"Charles Mellon," he said, walking up to Li Wei with a faint smile. "I'm Liz's cousin."
"Li Wei," he replied, politely shaking his hand. "A friend of Elizabeth's."
"Pardon my bluntness," Charles Mellon said, glancing at Elizabeth, "but for Mr. Li Wei, the NFL's hottest rising star, to be hanging around with our little Brooklyn Princess... it's a bit beneath you."
"Charlie, today is the opening. If you're here to visit, you're welcome," Elizabeth's gentle expression instantly changed. She took a quiet half-step forward, shielding Li Wei behind her. "But if you're here to pass judgment on my friends, you can go right back to your Manhattan Art Center."
