His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1231
Long Jinjing left her desk to sit beside her best friend. Chen Fei must be tired from her own work and wanted to take a small break in Long Jinijng's office. Fortunately, her best friend didn't continue pestering her about the year-end bonus. Although they were best friends, Long Jinjing still adhered to the company's confidentiality policy especially since she was the one in charge of the finances.
"Is Xiulan really going to establish a parent company for Orchidia Beauty?" Chen Fei asked while making herself comfortable on the sofa, not paying attention to her COO image at all. Good thing that nobody could see her right now. Not that she cared that much about what others thought of her image.
"Yes." Long Jinjing nodded. "She should still be in a meeting right now to start setting it up."
Chen Fei chuckled. "Damn. That girl really moves fast! She doesn't play around."
"True. When Little Sister Xiulan wants to do something, she immediately starts it as soon as possible."
"We're going to become bigger than we initially expected, Jing."
Long Jinjing looked around her office. Perhaps they wouldn't stay in this building for long. As Orchidia Beauty continued to flourish at an exponential rate, they would need a bigger space to accommodate not only all the staff but also the growing prestige of the brand. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
The best friends could feel it. This was just the start. Iris would share tidbits of her business plans with them, but they weren't privy to the depth of her entire vision. She was definitely a risk taker that frightened but also excited both Long Jinjing and Chen Fei at the same time.
Despite their misgivings regarding Iris' aggressive business leadership, they still decided to keep on following and assisting her to make her vision come true. They had only been working together for a few months but Iris had already proven herself capable in leading them to success. Nevertheless, they still tried to caution her and balance her aggressiveness with a bit of conservative alternative approach. So far, their trio of administration was working extremely well.
"Next year will be a big year for us," Chen Fei said next. "We have so many plans scheduled to launch in the next few months. Before this, I was hoping that we can grow the company slowly but surely but Xiulan obviously has other ideas. Now that we're at this point, I have to agree with her. We have to strike while the iron is hot."
Long Jinjing sighed. "It's going to cost a lot to finance everything."
Chen Fei waved her concerns away. "Aren't we going to have a parent company soon? Xiulan will certainly inject new funds into it. Orchidia Beauty will surely receive a big piece of the pie."
"I know. I just can't stop worrying whenever money is involved."
"Don't I know it!" Chen Fei cackled before facing Long Jinjing and studying her.
Her best friend's inquisitive gaze made Long Jinjing squirm.
"So...what's going on with you?" Chen Fei asked with a raised eyebrow. "You haven't been acting like your normal self these past few days. I asked you many times what's wrong, but you keep on dodging me and redirecting the topic. I've been holding myself back from pestering you, but I'm already reaching my limit. I'm not going to leave your office today until you tell me what the hell happened to you."
"Uhm...." Long Jinjing bit her lower lip and couldn't stop herself from fidgeting.
Chen Fei held her hand. "Jing, I'm your best friend. You can tell me everything."
"I'm engaged," Long Jinjing blurted out.
"You're what?" Chen Fei's eyes immediately flew to Long Jinjing's fingers. "Where's your ring?" She frowned. "Don't tell me that Lu Zihao didn't even bother to buy you an engagement ring? How uncaring could that asshole be?"
"Xiaofei," Long Jinjing sighed.
This was one of the reasons why she was so hesitant in telling her best friend about all the life-changing events that happened to her recently. Chen Fei was just too antagonistic towards Lu Zihao ever since Long Jinjing broke up with him and cried so much from heartbreak. Her best friend certainly didn't approve of them getting back together. However, Long Jinjing was too stubborn and insisted on following her heart. Chen Fei could only let her do whatever she wanted regardless of her own disapproval.
"No, I was the one who proposed to Zihao," Long Jinjing confessed in a soft voice.
"You did WHAT?!!!" Chen Fei's eyes almost popped out of her head. "Y-you...what the hell, Long Jinjing?!!! WHY?!!!"
"Because I'm pregnant."
Utter shock and disbelief robbed her best friend of speech. Chen Fei paled and looked like she was going to faint from the bombshell.
"I'm so sorry that I only told you now, Xiaofei. I just...didn't know how to tell you. Also, I had to process my...p-pregnancy on my own first. It's all so sudden. Don't be angry, okay?"
Chen Fei remained speechless for a few moments before releasing a series of colourful curses. Long Jinjing couldn't help but wince.
"You're really pregnant?"
She nodded.
"What did Lu Zihao say?"
Long Jinjing confessed everything that happened to her best friend. When she mentioned the incident about Lu Zihao attempting to bring her to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage without informing her beforehand, Chen Fei was furious. If Long Jinjing wasn't holding her back, her best friend would have already grabbed a butcher knife and chased after Lu Zihao to chop him up.
"After talking to Mom, all the chaos in my mind started slowly clearing up. I realized that if my man isn't going to propose properly, then I'll just do it. The end result will still be the same anywayâwe'll be marriedâno matter who proposes between the two of us. I was right. He accepted my marriage proposal this morning. I just regret that I didn't buy him an engagement ring beforehand."
The changes in Chen Fei's expression was quite a sight to see. In the end, she sighed and grabbed Long Jinjing in a tight hug.
"You've had it hard, Jing."
A lump formed in Long Jinjing's throat and her eyes watered, yet there was a smile on her face. She hugged Chen Fei back. No additional words were needed. She knew that no matter what happened, her best friend had her back.
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1232
It was the afternoon of the 24th of December. René Alejandro and his brothers were carrying wrapped presents and loading them into a car. They were gifts from him, Wei Lan and Randy for today's Christmas gathering at Jin Liwei and Iris Long's place.
At first, René Alejandro wasn't sure if there would be a traditional exchange of gifts at the Christmas party. Fortunately, he was able to coerce Randy in directly asking Iris Long's assistant. Apparently, the Zumba instructor was quite friendly with Dominic Chua. Randy was able to confirm that there would indeed be some voluntary exchange of gifts. It wasn't required but would be welcomed especially when given to the children and cats.
Since he was going to attend the gathering to make a good impression on a selected group of elite people in this country, he tried coercing Randy again to ask Iris Long's assistant to get the guest list so that he could prepare gifts for each person. Too bad that the Zumba instructor failed. Dominic Chua refused to divulge the identities of the guests in advance.
René Alejandro wasn't too disappointed. This alone was already an important clue. If Jin Liwei and Iris Long's camp were careful not to leak the guest list, then it could only mean that there would indeed be VIPs attending the Christmas gathering.
This was what he had been waiting for since coming to the country. Wei Lan had been excellent in introducing him to many important people during social gatherings, but at the end of the day, her connections were still limited. Despite her improving reputation ever since returning to the country after marrying into Spanish nobility, there were still quite a number of people in the Chinese high society who discriminated against her.
Wei Lan's connections still couldn't compare to the exclusive circles to which elite figures like Jin Liwei and Lu Jianhong belonged. Even on the international level, they were considered VVIPs. Their circles were the ones that René Alejandro needed to infiltrate.
Tonight's Christmas gathering would be the official start of his mission. He was finally going to meet Jin Liwei, and hopefully, Lu Jianhong. He made sure to meticulously choose tasteful presents for them, and of course, for Iris Long. There were also other presents for people who he guessed might attend the party. He wasn't sure if those people would really come, but it was better to prepare too much than show up with nothing in his hands.
Even if he couldn't form a close connection to Jin Liwei and Lu Jianhong right away, it was enough to leave a good impression on them and their loved ones. René Alejandro was prepared to complete the mission one step at a time anyway. After all, his success was essential to the overall success of their organization's mission in this country.
"Brother, good luck."
"Too bad we can't put a bug on you."
"Dragon Palace Homes have one of the best securities in this region. Until we're sure how secure the place really is, we can't be careless."
René Alejandro nodded. "Indeed, we can't ruin this chance to enter that place by attaching bugs on me, no? Don't worry, brothers. I'll scout the place in person and devise another way to plant bugs there the next time I go."
"Just be careful, brother. Jin Liwei's security team has a mixture of experts of different levels. Most of them, we don't need to worry about. But there are a number that appear quite dangerous. They have rather clean backgrounds but their aura don't match what's on their dossier that we dug up."
René Alejandro snorted. "Their backgrounds must be fake. We already know that Jin Liwei has recruited Drakon to protect not only Jin Corporation but also his family. Drakon is a hacker like us. It's very easy to create new identities on paper. If we can do it, then Drakon and his two disciples can certainly do it, too."
"I wonder if Drakon will also be attending the Christmas party."
"Hmmm." He loaded the final present in the car and closed the door before facing his brothers. "That would be interesting if Drakon really came, although I doubt it. Hahaha! If only that really happens, maybe I can befriend him, yes?"
The brothers shared a laugh but stopped when Wei Lan and Randy finally came out of the main mansion. As usual, the pair looked like they were attending a red carpet event rather than a family Christmas gathering.
René Alejandro glanced at his gold wristwatch and calculated the time. He sighed. They were going to be more than half an hour late from the indicated time on the invitation. Wei Lan spent too long primping herself. No surprise there. He just hoped that being late wouldn't leave too much of a bad impression.
To be honest, he was tempted to leave Wei Lan and Randy and go to Dragon Palace early by himself. However, he restrained himself because it might come across as suspicious to Jin Liwei and the others. Although he received his own invitation, he was only able to receive one because he was Wei Lan's stepson. Without her, he wouldn't even have this opportunity to meet Jin Liwei on a personal setting. Thus, he endured his annoyance and waited until Wei Lan finished getting ready.
He walked forward and offered his arm to Wei Lan with a charming smile. "You look beautiful as always, Mamá."
"Oh, yoooooouu!" Wei Lan gave his arm a playful slap before accepting his escort. Then she turned to his brothers. "Take caaaaaare of yourselves tonight, boys. Okaaaaaaay? I would've brought all of yooooooouuuu with René Alejandro but my son-in-law said that they don't want too maaaaaaany people to come. I bet it's because of my daughter. That girl is just toooooooo finicky! Don't worry, boooooys. I'll be suuuuuure to introduce you to my dear son-in-law and daughter sooooooooon."
The men assured her that they were fine. René Alejandro, Wei Lan and Randy all bid them goodbye before boarding a car while another car followed them carrying all the presents. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
René Alejandro and Wei Lan were in the backseat together while Randy sat in the front passenger seat beside the driver.
"My dear René Alejandro, you muuuuuust protect me when we arrive there, okaaaaaay?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Why is that, Mamá?"
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1233
Wei Lan pouted and complained like a child.
"It's because my daughter's faaaaaaather, my ex-husband, will be bringing his current wife to the Christmas gaaaaaaaathering. What's more, his illegitimate daughter will also beeeeeeeeeee there! I don't understaaaaaaaand why Xiulan has grown so close with those bitcâwith thooooooose women! She hated them soooooo much before. Dear Liwei even scolded me during his wedding with Xiulan because my ex-husband buuuuuuuullied me! René Alejandro, you haaaaaaave to protect me! What if they buuuuuuully me again?!"
René Alejandro didn't believe her claims even for a moment. Wei Lan, bullied? Heh. Many tried to bully her because of her unpleasant reputation, but she never allowed herself to take any condemnation lying down. If someone bullied her, she would bully the person back many times over.
Contrary to his thoughts, he showed a concerned expression.
"Do not worry, Mamá. You are Papá's wife and the vizcondesa of Castillo de Estrellas of España. Bullying you is bullying our family name and noble title. If someone really dares to bully you at the Christmas gathering, just leave everything to me, yes? Papá is not here so it is my responsibility as the son to protect you."
Wei Lan fished out a lace handkerchief from her purse and dabbed her nonexistent tears. "Thank you sooooooo much, my dear. I feel so much mooooooore reassured now. Oh, I miss your father soooooooo much! I wish that he can follow us here very soooooooooooon."
The conversation continued throughout the drive to Dragon Palace Homes. Randy chimed in now and then. When they finally reached the exclusive village, René Alejandro's eyes narrowed as he observed the strict security procedures.
According to their initial research, Dragon Palace Homes had one of the toughest security systems in the country and even in this region of the continent. The security was indeed tight but it wasn't infallible. It was nothing compared to the security protocol they had in the organization. He was confident that he would be able to infiltrate this place next time and plant some undetectable bugs for secret surveillance without any problems.
Disappointment filled him. He was expecting a good challenge but this was just child's play for him.
His impression, however, immediately changed when they reached Dragon Palace Home #10 at last. The atmosphere of the security here was vastly different from what they went through on the way just now. He couldn't help but frown because it reminded him a little of the security procedures in the organization.
Only a little. It still couldn't compare to how they did it in the organization. After all, this was a private residence and not a criminal empire.
Wei Lan, who was sitting beside him, saw him frowning and thought that he was getting impatient at the long and complicated security procedure from the entrance of the exclusive village to her daughter and son-in-law's home. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
"I don't knooooooow why dear Liwei and Xiulan insist on all this cumbersooooooome checkpoints. Ugh! I sweeeeeeeaaaaar that all owners here in Dragon Palace Hooooooomes are paranoid to have this kind of strict secuuuuuuurity. I already complained to my dear son-in-law and daughter soooooooo many times about it befoooooooore but they never listen to meeeeeeeeee!"
René Alejandro was a little annoyed of her complaints. He wanted to focus on closely observing the security procedure in Dragon Palace Home #10, but the woman kept on yapping in his ear.
Fortunately, Wei Lan had the talent of having a whole conversation all by herself. She didn't notice that he wasn't really paying attention to her, especially when she already had Randy to chat with.
Most of the security staff that René Alejandro had seen so far were around the same level with the bodyguards that Jin Liwei sent to protect Wei Lan. Not surprising because those bodyguards originally belonged to Jin Liwei in the first place.
A few caught his eye. He judged them to be stronger than their other colleagues. Still, they were nothing compared to the true experts in the organization. Like him and Emilio Miguel.
He disliked complimenting Emilio Miguel but the man alone could murder every single one of these people with his bare hands. The Matador wasn't just an empty title after all.
Then he froze when he caught sight of a handful of people patrolling the property. At first glance, these people didn't look different from the regular security staff in the property. It was only due to René Alejandro's sharp observation skills that he was able to discern that these people were far from ordinary. They should be real experts.
He and his brothers already knew that Jin Liwei employed a few experts in his security team. Drakon must have created fake identities for them because these people's too-clean backgrounds on paper didn't match their deadly bearing. Although they were able to conceal their real abilities, René Alejandro still noticed their capabilities from their smallest mannerisms. He just wasn't sure how strong these people were.
A sliver of excitement stirred inside him. If not for his mission of befriending Jin Liwei and the other powerful figures close to the man like Lu Jianhong, René Alejandro would have liked to challenge these experts and determine their true levels through combat.
Around twenty minutes later, the palatial mansion finally came into view. René Alejandro had already seen many magnificent buildings across the world but he was still impressed at the mansion standing like a dominant emperor in front of him. The corner of his mouth lifted into a barely noticeable smirk. The place reeked of money.
"Thank gooooooodness, we're heeeeeeere!" Wei Lan gave a dramatic sigh.
Later, the group followed the butler inside the mansion while Wei Lan's bodyguards unloaded the presents from the second car. René Alejandro looked around and was pleasantly surprised seeing festive but classy Christmas decorations. He knew that Christmas wasn't a big deal in this country compared to Spain.
The huge portrait on top of the twin grand staircases made him pause in his steps. It was the most eye-catching upon entering the front hall of the mansion. The style reminded him of the portraits hung in many active royal and aristocratic houses in Europe.
He raised an eyebrow. Did Jin Liwei, Iris Long and their cats think that they were some kind of a royal family?
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1234
René Alejandro smirked before he quickly smoothed out his expression. The butler leading them made some small polite talk with him. The man wasn't any inferior to the best butlers in Europe. Once again, René Alejandro was impressed. It seemed that Jin Liwei really knew how to surround himself with real experts.
At long last, they arrived at a big but cozy hall. There was a tall Christmas tree with wrapped presents underneath it. Instrumental Christmas music was also playing in the background. There were three children and an orange cat chasing each other around the room. Cheerful conversation and laughter flowed in harmony with the music.
Everyone looked at the new arrivals. The children and the cat only glanced at them before continuing to play.
René Alejandro swept his eyes across the people. He recognized most of them but not all. Jin Liwei was present with his wife, Iris Long. They were his main targets for tonight. As for the other important one, he looked around but couldn't find Lu Jianhong. The old man's grandson, Lu Zihao, wasn't around either including Long Jinjing.
Wei Lan squeezed his arm before leading him and Randy forward to the group of people. Jin Liwei and Iris Long welcomed them.
The mother and daughter were about to air-kiss each other when Iris Long grimaced and stepped back. Jin Liwei also reacted fast and pressed his wife's face on his chest. It wasn't only him who reacted. The others also stood up and surrounded the couple in a protective manner.
Wei Lan's expression turned ugly. "Xiulan, why are yoooooouuuu overreacting and embaaaaaaarrassing your mother in front of people like thiiiiiiiis?!"
Iris Long waved a hand at the group but she still looked pale. "I'm fine."
Long Tengfei was standing nearby with his wife, Yang Jiahui. Both of them looked worried for Iris Long. Then Long Tengfei glared at Wei Lan. Noticing him, Wei Lan bristled and glared back at him and his wife.
René Alejandro watched everything. He was curious why Iris Long reacted like this towards her mother and also why all these people were acting this protective of her. Although the situation was entertaining, he still decided to do something lest his association to Wei Lan leave a bad impression on everyone.
He patted Wei Lan's and murmured to her, "Mamá, calm down, yes?"
The woman still looked ready to fight her ex-husband and his current wife but she still listened to him with great reluctance. She stepped back and turned her head, looking away from the pair. "Hmph!"
"Mother, my apologies if my actions offended you," Iris Long said after recovering from whatever happened to her. "Your perfume is too strong and I can't handle it. I got dizzy."
Wei Lan frowned before lifting her chin. "This perfume is expeeeeeensive! And it smells goooooood. Xiulan, we haaaaaave to talk about yoooooouuuuur horrid taste!"
Iris Long sighed and looked disinterested in explaining herself to her own mother. Instead, she glanced at René Alejandro with curiosity.
He smiled at her, showing his deep dimples. He made sure to keep it short before smiling at Jin Liwei next. Indeed, his decision was correct. Jin Liwei's cold expression eased a little after René Alejandro shifted his attention from Iris Long to him. He was about to introduce himself when Wei Lan interrupted him.
"Xiulan, why aren't you taaaaaalkiiiiiiiing?!" the woman asked her daughter in a shrill tone.
"Wei Lan, get a hold of yourself!" Long Tengfei scolded her. "You just arrived and you're already making a scene! Have some decency!"
"You!" Wei Lan pounced at him but René Alejandro caught her and held her back.
"Tengfei, please," Yang Jiahui pulled her husband's arm.
"Mamá, stop," René Alejandro told Wei Lan. His tone was gentle but his eyes were firm. "Let's take a few deep breaths and calm down, yes?"
She struggled a little but eventually stopped and nodded. However, she still glared at Long Tengfei. She looked like she also wanted to glare at Iris Long but balked upon seeing the protective, cold-faced Jin Liwei beside her daughter.
René Alejandro faced Jin Liwei and Iris Long with an apologetic smile on his face.
"You must be René Alejandro," Jin Liwei said. "I am Jin Liwei and this is my wife, Long Xiulan."
"A pleasure to meet you."
The men shook hands. René Alejandro moved to greet Iris Long with either a handshake or a hug but Jin Liwei blocked him. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
"Sorry. My wife is sensitive to scents right now."
"Oh, I see." René Alejandro was confused but still accepted the explanation and stepped back.
"Whaaaaaat sensitive to scents?" Wei Lan asked while looking at her daughter up and down. "Are you preeeeeeegnant, Xiulan?"
It was Jin Liwei who replied to her, "En. My wife is indeed pregnant."
Wei Lan covered her mouth and gasped in an overdramatic manner. "Reeeeaaaaaaally?!!!"
"Yes, really," Iris said with smile while stroking her belly.
"Ooooooooooooh!" Wei Lan's expression changed several times. First, she was shocked. Next, excited. And now, she was horrified. "Oh, noooooooo! I'm still toooooooo young to be grandmaaaaaaaaa!"
Right at that moment, Little Jun ran towards her and hugged her leg. "Amma Lan! Amma Lan!"
Wei Lan staggered a little at the impact but her face immediately broke into a big smile as she bent down to give smacking kisses on the toddler's plump cheeks.
"There you are, Little Juuuuuuun! Did you miiiiiiiiiss your AUNTIE Lan?! Because AUNTIE Lan missed you soooooooo much~"
The others rolled their eyes at her correcting the child for calling her grandma and should call her auntie instead. She didn't have any qualms messing up the generations.
"Little Jun, don't forget to ask your GRANDMA Lan for your Christmas present, okay?" Iris Long said on purpose.
Wei Lan glared at her for a second but returned her attention on the child, assuring Little Jun that she bought him lots of presents.
Later, all of them were seated.
René Alejandro was at ease because nobody was excluding him. On the contrary, they were making an effort to make him feel welcomed. However, he could sense that his main targets, Jin Liwei and Iris Long, were still being distant to him despite their politeness.
He wasn't discouraged. This was their first meeting after all. He would just observe today and make his move next time.
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1235
The overall atmosphere was light and pleasant but there was an unmistakable tenseness between the ex-spouses, Long Tengfei and Wei Lan. Fortunately, they decisively joined separate groups and ignored each other. Both knew their limits especially with a powerful son-in-law who doted on their daughter in excess.
Their daughter's personality had improved after waking up from her one-year coma, but she still displayed a bad temper now and then. Her poison tongue could be very ruthless even to her own parents. If they upset her in any way, Jin Liwei wouldn't hesitate to kick them out of his home even if they were his in-laws.
For the sake of keeping the peace with their daughter and son-in-law, and of course, preserving their dignity as the married couple's elders in front of the other guests, they chose to bear each other's presences despite their mutual hatred.
The official hosts of the Christmas gathering, Iris and Jin Liwei, were satisfied that the ex-spouses were behaving. They didn't want anyone destroying the festive holiday air. This was a celebration, not an unregulated forum where they could trashtalk each other.
Right now, they were separated into four small groups. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
In the first group, Iris and Jin Liwei were chatting with Wei Lan and René Alejandro. Dom and Randy sat with them but the two were having their own conversation, squealing and giggling like close sisters.
The second group consisted of Long Tengfei, Yang Jiahui and the married members of the Chua familyâReina and Domingo, and Marjorie and Paul. Cai Guang and Linda Chua were also in this group but were chatting on their own.
The third group was running all round. Clover was playing with the three children and one cat. She was keeping an eye on them with Little Jun's nanny.
As for the fourth group, Meimei was taking a much-needed nap with the lazy Ice Cream at a far corner hidden behind a display shelf. Even the children's loud voices didn't rouse the two.
Back to the first group, Wei Lan started sharing her own experiences being pregnant. Both Iris and Jin Liwei revealed enlightened expressions after Wei Lan listed all the "sufferings" she went through during her pregnancy. It seemed that Iris' body inherited almost all of the pregnancy symptoms she was experiencing from Wei Lan, except for the fainting spells.
"I hated everyone's smell, even my oooooooown smell. Of cooooooouuuuurse, I hated your faaaaaaaather's smell the mooooooost. He was the stinkiiiiiiiieeeeeeest! Ugh!" Wei Lan shot a glare at her ex-husband in the other group for a few seconds before continuing to complain about her past pregnancy experiences. "I vomited all the tiiiiiiiiime. I couldn't keep any food doooooooown. Everything was soooooooooo disgusting! Everyone was soooooooo annoying! I was very cloooooooooose to murdering a few people because they keeeeeeeeept on angering me to death!"
Iris was silent. This was perhaps the first time that she was able to relate to Wei Lan. Almost everything the other woman was saying reminded her of her own experiences at the beginning of her pregnancy. Like mother, like daughter (original Iris' body).
Things had improved a lot now thanks to Theresa Blipsburg's customized health plan, but the pregnancy symptoms hadn't completely gone away yet. Although she hadn't come close to murdering anyone who annoyed her, she sometimes wished that she could beat them up.
Her temper during her pregnancy was no joke. All the good sense she had in her would fly out of the window and she would turn into a hostile monster that even she herself didn't recognize. She was lucky that her husband was always patient with her during her bad mood swings even when he was the target of her temper.
Another thing that she was thankful for was that she loved her husband's scent, unlike Wei Lan who thought that Long Tengfei was the stinkiest during her pregnancy. Iris was relieved. If she hated Jin Liwei's scent during her pregnancy, both of them would suffer for certain.
She felt her husband rubbing her hand and glanced at him. Jin Liwei didn't say anything but she knew that he was relieved just like her. She patted him back and indicated to him with her eyes to chat with René Alejandro. His response was a gentle squeeze on her hand before turning to the Spaniard to chat with him.
Wei Lan noticed Jin Liwei taking the initiative to talk to René Alejandro. She nodded in approval.
Then she leaned closer to Iris and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper while maintaining enough distance so as not to disgust her daughter with her perfume's smell.
"Xiulan, listen to your mother because this is veeeeeery, veeeeeeeeeery, veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery important. After you give birth, you neeeeeeeeeeed to get back to your sexy figure as sooooooooooon as you can. Have your stretch marks lasered off, your boobs lifted, your tummy tucked, and mooooooooost importantlyâare you listeniiiiiiiing? This is the moooooooooost important. Here it goes. Have your vajayjay tightened! Do you understaaaaaaaaand?"
Iris blinked a few times, her head tilting to one side.
Wei Lan didn't wait for her reply before explaining, "I knoooooow that dear Liwei loves you veeeeeeeery much, but at the end of the daaaaaaaay, he's still a maaaaaaaan. All men crave seeeeeeeeeeex. Your Liwei is the saaaaaaaame. No, don't argue with meeeeeee and say that he's differeeeeeeent. Trust your mooooooother. I knooooooow what I'm talkiiiiiiing about!
"After giving birth, you're goooooooooing to be left with an ugly, fat figure and loose, torn vajayjay if you don't take caaaaaaaare of yourself and work haaaaaaaard in regaining your old sexy figuuuuuuuure. If you can't satisfy your man anymoooooooore, he'll surely go and find a mistress behind your baaaaaaaaack!"
Iris scowled. Her bad temper was swift and began assailing her like a tornado but she held on and didn't allow it to overwhelm her. She trusted her husband. He would never cheat on her, just as she would never cheat on him.
Although Iris didn't 100% agree with Wei Lan, the woman still had a point behind her extreme claims.
Iris agreed that she shouldn't neglect herself after giving birth. She should take better care of herself and maintain a healthy figure. Her trust that Jin Liwei wouldn't cheat on her was firm, but she shouldn't allow some shameless homewrecking bimbos to have any ideas that she couldn't satisfy her own husband anymore.
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1236
In some sense, there was wisdom in Wei Lan's words. It was just a shame that the woman's innate personality and life experiences made her worldview crooked. It also didn't help that she married and divorced a womanizer like Long Tengfei who ended up becoming someone akin to her mortal enemy.
Iris had no love for Wei Lan. Even the original Long Xiulan didn't have that much affection for her own mother. However, Iris found Wei Lan pitiful in a way. The woman wasn't inherently evil but she was incredibly shallow, narcissistic and self-centred.
Listening to Wei Lan's advice, Iris understood that the woman was rather pessimistic and didn't believe in absolute loyalty between lovers. True love might be real, but sexual monogamy was only a myth. This was what Iris extracted from Wei Lan's chatter.
Iris didn't bother correcting Wei Lan in her assumption that Jin Liwei would surely be tempted to find a mistress outside if she failed to maintain her beauty and figure. Trusting her man was enough. She didn't care about what others thought, even if it was Wei Lan, her body's biological mother. She and Jin Liwei would just prove to everyone that their love and faithfulness for each other were true by their actions instead of their words alone.
Wei Lan kept on chattering, not caring if anyone was listening to her or not. Iris was starting to feel bored. She eyed the cookies near René Alejandro. Surprisingly, the Spaniard noticed her look right away and pushed the plate towards her. The man smiled at her, showing his deep dimples.
"Thank you," she said in Spanish.
"You're welcome," he replied in Spanish as well, his smile deepening.
Before Jin Liwei could feel jealous and protective, René Alejandro already shifted his grey eyes away from Iris back to him. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
"Liam, are there more people coming?" René Alejandro asked.
Jin Liwei stared at him for a few seconds before nodding. "En, the others are running late but should arrive by dinnertime. This gathering isn't anything formal. The time doesn't matter much as long as we all get together and spend time with each other."
"I see." René Alejandro was about to continue talking when the door opened and a muscular woman came in.
The toddler called Little Jun shouted "Mommi" before running towards the woman. She swept her child in her arms and lifted him up high in the air like it was nothing. René Alejandro's expression displayed a flash of admiration at the woman's strength.
He recognized her as Jiang Ying Yue, the ex of Iris Long's eldest half-brother and the mother of her and Jin Liwei's godson. According to his team's research, she was Iris Long's former bodyguard before Jin Liwei hired her to become a member of his security team.
"There you are, girl!" Wei Lan exclaimed at Jiang Ying Yue's arrival. "Why did your muscles get bigger?! Oh noooooooooo! You let your eyebrows grow again! A little mooooooore and you'll have a unibrow! Girl, come here and let me see you! Don't tell me you already forgot all the beauty and fashion advice that I taught you befooooooore?!"
René Alejandro was surprised that Wei Lan acted quite close to Jiang Ying Yue. He didn't expect this. His expression was neutral, but inside, he was calculating if he could use Jiang Ying Yue's connection to Wei Lan to get closer to Iris Long and eventually to Jin Liwei.
"Madam," Jiang Ying Yue greeted Wei Lan before nodding at Iris, Jin Liwei and the others while carrying Little Jun in one arm.
She felt helpless at Wei Lan's blunt (and slightly insulting) words. However, she didn't feel offended because Wei Lan played a role in helping her realize that her ex would never change and that she should be confident in herself.
Wei Lan grabbed her hand and pulled her closer while looking at her up and down.
"You have reverted to your old dowdy self! I muuuuuuust bring you to the spa with me again! Then we'll gooooooo shopping for new clothes to replace that horrid outfit! Why are you like this agaaaaaaain? Are you still depressed because of that piece of shit that my ex-husband fathered?"
"WEI LAN!!!" Long Tengfei roared.
Yang Jiahui tried to stop him but he was too furious to listen to his wife.
"What are yooooouuuu yelling at me for?!" Wei Lan wasn't someone who would take his attitude lying down. She lifted her chin and glared at him. "Did I say anything wrooooong? Your eldest son is a BIG PIECE OF SHIT."
"That's true," Iris commented while nibbling on a cookie.
Long Tengfei shot his daughter a look of disbelief while Wei Lan laughed. She looked smug from having her words validated by their own daughter.
Iris finished the cookie and wiped her mouth and fingers with a serviette. She looked casual as if there wasn't a tense situation in front of her.
"Mother, Father, I am pregnant. It hasn't been that long since I was in complete bed rest from almost miscarrying."
Jin Liwei's expression turned cold upon the reminder of the traumatic experience that his wife went through.
She continued, "The doctor says that I shouldn't be upset. If you are going to fight, ruin the Christmas gathering and upset me, please do it where I can't see you. I will never forgive anyone who causes harm to the child in my womb even if they're my parents or even myself."
Before anyone could react, René Alejandro stood up and arrived beside Wei Lan. He pulled her behind her, shielding her from Long Tengfei's poisonous glare. He didn't say anything but shot a silent warning at Long Tengfei with his cold, grey eyes.
Long Tengfei was taken aback, but before he could make sense of the Spaniard's look, René Alejandro had already looked away and was now comforting Wei Lan.
The others didn't notice anything amiss. The look only lasted for less than a second. Long Tengfei was frozen but didn't understand why. He hadn't figured out why he was reacting like this.
Jin Liwei was too focused on making sure that his wife was alright to notice anything aside from her.
Iris glanced at René Alejandro. She didn't see what the man did to Long Tengfei, but for less than a second, she detected bloodthirst shooting out from the man.
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1237
René Alejandro sensed Iris' gaze. He smiled at her but quickly looked away again to focus on comforting Wei Lan.
The bloodthirst Iris sensed only lasted for less than a second. It was quite muted but she felt it. Was she mistaken?
Before she could ponder about it, the door opened again. Jin Liwei's grandmother and mother arrived. The two older Jin madams immediately sensed the tense atmosphere as soon as they entered but pretended not to notice. The elegant matriarch, Grandma Li, walked slowly but steadily inside. Huang Yuyan hesitated for a moment before following her mother-in-law.
The husband and wife, Jin Liwei and Iris, greeted them. More greetings were exchanged. Wei Lan was quick to shift attitudes. She abandoned her argument with her ex-husband and pulled her stepson to introduce him to her daughter's in-laws.
René Alejandro tried to charm Grandma Li and Huang Yuyan with his smile and dimples but made sure not to overdo it. Grandma Li made small talk with him out of politeness while Huang Yuyan directly headed to Iris to inquire about her health and pregnancy.
He didn't mind. According to their research, Jin Liwei's mother was unlike her two sons. Huang Yuyan was rather timid and shy with an overall subdued personality. She wouldn't be useful to René Alejandro. He might only scare her if he tried to get closer to her. It was better to let her be to avoid incurring the suspicion of Jin Liwei.
As for the grandmother, René Alejandro initially thought that he could use her but changed his mind while interacting with her. Not much was known about Li Zhiruo's activities in the past few years. She had retreated to her private residence in the mountains after his son, Jin Liwei's father, died. It was only after Jin Liwei began a relationship with Iris Long and married her that the elderly Jin matriarch became more visible to the public eye again.
Li Zhiruo had the sophistication of a lady belonging to a high-class family. She appeared cold just like her eldest grandson, Jin Liwei. They even looked a little alike, especially in their bearing.
René Alejandro sensed that the elderly woman was shrewd despite her seemingly uncaring-of-the-world-matters attitude. This wasn't a person that was easy to deceive. He immediately abandoned his plan to use her to leave a good impression on Jin Liwei. A woman's intuition, especially a wise one who had lived for many decades, was sometimes scarier than the trained hunter's sense of assassins.
The arrival of Jin Liwei's grandmother and mother effectively switched the atmosphere from tense to cheerful once again.
Wei Lan didn't bother fighting with her ex-husband at the moment. In front of the in-laws, she wanted to show her best side. Likewise, Long Tengfei didn't want to lose face to the two Jin madams. The ex-spouses joined one group to chat with their in-laws while blatantly ignoring each other. Their actions caused awkwardness in the conversation but Grandma Li was an expert in controlling the flow so the awkward moments weren't that noticeable.
It wasn't that long before another group of people arrived. This time, it was Jin Chonglin with his manager, Lin Dong, and Iris' manager, Tang Yiyi. They came straight from LXC Studio.
Jin Chonglin immediately noticed the tall and handsome foreign man in the room. He was unable to conceal his surprise and curiosity. After a short introduction, he began chatting with René Alejandro with much interest. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
René Alejandro was surprised at first by how friendly Jin Chonglin was acting towards him. It was only when he observed the man's expression without being too obvious that he realized Jin Chonglin was actually probing him in the guise of an easygoing conversation. René Alejandro was smiling on the outside but turned solemn on the inside.
A superstar's charisma was no joke, he realized just now. It could even dazzle someone like him for a moment and miss the man's true intentions.
Well, well. It seemed that there wasn't a simple person in the Jin family.
"Have you thought about entering showbiz?" Jin Chonglin asked him.
"No, it's not for me," René Alejandro replied, matching the other man's casual and friendly tone.
"Come on, man! With a face and figure like that, you have a good shot at becoming famous. Even if you just become a model, people will surely take notice of you because of your face. Want to sign with LXC Studio?"
René Alejandro raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but chuckle.
"What do you think, Sister Xiulan?" Jin Chonglin turned to the side to ask.
Iris' great hearing allowed her to hear what they were talking about. She stared at René Alejandro.
His heart seemed to stop beating for a second as her eyes scanned him. It felt like she could see straight through him.
This lasted for only a couple of seconds before she looked away with disinterest. His heart began beating again, but this time, it was faster. He even felt cold sweat on his back. On the outside, however, he maintained an appropriately friendly expression.
"He already said that showbiz is not for him," Iris said. "Don't force him, Brother Chonglin. LXC Studio only recruits those who have real passion in pursuing a career in show business."
"Fine. I was just sharing a thought. No need to take it too seriously." Jin Chonglin shrugged his shoulders before smoothly chatting with René Alejandro on a different topic.
René Alejandro looked like he was having a good time talking with Jin Chonglin, but he was actually distracted. He glanced at Iris Long out of the corner of his eyes. She was eating grapes that Jin Liwei peeled for her.
Then she looked at him. Their eyes met. He was the one who quickly averted his eyes.
What kind of look was that?
This exchange lasted for only a second at most but it instantly made René Alejandro restless inside. For a moment, he thought that he had been discovered by her. But when he looked at her again, she was flirting with Jin Liwei, not at all paying attention to the people around them, much less René Alejandro.
He forced himself to calm down inside. Perhaps he was just mistaken.
Iris Long was just a normal celebrity who married up. Other than her talent in music, she was nothing special.
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1238
More people arrived as dinnertime was approaching. Jin Liwei's friendsâLin Yehan and Yu Moâcame as well.
"Where's Second Bro Yingjie?" Jin Chonglin asked the two new arrivals in the middle of his conversation with René Alejandro.
"At work," Lin Yehan replied. "He'll come after his duty ends."
"Will he make it in time for dinner?"
"Not sure. He's a doctor. You know how it is with his work. What's more, he's a surgeon. He's almost always on call in case of emergencies. Hospitals have no such thing as holidays."
Lin Yehan sighed. His expression was gentle like always. It was obvious that he was worried for his second brother, Wang Yingjie. But there was also a trace of pride in his eyes as if his sworn brother's career accomplishments were also his own.
"Tsk tsk." Jin Chonglin shook his head but didn't dwell on the matter anymore.
Yu Mo drew close and asked, "Yo, who's this?"
Jin Chonglin introduced René Alejandro to him and Lin Yehan. Yu Mo stayed and chatted with them while Lin Yehan joined another group before ending up sitting beside Jiang Ying Yue. Lin Yehan's actions were very natural so nobody thought twice that he was now chatting with the young mother.
René Alejandro was also acting very natural while chatting with Jin Chonglin and Yu Mo. At first, he had his guards up at Yu Mo. The man was a martial artist after all. Anyone who trained and cultivated in any martial arts and reached a certain level of expertise should never be underestimated. They might not be as strong as him or anyone from the organization but martial artists' trained senses could still pose unexpected dangers in other ways.
But after speaking with Yu Mo for a few minutes, René Alejandro concluded that there was no need to worry about the man. Yu Mo was just a simpleton. His thoughts were shallow. He wore his feelings on his sleeve.
For the first time since coming to this Christmas gathering, René Alejandro finally obtained an easy target. Yu Mo was perfect. He was simple and most likely easy to deceive. Most importantly, he was one of Jin Liwei's closest best friends. René Alejandro placed Yu Mo in his mental list of usable people to get closer to Jin Liwei.
Another person came in. It was Xu Tian, Jin Liwei's long-time assistant and right-hand man. After greeting his boss and lady boss, he joined the group consisting of Tang Yiyi and Lin Dong. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
Soon after, JJ, Iris' music producer, came in followed by the legendary hitmaker, Enrique Valdez. Everyone became even livelier with their arrival.
René Alejandro wasn't someone who was easily starstruck by anyone. He didn't think much of celebrities. A big part of the reason why was because he and his brothers literally had no time to enjoy chasing celebrities or keeping themselves updated with showbiz news during their youth. They were too busy being educated and trained to become who they were today.
Despite this, even he couldn't help but stare in awe at Enrique Valdez. The man was a legend.
Enrique Valdez's former band pumped out classic hits one after another throughout the years until their official disbandment. Their music was still being played across the globe. Most of the other members had retired from the music industry especially after the death of their vocalist. Only Enrique Valdez continued to spread his legacy in the world of music. Even though he was no longer performing except for special occasions, countless other artists and various media companies were clamouring to persuade him to compose music and write songs for them.
René Alejandro didn't know how to react at the legend's arrival. Jin Chonglin's superstar charisma managed to distract him earlier, but right at this moment, his mind actually went blank facing Enrique Valdez.
The legendary hitmaker's aura was on another league from Jin Chonglin. This was a true superstar. No, he had already transcended what it meant to be a superstar. His most loyal fans already considered him to be a living god for his world-class power and influence in music.
He watched as Iris greeted Enrique Valdez. They acted very familiar with each other. Their apparent closeness was indeed included in their initial research, but René Alejandro and his brothers didn't think much of it. He had thought that Iris Long was only able to get acquainted with a renowned figure like Enrique Valdez due to Jin Liwei's connections.
What he was seeing with his own eyes, however, seemed to be different. Enrique Valdez appeared to be closer to Iris than to Jin Liwei. René Alejandro frowned but quickly caught himself and smoothed out his expression.
He wasn't happy that there were too many discrepancies between what they researched and what he was witnessing firsthand. He came today feeling confident that he would be able to complete his mission easily but reality was far from his expectations.
Jin Liwei was already expected to be a difficult person to get close to. Iris, on the other hand, was deemed easy.
Now that René Alejandro met her, she wasn't as easy as he expected. She was mostly friendly and polite but he couldn't find any opening to use her more effectively.
In addition, she was pregnant and that alone was already making it extremely difficult for him to charm her because Jin Liwei and almost everyone else were being extrprotective of her. With so many people guarding her, René Alejandro needed to find other ways to get past them and befriend her.
Why was he planning on spending this much effort into befriending Iris Long when she wasn't even one of his main targets?
It was because he knew after seeing with his own eyes that she was the most important person in Jin Liwei's life. The man never left her side. It was also only when he looked at her that his eyes would soften.
René Alejandro would be stupid if he didn't use Iris Long to capture Jin Liwei. Although she wasn't worth much as a person in his eyes especially since she was the daughter of that brainless woman, Wei Lan, Iris Long was still an important tool that he must learn to control. Once she was in his grasp, Jin Liwei would have no choice but to yield to him.
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1239
René Alejandro was busy befriending everyone present and doing his best to leave a good impression on them while categorizing each person on whether they would be usable to him or not. At the very least, the others were finding his presence more acceptable than Wei Lan who couldn't stop sniping at her ex-husband every chance she got and turning the atmosphere awkward.
It was good that Grandma Li and Huang Yuyan were both present to deter most of her vindictive impulses against Long Tengfei because Iris and Jin Liwei didn't want to bother about her anymore. The husband and wife decided to just ignore the woman instead of letting her pettiness ruin the festive Christmas gathering.
On a more positive note, Wei Lan's antics were quite laughable. If they didn't allow her to annoy them, she was a good source of comedic relief especially when backed up by Randy, her current best friend and sidekick.
Also, Iris appreciated that Wei Lan treated the mother and son, Jiang Ying Yue and Little Jun, quite well. The presents brought by Wei Lan, Randy and René Alejandro had just been delivered and arranged underneath the Christmas tree with the other presents. There were a lot especially from Wei Lan. Iris immediately noticed that the majority of the presents from Wei Lan were addressed to Little Jun. Even though the woman was resistant to being called grandma, there was no denying that she doted on the child as if Little Jun was her own grandson. For that alone, Iris was willing to tolerate Wei Lan's presence.
The door opened again and in came Chen Fei. Clover noticed her arrival first and helped her carry the presents she brought. After another round of greetings, Chen Fei looked around with a frown.
"Jinjing and that asshole aren't here yet?"
Those who were far from her didn't hear her words but people with great hearing like Iris and René Alejandro heard her loud and clear.
Iris only sighed and shook her head. Jin Liwei noticed her actions and asked what happened. She whispered to his ear what Chen Fei said. He chuckled as if delighting that Lu Zihao was called an asshole. She smacked his hand and he only laughed harder.
René Alejandro watched all of these from a distance while pretending to listen to Yu Mo's tales. He raised an eyebrow. It seemed that Chen Fei didn't approve of her best friend's relationship with Lu Zihao. He was also intrigued upon seeing such a mischievous expression on Jin Liwei's face, laughing at his youngest best friend like that. This was the first time since René Alejandro arrived that Jin Liwei laughed with ease which was a complete contrast to his usual cold and indifferent countenance. He filed these interesting tidbits to his mental filing cabinet.
While doing so, he noticed that there was another person who wasn't paying attention to Yu Mo. Jin Chonglin was staring at Chen Fei with pursed lips as if annoyed by her presence. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
"Why don't you say hello to her?" René Alejandro suggested to him, interrupting Yu Mo. "Isn't she your boss?"
Jin Chonglin's expression turned black. "Che. Who wants to have anything to do with that kind of bossy woman? If not for my generous heart that wants to help my sister-in-law to promote her new beauty company, I wouldn't want to work so closely with such a scary woman. She doesn't care that I'm a superstar at all. All she does is make me work like a horse. Hmph!"
"Huh, what?" Yu Mo was confused.
The two didn't pay him any attention.
René Alejandro chuckled but didn't question Jin Chonglin any further. He knew his limit. He only got to know them today after all. It wasn't wise for him to act too friendly and too close on the get-go lest he aroused their dislike, or worse, their suspicion. For now, his goal was to worm his way into Jin Liwei, and hopefully, Lu Jianhong's close circles as best as he could.
Moments later, another person arrived. It was Wang Yingjie. The man looked tired but didn't forget to greet everyone. Yu Mo dragged René Alejandro and introduced him to the group's second brother. Jin Chonglin trailed after them.
René Alejandro was all smiles as usual, but deep inside, he was taken aback at the doctor's calm but sharp gaze. Wang Yingjie seemed to have a similar cold disposition as Jin Liwei. The only difference was that Jin Liwei's coldness had an innate arrogance from his upbringing as an heir apparent to his family's business empire while Wang Yingjie's coldness was milder yet had deeper profundity. René Alejandro judged Wang Yingjie as a man who had sharp insight, and like him, had talent in deep observation.
His conclusion?
Wang Yingjie was dangerous, not useful to his mission at all, and must be avoided.
The man might not look like it but René Alejandro's instincts were telling him that Wang Yingjie's observational skills and vigilance must be on a high level that might pose harm to his mission. He felt that the doctor was more of a martial artist than the simpleton Yu Mo.
Then he remembered what their research said. According to the dossier they had on Wang Yingjie, the man had a fifth degree black belt in karate and still continued to train during his rare spare time. Now that René Alejandro met Wang Yingjie in person, he knew that the fifth degree black belt wasn't just for show. He even suspected that maybe Wang Yingjie's real abilities and skills had surpassed his current level.
As someone trained in combat arts, René Alejandro was extremely sensitive to anyone who had some sort of training in martial arts or any fighting discipline. From what he could sense just by relying on his combat instincts, Wang Yingjie should be the strongest in the room so far. Jin Liwei was second while Yu Mo was a close third.
Perhaps in terms of technical skills, Yu Mo should be the second as a seasoned Systema practitioner, but René Alejandro could feel a trace of wild power from Jin Liwei. This should be the result of additional training in other unorthodox combat arts.
'I wonder what he's training in and who's giving him this additional training.'
His Genius Wife is a Superstar Chapter 1240
Speaking of people triggering René Alejandro's combat instincts, there was someone else who was prompting him to take a second look. More than a second look, actually. He couldn't help but take a few furtive glances at Iris Long out of the corner of his eyes.
To him, the woman was nothing special. Yes, she was stunning, but Emilio Miguel was more beautiful than her just like how the assassin was more beautiful than most people in the world. Therefore, René Alejandro personally wasn't that impressed by Iris' beauty.
He couldn't quite put his finger on it but there was something about her that was bothering him the more that he stayed in her presence. He tried analyzing what his instincts were telling him but any possible conclusions just didn't make sense to him.
His gut was telling him that Iris Long might pose danger to him, but looking at her, he could tell that she was a genuinely kind person albeit too blunt in her words. He just couldn't see how she would be dangerous to him.
As for judging her combat abilities, skills or even just potential, René Alejandro still couldn't sense anything special about her. According to the dossier they had on her, she trained in Systema under Yu Mo for almost two years but stopped a few months ago possibly due to being injured from the bomb incident and also her pregnancy. René Alejandro was certain that a female celebrity like her was only dabbling in Systema to maintain her figure and not because she was serious in pursuing the martial arts.
No matter how many times he scanned her, all he could see was a weakling. Her body was too frail. It couldn't compare to a sturdy, muscled, and strong body like her friend and former bodyguard, Jiang Ying Yue. René Alejandro was confident that he could crush Iris Long's bones with just his bare hands alone before she could even scream for help.
So why was he feeling so ill at ease in her presence?
He evaluated his own reaction while making sure that others wouldn't notice his secret glances on her. It felt like viewing someone through a foggy glass. The silhouette looked harmless at first but her gaze was like that of a predator. It was so subtle though that he started to doubt the accuracy of his own judgment. It was a weird feeling that put a bad taste in his mouth.
'Maybe my instincts are just messed up because of all the discrepancies between our research and the real situation that I'm witnessing firsthand.'
He didn't believe that a weak woman like Iris Long could really be dangerous to him and the mission. Someone like Wang Yingjie and Jin Liwei himself should be the top people to whom he should always be cautious.
The doctor, Wang Yingjie, didn't speak much to him after Yu Mo introduced them. It suited René Alejandro just fine because he didn't want to have anything to do with the man especially after categorizing Wang Yingjie as someone dangerous. Unfortunately for him, Yu Mo and Jin Chonglin stayed with Wang Yingjie to chat. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]
René Alejandro took this chance to excuse himself to the restroom. There was one inside the room but it was currently occupied. He left the room and asked around for the nearest toilet. A houseboy guided him there.
Iris watched as the Spaniard left the room. Jin Liwei followed her gaze.
"What's wrong, love?" he asked in a low voice
She shook her head.
Wang Yingjie finally returned to their group and sat down with a tired sigh. He gave Iris a once-over, his eyes lingering on her belly.
"How's your food intake? Still having trouble with your appetite? You're too small."
She touched her belly. The baby bump was barely noticeable under her clothes.
"I'm eating better ever since Dom's parents arrived. Auntie Reina keeps on feeding me delicious Filipino food."
Jin Liwei nodded but still couldn't help but look worried after his second brother said that his wife was too small. Indeed, she was barely showing despite being at the end of her first trimester, not to mention that she was carrying twins.
"How far along are you, Xiulaaaaaaan?" Wei Lan interrupted.
Iris told her.
Wei Lan waved an unconcerned hand before telling Wang Yingjie, "Don't worry tooooooo much, Dear Mr. Doctor. It's goooood that Xiulan is still thin and hasn't gotten fat yet after becoming pregnaaaaant. It means that my daughter inherited my faaaaaabulous genes. When I was pregnant with her back then, my belly only began shoooooowing around the middle of my second trimester. She was such a tiny baaaabyyyyy yet still tore my vajayjay. It hurt sooooooo much!"
"Mother, that's too much information."
Wei Lan laughed and left them to join another group. Iris and Jin Liwei both looked at Wang Yingjie.
"Seems like you got it from your mother," Wang Yingjie told the couple while gesturing at Iris' belly which still looked flat to those who weren't looking closely enough. "But don't accept it too readily. It's better to have normal-sized babies. Too small and we have to find out why."
Iris nodded and stroked her belly.
Wang Yingjie yawned. "I'm going to take a short power nap. I can barely keep my eyes open. Third Brother, wake me up when it's time for dinner."
Jin Liwei agreed and watched his second brother walk away to find a relatively quiet spot to nap. Wang Yingjie seemed to have found the sleeping Meimei and Ice Cream, so he searched for another hidden corner.
Iris turned to her husband. "Why aren't Grandpa Lu, Big Brother and Big Sister here yet? Dinner is in a few minutes. They're going to be late at this rate."
"If they're late, then they're late," Jin Liwei replied in a nonchalant tone.
"What? Do you know something?"
"En."
"Tell me."
He didn't hesitate and whispered to her what he knew. Her eyes widened and shone in excitement. "Really?"
"En."
She got teary without her control. He sighed and kissed her cheek.
"Don't expose it to others, love. It's not our place to reveal it."
"Okay." She snuggled in his arms, a soft smile on her face. "I'm so happy. This Christmas will be the best yet."