Crazy Rich Asians Read Online Free PDF Page A

for the touch-screen panel by her bedside table. “Mei Mei, can
     you please come in and clean up a spill?” Then she closed her eyes, lifted her arms
     into the air, and began to pray aloud:
“Oh Jesus, our personal lord and savior, blessed be your name. We come to you humbly
     asking for your forgiveness today, as we have all sinned against you. Thank you for
     showering your blessings upon us. Thank you Lord Jesus for the fellowship that we
     shared today, for the nourishing food we enjoyed, for the power of your holy word.
     Please watch over dear Sister Eleanor, Sister Lorena, Sister Daisy, and Sister Nadine,
     as they try to sell their Sina Land shares …”
    Carol opened her eyes for a moment, noting with satisfaction that Eleanor at least
     was praying along with her. But of course, she couldn’t know that behind those serene
     eyelids, Eleanor was praying for something else entirely.
A Taiwanese girl! Please God, let it not be true
.
    ----
    * A highly regarded honorific title in Malaysia (similar to a British knighthood) conferred
     by a hereditary royal ruler of one of the nine Malay states. The title is often used
     by Malay royals to reward powerful businessmen, politicians, and philanthropists in
     Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, and some people spend decades sucking up just
     to get the title. The wife of a
dato’
is called a
datin
.
    † Literally “yellow flowering pear,” an exceedingly rare type of rosewood now virtually
     extinct. In recent decades,
Huanghuali
furniture has become highly sought after by discerning collectors. After all, it
     goes so well with mid-century modern.
    ‡ Malay for “not accurate.”
    § Cantonese for “my heart aches.”

3
Rachel Chu
    NEW YORK
    It would be just after dinnertime in Cupertino, and on the nights she wasn’t at Nick’s,
     it became Rachel’s habit to call her mother right as she was getting into bed.
    “Guess who just closed the deal on the big house on Laurel Glen Drive?” Kerry Chu
     boasted excitedly in Mandarin as soon as she picked up the phone.
    “Wow, Mom, congratulations! Isn’t that your third sale this month?” Rachel asked.
    “Yes! I broke last year’s office record! You see, I
knew
I made the right decision to join Mimi Shen at the Los Altos office,” Kerry said
     with satisfaction.
    “You’re going to make Realtor of the Year again, I just know it,” Rachel replied,
     re-fluffing the pillow under her head. “Well, I have some exciting news too … Nick
     invited me to come with him to Asia this summer.”
    “He
did
?” Kerry remarked, her voice lowering an octave.
    “Mom, don’t start getting any ideas,” Rachel warned, knowing that tone of her mother’s
     so well.
    “Hiyah! What ideas? When you brought Nick home last Thanksgiving, everyone who saw
     you two lovebirds together said you were perfect for each other. Now it’s his turn
     to introduce you to his family.Do you think he’s going to propose?” Kerry gushed, unable to contain herself.
    “Mom, we’ve never once talked about marriage,” Rachel said, trying to downplay it.
     As excited as she was about all the possibilities that hung over the trip, she wasn’t
     going to encourage her mom for the time being. Her mother was already far too invested
     in her happiness, and she didn’t want to get her hopes up … too much.
    Still, Kerry was brimming with anticipation. “Daughter, I know men like Nick. He can
     act the bohemian scholar all he wants, but I know deep down he is the marrying kind.
     He wants to settle down and have many children, so there is no more time to waste.”
    “Mom, just stop!”
    “Besides, how many nights a week do you already spend at his place? I’m shocked you
     two haven’t moved in together yet.”
    “You’re the only Chinese mom I know who’s actually encouraging her daughter to shack
     up with a guy.” Rachel laughed.
    “I’m the only Chinese mother with an unmarried daughter who’s almost thirty! Do you