Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

“Please tell Ah Ling to have Nicky’s rooms made up. I have no idea why he is staying at
some godforsaken place instead of here,” Su Yi instructed her lady’s maids.
“Of course, ma’am,” Madri replied.
At that moment, Nick realized that this was his grandmother’s tacit manner of forgiving
him. He felt suddenly lighter, as if a gigantic boulder had been lifted off his back.
As Su Yi’s lady’s maids stepped out of the bedroom, Adam and Piya walked into the
sitting room and for a few seconds before the bedroom door closed saw their cousin Nick
crouched by his grandmother’s side.
Astrid waved from the settee where she was seated talking with Professor Oon. “Adam!
It’s so good to see you!”
“Oh Astrid, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you over there. Piya, this is my cousin Astrid. She’s
Auntie Felicity’s daughter.”
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Piya said with a smile.
“Was that Nicholas I saw in there with Ah Ma? We were just going to have a quick lookin
before breakfast,” Adam said.
“Nicholas Young?” Professor Oon said in alarm. “He’s in the bedroom? But we are
under strict orders not to—”
“Francis, hold that thought for one minute,” Astrid said, placing her hand on his lap,
her fingers almost grazing his inner thigh. The doctor trembled at her unexpected touch
and immediately went mute. Astrid turned to Adam and Piya and said, “I’m sure Ah Ma
would love to see you in a little while. She’s doing much better this morning. Why don’t
you head down to breakfast first? I hear that Ah Ching is making her famous crepes.”
“Ooh, I do love a good crepe,” Piya said.
“Me too. And Ah Ching makes a special sauce of Belgian chocolate and Lyle’s Golden
Syrup to drizzle over them. Professor Oon, have you ever had chocolate-infused golden
syrup drizzled over your crepes?”
“Er, no,” the doctor said, sweat beginning to bead around his temples.
“Well you must. In fact why don’t you join us right now? Let’s all go down for some
crepes. I’m sure the whole family would love to have an update from you about Ah Ma,”
Astrid said, getting up from the settee.
The three of them stood there, waiting for the doctor.
“Um, give me a minute,” Professor Oon said sheepishly. He knew that there was no way
he could stand up at that moment.
—
Back in the bedroom, Su Yi had instructed Nick to go to the top drawer of her bureau and
fetch something for her. “Do you see the pale blue box?”
“Yes.”
“At the bottom of the box are some silk pouches. Please bring me the yellow one.”