I felt a cool breeze as someone swept up from behind me to stand beside our table. Another you girl, dressed in a flowing white dress, like the one I had spotted earlier across the dance floor: Daiyu. I drew a small breath when Angela said, “Jason, this is Jin Daiyu, the unofficial hostess of this party. And she hates parties.”

My heart leaped into my throat, but I managed to swallow before lifting my face and smiling up at her. Her silk dress was sleeveless with a wide square neck, and she wore a choker of blue stones set in silver. They emitted a faint light, casting her face in its soft glow. Her hair was swept up, and she looked like some wayward goddess. It felt as if my heart stopped for a long moment, my grin frozen on my face, before I managed to say, “But your father throws a great party, Miss Jin.” I inclined my head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I met her eyes, waiting for that inevitable moment of recognition. Her lips curved into a faint smile. Then her straight eyebrows lifted slightly, not from alarm, but in question. She thought I was flirting.

Angela laughed. “Isn’t he cute? I’m keeping him.”

“Another one? You’re well on your way to establishing a personal harem,” Daiyu said, and her rich voice was exactly as I remembered it. She must have been wearing heels, as she appeared even taller in her white dress.

“Do join us,” Angela said. “I haven’t seen you in ages. You never come out to play.”

I made to rise so I could offer her my chair before getting another one, but she shook her head. “I can’t stay.” She studied my face, dark eyes lit with curiosity. “You’re Tianren’s cousin, right?”

One corner of my mouth slanted up even as I gripped the beer bottle tighter in my fist. “No. I’ve no cousins left in Taipei. I just moved here from the Bay Area.”

Angela giggled. “Doesn’t he look familiar? But I think it’s because he reminds me of that famous Cantonese star.”

“Perhaps.” Daiyu tilted her head. “But I think Jason’s look is unique.”

Probably because I was the only youth in the room whose looks hadn’t been genetically or surgically manipulated. My free hand almost went to where I usually hid my knife, but I swept my fingers through my hair instead. There were no knives on me tonight. Security was tight.