Kevin Kwan - Crazy Rich Asians

Nick jumped off his bar stool and walked down a few steps toward the infinity pool. As he strolled along the water’s edge, a bold silhouette against the darkening sky, the women studied him in silence.

“He’s a good man, that Nick,” Kerry finally said to her daughter.

“I know,” Rachel said quietly.

“I’m so glad he came to see me,” Kerry said.

“Came to see you?” Rachel was confused.

“Of course. He showed up on my doorstep in Cupertino two days ago.”

Rachel stared at her mother, her eyes widening in amazement. Then she jumped off her bar stool and made a beeline toward Nick. He turned to face her just as she approached. Rachel slowed her pace, turning to look at a couple of swimmers doing disciplined laps around the pool.

“Those swimmers look like they might fall right off the horizon,” she said.

“They do, don’t they?”

Rachel took a slight breath. “Thank you for bringing my mom here.”

“No worries—she needed a good drink.”

“To Singapore, I mean.”

“Oh, it was the least I could do.”

Rachel looked at Nick tenderly. “I can’t believe you did this. I can’t believe you went halfway around the world and back for me in two days. What ever possessed you to do such a crazy thing?”

Nick flashed his trademark grin. “Well, you can thank a little bird for that.”

“A little bird?”

“Yes, a little blue jay that hates Damien Hirst.”

At the bar, Kerry was nibbling the pineapple wedge from her third cocktail when Peik Lin whispered excitedly, “Mrs. Chu, don’t turn around now, but I spy Nick giving Rachel a long, slow kiss!”

Kerry swiveled around joyously and sighed. “Aiyah, soooo romantic!”

“ Alamak, don’t look! I told you not to look!” Peik Lin scolded.

When Nick and Rachel came back, Kerry scrutinized Nick up and down for a moment and yanked at his rumpled linen shirt. “Aiyah, you’ve lost too much weight. Your cheeks are so sallow. Let me fatten you up a bit. Can we go to one of those outdoor food bazaars that Singapore is so famous for? I want to eat a hundred sticks of satay while I am here.”

“Okay, let’s all go to the Chinatown food market on Smith Street,” Nick beamed.

“ Alamak , Nick, Smith Street gets so crowded on Friday nights, and there’s never any place to sit,” Peik Lin complained. “Why don’t we go to Gluttons Bay?”

“I knew you were going to suggest that. All you princesses love to go there!”

“No, no, I just happen to think they have the best satay,” Peik Lin said defensively.

“Rubbish! Satay is the same wherever you go. I think Rachel’s mum would find Smith Street to be more colorful and authentic,” Nick argued.

“Authentic my foot, lah ! If you really want authentic …” Peik Lin began.

Rachel glanced at her mother. “They can do all the arguing, we’ll just sit back and eat.”

“But why are they arguing so much over this?” Kerry asked, amazed.

Rachel rolled her eyes and smiled. “Let them be, Mom. Let them be. This is just how they all are.”

Acknowledgments

In your inimitable and wonderful ways, you have each been instrumental in helping me bring this book to life. I am forever grateful to:

Deb Aaronson

Carol Brewer

Linda Casto

Deborah Davis

David Elliott

John Fontana

Simone Gers

Aaron Goldberg

Lara Harris Philip

Hu Jenny Jackson

Jennifer Jenkins

Michael Korda

Mary Kwan Jack

Lee Joanne Lim

Alexandra

Machinist Pia

Massie Robin

Mina David

Sangalli Lief Anne

Stiles Rosemary

Yeap Jackie

Zirkman

A Note About the Author

Kevin Kwan was born and raised in Singapore. He currently lives in Manhattan. Crazy Rich

Asians is his first novel.

Visit: www.kevinkwanbooks.com

For more information, please visit www.doubleday.com