Chapter 171 - Tonight Will Be For You
Jin Liwei's mind went blank for a couple of seconds as Iris desperately tried controlling her laughter. She fell beside him on the couch, giggling.
The seductress was gone, replaced by a mischievous girl instead.
She said he was cute. If it was another person who called him this way, he would've already showed that person that "cute" should never be a word used to describe him. But since it was his baby girl, he was kind of liking it...but only a little.
Although he personally liked it (a little), his little brother down below clearly didn't. His hard-on was already softening. He sighed.
However, he was still very surprised by her sudden seductive actions just a few moments ago. Recently, he was noticing that she was becoming more playful with him. Of course he was happy because it meant that she was feeling more comfortable with him. But now it seemed that her newfound playfulness could also transform her into an irresistible seductress. If this happened again, he didn't think he would be able to control himself anymore.
He wondered from who she was learning this from. An image of Dominic quickly appeared in his mind. It seemed that he needed to talk to the assistant and tell him not to teach his baby girl this kind of things.
As for Iris, she finally calmed down and was now looking at Jin Liwei with teasing eyes. She just imitated his actions a little from when he seduced her before. When he was the one seducing her, he would take off all his clothes and stand in front of her completely naked. But she just took off her robe this time, leaving her bra and pants on, and he already looked so excited. She didn't expect that such a simple thing would be so effective on him. Was it this easy to seduce him?
If Jin Liwei could only hear her thoughts, he would know that it was wrong of him to blame Dom for corrupting his baby girl when it was actually all his fault! Poor innocent Dom!
Iris stood up and picked up the robe she dropped earlier before putting it back on.
He stood up as well, sighing. It seemed that sexy time was over. He felt a little disappointed but told himself that this was for the best. After all, he wanted both of their first time to be special.
Then he heard her say, "Let's continue in our bedroom."
'Damn you, Dominic!' he cursed in his mind, even as he began to feel aroused again.
###
Dom was about to sleep on his bed when he sneezed. Not once but twice.
"Eh? Someone must be talking sh*t about me. I wonder who. Hmph! Must be some insecure bastard jealous of my handsomeness!"
###
Back in the couple's bedroom.
The two were once again kissing as they tumbled on the bed. This time, Iris was on top. Her robe was already discarded on the floor. Seeing that Jin Liwei's skin was clear, she began sucking and nibbling on his neck, chest and even his abs, leaving tiny red love bites.
She straightened and looked down at her new markings in triumph. Now she understood when he told her before that he liked seeing the hickeys he made on her.
Suddenly, she was flipped over. Now she was on her back while he was on top of her.
"You're very naughty today," he said in a low, husky voice. His eyes were dark and his expression looked like he wanted to devour her whole.
"Am I?" She blinked at him a few times.
"Yeah. I can barely control myself."
"Then don't," she said. Her hands reached between them to the waistband of his pyjama pants. She could feel his erection through the cloth. "You've been very understanding and supportive of me these past few weeks even when I don't have time for you. You've been holding yourself back and I know that you've been uncomfortable sleeping on the same bed and not doing anything because I've been so tired. So tonight will be for you, okay?"
He inhaled sharply, feeling his erection becoming even harder. His eyes darkened with anticipation and desire.
"Oh baby."
He gave her a hot and wet open-mouthed kiss, sucking at her lips and tongue.
Iris moaned, letting him feast on her mouth, while her hands were busy tugging his pyjama pants down. Finally, his erection sprang free, poking her on the abdomen. She wrapped her hands around his length, stroking him slowly.
Jin Liwei hissed and closed his eyes. His hips couldn't help moving a little in time with her strokes. When he opened his eyes, they were predatory. He lifted her upper body and reached behind her to unhook her bra. He tossed the bra to the floor and immediately cupped her breasts with his hands. Then he captured a nipple in his mouth and sucked hard.
She gasped and threw her head back, moaning. One hand continued to stroke his erection while she ran her other hand all over his back.
Then she told him, "I said tonight will be for you. Lie down."
He lifted his head to look at her. The corner of his mouth curved up. Giving her a quick kiss, he obeyed and got off her to lay on his back.
Iris sat and focused on stroking his erection. She was observing his facial reactions, trying to see if she was pleasuring him enough.
"Baby..."
"Hm?"
"Do you want to try something that will make me feel even better than this?"
"Oh? What is it?"
He raised his hand and traced her lips with a finger before gently pushing it inside her mouth.
Later...
"Jin Liwei! This tastes horrible!"
"That's the strawberry one. Here, let's try the mint. Maybe it'll taste better."
He tore open a new packet and replaced the strawberry-flavoured condom from his erection with a mint-flavoured one.
"Here."
Iris didn't look enthusiastic but seeing his excited expression, she lowered her head and took him in her mouth. She heard him groan and was pleased, but then the horrible taste assaulted her. Grimacing, she immediately let him go and lifted her head.
"I don't like this either," she said. She desperately wanted to run to the bathroom to rinse her mouth.
"Alright. Let's try another one. How about banana?"
"No."
"Vanilla?"
"No! I don't want these condoms! They taste horrible, like chemicals! Why don't you try tasting them too?"
He gave a disgusted look. "No way."
Her eyes narrowed. "What?" she asked in a dangerous tone. "You made me taste all these crap but you won't even try them yourself? You're despicable!"
"Baby, wait!" He pulled her when she tried to climb off the bed. "Alright. I'm sorry. I'll try tasting them, okay?"
Crossing her arms across her breasts, she watched him open a new condom. He swiped a finger on it and then brought the finger to his tongue.
"You're right, baby. It doesn't taste good."
She pursed her lips at his action. "Hmph." Then she took off the condom from his erection and threw it away. "I'll do it without a condom. It's not like I'll get pregnant using my mouth."
"Are you sure?" he asked, even though he was already trembling in excitement.
She nodded then went to work immediately without waiting for his reply. She first licked the head, swirling her tongue around it, and then slowly took his erection inside her mouth. Then she paused.
He could feel her uncertainty, so he encouraged her. "Just like that, baby. It feels good."
She continued for about a few more times before letting him go and sitting up. Wiping her lips with the back of her hand, she said, "I think I need to search how to do this properly."
"No need!" He grabbed her before she could get her laptop. "I'll teach you."
"Teach me? Have you had this done on you before?" she asked, glaring at him.
"Of course not!"
"Then how can you teach me?"
"Baby, it's my p*nis. I know what makes it feel good. So you don't need to search it up. I don't want you watching some other guy's d*ck, even if it's for research purposes."
She pouted but eventually agreed. After all, she also didn't want him looking at another woman's naked body, even for research purposes. "Fine."
Then she lowered her head once again and took him in her mouth.
He constantly encouraged her and told her what felt good.
"Try sucking it, baby. Yes, ah. A bit gentler. Oh, yes. Like that."
After some time, Iris was getting the hang of it. She bobbed her head up and down faster and sucked hard until Jin Liwei couldn't help but tighten his hold on her hair, as he stiffened and groaned loudly.
His hot release flooded inside her mouth and she instinctively swallowed.
When he was done, she rose and covered her mouth. She felt like gagging but when she saw his pleased expression, she fought against the urge to spit.
"You swallowed it," he looked at her, a smug expression on his face.
"It tastes bad."
He only laughed weakly.
"But I guess I'll get used to it."
He stopped laughing. His eyes darkened once again.
Iris' eyes widened as she saw something stirring and standing up once again.
"No way. My mouth is already tired. I'm going to sleep. Goodnight!"
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 172 - Godchild
In the next few days, Jin Liwei noticed that everyone in the household kept on giving him fruits to eat even when he didn't ask for it. He didn't mind and ate them all without protesting but after more than a week, he started thinking that something was up.
So when a maid gently placed a plate of freshly cut honeydew melon and cantaloupe beside him while he was reviewing some documents at the library office, he couldn't stop himself from asking.
"Why do you keep giving me fruits every day?"
"It's what the Young Miss instructed us to do, sir."
He already suspected as much. "I see. Alright, thank you. You can go."
When the maid left, he looked at the clock. It was a weekend and both he and Iris didn't need to go out for work today. However, his baby girl was very busy at her music studio at home working on the film score. Although he wanted to spend time together with her, he also didn't want to bother her so he could only wait until she was finished.
Later at lunch time.
Iris joined everyone for lunch. Jin Liwei greeted her and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before pulling a chair for her. He was now used to eating together with everyone in the household. They usually ate in the kitchen and would only use the formal dining area when Iris' instructors stayed for dinner.
Jiang Ying Yue and her son, Little Jun, also joined them. They spent the morning playing with Ice Cream and Popcorn at the cat room. The nanny was on day off today.
When Little Jun saw Iris, he immediately stretched out his little arms and struggled within his mother's embrace, crying out for Iris. He wanted to be held by his aunt.
"Little Jun, let your Aunt Xiulan eat her meal first. Be good," Jiang Ying Yue said.
Little Jun's cute little face scrunched up and he started crying. Jiang Ying Yue looked at everyone helplessly.
"It's fine. I'll hold him," Iris said and gestured for Jiang Ying Yue to give her the toddler. Little Jun immediately stopped crying and started babbling happily to his aunt.
"Sorry about this, Xiulan," Jiang Ying Yue said. Upon Iris' request, she stopped calling her Miss Xiulan. After all, as Iris explained it, she was the mother of Iris' nephew. She could act formally when she was at work as Iris' bodyguard but once she wasn't on duty, there was no need to be so formal.
Iris sat Little Jun on her lap. Jiang Ying Yue moved and sat on the chair beside Iris to feed her child. Jin Liwei sat on Iris' other side.
He watched his baby girl pampering the child. He couldn't help but imagine how it would feel if it was their own child on her lap instead. How wonderful it must be if he could have a child (or two) with her in the future.
Little Jun turned his head and looked straight at Jin Liwei. The baby and the man looked at each other with curiosity. Suddenly, Little Jun beamed and giggled. Then he stretched out his little arms towards Jin Liwei.
Iris chuckled and told Jin Liwei, "He wants you to hold him. Here."
Jin Liwei moved his torso away and put his hands up in front of him, looking alarmed and shaking his head. "No, no. Baby, please no. I don't know how to hold a child."
She ignored him and pushed Little Jun in his arms.
He didn't have any choice, so he cautiously held the baby. He was worried that he would drop the child, so he didn't dare move.
Then Little Jun pointed a finger at Jin Liwei's face and said, "Papa!"
Everyone was shocked.
Iris immediately took the child from him and gently told the child, "No, Little Jun. He's not your father."
Little Jun gave her a confused look, then pointed at Jin Liwei again. "Papa?"
"No, not Papa. He's your Uncle Liwei."
The child scrunched his face. Then he pointed a finger at Iris. "Mama?"
Iris froze and then blinked. "No, Little Jun. I'm not your Mama. I'm your Aunt Xiulan. This is your Mama," she said, pulling Jiang Ying Yue who was sitting beside her.
Jiang Ying Yue had an awkward expression on her face.
Little Jun looked confused. He pointed at Jiang Ying Yue. "Mommi!" Then he pointed at Iris. "Mama!"
"Oh! I get it!" Dom exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "Big Sis Yue is Mommy and boss is Mama! And then sir boss is Papa! Kyaaah! This is so adorbs! Wait! Let me take a video of this!" He took out his phone and started recording. "Junie boy, where's Mommy?"
Little Jun pointed at Jiang Ying Yue. "Mommi!"
"Where's Mama?"
The child pointed at Iris. "Mama!"
"Where's Papa?"
The child pointed at Jin Liwei. "Papa!"
"Uwah! My heart can't take this cuteness! My cutey patootie Junie boy is so adorbs! So smart!" Dom bounced on his seat in excitement as he continued recording.
Of course, everyone started praising the toddler and gushing about him.
Iris turned to Jiang Ying Yue beside her. "Where did he learn to say all these?"
"I honestly don't know," Jiang Ying Yue answered helplessly. Then she looked at Dom with a suspicious expression on her face.
"Hey! Why are you looking at me like that, Big Sis Yue?" Dom pouted and then looked at his sir boss mournfully. "Why is everyone blaming me when I didn't even do anything?"
"What does he call my brother then?" Iris asked Jiang Ying Yue.
Jiang Ying Yue stiffened at the mention of Long Hui but still answered, "He calls him Dada."
"Hmm... I see." Iris gently poked her finger on Little Jun's squishy cheek. "At least he's not confused. He calls us differently."
Jiang Ying Yue laughed awkwardly.
Then Iris turned to Jin Liwei. "So you're now his Papa."
Jin Liwei nodded. Surprisingly, he didn't mind it especially since he was paired up with his baby girl. He was the Papa and she was the Mama. He also gently poked the child on the cheek, making Little Jun giggle.
He looked at Jiang Ying Yue. "From now on, Xiulan and I are his godparents."
Jiang Ying Yue was taken aback at first and then her eyes filled with tears. "Yes. Thank you very much! Please take care of Little Jun."
"En."
Everyone was in high spirits. The cook announced that she would prepare a sumptuous meal for dinner later to celebrate. Since Little Jun was still too young, they would need to wait a few more years for him to formally pay his respects to his godparents.
Jin Liwei looked at the child sitting on his baby girl's lap. He would call his butler later and instruct him to buy some baby clothes and other baby things to gift to his first godchild.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 173 - Test Subjec
After the meal, Jiang Ying Yue took Little Jun to one of the spare bedrooms for a nap. Dom and one of the maids headed to the cat room to feed and play with Ice Cream and Popcorn. Yi Mei and the cook began planning the sumptuous dinner for later to celebrate the appointment of Iris and Jin Liwei as Little Jun's godparents.
Iris and Jin Liwei headed to the living area to relax and cuddle on the couch while watching random shows on TV. Iris wanted to rest before returning to her music studio to continue working on the film score. She already finished composing more than half of the planned music pieces and even recorded some of them with her symphony orchestra and four-piece band.
The overall atmosphere of most of the pieces were dark, depressing, and foreboding. Iris would always feel emotionally drained whenever she finished working on them. Only the last pieces meant for the film's ending had brighter, more hopeful yet bittersweet tone.
For now, she needed some time to recharge. She felt very motivated to finish the film score as soon as possible without rushing it. After all, quality was her utmost priority. She almost couldn't wait for the moment to hear her music used on a film.
A little sleepy, she yawned. She rested her head on Jin Liwei's shoulder. She felt him kiss her forehead, making her smile. She was about to take a nap when Jin Liwei started talking.
"Baby."
"Hm?"
"Why did you instruct everyone to keep feeding me fruits every day?"
"Oh, that." She shifted her head so that she was looking at his face. "It's to improve the taste of your semen. It tastes bad, you know. I read from various sources that certain foods, especially fruits, can improve the taste. I want to know if it's really true, that's why I'm experimenting on you."
He couldn't help it. This talk was arousing him. But his baby girl was exhausted right now. He took a few deep breaths to control himself.
"I see," he said, keeping his tone light. "I think I also heard about this before. So I'm your test subject?"
"Mmn...yes."
"Use me all you want then. This body of mine is all yours, baby."
She giggled and then bit his neck, not too hard but not too light either.
He groaned. It hurt but he didn't mind. She was just being playful with him again.
"You make it sound like I'm exploiting you," she said. "You just need to eat the fruits. I'm the one who's going to do the tasting anyway so don't act like you're being taken advantage of."
He chuckled. "True."
To be honest, he was feeling very excited about this experiment of hers. He was hoping that she would start with the actual investigation (a.k.a. the tasting) very soon. A certain something on the lower half of his body was also getting excited, slowly coming to life and straining against his pants. He recited the value of pi to calm down and to control the dangerous direction of his thoughts.
Iris burrowed deeper in Jin Liwei's embrace, inhaling his familiar masculine scent. His breathing was slowly lulling her to sleep.
"Baby?"
"Hm? What?"
"Don't you think it's about time we visit your father and his wife and have dinner with them as a couple?"
"Oh." She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him. "You want to go with me to the Long compound for dinner?"
"En. Your father already knows about our relationship but I still haven't paid my respects to him as your boyfriend. We're living together now. I think it's only proper that I assure him that I'm serious with my intentions to his daughter."
"Hmm. Alright. I'll give him a call and coordinate a schedule."
He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "No rush. I know you're busy. I was just telling you so that you'll keep it in mind."
"Okay."
He was about to say something but hesitated.
"Hm?" She tilted her head to the side. "What is it?"
"After we meet with your father, I was thinking..."
"What?"
A few seconds passed before he spoke again. "I was thinking that if you don't mind, I would like to introduce you to my familyâmy grandmother and mother."
He didn't mention his younger brother, Jin Chonglin. Although his baby girl already assured him that she felt nothing for his brother, he still felt a little jealous.
"Oh." Iris was surprised.
"I won't force you if you don't want to," he said hurriedly. "It's just that I want them to meet the woman I love who is also the most important person in my life right now."
Her heart skipped a beat and she felt warm inside. "Okay."
"Really? You'll meet them?" he asked.
She nodded.
He sighed in relief. "Great. I'll introduce you to my grandmother and mother after we have dinner with your father."
"Okay." Then suddenly she began to feel nervous.
Noticing the change in her emotions, he pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry. You're amazing. Just be yourself."
Iris nodded and continued cuddling with him.
She had the urge to investigate Jin Liwei's grandmother and mother so that she would know what they were like before meeting them but quickly discarded the idea as soon as it entered her mind. Jin Liwei was her boyfriend. She felt that it would be rude and disrespectful to investigate his family members without his knowledge.
She was originally planning to take a nap but her earlier sleepiness was now gone. This feeling of nervousness was very unpleasant.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 174 - Meeting Grandpa Lu
A white limousine waited outside the condominium building. Although it was a wealthy area with most of the residents owning luxury cars, passersby still couldn't help but gawk at the vehicle because some of them recognized that it was custom-made from a limited edition series.
Iris, together with her instructors Professor Schwarz and Professor Hisakawa, walked out of the lobby to the limo. It was a bright sunny day and there were plenty of people walking about on the streets. Iris made sure to wear big sunglasses and face mask to avoid being recognized.
A chauffeur greeted them and opened the limo door. Professor Schwarz climbed in first, then Iris, and finally Professor Hisakawa.
They were on their way to meet the business mentor Professor Erwan Dupont personally assigned for Iris. The mentor was supposed to arrive weeks ago but for some reason, he or she kept on being delayed.
Based on her instructors' barely controlled excitement, Iris figured that the mentor was someone they greatly respected. She could sense that they even regarded the mentor on the same level as Professor Dupont.
Who was this person that he or she would be on the same level as the Headmaster of Cross Academy?
The mysterious mentor sent the chauffeured limousine to pick them up. She was very curious about what kind of person her mentor would be.
She had no idea where they were going, but she was not alone. It seemed that her instructors also didn't know. All they knew was that they were going to one of the mentor's residences in the country.
About an hour later, the car entered a suburban area. It looked like a peaceful neighbourhood with big quaint houses. The residences looked well-to-do but still relatively humble compared to the ostentatious mansions in many exclusive villages.
Iris initially thought that their destination was one of the quaint houses, but she was wrong. They passed through the lovely neighbourhood to drive along a cemented road within a forest.
They were stopped at a checkpoint before a massive gilded gate with a golden plaque embossed with the character "Lu". The uniformed security guards manning the gate recognized the limousine and even greeted the chauffeur with a nod, yet they still checked the passengers inside.
Professor Hisakawa confirmed their identities to the guards before the massive gilded gate was opened.
They drove for another twenty minutes before finally seeing a huge sprawling Mediterranean-style mansion. Tall palm trees lined the long cobblestone driveway leading to the mansion's main entrance.
The limo parked at the end of the driveway. The chauffeur opened the door for them and they disembarked.
Iris looked around, wondering if they were still in China. It felt like they were transported to another country. She inhaled deeply. Even the air felt fresher here.
"Ahaha! You're finally here! I almost fell asleep waiting for all of you! What took you so long? I want to know!" An elderly man's voice speaking in English boomed from within the entranceway.
They all watched as a tall sprightly elderly man walked towards them. He had a head full of grey hair styled in the classic side part. His neatly groomed grey mustache couldn't hide the big smile on his still handsome face. Obviously, he had wrinkles due to his advanced age, but compared to other elderly men, he looked decades younger. He brimmed with energy.
Professor Schwarz and Professor Hisakawa stepped forward and respectfully greeted him.
"Professor Lu, what an honour to finally meet you again after so long."
"Greetings, Professor Lu. Thank you for inviting us here today."
"Bah! What Professor Lu? Stop calling me that!" The elderly man expressed his displeasure. "That Dupont bastard only gave me such a stuck-up title so that he could order me around because he's the Headmaster. Hmph!"
The two professors laughed awkwardly. They shook the elderly man's hand. Both of them tried hard not to wince by his tight grip and energetic handshake.
"Still beautiful, Kalisha."
"Thank you, Sir Lu."
"And you, Akio. I know you're a writer but don't spend all your time holed up indoors. You look so sallow! Spend more time outside and soak in some sunlight!"
Professor Hisakawa coughed in embarrassment. "I understand, Sir Lu."
"And you little girl, don't just stand there. Come and let me see you."
Iris smiled and stepped forward. "Hello, sir. My name is Long Xiulan. I've been looking forward to meeting you, sir. Thank you for having us today."
"Good. Very good." The elderly man nodded as he examined Iris from head to toe and back up again. He looked pleased at what he was seeing. "You look even prettier than the photo that Dupont bastard sent me."
Iris didn't know how to respond so she just smiled respectfully.
"Well, girl. My name is Lu Jianhong and starting today, I'll be your business mentor. So call me Grandpa!"
She blinked a few times. Eh? They just met and he already wanted her to call him Grandpa? Wasn't he supposed to be her business mentor? Shouldn't she call him Sir Lu like the others or perhaps even Teacher?
"Where's your tongue, girl?" He asked in an impatient tone. "Hurry up and call me Grandpa!"
"Uh..." Iris hesitated. "I look forward to learning from you, Grandpa Lu..."
"Ahaha! Very good! Come, Xiulan my girl. You too Kalisha and Akio. Let me show you inside my humble home!"
Iris looked around. Humble? This massive mansion?
They followed Grandpa Lu as he showed them around while chatting.
Suddenly, he turned to Iris and asked, "Your father is the head of Long Industries, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"What sir? I told you to call me Grandpa!"
"My apologies, Grandpa Lu."
He nodded, satisfied with her response. Then he continued, "So how is your relationship with the Longs? Are they supportive of you being admitted to Cross Academy?"
"They don't know. I didn't tell them."
"What?! Why not? Are you on bad terms with your family?"
"I was but recently my relationship with my father has improved. As for the others..." She shrugged.
"Ahahaha! I'm not the least bit surprised. The Longs are a bunch of snobs since long ago! I was worried that you'll be stuck-up like them. I'm glad that you seem like a nice girl." Grandpa looked very pleased.
Then he asked, "So Xiulan my girl, tell Grandpa, are you single?"
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 175 - My Special Fish
"Well? Why aren't you answering? Are you single or not? I want to know!" Grandpa Lu continued to ask when Iris failed to reply immediately.
After a few more seconds of hesitation, she finally answered, "I'm not single, Grandpa Lu. I have a boyfriend."
"What?!" He looked surprised and...enraged.
"Yes, it's true," Professor Schwarz said. "Akio and I already met him."
Professor Hisakawa nodded. "He's not bad."
Grandpa Lu scowled. He asked Iris. "How long have you been in a relationship with yourâhmphâboyfriend?"
"A few months."
"Oh?" Grandpa Lu's eyes lit up. "Not that long yet! Ahaha! I see. Good!"
Iris tilted her head to the side, confused.
"Xiulan my girl, you're still very young. Not to mention you're beautiful, talented and a Cross Academy student! You should allow yourself to explore the world and meet lots of other people first. I'm sure that you like your boyfriend now, but what do you know? You might meet someone else who you'll like more than him in the future. So don't be so hasty! What would you do if you discover that your boyfriend is not the right man for you? As the saying goes, there are plenty more fish in the sea!"
Although Iris agreed with Grandpa Lu's words, she still couldn't help but feel defensive of Jin Liwei. "Grandpa Lu, I know that there are plenty more fish in the sea, but right now my boyfriend is my special fish. I like him very much!"
Grandpa Lu was slightly taken aback by her strong-willed response. It seemed like the girl had quite the stubborn streak. Not bad. He inwardly approved of it. However, he was unhappy that she seemed to really like her boyfriend. At this rate, matchmaking her to his grandson would be more challenging than he first thought.
'Dammit! Who's her boyfriend? That bastard! How dare he get his claws on this girl before my Haohao?! Should I investigate him and then scare him off?! Well, a boyfriend is not a husband so my Haohao still has a chance!"
While Grandpa Lu was mentally cursing Iris' boyfriend, they arrived at a wide veranda overlooking a beautiful and lush rose garden. They sat on comfortable barrel chairs. A butler appeared and began serving them refreshments.
Iris listened in fascination to her instructors' conversations about their rich experiences at Cross Academy. Although she was also an alumnus of the academy in her previous life, her education was extremely cloistered. Her interactions were limited to only her instructors and Professor Erwan Dupont who she also met as Evelina.
And because of her special family background, Professor Dupont also made sure to limit the people who knew about her even within the academy itself. Although most of the Cross Academy students and alumni were trustworthy, the Vetrovs had many enemies. It was better to be safe than sorry.
This was why she wasn't familiar with her current instructors before meeting them, especially Grandpa Lu who seemed to be on the same level as Professor Dupont when it came to standing among the Cross Academy alumni.
Then the conversation moved to Iris' progress in her studies.
Professor Schwarz: "Xiulan is improving very quickly. I actually have to revise my lesson plans several times because her level is increasing by leaps and bounds."
Professor Hisakawa: "Same here. Xiulan's comprehension skills are perhaps the best I've ever encountered among my students. She just absorbs everything. That's why Kalisha and I are thinking that maybe she's ready to apply her skills in real life."
Iris' eyes lit up. This was the first time she heard about this. She also wanted to test the knowledge and skills she learned from their lessons in real life situations.
"Ho~" Grandpa Lu stroked his perfectly groomed mustache. "So how do you plan on doing that?"
Professor Schwarz: "My idea is to have Xiulan do some interpreting jobs. Something easy at the start."
Professor Hisakawa: "I'll probably just have her translate some printed documents or even books."
"What kind of ideas are those? Do you think she's a grade schooler?" Grandpa Lu shook his head, his expression showing displeasure. "She's a Cross Academy student, for goodness' sake! From what I'm hearing so far, Xiulan is a fast learner. How can she improve even further if you don't give her something challenging?"
The two instructors were quiet for a few seconds.
Professor Hisakawa: "Sir Lu, do you have an idea on how we should test her?"
Professor Schwarz: "Please advise us."
"Hah! Of course I have a great idea. China will be hosting a huge international business conference in a few months. Many foreign leaders and representatives from some of the biggest companies in the world will be attending, including the business leaders in this country. Let's just throw the girl in there and see if she can take the pressure and survive in one piece! Ahahaha!"
Professor Schwarz frowned. "Don't you think it's too early for that, Sir Lu? It hasn't been that long yet since she started studying with us."
"I agree. It might be too much for her especially since it's going to be her first time," Professor Hisakawa said.
"Tsk tsk. Don't you know that coddling your students too much will stunt their development? You'll never know what she's really capable of if you're afraid of throwing her in hot water! A restrained genius is no genius at all!"
"Please let me do it," Iris spoke up.
The two professors looked at her. Seeing her determined expression, they could only sigh.
Professor Schwarz: "Are you sure?"
Iris nodded. "I want to do it!"
"Ahahaha! Very good, Xiulan my girl!" Grandpa Lu's delighted voice boomed. "That's the spirit! A Cross Academy student must have that kind of guts! Or else I'll have to blame that Dupont bastard for weakening the academy with spineless recruits!"
Professor Hisakawa cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Don't worry, my girl! Grandpa will make sure you're more than ready and fully-equipped for your test during the conference! Leave everything to Grandpa! I'll teach you all about business so you never stumble on any unfamiliar terms when you're interpreting or translating. Then a time will come that you'll participate in the conference as a business leader and not just as an interpreter!"
Iris started to feel excited. She bowed her head respectfully. "Please guide me, Grandpa Lu."
"Of course!" Grandpa Lu felt pleased with her. "By the way, I think some Canadian representatives will be present in the conference. You'll likely meet some of them. Have you been to Canada? It's nice and fresh out there. My grandson lives in Toronto. He's handsome and charming. I think the two of you will get along well."
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 176 - A Student Of Lu Jianhong
Iris smiled politely, nodding. She wondered why Grandpa Lu suddenly started talking about his grandson out of nowhere. However, she wasn't really surprised because she noticed that he had a tendency to suddenly veer off-topic during conversations. It seemed that Grandpa Lu really doted on his grandson. He spent a few minutes raving about his beloved grandson.
"My HaohaoâI mean Zihao is thirty years old this year so he's a whole decade older than you. But that shouldn't matter! Age shouldn't be an issue when it comes to relationshipsâI mean 'friendships'! Am I right?"
"Yes," Iris agreed.
The two professors also nodded.
"Xiulan my girl, tell Grandpa, how old is your boyfriend? I think that having a mature older man like my grandson is better than a young boy around your age. Mature older men tend to be already financially secured and established in their careers, so they'll more likely dote and pamper their lovers compared to younger fellows who are still struggling to establish themselves."
She nodded again, agreeing with him. "My boyfriend is thirty-one. He's also already financially secured and established in his career."
Grandpa Lu was surprised and couldn't say anything for a few moments.
'What?! Her boyfriend is even older than my Haohao?! Dammit! Who is this bastard?! I want to know!"
Professor Schwarz couldn't help but giggle. Professor Hisakawa was able to maintain his composure but his twitching mouth betrayed his real emotions.
Unlike Iris who still had no idea what was going on, the two professors knew exactly what Grandpa Lu was trying to do. Iris only thought that Grandpa Lu was really proud of his grandson so he couldn't help but rave about him to other people.
The two professors knew the identity of Iris' boyfriend. They also knew that Lu Jianhong had a connection with Jin Liwei and Jin Corporation. They could've chosen to clarify the situation to the elderly man but they chose to remain silent. They were feeling very entertained. They couldn't wait until both Lu Jianhong and Jin Liwei figured out their unexpected new connection through Iris.
Later, Iris and the two professors stayed for dinner. They ate a lavish Greek feast which tasted even better when eaten in the Mediterranean-style home.
After dinner, Professor Schwarz and Professor Hisakawa excused themselves after Lu Jianhong suggested for them to tour the rest of the mansion. Although it was worded as a suggestion, the two professors knew that it was more of an order. It seemed that Lu Jianhong wanted to have a private talk with his new student. They followed the housekeeper for the tour.
Lu Jianhong led Iris from the dining area to an opulent lounge room. It had a big enclosed stone fireplace. It wasn't burning at the moment, but Iris imagined that it must be nice to stay in this room during winter. There were small olive trees planted in big terracotta pots and some flowering plants to add colour. In the middle of the room, there was a tiered fountain with a statue of a voluptuous woman on top holding a jug from which water poured out. It completed the classic Mediterranean ambiance.
Iris felt very impressed. She thought that the entire property was ostentatious when she first saw it, but as she spent more time inside the mansion, she began to appreciate its classic and luxurious elegance.
They sat down and the butler began serving them hot rooibos herbal tea blend [1]. Iris sipped her cup and nodded in appreciation.
After serving them, the butler left and returned a few minutes later to hand his master an envelope. He bowed before leaving again to give them privacy.
"Alright, Xiulan my girl. Let's start talking business," Grandpa Lu said.
Iris set her cup down on the low table in front of her. She straightened and faced Grandpa Lu, an attentive expression on her face.
He started by asking her about her current financial situation. Iris was comfortable at the moment. "Very" comfortable to be exact.
A few weeks ago, Qiao Yu finally reached the one billion RMB mark, officially making Iris a billionaire in the country. In addition to this, her money that she stowed in various bank accounts across the world had a collective total amount of about 60 million US dollars. It was actually less than half of what Qiao Yu was currently managing.
Iris was truthful, admitting that the majority of the 60 million was earned from hacking jobs. Grandpa Lu didn't bat an eye since he was already aware of how she was admitted to Cross Academy. He knew that she was an excellent hacker but didn't really know the specifics. He wasn't really well-versed in this field.
He trusted Professor Dupont's decision. If Professor Dupont dared admit Iris personally, then it meant that he saw something special in her. This was proven by assigning her notable instructors like Professor Schwarz, Professor Hisakawa, and of course the legendary business genius Lu Jianhong.
"Hmm... Not bad," Grandpa Lu commented, rubbing his perfectly groomed mustache. "Especially since you're still so young. However, as my student, this is far from my standards. Let me take a look at your financial portfolio in our next meeting. Better that you bring your financial manager as well."
"I understand, Grandpa Lu."
Next, they talked about properties. Iris actually didn't own other properties besides her penthouse. Properties didn't really interest her that much. She was already satisfied with her penthouse.
"How naïve! Xiulan my girl, as my student, real estate should be one of your priorities. I'll teach you its importance next time."
She nodded, mentally taking note.
They discussed her other sources of income as well. Currently, she was already starting to earn from her music career. Compared to the rate Qiao Yu was earning for her, her current music earnings were rather insignificant. However, Iris didn't mind. She loved music and even if she didn't earn anything from it, she would still gladly do it without complaining. Besides, she technically just started out. Once she stabilized her music career, the money would surely come.
After revealing her finances, Grandpa Lu had a thoughtful expression. He was already starting to formulate a rough financial plan for her. As his student, it was his mission to mould her into a successful business figure.
"This is for you," he said, handing her the envelope his butler gave to him earlier.
Iris opened it and took out what was inside. Her eyes widened and she looked at him in shock.
"Grandpa Lu, this..."
"Ahaha! Consider it as a welcome gift to my student!"
She ran her fingers on it, smiling. "Thank you very much, Grandpa Lu."
"You're welcome, my girl! As my student, it's only natural that you should have one. Use it wisely! If you don't, I have the power to ask them to revoke it. Understood?"
She nodded.
It was the legendary exclusive black card with her name on it.
Then she read the accompanying document. Once again, she was surprised because unlike the exorbitant amount other cardholders were paying, she didn't need to pay any annual fees while enjoying the same privileges as them.
So this was how it felt like to be a student of Lu Jianhong.
###
Footnotes:
[1] An herb grown in South Africa which can be brewed into an herbal tea. Also called "red bush tea".
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 177 - The Next Dragon
Two days later, Iris began her official lessons with Grandpa Lu. Since his Mediterranean property was quite far from her penthouse, Grandpa Lu moved to one of his properties that was the nearest to her place.
It was a penthouse unit in a condominium building called Platinum Sky only a few blocks away from Gold Heights. Professor Schwarz revealed to Iris that Lu Jianhong owned all the Platinum Sky buildings in the country. It seemed that there were also other Platinum Sky properties in other countries across Asia as well.
Qiao Yu also came with her. He had no idea who he was meeting with. Iris only told him that her new business mentor wanted to examine her entire financial portfolio and also to talk to her financial manager.
When he first heard about it, Qiao Yu was very unhappy. He thought that he was more than enough to manage her finances. There was no need for a business mentor. After all, he already achieved their goal of making her into a billionaire in her early twenties. He was doing an excellent job, if he may say so himself.
He initially declined but Iris was insistent. She was the boss, so even if he didn't like it, he still went with her to meet this so-called business mentor. It felt like he was getting ready for battle. He was already assuming that the business mentor would not be able to compare to his knowledge and skills. He would surely show Iris that he alone was enough to handle her finances.
But when he met Iris' so-called business mentor, Qiao Yu's mind went blank. He stood frozen and stared with unseeing eyes at Grandpa Lu.
"Eh? What's wrong with him?! I want to know! I said hello but he's not responding!" Grandpa Lu squinted his eyes at the frozen financial manager.
Iris shrugged. "He'll be fine, Grandpa Lu. I think that's a normal reaction from him. He did that with me before too. My assistant and I thought that he was having a stroke. He'll return to normal soon."
When Qiao Yu regained his senses, he watched Iris and the legendary Lu Jianhong chatting comfortably with each other. What was going on? Was it the end of the world?
"S-sir L-lu Jianhong!" he exclaimed. His usually stern expression was replaced with disbelief.
"Don't shout! I may be old but I'm not deaf! So I hear you're the financial advisor of Xiulan my girl? What are you waiting for? Introduce yourself!"
"A-ah, yes!" Qiao Yu almost stumbled on his own feet as he hurriedly stepped forward and almost bit his tongue in his excitement to introduce himself.
This was Lu Jianhong! The legendary business genius and the true king of the country's business world!
After introducing himself, Qiao Yu handed the elderly man his business card with trembling fingers.
Iris stood at the side, amused at her financial manager's sudden subservient behaviour. It seemed that her new mentor was really someone impressive and respected by people of the business world.
After the greetings, Grandpa Lu led Iris and Qiao Yu to his home office. The place was almost bare and looked like it wasn't used often.
"I've had this place for years, but this is actually the first time that I'm staying here. I even forgot that I have this property! Ahahaha! But I still prefer the open fields and nature than the bustling city!" Grandpa Lu turned to Iris. "Xiulan my girl, why don't you, Kalisha and Akio move to my mansion instead? It's pretty big. We'll all fit in there!"
Iris smiled before shaking her head. "Thank you for the invitation, Grandpa Lu, but I can't. I'm currently living with my boyfriend."
"What?! Aren't you progressing too fast in your relationship?! You have to think things through carefully first!"
She just smiled politely, not saying anything, but Grandpa Lu could feel her stubbornness.
While the two were talking, Qiao Yu sat in a daze. Was he dreaming? If he wasn't seeing the evidence with his own eyes, he would never believe that Iris' new business mentor was THE Lu Jianhong. How did this happen? And from hearing them talk, it seemed that they were quite close. She was calling him Grandpa, for goodness' sake! This was just unbelievable!
After the small talk and refreshments, they began to talk business.
The boisterous Grandpa Lu suddenly became serious, strict and focused. He carefully studied every detail of Iris' financial portfolio that Qiao Yu was currently managing. He questioned Qiao Yu several times.
At first, Qiao Yu felt very nervous (and honestly scared) in front of the business legend but as time went on, he calmed down and stopped hesitating in his answers. After all, this was his element and what he was good at.
Grandpa Lu stroked his mustache as he listened to the financial manager. He nodded, approving of him.
"From now on, you'll also meet me regularly," he told Qiao Yu. "The three of us will strategize on how to improve this girl's finances. We are going to raise the next dragon of the business world! Don't you find it exciting? Ahahaha!"
Qiao Yu was shocked but his head was already nodding on its own. Then he looked at the nonchalant Iris who was calmly sipping her tea, as if she wasn't the dragon the business legend was referring to.
This...what in the world was happening today?
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 178 - For The Sake Of Her Experimen
Jin Corporation.
"President, here is the ripe papaya that you ordered," Xu Tian said as he set the plate of the sliced fruit on his boss' desk.
"En." Jin Liwei nodded. He picked up the fork and started eating while reading documents.
Xu Tian bowed before returning to his own desk outside the door. In the past few days, the President suddenly started eating lots of fruits. Before this, the President barely ate anything while working. He would even skip meals, especially lunch, if work became too busy. Food was just a necessity to fuel the body for him.
But now, the President suddenly started eating fruits regularly to the point that he even set a schedule for Xu Tian to deliver him small servings every day. Once in the morning, then as a side with lunch, and then once again in the afternoon. Xu Tian wondered if perhaps his boss was on some kind of a special diet.
Back at his desk, Jin Liwei quickly finished the papaya. The main reason that he was eating fruits regularly was of course to fulfill his role as test subject for his baby girl's experiment. He would gladly sacrifice his body for the sake of her experiment.
He was in an excellent mood for the past few days because she finally began testing her experiment's hypothesis. Needless to say, he felt EXTREMELY satisfied every night before they went to sleep.
What amazed him the most was that she was an incredibly fast learner. In just a few tries, she already developed her own technique on how to make him come faster. Of course, he tried very hard to delay his ejaculation but to no avail. Just seeing her take him inside her mouth was already enough to make him lose control and send him into overdrive.
He remembered what happened last night.
They were on the bed. He sat completely naked with his back resting comfortably on pillows stacked before the bed's headboard. On the other hand, Iris was still wearing her full pyjamas. He tried taking them off but she swatted his hands.
"We're conducting an experiment," she told him sternly. "I need to keep my wits to focus on the experiment. If I'm also naked, I will most likely get carried away. So don't touch me during the process, okay? Just sit there and let me do the work."
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She looked so adorable wearing such a serious expression on her face while talking about giving him a blowjob.
Finally, they started conducting the experiment.
They kissed each other and she started stroking his already excited little brother down below. His hands started roaming under her pyjama top, but she slapped his hand and glared at him. She was true to her word. She didn't want him touching her at this time. Sighing, he touched her face and her back instead, struggling very hard to not let his hands wander all over her sexy body.
Then she broke the kiss, lowered her head and began taking him inside her mouth. He couldn't help but groan deeply, as he threw his head back and closed his eyes, enjoying the pure pleasure of her hot and wet mouth. He opened his eyes and watched her head bobbing slowly up and down.
They stared into each other's eyes as she pleasured him. It was so sensual that Iris also couldn't stop herself from moaning.
"Baby, let me touch you."
For a moment, she was tempted. But then her stubborn determination kicked in. She lightly shook her head and continued bobbing her head up and down while sucking him. Her hands were also busy roaming all over his abdomen, hips, inner thighs and then to his balls and finally to work in conjunction with her mouth, stroking the base of his shaft.
When he started stiffening and panting, she sped up.
"Oh sh*t, baby! F*ck!" The pleasure was so intense that he couldn't stop himself from cursing.
His hips thrust upwards into her mouth. His hand tightened on her hair but when she yelped, he quickly loosened his hold and grabbed the duvet instead, gripping it hard.
He released a deep sound which sounded like a combination between a groan and a growl, as he released all of his pleasure inside her mouth.
This time, she didn't swallow everything. She only took a small portion in her mouth before quickly pointing his d*ck towards him. Using her hand, she pumped the rest of his ejaculation on his own abdomen.
As she did so, she focused on the taste of his semen. There was a look of deep concentration on her face. She frowned for a bit.
"Hmm...It still tastes bad but yes, there is indeed a slight sweetness to it this time," she murmured. "But it's very slight, almost negligible. Let's have you continue to eat fruits."
When he finished, she climbed off the bed and headed to the bathroom to wash her hands and to rinse her mouth. Then she returned to the room but headed to her study desk instead. She turned on her laptop and started documenting her findings.
Jin Liwei sighed as his baby girl completely ignored him. Then his mouth curved into a smug smile, feeling extremely satisfied. He wanted to eat her tonight as well. Perhaps he could get a second round. Just thinking about it was already making him feel aroused again. His limp little brother started stirring back to life.
After Iris was done, she headed back to the bed but stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened seeing him fully erect again.
"Done with the experiments for tonight?" he asked while stroking himself with his hand.
She nodded.
"Good. This time is for us. Okay, baby?"
She nodded and then hurried back to bed. Her clothes was torn off her in no time.
He got what he wanted. He ate her, making her scream, and got a second round.
Back to the present.
Jin Liwei felt a tightness in his trousers. He sighed, mentally reciting the value of pi to calm himself down.
Then the sound of his mobile phone ringing interrupted him. He looked at the caller and immediately answered.
"Hello, Mother?"
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 179 - Where's My Grandchild?
"Son, are you busy?"
"Not too busy. I can talk," Jin Liwei replied. "Is there something you need to speak with me about, Mother?"
His mother hesitated before saying, "Yes."
"What is it?"
Silence.
He sighed. "If it's about the Fans, I won't change my mind. Mother, I know that you're close to them and that our family will become in-laws through Chonglin, but these alone don't give them automatic access to Jin Corporation. I'm the head of the company, so I know that they're not compatible with Jin Corporation. Mother, please stopâ"
"Son, I didn't call to talk about the Fans. Even though your decision makes me sad, I trust in your judgment. I don't understand business, so I can't tell you how to run the company."
He felt relieved. "So why did you call, Mother?"
His mother paused again. "Son..."
"Hm?"
"SON PLEASE TELL ME DO YOU HAVE A CHILD?!" His mother's words tumbled out of her mouth in quick succession.
Jin Liwei froze, confused. "Mother, what are you saying?"
"Please tell me the truth. Did you father a child?" She sounded upset.
"What child?" Jin Liwei couldn't believe what he was hearing.
He didn't know from where his mother got this ridiculous idea from. He and his baby girl hadn't gone all the way yet, so he knew that she wasn't pregnant. Well, they had Ice Cream and Popcorn but he didn't think his mother would be this distressed for kittens.
"Don't lie to me! Jin Liwei, I know that you're a successful businessman but you're still my son! Why are you hiding my grandchild?! Is it because he or she is illegitimate?! I don't care about that! Your grandmother and I will surely love any child of yours! This is the first time that I feel very disappointed of you! How can you hide your own child from us?! Where's my grandchild?! I want to meet my grandchild!"
He felt utterly confused. What grandchild? "Mother, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have a child. I have two kittens and I consider them my kids. Are you talking about them?"
"Son, I'm serious! What kittens?! Don't joke around! I'm talking about a human child! Why are you lying to your own mother?! Let me see my grandchild!"
He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down. He didn't understand what was going on. He was starting to feel annoyed. "Mother, I really am not lying. I didn't father any human child. Where did you hear this from?"
A few seconds of silence.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You're not lying? You really don't have a child?"
"I'm not lying. I already told you I don't have a child, only kittens."
"Then why did you instruct your butler to buy all those baby clothes, toys, and other baby things? And they're for a one-year-old! I also heard that you're not staying at your house anymore, that you've been living with a girlfriend! Tell me, am I not supposed to think that you have a secret family after hearing all of these?"
Jin Liwei rubbed his temple and sighed. Ah, so it seemed that his mother had a spy in his household. He knew that his butler was loyal and trustworthy. His butler only answered to him and wouldn't betray Jin Liwei's trust even to his mother. He had various suspects in mind, including one of the older maids or the laundress or perhaps even his gardener. These people came from the old house before they transferred to his employment when he bought his Dragon Palace property.
"Mother, yes, it's true that I'm currently living with my girlfriend but we don't have any children yet. I plan to marry her first before getting her pregnant."
He heard his mother gasp.
"M-marry? Really? Who's your girlfriend? Why haven't you introduced her to us yet?! Son, I know that you like doing your own thing and I respect that. But for important things like these, you should tell me. Don't forget that I'm your mother! I have the right to know these things!"
"I'm already planning to introduce her to you and grandmother, but we have to meet with her family first."
"Oh!"
He heard whimpering noises.
"Mother? Are you crying?"
"Of course I am! I'm so happy that you finally have a girlfriend. To be honest, both your grandmother and I have been so worried that you're gay. Not that we're against it. We love you even if you're really gay. It's just that we want you to father a child naturally with a wife, you know."
He rubbed his temples once again.
'Why does everyone think I'm gay? I don't understand.'
"So tell me about your girlfriend, son. Who is she? What's her name? What is she like? How did you meet? Is she beautiful?"
"You'll know who she is and what she's like when you meet her in person. And yes, she's beautiful."
"You seem to really like her. You're even living with her."
"Mother, I love her. I want to marry her and build a family with her. I want her to be the mother of my children. She's the only woman for me."
His mother wasn't able to say anything for almost a minute. "Oh...oh...oh my. I can't believe I'm listening to you say those words, son. Now I really can't wait to meet your girlfriend."
"You'll meet her soon. She's currently busy with her work, but I already told her I want to introduce her to you. She already agreed, so we're just waiting for when she's free. But like I said, we're going to meet her family first before you and grandmother."
"I understand, son." Her voice finally sounded excited. "So what about the baby clothes? Who are they for?"
"For my godson. My girlfriend and I became the godparents of her nephew. He's one-year-old and the son of my girlfriend's older brother," he explained.
"I see. I understand now. So that's how it is." His mother sighed. "I was so shocked when I first heard about it. I really thought that you're hiding a grandchild from me. I felt so excited and upset at the same time. I didn't tell your grandmother because knowing her, she would've already investigated everything. You know what she's like. I didn't want that to happen because I know you wouldn't like it. Besides, I wanted to know the truth from your own mouth and not from a detective."
"En. Thank you, Mother."
Afterwards, the mother and son talked about other things. It was mostly her fretting about him, making sure that he was living healthy. Then as if she couldn't help herself, she brought up the Fans.
"I don't know what the Fans did wrong, but son, can you please be a little more lenient with them? They're really suffering right now because others are making fun of them, saying that we threw them aside. I feel so sorry for Little Luo Luo. She's been crying to meâ"
"Mother, please. My decision is final." He gritted his teeth and said, "If Chonglin really wants her as his wife, then it's his freedom to do so. But I see no reason why Jin Corporation should be involved in the marriage. Yes, the company is a family business but please remember that we Jins are not the only ones who have a claim to it. Grandpa Lu is back in the country and as far as I know, he doesn't even know who the Fans are."
His mother sighed. "I know. I don't intend to interfere with the business. I just feel so sorry for the Fans, especially for Little Luo Luo."
Fortunately, she changed the topic and after a few more minutes, they hung up the phone call.
Jin Liwei leaned back on his chair, feeling like he just climbed up a mountain and back. However, he also felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. Now his mother knew about his girlfriend. He couldn't wait to introduce his Xiulan to his mother and grandmother. He felt nervous and excited at the same time.
As for the Fans, he felt displeased that his mother continued to defend them. He needed to be very careful when dealing with them. It wouldn't be so easy to cut them off without triggering huge emotional bombs.
Jin Liwei decided that he needed to find the time to speak to his younger brother, Jin Chonglin.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Chapter 180 - Rightful Throne
Upbeat pop remix music boomed inside the home gym. Jin Chonglin roared as he finished his final burpee. His chest heaved, gasping for air. He was completely drenched in sweat. He removed his sleeveless hoodie, revealing his extremely toned upper body. The sweat accentuated his muscles, especially his eight-pack abs.
Lin Dong threw him a bottle of chilled water and a towel.
"Thanks," he said, immediately chugging the water. Water always tasted the best after an intense workout. He finished the entire bottle, and then began wiping the sweat off his body with the towel.
"You're falling down the music charts," Lin Dong said.
"I know."
"So what are you gonna do about it?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not gonna post something online to encourage your fans to help boost your music back to the top?"
Jin Chonglin pretended to think for a couple of seconds before saying, "Nah, not interested."
"What do you mean you're not interested? You're Jin Chonglin!"
"What does that even mean?"
Lin Dong sighed deeply, feeling frustrated. "You know exactly what I mean. You're being trampled by a second-rate pop singer who used to chase you around and a horrible theme song from a popular romance TV drama."
"Second-rate pop singer?" Jin Chonglin threw the towel hard near Lin Dong's feet. He looked furious. "Say that again!"
"Ah?"
"If Iris Long is second-rate, then nobody is first-rate! Are you deaf or what? Have even listened to her music? How dare you call her second-rate?!"
Lin Dong was taken aback by his sudden outburst. He didn't know how to react.
"I'm Jin Chonglin! I'm an artist, a musician! I know music when I hear it! I can differentiate between first-rate and second-rate! Don't you dare degrade a musician's work with your careless comments, you bastard!"
"Ah... Alright, I get it. Calm down now, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't really mean it," Lin Dong hurriedly said.
"Hmph!" Jin Chonglin glared at his manager one last time before starting his cool down exercises.
Lin Dong sighed. He was careless this time. He momentarily forgot that Jin Chonglin was extremely serious when it came to music. He didn't want to trigger Jin Chonglin again, but he was the manager and it was his job to be concerned about his artist's career.
"So...are you really not gonna do anything about the situation in the music charts?" he asked cautiously.
"No." Jin Chonglin's tone sounded final.
Lin Dong sighed.
Jin Chonglin gave his manager a side-eye. "Why do you look disappointed? My song and album both debuted at number 1."
"I know. But you're not number 1 anymore."
"The music charts aren't meant to be dominated by a single artist for a long period of time. If something better is released, then it's only natural that it replaces the one on top. That's just how this game works."
"So you're admitting that Iris Long's music is better than yours?"
Jin Chonglin paused before replying. "Yes, her 'Rebirth' album is certainly better than my current album, but that doesn't mean that she's a better musician than me. She may have won the battle this time, but she hasn't won the war. She has a long way to go before she can completely defeat me, Jin Chonglin. She needs to get to my level first."
Lin Dong sighed again.
"Let her enjoy the feeling of being on top for now," Jin Chonglin continued as he did some stretching on a mat. "She deserves it. 'Rebirth Melodies' is also great in its own right but too bad it's not mainstream. It won't reach the top of the music charts like 'Rebirth', especially in this country. I think other countries will appreciate it more than here, especially in Europe. They love that kind of instrumental music."
"It seems that you really think highly of Iris Long now."
"Like I said, I'm a musician. I respect other musicians who create great music. Iris Long creates great music, at least the music after her comeback."
"Fine. I get it."
Jin Chonglin had a deep and thoughtful expression. "You know what? I think I need to thank Iris Long for defeating my music in the music charts."
Lin Dong frowned. 'What is he saying? Did he turn into a masochist?'
"I now realize that I've let fame get into my head and focused too much on pleasing my fans. Analyzing my music from when I just debuted to my current music, I feel very ashamed of myself. I unknowingly lost my true essence as a musician. Ever since I became famous, it was all about choosing the kind of music that will likely sell the most. Listening to 'Rebirth' reminded me that quality music never lies. That's why I'm not going to act bullheaded and insist on boosting my current album when I know that it's inferior to 'Rebirth'. I don't want to sacrifice my dignity as a musician and use my fans to beat someone's music which I know is better than mine."
Lin Dong couldn't count how many times he sighed in the last few minutes.
"Fortunately, I realized this just in time. From now on, I want to return to the basics, to my roots, and to rediscover my true essence as a musician."
"Eh?" Lin Dong didn't understand.
Jin Chonglin gave him a mysterious smile. "Like I said, Iris Long still has a long way to go to reach my level. She's not the only one who can compose her own music."
Lin Dong looked shocked and then his eyes lit up. "You mean?"
Jin Chonglin nodded. "Yes, I'm going to compose my next music by myself like I used to do when I just debuted. I feel very inspired. I'm not sure whether it's going to be a single or a full album. We'll see."
"That's great! No, that's awesome!"
It had been years since Jin Chonglin composed his own music. Lin Dong couldn't help but feel excited, especially because he had been with Jin Chonglin ever since he debuted.
Lin Dong smiled and rubbed his hands together. 'Iris Long, beware. Jin Chonglin is coming. The true king of the music charts will return to take back his rightful throne from you.'
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!