First Battle

After the meal, they went back to the living room and di some small talk before heading home.

Lianne felt like she was on a roller coaster ride.

Or would it be more accurate to say that she's on edge all the time, as if she was in a battlefield?

Yet, with Kai's presence, it was not as taxing or frightening as it would have been.

She noted how Kai gave equal attention to her and his grandmother during the mealtimes. She knew he did that in order to make his grandmother know that Lianne wasn't here to replace her. She was, however, as important to him as his grandmother was to her.

Which was a good move.

However, Lianne also was aware that this may not be enough for his grandmother.

Sheng Aiyi was used to being at the top: whether as the Sheng's Matriarch or covertly as the one who truly was in charge of the Shengs.

Lianne doubted that the grandmother would be too happy about being 'at par' with Lianne in terms of Kai's affection and attention.

Without a doubt, she will still not be happy about that. Perhaps vying for attention all the time?

Lianne laughed to herself.

This would normally be the situation between a mother and the potential daughter-in-law, more so when the son was what people deemed as 'Mummy's boy'. In her case, Kai was 'Granny's boy'.

In truth, Lianne felt that such a label - be it 'Mummy's boy' or 'Granny's boy' was too demeaning and degrading, more so since there was a blanket generalisation over all guys who were close and dedicated to their mother's.

True, there were those who were so clingy on their mother that they didn't seem to be able to stand on their own two feet - or those who would put their mother on a pedestal that no one else would come close: not even his own wife or children.

That was too extreme.

But to disdain all men and putting them into that category just because he was close to his mother or listened to his mother?

That was just too much.

One had to analyse the situation.

It all depended on the mother (or, in this case, the grandmother), really.

Was she controlling? Did she view all women to be a threat to her and never will be good enough for her son? Will she constantly drive a wedge between them? Will she always demand her son to choose between her, or his wife?

If the wife had to constantly give in - even when the mother-in-law was being unreasonable, and the husband doing nothing to defend her or protect her: then that boy should be avoided.

Lianne was big on filial piety, even though she was not clsoe to her father.

It was *because* she was big on filial piety did she not resent her father, despite all the pain she went through because of him (which was not of his fault).

So, like now, Lianne did not fault Sheng Aiyi for being 'posessive' with her grandson.

Kai was, after all, a gem.

It was only natural that one would want him to be with someone good enough to stand by his side.

Lianne would fight for that right to stand beside him, She would not mind giving in to the old coot once in a while; as she was the younger one and should be more magnanimous.

The older one gets, the more childish they get after all.

No, what was important to Lianne was to see if she could get along with Sheng Aiyi, and more importantly, how Kai would mediate between them.

Lianne was sure today's meal was just the appetizer.

The war had not yet begun.

But at least, in this battle, she had won.

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On the journey back to Lianne's apartment, Kai felt like he was on pins and needles.

Lianne was quiet, looking out the window.

Was it a good thing, or a bad thing?

He didn't know.

He couldn't see her face.

So he couldn't judge.

Since she did not want to speak, Kai did not force her nor did he drone on. He did try to make some small talk but when she only gave him one word answers, Kai took the hint.

His thoughts naturally went back to the sketch Lianne had done.

Truly, it was beautiful.

He had know she was an artist but to actually see it was another thing.

Although he had seen the covers she had done for her brother, seeing a sketch like that of his grandparents felt different.

The book covers were done by digital art, while this, was by hand.

What intrigued him more was not only was the sketch so lifelike, but the details!

He was sure the cogs in his grandmother's brain was moving about furiously right now.

The sketch served two purposes.

One, to show Lianne's sincerity.

The effort it took to draw it was one thing, but the thought behind it was even more profound. She made the effort to know what was important to his grandmother, and strove to give a gift from the heart.

Kai knew Lianne scored big on that one.

To think that she would have managed to come up with this present in two days told Kai that Lianne had deep and meticulous thinking.

Her words about standing beside him to handle the Shengs gave a whole new meaning to him right now.

It was not just literally being his emotional support.

But also being one who could think things with him.

It may seem like a 'small' thing to other people: it was just a sketch, right?

Wrong.

Just how many people know about this? About what would touch his grandmother?

He gave a quick look at his beloved.

More importantly, and what was the second purpose of the sketch: it showcased that she knew things.

How did she manage to get an accurate depiction of the wedding outfits? Of a wedding that happened 50 years ago?

She only had two days.

Two. Days.

Kai's grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Just who was his Angel, really?

She was just so damn f*cking awesome!