They said goodbye, and then JieMin got off the elevator.
“JieMin,” she said.
He turned around and ChaoLi was standing nude in the elevator, holding out his borrowed lavalava.
“Don’t forget your lavalava.”
JieMin took the lavalava and stood there speechless, staring at her.
ChaoLi winked at him and the doors closed.
Commitment
JieMin had trouble getting to sleep that night. He kept thinking of ChaoLi.
Was it infatuation? He had only been in Arcadia City a bit over two days. ChaoLi was one of the few people he knew here.
Then again, JieMin did not have these feelings for the hostess in the restaurant, or the server in the cafe, or any of the other young women about. Nor had he had them for anyone back in Chagu.
JieMin finally fell asleep, though he woke before dawn. He sat in the big armchair and watched the sun come up over the ocean to the east.
Something clicked and he knew, the way he knew the answer to a math problem. He was sure.
But now what should he do?
He must talk to Chen Zumu, and seek her blessing. With her blessing, all things were possible.
Without her blessing, it would be impossible.
One benefit of asking for a meeting with Chen Zumu on a Sunday was that his request would not go through ChaoLi. JieMin remembered the first day, when it was ChaoLi who had shown JieMin and his mother to Chen Zumu.
JieMin put in his request to Chen Zumu’s mail address. He had an answer within ten minutes.
Ten o’clock this morning.
JieMin went over to the cafe. He had only a pastry and tea this morning, not wanting to eat anything heavy. He was afraid he might be all nerves with Chen Zumu, and would end up with a stomach ache.
At five minutes of ten, he presented himself at the reception desk. The young man there – the same one as yesterday – showed him down the hall, through the locked door, and to Chen Zumu’s tea room. He knocked and slid the panel aside.
“Chen JieMin, Chen Zumu.”
“Show him in, ChaoJuan,” JuPing said
The young man waved JieMin forward, then slid the panel closed behind him.
JieMin was surprised to find Chen Zumu seated facing out into the garden, on one of two pillows equally centered in the doorway.
“Take morning tea with me, JieMin,” JuPing said without turning, waving at the pillow alongside her.
JieMin was almost overcome with the honor of having tea with Chen Zumu, here, in her tea room, facing out into the garden. Of being addressed by her without his full name. He walked around to the pillow and sat.
A young woman – not ChaoLi! – came and poured tea for them, serving JieMin first. The young woman put the teapot on the low table between them and withdrew. They both lifted their tea, and JieMin, as guest, sipped his first.
JuPing continued to contemplate the garden as she sipped her tea, not looking at JieMin. She set the tea down.
“What brings you to me this morning, JieMin? Did everything work out satisfactorily with the university?”
“Yes, Chen Zumu. President Connor and Professor Boortz were very nice. I have my own office, with a large display projector, and have been encouraged to pursue my interests without outside direction.”
“Excellent. That was my request of them, and that was my best advice to you as well.”
“Yes, Chen Zumu.”
“And clearly you found the university, and have managed to find food and drink, as you don’t look to be starving.”
JieMin laughed.
“No, Chen Zumu.”
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, then turned her attention back to the garden.
“You look to have found the beach as well, JieMin.”
“Yes, Chen Zumu.”
“Then what brings you to me this morning, JieMin? Not that I don’t look forward to occasionally hearing of your adventures, but I’m guessing you have a specific purpose.”
“Yes, Chen Zumu. There is a girl....”
JuPing didn’t sigh. Affairs of the heart were deadly serious, the more so to the young.
“And who is this girl, JieMin?”
“Chen ChaoLi, Chen Zumu.”
“Does she share your feelings, JieMin?”
“Yes, Chen Zumu. That is, I think so. But I would not pursue this matter further without your blessing.”
JuPing nodded. Sensible, since she was his patron. Any duties he took on depended on her as well.
“How sure are you of your heart, JieMin? ChaoLi is one of the few people you know here. You have only been here three days. Is it a case of grasping at the one thing in reach?”
To JuPing’s surprise, JieMin did not object.
“I have given this matter some thought, Chen Zumu, and I don’t think so. I know a few people now – at the restaurant, at the market – and have no similar feelings. I knew many people in Chagu, and had no similar feelings. Finally, I was up early this morning and watched the sun rise. And I knew.”
“Knew the way you knew about the dam, JieMin?”
“Yes, Chen Zumu. I cannot explain how. But I knew.”
JuPing nodded. Again, she stifled a sigh. They were so young. ChaoLi was just sixteen, not too young here, on Arcadia. JieMin was still only fourteen. They would not be the youngest couple on Arcadia, but still. So young....
Many of the colonists had married young when they set out to this new planet. That had become part of the culture, particularly in the agricultural communities outside of Arcadia City. JieMin was quickly approaching marriageable age in Chagu.
It was not as if JieMin were not a good catch. Already in graduate school, with a brilliant future, he was already self-supporting. Through a patron, yes, but so it had always been with prodigies in science and the arts. His age was not a factor in
