>A part of the ceremony requires us to tie our wrists with white cotton for good luck, but in Chinese culture, white is a sign of bad luck as it symbolizes death. My mom told me that I’ve been growing up as a Chinese kid and I shouldn’t turn my back on it and this is bad luck. But since I’ve been raised for SEVENTEEN years without acknowledging my Laotian heritage, I feel it’s more of a reason to get in touch with it now.

You mother is being foolish and irrational. This is just a superstition and you should ignore it and tell her to stop being silly. You have two heritages, not just one. She is trying to drive a wedge between you and your father.

Does she never wear anything that is white? Seriously, this makes me angry just reading it.

It's not totally unambiguous, but there's a strong hint there. However, not everyone who invites someone for coffee or lunch necessarily wants to get in the other person's pants.

You'll just have to gage her reaction. Has she answered yet? If she accepts your invitation, you can make it clearer during your "date". Just because she is willing to have coffee or lunch with you doesn't necessarily mean she wants to date you. If she acts like she likes your company, all signs point to her being interested. But you have to say it in a clearer way, eventually.