“Focus on your own market, there’s more than enough trouble there,” Michael adds. “Have you managed to hear anything about what the CCP’s planning for its amendments to the new Foreign Relations Law yet?”
“Do you honestly think I’m going to get intel on the Chinese security apparatus at a cocktail hour?”
“I think you’re certainly not trying—”
“You alright?” Aleksandr asks, low and just to Lili. The surrounding chatter melts away.
Lili nods. Distantly, she registers the others, although engaged in their own conversation, sneaking glances at them. Looking past them, she scans the rest of the room. “This is a crowd,” she remarks. “I could go bird-watching with the number of neocon hawks I see.”
“Now, Lili,” Aleksandr reproaches. “The committee is firmly bipartisan. Healthy U.S.-China relations transcend party lines.”
“Even in countries with only one party?”
Aleksandr winks at her, as he takes a drink of champagne. She suppresses a smile.
“Alright,” she says, “tell me—what’s the buzz tonight?”
He runs a soft pattern at the small of her back. “Well, the question everyone is asking: Is China easing?”
“And are they?”
“They just cut their reserve requirements this week.”
“So, yes.”
“Central bankers,” he remarks. “Central bankers love to talk. About what they are doing, will do, might do. In central banking, words speak louder than actions.”
“Isn’t all banking in China essentially central banking, really?”
Aleksandr laughs. It’s a genuine sound, and his eyes crinkle. “Well said.” She bites back a swell of satisfaction. “But yes,” he continues, “they are. With qualifications—stabilize growth, but they don’t want to revive speculation, especially in property. People too often simplify the opportunities in China to either property or labor. It’s reductive.”
Lili frowns. “Alright, with all of that—pretending we can put human rights issues aside—still, why invest in China? The amount of energy you need to cultivate relationships with the party, with regulators, it’s a lot.”
“Capitalizing on the future requires diversification.”
“Diversification? You mean, you’re finally recognizing that capitalism will eventually collapse under the weight of its own contradictions and you’re hedging your bets?”
“Much profit has been made in collapses.”
“Aleksandr.”
Grinning, he pulls her in closer, kissing her temple quick. It’s entirely appropriate, dark enough room, others talking loudly enough, chaste enough gesture of affection, but Lili lets her eyes flutter closed for a second, with the feel of his lips against her skin. She wants to be alone with him, after days apart—wants the heat, the stretch of him, tobe with him; but even more than that, she finds she wants to be next to him, even if it’s in a room full of people she disagrees with, a party she should abhor—but by his side, in the midst of something important to him.
“I heard you went on a hike,” she says, looking up at him.
His gaze narrows, confused for a moment, before relaxing. “Ah. Yes.”
“How’d you like it?”
“It was beautiful. Ran out, ran back. You said that was one of your favorite places, growing up?”
“Yeah.”
He nods. “I can see why. Ocean, as far as you can see. Like you can be alone, by choice.”
Lili stares at him for a second, because—yes.
“Think you can handle some more socializing beyond this group?” Aleksandr asks, glancing over the room. Against her back, his knuckles graze up and down her spine.
