My Asian Dragon: A BWAM Romance Story (5 page)

Joy's
smile at his over the top silliness caused Longwei's face to break
into a grin. "Longwei, are you trying to be a comedian?"

"Only
with you, Joy."

"So?
You spend two weeks calling me 'Miss Roberts,' and one little kiss
and suddenly we're on a first name basis?" Joy asked saucily, a
twinkle in her eyes. "All right then. But, as much as I'd like
to kiss you again, let's check on Ying-ying."

Joy
let Longwei help her to her feet, and brushed the dirt off her pants.
Longwei did the same. "You know, that's not her name. Ying-ying.
That's a name the government would give a panda they are sending to a
zoo in the West."

Joy
smiled bashfully. "I know, but she only told me her name once,
and I couldn't understand it. I heard a sound like Ying in it, and
she has a quirky habit of doubling almost everything she says to me,
it sounds like. I would appreciate it if you could help me more with
my Chinese."

"Of
course. And her name is Yingtai. So you weren't too far off."

The
two walked to the doctor's office, where a small group of villagers
were gathered outside. Longwei approached the group, which parted
without him saying anything. Still, Longwei smiled his thanks and
stepped inside the doctor's office. Joy followed, and inside could
see Yingtai laid out on a bed, her hand immersed in a cold water
bath. The water was already cloudy with coagulated oil, but still Joy
could see the deep burns and blisters on her hand. The doctor gave
her an injection, and her eyes fluttered shut. He turned and spoke to
Longwei in rapid Chinese, Joy picking up a little. The doctor was not
born in the village it seemed, and his accent was easier to
understand. Still, Joy was a bit lost.

"How
is she?" she asked quietly.

"She'll
be scarred, but you most likely saved her hand," Longwei
replied. "It will be a long process before she can use the hand
again, but he thinks she can eventually use it without pain."

"Can
you send her for treatment, skin grafts and such?"

"No,"
Longwei replied. "The government would not approve such things
for someone from her economic status. She's just a peasant in their
eyes, not deserving of such expensive medicine."

Joy
felt tears come to her eyes as she looked down on the pretty girl's
sweating face. Even with the injection, she moaned thickly in her
drug induced sleep, her eyes squinting against the pain. "Is
there anything we can do?"

"Not
right now," Longwei replied. "But her family will need help
to take care of her during the rehabilitation process."

Joy
nodded. "Tell her when she wakes up that I will do what I can to
help her family, and she should just concern herself with getting
better and listening to doctor's orders."

Longwei
turned to look at her. "Let's talk outside."

Longwei
led her out of the doctor's office, and towards the temple. "Joy,
what you offer is a very serious commitment. Much more than a typical
American offer."

"I
know," Joy said, reaching out and taking Longwei's hand. They
walked down the dirt road together, quietly enjoying the simple
pleasure of the hand hold, before Joy spoke again. "Longwei,
what do you think of me staying here long term?"

"I
think you would be out of a job," Longwei said. "Can you
really be happy being a village girl?"

Joy
thought deeply. "For the rest of my life? I guess I can ask you
the same question. You have a Master's Degree. Can you be happy being
a dragon shifting village leader for the rest of your life?"

"Yes
and no," Longwei replied. "The villagers expect much of me,
much more than just being a village leader."

"What
do you mean?"

Longwei
shrugged. "The villagers expect me to lead a Renaissance of
sorts. They truly believe that I, or perhaps my children when I have
them, will fight the Triads and the corruption in the Chinese
government, destroy them, and lead our country into a new golden age.
I'm supposed to be the father of this great dragon army, springing
forth from my loins to cleanse Asia. Considering that I'm the only
dragon I know, it's a tall order for a man who doesn't even have a
girlfriend."

"Oh
really? And I thought here I was, holding your hand and walking with
you after you kissed me just an hour ago."

Longwei
looked over at her, his eyes questioning. "Do you want to be my
girlfriend?"

Joy
laughed. "That sounds very junior high school, but from what
I've known of you over the past weeks, yes. Or at least, I'd like the
chance to find out more."

Longwei
smiled his soft smile, the one Joy was coming to think about so
often. "I would like that to. I suppose then I'm to ask you out
on a date?"

"Well,
that's normally supposed to happen before the first kiss, but yeah."

Longwei
chuckled. "I hope you do not expect a five star dining
experience."

*****

It
had been a long time since Joy had felt so nervous on a first date.
She fidgeted as she smoothed her hands over her shirt, aware this was
not typical first date attire. She had no dress with her, so she
hoped her button down shirt and jeans would be fine. She waited in
her room, before a soft knock came on the door of what she now
thought of as her "room" in the village temple, which she
now realized doubled as a town hall and as Longwei's private
residence. The door slid open, and Longwei stood there, handsome in a
pair of jeans and a button down silk shirt with Mandarin collar. "I
see you brought out the fancy dress," Joy said, eyeing the
shirt.

"Actually,
the jeans were more expensive," Longwei replied. "I have
kept these since I left university, and only bring them out for
special occasions."

"I
appreciate the gesture," Joy replied, taking his arm and walking
down the hallway with him. "May I ask what you have planned for
our date?"

"It
may sound trite, but I thought I would do my best to give you a taste
of American style dating," Longwei replied. "Dinner and a
movie."

"A
movie? Just where did you get a television?"

"A
laptop computer from the school," Longwei said, "along with
a DVD."

"So
we are going to the school?"

"No.
The computer and an extra battery pack was brought here. While most
of the school is undamaged, classes are canceled for tomorrow to let
the smoke air out."

Joy
sighed. "Sorry. I didn't want to bring up such serious subjects
tonight."

"Do
not worry. The children, by the way, have made an award for you. They
would like to give it to you when the school reopens."

Joy
was touched by the sentiment. "Enough on that for tonight. I'm
hungry."

Dinner,
it turned out, was a fairly accurate recreation of American-style
Chinese takeout, with steaming plates of chicken in plum sauce, sweet
spareribs, fried rice, vegetables, and even spring rolls. Joy stood
in awe of the spread of food on the low table, before a question
stopped her. "Longwei, this is too much."

Longwei
looked concerned. "What do you mean? Are you not hungry?"

"It's
not that," she replied, shaking her head. "Longwei, in the
weeks I've been here, I think I've gotten a pretty good estimation of
what the people of this village eat on a regular basis. You have
enough meat here for an entire family. Maybe even two or three day's
worth. I know you don't have a supermarket in town, this chicken and
pork had to come from someone's livestock. I can't take this off
someone else's table."

Longwei's
concern evaporated and a large smile spread across his face. "Then
you do not have to worry. The chicken was from Yingtai's family, as a
gift for you. They had already killed it before bringing it over, so
there wasn't much I could do. The pork is actually from me. I hunted
a wild boar this afternoon, finding one in the woods a few kilometers
away. Other than the ribs you see and the pork in the rice, the rest
of it was given to Yingtai's family."

"How
did you hunt a boar so quickly?"

Longwei's
look made her smile. "Joy, there are benefits to being able to
become a dragon. Being able to cover large distances and hunt
efficiently is one of them. Now, no more worries about the food, it
is a gift from the village and from me to you. Let's enjoy."

Joy
allowed herself to relax and enjoy, and was surprised at how
wonderful the flavors were. "Your memory of American takeout is
almost perfect," she commented. "You really nailed the
differences between real and American Chinese food."

"Thank
you. So Joy, tell me, why did you get into journalism?"

Joy
thought about her answer for a long time. "I think the same
reason why I offered to stay here in the village. Growing up on the
poor side of Washington, I saw both the best and the worst that the
United States had to offer. On one hand, there was the height of
American power, where the ideals of the system were literally etched
in stone. At the same time though, I saw the dirty politicians, the
money grubbers, and the corruption there. In my neighborhood, I saw
smaller versions of both. I saw hustlers, street pimps, drug dealers
and gangbangers. At the same time, I saw kindness, and neighbors
helping each other out. I saw that so many of the problems down below
were due to exploitation from those above them in the socioeconomic
ladder. I guess I got into journalism because I wanted to change the
world for the better, and I thought I could do the most good there."

"And
now?"

"Now
I recognize that sometimes doing the little direct things can be just
as powerful as anything else. Helping the kids get a better
education, or tomorrow going out to help Yingtai's mother pick
vegetables is just as meaningful as what I was doing for
AER
."

Longwei
took a bite of his rice, and set his chopsticks aside. "Now,
your turn. Any question you want to ask."

Joy
thought long and hard, her gaze going to the ceiling as she pondered
what she wanted to ask. Finally, she decided. "When you told me
about the villager's expectations of you, you didn't really answer my
initial question. Are you happy being who you are as a village
leader?"

Longwei
sighed, and then looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. "You are a
hard one to dissuade from a question. Honestly, no, I cannot see
being just this village's head man for the rest of my life. However,
I can see myself trying to make a difference, and helping free some
more areas of Triad control."

"That's
a rather dangerous dream."

"I
know. So is being an anti-corruption journalist who takes on Triads
and politicians."

"True."

After
dinner, Longwei cleared away the dishes before leading her to an
inner courtyard of the temple. The weather was warm for the time of
year, and the sky was filled with a million diamond pinpricks from
the stars. A blanket had been spread out, and a low table held the
laptop. "I am sorry if the movie is not to your liking, I only
have three movie DVDs," he said. "I have wanted more, but
village needs come before my own."

"That's
okay," she said. "I was thinking, if I am going to be
staying here until Yingtai is healed, I will need to clear my
apartment in Shanghai out. While I'm sure Billy could help with his
van, do you have anywhere I could store my things?"

"Depends
on how much, but yes," Longwei replied. "Let's discuss that
later. Movie?"

Joy
stretched out on the blanket, and laughed when the titles came. "
Mr.
and Mrs. Smith
? You
have a thing for Angelina Jolie?"

Longwei
shrugged and sat down beside her. "Not really. But the other two
movies I have are
The
Wizard of Oz
and
Dumbo
.
I keep them for the children. The third came with them in a Hong Kong
set pack. I don't know why."

As
the movie went on, Longwei relaxed more, first reclining and then
lying down next to her, both of them enjoying the mindless silliness
of the action. Joy became aware of the closeness of Longwei's body,
and the warmth of his presence so close to her. She placed her hand
on his chest, feeling the solid swell of his muscle, looking him in
the eye as he turned to her. "Are you...." Longwei began,
before she silenced him with a kiss.

In
comparison to their first kiss under the tree, their second kiss was
slower, and much more tender. She explored his lips with hers, before
she opened her mouth to let his questing tongue slip inside. His left
hand came up to cup her head, his thumb stroking along her cheek as
their kiss continued. When their lips finally parted, Joy felt her
heart beating quickly. "I appreciate the movie, but I'd rather
do this," she whispered, kissing him again. Pushing on his
shoulder, she pushed Longwei over onto his back, before following him
over, swinging her leg so that she straddled his waist. She could
feel the hardness of his cock rubbing through her jeans, and she had
to restrain the urge to hurry, it had been so long.