Mrs. Kuo’s face widened with surprise, her eyebrows and mouth stretching to increase the length of her face. But otherwise she was completely still, trying to give the semblance of control.

“And why would you sacrifice everything—your family’s miànzi—for Hongbo? For us?” she asked.

“Because nothing else was working, and I think a failed marriage is more shameful than a moment of embarrassment.”

“That doesn’t add up,” she accused. “Obviously pregnancy outside of wedlock is much worse.”

“I panicked. I didn’t know what else to do.” Jesus, was I flying by the seat of my pants.

“All lies. Why are you really here?”

More like drowning by the seat of my pants.

She pointed an accusatory finger at me. “You’re trying to make me lift the ban on your parents. Why do you even care when you were the one to throw them in the gutter in the first place?” She gestured to her house. “You had the chance to give them everything, to elevate them to float among gods, but instead you threw it all in the trash.”

Did she really just call herself a god? My God.

“Like I said, it escalated too fast and I panicked. It’s not true; I’m not pregnant.” Scared that my not-knocked-up self would get roped back into the previous arrangement, I quickly added, “But, like I said before, I’m not good enough for Hongbo.”

“Obviously not, especially after all this. It doesn’t matter what you say now; everyone thinks you’re pregnant. You can’t take that back—it’s like pouring out water.”

That was my new most-hated phrase.

“Please, this had nothing to do with my parents.” Apparently I was resorting to begging now. “My mother is devastated she’s no longer allowed at Bible study. I came here, with no face, to apologize to you and beg for forgiveness. Can you please not punish my parents for something I did of my own volition?”

She was already shaking her head before I’d finished. “There’s no such thing. Your parents raised you; they are responsible for your actions.”

“For how long? I’m an adult!”

“Forever!” she declared, her voice booming.

“So then you’re responsible for Hongbo impregnating that girl, and for his DUIs?”

“How do you know about that?” Her eyes grew so wide I could see white above and below her pupil. “Your parents couldn’t have told you,” she murmured. “They would never disobey one of my requests.…”

“Hongbo told me.” Sort of.