The energy in the room changed noticeably before Li Hua even saw the change in the other woman's face, the light glaring enough after so long in the dark that she had to narrow her eyes and wonder if Mary hadn't looked like that all along. No need to be rude, though. The confidence was greatly preferable to the simpering that had preceded it.
She answered in Chinese, testing the possibilities, saying, "Laohu hua," and cocking her head inquisitively. "You understand?" After a beat, she explained, one hand up with a palm flat to the ceiling, "'Hu' is the tiger." Meaning, in Li Hua's dictionary, a vicious animal prepared to tear a man's belly open to eat out his heart. That much should have been clear. With all of the necessary information, Mary could answer thoughtfully when Li Hua asked, "What do we call you?" They could be friends, as long as they respected each other's claws.