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Lin came down by herself the next week. She seemed a little edgy, fiddling with her sleeve, putting down her coffee cup, and picking it up again.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“I’m not sure how you’re going to take this next part,” she said. “I was involved in something you people would shame me for.”

You people? “If I’ve learned anything these past couple of years, it’s not to be judgmental, to know that different cultures have different approaches to things. Don’t ever worry about me.”

She flashed her brilliant smile my way and settled herself on the sofa.