“Well, you’re a bit of a sloppy mess, aren’t you? She was probably right to be.” Kerrison glanced at the two unimpressed women and nodded apologetically, though he was not the one who had done anything wrong.

Selby continued to whimper. “Speaking to me as though I’m an animal. Doesn’t she know who I am?”

“I don’t think you know who you are right now, old chap. Come on, if it’s girls you want, I’ll take you a classy place. Later. When you’re a little more attractive. Let’s go then.” He nodded at Emily and Ting-Yan one more time and urged Selby toward the alley entrance.

“I don’t want one of your classy girls,” Selby slurred. “I want that one.”

“Come on, let’s go.” Kerrison pulled Selby by the hand as one might a delinquent child.

The two women watched the British men leave. Emily turned to look at her rescuer.

“Oh, golly. Thanks.” She paused. “I know you.”

“Yes,” said Ting-Yan, recognizing Emily in that same instant.

“But from where? Give me a hint.”

“Uh …” What do you say when the person who has ruined your life forever doesn’t recognize you? Especially when you just saw them yesterday, and you’ve just cursed them to the hottest recesses of hell.

“From my volunteer days at Po Leung Kuk? Yes, you’re the lady who signs in the new girls, and gets all their details.”

“No, I don’t think that’s it.”

But Emily had already forgotten Ting-Yan and returned to her own indignation. “He thinks I’m some dirty flower girl.”

“What’s wrong with being a flower girl? Two of my cousins are flower girls. People have to make a living.” One of those cousins, who had been Ting-Yan’s childhood playmate, still worked in the flower boats. The other one had met four rich men in one lucky week, played her cards right, and was now the celebrated star of one of the wealthiest and most popular brothels in the district. But Ting-Yan’s world was still a judgmental and shaming one. No one from the village talked to those two cousins except their parents, who loved them and agonizingly repressed their own feelings of shame in order to bring them leftovers on feast days. Emily knew nothing about people like Ting-Yan’s cousins and never would. Ting-Yan hated her more than ever and gave her a bitter glare, which Emily didn’t notice. “What are you doing here?” Ting-Yan asked. “Tak-Wing abandon you already?”

“I was getting breakfast,” said Emily. She still hadn’t placed Ting-Yan.

“No breakfast now, I don’t think.” Ting-Yan helped Emily gather up the pieces of her tiffin.