The Potrait

Lianne noted the concern in Kai's eyes, and the fact that he didn't stop her gave him brownie points aka good points.

From her reading of Sheng Aiyi in the files that Zero gave her, plus the additional information that Kai had told her, gave Lianne the conjecture that Sheng Aiyi was truly a deep ocean.

Most only saw what was on the surface while Kai managed to see what was below it. However, Lianne suspected Sheng Aiyi was much more than that.

Lianne believed that for a woman who had built the Shengs, during an era where women were viewed as the inferior sex, only proved that she was far stronger and craftier than what she is perceived to be.

Lianne could not believe that such a woman would be set in her ways or too rigid in one stance, for that would only mean the growth would be limited. Yet, she allowed the Sheng's to expand into IT and even encouraged Kai's venture into the IT world.

Sheng Aiyi had the foresight and could adapt.

Thus, Lianne was of the opinion that Sheng Aiyi was the no-nonsense type that would appreciate one being straight-forward.

She wouldn't like it, but she respected it.

Lianne knew it was a risk, for she could aggravate Sheng Aiyi so much that she is blocked out but Lianne could not be fake. It was not in her nature to do so and furthermore, she could not pretend to be someone she was not.

Her facial expression would show it all.

That would only cause more friction and distrust.

If Sheng Aiyi couldn't take her as she is, they were doomed to not have a good relationship.

Yet …

Lianne believed it could be possible.

She didn't before, but seeing how Sheng Aiyi was with Kai, she felt a glimmer of hope.

It was obvious that the love Sheng Aiyi had for Kai was not fake. She clearly doted on her grandson and Lianne supposed that no woman would ever be good enough for him - let alone her.

With that thought in mind, Lianne was more confident now.

They had the best glue: both of them loved and doted on Kai.

Sooner or later, Lianne was sure she could thaw the possessive grandmother. Lianne was also sure that Sheng Aiyi would not "give up" her grandson so easily.

And thus, the silent war started between an old, doting grandmother and a young, possessive woman.

(Though that young woman didn't know she was that possessive … not yet, anyway.)

After the small 'pleasantries', Lianne nudged Kai who then gave his grandmother the present. Lianne figured that even though it seemed better if she was the one who gave it personally, the way the grandmother was, the latter would most likely not receive it from her hands.

Thus, Lianne preferred to be viewed as rude rather than have her face slapped with the present being rejected.

Kai, however, anticipated this so he said with a flourish, "Grandma, this is something Lianne and I got of you. Though it's more of what Lianne did than me, it's from the both of us."

Sheng Aiyi looked at the present, hesitated, and then nodded. Understanding, Kai opened the present and showed it to her without looking at it.

From the packaging, Sheng Aiyi knew that it was a portrait or painting of some kind. She didn't think the girl would bring anything of value, as she hardly had any money. She had not heard of Kai spending or buying anything extravagant, so it could only mean a simple, basic picture.

Yet, the moment her eyes landed on the black and white sketch, her lips quivered.

She gulped and reached out.

How could this be?

It was a wedding sketch of her and her husband.

All of her wedding pictures had been destroyed in a fire so long ago and there were absolutely no records of it. Yet, here it was. Reproduced in an art form.

The red wedding dress of hers with its intricate design was an inherited heirloom, adorned her small, lithe body as she sat on the bed while her newly wedded husband was in his red wedding outfit standing next to her.

Though the wedding room was not her actual wedding room, it was enough.

Enough for her to imagine that to be her actual wedding photo.

What was important was that the couple there was her and her husband, and the outfit they wore, were what they had worn then.

This had been a knot in her heart, one of her greatest regret. Not having her wedding photo or any memento of that day.

How did this young lady manage to recreate them so well?

She had tried before to get some photos or something to replace those irreplaceable pictures but nothing.

Yet, this young lady …?

Sheng Aiyi looked up at Lianne after quickly gathering herself.

"It's a nice picture," she said turning her head, "Let's eat."

Lianne gave a ghost of a smile at Shen Aiyi's reaction. She was touched, obviously, and Lianne felt happy. It had taken a lot of MIB's resources to gather a picture of the wedding dress and a young version of the Sheng's Founders within a few hours.

The idea of the sketch had hit Lianne when she was studying the Sheng's history and the background of the prominent members of the Shengs. She had paid special attention to the Matriarch due to the visit, and seeing how touched the old lady was, Lianne felt that the hours she had spent on the sketch had been worth it.

The old lady wasn't that bad, really.

Kai placed the picture down, looking at it thoughtfully. A few things went into his mind but he set it aside for the time being. He smiled at his beloved Angel, grateful for the gift. He, too, had seen how his grandmother loved it.

(Ding: Lianne 1, Grandma 0)

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Lunch was not a simple affair at all, even though it was at the house.

The spread of dishes was akin to a 5 star restaurant, with food that would feed 10 people. Lianne thought it was such a waste, even though everything looked absolutely delicious.

There were two vegetable dishes: fried okra with egg and stir-fried mixed vegetables. There was roasted duck where the oil glistened on the skin of the duck, steamed fish that had slices of ginger spread atop the glistening fish, and sweet and sour pork. Finally, egg drop soup.

Were they expected to finish everything?

"Are we expecting anyone else?" Lianne asked.

"No," Sheng Aiyi replied as the rice was served.

"Grandma doesn't have much of an apetite," Kai explained, "So she takes a little bit of everything."

Lianne nodded.

So it wasn't that they were being wasteful.

Kai went on to explain that the Matriarch just could not decide what she wanted to eat. Thus, a variety of dishes would always be served and she would pick and choose what she could eat.

Sometimes, it was a little bit of everything. Sometimes, she could only swallow one dish.

The chefs in the house was used to this, and would have to make sure they not only have a variety of food, but that the food cooked was made in different ways. So there would be fried, roasted, steamed type of food, and those with gravy, each time.

Lianne watched as the Matriarch picked certain dishes and nibbled on them. Kai would often put dishes on his grandmother's plate as well as her own, and she would reciprocate with the dishes that were near her.

All throughout the meal, they did not speak as they ate silently.

Which was how Lianne liked it, really, and it turns out Kai's grandmother was as well.

The silence was not uncomfortable, and the three continued to eat until they were full.

Sheng Aiyi and Lianne looked at each other at the end of the meal.

Neither showed approval nor disapproval.

(Ding: Draw)