Chapter 413 - Just Like ME
This was the first time that Jiang Ying Yue, Little Jun and Clover were meeting Wei Lan in person. Dom had already met her before during her short visits to see Iris at the penthouse.
Although Wei Lan didn't spend much time with Iris, at least she made it a point to see or call her daughter every few months or so. It was only when Iris went into coma for the second time that Wei Lan "disappeared" and stopped her sporadic visits. However, Wei Lan reconnected with Iris again later to update her on her latest escapades while travelling all around the world.
Perhaps it was a good thing that Iris and Wei Lan didn't see each other often during the latter part of last year. It was the time when the remnant inside Iris was the most volatile.
The mother and daughter had a love-hate relationship with each other because they were too alike in their "me first" philosophy in life. The original Iris held a strong resentment against her mother.
If Wei Lan became much more involved with Iris during that unstable period last year, who knew how much more havoc the remnant would've caused Iris?
At the moment, everyone (except Iris) couldn't stop looking at Wei Lan standing in front of them. Wei Lan still retained her youthful, tall and slim model body even at middle age. She was much "flatter" compared to her daughter's shapely hour-glass body, but Wei Lan actually looked more seductive despite this.
Her face was gorgeous. Iris inherited a big part of her beauty from her mother. The resemblance was unmistakable between the two, but they looked more like sisters than mother and daughter because of Wei Lan's youthful appearance.
Despite the resemblance, Iris had a more naturally angelic look than her mother, especially if she didn't put any make-up on. In contrast, Wei Lan's beauty was devilish with or without make-up.
Upon seeing his family finally return, Popcorn jumped out of Wei Lan's arms and ran towards the newly arrived group. Since his mommy was carrying Little Jun, Popcorn leaped like an orange rocket to his daddy's arms instead. The hyperactive yet affectionate cat meowed loudly, catching the attention of his sister all the way from the cat room.
Ice Cream, as always, was suspicious and even hostile to unfamiliar people. Even as Popcorn felt curious and began cautiously interacting with Wei Lan, Ice Cream stayed away from the woman.If someone could hear the cat's thoughts, she would probably say this:
"This is my territory. Intruders are unwelcome. Want to become my slave? Work hard to earn my approval first. Hmph!"
Everyone in the group gave the cats lots of love and attention, involuntarily ignoring Wei Lan for a few moments. Surprisingly, she didn't complain like she always did. She just stood back and observed everyone.
When Little Jun asked to be placed down on the floor so that he could play with Ice Cream and Popcorn, Iris finally remembered Wei Lan. She quickly let go of the toddler before walking to where Wei Lan was standing.
"Mother, please excuse our rudeness," she said.
"Don't worry about it, honey," Wei Lan replied.
Then she pulled her daughter for a quick hug and air kisses before looking at Iris from head to toe and back up again. She nodded in satisfaction.
"Hm, yes! You've become even mooooore beautiful—just like ME! That's right! It's only natural that MY daughter is as gorgeous as ME! But oh my goooooodness! Look at that skin! I swear your skin didn't look like that when I last saw you! Which products have you been using, honey? Or did you undergo some sort of cosmetic procedure? Don't be ashamed if you did. It's the responsibility of gorgeous women like us to maintain our beauty for as loooooong as we can! How about you tell Mother your beauty secrets? I'm all ears!"
Wei Lan's interest in her skin pleased Iris greatly. It meant that Orchidia Beauty's products were all effective.
"Yes, I'm using new products but they're not available on the market yet," she said."What?! Not available yet?!" Wei Lan exclaimed. "Is it one of those exclusive brands that have at least year-long waiting lists? Which brand is it, honey? Tell meeeeee! If it can make my skin look like yours, then even if I have to wait two years or more, I will!"
"Relax, Mother. The products will launch this coming fall. But you don't have to wait that long. I'll give you some samples to try later. If you like the products, don't forget to buy them when they launch."
"Ooooooh! That's wonderful! Thank you, honey~"
Then Wei Lan suddenly cupped Iris' breasts, even lightly squeezing them, in front of everyone.
Iris froze. She was extremely taken aback by the woman's actions. If this was any other time, her reflexes would not have allowed anyone other than Jin Liwei and her doctors touching her intimate parts. However, she didn't sense any malicious intentions from Wei Lan, so she wasn't able to react in time.
It wasn't only her. The others also froze seeing what Wei Lan was doing to her. Jin Liwei's eyes went blank, unable to process the sight of his future mother-in-law groping his most beloved breasts—cough cough—he meant, the most beloved breasts of his baby girl.
But Wei Lan wasn't done yet. After touching Iris' breasts, she reached down and around, and then began lightly squeezing her daughter's butt next.
This time, Iris caught the woman's hands and pulled them off. "Mother, what are you doing?!"
"Oh, don't mind me, honey. I'm just checking whether you had implants or not because your boobs and butt look bigger than what I remember," Wei Lan replied, sounding as though it was the most natural thing to say and do in the world. She withdrew her hands, but continued to examine Iris' body.
"I don't have implants, Mother.""Yes, I know that now after feeling them. Let me look at you again. Hm, yes... I think you gained a little weight since I last saw you, honey. Be careful not to gain too much or your man will leave you if you become too fat."
"That's not true," Jin Liwei's cold voice cut through the weird atmosphere. He walked forward until he was standing beside Iris. Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled him closer against the side of his body. He looked directly at Wei Lan. "Madam, I'll continue to love your daughter no matter what size she becomes in the future. I certainly won't leave her. Likewise, I hope that she won't leave me if I ever get fat."
"Oh Liwei. You'll always be my darling even when you become a cranky, fat, old man," Iris replied, wrapping her arm around his waist as well.
And with that, the two became absorbed in their own little world again. They stupidly grinned at each other like idiots. Of course, their number one fan Dom fangirled like crazy in the background with his sister Clover.
"So you're my daughter's fiancé? I knew it from the moment you walked in!" Wei Lan's (annoying) voice interrupted the couple's lovey-dovey moment. "Honey, why don't you introduce your handsome fiancé to Mother?"
Iris finally introduced the two to each other.
Wei Lan didn't have much reaction when Jin Liwei's name was mentioned. It seemed that she didn't recognize him right away. Just like what she did with her daughter, Wei Lan examined Jin Liwei from head to toe and back up again. Thankfully, she didn't grope him like what she did to Iris. She nodded her head in satisfaction as she looked at Jin Liwei's appearance.
"Xiulan is really my daughter! What a great catch! She has excellent taste in men—just like ME!"
Then she started asking Jin Liwei questions about his height, weight, blood type, horoscope, family background, education, career, income, if he was really straight or maybe bisexual, how many lovers he had before Iris, and so many other intrusive questions.
Iris shut down the other questions, not hiding her cold displeasure at Wei Lan. Fortunately (and surprisingly), Wei Lan was very nice and didn't push for Jin Liwei to answer her other questions.Jin Liwei answered the basic questions. It was only then that Wei Lan finally realized who he was. Her eyes widened in shock, as she looked at him like he had suddenly transformed into a king right in front of her eyes.
"Y-you're Jin Liwei?! That Jin Liwei, head of Jin Corporation?!"