Chapter 121 Son - in
The sound of the ringing phone awakened Long Tengfei. He quickly answered it so as not to disturb his wife, Yang Jiahui, who was sleeping beside him.
It was his assistant, Cao Guang, informing him that the Young Miss Xiulan was rushed to the hospital because she fainted in the middle of the night. It seemed that Cao Guang's nephew, Dominic Chua, called his uncle and wailed nonstop on the phone.
The uncle couldn't understand what his nephew was saying, only able to squeeze out relevant keywords like "boss", "hospital", "fainted", "scary" and "dying". Knowing that his nephew had the tendency to exaggerate, Cao Guang immediately contacted the hospital and was able to speak directly to Dr. Ching. He was assured that the Young Miss Xiulan's condition was not too serious but was concerning enough not to take lightly. With this information, he called President Long and awaited instructions.
Long Tengfei was, of course, worried about his daughter. She was doing so well since she woke up from coma, appearing to live a healthy lifestyle. Then suddenly she was hospitalized again. He wanted to see her but their tense and distant relationship in the past made him hesitate.
"What's wrong?" Yang Jiahui woke up and asked him sleepily.
"Xiulan is in the hospital."
"What?" She was instantly awake.
"She apparently fainted."
"Then what are you waiting for? Go see her."
"But what if she doesn't want to see me?"
She sighed at her husband. "How will you know if you don't even try? And stop waiting for her to make the first move. Both of you are really father and child, both so stubborn. You're the elder and should be the one who's more understanding. Don't expect her to be the first one to give in. Go get ready now and see her. Don't wait until you lose this chance or you may regret it later."
Long Tengfei took a couple of minutes to make up his mind. Finally, he agreed with his wife. He rose from the bed.
"Does Wei Lan know?" Yang Jiahui asked.
He scowled, his tone was cold when he replied. "Why would I know whether she knows or not? I don't talk to that woman anymore."
"She's your daughter's mother, Tengfei. You may have parted with bad feelings but she still deserves to know what happened to her daughter."
"Fine. I'll tell Cao Guang to inform her."
Within an hour, Long Tengfei reached the hospital, a bouquet of bright daffodils and daisies in his arms. Cao Guang accompanied him carrying a big basket of various fruits. They took the elevator and headed to the private wing.
However, they were blocked by two men wearing black business suits and earpieces when they reached outside Iris' room.
Long Tengfei frowned, displeased. He wasn't used to being blocked by anyone.
"We are here to visit a patient named Miss Long Xiulan," Cao Guang told the two. "We are quite certain that this is her room."
"Names?" One of the men asked in a flat tone, making Long Tengfei feel even more displeased.
"My name is Cao Guang and with me is Sir Long Tengfei, Miss Long's father."
"Please wait here," the man said while his companion knocked on the door and entered.
The remaining man just stood there, his expression cold, not bothering to speak to them. A few seconds later, his companion returned and finally allowed Long Tengfei and Cao Guang through the door.
As soon as Long Tengfei entered the room, he saw a tall man in pyjamas sitting on the bed beside his sleeping daughter, buttoning up his shirt. He knew it wasn't Cao Guang's nephew. Dominic Chua was sprawled on the extra bed at the far end of the room, snoring softly.
"Who the hell are you?!" he roared.
Then the man looked at him and he saw his face.
Long Tengfei froze. "C-CEO Jin?"
Jin Liwei stood up and nodded. "CEO Long."
"What are you doing here?" Long Tengfei couldn't believe that he was meeting this man in his daughter's hospital room at this time of the day.
"I was the one who brought Xiulan here. We were together when she fainted."
Long Tengfei couldn't make sense of the situation. Cao Guang wasn't any better.
"Xiulan and I are in a relationship. She's my girlfriend and I'm her boyfriend."
"What..."
"CEO Long. I am dating your daughter with the intention of marriage."
Long Tengfei's mind went blank. Cao Guang's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head. No one noticed that Dominic Chua suddenly stopped snoring.
It took a good ten minutes before the two older men calmed down. Jin Liwei invited them to sit down on the couches.
"If you want to speak with Xiulan, I suggest you wait until she wakes up naturally," Jin Liwei said. "She had a rough night. I want her to rest up as much as possible. Besides, she's a deep sleeper. It's very hard to wake her up once she's asleep."
"Of course, of course. I understand. Let her sleep. I only want to see her and make sure that she's alright," Long Tengfei replied. Then he realized the meaning behind Jin Liwei's words.
'How did he know that my daughter is a deep sleeper? Don't tell me that they're already sleeping together? Wait, didn't he say that he was the one who brought Xiulan to the hospital? Didn't Cao Guang said that Xiulan was taken to the hospital at around 3 to 4 AM? Oh yes, he was sleeping on the bed with my daughter when we entered the room. So they're really sleeping together?! Ah?!!'
As if reading the older man's mind, Jin Liwei nodded. "Yes. I just moved in with her. We're basically living together now."
Long Tengfei inhaled sharply. Cao Guang almost dropped the vase he was planning to put the flowers on.
"Y-you...CEO Jinâ"
"Please call me Liwei. Once Xiulan agrees to marry me, you are going to be my father-in-law and I your son-in-law. There is no need to be so formal."
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Chapter 122 - Liar
It was a good thing that Long Tengfei had a wife who was very fastidious in taking care of his health. Yang Jiahui could be such a nag when it came to maintaining good health, but now he was thankful for her. If not for her, he could very well likely be experiencing a heart attack at this very moment.
Him? The father-in-law of the current most powerful man in the country's business world? And what was more, it was because of his estranged daughter, Xiulan?
"Father-in-law, please be assured that I am serious in my intention of marrying Xiulan. We still have many issues that we need to face and overcome together, but I hope that when we are both ready to take the step, you'll be able to support our marriage," Jin Liwei said.
Long Tengfei took slow, deep breaths to calm himself. He had met Jin Liwei several times before during some business and social events but their conversations revolved mainly around greetings and pleasantries. They may be both wealthy and powerful businessmen but the levels of their companies were vastly different, like that of Mt. Everest and a very small mountain or a big hill. He never imagined that such a figure would want to marry his estranged daughter and call him father-in-law.
Fortunately, Long Tengfei's innate astuteness kicked in. One must have the flexibility and ability to adapt into whatever unexpected situation in order to be a successful businessperson. Although he was still perplexed at this turn of events, he was now calm when he spoke to Jin Liwei.
"Are you and my daughter already engaged? Have you talked about when you want to get married?"
"Not yet. As much as I want to marry her as soon as possible and build a family with her as my wife, I know that she wants to focus on developing a successful career before anything else. I don't want to put her in a situation where she has to choose between me and her career. She doesn't need to choose because she can have both. But right now, her career lacks stability. She needs to stabilize her career first. I can do it for her of course, but I know that she wants to do it using her own abilities. I also have the utmost trust on her talents and skills."
Moreover, Jin Liwei knew deep inside that if his baby girl was ever given the choice between him and her career, she would choose her career over him without hesitation. It pained him to admit this to himself but he knew that this was true. That was why he needed to work harder on imprinting himself on her and on deepening their feelings for each other. He hoped that there would come a day when her feelings for him would come close to what he felt for her.
Long Tengfei nodded.
"Besides, she's still getting used to me. Now that we know what can happen to her health when she becomes too overwhelmed, I don't want to add to her stress by rushing her. After all, I want a healthy and happy wife."
"I understand," Long Tengfei finally said after digesting the things Jin Liwei just told him. Then he sighed. "I don't have a good relationship with my daughter, so she may think that I don't have any right to act like a father. But no matter what, Xiulan is my daughter and I'll always love her. All I want for my daughter is to be healthy, happy and have a good life. If you can give her that, I'll be satisfied. She's been doing so well this past year. I think I can trust her decisions from now on. If she thinks that marrying you is the right choice for her, then all I can do is to support her as her father."
"Thank you, father-in-law."
Long Tengfei cleared his throat, feeling awkward by Jin Liwei's address to him.
"Father-in-law, you must already know that Xiulan was attacked the other day. Fortunately, she was able to defend herself and her attackers were just three skinny girls. But what happens if she were to be attacked by men or stronger people next time? I'm very worried for her safety. I believe that she needs some bodyguards."
"I agree."
The two men, one older and one younger, began discussing Iris' need for bodyguards.
"You two have absolutely NO right to make decisions like that for me without informing me first. I am NOT getting bodyguards." Suddenly, Iris' hoarse, cold voice interrupted the men's deep discussion.
"Baby!" Jin Liwei immediately stood up and crossed the space to reach her in just a few long steps. "How are you feeling? Are you hurting anywhere?"
Iris slapped his hand away. "Tell me what you two were just talking about."
She didn't hear much of their conversation, only catching the part where they were debating whether to hire her some new bodyguards or to give her some of their own subordinates.
Jin Liwei hesitated, not wanting to agitate his girlfriend who clearly awakened in a bad mood. But he would be in deeper trouble if he denied and lied to her, especially since she already overheard them. Having no choice but to be honest, he sighed. "Baby, your father and I are just concerned about your safety. You were attacked. You were able to defend yourself this time. But what about next time? That's why we think that you need some bodyguards to protect you. You're a celebrity. It's quite normal for celebrities to have bodyguards. This is for your own good, baby."
Long Tengfei stood a few steps away, watching the two interact with each other.
Iris was shaking in anger as she glared at the two men. One was her boyfriend while the other was the original Iris' father. To her, Long Tengfei was a stranger. She had not personally met with him ever since she woke up in this new body.
However, at this moment, Jin Liwei and Long Tengfei's figures overlapped with the images of her older brother and father in her previous life. They were all the same, these two pairs of different men. They wanted her followed by bodyguards...to protect her! It was for her own safety, for her own good...what bullsh*t! They just wanted to cage her like their own little bird!
If now they wanted bodyguards to follow her everywhere, what would they do next? Give her a curfew? Then what? Lock her up in a mansion because the outside world was too dangerous?
Did she have to live that kind of life again? That suffocating life of being watched all the time? Of having no freedom?
No!
A great panic flooded her like a tsunami. She couldn't live like that again! She would rather die than live a life of no freedom like that again!
"You liar, Jin Liwei! You said you won't cage me! You said you're not going to restrict me, imprison me! You're the same as them! Liar!"
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Chapter 123 - Make Her Happy
Jin Liwei allowed himself to be hit by the pillows she threw at him in her distress. He fought to stay calm seeing her so agitated again. He couldn't understand why she was so against getting bodyguards, but this was not the right time to question her.
Climbing on the bed, he firmly pulled her in his arms. She struggled and pushed him away, but he held on, stroking her back and gently soothing her. He didn't say anything, just continued to embrace her.
"I don't want bodyguards," she mumbled.
"Alright," he replied in a gentle tone. He would find another time to discuss it with her when she was feeling better and more receptive to the idea. He was really worried about her safety.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Promise?"
He hesitated before carefully answering, "I promise, for now."
She pursed her lips, understanding his meaning. Now that she calmed down, she realized that she overreacted. She knew that they were just concerned about her, but the idea of bodyguards following her around just reminded her too much of her previous life.
Her father and older brother in her previous life loved her very much, that was why they wanted her safe and protected, especially with their family's special background. She loved them very much too, but deep inside there was a small part of her that hated them for loving her too much, too strongly, too tightly. Their love was suffocating.
As Iris Long, she didn't want to experience that kind of love again. She didn't love Jin Liwei or Long Tengfeiânot yet. She still hadn't developed her feelings for them to reach that level, especially when it came to Long Tengfei.
She knew that the original Iris' father was a good man who cared for his children even when he wasn't an outwardly affectionate person. He was generous and protected his children behind the scenes. However, he was basically a stranger to the current her.
These two men cared about her, she knew that. She also wanted to deepen her relationships with them. As a daughter to Long Tengfei, and as a lover to Jin Liwei. But she wouldn't allow them to decide things for her without informing her or asking her permission first.
Iris Long wasn't a caged bird like Evelina. She had a choice now which she never had before.
She looked at Jin Liwei's eyes. "I will be the one to decide whether I want bodyguards or not. And if I ever do, I'll get my own."
"Fine. But do think about it, baby. I don't want a repeat of you getting attacked again."
"Okay."
"Gooâ" He was about to say "good girl" but stopped himself just in time. He cleared his throat. "Great to hear," he said instead.
Fine. She didn't want him deciding for her, but she didn't forbid him from giving recommendations. He would make her a list of the best bodyguard agencies and help her choose which candidates would be the most suitable for her.
Feeling much better, she leaned against his chest and hugged him back. His familiar embrace was comforting.
He kissed the top of her head. She tilted her face up to him, inviting him. Of course he was more than happy to oblige. His mouth descended and kissed her.
The two had already forgotten that there were other people in the room besides them.
A cough. It was Long Tengfei.
The couple continued kissing.
A louder cough.
Surprisingly, it was Jin Liwei who broke the kiss first. Iris finally remembered that her "father" was present. A blush crawled up her face, giving much-needed colour to her pallor.
"Ehehehe." A familiar laugh interrupted the awkward atmosphere.
"Dominic Chua!" Cao Guang barked and then quickly turned to everyone. "I apologize for my nephew's bad manners. Please forgive him. I'll lecture him later."
"It's alright," Iris said. "Dom is fine just the way he is."
"Thank you, Young Miss! It's my nephew's good fortune to be your assistant. Dominic, you brat. Get up from the bed and stop pretending to be asleep. We already know that you're awake. Go apologize to everyone."
Dom's sparkling eyes opened, his expression filled with mirth. "Ehehe."
"You brat! How can you be so disrespectful? I'll call your mother later."
Dom immediately looked alarmed and jumped off the bed. "What?! No! Uncle, please don't! Momsy will beat the crap out of my handsome self! You want that dragon to fly over here all the way from the Philippines and terrorize everyone? I'll apologize, okay? I'm sorry! Sorry, boss! Sorry, sir boss! Sorry, papa boss! I'm sorry for...sorry for, uhm...eh? What did I do again? Uncle, why do I need to apologize?"
"Youâ" Cao Guang clutched his chest and looked like he wanted to beat up this nephew of his. He regretted that he didn't train the young man in manners before sending him to work for the Young Miss. The worst part was that President Long Tengfei was there to witness everything. What would he do if the President thought that all his family members were without manners? He wouldn't have any face left. So shameful!
Then laughter like the tinkle of crystal bells filled the room.
Everyone stopped. It was as if they were all mesmerized by her lovely voice.
Jin Liwei's eyes darkened with desire, looking intensely at his baby girl. He wanted to kiss her again. Too bad there were other people in the room and one of them was her father. After the surge of lust was relief that she was finally showing a cheerful expression.
Her bad mood that he experienced for the first time since last night was like an unpredictable storm that he had no choice but to endure. Seeing her beautiful, laughing face again was like seeing the bright sun finally peeking through the dark thunderclouds. Such a wonderful feeling!
"Don't be so strict on Dom," Iris told Cao Guang. "I can't imagine a better assistant for me than him."
"Boss..." Dom's eyes watered. "And I can't imagine a better boss for me than you! You're the best boss in the whole wide world! I love you, boss!"
Jin Liwei scowled. He had the urge to snarl at Dominic. Fortunately, he was able to stop himself in time. He forcefully tamped down the ugly feeling surging from within him. His logical mind knew that he shouldn't be worried about Dominic's "I love you", but his emotions always felt uncontrollable when it came to his baby girl.
But he had to control them. Seeing his baby girl collapse like a lifeless body in front of him was terrifying. He didn't want to experience it ever again.
He swore he was going to make her happy. If he had to spend the rest of his life to do so, so be it.
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Chapter 124 - Father And Daughter
After freshening up in the bathroom, Iris sat on the couch facing Long Tengfei. The others gave the father and daughter privacy by leaving the room.
Jin Liwei instructed one of his subordinates to order some food, while he rested at a nearby empty private waiting room. Dom called Tang Yiyi to inform her of what happened to Iris and her current condition, and also called home to ask for some change of clothes and toiletries for the three of them. They left in such a hurry that they weren't able to take anything other than the clothes that they were wearing, their wallets and phones. Cao Guang went somewhere to make some business calls.
Inside the room, the father and daughter studied each other, not saying anything.
Iris was very curious about this man who fathered such a spoiled, unreasonable brat as the original Iris. He was a good father when it came to providing for his children. However, his hands-off approach of parenting and lack of outward show of affection contributed a great deal to his estranged relationship to his daughter, especially since the original Iris was someone who craved constant attention. Because she couldn't get the attention she desired from her family, she turned to the public to give it her, even if it was the wrong kind of attention.
At the moment, she didn't have any special feelings for this man. He was basically a stranger to her. But since she was now Iris, Long Tengfei was now her father in this life. It wouldn't hurt to repair the relationship between the father and daughter.
"Hello, father. How have you been?"
"I'm alriâ" He cleared his throat, embarrassed that his word got stuck. He tried again. "I'm alright. Thank you, Xiulan...my daughter. How have you been...I mean, how are you feeling now? Do you still feel unwell?"
"I'm feeling much better, thank you."
Silence.
Long Tengfei didn't know what to talk about with his daughter. He was feeling awkward. He opened his mouth but closed it again, unsure of what to say to her.
On the other hand, Iris didn't feel awkward at all. She was busy observing this man who was now her father.
"Congratulations on your album 'Rebirth'."
"Thank you."
Silence.
Long Tengfei cleared his throat. "I bought a copy, I mean some copies of your album."
"Thank you. Would you like me to sign them for you?"
His eyes lit up. "Of course! Yes, yes. That would be great."
"Alright. Just have them delivered to my place and I'll sign them."
"How about you visit home, maybe join us for dinner? Then you can sign the albums then? But only if you want to, of course, and if you have the time." Immediately, he felt unsure of his invitation. Was it a good idea? What if she rejected him like before?
"Sure. When's a good time?"
"It's fine if you don't want to. You don't need to forceâah? What? You want to come?"
She tilted her head to the side, looking at him, confused. "Didn't you want me to come?"
"Yes, yes! Of course I want you to come," he quickly said. Joy flooded within him, but he controlled the expression on his face. 'Be cool, Long Tengfei,' he mentally told himself. However, he couldn't stop his eyes from pricking.
When he married Yang Jiahui, his daughter swore that she would never step foot back to the ancestral residence ever again. His wife tried to invite the girl several times for a meal but she was always rudely rejected and even insulted. She wanted to build an amicable relationship with her step-daughter. After many attempts, however, Yang Jiahui had no choice but to give up. The girl seemed to hate her very much.
But now this daughter of his agreed to visit home for dinner? This was a miracle!
"Anytime is fine. Just give me a call whenever you want to come." He hesitated but decided to try testing her reaction. "Your Aunt Jiahui would be excited."
Iris nodded. "What does she like? I'll bring something for her when I come."
A lump suddenly lodged itself in his throat and his eyes watered, but he forcefully pushed these sentimental feelings away. He didn't want his daughter to see her father crying in front of her. He cleared his throat. "You don't have to bring anything. Just bring yourself."
"Just tell me what she likes, father. It's not a big deal."
Although he wondered why his daughter stopped calling him "daddy" like she used to before, he was feeling happy that they were having an actual conversation. Before, she would only talk to him whenever she wanted him to buy something for her. If he refused to buy whatever she asked for, she would throw a tantrum and refuse to talk to him until she wanted something again.
It seemed that his daughter had really matured this time. She was more sensible and calmer. Perhaps she had already outgrown her calling him "daddy", that was why she was now calling him "father" instead. Besides, "father" sounded more dignified so he wouldn't complain.
"Alright. Your Aunt Jiahui likes good tea."
"Oh. That's great. I like good tea as well. I'll bring some tea when I come over then. How about you, father? What would you like?"
He blinked. Eh? Was she asking HIM what he would like? Someone pinch him, please.
"Hm? Father?"
"I...I sure would like a bottle of liquor." His daughter was going to give him something for the first time. Of course, he wouldn't miss this opportunity. He wouldn't ask for something too extravagant, but if she really gave him something, then it would be very special to him.
"Hmm...I don't really know much about alcoholic drinks. I'll have to ask Liwei. Alright, I'll bring your wife tea and liquor for you, father."
He nodded, unable to stop himself from smiling. He couldn't wait to tell his wife that his daughter was coming over for dinner. He hoped that it would be soon...no, tonight! Wait, she still had to stay at the hospital today for further monitoring. Maybe tomorrow night! Hopefully, she would be discharged by then. He would speak with Dr. Ching later and ask.
He wanted to ask Xiulan when she would like to come over, but was worried that he would sound too pushy. He had to be patient and wait for her call.
Today was the happiest day of Long Tengfei's life in a long time. He hoped that his relationship with his daughter would continue to improve. Perhaps he could reintegrate her into the family and cement her position with the Longs. As the family head, he wanted his legitimate daughter to be fully accepted by everyone, especially by those stuck-up Long elders. After all, Xiulan was their heiress whether they liked it or not.
"Xiulan, thank you."
Iris smiled. "You are my father. It's only natural."
"Indeed, I'm your father," he replied, fighting the tears threatening to spill over his eyes. "And you're my daughter."
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Chapter 125 - Photos Of The Boss
A nurse and a medical aide knocked and entered the room while Iris and Long Tengfei were still chatting. It was time for Iris' medical tests scheduled in the morning while she hadn't eaten or drank anything yet.
They brought a wheelchair for her. Iris wanted to walk by herself, and she did until suddenly feeling lightheaded after walking just a few metres in the hallway. In the end, she still had to use the wheelchair. Dom went with his boss.
Cao Guang returned to the room to accompany Long Tengfei, waiting for Iris to return from her tests. Jin Liwei was fast asleep at the nearby waiting room, guarded by one of his subordinates while the other one followed Iris and Dom from a distance.
###
A fifteen-year old teenage girl was walking around inside the hospital. Her mother just gave birth earlier that morning to her baby brother. Everyone was gushing about the new baby. At first, she was also very excited about her new sibling, but when everyone kept on talking about how wonderful it was to finally have a son, she couldn't help but feel sour inside.
So they weren't happy with her, a daughter? Now that they had a son, they loved her less?
She sneaked away from the room and started walking aimlessly in the hospital. She felt even worse because it seemed that nobody noticed that she was gone. If they did, they would surely call her phone which she always carried with her to ask where she was. But no, they were too busy with her baby brother to bother with her.
Wearing earphones, she listened to music on her phone. "Rebirth" by Iris Long played and she hummed quietly along with the song. She gradually felt better as she listened to the music.
She felt like a little bird. As a teen and a student, she held no power of her own. Her own newborn baby brother could easily push aside her status in the family. But one day, she swore that she would rise like a phoenix and become an amazing person who would make her family proud, make them glad that she was their daughter.
The song ended, but she put it on repeat. After watching Iris Long's comeback performance on "MusicFest Tonight", she instantly became a fan. She became an even bigger fan when she watched Iris perform on DJ Song's radio show. She immediately joined the Black Stars fan club when she heard about it. And when Iris' launch party was announced, she wanted to attend but it was a school day so her parents didn't allow her, especially since the venue was so far away. Also, her mother could give birth at any time.
So she could only satisfy herself from the live posts from the ones who attended the launch party. She used her own allowance that she saved up to buy the entire digital album the moment it was released.
Iris Long was so beautiful and talented. She wanted to be cool like Boss Iris when she grew up. She heard that Boss Iris was a horrible person, but she didn't believe those rumours. She bet that those rumours were all untrue and that they were made up by jealous haters like those despicable Alarm Girls who attacked her.
The teenage girl continued to wander through the hallways while listening to the entire "Rebirth" album. She had no idea where she was heading, but she didn't care. As long as she was still inside the hospital, she would be able to find her way back.
These particular hallways looked emptier compared to the ones where she came from. But since nobody was stopping her, she continued to walk.
"Hai. I don't understand! Boss, you're already anemic and bleeding buckets from your period and yet these people are still collecting so much of your blood. Do they want to suck you dry? This is ridiculous! I object to their methods!"
"Dom, they know what they're doing. I trust Dr. Ching."
"Hmph! This is all the fault of those hateful Alarm Girls! You can deny it all you want, boss, but I still believe that it's those b*tches' fault that you're here in the hospital right now. They stressed you out and forced you to fight against them, overexerting your body! I'm so angry! I want to have a go with them! My Momsy told me not to hit girls, but I don't see those b*tches as girls. They're monsters!"
The teenage girl's eyes widened as she peeked from behind the wall. Was that Boss Iris Long? OMG! It must be her! She heard the young man call her boss and even mentioned the Alarm Girls, so the woman on the wheelchair must be Boss Iris!
She snapped several photos using her phone, trying not to be too obvious. Her hands were trembling with excitement. She wanted to run forward to ask for an autograph but was too shy. No matter. She was already happy seeing Boss Iris in person. Satisfied, she pocketed her phone.
"What are you doing here?"
She jumped and turned around, looking scared and guilty. A scary-looking man in a black business suit wearing an earpiece glared down at her.
"I-I...I got l-lost," she could only mumble, nervous.
"This is the private wing. Are you visiting someone here?"
"N-no. My m-mom just gave birth."
"The maternity wing is at the other end of the hospital. Go that way and follow the arrows back to the main lobby and then ask from there. I suggest you leave immediately if you have no business here."
She nodded and then ran away.
The man watched the girl until she disappeared from view. He just returned from the washroom to quickly relieve himself. When he came out, he saw the teen snooping from behind the wall. But the girl was just watching the mistress from afar. He didn't see anything wrong with that. Besides, the girl was just a kid so what harm could she do? (He didn't see the teen taking photos of Iris with her phone.)
Shrugging, he tossed the matter out of his mind and focused on following the mistress from a distance, making sure that she was safe, or else the master would kill him if something happened to her under his watch.
###
The teenage girl found her way back to her mother's room. It was too crowded inside, so she sat at a nearby bench along the hallway. She was looking at her phone, giggling at the photos she had just taken of Boss Iris.
Then she surfed online. Her expression turned furious when she read some of the stupid comments denouncing Boss Iris as a violent person who beat up others until they were unconscious.
How blind were these people? It was clearly those Alarm Girls who were the violent ones! Boss Iris was just defending herself!
She immediately logged in to her account and created a new post. She uploaded the photos of Boss Iris she had taken earlier.
"Stop the nonsense," she wrote. "Look what those evil Alarm Girls did to Boss Iris! The boss is at the hospital right now sitting on a wheelchair, but do you see her whining about it? You haters, shut up!"
Little did she know that this simple post of hers would cause another bigger media storm.
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Chapter 126 - Harsh Reality
When Iris and Dom returned to the room, breakfast was already prepared. Hot, traditional Chinese dishes were specially delivered from the nearest three-star restaurant. Jin Liwei, Long Tengfei and Cao Guang were waiting for her. All of them ate together, including Jin Liwei's two subordinates.
Iris' appetite had returned which was a relief to everyone. Jin Liwei made sure to order special dishes for her condition. No spicy or greasy food. Lots of iron-rich ingredients in hot soup-based recipes.
After the meal, Long Tengfei and Cao Guang bid their goodbyes.
Iris wanted to go home that day because she didn't want to stay in the hospital any longer. However, Dr. Ching sternly told her that she needed to stay another night, so that they could continue monitoring her and make sure that she was recovering well.
Jin Liwei looked exhausted and jet lagged.
"How about you go home and rest?" she suggested, feeling sorry for him. "Don't worry about me. Dom is here."
"No, baby. I want to stay here with you."
Her heart fluttered. She hugged him.
Jin Liwei, of course, was delighted. His head dipped down and kissed her sweet lips. His breath quickened when her arms wrapped around his neck. He wanted more but held back. Reluctantly, he ended the kiss. The doctor hadn't cleared his baby girl yet. She might be feeling better now, but he might aggravate her condition with his intensity. Besides, he was exhausted and didn't have the energy to keep up with his desire. Next time he would show her how much he desired her when they were both recovered.
"I need to sleep for a bit, baby," he said, sighing.
"Go ahead. I'll just sit here and read a book. This room has a rather nice collection of paperbacks."
"En. Don't move around too much. Sleep with me when you feel tired."
"Okay."
He gave her another lingering kiss before climbing on her hospital bed. He covered his entire body, even his head, with the blanket. Moments later, his deep, steady breathing could be heard as he fell asleep.
Iris reclined on the couch, a heat pack on her abdomen, enjoying a detective novel she chose from the shelf.
Around lunchtime, Dom picked up Tang Yiyi from the hospital entrance. She carried several take-out boxes bought from a family restaurant on her way to the hospital
"Iris! How are you feeling? I've been so worried ever since Dom called me this morning!" Tang Yiyi immediately inspected his artist from head to toe after putting the food on the table.
"I'm feeling much better now, Elder Sister Yiyi. Sorry for making you worry. My doctor says that I'll probably be dismissed tomorrow."
Tang Yiyi sighed in relief. "It's my mistake for not putting more importance in the security while I was organizing your launch party. Who could've thought that you'll be attacked while onstage? I've never experienced something as scary like that before. I've seen fans getting a little too excited and rough when meeting their idols, but I've never seen people openly attacking a celebrity in such a violent manner in public before. This is the first time."
Dom: "Hmph! Just remembering what happened makes me so angry!"
Iris' eyes turned cold. "The Alarm Girls will get what they deserve."
She personally didn't care about them, but remembering how they hurt Dom, her band musicians and some of her fans hardened her heart for them. For now, she would let her lawyer deal with them. If they stopped bothering her, she would leave them alone and let the law decide their fate. But if they continued to be stupid and trouble her again, then she would show them the ruthlessness of lawless justice.
Tang Yiyi continued to fuss around Iris, gently pushing her to rest on the couch and covering her with a warm blanket. "I spoke with Mr. JJ and some of the Bright Summit higher-ups. We all know how much of a dedicated artist you are, Iris, that's why we've allocated this much resources for you. However, it seems that your previous...uh, 'unpleasant' reputation still lingers and there are still people who, uhm, how do I say this..."
Iris: "I know that there are a lot of people who hate me. I'm aware, Elder Sister Yiyi."
Dom: "Hmph! Stupid blind fools!"
Tang Yiyi coughed. "Well...yes." Then she sighed. "The Alarm Girls clearly hate you and blame you for their misfortune. Hopefully, your haters are not all like them and this is only a one-time incident. However, we at Bright Summit and Mr. JJ don't want to take a chance. Your safety and well-being are of utmost importance. That's why we think that you need bodyguards."
"No, I don't want bodyguards."
Surprised at her quick rejection, Tang Yiyi frowned. "Iris, this is a serious matter. You need bodyguards."
Iris' lips pressed hard together, subconsciously glancing at the big, long lump covered by a blanket on the bed. Jin Liwei was just telling her the same thing this morning.
Tang Yiyi: "Eh? Is someone on the bed? Who's that?"
Iris: "My boyfriend."
Tang Yiyi: "What?! You have a boyfriend?!"
Iris: "Yes."
Dom: "Ehehehe."
Tang Yiyi: "Since when? Who is he?"
Iris: "Last week. Hmm. He's a businessman."
Jin Liwei thought that they were already boyfriend and girlfriend when he first came to her penthouse, but they only became an official couple when he slept over. She only recognized the moment he asked her and she agreed to be in a relationship with him, not the other one without her knowledge.
And he may be the head of the number one company in the country, but technically speaking, he was still a businessman.
She simplified her answers, but she didn't lie to her manager.
"Iris, this..." Tang Yiyi looked worried. "I don't think it's a good idea to be in a relationship, especially right now that you've just had your comeback."
"Hm? Why?" Iris tilted her head to the side.
"Your fans idolize you and in a sense...feels possessive of you. They're not going to take it kindly if they discover that you have a boyfriend. They'll feel betrayed. Many celebrities have experienced backlash from their fans when their relationships were exposed to the public. That's why most celebs deny being in a relationship, especially for young ones like you."
"That's so stupid," Iris said. "My fans don't own me. Besides, I had my lawyer remove that ridiculous 'no relationship' term in my contract before I signed with Bright Summit. So I'll be alright. Don't worry, Elder Sister Yiyi."
"Hai. I'm not worried about your contract. What I'm worried about are your fans' reactions when they learn that you have a boyfriend."
Iris waved a dismissive hand. "If they turn their backs on me just because of such a simple issue as having a boyfriend, then they're not real fans. I'd rather not have those kind of people supporting me."
Tang Yiyi sighed, shaking her head at Iris. "Since you're not violating your contract, I can't force you to break up with your boyfriend. However, I want you to be very careful. I suggest you don't openly reveal your relationship status. You just returned to showbiz. Your footing is not stable yet. A slight mistake can end your career prematurely. That's how harsh this industry is."
"It doesn't only apply to showbiz," Iris said softly, her eyes unreadable as if remembering something painful. "The entire world is harsh. But that's why we must keep on living, to triumph over the harsh reality of life."
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Chapter 127 - Music Charts
Tang Yiyi moved on from the unpleasant subjects and excitedly shared the latest updates on the performance of Iris' album "Rebirth". The three ate the lunch Tang Yiyi brought while they talked.
Curious about Iris' boyfriend, Tang Yiyi suggested that Iris wake him up for lunch, but Iris declined. She wanted Jin Liwei to rest as much as possible. The man must have been so exhausted from his business trip, long plane ride, dealing with her bad mood when he returned, and now accompanying her to the hospital. She felt sorry for him, but at the same time felt warm and sweet inside for the care he was showing her.
"It's only been the third day since your album was released, but it has already surpassed our initial expectations," Tang Yiyi said with delight while eating. "JJ's record label was aiming for at least top 10 in the music chartsâ"
Dom: "Eh? But I remember Mr. JJ saying that he's sure boss' album will land in the top 3."
Tang Yiyi: "Mr. JJ always says that for all the music he personally produces. The team he assigned for Iris had more conservative expectations. After all, the competition is tough and this is Iris' first album since she disappeared for two years. Many currently popular artists also released their own music around this time. Not to mention a big-name like Jin Chonglin who released his album just a few weeks before Iris. His album has been sitting on number 1 ever since it debuted."
Dom: "Ooooh. Jin Chonglin is so HOT! Did you see that music video where he was dancing without his shirt on, grinding on the floor, sweat dripping everywhere? Ah! So yum yum! But of course, sir boss is still the most handsome."
Tang Yiyi: "Ah, what? Who's sir boss? Oh, you mean Iris' boyfriend? Really, he's more handsome than Jin Chonglin?"
Dom: "OMG, yes! Sis Yiyi, you should see sir boss. He's, like, the most gorgeous man EVER! I see them this way: sir boss is the original, high-end, luxury model while Jin Chonglin is the affordable version even though both are high quality. Sir boss is out of reach to regular people, while Jin Chonglin is, uhmâwhat's the wordâobtainable with some effort. You know what I mean?"
"Hmm...I think I understand what you mean." Tang Yiyi tapped her chin, then glanced at Iris. She was very curious about what Iris' boyfriend looked like. She didn't entirely believe Dominic's description because he had the tendency of exaggerating.
She wanted to ask Iris to wake up her boyfriend so she could meet him. Then Tang Yiyi remembered that they were at the hospital. She controlled her curiosity, not wanting to upset Iris by forcing her to do something.
Clearing her throat, Tang Yiyi ended the conversation about Iris' boyfriend. "As I was saying, JJ's record label was aiming for your album to debut in top 10 at least. Bright Summit's expectations were lower. They would've been already happy with top 30, aiming for a gradual climb instead."
Iris continued to slowly eat, keeping quiet and letting the two chatter on about her album. She didn't really care about things like ranking. All she cared about was sharing her music to the world and touch as many people as possible.
"But who would've thought that your album 'Rebirth' will debut and instantly claim number 2? That's top 2! Only second to Jin Chonglin's album!" Tang Yiyi was so excited that she waved her chopsticks all around.
Of course, Dom was even more excited. Clapping and cheering on his seat. "Of course! Boss is awesome! Ehehe! Congrats, boss!"
"Thank you." Iris smiled gently.
"What's more, your songs are even doing better! 'Rebirth' debuted in number 2, 'Black Star' in number 3, and 'Phantom of Your Love' in number 9. Although Jin Chonglin's song is number 1, he only has that one song in the top 10. His other song recently dropped to number 11. You're the only artist right now who has three songs in the top 10 and all three managed to claim their spots upon their debut."
Dom: "Give it a few days and boss will kick Jin Chonglin's song off its number 1 spot."
Tang Yiyi giggled, giving a meaningful look.
Dom: "Eh? Why are you laughing so weirdly like that, Sis Yiyi? Wait. Don't tell me..."
Tang Yiyi: "Yes! Iris' song 'Rebirth' just claimed number 1 today!"
Dom was so shocked that he dropped his chopsticks to the floor. His mouth opened and closed like a gasping fish out of water. "W-what?! Sis Yiyi! Please don't joke around!"
"Dominic Chua, do I look like I'm joking to you?"
His eyes watered. "Sis Yiyi!"
"Hold on. I'll show you." Tang Yiyi rummaged her pocket for phone. After tapping on the screen a few times, she held it to Dom.
Dom grabbed it and focused all his attention to the phone. Moments later, he was sobbing. "Boss! Wuwuwu...it really is number 1...wuwuwu. You really did it, boss."
Iris held her palm up and Dom gave her the phone. She glanced at it quickly. Indeed, her song "Rebirth" was currently sitting at number 1 on the chart. It changed position with Jin Chonglin's song which was now at number 2. "Black Star" was still on number 3, while "Phantom of Your Love" climbed two spots to number 7.
She felt pleased that her songs were doing well on the music charts, although she didn't really care about rankings. It meant that JJ's record label and Bright Summit would be happy with her and provide her with resources so that she could create more music to share with the world.
Tang Yiyi: "In the albums chart, your album is still number 2. It won't be that easy to unseat Jin Chonglin's album. After all, he had a head start when he released his album weeks earlier than you. But no matter. Your songs' performances in the singles chart are good signs, especially since you haven't even started actively promoting your album yet. You have a high chance of claiming the top spot in both music charts when you're well enough to start promotions."
"I'll be discharged tomorrow," Iris said. "I'll return to work the day after."
"Hmm...Let's wait until we receive the go ahead from the PR teams of both Bright Summit and JJ's record label. They're still dealing with the aftermath of the incident of you and the Alarm Girls. But don't worry about it too much," Tang Yiyi said quickly, worried that Iris would feel too stressed hearing about it. "Like I said, the law is on our side. And both Bright Summit and JJ's record label are experienced in PR."
Iris nodded. She finished eating.
Suddenly, Tang Yiyi's phone rang.
"Hello?" Tang Yiyi answered, then she frowned. "Uh, yes. She's in the hospital and I'm actually here with her right now. I was going to call to inform you later...eh? Someone took photos of her in the hospital?"
Iris' full attention was now in the conversation.
"What?!" Tang Yiyi's voice was almost shrill. "It's all over the internet?!"
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Chapter 128 - Medical Record
The next day, Iris was finally cleared to be discharged from the hospital.
Since it was a Monday, Jin Liwei had to go to work. He didn't want to leave his baby girl but there were so many tasks needing his attention at the company, especially after being gone for a full workday week. Iris assured him that she would be fine. He wished that he could just tie her to his waist and carry her around all day, so they wouldn't have to be separated even for just a day.
He woke up hours before sunrise. Good thing that Iris managed to wake up from her usual deep sleep in time to send him off. She also felt disappointed that they weren't able to spend some quality time together after he returned from his business trip.
Truly, life was unpredictable and plans could go awry without any warning. Despite this, she felt warm inside because Jin Liwei stuck with her and was extremely patient and caring, even when she almost bit his head off so many times during her extreme mood swings. She was beginning to see that the man genuinely cherished her.
Seeing his baby girl awake, of course Jin Liwei wouldn't miss the chance to thoroughly kiss her before leaving. He wasn't sure whether she would snap at him again, but he missed her so much. When she also responded to his deep kisses, he almost lost control. Finally, she was allowing him to kiss her again without pushing him away.
He felt so aroused and wanted to devour her as soon as possible, but he forcefully fought his inner beast. His baby girl was not 100% recovered yet. He reminded himself that he had to be gentle with her at this time.
Giving her another deep kiss, he reluctantly left to return to his mansion at Dragon Palace Homes to shower, change into his business suit, and eat breakfast before heading to his company for work.
Iris went back to sleep after he left.
When she woke up again later, she underwent another series of medical tests before breakfast. Afterwards, she and Dom talked about what happened yesterday while eating breakfast.
The hospital almost declared a state of emergency yesterday because the media suddenly swarmed the entire place, attempting to fish for information about Iris Long. They disrupted the daily operations, forcing the hospital administration to ask for police intervention because there were other patients who needed immediate attention that were being pushed aside by the reporters.
It wasn't only the media either. Curious rumourmongers also snooped around, giving the hospital workers, the patients and their families a big headache. Some of them began blaming Iris Long for the disruption.
When some of the Black Stars fan club members who also went to snoop around heard these people dissing their boss, they were enraged. A heated verbal battle ensued escalating the chaos in the hospital.
The officers of the fan club were quickly made aware of the situation by the online posts of the members present in the hospital. CaptainBlackStar messaged all the members to behave properly in order not to besmirch their boss Iris Long's name.
Feng Wan's friend, the wife of the Police Chief, asked her husband to send more officers to control the situation. Of course, the Chief granted his beloved wife's request. Soon, more police officers arrived. The reporters and the civilian snoopers were driven away. A few officers stationed themselves around the hospital to block anyone who had no business in the hospital.
While all of these were happening, Dr. Ching and a couple of hospital administrators met with Iris and Tang Yiyi at a nearby empty private room. Jin Liwei was still sleeping soundly and Iris didn't want to disturb him.
The administrators apologized for failing to protect her privacy as a VIP patient.
"It's not your fault. I'm sorry for the trouble my presence here in your hospital is causing you. I heard that people are making a ruckus outside."
"Miss Long, please don't worry about it. We are already dealing with the matter. We want you to focus on recovering. Your father has always been a great supporter of our hospital by making big donations every year. As his daughter, we will do our best to ensure that you are safe as our patient.
Tang Yiyi was busy on her phone, reading Dom's live updates. Dom went down to see what was happening with his own eyes.
"These reporters are really vicious, insinuating that you're faking your condition in order to garner more publicity for your album." Tang Yiyi harrumphed. "They're also saying that you're colluding with the hospital in order to make you look weak to shift the attention from you beating up the Alarm Girls. All rubbish!"
Iris sighed.
"If only we could show them your hospital record, then we could slap them with the truth and shut them up all at once," Tang Yiyi said.
"Sorry but we can't do that," Dr. Ching interjected. "Patient confidentiality is sacred to us here. The only exception is if we're ordered to surrender the record by the court."
The two administrators nodded.
"Just show them," Iris suddenly said.
Dr. Ching: "What? But Miss Long, the patient confidentiality statesâ"
Iris: "I'm the patient so I have the authority to permit the release of my medical record, am I right?"
The doctor hesitated, but finally nodded.
Iris: "Then there should be no problem. They won't believe my words alone, anyway. Show them my official medical record. That should give them enough material to report about, then they'll stop pestering the hospital. Besides, I have nothing to hide because it's true that I'm a patient of this hospital."
The administrators asked her one more time if she was sure of her decision.
"Yes. I give you my consent."
That same afternoon, the hospital arranged for a sudden press conference. Almost all the media outlets hurriedly sent their representatives to attend.
Dr. Ching and his team of doctors faced the reporters. The press conference was very brief. As doctors, they went straight to the point, showing Iris Long's actual medical record starting from when she stayed in the hospital as a comatose patient due to severe trauma from a vehicular accident. It also showed her recovery process consisting of her physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions. The most recent entry was her current condition which was fainting due to iron-deficiency anemia and sudden physical overexertion.
They answered a few questions from the reporters, clarifying details from the medical record. Dr. Ching had a good reputation within the medical community. Just his words alone was enough to dispel the lingering doubts, not to mention the hospital's own prestige.
The skeptics had no choice but to accept the authenticity of the medical record. Many reasoned that Iris Long, even with the backing of the Long family, still didn't have enough influence to make such a well-respected hospital endanger its reputation just to fake a mere medical record.
After the press conference, the reporters immediately wrote their drafts. Within an hour, all the news confirmed that Iris Long's coma and her current hospitalization were all true.
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Chapter 129 - Slippers Of Justice
The news caused an uproar online, especially among the Black Stars fan club. Although Iris herself confirmed that she was comatose for a year during her interviews on "MusicFest Tonight" and on DJ Song's radio show, it was still only her words. And she didn't elaborate much on her condition.
But now that her medical record was revealed for everyone to see, people realized the gravity of what she went through.
Those who were bashing her and accusing her of faking being in a coma and staging a hospitalization to generate publicity for her album had no choice but to shut up and retreat (for now).
Of course, there were a few who didn't care about the concrete evidence and continued spouting conspiracy theories, but the Black Stars moved swiftly and suppressed these trolls with their numbers and unity.
Leading the charge against the bashers were CaptainBlackStar and iEatSlippers. They divided their army and swarmed against those haters online spreading malicious rumours about their boss. Directing the entire Black Stars army on which web pages to go was Monkeyface.
CaptainBlackStar: "Defend our boss Iris! Comrades, attack!"
"Aye aye, Captain!"
iEatSlippers: "Those who said that our boss Iris was faking her hospitalizations, where are you? Hiding like spineless cowards, I see. Come out, come out, wherever you are! Still not coming out? Hah! As expected, all evil-doers scurry away with tails between their legs as soon as they see my mighty slippers of justice!"
"All hail the mighty slippers!"
"All hail!"
"Slippers of justice!"
In the Black Stars fan club website's group chat.
LittlePhoenix: "It's my fault for posting those photos. I only wanted to prove to those haters that boss Iris was hurt too during the fight with the Alarm Girls. I didn't expect that my post will blow up this big and force boss Iris to show her private medical record. Will boss Iris hate me?"
MrsLovePhantom: "Oh, my dear child. I'm sure Iris won't hate you."
JJNumber3Fan: "That's right, sweetie. It's not your fault."
JJNumber1Fan: "Don't be too hard on yourself, my girl."
JJNumber2Fan: "Don't worry about it too much, sweetheart. Iris will surely understand your good intentions."
LittlePhoenix: "Really?"
MrsLovePhantom: "Yes."
LittlePhoenix: "I still want to apologize to boss Iris but I don't know how."
MrsLovePhantom: "How about you write a letter to her? Then we aunties will find a way to deliver your letter to her."
LittlePhoenix: "Is that true? Promise?"
MrsLovePhantom: "Yes, we promise."
JJNumber2Fan: "We promise."
JJNumber3Fan: "Promise!"
JJNumber1Fan: "We promise, my girl."
LittlePhoenix: "Thank you very much, Aunties! I'll go buy a nice stationery paper now. I still have some allowance left after buying boss Iris' album. I'll message you after I've written my apology letter."
That day, it seemed as if the Black Stars invaded the internet. Wherever Iris Long's name was mentioned, the Black Stars were there either proudly waving their boss' banner (and their mighty virtual slippers) or valiantly fighting against the stubborn anti-Iris Long trolls.
Iris Long topped the most-searched for rankings. Whether it was her recent album and songs, her amazing performances since her comeback, her shocking whistle register, the incident with the Alarm Girls during her launch party, and the reveal of her medical recordâmore and more people wanted to know more about Iris.
However, the reactions to the incident with the Alarm Girls during her launch party still remained mixed. The harsher critics didn't approve of her violent response to the situation, especially since it was clear for everyone to see that she beat up the three girls until they fell unconscious. It didn't matter to these people that it was the Alarm Girls who started the fight first. What mattered to them was that the fight looked extremely one-sided and Iris didn't show any mercy to her fellow girls. They didn't even imagine what it must have felt like to be chased around suddenly by masked attackers wielding metal mic stands. To them, Iris should also face the consequences of violent behaviour like the Alarm Girls.
Of course, there were also many who supported Iris Long. They reasoned that if they were put in the same situation as Iris, they would also do the same...and maybe more. Survival was the most basic instinct, after all.
While all of these were happening online, Tang Yiyi left the hospital. Thanks to the consecutive media storms involving her artist, she was very busy as Iris' manager. There was no time to rest. It was her and Bright Summit's job to turn the situation into something advantageous for their artist. This was what they were good at.
Back in the hospital, Jin Liwei finally woke up.
Dom, of course, spilled everything that happened earlier to his sir boss.
"What?!" Jin Liwei was enraged. He immediately marched outside the room and reprimanded his subordinate who he assigned to protect his Xiulan.
The subordinate bowed and apologized. His expression remained stoic, but sweat beaded on his forehead.
"What the hell were you doing?! This is the private wing and you let someone take a pictureâ"
Jin Liwei stopped when a pair of graceful arms wrapped around his waist from behind. He felt his baby girl's body press against his back.
"Liwei, that's enough. Don't scold him anymore. It's not his fault."
"Butâ"
"Liwei...darling, please stop."
"Okay." He immediately obeyed when he heard her call him "darling".
She pulled him back inside the room. She nodded at the subordinate who apologized to her.
Back inside the room, Iris instructed Dom to order dinner. While Dom was gone, Iris and Jin Liwei cuddled on the sofa.
"I'm sorry I slept through everything," he said, kissing her head.
Iris looked at him with a serious expression on her face.
He began to feel uncomfortable under her gaze. "Baby?"
"You had your man follow me? Hm, darling?"
"Uh...I really think that you need a bodyguard. I know that you don't want to," he quickly said after seeing her narrowing eyes. "But baby, please consider it. I'm really worried about your safety."
She continued to look at him, but finally sighed. "I really don't want bodyguards but you might be right about my safety. Elder Sister Yiyi also mentioned it to me earlier today."
His eyes lit up. "Then?"
"Yes, I think I'll hire a bodyguard."
Jin Liwei smiled widely, relieved that she finally relented. "Great, baby. I'll help you."
"I want my own. Don't give me yours. I want to be my bodyguard's boss, not you."
"Alright."
Iris smiled. She was feeling so much better. Suddenly she moved and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I missed you."
He pulled her closer. "I missed you too, baby."
Outside the room, Dom was finally back. He opened the door.
"Boss, sir boss! I've ordered dinnerâkyaaah! Oopsie doopsie, sorry! Please continue!" He shut the door.
He patted his chest, trying to calm his excited heart. His eyes were sparkling as he glanced at the two subordinates guarding in the hallway.
"Ehehehe."
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Chapter 130 - Mother Figure
Iris and Dom slipped out of the hospital following Jin Liwei's arrangement after she was discharged. His two subordinates drove her and Dom in an unassuming car.
Noticing that another car was following them, she expressed her concern. What if a reporter recognized her and was now following?
Jin Liwei's subordinate assured her that the car following them were their colleagues. Meaning, they were Jin Liwei's people as well. He explained that their boss called for more men in order to ensure that she was well-protected and can leave safely under the noses of all the reporters and rumourmongers still snooping around the hospital's vicinity.
Iris closed her eyes, her hands tightening into fists. She took deep breaths, trying to control her frustration. Yes, she agreed to hire a bodyguard but that didn't mean that she gave Jin Liwei free rein to surround her with his men. She would have to discuss this with him later when he returned home from work.
###
Gold Heights Condominium.
Yi Mei burst into tears when Iris and Dom arrived home. The old housekeeper forgot her usual composure, pulling her Young Miss in a tight hug.
Iris' chest filled with warmth and her eyes moistened. She blinked her eyes and patted Yi Mei's trembling back, letting the housekeeper release her concern and emotions through tears.
Finally, Yi Mei calmed down and released Iris. While struggling to regain her usual composure, she started fussing around her Young Miss. She didn't even notice Dom greeting her before running to the kitchen to look for something to eat.
Iris felt extremely pampered. Yi Mei was like a mother hen making sure that she was warm and comfortable. She realized that this was the first time she experienced such warmth, concern and pampering from an older female figure.
In her previous life, her mother's priority was the family organization. She was cold and ruthless, even to her own children. To her, a mother's role was to give birth to the next generation who would continue the legacy of the Vetrovs as the leader of the international Underworld.
Similarly as the new Iris Long, she didn't have any mother-daughter relationship with Wei Lan. Their relationship was more like friendly acquaintances who saw each other occasionally. The woman would come and go whenever she felt like it. Now and then, Wei Lan would drop by the penthouse unannounced to gossip and chatter about her recent escapades. She would give her daughter expensive things she bought from her travels and shopping sprees. Things like brand-name dresses and shoes (in the wrong size), exotic bags (too outrageous for Iris to use), expensive bottles of wine (Iris didn't drink), etc. Wei Lan didn't know that her daughter's tastes vastly changed since she woke up from coma. She also didn't stay more than an hour when visiting, quickly leaving when she finished chattering. She would be gone for weeks, sometimes for months, before she popped by again.
Compared to her mother in her previous life and Wei Lan, Yi Mei fitted the role of mother figure better than the two. To her, Yi Mei, Dom and her household staff were her family. And Jin Liwei too, as long as they remained lovers. Long Tengfei also seemed like he wanted to have a proper father-daughter relationship with her.
All of these connections were something that she never had in her previous life. She was only close to her father and older brother back then. However, they were always away and busy running the organization. Her mother frightened her, so she avoided the cold woman whenever she could.
Now it felt like she was really living life. There were so many things that were available for her to explore, so many people that she could connect with. Most importantly, she could openly work towards reaching her dream of sharing and performing her music to the world. She could do all of these whenever she wanted to without having anyone restrict or stop her.
She was still getting used to this newfound freedom and independence. She lived her entire previous life in such a sheltered manner that she couldn't instantly get rid of its lingering effects on her mentality. However, she wasn't worried because she had been given this second life to learn and experience all the things she was deprived of in her previous life.
For the rest of the day, Iris enjoyed everyone's care. Just before dinner, Jin Liwei called that he would be coming home late because it was very busy in his company. She felt disappointed that they wouldn't be able to eat dinner together. However, she also understood that his company needed him.
11 PM.
Iris was in the cat room, playing with Popcorn with a laser pointer. Ice Cream was already sleeping on her soft fluffy bed. The door was ajar so she immediately heard it when someone began shouting from outside the room. She stopped playing with the kitten and hurried to the living area where the commotion was coming from.
"How dare you return here, you devil?! Stay away from the Young Miss! You're no good for her! You're just going to hurt and ruin our Young Miss!" Yi Mei was in berserk mode as she tried to attack Jin Liwei who just arrived from work. However, she couldn't even touch him because Dom had his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Grandma Yi Mei, please calm down!" Dom was trying to calm the housekeeper.
Yi Mei wasn't listening to him.
Jin Liwei just stood there silently, his expression cold. However, his usual indifference was absent. Although he was still cold, he looked more like someone who disassociated his mind while his body was taking a beating.
"Yi Mei, please stop," Iris said when she arrived. She stood in front of Jin Liwei facing the housekeeper. She already heard from Dom how Yi Mei blamed Jin Liwei for her fainting episode.
"Young Miss, this man is no good for you. I beg you to think more carefully. You're still young. There are many men in the world. You still have many years ahead of you to meet other nicer men. Why must you stay with this man when you just met him? Powerful men like him only play with young girls' hearts."
Iris hesitated and then turned her head to glance at Jin Liwei.
Jin Liwei saw her hesitation and his cold expression cracked. Panic bubbled inside him. "Baby..." He wanted to persuade her that he was the best man for her but couldn't find the right words. His hand reached out to her but dropped it. A sense of insecurity flowed like sticky goo all over him.
Iris looked at him and her heart leaped. Taking a deep breath, she turned again and looked at the raging housekeeper.
"Yi Mei, Jin Liwei is important to me," she said, her voice calm and sincere. "Please don't blame him. It's not his fault that I fainted. In fact, he took care of me."
Behind her, Jin Liwei's heart was racing inside his chest. He was important to his baby girl! Relief was quickly followed by joy. He wanted to envelop her in his arms and kiss her but stopped himself. This wasn't the right time. The atmosphere was still tense.
"But Young Miss..."
"Thank you for caring about me, Yi Mei. I'm very thankful. I also care about you. You and Dom are both important to me."
"Oh boss..." Dom's eyes watered. His arms were still wrapped around Yi Mei.
"But Jin Liwei is also important to me. All of you who care about me, you're all important people in my life. Yi Mei, I don't know if Jin Liwei will hurt me. But I also don't know if I'll hurt him. In life, how do we know if we'll hurt each other? I don't want to avoid something because I'm afraid of getting hurt."
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