Chapter 41: Iris! Iris! Iris!
The main lights turned on, illuminating the entire studio. Over a minute already passed but the audience's applause and cheers still continued to reverberate throughout the entire place.
Iris put her hands on her chest, smiling at the crowd with an expression of amazed disbelief.
"Iris! Iris! Iris!" they continued to chant her name.
Finally, the two hosts walked back to the stage. They stood beside Iris and sandwiched her between them.
Male host: "Wow! Just wow! What an incredible performance!"
"Yes. Amazing! I'm feeling so emotional right now! My makeup is now ruined," the female host cried.
Male host: "Ahahaha! Don't worry. You're still pretty."
The audience laughed, as well as Iris.
A staff member climbed up the stage to hand a box of tissues. The male host received it and offered the box to both Iris and his female partner. Both women took some tissues, turned around and carefully dabbed the tears from their faces.
The audience was still standing and clapping and cheering and whistling and screaming.
After a few seconds, the two women finally turned to face the audience once again. The hosts waited for a few more moments before the audience began to settle down.
Male host: "First of all, we want to say welcome back, Iris Long!"
Iris: "Thank you. Thank you very much!"
The audience responded with enthusiasm.
"Welcome back, Iris!"
"That was so amazing!"
"I didn't know that you're this awesome!"
"I love you, Iris!"
"Marry me, Iris Long!"
Female host: "Just listen to the audience. They loved your performance."
Iris: "Thank you so much, everyone!"
The audience screamed and clapped harder before settling down once again a few seconds later.
Female host: "This is your official comeback performance. How does it feel to return to the stage after two years of absence?"
Iris: "Nervous. Excited. Happy. I can't describe exactly all of the emotions that I'm feeling right now. I'm just...so happy!"
Male host: "I bet. Iris, is it true that you composed all the songs in your upcoming album 'Rebirth'?"
Iris: "Yes, it's true. I know that it may sound unbelievable to many of you, but I really did compose all the songs in my album. I consider it as finding my true path. This is why I had to change my musical style because I discovered that my old style is not me at all. I changed because I found the real me. Creating my own music is my true path."
Female host: "I see. I'm happy for you, Iris. 'Black Star' is such an emotional and meaningful song. Did you write it based on your experience?"
Iris: "Yes. All of the songs in my upcoming album 'Rebirth' are more or less based on my real experiences and emotions."
Male host: "Speaking of your real experiences, I hope you don't mind that I'm asking you this but all of us want to know. What really happened to you? Why did you disappear for two years? There are so many rumours flying around about you, but we want to know the truth from your own words."
The audience leaned forward, as if doing so would make them hear Iris' answer more clearly.
Iris: "Some of you may have heard, I was involved in a car accident two years ago. It was very serious. Fatal actually. I died, but they managed to revive me. However, I failed to wake up and was comatose for one year."
Female host: "What?! Oh my God. So it's really true? I'm so shocked!"
Iris: "Yes, it's true. I only woke up about a year ago and I had to spend months of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In fact, I still need to go to regular check-ups and occasional physio even now."
Male host: "We didn't know that something so serious like this happened to you. Are you okay now? Are you healthy?"
Iris: "Thank you. Yes, I'm alright now. I'm healthy. I just get dizzy sometimes, but nothing too serious. Please don't worry."
Female host: "That's good to hear. Before we let you go, Iris, please say something to everyone regarding your showbiz comeback, your future plans, and your upcoming album."
Iris nodded, faced the audience, scanning everyone with her clear eyes, trying to convey to them her sincerity.
Iris: "I know that I offended a lot of people before due to my ignorance and arrogance. I can only blame it on my youth, immaturity, and narrow-mindedness. I failed to appreciate your support, taking your sincerity for granted. I regret that I had to go through an actual life and death experience to realize how shallow and ungrateful I've been. That's why I hope that with my new album 'Rebirth', you can see and experience the new me. The me who will strive hard to become a better person than I was before, a more meaningful person, and to appreciate life and you, my supporters, all the more. I just want to share my music with all of you because my music is my feelings coming from the real me. So I hope that you'll take the chance to check out my album 'Rebirth' which will be released next week. Thank you very much!"
Male host: "Thank you, Iris! We'll surely look forward to your new album. Everyone, please give another round of applause for..."
Both hosts: "Iris Long!"
Another loud standing ovation.
"Iris! Iris! Iris!"
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Chapter 42: Mortal Enemy
Jin Chonglin's dressing room.
Everyone inside was quiet as they watched Iris Long's impressive performance. When one of his assistants was about to comment, Jin Chonglin raised a hand and gestured for him to be quiet.
He wanted to focus on watching her entire performance, not missing any detail, no matter how big or small.
When the song ended, Jin Chonglin even stood up and clapped his hands. Lin Dong and the others followed suit.
"That was a brilliant performance. And what a wonderful song." Jin Chonglin sat back down. "I didn't know that her voice can reach that range. Wow. She's full of surprises."
"I almost can't believe that she's really Iris Long," Lin Dong said.
"Me too. This musical style really suits her better, especially with the quality of her vocals. She already had a great voice before, but her previous songs lacked too much depth to showcase her true abilities. Now...wow. Even I'm amazed."
"Yes." Lin Dong narrowed his eyes as he looked at Jin Chonglin. "Don't tell that she's your type now."
"You bastard! I'm an engaged man. Stop doubting my faithfulness!"
Lin Dong snorted. "I already warned you, Chonglin. Even if you can't completely avoid Iris Long especially now that you both work under the same company, it's safer to lessen your interactions as much as possible. Both of you can't afford to get involved in a scandal right now. You're getting married and she's just had her comeback."
"Tsk. I already know! Don't keep reminding me!"
"My job is to remind you so little Chonglin down there won't forget!" Lin Dong's eyes lowered to Jin Chonglin's crotch.
"Bastard!"
"At your service."
"Hmph!"
Although he said this, Jin Chonglin thought that it would be interesting to work with this new Iris Long. Maybe they could create some music and sing together.
His character might be questionable, but beneath his playboy tendencies, he was first and foremost an artist. A talented and skilled one at that. If not, he wouldn't reach the level he was at now. Working with other talented and skilled artists was something he naturally craved.
However, it seemed that he and Iris Long were not fated to work together with all the stupid rumours surrounding them.
What a pity.
###
Alarm Girls' dressing room.
"Aaaaaaaah!" Wanwan sent all the things on the dressing table crashing to the floor. "Bitch!"
Mimi followed her leader's example and kicked the chairs to the floor.
Feifei stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her angry face looking vicious as she glared at the TV showing the slut's performance. "That slut already disappeared! Why does she need to return again?!"
Wanwan: "Of course it's because she doesn't want to leave us alone! Seeing that we're now popular, she feels threatened so she just have to return and sabotage us."
Mimi: "Despicable! So petty! Bitch! Whore! Slut!"
"Girls, calm down! Please calm down! What if someone hears you?" Their manager pleaded with them but stayed close to the door, ready to flee outside at any moment the girls became violent with him. He was afraid that the girls would lose control and throw things at him. "Why are you so focused on Iris Long? She already changed her musical style. You don't have to worry about competing with her anymore. Just ignore her."
The trio all turned their heads at him at the same time and glared. Their synchronization even in real life was quite impressive.
Feifei: "So what if she changed her musical style? She's still the same bitch that she was before. In fact, she has become an even bigger bitch, causing us to get into trouble with the show!"
Mimi: "Exactly! So despicable! Manager, you have to do something! Otherwise, the company will punish us."
Their manager sighed. "We can't do anything about that. Iris Long is now under Bright Summit. You know how protective Bright Summit is with their artists. Plus there's JJ. Nobody dares offend that ogre in the music industry. And it looks like JJ is intent on developing her musical career. Our company can't afford to offend those people. Just forget about Iris Long."
Wanwan: "Hmph! That bitch is too lucky. Not only is she born a daughter of the Long family, now she has Bright Summit and JJ backing her up as well. She's really talented in lying on her back and opening her legs."
Feifei: "Exactly. How else could she curry favour with Bright Summit and JJ? They have such high standards. I don't believe that they'd sign that slut with them unless she sold her body."
Mimi: "How despicable! She's such a slut! I want to vomit."
When they heard the loud applause and cheering of the audience after Iris' performance on the TV, the trio's hatred and jealousy skyrocketed.
The standing ovation lasted for a long time. When they performed earlier, they only received a few seconds of polite applause and they were mostly from the guys. Nobody even stood up.
How could that slut receive such commendation?
They became even more furious when they watched Iris' interview. The length of her interview was comparable to the A-list performers. When they were being interviewed earlier, they barely uttered a sentence each. The hosts almost kicked them off the stage to welcome the next performer.
The girls couldn't accept the difference in their treatments. They worked so hard, almost never taking a break these two years, while that Iris slut disappeared from showbiz probably busy whoring herself.
They didn't believe the crap about her being comatose. They weren't dumb like most of the people.
That slut disappeared for two years, while they slowly but surely climbed up to where they were now. They got to where they were now with their blood, sweat and tears. While their contemporaries were busy selling their flesh to advance their careers in the shortest amount of time possible, the Alarm Girls endured lukewarm reception and even the occasional suppression just so they could preserve their dignity.
It was so unfair that Iris just had to open her legs and she could get all the good things.
That slut should've started from the bottom again, far beneath them, when she returned to showbiz. But how come it looked like the slut became even more popular now?
How hateful!
Unacceptable!
Unforgivable!
If Iris Long thought that they would let her continue climbing higher above them, she was sorely mistaken. Their hatred and jealousy for her consumed them that they declared her as their sworn mortal enemy.
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Chapter 43: Ghost Composer
"MusicFest Tonight" was broadcast live on television and on video streaming websites online. Netizens also live-commented as each of the performances were happening.
This Friday's episode was proving to be one of the most popular and most discussed. It was also on its way into obtaining the highest TV rating against other programs broadcast in the same time slot.
Part of the reason why this episode garnered this much attention was because of Iris Long's comeback performance. Both JJ's record label and Bright Summit did an excellent job in heavily promoting her upcoming comeback album.
The biggest reason, however, was Jin Chonglin. An A-list artist like him was akin to a god descending upon the mortal realm to display his might and magnificence, while at the same time showering everyone with blessings. His massive army of fans alone would already guarantee an excellent viewership rating for any show he guested in.
Factor in the rumours about the two of them circulating energetically online, even people who were not their fans felt interested and watched this Friday's episode hoping to witness some sort of confirmation about their relationship.
In short, "MusicFest Tonight" had these bored rumourmongers to thank for in obtaining such an impressive viewership rating.
Finally, the long awaited moment had come. Iris Long was about to perform. People glued their eyes to their screens, be it on TV or computer.
Live comments popped every second all throughout her entire performance and also during her short interview. The discussions blew up online.
"Holy shit! Wow! This is fucking amazing!"
"Iris looks so beautiful tonight."
"Her dress is gorgeous! Are those real crystals on the fabric? I wonder where I can buy the dress...."
"I finally found my new goddess. Ah, goddess Iris! Please marry this NEET! I offer my life to you...and share my precious instant cup noodles with you forever and ever."
"Damn! She can really play the piano. I thought that she was only faking it on her music video previews, but she's actually playing the piano for real and even singing at the same time on live TV."
"I'm a pianist myself. I can confidently say that she's at expert level. Maybe even higher. I have to see her perform other more difficult pieces to be certain. Great technique. No hesitation at all. And she rarely looks at her hands during her performance. The symphony orchestra isn't drowning her at all which is great. Iris Long has my respect as a fellow pianist."
"I now have a new favourite song: 'Black Star'!"
"Me too! I cried listening to the song."
"I now hereby solemnly swear that the song 'Black Star' by Iris Long is now my personal anthem."
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"I'm a black star with no light | But so what? I'll glow again | My dream glows bright in my heart | I'm a black star that'll light up, you'll see~ This is my new life motto. I feel so inspired."
"My favourite part is this: 'No matter how far a black star falls | It's still a star that can glow again'. It's a heartbreaking but very hopeful song. I feel uplifted after listening to it. Now it's stuck in my head."
"I can't wait until the 'Rebirth' album is released next week!"
"Me too! I never looked forward to any song or album by Iris Long before. This is the first time."
"Don't even compare her old music to 'Black Star'. Although her old songs are catchy and extremely popular during that time, I cringe whenever I hear them now."
"Ahaha! That's so true. I remember a few weeks ago, I was driving to work while stuck in traffic and the radio happened to play one of Iris' old songs. I almost bashed my head against the steering wheel. It was so annoying! I immediately changed to another radio station."
"Iris just said in the interview that she really composed all the songs in her album. If this is true, then she's really amazing."
"Poster above, don't be naïve. A lot of singers say that. They contribute one word or one note and they're already claiming that they composed the whole song. Ptui! I'll believe that Iris Long can play the piano since I've seen it with my own eyes in her live performance tonight, but composing songs? And all the songs in her upcoming album at that? Hah! I'll eat my slippers if she's really telling the truth."
"But thanks to singers like her, people like my boyfriend can earn a living. My boyfriend is a ghost composer. The pay is not too bad, especially if the song becomes a hit or is sung by a popular singer."
"What?! Iris Long used a ghost composer? Hmph. How dare she claim to compose all the songs herself? How shameless!"
"Yeah! There's nothing wrong with not composing your own songs. A majority of singers are like that. Even Jin Chonglin doesn't compose all of his songs. In fact, Iris was like that before as well. But claiming songs she didn't compose as songs that she composed is just too shameless!"
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Chapter 44: Eat Your Slippers
The discussions online continued even after Iris Long left the stage. Many of the viewers were still thinking and talking about her performance that they didn't pay that much attention to the next few performers.
It could be said that the immediate performers after Iris Long had bad luck because the audience's response to their performances were lukewarm at best.
After some netizens started accusing Iris Long of using a ghost composer, someone stepped forward and cleared her name.
"Excuse me, everyone. But I just have to butt in reading all the comments about Iris Long using a ghost composer. I'm currently interning at JJ's record label. I can say for sure that JJ has extremely high standards when it comes to accepting artists. And when I say that he has extremely high standards, I mean that he has super-duper to the highest level extremely high standards! It's insane but that's why he's JJ. If an artist claims to compose his or her own songs, we make sure that this is 100% true. This is supposed to be a secret, but our record label conducts a strict security check before offering a contract to an artist. If we find out that the artist lied to us, our record label will automatically blacklist that person. Since our record label signed Iris Long and even worked personally with our boss JJ as her music producer, then it means that Iris really composed her own songs. Our boss JJ isn't stupid or gullible. He didn't reach his level at the top of the music industry just to taint his reputation by supporting artists who make false claims."
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"Oh. Is that true?"
"Hey, the commenter before who said that he's gonna eat his slippers! You can go eat your slippers now. Come on! Don't chicken out and go back on your own words."
"I trust JJ more than all these anonymous slanderers on the Internet."
"Yeah. JJ is a renowned and award-winning music producer. If someone like him signs Iris Long, then it must mean that he sees great potential in her."
"After watching Iris' amazing performance tonight, even someone like me can see her great potential."
"Ahaha! Very true. Her performance tonight is really shocking. I almost can't believe that it's Iris Long."
"Are you even sure that's Iris Long? I think she really died in the accident and the one we're seeing now is her hidden twin sister or something."
"So the rumour about her being comatose is really true. She said it herself."
"Poor girl. I can't imagine how it must feel to be in coma for one year."
"I still don't believe that she was really comatose. I believe more in the one that says that she got pregnant. It sounds more interesting."
"Ahahaha! That's true. And did you all notice that Jin Chonglin also performed tonight? I wonder if they met."
"I wish the hosts asked Iris and Jin Chonglin about their relationship during their interviews."
"Jin Chonglin already said before that he doesn't have any relationship with Iris Long. They only met each other casually which is normal in the small world of showbiz."
"Hah! Too naïve! Did you forget how Fan Luo referred to Iris Long as the 'other woman' on her blog?"
"Read Fan Luo's blog post again. She didn't name Iris Long."
"She didn't name Iris Long, but it's obvious that she was talking about Iris. Everyone was talking about Iris and Jin Chonglin when Fan Luo posted that on her blog. Who else was she referring to if it wasn't Iris Long?"
"I'm so angry that Iris Long is returning. She's just out to chase after Prince Lin Lin again. She must've felt desperate since Prince Lin Lin and Princess Luo Luo are marrying soon. That's why she changed her musical style and did all this shit just to catch Prince Lin Lin's attention. How can you explain her suddenly performing in the same episode as Prince Lin Lin? Of course it's deliberate!"
"Don't forget that Iris is now under Bright Summit too. Guess who's also under Bright Summit? Of course it's Jin Chonglin!"
"Oh my God. So true. I don't think these are just coincidences. Iris Long is really chasing after Jin Chonglin!"
"I already told you. Iris Long is a slut. What change in musical style? What image change? What finding her true self? She's just concealing her true aim which is Jin Chonglin. Shameless!"
"And the haters have all come out to play again. I honestly don't care about all the shit you're talking about. All I care about is that I like 'Black Star'. Such an excellent song shouldn't be tainted by all your shit-talking. You're just letting your envy do the talking. Blah blah blah! I have a good feeling about the other songs in her album 'Rebirth' based on the previews I watched of her music videos. No matter what kind of person Iris Long is, I don't care. As long as I like her music, that's what matters to me."
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"I have a scoop, folks! I filled in temporarily as a staff member for a sick friend for tonight's show. Something happened involving Iris Long backstage during the show. It caused quite a big commotion and it was even reported to the higher-ups. Guess what happened!"
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Chapter 45: Selective Amnesia
This kind of juicy claim immediately caught everyone's curiosity and interest.
"What scoop? Tell us!"
"Don't tell me you saw Iris Long and Jin Chonglin sneaking together backstage!"
"Oh my God! Is that true?"
"That slut! So she's really still chasing after our Prince Lin Lin. Shameless!"
"Come on, my friend. Don't leave us hanging here. Tell us what happened."
"Relax, people. No, I didn't see Iris Long and Jin Chonglin together. Please stop telling unfounded rumours. The scoop is about Iris Long and the Alarm Girls. I'm not really sure what happened before I arrived at the scene, but what I saw was really horrible. The Alarm Girls are so awful! They kept on insulting and yelling at Iris Long. If we, the staff, didn't arrive on time, I think those girls would have already attacked her. Iris Long was with her manager and assistant. They were protecting her. Iris Long barely said anything the entire time, just standing there and staying silent. She then calmly explained to the girls that she's suffering from selective amnesia or something like that, and doesn't really remember who they are and then asked them to let her go. But those mean girls tried to attack her! The situation became too much for Iris so she fainted. Her assistant said that Iris Long is still a little weak from being comatose for too long and that she can't handle too much stress. When we demanded for the Alarm Girls to apologize, they refused. They even had the audacity to accuse her of bullying them! Do they take us to be blind people? We saw with our own eyes that it was them doing the bullying, not the other way around. I've never seen such despicable people in my life."
"Oh my God. Is that true?"
"Alarm Girls? Which girl group are they again? There are so many girl groups who performed tonight that I don't remember who they are. Maybe I have selective amnesia too."
"Ahahaha! Poster above, the Alarm Girls are the ones with the three members."
"Ah, the ones who dress like hookers?"
"Pft! Yeah. Maybe they should change their name to the Hooker Girls instead."
"So the rumours from before about Iris Long and the Alarm Girls always butting heads must be true."
"The Alarm Girls are so shameless! I remember that they kept on imitating Iris Long in everything from her music, dance moves, and even her style. They're just low quality Iris Long rip-offs."
"Wait. Iris suffers from selective amnesia? And she fainted?"
"Did this incident happen before or after her performance?"
"Sis, are you telling the truth? Did this really happen?"
"Of course I'm telling the truth. I saw everything with my own eyes. And I'm a bro, not a sis. To answer everyone's question, this incident happened before Iris' performance."
"What?! She got bullied and then fainted but still performed?!! Are you sure?!!!"
"Of course I'm sure. I already told you that I saw everything with my own eyes. Actually we offered Iris Long to cancel tonight's performance and just perform on another episode, but she refused. She insisted on performing and even said that she didn't want to trouble us and the show. Right there and then, I decided that Iris Long is now one of the people that I admire the most in my life."
"Wow. Iris is amazing. I feel so sorry for her that she had to suffer those Alarm bitches' bullying and even caused her to faint. But even so she still gave an outstanding performance! I'm giving another round of well-deserved applause for Iris Long."
"I'm going to send a complaint to 'MusicFest Tonight'. Those despicable Alarm Girls should've been kicked out and not allowed to perform on tonight's show. With what they did backstage, bullying a fellow artist and almost causing a health emergency, I can't believe they still had the guts to perform like nothing happened. Despicable!"
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"Poor Iris Long. Everyone keeps on saying malicious things about her but from now on, I won't believe them anymore. I'll support Iris!"
"During the interview, Iris Long said that she's okay and healthy. Now we know that she's just acting strong. Giving such an awesome performance after fainting, I'm so amazed by her."
"Well, she mentioned that she gets dizzy sometimes. So I believe that she really fainted tonight. She only played it down during the interview, but I'm sure she's not fully recovered yet. Being in a coma for a year is no joke."
"I'm more interested about her selective amnesia. Seems like she has forgotten some of her memories? I wonder how much she forgot..."
"Who knows? Maybe even everything. Wait! What if she forgot everything about herself? Maybe the reason why she suddenly changed her musical style and her image is because she has amnesia and that she forgot who she was..."
"Oh my God. That makes total sense!"
"I could barely recognize her now. Maybe you're right!"
"Holy shit."
"Fuck."
"Oh no! Poor girl."
"From now on, anyone who dares to bully Iris Long, I'll fight you!!! Come on! This grandfather is ready for you haters at any time!!"
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Chapter 46: She Has Amnesia?
Jin Chonglin was the final performer on "MusicFest Tonight".
Since he was the bigshot this time, most of the other performers and the staff paid their respects to him after the show ended. It took more than an hour for him to escape before he was finally able to go home.
Iris Long didn't join the others in greeting him after the show. She left immediately after paying respects to the important personnel in the show.
Inside the van, Jin Chonglin was at the backseat with his manager, Lin Dong. His two assistants were at the front. One was driving while the other sat on the front passenger seat.
Jin Chonglin wore big, gold-plated headphones, drumming his hands in the air and tapping his feet to the beat of the music only he could hear.
On his side, Lin Dong was busy on his phone. A few moments later, Lin Dong's eyes widened. He unceremoniously pulled Jin Chonglin's headphones from his head and shoved his phone to his artist's face.
"Bastard! What are you doing?!"
"Read this."
"What's so important that you have to shove it on my face..." Jin Chonglin's eyes also widened after a few seconds of reading. "For real? She has amnesia?"
"I don't know. She hasn't said anything official about this. But if it's true, then it explains why she changed so much."
"Who has amnesia?" the assistant sitting on the front passenger seat asked.
"Iris Long," Lin Dong answered.
"Really?" The assistant was shocked.
"I believe it," the driver interjected. "I've been with Chonglin since a long time ago. So I was there when the girl kept on following Chonglin wherever we went. She kept on popping up in front of our faces, trying to talk to him. She didn't know how to give up. And Chonglin was too nice to reject her outright. It was painful to watch. But seeing her perform tonight, I almost didn't recognize her. Her aura feels so different from before."
"Hmmm." Lin Dong rubbed his chin. "Chonglin and I actually met Iris Long and her manager in the hallway earlier tonight. She was very polite, greeting Chonglin properly as a junior to her senior. She didn't say anything unnecessary beyond the greetings. It was actually Chonglin, this idiot, who tried pulling her into a conversation. On the other hand, Iris almost couldn't wait to get away from us. So different from how she acted with Chonglin before."
"Who are you calling an idiot, you bastard?!"
Lin Dong gave him a side eye. "You know that there are rumours about you fathering a baby with her. You know that even just being seen together with her could cause a big scandal, yet you still wanted to talk to her more. If you're not an idiot, then what are you?"
"Shut up. I know already! I'm so tired of you saying the same thing again and again. And I was just asking her how she's been. It's not like I was asking her to sleep with me!"
"You better not sleep with her or else both of your showbiz careers will be finished."
"Tsk. I said I know already! So annoying."
"Did you read about the part about her and the Alarm Girls?"
"Yeah."
"Wait. Let me ask." Lin Dong snatched his phone back from Jin Chonglin's hands as he tossed the big headphones on his artist's lap.
He tapped on his phone and placed it on his ear.
"Hello? Director He? Sorry to bother you...yes, yes. We're on our way home. Thank you for taking care of us...Jin Chonglin says that he had fun performing tonight...Ahaha! Of course, next time...Director He, I have a question. I hope you don't mind. Is it true that Iris Long got into an argument with the Alarm Girls? It's okay if you don't answer, I understand...Oh? It's true?...They bullied her?...Oh no. She really fainted? I can't believe she still performed after...Unbelievable...Yes, yes. Thank you, Director He...Of course, I won't tell others that you told me...Yes, you too. Have a good night. Bye!"
Lin Dong hung up the phone, then turned to Jin Chonglin.
"Fuck, it's true?" Jin Chonglin's face looked outraged. "Those bitches."
Lin Dong sighed. "It's not like you don't know that bullying is common in this industry. It happens all the time."
"Of course I know! But fuck. She fainted."
"Why are you so affected? It has nothing to do with you."
"Hmph! You heartless bastard!"
Lin Dong sighed again.
Jin Chonglin carelessly threw his gold-plated headphones on the seat behind him. He looked out the window in a bad mood.
The van drove in the night, the people riding it silent, each with their own thoughts.
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Chapter 47: Come Down
Gold Heights Condominium.
It was already late at night when Iris and Dom returned to the penthouse. Yi Mei welcomed them home.
"Young Miss, Mr. Jin Liwei sent flowers for you," the housekeeper informed her and then gestured to the living area.
Iris walked and saw a huge bouquet of red roses on top of the table.
"Ehehe. Red roses. How romantic." Dom, of course, just had to open his big mouth.
Her quick eyes calculated that the bouquet had one hundred red roses. She didn't notice that her heart skipped a beat.
She picked up the heavy bouquet and sniffed the flowers. Mmm. Fresh. Then she noticed a small handwritten card tied to the ribbon. She read it silently. It said:
"My sincerest congratulations to a marvelous performance. You look beautiful tonight, Long Xiulan. See you soon. From Jin Liwei."
Her lips curved up into a smile. When her heart suddenly started beating faster, she frowned. Hm? She must be feeling really tired tonight.
"Yi Mei, have someone arrange the flowers on a vase and put it in my bedroom."
"Understood, Young Miss. And dinner is ready, please follow me."
"Ah, finally! I'm starving!" Dom whined.
"How many steamed buns did you eat while we were driving home?"
"Boss, those were just snacks! How can mere steamed buns fill me?" As if to punctuate his point, his stomach growled loudly.
Iris chuckled. "Fine. Let's eat." She plucked the card from the bouquet and gave it to Yi Mei. "Put this in my room, too."
"Understood, Young Miss."
Yi Mei wanted to rip the card to pieces and stuff the pieces into that lustful brat's throat. The brat just wouldn't leave her Young Miss alone! However, Yi Mei was able to control herself and hide her inner thoughts from showing on her face. She was dismayed when she received the flower delivery earlier that evening, but it was not her place to stop men from courting the Young Miss.
But that lusty Jin Liwei brat was doing things in the wrong order. He first ate the Young Miss' tofu before even sending flowers. How immoral! On second thought, at least the brat, although lusty, still had a romantic bone in his body and knew how to send flowers to a lady he took advantage of. What was more, it looked like the Young Miss was pleased with the roses. Hai, the Young Miss was still too young and inexperienced, easily placated with just a bouquet of flowers.
Yi Mei led Iris and Dom to the dining table, and then instructed a maid to take care of the flowers and the card. Afterwards, she continued fussing around Iris.
Dom ate three big servings of dinner, almost inhaling everything, while Iris ate a light meal. It was already late at night, so she didn't want to sleep with a heavy stomach.
After dinner, Iris drank a cup of chamomile tea while looking at the night view outside.
Finally, she headed to her bedroom. On a table by the corner sat the hundred red roses on a jade vase. In front of it was the card. She admired the flowers for a few moments before heading to her personal bathroom.
It was already past midnight when she came out of the shower. After blow drying her hair, she changed into a pair of red silk pyjamas and was about to climb on her bed when her phone rang.
It was Jin Liwei.
The man called her every night since the day he came to the penthouse. It annoyed her at first, but after a couple of times, she got used to it.
"Hello, Mr. Jin. It's already so late." She subconsciously glanced at the red roses at the corner of her room.
"Xiulan. Did you receive the flowers?"
She didn't notice that she was smiling. "Yes. Thank you. They're beautiful."
"I was calling you but you didn't answer."
"I was in the shower."
"What are you doing now?"
"I'm on bed. About to sleep. I'm tired, Mr. Jin."
"Come down. I'm in front of your building."
She blinked. "What? Why are you here?"
"Just come down."
Iris frowned, deciding what to do.
"Xiulan."
She thought for a few more seconds before sighing. "Fine. Wait for me." She hung up.
Then she covered herself with a satin kimono robe and wore a mask before heading to the private elevator down to the main floor. The receptionist and the security guard both nodded when they saw her. She nodded back and then hurried outside.
A car honked.
She headed towards the black car. An unfamiliar man wearing a business suit climbed out of the driver's seat, walked around and opened the rear door for her.
"Miss Long, please climb in."
She nodded at the man. She was about to enter when long, strong arms pulled her inside.
"Xu Tian, leave us."
"Understood." The man called Xu Tian closed the door and left.
Jin Liwei wrapped his arms around her, pulling her body close to him. He removed the mask on her face and threw it on the rear deck.
"Mr. Jin, what are youâumph!"
A wet mouth suddenly covered her lips. His large hand held her jaw and pressed her cheeks hard with his fingers, trying to make her mouth open. Iris gasped from the pain, opening her mouth as a result, and in the next instant, Jin Liwei's tongue invaded her.
The hand holding her jaw moved behind her head, grabbed a handful of her hair, and pressed her closer against his mouth.
Iris pushed her hands against his chest, but his arm around her body was too strong, too tight.
She felt furious. How dare this arrogant man?! He had no right!
She was going to...going to...going to...
Her eyes fluttered close and her mouth opened a bit wider, giving him more access.
He groaned, kissing her harder when he felt her finally surrendering to the kiss.
Something hot and heavy pooled in her lower abdomen, making her moan. Her arms slid up and wrapped around his neck.
Jin Liwei pulled her up, grabbing each of her thigh and pulling her over his lap so she straddled him.
His hands untied her kimono robe.
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Chapter 48: Selfish Xiulan
Focused on the kiss, Iris allowed him to take the robe off from her body, even helping him out by temporarily removing her arms around his neck, and then letting the robe fall behind her on the car floor.
When her arms returned around his neck, Jin Liwei slanted his head to kiss her even more deeply. Both of them moaned and pressed their bodies closer against each other.
Her heart pounded against her chest. Her heartbeat felt like a hammer smashing against her rational mind, reducing her into a creature of pure sensations.
He embraced her more tightly, pulling her hard against his chest, as he continued kissing her passionately.
She gasped when her hard nipples rubbed against him through the silk fabric of her pyjama top.
What was happening to her? What were these intense sensations?
So good.
His hands slid down her back to her hips, pulling her from the top of his thighs to his hot, throbbing bulge.
When her hot core felt his hardness, she pulled from the kiss, gasping. Her eyes looked at him in alarm.
Jin Liwei looked at her with dark eyes filled with desire. He used the hands on her hips to grind her against him.
"Mr. Jin! This..."
Pleasure shot from her core to her spine, to the top of her head and to the tips of her fingers and toes. Her head fell on his shoulder, turning her face against his neck. His masculine scent filled her nose and her mind...making her moan louder and louder as he ground her against him harder and harder.
She completely lost the ability to think. All she could do at that moment was to feel.
This was the first time she felt this way.
He groaned, breathing heavily. The hands on her hips slid down on her butt, squeezing her as he continued to grind her against him.
She bit on his neck hard making him groan, as she trembled. Her skin shone with a delicate layer of sweat.
Similarly, he was also covered in sweat, his breathing becoming harsher.
"Mr. Jin..." she whimpered.
"Call me Liwei," he whispered, nibbling on her exposed ear.
"Liwei...oh."
The pleasure became more and more intense, making her toes curl. She shut her eyes tightly, focusing entirely on all these new, unfamiliar, deliciously intense sensations.
When Jin Liwei felt her stiffen, he ground her even harder while gritting his teeth.
Thin tears flowed down from her eyes as the ball of pleasure tightened inside her hot core and lower abdomen, spreading throughout her whole body like a hot lava, and then finally exploding in a white light, making her eyes roll back. She cried out, her entire body shaking uncontrollably.
He wrapped his arms around her trembling body, letting her finish even as he controlled his own unspent desire. He could faintly smell her musky scent especially inside the car's enclosed space, making his nose flare and his erection even harder.
An image of him pushing her down on the seat, tearing her pyjamas, and burying himself inside her again and again appeared in his mind. His breath hitched. Groaning, he mentally recited the value of pi, reaching more than a hundred digits before he calmed down enough.
Iris laid limply over him. He rubbed her back, soothing her.
"Mr. Jin..."
"It's Liwei."
"Liwei..."
"Hm?"
"Why did you do that to me?"
"You hate it?"
"..."
"Xiulan, tell me."
"No."
"No what?"
"No, I don't hate it."
He smiled. "So you like it?"
She nodded. Her head was still on his shoulder, her face against his neck.
"Tell me," he urged her.
"I like it." She sighed, nuzzling deeper against his neck.
"Good girl." He kissed her head.
His baby girl was too honest for her own good. This was of course very advantageous for him but also very dangerous for his self-control.
Iris shifted her head so that she was looking at his face. "Did you come here just to do this with me?"
He wiped the streaks of tears on her cheeks with his fingers. "No. I only wanted to see you. But when I actually saw you, I lost control."
Now that she was spent and had calmed down a little, her damp pyjama pants was starting to make her feel uncomfortable. She straightened and attempted to get off him, but his arms tightened around her, refusing to let her go.
"Mr. Jin..."
"I told you to call me Liwei."
"Fine. Liwei, let me go."
"No. Stay."
Iris sighed. "Liwei, it's true that I like what you did to me. But that's because you made me feel good. You make me feel good. I like things that make me feel good. However, it doesn't mean that I like you. Well, maybe I like you a little now. But I don't even know you that well."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "So you don't like me. You only like my body."
She tilted her head to the side, thinking seriously about what he said. "No, I don't necessarily like your body. I like that you make me feel good."
"How selfish, Xiulan. You only think about yourself. You don't even think about what you do to me. You need to learn to take responsibility."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
He leaned closer to her face and whispered. "I made you orgasm and you liked it. You need to reciprocate."
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Chapter 49: Goodnight Kiss
"Reciprocate?" Iris pushed his face away with a hand. "You mean you want me to have sex with you? Jin Liwei, I don't want to have sex with you."
"Baby girl, I made you orgasm so what we did just now can also be considered as sex. We had sex but with our clothes on. Hmmm. It's half a sex, I guess." He smiled lazily at her.
She frowned, her head tilted to the side, thinking. Well, what he said made sense. She might be inexperienced about this kind of matter, but she knew what sex was. Simply speaking, sex was a plug entering a socket. His plug didn't enter her socket, but it did rub against her and made her electricity flow.
There was no direct contact or penetration, but it was true that he made her orgasm.
"Fine. We had half a sex with our clothes on. Tell me what you mean by reciprocate."
"Simple. I made you orgasm so you should also make me orgasm. This way it's fair to both of us, don't you think?"
Her frown deepened. Something was telling her that something was not quite right with his reasoning, but logically speaking, his words made sense. She was the type of person who didn't like owing others. Since she owed him an orgasm, she would pay him back.
"Fine. Tell me how to make you orgasm. But I don't want to have sex with you. I mean, no full sex."
"So you're fine with half a sex like this?"
She thought for a moment. "I guess."
He smiled wider and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "Good girl. But not tonight. I'll let you pay me back another time."
"Fine."
"How was your day?" he asked, changing the topic as he wrapped his arms around her tiny waist.
"I had a great time. I enjoyed performing onstage tonight."
He smiled and kissed her chin lightly. "You were amazing."
"Thank you."
"What else?"
She thought for a few seconds. "Oh, I met your brother in the hallway. He also performed tonight." She felt him stiffen and when she looked down at his face, his expression turned cold. "Don't worry. We only exchanged greetings. He's my senior at Bright Summit after all."
His cold silence began to bother her.
She didn't understand why she was suddenly feeling nervous. "Are you angry?"
"Do you still like Chonglin?"
Iris once again felt the dangerous aura he emitted the first time they met at the hotel lobby. She subconsciously shifted her torso away from him. "No. I already told you before that I have no interest in your brother."
"But you kept on following him before."
Her lips pressed together in annoyance. "That was before, Jin Liwei. And even then, I only followed him around because I wanted to have more famous friends. Shallow, wasn't I? Now I know that others misunderstood my intentions, including you. I won't stupidly bother your brother again. So stop assuming. It's annoying."
"Are you telling the truth?"
She snapped. "I don't care whether you believe me or not. Let me go."
He held her tightly as she tried to get off him. "So you don't like my brother at all?"
She paused, and then answered him honestly. "Jin Chonglin is a talented person. I respect him as a fellow artist. However, as a person, I don't know him enough to like him."
"Do you want to get to know him?"
"No."
"Do you want to get to know me?"
"..."
"Xiulan."
"You're too bothersome to get to know."
He was speechless for a few moments. His baby girl found him bothersome? Finally, he told her, "But I want to get to know you."
She blinked, looking at his serious eyes. "Okay."
His lips lifted into a smile. "So I also want you to get to know me."
She thought for a moment. There was nothing wrong with the two of them getting to know each other, right? Even though she didn't like him all that much because he was arrogant and controlling, they already kissed a few times. She had to admit that she liked his kisses (and their half a sex). He made her orgasm which felt amazing, and even made her promise to return the favour at another time.
Although she found him annoying at times, he mostly made her feel good. She wanted to live this life freely in the way that she wanted. So if he made her feel good, she wouldn't push him away without reason. She also didn't think that he would intentionally hurt her. Besides, even if he harmed her someday, she could always destroy him whenever she wanted.
Finally, she nodded. "Okay."
His smile widened. "Good girl." He gave her another peck on the lips.
She yawned.
"You're tired. Go back to bed and sleep."
"Okay." She started to get off his lap but he still wouldn't let her go. "Jin Liwei," she said helplessly. Why wouldn't he let her go?
"Give me my goodnight kiss first."
"..."
He continued to smile lazily at her.
She had the sudden urge to punch the stupid smile off his face.
"I can wait here until the sun rises in the sky, baby girl."
"Fine." She leaned down and pressed her lips quickly against his.
"Mmm. Nice. Now it's my turn to give you your goodnight kiss."
He pulled her head and kissed her hard, stabbing his tongue inside her mouth. He sucked and nibbled on her, making her moan and breathless.
Finally, he released her. "Good night, Xiulan."
She waited until her racing heart calmed down a bit before replying. "Good night, Jin Liwei."
"Dream of me tonight."
"I don't want to dream of you."
He chuckled. "So selfish, Xiulan. I dream of you every night, yet you don't want to dream of me. Unfair, don't you think?"
"Oh. You dream of me?"
"Yes."
"Tell me what kind of dreams you have about me."
"I'll let you know someday," he answered vaguely.
'Because I'm going to make those dreams a reality, baby girl. Just wait.'
"Fine." Iris couldn't help but yawn again. She was really too tired and sleepy.
Jin Liwei helped her put on her kimono robe. He took her mask from the rear deck and started putting it on her. He lightly slapped her hand when she tried to take it.
She glared at him, but otherwise allowed him to put the mask on her face.
He gave her another quick kiss before finally letting her go. He watched her disappear inside the building. A few moments later, Xu Tian climbed inside the car onto the driver's seat.
"Let's go," he ordered.
"Yes, President."
Moonlight reflected on Jin Liwei's smug smile, as the black car drove away silently in the night.
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Chapter 50: A Weapon of Mass Destruction
The next day.
Jin Corporation.
It was Saturday but business was as usual. The weekend employees started streaming into the company building.
Jin Liwei, as the President and CEO, didn't need to come to work during the weekends but he would come whenever he wanted to finish up some tasks which was almost always.
That morning, Jin Liwei woke up feeling that everything in the world was very good. The sky was a beautiful cobalt blue colour decorated by wispy white clouds. The sun shone brightly and the birds were singing.
Ah, what a wonderful world!
His body felt light and energetic. If it wasn't for his image, he would have skipped happily while walking. He felt like he could take on anything today. Bring it on!
Unfortunately, he had no idea that his bright mood would have such serious effects on his employees.
For the entire day, everyone in the company was in a daze. It began early in the morning when some employees greeted their company President as usual when they saw him arrive at the lobby.
"Good morning, President," they greeted, bowing.
Then King Yama...er, their President Jin did something unimaginable. He slowed down, nodded, smiled widely and actually greeted them back. "En. Good morning everyone."
It was like an arrow was shot straight to their hearts.
The unprepared employees immediately froze. Many dropped their briefcases and file folders, while someone dropped his coffee, staining the pristine white floor. Yet no one noticed this sacrilege to their company floor because everyone's disbelieving eyes followed the back of their big boss as he disappeared behind the elevator doors.
Many unfortunate employees who met their company President along the way were one-hit one-killed by his shocking smile. They thought that his eternally glacial aura and formidable leadership were already vicious enough, but they never imagined that his smile would be as deadly to their poor mortal hearts.
What happened?
Was it the end of the world?
Did they die and this was the afterlife?
Was this paradise or was this hell?
The heavens were really unfair. Their President's smile could be a weapon of mass destruction.
The female employees who already considered him as their ideal man raised his position in their hearts even further to the most ideal of all the ideal men in the universe (everyone, take a moment of silence for their poor boyfriends and husbands who would never be as good as their big boss). And the bent employees became even more bent (hallelujah!).
Unfortunately, this day became the most unproductive in the history of the company since its establishment because of their President's dangerous smile.
Jin Liwei's office.
Xu Tian's mouth twitched as he watched one of the senior managers exit the President's office in a daze. The poor man was so dazed that he walked straight to the elevator without noticing Xu Tian.
Normally, he would've rebuked any employee who disregarded him because he was the President's right hand man. His status in the company was basically only below that of the President himself, even though he didn't have an official position in the company itself.
This time, however, Xu Tian just sighed and shook his head.
Ever since the President spent some alone time with Miss Long in the car last night, his boss had been in such a good mood.
Although he didn't see it for himself (and thank goodness for that!), he had an idea of what transpired between the two of them based on his boss' happy mood.
Don't get him wrong. As an assistant, he was happy whenever his boss felt happy.
However, looking at things today, the President's obvious good mood as demonstrated by his rare smile appeared to have negative effects to the employees. If this continued, the company would be in trouble. That would be tragic.
Xu Tian didn't understand why his boss suddenly became so fixated on Miss Long. From what he remembered when the President ordered him to investigate and monitor Miss Long after the accident two years ago, he felt certain that his boss felt disgusted at the young woman for chasing after the Second Master.
Now it seemed like it was the President who was chasing after Miss Long.
What happened between the two of them? How come Xu Tian didn't notice anything?
Wasn't this reversal too sudden?
Oh well. He just had to do his job. It was not his place to interfere with his boss' love life.
Opening the internet browser on his work computer, he typed "Iris Long" on the search engine. A frown formed on his face after reading for a few minutes.
He grabbed the phone and dialed.
"Hello? This is Xu Tian of Jin Corporation. May I speak to Director He?"
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