May

Biodata

Background / History

Raising Peter Parker

May took in her nephew Peter after his parents died and raised him for years while working at a community hospital in Queens. Their finances were limited but stable. Peter described her spending more than ten hours a day on her feet, then returning home to cook; she encouraged him to prioritize studying rather than worry about her workload 8 12.

She also enforced household rules, scolding Peter for staying at classmates’ homes until dark instead of coming home to help with chores 4.

Meeting Lin Xiao

Lin Xiao rescued May from three robbers after she took a shortcut home following a late shift to save cab fare. Although she introduced herself and recognized that he had helped her, his intimidating appearance frightened her. When he subsequently became her neighbor in Forest Hills, she fled with Peter before Lin Xiao could greet them 2 4.

After Peter criticized her for judging her rescuer by his appearance, May brought Lin Xiao six homemade waffles and apologized. She accepted his explanation that his frightening appearance had been special-effects makeup for an acting job. Their conversation became friendly, and she invited him to dinner 8.

Her affection became more apparent when Lin Xiao brought Peter food and kept him company during her night shift. Before he left, she kissed his cheek, then nervously insisted that it was merely a goodnight kiss like those she gave Peter 12.

Relationship and Move to Manhattan

May and Lin Xiao spoke every day during his three-month mission in Afghanistan. By his return, she had cleaned his apartment and placed daisies inside. Mistaking his unexpected arrival for an intrusion, she approached carrying a paring knife before recognizing him. Their reunion included a kiss and an emotional admission of how much she had worried about him 23.

As their relationship developed, May learned Chinese cooking and helped care for Lin Xiao’s home. She nevertheless worried about the physical difference between an ordinary woman and her superhuman partner. She briefly considered whether another partner might help, but rejected the idea of involving someone else at their expense 30 52.

The couple moved to Lin Xiao’s renovated Manhattan building, with a much larger room prepared for Peter. They failed to tell Peter before leaving, causing him to fear that they had abandoned him. May apologized and acknowledged that moving without informing him had gone too far 52 53.

Vought’s Founding

After leaving the hospital, Lin Xiao proposed formally establishing a superhero team and assigning May its financial management. She questioned his plan to make Tony Stark provide most of the money and administrative support while Lin Xiao served as leader 69.

May later attended Vought’s founding meeting at the renovated Stane Tower and received a five-percent ownership stake. Her subsequent work included reviewing reimbursement forms, checking budget spreadsheets, and calculating reserve funds for a new team 101 117.

Household Boundaries

Lin Xiao’s involvement with other women became a recurring source of conflict. May initially compared herself unfavorably with Betty Ross, particularly Betty’s education and professional standing. During Lin Xiao’s recovery, the two exchanged pointedly polite remarks about their respective relationships with him 69 86.

By the confrontation over Jane Foster and Sif, May and Betty had developed a united position. May explained that they had protected Lin Xiao’s dignity in front of Wong, but expected honest explanations at home. Her objections concerned both decisions affecting their household and his habit of withholding information about dangerous situations 118.

May and Betty eventually agreed to welcome Jane. May prepared slippers, offered sliced apples and homemade cookies, and spoke privately with her to help her settle in 147.

Stay at Kamar-Taj

When Lin Xiao proposed moving the family to Kamar-Taj for safety, May, Betty, and Jane agreed. During their stay, May joined Betty, Jane, and Gwen in obtaining the Ancient One’s approval for modern comforts, including air conditioning, Wi-Fi, new mattresses, and underfloor heating. May and Betty also arranged a hot spring and wind turbines 167 177.

May handed Tao Yuhan Lin Xiao’s complete first- through fifth-generation Mark Armor blueprints. After Tao reported the delivery, Director Zheng Xian ordered S.P.E.A.R. to support and protect the Lin family 177.

Appearance

• Hair and eyes: Long brown hair and blue eyes; she often pins or ties her hair back 2 4 54.
• Features: Delicate, gentle facial features, fine lines at the corners of her eyes, and a curvaceous figure 2.
• Clothing: Frequently wears practical knitwear and older coats, including beige cardigans and a gray coat softened by repeated washing 4 23 134.
• At work and home: Appears in a light-blue nurse’s uniform after a night shift and wears a floral apron while cooking 12 54.

Personality

May is caring but firm. She places Peter’s education ahead of her own comfort, disciplines him when necessary, and objects when Lin Xiao’s teasing becomes excessive. After the move to Manhattan frightened Peter, she took responsibility rather than dismissing his distress 4 12 32 53.

She is willing to reconsider her judgments. Her apology to Lin Xiao explicitly acknowledged that treating him as dangerous because of his appearance had been unfair. Once comfortable with him, she becomes playful, readily answering his jokes with teasing remarks of her own 8.

Her jealousy is accompanied by insecurity about her age, ordinary physical abilities, and professional status. However, she also sets boundaries: she refuses to hurt someone else to solve her own relationship difficulties and insists that Lin Xiao communicate honestly with the household 52 69 118.

May’s concern for Lin Xiao often takes practical forms. During his hospitalization, she brought fresh congee every day despite soldiers refusing her entry. She is especially distressed when he conceals injuries or danger, confronting him again after learning that he had been covered in blood 69 134.

Abilities & Skills

Nursing Knowledge

May works as a community-hospital nurse and has experience enduring demanding shifts 8 12.

• Gives advice about contusions, distinguishing injuries that may heal with rest from severe trauma that could affect function 79.
• Remains an ordinary human; no supernatural abilities or combat advancement are documented 52.

Cooking and Household Management

May is an accomplished home cook who expands her repertoire after becoming involved with Lin Xiao 8 52.

• Bakes waffles and cookies praised by Lin Xiao and Betty 8 147.
• Learns Chinese dishes, including century egg and lean pork congee, and prepares steamed buns for Lin Xiao 52 94.
• Prepares eight hot dishes and four cold dishes for the dinner attended by Wong and Ned 117.
• Helps organize household moves and later coordinates improvements at Kamar-Taj 52 177.

Financial Administration

May handles detailed financial work for Vought rather than serving solely as a nominal shareholder 101 117.

• Reviews financial approval and reimbursement forms.
• Checks budget spreadsheets supplied by Betty.
• Calculates reserve funding requested by Tony’s staff 117.

Relationships

• Peter Parker — Nephew and ward. May has raised him since his parents’ deaths, balancing affection with strict expectations about school and behavior. She supports Lin Xiao’s place in the family while also telling him to stop picking on Peter 4 8 32 39.
• Lin Xiao — Rescuer, former neighbor, and romantic partner. Their relationship grows through shared meals and daily calls during his Afghanistan assignment; his dangerous work and secrecy remain recurring points of conflict 8 23 118 134.
• Betty Ross — Fellow Vought shareholder and member of Lin Xiao’s household. Their initial rivalry develops into cooperation over finances, household boundaries, and Jane’s arrival 86 101 118 147.
• Jane Foster — Welcomed into the household after May and Betty discuss and approve her situation. Jane later joins May in arranging improvements at Kamar-Taj 147 177.
• Gwen Stacy — Joins May in caring for and confronting Lin Xiao, then helps modernize Kamar-Taj 86 118 177.
• Natasha Romanoff — Initially a subject of May’s private jealousy. Later participates in household discussions, and May invites her to stay for soup after the confrontation over Jane and Sif 52 118.
• Tao Yuhan — Receives Lin Xiao’s Mark Armor blueprints directly from May during her stay at Kamar-Taj 177.

Notable Quotes

“I shouldn't have decided someone wasn't a good person just because he looked frightening.” 8

“We're not trying to stop you from leaving. We're afraid something will happen to you out there, and we won't even be the last people to find out.” 118