Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

CHAPTER FIVE
ST. ANDREW’S CATHEDRAL, SINGAPORE
After the memorial service, guests were invited to a white tent that had been erected next
to the cathedral, where everyone could mingle over an elaborate afternoon-tea buffet. The
tent was decorated to replicate Su Yi’s conservatory at Tyersall Park. Hundreds of pots of
orchids in full bloom hung from the ceiling, while towering topiaries composed of roses
from Su Yi’s rose garden commanded each of the tables covered in Battenberg lace. A
battalion of waitstaff rolled around antique silver carts arrayed with steaming cups of
Darjeeling tea and ice-cold flutes of Lillet champagne, while chefs in white toques
manned the tables filled with afternoon-tea standards like finger sandwiches, scones with
clotted cream, and nyonya cakes.
Nick, Rachel, and Astrid sat in a quiet corner reminiscing with cousins Alistair,
Scheherazade, and Lucia.
“You know, I used to be deathly afraid of Ah Ma when I was little,” Alistair confessed. “I
think it’s maybe because all the adults seemed to fear her, I just picked up on that.”
“Really? She always seemed like a fairy godmother to me,” Scheherazade said. “I
remember one summer hols many years ago, I was wandering around Tyersall Park by
myself when I came upon Great-auntie Su Yi. She was standing at the edge of that pond
with those enormous lily pads, and when she saw me, she said, ‘Zhi Yi, come’—she always
called me by my Chinese name. She looked up at the sky and made this clicking sound
with her tongue. Out of nowhere these two swans swooped down and landed right on the
pond! Su Yi reached into the pocket of that blue gardening coat she always wore and
pulled out little sardines. The swans glided up to her and gently ate the sardines out of
her hand. I was absolutely mesmerized.”
“Yes, those swans were the same pair that were always at the lake in the Botanic
Gardens. Ah Ma used to say, ‘Everyone thinks these swans live there, but actually this is
their pond, and they just visit the Botanic Gardens because they’ve gotten fat and spoiled
by all the tourists that feed them!’ ” Nick remembered.
“It’s not fair, I feel like you got to know Great-auntie Su Yi much better than I did,
Scheherazade!” Lucia said with a little pout.
Rachel shot Lucia a smile, and then noticed Carlton strolling nonchalantly toward