Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune(82)

Older Shen’s date turned out to be a stunning clinical psychologist named Sneha. In her late sixties, she was newly retired and had taken up ballroom dancing on a lark. He held her in his eyes as if she were the most precious, fascinating being in his world: a combination of wonder and love. She reciprocated with a level of awe reserved for those who finally found what they sought after a long journey. I couldn’t be happier for both of them.

Old Wu was the final guest to arrive. He had changed to a dashing black suit accented with a red silk dress shirt.

I beckoned Celia and Older Shen to join me in the kitchen. Together, we brought out the feast I’d prepared. The looks of admiration and appreciation from the dinner guests filled me with joy and pride. Everyone took their seats, and the dinner could begin.



* * *





?A formal ten-course Chinese dinner was a deliberate courtship of the senses. The appetizers of cold plate meats gave way to steaming fish maw soup, cold and hot introductions to titillate and delight before the showcase of entrees: beef, pork, chicken, fish, seafood, vegetables. The ensuing textures, aromas, and flavors seduced, fulfilling the promises of the first courses. The inclusion of noodle and rice dishes provided a sense of comfort. The final dessert course of sesame balls stuffed with red-bean paste sealed the engagement on the sweetest of notes.

After the meal, Old Wu and I hovered by the Victrola as couples waltzed before us to the mesmerizing voice of Nat King Cole, a record Older Shen had provided. The Chius danced together cheek to cheek. Their marriage was on more solid ground. Mrs. Chiu had wanted her husband to choose her and he had done so by setting a firm retirement deadline within five years. Older Shen and Sneha displayed their superior skills by engaging in a Viennese waltz. Celia and Younger Shen danced together alongside the Hsus.

“Did you ever dance with my grandmother?” I asked Old Wu.

“Yes,” he replied. “She was light on her feet, much more than I was.” He tipped his head to the swaying couples. “You’re young, Ye Ying. There’s still hope.”

I blushed. “Perhaps, one day, Lao Shi. For now, I’m content to watch.”

“Make sure not to stay on the sidelines too long,” Old Wu warned.

“Or I’ll end up like my beloved mentor?” I teased.

Old Wu broke into a raucous, rusty laugh.



* * *





?The evening ended when the red lanterns disappeared into the sky, the table was dismantled, and the Victrola returned to my restaurant. Celia insisted that I take the floral centerpieces from the table. With the night over, I returned my attention to tidying up the restaurant and preparing for the next day.

I had just reached for a new stack of paper napkins to refill the empty holder when I heard the jingle of the bell at the door.

“Did you forget something, Celia?” I asked, wrestling with the sticky adhesive binding.

The visitor cleared his throat.

I looked up.

Daniel.

The bundle fell from my hands. Napkins scattered on the floor.

He’d come back.

He was wearing a red pin-striped long-sleeved dress shirt and fitted black jeans, his signature earbuds peeking from above his collar. His messenger bag was missing. Instead, he carried a dozen roses and what looked like a wrapped gift.

“Hello,” he said. “These are for you.” He handed me the bouquet.

The heady perfume of the red roses matched their deep, vibrant shade. I resisted the urge to bury my nose in the soft petals. “Thank you,” I said, placing the bouquet on the crowded countertop.

He crouched down, picked up the scattered napkins, and arranged them into a pile. He placed the collection on a stool and took note of the extravagant collection of flowers. “Congratulations on the grand opening. I’d better clear my schedule so I can get a good spot in line. You’re well loved.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

A soft shade of pink crept into his cheeks. “You opened the restaurant. You did it. I knew you could. I wanted to see you the moment I saw the ads. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to see me again, but it couldn’t hurt to find out. Honestly, after all this time, all I could think about is the incredible woman in white whom I left in Chinatown.”

I felt like I had been launched into the sky on the wings of a thousand birds.

“The time apart wasn’t a complete waste. It took that long to find this for you.” He handed me the gift. It was flat, and judging by its dimensions, I knew it was a record. “Before you open it, I want to tell you something about me. I love music, and as you probably noticed,” he said, touching his earbuds, “I listen to it all the time.”

It was another sign of the red thread that connected us to each other. Baba had been right. Daniel was my match. I wish they could have met—they had much in common.

“So do I,” I said, smiling. “My earliest, favorite memories center around the sound of the erhu.”

“That reminds me, there was a musician with that instrument I spoke to a while ago. Is he related to you?”

My heart soared. It was impossible. “Yes. How did you know?”

“You both have the same smile,” he replied with a grin. “I talked to him a few times when I was on my way over here before.”

Baba had chosen to appear to Daniel. As if I wasn’t completely smitten already. Heat bloomed in my cheeks as I lowered my eyes to prevent myself from revealing too much of the state of my heart.