"I might tell," Yuyan said with a mischievous grin. "It seems like valuable blackmail material."
"You wouldn't dare," Shuyin gasped in mock horror. "Betrayed by my daughter! What has the world come to?"
"I learned from the best," Yuyan replied sweetly.
Shuyin laughed, pulling both children close for a quick hug. The tears from earlier had dried, the heavy revelations had been spoken and acknowledged, and now there was just this, simple, uncomplicated affection between people who'd chosen to be family.
Shuyin straightened her clothes, smoothed her hair, and checked her reflection in the window to make sure she looked appropriately professional again. The woman looking back at her was composed, elegant, perfectly put together.
No sign of the silly game they'd just played.
No evidence of the tears that had been shed earlier.
Just the polished exterior of someone who had it all under control.
But inside, Shuyin felt lighter than she had in years.
