As it is consistently seen throughout the story , Alina a.k.a Leng Lui is a domestic helper who supports ingrates like the Kong family even when it is on its very knees. The story accordingly lends a deeper gleaning of what at first appeared to be simple routines of the maid , to essentially portraying how invaluable Alina really was to the household , yet there remained a complete and utter difference in the power the Kongs wielded in comparison to her. Looking at this , and the ambiguity of the ending  in relation to Alina’s fate , 

 what do you think this says about the modern world and it’s capitalistic nature? Is capitalism truly the most efficient way for the world to run? While ideals about equality are up in the air , does it really make a difference in the lives of people like these helpers?

At the start of page 4, Alina and the readers are introduced to a peculiar practice of Mr. Kong. The author emphasizes how Alina found Mr. Kong quite elegant and well-groomed before she discovered him cutting his nails and storing the clippings in a plant. 

Alina states that “I went to water it, I lifted the fronds, and there at the base was a mountain of toenail and fingernail clippings” (Chiew 4). 

As a reader, what was your initial response and analysis after reading this sentence? What do you think the purpose of the author was that she included this questionable action to describe Mr. Kong out of all the possibilities in the world? Do you think the author was indirectly hinting towards a mental condition or a fetish that Mr. Kong might be dealing with? 

3. 

On the first page of “Leng Lui is for Pretty Lady”, Alina offers the dresses given by Mrs. Kong to her friend when she meets her in Central Hong Kong on Sunday however, her friend instantly refuses to receive the gift. As a response, Alina says “you’re lucky I offer them to you” (Chiew 1) with a harsh and irritated tone. A couple of sentences down from that line, Alina comments on the fact that Maridel has access to a proper sleep schedule because her employer is a nightclub singer who comes home in the early hours of the morning, therefore, having a reduced workload compared to hers. Furthermore, near the end of page 2, Alina describes her other friends as “cheap” (Chiew 2) and directly calls them “prostitutes” (Chiew 2). 

How do these statements from Alina towards her friends impact the characterization of the protagonist, Alina? Do they make Alina a negative character or can her statements and reactions be justified? If you think her actions can be justified, what emotions and feelings do you think drove Alina to behave like this; is it jealousy, anger, or frustration? 

2.In page 13 Mrs. Kong says: “You don't say nothing about this to anyone, you hear me? Or I fire you.” Even though this quote shows that the maids are working in a lowly position in Hong Kong society, they in fact hold more power than they think. How is this so?

3.In page 14 , when Alina says: "...the part when she talks about being a princess trapped in a tower" and in page 18, when she says "It's just like the movies, I'm in the movies now" elaborate on what connection she is trying to draw?