Chapter 902 - Inspiring

Ming Li, a.k.a. LittlePhoenix, wiped her wet hands on the skirt of her brand-new formal dress that she bought with her mother as soon as she received the invitation. The dress was nothing too fancy but she felt like a lady while wearing it. She hoped that she could channel even just 1% of Boss Iris’ gracefulness and elegance during the party today.

At the moment, they were driving on their way to the party. She sat in the backseat while her father drove. He was Ming Li’s plus one guest. Sitting in the front passenger seat was Zhou Mei’er, a.k.a. CaptainBlackStar, founder and president of the Black Stars fan club. Zhou Mei’er didn’t bring anyone to accompany her so she hitched a ride with the father and daughter instead so that they could go together.

"I’m so nervous," Ming Li said. "I wonder what kind of party Boss Iris is throwing today. The invitation didn’t mention anything." [This novel is a contracted work with W e b n o v e l . c o m (remove spaces). If you’re not reading this chapter on W e b n o v e l, it has been stolen. It’s very discouraging to see thieves profitting from my hard work. Please support the original author, ArriaCross. Thank you!]

"Big Bros Wu Chen and Hou Liang are attending," Zhou Mei’er replied. "The four posh aunties are also coming. They think that the party might be a fund-raising event for Boss’ charity, Iris of Hope. As far as I know, we’re the only ones who got invited from the Black Stars. That’s why the two of us are very lucky. The two big bros are now bigshots in the gaming industry while the four posh aunties come from prominent, wealthy families. It’s not surprising that they got invited to a classy party like this. Just look at the invitation and you’ll know that it’s a classy party. As for the two of us, we’re just regular university and high school students but we still got invited because of Boss Iris. She’s really the best!"

"I know, right? She never forgets about us." Then Ming Li addressed her father. "Dad, you have to check my manners and Big Sis Mei’er’s during the party, okay? I don’t want us embarrassing ourselves in front of Boss Iris and CEO Jin and the other guests."

"Alright, I’ll do my best," her father replied. "I don’t really know much about high society etiquette but I at least know how to conduct myself at company parties. I think that should be enough."

"Sorry for the trouble, Uncle," Zhou Mei’er said. "And thank you very much for letting me ride with you. I’m just a poor university student so I don’t have my own car."

"It’s no trouble at all. Besides, didn’t the invitation say that if you don’t have dresses or a ride, Iris Long will provide everything for you?"

Zhou Mei’er scratched her nose. "We’re too shy to take Boss Iris on her offer. This party sounds like an important event given that we have to dress up. We don’t want her to worry about sending dresses or cars for us when we already feel honoured to just be included in her guest list. Boss Iris had already done so much for us."

"Ah, true." Ming Li’s father nodded. "I heard that she started sponsoring you for a scholarship for your university education?"

Zhou Mei’er’s eyes misted over before she nodded. "Yes, Uncle. It’s not only me. She also offered it to the other most loyal members of the Black Stars. As long as we maintain good marks, she’ll basically pay for our tuition, textbooks, and everything that we need to finish our university education. But if we flunk, then she’ll take away the scholarsh.i.p.s."

"Well, that’s to be expected and only fair. My daughter also got the same scholarship offer from Iris Long, although she’s still in high school. We’ve been saving up for when Little Li goes to university but then this girl suddenly announced that she wants to study foreign languages abroad and become an interpreter and a translator." He sighed. "We can’t afford that so if she really gets a scholarship from Iris Long, then that would be a great help to our family."

Ming Li giggled shyly. "Boss Iris was so cool when she worked as the official interpreter at the International Business Conference. I don’t think I’ll be able to be as awesome as her and speak so many languages but I want to be proficient in English at least and maybe one other language, maybe French or Spanish because they sound so fancy."

Her father shook his head but there was doting smile on his face. "To be honest, your mother and I thought that Iris Long was a bad influence and that joining her fan club will lead you astray. But we now admit that we were wrong. Ever since Little Li started hanging out with you and the other Black Stars, she has matured a lot and started doing better in her studies and also becoming more goal-oriented."

"Of course, Dad! That’s because Boss Iris is so inspiring and amazing. We, the Black Stars, need to also do our best so as not to embarrass her!"

Zhou Mei’er gave her a thumbs up. "When I graduate, I plan on applying to Orchidia Beauty. I want to work at Boss Iris’ company. I’ll start interning there next year."

"We’re almost there," Ming Li’s father announced as they saw the gated security entrance of the exclusive village, Dragon Palace Homes.

"Wow!" Ming Li looked out of the car window in awe.

"Oh my. Look at those cars! They must cost millions!" Her father was also equally in awe.

Similarly, Zhou Mei’er was too awed to speak.

"I...I feel like, uh, we’re out of our league here." Ming Li’s father began to feel nervous, causing the two girls to also become nervous.

"What’s your business here?" The intimidating security guard asked when they reached the gate.

They handed the two girls’ invitations instead of speaking. The security guard took them and checked on the computer system. The three in the car felt nervous. Then finally, the security guard returned and handed the invitations back.

"Welcome. Dragon Palace Home #10 is the last property and also the biggest. You’ll encounter additional security checkpoints along the way, just so you know."

"T-thanks, sir!"

Then they drove inside of what felt like another world.