Visiting Families

"Whose family are we going to visit first, mine or yours?"

Sipping her morning tea, Liuming posed the question.

"How about we deal with yours first?"

Since there was no doubt in Lin's minds that her parents are still angered about what they did, she had decided it would be best to start their visit with a side of the family who would be at least accepting of their union.

"Then we shall visit father right after this."

The peaceful breakfast shared by them both was a result of their heated honeymoon last night, making Liuming warm up immediately to Lin.

Eating a piece of the steamed fish, Liuming wondered why the hell was Lin staring at her with a smile?

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Nothing, I'm just admiring how beautiful my wife is."

A blush crept up on Liuming's cheek due to Lin's words. How is it that Liuming could take compliments from Xiao all day but she would still get flustered whenever they would come from Lin?

"Shut the fuck up, eat your damn breakfast!"

Pretty and bashful to boot, Lin really struck gold with this girl. To Lin, Liuming was like a diamond in the rough, her impurities manifesting as the major bitch that she is, while her true beauty translated not only to her physical appearance, but to her hidden romantic side.

Once breakfast was done, the two hurried up to the Shen family estate.

~~~~

"Normally I would congratulate you both and question my grandchild is due, but that seems to be out of the realm of possibility now. If the masked master wasn't in on this, this plan would have been a failure, like you." Rong's immediately let his daughter know how disappointed he was.

Even with his blessing given, the greeting that they received from the Shen family patriarch was an aggressive one, all because Xiao was not with them, Rong's true nature surfaced.

A remark that Liuming let pass since her father was one of the few she could not bare her fangs against....

"I never knew the the Shen family patriarch could be so narrow-minded. Do your forget the path that your daughter and I both walk? Maybe one day we can give you this grandchild that you desire...father."

...but Lin had no qualms in talking back to Rong. She even put an emphasis on the 'father', making him aware that her daughter was now bound to her by fate, and him to this blue haired woman in front of her. They are now family.

"Talking back to your parent! Did the An family fail in teaching you manners?"

"They taught me how to stand up for myself." Liuming grabbed Lin by the hips, pushing her close to her as if to say Lin has Liuming's back. "I will not stand idly while you insult my wife." Lin stared daggers.

Rong was a bit taken aback by Lin's glare. Such brazenness! Rong lamented, if only this Lin was a man! But then again, this marriage was brought about by that masked master, was there credence in claiming that they might one day produce an heir? Perhaps he should show a bit of kindness to this union then?

Rong flashed them both a smile, "Then forgive me, daughter Lin, perhaps I was wrong in my assessment."

After a lunch with Rong, the newlywed headed straight for their new destination, the An family estate.

Worry was apparent in Lin's face as she stared outside the moving carriage's window, how will her mother and father respond now that she will bring her new wife in tow? Lin could not show the same hostility she showed to Rong, not because she was afraid of her parents, but because she loved them.

It was obvious that Lin was stressed about finally coming face to face with her parents. Witnessing the dumb look on Rong's face truly made Liuming's day, after Lin stood up for Liuming in front of her father, what can Liuming do to help alleviate Lin's anxiety?

Liuming entwined her hand with Lin's, the simple gesture of Liuming saying she was there for Lin made Lin's lips arc into a smile.

~~~~

Huang's slap resounded in the entire garden as all four were seated in a gazebo underneath the stars.

The standing Huang fumed with rage at her daughter, "Do you realize what you have done!? Half of Jiangshan are calling you two degenerates! The harbringers of moral decay! If our family wasn't this influential, they would already be out to lynch you!"

"Then let them! We are hurting nobody, mother, if they will not let us be then I would gladly put them in their place."

Even Huang's slap wasn't able to shake the fierceness out of Lin.

"What a troublesome daughter you are, to me!" Huang dragged Lin by the wrist.

Once Huang was alone with her daughter, her expression mellowed. Shedding all the rage, what was in Huang's eyes were pure concern. Obviously Huang did not want to discuss this matter in front of Liuming. While Huang was not in favor of their marriage, the fact remains that her daughter and this Liuming are still is.

"Lin, it is not too late to back down. I will speak to this Liuming and even give them a portion of our family's share in the market just to set things right. Don't make me kick you out of this family!"

"Mother, I am happy with Liuming. With Zhangming I am going to be miserable. Perhaps you don't care about me at all?"

Lin's question made Huang shed a tear.

When Lin was still a child, Huang's beloved daughter meant the world to her. Like a bird pushing her youngling out of the nest so it can learn to fly, every parent must eventually let their children go off on their own, make mistakes on their own.

Huang embraced Lin. Huang's threat of exile was merely a front, as she anticipated, she had raised to be fearless enough that even the risk of getting booted out of the family failed to raise eyebrow.

"You stupid child, I am your mother. Of course I would care about you."

After spending what appeared to be an eternity in each other's embrace, Huang let go.

This was the now path her daughter was walking, she would rather support it than push her daughter off of it.

Before they returned to their seat, Huang let her morbid curiosity get the better of her.

"Lin, since you two are both women, who was in charge last night?"

Uncouth it may be for a mother to ask, but as long as they don't get into details, it won't hurt for Huang to know. All Huang asked was, who held the reins?

To which, Lin laughed, "Oh mother, do you even need to ask?"

~~~~

Awkward silence takes the two as they are now face to face with a new family member.

"The tea is good." Ce tried to break the ice with his new daughter-in-law.

"I...uh...yes indeed."

"Liuming, do you love my daughter?"

The question almost made Liuming spit tea from her nostrils. How could he go from the taste of the tea to that?

"Actually, you don't need to answer that. I guess if you went through that public stunt you did, the answer should automatically mean yes."

(Oh thank the heavens!) Liuming sighed in relief.

"I ignored Lin's wishes in favor of my wife's, it only occured to me how tormented Lin was by this arranged marriage, when I saw her on that Altar with you, absolutely happy. The bottomlime is, you two are alright. I now consider you as my daughter as much as Lin is."

There are plenty of arranged marriages where the couples are miserable with each other, Ce and Huang might be compatible, but Ce could not say the same for Zhangming and Lin. Even with her fellow woman, her daughter seemed happy at least.

Before Liuming could express her gratitude, Lin and Huang had arrived.

"Father, Liuming and I shall rest for the evening."

Liuming bowed to Ce.

"See you tomorrow, father."

Satisfied, Ce nodded while smiling.

~~~~

Carrying Liuming by the legs, Lin slammed her wife's back against the wall. Liuming's hand caressed Lin's blue hair as their tongues communed.

With how stressful the day had been, Liuming had no qualms in letting off some steam by exercising their newfound skinship. Add to the fact that Liuming was now aware that they do not need to vie for Xiao's attention, they could simply indulge each other when Xiao is not around.

As things were getting heated, Lin suddenly stopped. The blue haired woman casually walked into the bedside.

"Is something the matter?" The puzzled Liuming asked.

"I found this in your cupboard after I woke up, do you mind explaining what this is?"

In Lin's hand was Liuming's collar with the inscription, 'Xiao's pet'.

That was in Xiao's possession, how the hell did Lin find it there? Unless, Xiao planted it!

Nervous, Liuming gulped, how is she going to explain this one?