Liu Mingyan blinks. "Either my thoughts are more transparent than I am used to, or you are as insightful as you are beautiful," she says, amused. "Perhaps both. I will prevail upon your forgiveness for my doubt—it's only that much of my day is spent on the business of import and export, on negotiating with suppliers for this or that foodstuff for this or that ceremonial feast." Weddings, especially. An inordinate number of weddings. "I find myself... dizzied at the idea of how much time I would have if it were not."