In the morning of our photo shoot, Lee Jim Leng bounced down the staircase of her private residence. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting,” she said apologetically. She explained that she had just spent the previous evening rushing work to meet an urgent deadline. “You might need to work hard to cover my tired eyes,” she joked.

Joining Jim Leng for the second half of the photo shoot were her children Nicole, Nicholas and Niemen Tham. A heavy rain descended on us as we continued our photo shoot after lunch, but Jim Leng and her children proved to be sporting models. Even as raindrops splattered around them in lashing torrents, the foursome held their ground for the last picture until our photographer Tian Xing announced that it was a wrap.

Jim Leng then asked her daughter Nicole to entertain us with her piano-playing prowess. Listening to Nicole’s emotional piano rendition of 'Let It Be' by The Beatles was indeed a wonderful treat as we packed up and said our goodbyes.

To read the full interview with Lee Jim Leng, get a copy of Malaysia Tatler August 2013 issue, available on newsstands now or click here to purchase the digital version.

Photography Tian Xing from Show Up Pictures; Art Direction: Allan Casal; Styling: Azza Arif; Hair: Anita Tang from A Cut Above; Makeup: Joyce Lee from Estée Lauder