Chapter 16: Gala Night, Before

The baby wore a tuxedo, and Su Ye was the only one in the dressing room who thought this was reasonable.

Mrs. Su had sewn it herself.

It had a satin collar, a bow tie the size of a coin, and a button on the back that nobody had been able to find.

"Give him to me," said Mrs. Su, holding out her arms. "You have to get dressed."

"I've got him."

"Ye, you can't hold him and tie your tie."

"I can tie my tie one-handed." Su Ye shifted the boy higher on his shoulder. "I watched a video."

He had also learned to carry a diaper bag, a folder and a flask, all at once.

The folder was the one that mattered.

It was blue, and thin, and Lu Chen had put it into his arms at the hotel door without a word.

It held a student's thesis, a signed statement and thirteen footnotes.

Su Ye had carried it from the car to the dressing room with both hands.

The Chairman, in a black dinner jacket, stood at the mirror and consulted his pad.

"Point one, we do not speak to Shu Fen. Point two, if he speaks to us, we say good evening."

"Point three, if Li Lu cries, we offer a napkin."

"Why would she cry?" Su Ye said.

"Point four, no reason." The Chairman capped his pen. "Everyone out. Your husband wishes to be alone with his bow tie."

Mrs. Su took the baby at last, kissing his cheek twice, and swept out with the Chairman behind her.

The door shut.

Lu Chen stood in front of the long mirror in a black dinner suit, doing nothing.

His hands were at his throat.

His bow tie hung undone on either side of his collar.

"I can't do it," he said.

"You can do a hearing in front of three judges."

"I can't do my hands."

Su Ye put the blue folder down on the dressing table, with enormous care.

He crossed the room and took the two ends of the tie, one in each hand.

"Chin up."

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