Make Me Yours

Chapter 12

“Usually, you don’t have to meet the parents until about a year after you become official. It’s only been two days, Xen. I still think we are taking this a bit too fast.”

He laughed, and as much as she relished that sound, it did nothing to calm her fraying nerves.

“Don’t be that way, Qing-qang. There’re no rules to these things. Besides, we have been seeing each other for two months now.”

“Yes, but it’s still a little too soon, isn’t it?”

“You’ll do just fine. You look very beautiful today, Zoey.”

That made her smile, and his hands on her neck doing wonders made all the tension knots that had formed melt away.

She had chosen a simple, very modest black gown for lunch today. When Xen had called her on Sunday evening, saying that he had told his mother about her and Mrs Li wanted to meet her, she had freaked out. When he had told her that she only had a day to prepare for the meeting, she had freaked out even more.

She had called her girls, and her mother, who now knew of the relationship between herself and Xen. Her parents had been a little unhappy with the news, saying that Xen ought to meet with them first, before meeting with his mother. She had pacified them by promising that they would arrange a meeting this weekend.

So, her mother had happily joined her friends in picking out the perfect outfit. Mariah had done her hair and makeup to be just right. She knew that she looked perfect for someone who was meeting her boyfriend’s mother for the first time. Still, she could not stop her nerves from getting the best of her.

It was simply too soon, and if the news about Mrs Li was any indication, this lunch was going to be anything but comfortable. On the bright side, Yuri would be present. Xen had promised that his niece couldn’t wait to meet her.

“Thank you, Xen.” They were in the limo, and Mr Casteo had raised the screen to give them some privacy.

“I know what you’ve read in the news and I cannot deny that they aren’t true, but it isn’t so bad. She doesn’t bite, you know? She’s strictly vegetarian; pun intended.”

This made her laugh, but her laughter was cut short the moment something occurred to her. “Oh? She is? I better not order any meat, then.”

It was Xen’s turn to laugh. “Oh baby, you are so funny. We all eat meat around her; she has no problem with it, trust me. Order whatever suits your fancy. My mother is going to love you. She wouldn’t be able to help it, trust me. I know because I couldn’t either. I love you, Zoey.”

Her heart stopped. She looked up at him and searched his eyes. “You do?”

“How could I not? You are everything I never knew I was looking for, and more.”

Her heart kick-started again and she let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding.

“Oh Xen, you are so sweet. I love you too, so much.”

He kissed her. No warnings, nothing. He simply swooped down and stole her lips until he had his fill.

“Good. Feels great to know I’m not alone in this. Now, let’s go face my mother.”

Hands entwined and suddenly feeling confident in his confession of love, she let him help her out of the car and into the restaurant.

Thankfully, they had arrived much earlier. When Mrs Li and Yuri arrived only a few minutes later and ten minutes before 1 o’clock, Zoey figured out where Xen got his spirit of punctuality from – and his height. Christ, the woman was tall.

As they rose to their feet, she was aware of how much more intimidating this was, having to look up at this woman who passed her by at least three inches. She was also beautiful; very beautiful.

She was simply dressed in a plain red dress that hugged a figure that was too bomb to belong to a sixty-year-old woman. A floral chiffon kimono flowed to her feet, covering her arms. Nude stilettos graced those feet and in her hand was a Chanel bag – one of the only seven in the world. The pearl necklace around her neck sparkled in the light.

Zoey swallowed hard. When you saw class, you could usually smell it from afar. Kim Li was class and sophistication embodied from her styled hair to her feet.

“Ah… Zoey Martins, is it? Not a surprise to see that you beat me to it. My son has always had a knack for punctuality. However, I was hoping I would beat him to this one. A pity Mr Sung took the longer route. But all that matters is that we are here now. I hope we did not keep you waiting?”

She was thrown back to that scene in Crazy Rich Asians. Now, she knew how Rachel felt when she met Nick’s mother.

“Not at all, Mrs Li. We have not been here long.” She responded with a bright smile as she accepted Mrs Li’s hug, and returned the cheek to cheek air kisses.

“Oh, great!” Mrs Li replied as they pulled away. “I guess all of this did take time to put together, if it came out this nicely.” By this, she meant Zoey’s entire outfit. Her demonstrative hands had indicated that much.

Not knowing how to feel about that statement, Zoey’s smile faltered – only a little though. Mrs Li must have caught it because she quickly added, patting Zoey’s cheeks softly, “What I mean is that you look very lovely, Zoey. You are even more beautiful in person and here I was, thinking my son had simply been exaggerating as any man who thinks himself in love would. So, I decided to keep my hopes low. I am glad that I wasn’t disappointed.”

Zoey was thirty years old. She knew an insult when she saw one, and she recognised a condescending tone when she heard one. It didn’t matter if it was delivered so beautifully with the warmest of smiles. That only made it even more patronizing.

She had been right. This meeting was a mistake and Mrs Li bore no love for her. She spared a glance at Xen who threw her an apologetic look.

She was here for him and she might as well finished what had already started.

“Thank you very much, Mrs Li. I am glad that you are pleased with my appearance. You look very beautiful yourself, and not a day over forty. Perhaps you would be kind enough to share me the secret of your evergreen youthfulness.”

“Hahaha! Such fluid flattery. I’m impressed. As for the secrets, I shall have to tell you that it is nothing but good genes and good food. Look at Xen. He hasn’t aged a day since he was twenty-five. It’s the Li blood that runs in his veins and the good Asian food I fill his belly with.”

“Ah, then I shall get some Asian recipes and hope that I have half as much success, seeing as I am missing those genes. It is nice to meet you, Mrs Li. I have heard many good things about you.”

“Hmm… strange that I have not heard as many about you. Well, I suppose we have time yet to remedy that. You must tell me everything; but first, we must eat. I’m starving.” She started to lower into her seat then, but stopped as she remembered something.