Aunty Lee's Deadly Specials by Ovidia Yu

didn’t go through with it. It was some time ago, before I married
     Mycroft.”
    “You were having health problems?”
    “No—I was thinking about getting enhancements. Some enhancements, some reductions,
     some adjustments . . . just the basic package. But in the end I decided against doing
     it at Dr. Yong’s clinic.”
    “You weren’t comfortable with Dr. Yong?”
    “My friends said it’s a lot cheaper in Korea.” Cherril did not look up from arranging
     the little glasses of juice in the bowl of ice.
    Aunty Lee studied Cherril with new curiosity. Even her sharp eyes told her nothing
     about whether the younger woman had received her assets from God or a plastic surgeon.
     But Aunty Lee would have plenty of time to find out more about her new partner. Now
     she had a party full of interesting people to examine. Mabel Sung herself, for example.
     Studying Mabel Sung’s appearance with some attention, Aunty Lee could not see any
     signs of either enhancement or reduction, not even where these procedures might most
     usefully be applied. Mabel’s whole look said, “I am more powerful and important than
     you, fear and respect me!” yet she was nodding docilely as she listened to the long-haired
     woman.
    “That PRC woman with your Dr. Yong. Do you know who she is?”
    “Sorry, never saw her before. And he’s not my Dr. Yong.”
    Aunty Lee felt something about the tall, long-haired woman was out of place. It was
     not wrong or even unpleasant, just not quite right. This was not any kind of supernatural
     intuition. Consciously cooking to please others had conditioned Aunty Lee to register
     the tiniest variations in how people (and their food) looked, sounded, and smelled.
     Though not always aware of what triggered it, she could sense when something was out
     of place. Like sweet tapioca paste that had been stored in a jar formerly containing
     clove or garlic oil, there was something about Dr. Yong’s woman friend that didn’t
     fit here. Or perhaps it was Dr. Yong himself who was out of place . . . ?
    Mabel Sung left them, waving a vague “I’ll be right back” at all her guests before
     heading toward the stairs to the main house. Edmond Yong and the PRC woman continued
     talking in low voices. Aunty Lee edged closer to the pair in much the same way she
     would have turned up the volume on her television at home. Where was Nina when she
     needed her?
    Another young woman walked up and joined them, grabbing and squeezing Dr. Yong’s arm
     in a playful greeting.
    “Drinks? Edmond? What about your friend? Hi, I don’t think we’ve been introduced.
     My name is GraceFaith Ang. I work with Mabel and Sharon and I’m also a member of Never
     Say Die, so you could say I’ve got a double reason for being here today!”
    The woman said something to Edmond Yong and walked away, ignoring GraceFaith, who
     made a humorous moue.
    “She doesn’t like other people talking to you? Who is she?”
    “She’s just a business contact,” Edmond Yong said. “Nobody important.”
    “Important enough for you to invite to a private party,” GraceFaith said, her playful
     manner dropped. “Does Mabel know you brought a stranger to her house?”
    “Wen Ling is not a stranger. In fact she came to meet Mabel. It’s a potential business
     arrangement, but right now it’s still confidential,” Dr. Yong said.
    GraceFaith immediately switched into coy girlish mode and shrieked demands for information
     but Edmond Yong walked away. At least Aunt Lee had learned the long-haired woman’s
     name.
    GraceFaith was the carefully turned-out young woman who had come to Aunty Lee’s Delights
     on Mabel Sung’s behalf to commission the brunch buffet. Despite Aunty Lee’s attempts
     to push her superspicy sotong balls and unagi otak , they had settled on a fairly conventional menu.
    “Some of the guests are not so adventurous when it comes to seafood.” GraceFaith explained.
    “Vegetarian?” Aunty Lee guessed.