Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

“Yes, Ah Ma,” Astrid fibbed, not wanting to cause her grandmother any undue concern.
“Let me see your ring,” Su Yi said.
Astrid held her hand up to show her grandmother her engagement ring.
Su Yi studied it carefully. “I knew it would look perfect on you.”
“I don’t know how to thank you for this, Ah Ma.”
“Did everything go according to plan? Did Charlie manage to surprise you?”
“Yes, I was so stunned!”
“Were there elephants? I told Charlie he needed to arrive on an elephant. That’s how
my friend the Maharaja of Bikaner proposed to his queen.”
“Yes, there was an elephant.” Astrid laughed, realizing just how involved her
grandmother had been in helping to plan the whole affair.
“Are there any pictures?”
“No, we didn’t take any…oh, wait a minute.” Astrid took out her phone and did a quick
google search for the paparazzi photos that had been leaked of her private moment. She
never imagined how useful they would be until this moment. As she showed a few of the
snapshots to her eager grandmother, she thought how ironic it was that the rest of her
family was so upset by what was one of the happiest moments in her life.
Su Yi sighed. “It looks beautiful, I wish I could have been there. Charlie looks so
handsome in his outfit. Tell me, is he in Singapore now?”
“Actually, he’ll be coming to town tomorrow. He comes to visit his mother every
month.”
“He’s a good boy, that one. I knew from the moment I met him that he will always take
good care of you.” Su Yi stared at the grainy shot of Charlie putting the ring on Astrid’s
finger. “You know, of all the jewelry I own, this ring is the most special to me.”
“I know, Ah Ma.”
“I never got the chance to ask your grandfather if he bought it.”
“What do you mean? Who would have bought this engagement ring, if not him?”
“Your grandfather did not have that much money when I first met him. He was just a
recent medical graduate. How on earth would he have been able to afford this canary
diamond?”
“You’re right. It would have cost a fortune at the time,” Astrid said.
“I always suspected that Uncle T’sien Tsai Tay was the one who bought it, since he
helped to broker the marriage. The quality of the stone isn’t perfect, but when I wore it, it
always reminded me of how life can surprise you. Sometimes, the thing that at first
appears flawed can end up being the most perfect thing in the world for you.”
Su Yi was silent for a few moments, and then she looked at her granddaughter with a
sudden intensity. “Astrid, I want you to promise me something.”
“Yes, Ah Ma?”
“If I die before your wedding day, please don’t go into all that mourning nonsense for