Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

CHAPTER SEVEN
RESIDENCES AT ONE CAIRNHILL, SINGAPORE
The cook had brought home the most scrumptious Singaporean breakfast delicacies from
the market. There was chwee kueh—delicately steamed rice-flour cakes topped with salty
radish pickle and chili sauce; freshly grilled roti prata—crisp, buttery Indian bread served
with a curry dipping sauce; chai tow kuay—daikon radish cakes pan-fried with egg,
shrimp, and spring onions; and char siew bao—sweet barbecued-pork buns. As Eleanor
and Philip gleefully unwrapped the brown waxed-paper packets of food, Nick entered the
white Calacatta-marble-clad kitchen and padded toward the elegant diner-style banquette
that had been glassed in so Eleanor’s guests could enjoy a “chef’s table” experience
without having to worry about getting any of the smoky aromas on their expensive outfits
or in their perfect coiffures.
“Oh good, you’re up. Come, come, eat while it’s still hot,” Eleanor said, dipping a piece
of her roti prata into the spicy coconut chicken curry.
Nick stood at the table, not saying anything. Eleanor looked up at him and saw the
grimace on his face. “What’s wrong? Are you constipated? I know we shouldn’t have gone
to that Italian restaurant last night. So overrated, and so awful.”
“I rather enjoyed my linguine with white truffles,” Philip commented.
“Aiyah, nothing special, lah. I could open a can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom
Soup and pour it over some noodles and you wouldn’t even know the difference! Not
worth the money, even if Colin did pay, and all that cheese always clogs up the system.”
“I just can’t believe you sometimes.” Nick pulled out a chair and sat down at the
banquette.
“What don’t you believe? Eat a ripe banana, or I have some Metamucil if that doesn’t
work.”
“I’m not constipated, Mum, I’m annoyed. I just got off the phone with Rachel.”
“Oh, how is she?” Eleanor asked in a merry tone, as she spooned a heaping portion of
chai tow kuay onto her Astier de Villatte plate.
“You know exactly how she is. You spoke to her yesterday.”
“Oh, she told you?”