Chapter 631 - Poor Husband
"Oh!"
"You..."
They stared at each in surprise, not expecting that they had the same idea.
"Love, you really want to...I mean, are you sure... Really?"
Iris rose and sat on the bed. He followed suit. They sat facing each other, their initial surprise replaced by wonder.
Jin Liwei wanted to marry her as soon as possible. He had been wanting to do so even before he realized that he had fallen in love with her, way back when he used all kinds of schemes to trick her into becoming his girlfriend. But after facing various challenges together and realizing that he couldn't live the rest of his life without her, he became determined to do everything in order to keep her by his side forever. That included respecting and accepting her wish to wait until she was ready before they could marry, despite wanting to make her officially and lawfully his wedded wife right after his successful marriage proposal.
He welcomed the "accident" that happened to them in his office earlier today. If the "accident" successfully bore fruit and she really got pregnant, then he finally had a strong reason to persuade her to marry him sooner than they originally planned. He had been waiting for something like this to push their wedding forward.
Although he harboured thoughts of poking needle holes in his condoms or entering her raw before, he never put them into action because he would never betray her trust by doing those shady deeds behind her back. So when the condom broke during their intense lovemaking in his office, he was also shocked and didn't expect it to happen. He sure didn't break it on purpose. Nevertheless, he also didn't regret that he broke it. If his baby girl forgot to give Dominic Chua a raise after this, Jin Liwei decided that he would give it himself!
Thanks to the "fragile" condom that Dom gave his baby girl, Jin Liwei now had an extra powerful ammo to make her marry him sooner. If she really got pregnant, there was no way he would allow their child to be born illegitimate and subject her and their baby to the ridicule of those idiotic people with backward mentality. Nâ¡vεlB¡n: Transforming Moments into Memories.
He already made a mental plan on how to persuade her to agree with him, not expecting that she would also suggest the same thing. This was why he was overjoyed when he heard the words "Let's get married" from her own lips.
As for Iris, her reason for suggesting to marry earlier than planned wasn't as complicated as this. She just didn't want her big brother beating the shit out of Jin Liwei and possibly even murdering him if Lu Zihao discovered that she got pregnant out of wedlockâIF she really got pregnant.
Her fiercely protective big brother was the traditional type when it came to her and would never forgive Jin Liwei if he knocked her up before marrying her. In fact, it was already commendable that her brother was able to control himself and (reluctantly) accept the fact that Jin Liwei took her virginity and was living with her in addition to sleeping with her on a regular basis before marriage.
Iris was thankful that her brother was now Lu Zihao, a sworn brother of Jin Liwei, and not the infamous and terrifying crown prince of the Vetrovs. If her brother was still Nikolai Vetrov...she shivered just thinking about it.
Thus, in order to prevent her darling from getting murdered by her big brother, she thought that getting married earlier than planned would be the safer choice.
"Let's marry before winter," Jin Liwei suggested.
"So soon? What if I'm not pregnant after all?"
He frowned. "You won't marry me sooner if you're not pregnant?"
"That's not what I mean. It's just that both of us are extremely busy right now..."
"I already told you many times before that you're more important to me than my work. If I need to, I'll take leave from work for you. Don't forget that I'm the boss of Jin Corporation. I can create my own damn schedule if I want to. Busy or not, I'll choose you over the company at any time. Besides, if anyone dares to kick me out of Jin Corporation, I'll just become a househusband. After all, my wife is a famous celebrity, not to mention that she has her own businesses which are doing extremely well. You'll take care of me and support me if your poor husband suddenly becomes unemployed, won't you, my love?"
Iris fell into a fit of giggles. "Of course, darling. I think I can manage to earn enough for both of us."
"And for our children, too," he added.
Her giggles turned nervous but she still nodded. "Yes. For our children, too," she agreed in a soft voice.
He pulled her in his arms. "Don't worry, love. Except for Grandpa Lu, I won't let anyone snatch Jin Corporation away from me that easily. It's the company which my own grandfather worked so hard with Grandpa Lu to build from the ground up and my father maintained until it was handed down to me. I want to be the one to take care of you and support you. But at least, I now have the peace of mind that you'll be willing to become a working wife if I ever end up being a humble househusband."
"We'll take care and support each other, Liwei."
"En." He inhaled the lovely scent of her hair (Orchidia Beauty shampoo and conditioner, soon to be released) and hugged her tighter. "I know that marrying me now will set you back a bit after all your hard work since the year started because there are still idiots who think that you're using me to advance your career."
Her expression turned serious as she listened to him.
He continued, "I know that you want to be recognized for your own accomplishments and I respect that. I love and admire that about you. You're such a strong and independent woman, yet not everyone sees that. Stupid, blind fools!"
###
Chapter 632 - Stable And Successful
Jin Liwei snorted in derision at all his baby girl's detractors. He knew very well what an amazing, talented, and intelligent woman she was. A genius! Yet those blind fools still continued yapping away and spreading lies about his baby girl, not to mention belittling her achievements as if they had the ability to easily do the same things.
Iris sighed and stroked his cheek, trying to calm his anger. She didn't pay much attention to the naysayers, most of the time treating them like fartâunpleasant but would pass by and go away after some time.
The same couldn't be said for Jin Liwei, however. According to Ketchup, there were several occasions when he bullied some people, giving them a taste of his domineering power and influence, because they said something bad about her. Almost all of them were members of high society. He hadn't said anything to her about those instances.
If it wasn't for the talkative Ketchup, Iris wouldn't have known about it. Despite this, she didn't tell him that she knew about his secret actions of protecting her reputation because they already had a tacit understanding not to interfere with each other's works without permission. She wasn't mad. On the contrary, she felt thankful, loved and cared for by him. It gave her a feeling of security knowing that she could depend on him whenever she needed.
Her touch calmed him down. He continued, "Fortunately, your achievements this year are all phenomenal, especially when it comes to Orchidia Beauty. I'm so proud of you, love." Nâ¡vεlB¡n: Transforming Moments into Memories.
"Thanks." She smiled and patted his cheek.
Despite his improved expression, Jin Liwei was still fuming deep inside because there were already some people trying to spin Orchidia Beauty's success as something directly caused by him. Ridiculous! Those narrow-minded fools just couldn't understand that she could be so successful in her own right. Even more infuriating was that those idiots were spreading their prejudiced views, wanting other people to believe that without him, his baby girl couldn't be so successful on her own.
Iris pinched his cheek. Hard.
Jin Liwei grunted and grabbed her hand away from his poor cheek before rubbing it with his other hand. Then he retaliated by giving her a few loud, smacking kisses on her cheek which made her giggle again.
"Liwei, don't worry about those people anymore. They're not important. I remember that after you proposed to me, I asked you to wait until both my showbiz career and businesses have stabilized and reached a certain level of success before we could marry. It was a selfish request of mineâ"
"Not at all. I understand."
She scooted over to him and cozied up in his arms. "Yes," she agreed, sighing in contentment. "Do you think that my showbiz career is stable now?"
"En. Your fans and the music industry waited for you even when you had to take breaks."
"Is it successful now?"
"En. You're now one of the best-selling and most respected young musicians in showbiz, plus one of the top endorsers this year." Then he added, "My brother still holds the #1 spot for top endorser but you'll overtake him soon."
"Brother Chonglin is a superstar. He won't be so easy to beat."
"True," he agreed. "He's a superstar and I'm proud of him as an older brother. But I believe that my wife will be a bigger superstar than him because my wife is the best."
"I'm not your wife yet," she retorted, giggling.
"You'll be, if you agree to marry me soon."
Instead of replying, she made herself more comfortable in his embrace and continued asking, "How about my companies? Are they stable? Would you consider them successful at this stage?"
"Let's see." Jin Liwei's expression became serious as he went into business mode. "Gold Heights is already successful when you got it, so you don't have to worry about it too much. Just checking now and then is enough. You've also been making full use of the fact that your mentor, Sir Enrique Valdez, is staying in one of your buildings which in turn has increased the value of the company's stocks. Now Gold Heights is known as a place that even world superstars like the legendary hitmaker would choose as a residence while staying here in China. Well done, my love."
The couple shared a shameless smile while the sound of a certain old man's booming laughter echoed inside their minds.
"Next is Planet Monkey. Your gaming company recently managed to break even and started to really make a profit. To be honest, it's the one among your businesses that I felt the most nervous about because you spent so much money buying Exlorsson's advanced technology. If he wasn't a Cross Academy student like you, I would've done everything in my power to dissuade you from that particular investment. Fortunately, 'Supreme Ascension'became a big hit among gamers. However, I still want you to exercise caution because the gaming industry is very fickle especially for new companies. You need to keep your current gamers invested in the game and evoke loyalty from them while also trying to attract new gamers."
Iris nodded.
"Then there's Orchidia Beauty. What more can I say about it? It's a winner."
"Alric Bauer's products are unbelievably amazing. That's why it's such a big success," she said.
"Yes, and there's you, my love. Without you, there would have been no Orchidia Beauty. Bauer's products would probably continue being sold by his sister at that street market in Munich."
"Maybe. How about Liberté?" she asked next.
"Announcing it at such a high-profile event as Orchidia Beauty's grand launch was an excellent idea. Not to mention you and my brother will eventually release your perfume lines under its brand. It's already making waves before you even officially launch it," he said. "However, we won't know for sure until then. Clover needs to sort out everything about it first. She'll have a lot of work to do because Sang Bleu didn't have a good reputation and many are still prejudiced against it. A delicate but aggressive rebranding is needed for it to be successful."
###
Chapter 633 - On Fire
Listening to Jin Liwei's brief analyses of each of her companies provided Iris a more objective view of them. Indeed, having the country's top businessman of his generation as a fiancé had its advantages. Despite this, she never depended on him to make her businesses successful. That was something that she was determined to do on her own and wanted to prove to everyone. However, it didn't mean that she would reject his offer of help if she needed it.
She straightened so that they sat face to face. "My companies are still nowhere near Jin Corporation's level but based on the fact that I've only been a businesswoman last year, I think that they've become quite stable and successful enough."
"En." Then he raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile lifting the corner of his lips. "So you plan for your companies to reach Jin Corporation's level? Or maybe you want them to surpass my company?"
"Of course," she said, not denying it. Now it was her turn to tease him. "You just mentioned that if you become an unemployed househusband, then I would need to support you as a working wife. I want to at least reach your level in both status and wealth in the business world because you're already used to being a global billionaire. I would prefer it if we could continue enjoying our current lifestyle for the rest of our lives even if it's just me who's earning for us, you know."
He chuckled. "My wife is so thoughtful."
"So what I mean is..." Iris took a deep breath before telling him, "Even if it's earlier than what I envisioned, I think that I'm ready to marry you now. Regardless of what others may think or say about us marrying this early, even if they accuse me of using you for personal gain, I don't want to care anymore. I don't care. For me, what's important is the two of us and our happiness."
"Exactly." He lifted her chin and rubbed her bottom lip with his thumb.
"I love you, Jin Liwei. I want to share the rest of my life with you. What's mine is yours."
"And everything that's mine, including myself and my body, are yours as well," he replied. Then he lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. It was tender and sweet yet filled with the promise of his eternal devotion to her. "Once again, I ask you. Long Xiulan, will you marry me?"
"Oh yes."
###
###
"Big Sis, hurry up! There's only one minute left in the countdown!" Ming Li (a.k.a. LittlePhoenix) hollered while staring at the laptop screen.
"I'll be done soon!" Zhou Mei'er's voice called from inside the toilet. She was also known online as CaptainBlackStar, the founder and president of the Black Stars fan club.
Moments later, Zhou Mei'er's hurried footsteps returned to where Ming Li was waiting with the laptop. They squeezed together on the small bed.
Zhou Mei'er recently moved into this old apartment from the university dorms. A fellow Black Star informed her about the available unit after learning where she was studying. The Black Star was the great-grandson of the landlord. She immediately grabbed the offer because the rent was many times cheaper than the dorms.
The apartment was very old that there were times she thought it was haunted. Her unit was also very small, barely enough to fit a bed, desk and a closet, but it had a kitchenette and her own bathroom. It wasn't the most luxurious but she preferred it over the university dorms because she could finally enjoy some privacy.
When she finished settling into the unit, Ming Li started coming over when the teenager had no school. Tonight would be the first time that Ming Li's parents allowed her to sleep over in the place. Zhou Mei'er finally gained their trust, mainly because she continued to study hard in university while working part-time to support herself despite being a hardcore fan of Iris Long. Ming Li's parents thought that she was a good role model for their teen daughter.
"Twenty seconds left!" Ming Li started squealing and bouncing on the squeaky bed.
Zhou Mei'er was also excited, her fingers busy typing on her phone. She was chatting with their similarly excited fellow Black Stars online.
"10! 9! 8... The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.
"...3! 2! 1!"
"Kyaaaaaah! It's here! Big Sis, it's here!" Ming Li almost fell off the bed in her overexcitement.
"Shhhh! I can't hear." Zhou Mei'er clicked on a link, increased the laptop's sound volume, and turned off the lights in the room.
Then a video started playing on the computer screen.
"Passionate Flames" by Jin Chonglin, featuring Iris Long.
###
It was another big night in the music industry. Jin Chonglin and Iris Long's newest single together titled "Passionate Flames" finally debuted.
When the release date was first announced, many artists who were also scheduled to release their music around this time actually changed their release dates to avoid going head to head against Jin Chonglin and Iris Long.
Individually, the two of them were already tough opponents to beat. Together, they were considered to be absolute powerhouses in the current music scene.
It was already expected for Jin Chonglin to dominate the music charts because of his superstar status and huge army of loyal fans. As for Iris Long, her renown might have only been very recent but her achievements so far had already outstripped Jin Chonglin's when he was at her age.
Special award for creating new musical techniques!
The youngest and the first Chinese to win a Soleil d'Or Award for Best Soundtrack at the Sommet International Film Festival!
Performed with legendary world-class musicians Maestro Ludovico De Luca and Enrique Valdez!
Each of these were all history-making achievements! Although Iris Long's current fame still couldn't compare to Jin Chonglin's, many industry experts predicted that it was only now a matter of time before she became a true powerhouse in the music industry in every sense of the word.
It was no wonder that as soon as "Passionate Flames" was released, it quickly climbed up to #1 trending online.
The music video was on fire.
Literally.
Chapter 634 - The Dragon And The Phoenix
"Passionate Flames" was a catchy R&B/hip-hop song corresponding to the musical style which Jin Chonglin became known for in recent years when he reinvented himself and solidified his position as a music superstar in the country. It was a sensual song yet not vulgar.
Right after watching the entire music video, the Black Stars and Jin Chonglin's army of fans flooded the internet with their comments. They gushed over the music video and began discussing it among themselves with much excitement.
"Wow! Prince Lin Lin and Boss Iris look so AMAZING in this MV! Look at their bodies! Lick the screen! Yum!"
"Prince Lin Lin has always been a great dancer so I'm not surprised about his dancing skills. As for Boss Iris, I remember that she was also a rather good dancer back in her teen pop idol days but she looked so tacky before, like a girl who was trying too hard to become a wannabe sex symbol. I'm so relieved watching her in this MV! She's so sexy while dancing but still somehow managed to maintain her delicate femininity and elegance! How does she do it?!"
"It's because she's our Boss Iris! Everything she decides to do, she does it like a QUEEN!"
"Damn, she can really move her body! CEO Jin is a lucky man!"
"This choreography is top-notch! The best I've watched this year! That dance break! Holy! Ah, the fire! Is that real fire?! Whoa! The sweat on their bodies! Those abs! *dies in happiness*"
"Our Boss Iris doesn't lose to Prince Lin Lin in dancing. That power and strength!"
One amateur music critic commented:
"Everyone's talking about the choreography and the dancing but my favourite is still the song itself. This just proves that both Jin Chonglin and Iris Long are such versatile vocalists. They could sing almost anything! I'm especially impressed with Iris Long. This is a completely different genre than what she has showed us so farâfrom the cutesy-sexy dance pop during her teen years, to the classical-inspired ballads she mastered when she made her comeback, to the amazing rock-classical fusion she did with Pandemonium, then the sweet love song 'Shining Eyes' which remains a hit until now. Singing this R&B/hip-hop song, her voice doesn't sound out of place at all.
"Now let's talk about the song composition. The music is very Jin Chonglin, something that we're used to listening from him. However, the quality of lyrics are quite different from his previous songs in this genre. This song is more poetic and meaningful. It's clear that he put a great deal of effort writing the lyrics. I suspect that he was influenced by Iris Long who is known not only for her soul-stirring musical composition but also for her thought-provoking lyrics.
"In conclusion, 'Passionate Flames' is a delightful surprise from both Jin Chonglin and Iris Long. Both of them have ventured out of their comfort zones with this song and slayed it with flying colours. But is it a masterpiece? I personally don't think so. Sure, it's awesome. It's a grand piece, I'll give it that, but certainly not a masterpiece. Nevertheless, I still give this song a 4 out of 5 stars!"
The Black Stars and Jin Chonglin's army of fans were thrilled by this amateur critic's review of their boss and prince's new song...at the beginning. They hit the "like" button but when they read the last part of the review, they immediately turned berserk and hit "dislike" in addition to criticizing the critic rather harshly, even though he gave the song a high rating.
"You say it's not a masterpiece? Are you blind and deaf?!"
"Something must be wrong with your ears because 'Passionate Flames' sound like a masterpiece to me. And that dancing? EPIC!!!" Nâ¡vεlB¡n: Transforming Moments into Memories.
As more and more people watched the music video, many noticed its quality of production.
"The filmography of this MV is seriously lit! Movie-quality, yo! There's an interesting background story and not just random dancing like other typical MVs shot in cheap studios. The budget for this must be expensive!"
"This is Prince Lin Lin we're talking about. Of course Bright Summit will give a superstar like him a big budget for his projects. And he's collaborating with Iris Long, JJ's current protégé. That ogre's record label is the one in charge of their collabs, so of course the quality is guaranteed."
Afterwards, some hawk-eyed people who had already watched the music video many times started noticing symbols. Once someone mentioned them, the fans and even some experts in the music industry began hunting for all the symbols hidden in the music video and trying to decode them.
At first glance, the music video seemed to be a passionate love story between the characters Iris Long and Jin Chonglin were playing. On closer inspection, however, there were a lot of symbols that might be referring to Jin Liwei instead, even though he didn't make any appearane in the MV at all.
One example was a scene where Iris burst into flames and a phoenix-shaped fire shot out of her into the sky. Her fans knew that the phoenix had become somewhat of her symbol when she made a successful comeback with her "Rebirth" album.
The next scene added another layer of symbolism to the phoenix that came out of Iris. A mighty flood dragon suddenly rose up from an icy ocean. The dragon and the phoenix seemed to be barrelling towards each other, roaring mightily like they were about to engage in an epic battle. Contrary to expectations, however, the dragon and the phoenix didn't fight but instead wrapped around each other like lovers before flying up in the sky and disappearing in a spectacular heavenly fireworks.
"Do you remember the matching bangles Boss Iris and CEO Jin always wear? If you look closely, they're engraved with a dragon and a phoenix to represent their eternal love! I bet my humble but mighty slippers that the flood dragon in the MV symbolizes CEO Jin while the phoenix is obviously our boss!"
"OMG! I think you're right! This is freaking awesome!"
"The dragon came out of an icy ocean. CEO Jin Liwei is known for his intimidating, icy-cold expression! Yes, I think he's the flood dragon in this MV!"
"Oh! Don't forget that during the red carpet event at the Sommet International Film Festival in France, CEO Jin and Boss Iris also wore a dragon and phoenix-inspired suit and dress!"
"Yes, I remember! They've always used the dragon and the phoenix as their symbols!"
This particular scene only lasted for a few seconds in the music video yet it ended up being dissected again and again as people tried to extract more meaning from the dragon and phoenix symbols.
There were also other symbols these obsessive fans and experts uncovered. Whether they were intended or not, neither Iris Long nor Jin Chonglin had confirmed yet. JJ's record label and Bright Summit also kept their silence about this topic for now. In the meantime, the people were having a field day trying to decipher more symbols from the music video.
In just one day, the song "Passionate Flames" by Jin Chonglin, featuring Iris Long shot up to the top and became #1 in the daily best-selling rankings of various online music stores and streaming websites and apps.
###
Chapter 635 - Iris Effec
Ãøvâ¬l-B1n was the first platform to present this chapter.
Friday.
A motorcade of shiny, black cars escorted two large executive vans. The vehicles moved slowly because the road was packed with excited and screaming people. Security personnel tried controlling the huge crowd while the motorcade passed by the TV station's front gates.
Moments later, people from several blocks away heard a thunderous noise of human voices screaming, shouting, yelling, and shrieking. It was so loud that the air seemed to vibrate. They thought that a tragic accident occurred before realizing that the noise sounded excited rather than frightened.
Back at the road in front of the TV station, Iris Long and Jin Chonglin waved at their fans outside the windows of their respective vans. They were the ones being escorted by the impressive motorcade and the objects of adoration of the huge crowd.
Based on past experiences, the management of the TV program MusicFest Tonight requested for Iris Long and Jin Chonglin to arrive together instead of separately because they had no confidence that their staff would be able to handle two separate instances of a huge crowd of fans going wild. In addition, the two celebrities were also told not enter though the front like usual because the management already anticipated that the crowd this time would be much larger than the previous times the two performed on the show. It wouldn't be safe for either Iris Long and Jin Chonglin's teams or for their fans. Not only them. It also wouldn't be safe for any of the TV station's staff or for the other arriving celebrities.
Although both Iris Long and Jin Chonglin liked taking the time to interact with their fans in person, they had to comply this time because Bright Summit Entertainment Company wasn't taking any chances and tightened security protocols around them in response to what happened to them during the bomb incident. The two of them were currently this year's top best-selling musicians under the talent management company, so it was only expected that Bright Summit would prioritize their safety after such a horrifying attack.
The back entrance of the TV station was already secured just for them. No other artists performing at the music program tonight were given this kind of special treatment.
Treating Jin Chonglin as a VIP was already expectedâhe was a superstarâso nobody complained.
What about Iris Long? She was no superstar.
However, she had already gained enough prestige through winning multiple awards this year, two of them history-makersâfirst, the special technical award for creating new musical techniques, and second, the Soleil d'Or Award for Best Soundtrack in the Sommet International Film Festival.
As a result, many serious artists in the country's music industry now admired and respected her. There was a notable shift in the kind of music the new, young artists who just debuted were releasing. Instead of the typical, simplistic, catchy pop music designed to appeal to most of the general population, there was a rise in newly debuted artists who were releasing lyrical and emotional ballads, purely instrumental music, experimental fusion of genres, and also attempting to successfully sing sustained high notes or even whistle notes.
JJ had been recorded on tape bragging that this was all because of Iris Long's influence. His friend, the notable music critic DJ Song, had called this trend the "Iris Effect". Soon after, other critics and industry experts followed suit and began using the term to describe this new phenomenon in the country's music scene.
This kind of shift was considered unprecedented because record labels usually wouldn't take a gamble of veering away from tried and true methods that they had been using throughout the years, especially when it came to new artists who were just debuting.
But Iris Long and JJ changed all of that. JJ had given Iris Long an unimaginable degree of creative freedom, even going so far as allowing her to experiment with almost each of her music releases since her showbiz comeback. Many called JJ insane, yet look who was laughing now and basking in the success of his protégé.
Their partnership had now reached a near legendary status in the music industry to the point that many new artists were choosing JJ's record label as their first choice. Unfortunately, Iris Long's blinding success story made them forget about JJ's notoriety in the music industry. Not everyone had Iris Long's guts in butting heads directly with the temperamental music producer. There had been quite a few disillusioned new artists who ran away in tears after experiencing JJ's bad temper and his honest but vicious criticisms.
Given how respected Iris Long had become in the country's music industry after her comeback, even directly influencing the latest new artists' musical styles, nobody dared to protest against her receiving the same VIP treatment as Jin Chonglin who was a superstar. Besides, she was currently in a music collaboration with him, not to mention that almost everyone in the country knew that they were eventually going to become siblings-in-law.
The two VIPs and their teams were personally welcomed by Director He and other staff of MusicFest Tonight and escorted them to the two best dressing rooms.
Along the way, Iris noticed that her female bodyguard would always hold her arm and steady her whenever there were stairs even though she was perfectly balanced. This wasn't the only thing that she observed.
She wasn't allowed to carry a single thing. Whenever she picked up something and intended to carry it, Dom and her bodyguards would freak out and snatch the guilty item from her hands as if it weighed five hundred kilos.
Whenever she asked for a drink, a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverage choices would arrive within two seconds including some healthy fruits and snacks that she didn't ask for.
Another bizarre thing was that one of her bodyguards now carried a foldable chair.
"What's that for?" she asked.
"This is for the mistress to sit down when you feel tired standing up," he replied.
"Oh. Okay. Thanks."
She didn't think too much about it but after noticing more of these things, they began adding up and confusing her. It felt like Dom and her bodyguards had become extra protective of her yet at the same time gentle to her as if she was fragile.
"Why are you all acting like this?" Iris asked Dom in a whisper.
"Sir boss instructed us to make sure that you don't strain or tire yourself," he whispered.
"Huh? Why would he do that? I'm fine. You know that the doctor already pronounced me healthyâ" Her eyes widened as realization set in. "Oh."
"Ehehehe." Dom grinned but his eyes quickly became moist. He looked like he was about to cry. "Boss, are you reallyâ"
"Shush your mouth! Not here," she immediately stopped him before looking around to make sure that nobody heard their conversation. "We'll talk later, okay?"
Dom nodded.
"What are you two whispering about over there?" Tang Yiyi suddenly asked.
Iris smiled at her manager. "Nothing."
Tang Yiyi looked at her for two seconds before instructing the makeup artist and hairstylist to start working on Iris. Fortunately, the manager was too busy communicating with the show's staff and coordinating with Jin Chonglin's team to ask Iris more questions.
Iris sighed in relief, her hand subconsciously touching her flat stomach.
###
Chapter 636 - Passionate Flames Part I
Nâ¡vεlB¡n: Unleashing Imagination, One Read at a Time.
"Welcome back to MusicFest Tonight!" the male host said after the commercial break.
Wild, loud and desperate screams could be heard clearly from the audience.
"We're now down to our final performers of the night," the female host spoke next. "I think you all know who they are, yes?"
"YEEEEEEEESSSS!!!"
"Hurry up!!! We can't wait anymore!!!"
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!"
Male host: "Ladies and gentlemen! Performing their newly-released single together which immediately became a hit upon its debut earlier this week..."
Female host: "Please welcome the current music chart toppers, Jin Chonglin and Iris Long, singing..."
Both: "Passionate Flames!"
A line of light lit up the front edge of the dark stage.
Then a spotlight revealed Jin Chonglin.
The audience immediately went crazy as soon as he appeared. He didn't even do anything yet, just stood there in a simple, cool pose but the audience members were already acting as if he saved the world from the apocalypse or something.
Instead of his usual flashy performance costumes, he wore a simple outfit this time. Black tank top and military green cargo pants. Nevertheless, he didn't look boring. No, not at all! On the contrary, he looked very masculine in the simple outfit. The tank top fitted his upper body like a second skin, accentuating the V-shape of his upper body and his hard muscles, and making so many panties drenched by his oozing manliness and gorgeousness.
After the initial screams, the audience went quiet in anticipation for the other performer they had been waiting for as well. They held their breaths and focused their eyes on the still mainly dark stage, not wanting to miss a moment.
Then all of a sudden, they heard the sound of slow, steady footsteps. Another spotlight lit up on the stage but it wasn't like how it happened with Jin Chognlin. Instead, this particular spotlight aimed low and lit up a pair of black high-heeled ankle boots walking in time with the sound of the footsteps reverberating throughout the entire studio. Even though they couldn't see the entire person yet, the audience already knew who it was just based on the recognizable "I'm the queen" runway walk.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
The pair of high-heeled boots continued walking, headed Jin Chonglin's way. Then the two spotlights finally converged. When that happened, the entire stage lit up, finally revealing Iris Long posing beside Jin Chonglin.
She wore a similar outfit as him. Military green cargo pants riding low on her hips and black turtleneck leather tank top which showed off the lower half of her toned flat stomach without looking vulgar. If this kind of outfit was worn by other female performers, most of them would look slutty. On Iris, however, the complete ensemble made her look tough and bad-ass, like a boss, yet still feminine and elegant.
On the stage, Jin Chonglin and Iris Long along with the back-up dancers behind them were frozen in a cool tableau.
Then Jin Chonglin and Iris Long made a sharp move to face the audience, half-glaring and half-smizing at their crazily screaming fans.
Jin Chonglin raised a hand and started counting with his fingers.
"1, 2. 1, 2, 3! Here we go!"
Trumpet sounds blared all of a sudden mixed with an electronic beat. A muffled explosive sound effect followed when the short intro ended. The music started and everyone onstage began dancing to the smooth R&B melody blended with a catchy hip hop beat.
Jin Chonglin swept a hand towards Iris Long and started singing into his headset microphone. His voice was like warm caramel, making some of the ultra-sensitive members of the audience roll their eyes to the back of their heads, on the brink of powerful mindgasms.
"Waking up in this world
I looked around for something
I could catch a hold of
Surprised I was to find out"
Iris sang next, taking over the music seamlessly from Jin Chonglin, as if there was no separation in their perfectly harmonized voices.
"You were the one who grabbed my heart
And stole right it in front of my eyes
I could not even struggle at all
So why do I feel no regret at all?"
The music became richer as more instrumental elements were added. The beat became a little stronger, a little more urgent, a little more intense.
Jin Chonglin did a body roll while Iris Long tossed her long, wavy hair in the air just in time as the stage lit up with real fire. The fiery illumination made them look wilder, dangerous, and sensual.
The two were perfectly synchronized as they danced like a pair of lovers, making everyone, not just the Black Stars and Jin Chonglin's army of fans, go even wilder.
Jin Chonglin sang to his beautiful partner, thrusting his chest in a panty-drenching hip hop move.
"My heart is your possession
Yet I want it no other way"
Iris did the same move, looking alluring and graceful at the same time. Her voice rose higher, giving another dimension to the catchy melody.
"Your love is filling my heart
Filling me completely"
The two sang together.
"Just the way it's supposed to be!"
The heat from the fire surrounding them and the intensity of their movements made them sweat. It spritzed from their bodies every time they moved sharply, making all the people watching them feel breathless.
Iris dropped to the ground on her back while Jin Chonglin stood behind her. Every time he moved his hand, the part of Iris' body which was directly above it would move as well, as if his hand was holding a magnetic force.
Then the monitor behind the stage suddenly lit up and showed a fire phoenix rising from the point where Iris was lying on the ground.
###
Chapter 637 - Passionate Flames Part II
Jin Chonglin's voice also hit the high notes, adding some growl to match the more intense melody and stronger beat.
"You looked like a phoenix
Risen from the ashes once more
I don't even care about my body burning
You fill my mind every moment"
He helped Iris to her feet in a smooth dance move while she sang the next lines of the chorus.
"Even if you burn my life out
I will burn into passionate flames
Just like my love for you
Burning fiercer than ever before"
The fire phoenix on the big monitor spread its massive wings and began flying around the entire studio. Amazed exclamations sounded from the audience as they applauded the high-quality projection on the big studio's walls and ceiling. However, their attention soon returned to their Prince Lin Lin and Boss Iris who sang and danced together on the burning stage.
"My heart is your possession
Yet I want it no other way
Your love filling my heart
Filling me completely This essence is securely nested within the heart of Nøvâ¬lánâ
Just the way it's supposed to be
So here we are bearing witness to love
My ring just like a collar"
By this point, the two looked like their bodies had been oiled. The flames on the stage became stronger, making them glisten even more. Their fans' throats became dry as they watched the two move their amazing bodies to the beat of the music.
"Showing the world I'm yours
So gods bear witness to our love
And know interference will result in a price
No mortal or immortal could pay"
Iris Long jumped and Jin Chonglin caught her in a rumba-like move mixed with hip hop.
Jin Chonglin: "For you are mine, my love"
Iris Long: "And like my ring has told the world before"
Both: "I belong to you and only you~"
Their voices rose higher together.
Then higher.
And higher...higher...still higher until the final highest note.
Their pitches rose in a total of five semitone increments, making their fans burst into tears and goosebumps.
Jin Chonglin's fans were especially proud of him because this was perhaps the first time that they heard him sing such high and sustained notes before. He really went above and beyond for this second music collaboration with Iris Long who was known for her impressive whistle notes.
After the deceptively simple yet highly demanding harmonized vocal acrobatics of the pair, the music changed as the hip hop element took over and the song entered a dance break. The back-up dancers retreated out of sight, leaving only Jin Chonglin and Iris Long alone together on the stage.
Then rain started pouring from the ceiling, immediately drenching the two of them. The once blazing fires surrounding them weakened to sputtering embers yet didn't completely go out. At the same time, the huge monitor behind the stage lit up once again and a thunderous roar reverberated as a mighty flood dragon rose from the flooded floor.
Iris Long and Jin Chonglin danced under the pouring rain. Water splashed with their every step and spritzed with every turn. They thrust their hips and chests, rolled their bodies, and tossed their heads. Jin Chonglin even did a somersault while Iris Long twisted her hips in a belly dance-hip hop fusion move.
Just a few moments ago, they impressed everyone with their vocal mastery. Now, they were impressing everyone with their superb dancing skills.
A high-pitched roar sounded and the flames on the stage began burning fiercely once again. The fire phoenix flew back to the stage and the mighty flood dragon welcomed it with a deep, triumphant roar. As the projections of the two immortal creatures met and wrapped around each other like lovers, Iris Long and Jin Chonglin performed a series of powerful synchronized moves before ending the dance break.
By this time, plenty of the audience members had already fainted from overexcitement and overstimulation. One was even twitching on the floor and foaming in the mouth but still had a big smile on her face due to the happiness of witnessing such an epic performance.
Already anticipating such alarming scenes from past experiences when Jin Chonglin and Iris Long performed on the show before, the TV program had increased the number of first aid responders stationed in the studio. The people who fainted were quickly carried away and taken care of. However, a handful of them woke up in the middle of being carried away. They fought the first aid responders who were helping them because they wanted to return to their seats in order to watch the performance until the end. The responders were speechless but didn't stop them because they too wanted to finish watching the amazing performance as well.
Back on the stage, the performance had now reached climax. The projections of the fire phoenix and the flood dragon roared together before flying upwards. Then fireworks exploded around the stage as the two immortal creatures disappeared.
The stormy rain had stopped and was replaced by a gentle drizzle instead. Even the blazing flames around the stage appeared softer. Then suddenly, a rainbow projection lit up in magical sparkles just above the performers on the stage, eliciting another wave of amazed exclamations from the audience.
Jin Chonglin and Iris Long sang the final lines of the song together, their pitches lighter and sweeter, yet still sounding passionate. Their powerful and intense dance moves also transitioned into slower and smoother movements.
"My heart is in your possession
Yet I want it no other way"
Iris Long looked directly into the camera and sang her heart out, conveying the words to the man she wanted to spend the rest of her live with. She knew that he was watching her on TV right now. Jin Chonglin sang with her but all she could think about was the older brother, Jin Liwei.
Her man, her lover, the one who always lit the passionate flames inside her.
"Filling me up completely
Just the way it's supposed to be~"
The song finally ended.
Iris lifted her wrist and kissed her LX bangle, her lips touching the engraved dragon. The diamond ring on her finger sparkled under the spotlights.
###
Chapter 638 - Good Auspicious Date
Jin Corporation.
A standing ovation followed Jin Chonglin and Iris Long's epic performance. The roaring applause wasperfectly transmitted through the huge flatscreen television mounted on the wall.
Jin Liwei smiled as his baby girl looked directly at him through the TV screen and mouthed the words "This is for you, darling" before waving and bowing to the audience. Of course, he already knew that her passionate and sensual performance was for him.
Before the bomb incident, she tried rehearsing the song and dance in front of him but her sexiness always made him snap and lose control. He grabbed her and pushed her down the floor to make love with her before she could even finish. After many instances of it happening, he suspected that she was doing it on purpose to seduce him. Not that he was complaining.
Now that he watched the full performance, complete with the amazing stage effects, blood rushed towards his lower region. There was no one as beautiful, talented, and sexy as his baby girl for him.
Watching his brother Jin Chonglin singing and dancing such a sensual and passionate song with his woman, Jin Liwei couldn't help but feel jealous. However, she already took the time before to reassure him that he would be the only one she would be thinking all throughout the performance so there was no need for him to feel jealous of his own brother.
Besides, she was the one who suggested the idea of adding the phoenix and dragon symbolisms into the music video and the live performance to honour their relationship even though the song was written by Jin Chonglin. The creative team behind the making of the music video thought that it was an excellent idea, so in the end, Jin Chonglin gave in because he too admitted that it was indeed a great idea. He still sulked a lot after that, though.
Jin Liwei appreciated the inclusion of the phoenix and the dragon. He already long treated them as the symbols representing his love he shared with her. His thoughts behind it might be over the top, but he didn't care.
For him, she was the phoenix queen showing everyone her magnificence while he was the dragon king always protecting her. Their love was eternal!
The inclusion of these symbols into the music video made him feel like he was also a part of the song, and in turn, lessened the jealousy he felt at his younger brother for writing such a sensual song and dragging his baby girl to help him sing it.
He leaned back on his opulent leather seat in front of his massive office desk. His full attention was on the post-performance interview. He frowned, thinking that the hosts were taking too long asking questions. His baby girl was drenched! If they wouldn't give her something warm to cover herself up, then they should at least hurry up and end the interview so that she could return backstage. If his baby girl fell ill after this, he would make sure to sue the crap out of the TV program!
His frown deepened when his eyes fell on her semi-exposed flat stomach. He almost didn't let her perform tonight because he was too worried about her possible condition. They still didn't know whether she was pregnant or not. This song required her to sing and dance at the same time. And the dancing was quite intense, too. What if she was really pregnant and ended up overexerting herself?
Worried, they called his second brother, Dr. Wang Yingjie, and expressed their concern. He assured them that Iris would be fine because she was young, healthy and fit, and regularly worked out. In his opinion, her body would be able to handle the performance as long as she didn't do it too hard or too long. Also, he said that as long as she felt fine, then she would most likely be just fine. However, he suggested that he would personally check on her the day after the performance to make sure that she was really alright. Maybe they could even try getting her a pregnancy test, although Wang Yingjie thought that it was still too early.
Only upon receiving Wang Yingjie's assurance did Jin Liwei feel comfortable enough to let his baby girl perform on the stage tonight. But he still informed Dominic and his subordinates to take extra care of her and to let her rest as much as possible. He would always worry about her regardless of whether she was pregnant or not. Ãøvâ¬l-B1n was the first platform to present this chapter.
Sensing the uneasiness in his boss, Xu Tian served him a cup of hot, calming herbal tea. He also watched the Second Master and Miss Long's performance on TV, temporarily pausing their remaining tasks for the day.
They originally planned to finish early today so that Jin Liwei could watch tonight's episode of MusicFest Tonight in the comfort of his own mansion and also be the one to welcome his baby girl home this time after so long of returning late. Unfortunately, a serious issue in the marketing department came up in the afternoon. All the executives had to gather together in a meeting in order to resolve it. In the end, Jin Liwei's original plan of going home early had to be scrapped.
As the one in charge of the marketing department, Rose Young apologized for the issue before immediately proposing some solutions to the problems. She was competent in this way. Still, she only apologized briefly but didn't say that it was her fault.
The meeting extended into the evening and only just finished. If Jin Liwei didn't drive his fellow executives with an iron fist, he might've missed MusicFest Tonight.
Rose Young suggested that they eat dinner together but Jin Liwei refused and returned to his office to switch on the TV. There was no way he was going to miss his baby girl's performance.
Back to the present, MusicFest Tonight finally ended. Jin Liwei sipped his hot tea, already feeling calmer now that his baby girl's performance was over. She looked alright. What a relief!
"Ketchup, monitor your mom. Any sign of pain or discomfort from her, immediately order her security team to send her directly to the nearest hospital. Understood?"
"Aye aye, Daddy! Meow~"
Afterwards, Jin Liwei switched off the TV and faced the documents on his desk once again. Xu Tian was also about to return to his own tasks. However, Jin Liwei didn't resume working. He stared at the documents for almost a minute before sighing and pushing them away.
"These can wait until tomorrow," he said before standing up.
Xu Tian was at a loss for a moment before quickly recovering. "Understood, President."
"Let's go home."
"Yes, President."
They left the office and was about to enter the elevator when Jin Liwei suddenly stopped and turned to Xu Tian.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Coordinate with Dominic regarding the schedules of both Xiulan and I. Find a good, auspicious date for a wedding before winter when both of us are free, preferably by next month. I want Xiulan to be my legal wife as soon as possible."
Xu Tian tripped on his own feet and almost smashed his face on the wall.
###
Chapter 639 - Scarlet Woman
Dragon Palace Home #10.
The next morning.
"Oh, so I'm not pregnant after all," Iris said.
She felt a pair of strong arms tightening around her waist. She turned and looked at her darling's face who was holding her on his lap. They were sitting on the couch in their bedroom suite's living area. This time, she couldn't read his expression.
"The test came out negative today but that doesn't mean anything at this point," Wang Yingjie replied, looking at his third brother who was hiding his emotions behind an unreadable expression. Nevertheless, as one of his best friends, he could vaguely tell what his third brother was feeling. He sighed and continued speaking, "I already told the two of you that it's still too early. We'll do this test again after your missed periodâif you miss it. Is that alright with you, Xiulan?"
"Yes, of course." She paused and tilted her head to the side. "But ever since I woke up from coma for the first time, there are times that I have irregular periods especially when I become too busy working. I was told that it's because of stress or perhaps some remaining hidden damage from the accident... Will that be a problem?"
Wang Yingjie thought for a moment before answering. "No, I looked at your medical records. You're healthy and fit unless you're in an accident that leave you injured like what happened during the bombâanyway, let's just do the pregnancy test again about a couple of weeks after the date that the two of you had unprotected sex." He turned to Jin Liwei. "That's the day you called me, right?"
"En." Jin Liwei nodded, remembering that he indeed called his second brother after his baby girl left his office after their wild and intense lovemaking which resulted in the torn condom.
"Alright." Wang Yingjie took out his phone and looked at his schedule before making an appointment with the couple for the next pregnancy test.
With that done, he started organizing his medical equipment and stuffing them in a shiny, metal wheeled luggage. At the same time, he was advising Iris not to overwork herself while they weren't sure yet if she was really pregnant or not.
Afterwards, the couple walked with Wang Yingjie to the grand foyer to see him off.
He bid them goodbye and drove off in his own car. A yawn broke his usual serious expression. He performed a nine-hour surgery which only ended earlier that morning. He hadn't slept a wink yet. Although exhausted, he still dropped by his third brother's place after leaving the hospital in order to fulfill his promise to check on Iris.
Jin Liwei had been pestering him almost every day ever since the couple had an accidental unprotected sex. Wang Yingjie was a surgeon and an extremely busy one at that, not to mention that the hospital that he worked at was one of the biggest and busiest in the country. He didn't have a lot of free time. In addition, he wasn't an OB-GYN. Despite this, he still granted his third brother's request just because they were sworn brothers, the best of friends. To him, doing this much was nothing because it was for family.
Iris had her own OB-GYN but at this stage, Wang Yingjie understood why Jin Liwei would consult him instead. Both Jin Liwei and Iris were public figures. People always wanted to know what was going on in the couple's private lives. If it was discovered that Iris Long became pregnant out of wedlock, it would incite another scandal for her, even though she was already engaged to Jin Liwei. There were always malicious people out there waiting to pounce on the smallest opportunity to pull Iris down and tarnish her increasingly glowing reputation, especially since she had offended a lot of people during her teenage years in the past.
Wang Yingjie was family, her OB-GYN wasn'tâin short, an outsider. This was why Jin Liwei preferred for him to conduct the pregnancy test on Iris. The couple could've just used a regular home pregnancy test but given the couple's preference for accurate results, Wang Yingjie didn't mind stepping in for the role even though he was a surgeon and something like this wasn't his specialty. He also knew that the couple trusted him more than any other doctor in the world.
"I can't wait to sleep on my bed," he talked to himself so as not to fall asleep while driving. "I still have another long surgery scheduled tonight."
Another yawn.
He smirked, remembering how his third brother almost half-carried Iris every time she walked. Wang Yingjie had no doubt that if Iris really got pregnant, there was an extremely high chance that Jin Liwei would tie her to his waist and carry her all around, not letting her walk or do anything "strenuous", until she gave birth to their first human baby.
His third brother had an innate controlling nature while Iris, as far as Wang Yingjie observed, was a headstrong and independent woman who liked to do her own thing. It was a wonder how these two fell in love with each other without constantly butting heads. If Iris really got pregnant, it would be interesting how she would deal with an ultraprotective (times a trillion) Jin Liwei. She might just go crazy and scratch his face off.
Wang Yingjie chuckled before another yawn assaulted him again. He drove on the road fighting sleep but in a good mood.
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Zheng Ancestral Residence.
Three figures, two females and one male, sat around a low table in silence. Their straight backs, impassive expressions, and their obvious pride in their noble roots only magnified the ancient aura of the place.
The lady in traditional clothing was performing a tea ceremony. Her practiced movements were cultured and elegant. A delicate aroma of tea soon wafted in the room, as she served a tiny cup each to all of them.
They sipped their tea in silence, enjoying the exquisite taste of one of the most expensive and rarest teas in the world. Ãøvâ¬l--Ã1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
Zheng Suyin put down her teacup on the table without making any noise. Then her cold eyes fell on her son sitting in front of her. "The custody battle starts in a few days." It wasn't a question but a statement.
Nevertheless, Long Hui still answered after putting down his own teacup on the table. "Yes, Mother. I need to personally appear in court or else the judge will dismiss the case."
Long Meng also placed down her teacup. The elder turned to Long Hui. "Young Master Hui, you and that boy's mother have already separated before marryingâ"
Zheng Suyin: "Thank goodness for that. That kind of lowly woman isn't fit to be my daughter-in-law."
Long Hui's jaw tightened. His hands under the low table clenched into tight fists. However, his face remained expressionless. He was quiet, not replying to his mother's harsh words.
Long Meng nodded, agreeing with Zheng Suyin. "Young Master Hui, that woman and her boy have been living with Young Miss Xiulan. It also looks like they are close to that scarlet woman, Wei Lanâ"
"Scarlet woman?" Zheng Suyin snorted. "There is no need for euphemisms when describing that homewrecker, Elder Meng. Wei Lan is a slut. A big SLUT."
Chapter 640 - Damaged Frui
"Very true." Long Meng nodded and took another sip of tea before putting her cup down once again. "Young Master Hui, we all know that Wei Lan is a bad influence. Now that she's close to that female bodyguard and her boy, it's not surprising that she already corrupted them to turn against you."
"Her boy?" Long Hui's voice was low and threatening. "That's my boy too, Grandaunt Meng."
"Son, don't follow your father's footsteps. Illegitimate children aren't worth it. They're nothing but innately damaged fruits born from immorality. They'll never be as good as pure fruits like you, a legitimate child, born from a proper and legal marriage," Zheng Suyin lectured her son.
Long Hui frowned, his already clenched fists tightened even more. "Damaged fruits? What do you mean by that, Mother? Are you saying that my son Long Jun, your grandson, is damaged?!"
"Watch your tone. Is that how you speak to your own mother? Grandson? I will never admit an illegitimate child born from such a lowly woman as my grandson!"
Bam!
The two women flinched when Long Hui slammed both his hands on the table, causing the china tableware to jump, clinking and clanking in a dangerous manner. Nothing broke, but some tea spilled on the table.
"How dare you act like that in front of your mother and grandaunt?! Have you forgotten your manners after siring a bastard?!" Zheng Suyin was enraged.
But Long Hui was even more enraged. "Whether you like it or not, Long Jun is MY SON!!! Half of him came from me!!! He's my flesh and blood so I will NEVER abandon him!!! I'll fight to the end to get him from Yingâfrom Jiang Ying Yue! I'll raise my own son because I'm his only father!!! Nobody else!!! Not Jin Liwei and certainly not that snake Lin Yehan!!!"
He was breathing heavily after saying his piece.
The two women looked shocked seeing him lose his temper. Zheng Suyin was the first one to recover. She raised her chin and managed to look down on her son, even though he was towering over them right now.
"Are you done?"
Long Hui finally realized the disrespect he showed to his parent and elder. However, he didn't apologize. He meant what he said. Long Jun was his son. He wouldn't tolerate anyone insulting his son just because Long Jun was illegitimate, even his own mother, Zheng Suyin. In this aspect, Long Hui was very similar to his father, Long Tengfei.
"Ahem! Why don't you sit back down, Young Master Hui?" Long Meng said in a diplomatic tone. "Aiya. Both of you are mother and son. There is no need to clash against each other. We are all on the same team here."
Long Hui sat back down and lowered his eyes. He still didn't apologize but it was obvious that he already calmed down.
Zheng Suyin sniffed coldly but didn't force him to apologize.
Long Meng sighed in relief.
All of them took a sip of tea, ignoring the spillage on the table. Silence once again descended in the room for almost a couple of minutes.
Long Meng cleared her throat, interrupting the uncomfortable silence. "Young Master Hui, I commend you for your kind and honourable heart! Such a responsible man to think of your child! Indeed, you are the only one worthy to become the next head of the Long Industries and the clan."
She watched as the tight expressions of both Zheng Suyin and Long Hui eased up after hearing her compliments. Indeed, the two of them were mother and son. Long Meng inwardly released a sigh of relief.
"Young Master Hui, I understand your strong sense of responsibility towards your child. However, I also agree with your mother to a certain extent. That child is, without a doubt, a basâwas born out of marriage," Long Meng corrected herself after receiving a fierce glare from Long Hui.
She felt indignant that a brat like him would disrespect her, an elder, but this wasn't the time to act on her own feelings. Thus, she swallowed her own pride for the greater good of the Long clan. To her and their allies, Long Hui was the eldest son of Long Tengfei from the first marriage. Therefore, he was the rightful heir and the only one suitable to become the next head of the clan and the family business.
"You know how it is in our circles," she continued. "Even if you have acknowledged that child, he would never be accepted by everyone, especially those who are from our fellow aristocratic clans. That poor child would be bullied and made fun of for being a basâillegitimate. And when your wife gives birth to your legitimate child, his position will only become even more precarious. Also, it's unfair to your wife to bring a child from the outside. Your fiancée is from a respectable and aristocratic family like ours. It's a great disrespect to her and her family to force her to raise a child that isn't hers."
Zheng Suyin nodded, impressed at the elder's persuasive words. She stayed quiet, allowing Long Meng to talk sense to her son.
Long Hui also remained quiet. His expression showed that he was in deep thought, pondering over his elder's words. A furrow formed between his brows.
Encouraged by his expression, Long Meng appealed to Long Hui's paternal emotions in order to force her points home. "You love your son, don't you, Young Master Hui? Then isn't it best to protect that poor child from suffering? It is enough that you acknowledge him as your flesh and blood son and give financial support so that he could at least live a good life and have a decent future. There is no need to bring him to our side and allow him to suffer from being bullied because nobody but you accept him."
Long Hui's frown deepened. Discover, Devour, Delight: Nâ¡vεlB¡n.
The two women waited for his response.
After waiting almost five minutes, Zheng Suyin ran out of patience. "Son, your grandaunt is right. Drop the custody case."
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