Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

Empire style intermingled with museum-quality Chinese antiques. In the middle of the
cavernous space was a large free-form pond, where a grove of tropical trees grew out of
the water, reaching almost to the top of a glass-domed cupola. Big koi swam in the
gurgling pond, but the focal point of the living room was the main wall, which featured a
two-hundred-gallon fish tank painted pitch-black that was recessed into the wall.
“Valentino looks happy to be home!” Charlie said excitedly as the two of them went up
to look at him. Inside the tank, Irene’s precious super red arowana undulated happily all
alone, the pink fiber-optic light making his body glow an even brighter iridescent red.
Astrid looked down at the coffee table, which was groaning with a colorful array of
nyonya dessert cakes on navy-and-gold-rimmed Limoges plates.
“Kueh lapis, my favorite!” Charlie said, plopping down on the plush gold-brocade sofa
and picking up one of the buttery pieces of cake with his fingers.
“Don’t you think we should wait for your mum?”
“Oh, she’ll be out in a minute, I’m sure. Let’s get started. You don’t ever have to stand
on ceremony here—you know how down-to-earth my mother is.”
Astrid began to pour tea into Charlie’s cup from the silver tea service. “That’s what I’ve
always loved about your mother. She doesn’t put on any airs—she’s such a warm and
simple lady.”
“Yeah, tell that to the folks at Bulgari,” Charlie snorted, as Ah Tock entered the living
room. “Lincoln! Are you going to join us for some tea? Where’s my mum?”
“Um, she’s in her bedroom. She went to lie down,” Lincoln said as he fidgeted with his
cell phone.
“Why is she lying down?” Charlie asked.
Astrid looked up from pouring her tea. “Is she not feeling well?”
“Er, no…” Ah Tock stood there with a funny look on his face. “Astrid, I think you better
call home.”
“Why?”
“Um…your grandma just passed away.”
*1 The Asian arowana is the world’s most expensive aquarium fish, especially coveted by collectors in Asia who will pay
hundreds of thousands for a fine specimen. Known in Chinese as lóng yú—dragon fish—this long fish plated with large
shimmering scales and with whiskers jutting from its chin resembles the mythological Chinese dragon. Aficionados
believe that the fish brings good luck and fortune, and there have even been tales of arowanas sacrificing their lives by
leaping out of their tanks in order to warn their owners of imminent danger or bad business deals. No wonder lovers of
this fish are willing to shell out thousands to get their precious pets eye lifts, fin tucks, or chin jobs. No word on
arowana Botox yet, but that can’t be far behind.
*2 Cantonese for “panicky, anxious.”
*3 Methodist Youth Fellowship.