He came up and embraced her, and she put the mug of tea down to allow it.

“You need some fun, lover,” he said.

“Is that what I need?” she wondered aloud, her face nuzzled against his chest.

Lu Song’s voice turned mischievous. “I can think of some other ideas,” he said.

She knew that tone. That tone led to trouble.

Trouble they were both experts at creating.

“How about…” he paused. “That cute waiter from the restaurant last week, eh? I bet he’d amuse you for a while.”

Zhi Li shook her head mutely against his chest.

“Oh, I see,” he said. “It was the hostess who was more your type. I doubt she’s ever been with a woman before, but…” He chuckled.

“Lu Song,” she protested.

“Oh, one’s not enough, eh?” He joked. “We could have them both, I’m sure. They could sing and dance for you, or…”

“That was the young me!” Zhi Li said. “I’m older now.”

Lu Song laughed. “That was you as of three months ago! And you’re twenty-six!”

Zhi Li pushed back from her lover so she could look him in the eye.

“Our times make demands of us, lover,” she told him. “There’s a time to put away childish things. And to focus on what needs doing.”

A sound startled her, then. The door opening. Feet running. She turned, to face it. Lu Song stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body.

“Madame!” she heard Keylani say.

Zhi Li stepped out from behind Lu Song, naked, as he was.

Keylani stood there, a slate in her hand, breathing heavily. Qi and Dai were on either side of her, fully dressed in their black suits. They politely averted their heads, though they’d seen this and so much worse through her discreetly hidden episodes of debauchery.

“Madame!” Keylani said again, staring her in the eyes. “You’re starting a revolution!”

Keylani played it for her again, a capture sent to her by a fan.

The warrior princess, Zhi Li, raised her sword. The camera zoomed out, revealing a plain full heroes. “China, take to the streets! Rise, China! Rise!”

She felt goose bumps on her skin. Her hair stood on end.

“And this has spread…?”

“Everywhere!” Keylani said. “Millions of viewers! Billboards! Posters in the subways! Building sides! Phones! Everywhere! And not just you, Madame!” Keylani looked at Lu Song. “It’s everyone. All of the Peace and Harmony Friends. All inciting riot.”

Zhi Li stared at the video as it played and played: the snippet of Sun Liu, saying the people would revolt; the sneering, unflattering-as-possible clip of Bo Jintao saying he was in control.

Did even Bo Jintao ever look and sound so villainous?

“Madame!” Keylani said. “Should we issue a denial? We can record a public statement, distance you from this!”

Zhi Li turned and looked at Lu Song.

His face was pale. He knew exactly what she was thinking.