by Kylie Chan
A steady flow of people came through the frosted glass double doors; many of them stopping the minute the doors opened and standing stunned in the doorway, obviously confused. A few tourists caused a major traffic jam as they milled around, trying to decide where to go and oblivious to the chaos they were causing behind them.
The way cleared, and Michelle jumped and waved. ‘Maman! Papa! Daniel! Here!’
Michelle’s parents and brother waved when they saw her. Michelle’s mother and father were both significantly shorter than Daniel. Michelle’s mother had a youthful face and immaculate hair, and wore a dark blue tailored suit. Michelle’s father had a kind, wrinkled face, thin grey hair, and wore a sport jacket and tailored slacks.
Michelle threw herself at her parents and hugged both of them at the same time, jiggling with delight. ‘It is so wonderful to have you here!’
Michelle’s mother pulled back to touch her cheek. ‘It is wonderful to be here.’ She looked around. ‘Where is the little one?’ She saw Gold, and moved closer to whisper to Michelle. ‘Is that your husband? He looks so young.’
Michelle’s father shook Leo’s hand. ‘Leo, my friend, good to see you.’ He turned to Gold and held his hand out. ‘And you are John?’
Gold shook Michelle’s father’s hand. ‘No, Mr Chen is back at the Peak, he stayed behind with Simone so that there would be room in the car for all of you. I’m Gold, Mr and Mrs Chen’s lawyer. I’ll see you to the car, then take a taxi back to the Peak.’
Michelle approached with one arm around Daniel and one around her mother. ‘I am so glad you are well again, Papa! Yes, this is Gold, my husband keeps him around to do computer things and carry messages. Leo.’ She gestured towards the luggage trolleys. ‘Can you help us with the bags, dear Leo? My father is still weak.’
‘I am not weak!’ Michelle’s father said, moving purposefully to take command of one of the trolleys. ‘I am perfectly fine!’
Daniel shrugged and rolled his eyes. ‘He hasn’t changed, Mimi.’
Michelle hugged her father with one arm. ‘And I am very glad he hasn’t.’
When they returned to the apartment, Simone was in the living room with Xuan Wu, clutching his hand, her little face stiff with nervousness. She cringed slightly as her grandparents and uncle entered, then released her father’s hand and ran to her mother, raising her arms to be held.
Michelle picked Simone up with difficulty and sat on the couch, putting Simone into her lap. She spoke into Simone’s ear. ‘This is your grand-père and your grand-maman, and you remember Uncle Daniel?’
Simone stared at her relatives, wide-eyed.
Michelle’s mother gently approached Simone and took her hand. ‘Hello, little Simone. You have the same name as my mother, your great-grandmother, you know that? And she was as beautiful as you are.’
Simone hesitated a moment, studying her grandmother, then said, ‘You smell nice.’
Everybody laughed at that, and Simone buried her face in her mother’s shoulder.
‘I agree with you,’ Michelle’s father said. ‘You can call me Victor. Don’t call me Grandpapa, I’m not old enough for that yet.’
Simone nodded, serious. ‘I don’t think you’re old enough yet, either.’ She turned to study Michelle’s mother. ‘Are you my Lo Poh?’
‘Wai Poh,’ Xuan Wu said.
Simone wriggled free of her mother’s lap and stood. She bowed to her grandmother and said, ‘Wai Poh.’ Then she bowed to her grandfather and said, ‘Grandfather Victor.’ She turned to Daniel. ‘Uncle.’
‘Did you teach her that?’ Michelle demanded of Xuan Wu.
‘No, I didn’t,’ he said with awe. ‘And I have no idea where she picked that up.’
‘Aunty Jade has been teaching me the right way to talk to elders,’ Simone said. ‘So I’m not scared next time I talk to the Jade Emperor.’
‘I’m not your Chinese grandmother, so you don’t need to call me a Chinese name,’ Michelle’s mother said. ‘You can call me Grandma Violetta, if you like.’
‘Violetta is a flower, right?’ Simone said.
Violetta nodded.
‘You smell like flowers. Your name suits you,’ Simone said. She approached Violetta and raised her arms for a hug. ‘Hello, Grandma Violetta.’
Violetta hugged Simone, her face warm with pleasure. ‘Your daughter is as delightful as you are, Michelle.’
‘And as delightful as you are, Maman.’
Victor went to Xuan Wu and held out his hand. ‘Pleasure to meet you, John. Michelle has told me a lot about you.’
Xuan Wu shot a nervous look at Michelle as he shook his father-in-law’s hand. He turned back to Victor and bowed his head slightly. ‘Likewise. I am honoured to meet you.’
Violetta released Simone and strode to Xuan Wu and enveloped him in a huge hug. ‘And you are my new son. I am so lucky, to have two such strong tall sons.’
Xuan Wu went stiff with shock at the embrace, then patted Violetta’s back lightly. ‘Thank you.’
‘Well!’ Michelle said. ‘Let me show you all where you are staying. Then, if you are hungry at all, we have dinner ready for you.’
‘Whatever’s cooking in there smells as good as something that Reid would make,’ Victor said jovially.
‘Monica, my housekeeper, is a treasure, Reid taught her everything,’ Michelle said. She gestured. ‘Come this way, I will show you your rooms.’
Gold followed Leo to his room. ‘Can we talk?’
Leo studied Gold for a moment, then held his door open. Gold sat on the couch and, after a moment’s hesitation, Leo sat next to him.
‘I’m not seeing someone else, if that’s what you’re thinking,’ Gold said.
Leo carefully looked at Gold again, then relaxed.
‘I’ve been spending all of my time transporting the database backwards and forwards between here and the Mountain. We have to keep the data up to date. I’ve been doing it every day. When I’m not doing that, I’m working on getting some sort of connection established so that we can synchronise the data and free me up.’
‘And this is taking all your time?’
‘Pretty much.’
‘What about your days off? We haven’t spent a weekend together in forever, man.’
‘I don’t get them any more.’
‘That’s not right. Mr Chen wouldn’t do that to anybody.’
‘I’m doing it to myself. The data needs to be kept synchronised.’ Gold sighed. ‘It’s exhausting.’
‘Isn’t there someone else who could help you?’
‘No.’
‘So when do you think you’ll have this link thing done?’
‘We’ll be installing it in about two weeks.’
‘And then you’ll be free?’
‘Leo…’ Gold’s voice trailed off, and he rallied. ‘Leo, I think we should cool it for a while. I can’t have a proper relationship with anybody, I can’t give you the attention you deserve, because I’m not free. I’m Xuan Wu’s slave, his bonded servant, and if he decided to move, I would have to move with him, with or without you. I cannot give myself one hundred percent to anybody. It’s not fair on you.’
Leo relaxed. ‘I was thinking the same thing. Maybe we should cool it off for a while.’
‘Go meet some humans, Leo, you deserve better than a Shen who isn’t even free to commit to you.’
‘And you shouldn’t be spending your time with someone who’s completely smitten with someone else. It’s not fair to you.’
Gold pulled Leo into a quick hug. ‘But best friends still, I hope.’
Leo clutched Gold. ‘Absolutely. And you make sure to take some time off, and spend it with me, man, especially when you’re finished with this computer thing. I miss you.’
‘I miss you too,’ Gold said into his shoulder. ‘I have to go, I’m exhausted.’
‘I understand.’ Leo pulled back and smiled at Gold. ‘But this weekend, you’re taking a couple of hours off and beating me at Star Destiny For
tune.’
‘It’s a date,’ Gold said. He rose. ‘Take it easy, Leo, I’ll see you on the weekend.’
‘Take care, Gold.’
Gold presented himself to Xuan Wu in the office before departing. ‘By your leave, my Lord.’
Michelle came in. ‘Simone loves them, and they love you. This is working out so well!’ She saw Gold. ‘Gold, please ask Jade to call me and tell me how the preparations for Simone’s birthday party are proceeding? I would like to know.’
Jade, please call Lady Michelle about the birthday party preparations.
Oh, look who’s here, Mister I’m-Not-Around Stone.
Jade, Xuan Wu broke in, Gold is working twelve hours a day, seven days a week keeping the data synchronised. Would you like to assist him?
Sorry, my Lord, Jade said, sounding chagrined. I will call in a moment.
‘We have a busy couple of weeks,’ Michelle said. ‘My parents here, Simone’s birthday party tomorrow, the opening of Tosca in three days. It is wonderful!’
‘How is Daniel liking Paris?’ Xuan Wu said.
‘That is the best news of all. He is engaged to a wonderful young woman he has met there. They have been living together for half a year now, and he says he has eyes for no one else. He is looking forward to starting a family with her. The wedding is in three months, and we are invited.’
‘In Paris?’ Xuan Wu said, grim.
‘Yes of course in Paris!’
‘I may not be able to travel that far.’
‘Well, you will need to find a way, because there is nothing I would like to see more than my brother in a happy relationship with a good woman.’
‘I will see what I can do.’
Monica poked her head in the door. ‘Dinner is ready, ma’am.’
‘Thank you, Monica,’ Michelle said. ‘Will you stay for dinner, Gold?’
‘It would not be right for me to encroach on your family time, ma’am,’ Gold said with a small bow. ‘But I will certainly be here for Simone’s party tomorrow.’
Michelle’s smile widened. ‘It will be so much fun.’
‘Dismissed, Gold,’ Xuan Wu said, pulling himself out of his office chair.
‘And do not disappear in front of my family,’ Michelle warned. ‘Go out the front door like a normal person.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
The phone rang, and Michelle answered it. ‘Quickly, Jade, dinner is served. Is everything prepared?’
Gold bowed to Michelle and Xuan Wu and went out.
The birthday party was held at lunchtime the next day in the function room on top of one of the five-star hotels in Admiralty. The tables, each for six, were decorated with pink tablecloths, white ribbons, and white and pink balloons. Simone sat in a high chair at the head table, attended by Monica, Xuan Wu, and Michelle’s family. Another table behind was piled high with birthday gifts. Simone sat in her chair, wide-eyed and intimidated, while Monica talked softly in her ear.
Michelle drifted through the crowd, laughing and joking with her friends from the Academy for Performing Arts and the visiting performers for the upcoming Tosca. Xuan Wu stood behind her and slightly to one side, silent and wary.
‘Fabulous job again, Jade,’ Gold said quietly as they stood in the corner of the room together.
‘I agree with Xuan Wu that there is insufficient security,’ Jade said.
‘They are all human. There aren’t any Shen here.’
‘That’s the point. With no Shen here, there is nobody to defend them if the Demon King decides to show.’
‘He won’t come for this.’
Michelle spread her arms. ‘Everybody, please be seated. Lunch will be served in a moment.’
Waiters appeared, bearing Western-style dishes, placing them in front of each guest. Gold studied his plate suspiciously. ‘What is this?’
‘Leo’s is seafood terrine with French bread and lemon mustard mayonnaise,’ Jade said smugly.
‘You know about Western food?’ Gold said. He looked at his own plate; it was a more familiar large mushroom, but stuffed with something orange and unrecognisable.
‘Lady Michelle did most of the choosing,’ Jade admitted. ‘Yours is stuffed mushroom with sweet potato and leek puree. Slice a piece off, and place it on a piece of bread the same way that Leo has with his.’
‘It’s very good,’ Leo said through a mouthful of bread. ‘Shame you’re vegetarian, Gold.’
Gold sliced his mushroom and put it onto the bread. He took a bite, still suspicious, then was surprised at the burst of combined flavours of sweet yam and tangy mushroom. He grinned through the food. ‘It’s very good!’
‘Of course it is, this is costing about a thousand a head,’ Jade said, still smug.
Xuan Wu suddenly shot to his feet, touched Michelle’s arm, and strode out the door. Jade, Gold, Leo with me.
The three of them quickly rose and hurried around the edge of the room to follow him.
He’d cut off a demon that was attempting to enter the room. It appeared as an ordinary young human dressed in a business suit. It stopped when it saw Xuan Wu, then grimaced, turned, and walked away. Xuan Wu stood at the door of the room, watching it go, then relaxed. ‘It’s gone.’
‘That was the same one that attempted to enter the Mountain in disguise,’ Gold said.
‘A demon prince?’ Jade said.
‘Yes, I recognise it now,’ Gold said. He nodded to Xuan Wu. ‘It inherited Twelve’s holdings when Twelve was destroyed.’
‘I know the one you mean,’ Xuan Wu said. ‘It has been quiet these last hundred years, consolidating its hold over Twelve’s empire. Looks like it has decided to take a higher profile. It has chosen the wrong Shen to deal with.’
‘It is unbelievably stupid if it thinks it can pick a fight with you,’ Jade said with disbelief. ‘You are the greatest demon destroyer on any plane, my Lord.’
Xuan Wu turned back to re-enter the room and dropped his head. ‘Right now I am not, Jade. I need to return to the Mountain again soon, to rebuild.’
‘When, my Lord?’ Jade said.
‘As soon as Michelle’s family depart, and the opera’s run is completed. Week after next. I will take Michelle and Simone with me. The demons will learn of Simone’s existence soon, they must, and then I will need all my strength. It was just a stroke of luck I sensed this one in time to stop it entering the room and seeing her.’
They went back in. Xuan Wu went to Michelle, whispered in her ear, and sat next to her. He studied his plate suspiciously.
‘I think the Dark Lord is having as much trouble with the food as I am,’ Gold said as they seated themselves at the table.
‘He lived in Europe for a while in the sixties, though,’ Jade said. ‘Remember him talking about it at the Western Palace, when we were bound to the Dragon?’
‘According to Michelle, while he lived in London he taught all his staff to cook Chinese food,’ Leo said with amusement. ‘His housekeeper in London makes a mean congee.’
‘You’ve been?’ Gold said.
‘A couple of times, before he became too weak from staying in human form all the time. He has a couple of really nice people looking after his house in London. It’s a sweet setup, just a shame he can’t go any more.’
Jade sighed and rested her chin on her hand. ‘He has sacrificed so much for their love.’
‘So has she,’ Leo said to his food. ‘She had a sweet setup in Florida too, before she met him.’
After the entrees had been cleared, Michelle rose. She glowed with happiness and smiled broadly at all present. ‘Dearest people. Thank you all for coming. Thank you to the cast and crew of Tosca, who are here visiting from so many foreign lands. And the local members of the Academy for Performing Arts, who are doing so much to bring Western gifts to the Chinese community — and who have been touring Chinese performances throughout the West. These interchanges can only raise the cultural awareness of both sides!’
There was a smattering of applause from t
he guests, and she nodded. ‘Tosca opens in two days — Hong Kong’s first locally produced full-length Western opera. You have all worked so hard, it will be a triumph. This lunch, in a way, celebrates that.’ She turned to her family. ‘But for me, it celebrates something much more important. My father has recently fought cancer, and the doctors have informed us that he has won. He is clear of the disease. Bravo, Papa.’ There was another smattering of applause. ‘My brother, Daniel, has announced his engagement and will be married next year. I cannot wait!’ She smiled down at Xuan Wu. ‘And in a couple of weeks, I will have been married to John Chen, a man who is full of so much contradiction — so much strength, and so much frustration and joy — for four years. I will celebrate four years with him, and look forward to many more, because he has given me my greatest gift.’ She stood behind the high chair, and put her arms gently around Simone’s neck, smiling down at her. ‘He has given me little Simone, who is the most precious gift that anyone has given me. Five years ago, a journalist asked me what my greatest gift was, and I said it was my voice. Now, I have a much greater gift; that of my family. Mama, Papa, Daniel, Dear Lo Wu, and,’ she smiled down at Simone, ‘my darling Simone, who is two fabulous years old today. You are all the greatest gifts that life has given me.’ She released Simone and returned to stand behind her chair. ‘So please, all, celebrate the greatest gift that life can give us — our families.’
The guests raised their glasses and toasted Michelle amid more applause, and she sat. Xuan Wu took her hand and kissed her, then spoke quietly to her. They shared a small private toast.
Jade wiped her eyes with her napkin, and sighed. ‘I am so privileged to have been a part of this. This story will go down in the annals.’
‘The stones wanted someone here to transmit the proceedings to everybody on the network,’ Gold said with amusement. ‘I refused. I said it was invading a private family party.’
‘So they don’t have someone to eavesdrop?’ Jade said.
‘No. This is for us. Family only.’