A Discussion

"Mother, respect is earned and not given. So far, you have done nothing to deserve my respect. If you must know, respect goes both ways," Joann countered.

"You…" The elder woman shook her finger at Joann, the veins in her neck popping from anger, "I should not have allowed Xu Jing to marry you into this family. There has been nothing but an endless streak of bad luck since you married into this family!"

"You think I desire to come into this house? If not for the fact that your son begged to marry me so many years ago, I would not have relented! What, you think your Xu family is a house of gold and jewels? I admit, perhaps other women might lust after your Xu family's inheritance, but not me…" Here, Joann paused for emphasis, "Because, mother, I do not need all of these, I can survive just fine without this family!" Joann's arms swiped around her surrounding, signifying the things she was talking about.

"Of course, you can! Is that not how you have survived since you were young?! No wonder you are acting this way like an unruly wild child. I rue the day I gave my permission to Xu Jing to bring an uncultured woman such as yourself into this house! A child without…"

"Mother, I am warning you, you are threading on dangerous ground!" Joann cut Mrs. Xu off with a stern voice.

Mrs. Xu was startled before she responded with a derisive scoff, "You?! You are warning me? Why, have I hit a sore spot? Because I have stumbled on the truth, haven't I?

"You are indeed a child without parents, an orphan! No one to teach you manners and that is why you are acting this way, showing absolute no respect to her elders! Let me tell you, a lowly chicken even after climbing to the top of tree will not transform into a phoenix! Even with all that fame and glamour, nothing is going to change what you are at the core, crass and uncivilized!

"Thankfully, your daughter Sylvia is raised in a complete household or else she will just grow up to end up like you!"

Joann turned and stalked up the stairs, the take-out all forgotten.

"Wait, where are you going?! Stand right there! I am not done lecturing you!"

All Mrs. Xu got as a response was a heavy slam to the door.

…

"Thank you, Auntie Sun for bringing me the dinner. You can take them away now, I feel quite full already," Xiu Ling said as she placed the glass spoon down on the tray. She smiled at the elderly maid.

Auntie Sun responded with a smile before replying, "But miss, you still have not finished the chicken soup. It's boiled with ginseng, I know the smell is a bit too medicinal but it is good for the baby."

Auntie Sun pushed the half-finished bowl of soup back to Xiu Ling.

Noticing how Xiu Ling's hand did not move towards the spoon, Auntie Sun added, "Miss, listen to me, Madam will not be happy knowing you do not finish the medicinal soup."

Xiu Ling's lips tensed before picking up the spoon again. Her appetite was fleeting thanks to the pregnancy but Auntie Sun had reminded her she had no privilege of choice in this household.

After Xiu Ling forced down another half of the remaining bowl, Auntie Sun saw the grimace on the poor woman's face, the elderly maid reached out to take the spoon from Xiu Ling's hand.

"Miss, if you do not have the appetite, then do not force yourself. It will only be worse if you vomit all over the place. I will pour the rest down the sink before Madam has the chance to notice anything. Don't worry," Auntie Sun assured Xiu Ling with a pat on her palm.

Xiu Ling felt touched. "Thank you, Auntie Sun."

"Don't mention it, miss. After all, it is my responsibility to take care of you."

A wiggle on the doorknob interrupted the conversation between the two women.

Auntie Sun stood up from the bed holding the tray in her hands as the door opened to reveal Xiu Ling's husband, Lin Kang.

The sole young master of the powerful Lin family, the man radiated power and confidence. He joined his father's company when he was young and now had managed to make a name for himself as a ruthless yet efficient businessman.

In the classic pair of black suit and white dress shirt, his domineering presence filled up the bedroom instantly. His broad shoulders and muscular frame from intense workout regime filled up the outfit nicely.

There was a bad boy charm about the man, like life around him would not be bored but there was definitely a chance of danger.

Auntie Sun hid the tray of unfinished soup from Lin Kang's eyes, that was easy because the man was not really paying any attention. Members of upper echelon of the society like him did not normally pay attention to the help.

Auntie Sun greeted the man as he shrugged out of his suit jacket, "Young master."

The man grunted wordlessly as acknowledgement.

"If there is nothing else, I will go back to my work. Good night, young master. Good night, miss."

Lin Kang grunted once more while Xiu Ling replied with a, "Good night, Auntie Sun."

The elderly maid shuffled quietly out of the room, closing the door behind her.

A curious tension perforated the silence in the room after the third party left. When Lin Kang peeled off his suit jacket, he noticed his wife had been looking at him with pleading eyes.

He sighed and asked in a tone that bordered on impatience, "Woman, what is it that you want this time?"

Xiu Ling bit on her lower lip and began in a whisper, "It is nothing too troublesome, I merely have something to discuss with you…"

"Yea, what is it then?" Lin Kang sat down on the bed, causing it to wobble as he yanked on his tie to remove it.