taken aback.

Realizing something she quickly glanced to the house. She could see her grandmother standing in the doorway, watching them. "Then. you better start pretending like you are checking up on me," she nearly imperceptibly jerked her head towards her grandmother. Dave followed suit.

"So," he asked rather loudly. "What are your symptoms?"

"I've been thinking of you." She wasn't wearing nearly as much make-up and was all the more beautiful for it.

"So have I," he pretended to look through his medical bag for something. "So what's been bothering you the most?" he raised his voice again, hoping that was all the elderly lady could hear.

Jing-Mei looked at him, her face soft and serious. She was no longer afraid. Not of him. "My heart."

Dave looked up suddenly and saw the truth in her eyes. She kept his gaze, steeling herself not to look away as she'd been taught. Instead he looked away, not knowing what to say back other than the truth. He pretended to look into his bag once more. "Mine, too."

Her spirit immediately expanded and lifted with strength at his comment. "Here," he handed her a thermometer.

She looked at it strangely. "What is it?"

"It's a thermometer.. Just stick it in your mouth."

She did as she was told, trying not to laugh. He glanced over his shoulder after noticing Jing-Mei's gaze and saw her grandmother slowly approaching using a cane to aid her slow progress on bound feet.

He looked back up at her urgently. "When can I see you again?"

Jing-Mei looked down at him then back up at her grandmother. Her heart was screaming for her to answer with a close date.

"Tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes. I will meet you here at midnight while my family sleeps."

Dave didn't have a chance to respond as her grandmother was now upon them. He answered her with his eyes and she understood. She handed him the thermometer and he pretended to read it. "130, not bad. Well, just get some rest and you'll feel better."

Jing-Mei bowed deeply as Dave rose. He bowed to the old woman before he made his way out. Jing-Mei tried not to let her eyes linger on his retreating form too long. She did not see the silhouette of her mother pull away from a window.





Jing-Mei walked down the hall absentmindedly, daydreaming.

"Jing-Mei?"

She turned to see her mother.

"Come with me, please."

Uh oh. Jing-Mei bit the inside of her lip trying to remain calm. It was probably just nothing. Her mother led them into a quiet room and motioned for her daughter to sit down. As she did so her mother smiled at her, pride shining through her eyes. "Jing-Mei, my Golden Flower, you have grown into such a beautiful woman."

Jing-Mei smiled slightly.

"You have caught the eyes of many men. This is a good thing since your father has decided that it is time for you to marry."

Jing-Mei held her breath, dreading her mother's next words. Her mother sat down next to her, taking up her daughter's hand in hers. "You know your father wants what is best for you. That is why he has decided to take up Wu- Fung's proposal. You two are to be married," her mother smiled as warmly as she could.

Jing-Mei quickly rose, unable to hide the emotions that had suddenly gripped her. She bit her lip as tears began to fall. All of her hopes were gone. She felt her heart sink.

"Jing-Mei, it is a good match. Wu-Fung will bring us much happiness."

Jing-Mei wiped away a tear.

"Do not be sad." she rose and placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders.

"No. you are right mother. He will bring you great happiness!" she pulled away.

"Jing-Mei, you don't mean that."

"Yes I do!" she realized that she was yelling and lowered her voice. "Mother, I don't love him. I hardly know him!" she hissed as her mother's face became stern.

"Your father has allowed you too far into the western world! Do you think I married your father because I loved him?!"

Jing-Mei just stared at her with her mouth slightly open.

"I married your father because it was what was best for my family."

"But mother- you say you want what's best for me. Allowing me to choose who I marry is best for me."

"Silly girl! You cannot make those kinds of decisions! Even if you could, who would you choose?! You do not know any man! You will learn to love Wu-Fung like I learned to love your father."

Jing-Mei didn't look at her, but instead out the window to the garden. She was no longer crying. Fury had risen above her sorrow. Her mother stared at her daughter for a moment then followed her gaze to the garden. She stepped up next to her daughter, her arms crossed. "I saw you two."

Jing-Mei turned to look at her, startled.

"Grandma and I might not have been able to hear what you were saying but I don't need to. I could see it in your eyes. You are to stay away from him. Is that understood?"

"Mother-" Jing-Mei tried to defend herself.

"Is that understood?!"

Jing-Mei looked down. "Yes."

Her mother took a deep breath. "Good. Your father and I have wedding preparations to make." with that she spun on her heels and exited, leaving a devastated Jing-Mei alone and confused.