Chapter 1521 Legend of the Great Fantom (Part I)
Iris handed her glass of champagne to her husband.
Jin Liwei drank the rest before putting the now empty glass on the table in front of them. Then he settled beside his wife and added to putting pressure on the nerdy tech billionaire with his cold and intimidating aura.
Grandpa Lu and his old friends also sipped their own champagne, pretending to chat among themselves, but the way they craned their necks and strained their ears made it super obvious that their attention was on somewhere else.
Iris didn't pay them any mind. She had a way to deal with them later. For now, she needed some answers.
"May I ask how you came to the conclusion that I might be Fantom's disciple?" she asked.
Her voice was soft and languid, but there was an unmistakable pressure in her words.
The nerdy tech billionaire swallowed.
Although he was unbelievably nervous, there was also excitement in his eyes.
"I...I heard it from somewhere," he said
Iris tilted her head to the side. "Tell me everything."
The nerdy tech billionaire took a couple of deep breaths and began telling his story. He started at the very beginning.
"As you all may know, I made my fortune in the tech industry. I was pretty talented with computers. Everyone was telling me that I'm a genius, but I know that I'm nobody compared to my idolâFantom!"
This time, there was an almost feverish obsession in the man's eyes.
But Iris didn't feel anything malicious from him. She could sense that it was similar to a child getting excited talking about a favourite cartoon character.
The nerdy tech billionaire continued, "Fantom is the best hacker in the world! I don't care about what other fools say, arguing that this or that hacker is the best. I say that they don't know what the hell they're talking about! For me, there's nobody in the world who can compare to the legendary Fantom!
"Despite being the top wanted hacker in the world, he has made a lot of contributions to the world of computers, the internet, and cybersecurity. A lot of the programs that he wrote and made available to everyone for free are still being used by many programmers today. Many of us learned how to become better programmers by studying and dissecting the open-source programs that she wrote. So many companies and even governments all over the world benefited from using his programs to strengthen their cybersecurity.
"In fact, I built my company by innovating the concept of several of her programs. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I caught the eye of my mentor, investor, and business partner who's a Cross Academy alumnus. He was a graduate of the Computer Department and also a big Fantom fan."
At this point of the story, he slowed down a bit. His fervent eyes from earlier turned embarrassed. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"Sorry about that. I just get too excited whenever I'm talking about my idol. Fantom has been my inspiration and role model for the longest time. I definitely wouldn't have achieved my success today without him."
Iris fought a smile by pressing her lips together. In truth, she felt happy that a successful billionaire took her past life as Fantom as a role model.
She told him, "No, it's fine. I just want to know why you think that I might be Fantom's disciple."
"I actually heard about it by accident," he said, a little sheepish.
She tilted her head to the other side, waiting for him to elaborate.
Jin Liwei, Grandpa Lu, and the others were also curious. They stayed silent and focused on listening to the conversation between Iris and the nerdy tech billionaire.
"My mentor, he's friends with the current head of Cross Academy's Computer Department. They sometimes call each other and chat. One time, we had an issue in my company. All of us had to rush and fix several major bugs for several days with barely any sleep. My mentor isn't directly involved in the company, but he does help out now and then, especially during emergencies. We needed the extra hand. He's a geniusâa bit lazyâbut in times of emergencies, he's the person who we can rely on the most.
"So he quickly identified the bugs and suggested several ways to fix them. My team and I worked hard to follow his advice while he took a break. I also took a little break afterward, but I ended up overhearing him speaking with his friend, the current head of Cross Academy's Computer Department. Maybe it's because my mentor was also mentally exhausted like the rest of us that he didn't bother double-checking whether he was alone in the place or not. So in short, I heard mostly everything that they were talking about."
Iris asked, "So what did they talk about?"
The nerdy tech billionaire's eyes once again shone with excitement. "My mentor said that if he had been Fantom, fixing the bugs would have been a breeze. Fantom wouldn't have to fix it personally. He bet that Fantom would have had a program, possibly an AI, that could fix the bugs for him instead."
Jin Liwei inhaled sharply. Iris squeezed his thigh, silently warning him not to react too much.
He poured himself a new glass of champagne and downed all of it in one go. She gave him a side-eye.
The nerdy tech billionaire was too stimulated to notice the covert exchange between the husband and wife in front of him.
Similarly, Grandpa Lu and his old friends were too engrossed in the nerdy tech billionaire's story to notice anything else. They wanted him to continue.
"The department head agreed. In fact, he revealed that Fantom should've been working on an amazing, very powerful AI that would change the world forever if released. But he hadn't personally witnessed Fantom working on it. He just heard about it from Fantom himself."
One of Grandpa Lu's friends interrupted and asked, "How can the Computer Department Head be sure that Fantom had been indeed working on an amazing AI? What if Fantom has been just bragging about it?"
Chapter 1522 Legend of the Great Fantom (Part II)
The nerdy tech billionaire gasped. Even the others all looked at the man in disbelief.
"W-what? Did I say something wrong?" he asked, feeling absolutely confused and a little flustered at everyone's expressions as if he had just asked the most stupid question ever.
The nerdy tech billionaire no longer cared about the other man's lofty status as a Cross Academy alumnus. He felt offended on behalf of his idol! How dare the man question the legendary Fantom?!
"With the great Fantom's skills and abilities, creating a powerful AI by himself that he could command to do almost whatever he wanted isn't in the realm of impossibility! Just the level of sophistication in his open-source programs is enough to let people with sense know that he is capable of so much more!"
Iris cleared her throat, interrupting the sudden conflict between the nerdy tech billionaire and Grandpa Lu's friend and preventing it from heating up too much. The nerdy tech billionaire had become too defensive now. She needed to steer the conversation back to the original topic.
"So what happened next?" she asked. "What else did your mentor and the academy's Computer Department Head talk about at that time?"
The nerdy tech billionaire shot an indignant glare at the older man, no longer intimidated. He would even throw away his pride to defend his idol. He couldn't bear anyone belittling Fantom.
If it hadn't been for Fantom's influence, then he wouldn't even have chosen to dive into the world of computer science in the first place. And now, he had become one of the wealthiest individuals in the world thanks to his idol Fantom's great impact on his life.
But no matter how much he wanted to continue preaching about his idol's feats to the older man, he restrained himself because he sensed that Madame Iris Long was growing impatient.
"They mostly talked about Fantom's impressive feats in the world of hacking," he said.
He intended to enumerate his idol's long list of accomplishments, but he swallowed the words in his throat upon seeing Iris' warning look.
It was unfortunate, but he could only skip a lot of details and mentally press fast-forward to the night when he eavesdropped on his mentor chatting with his friend.
"Then the department head suddenly turned sad and sighed a lot. When my mentor asked him what was wrong, the department head said it's such a big shame that Fantom died."
There was a collective gasp among Grandpa Lu's friends.
"Fantom really died?" one of them asked in shocked disbelief.
The nerdy tech billionaire sniffed and nodded. His eyes had turned red.
Iris was afraid that the man would cry so she urged him again to continue with his story. She needed to know how he was able to connect Fantom back to her as Fantom's disciple.
He used the lapel of his suit's dress shirt to wipe the corners of his teary eyes. He didn't care anymore about his image in front of this group of Cross Academy powerhouses. Every time he thought about his idol's death, he would always feel like crying.
The heavens must indeed be jealous of geniuses. Well, most of the people in the room were geniuses, but to him, they couldn't compare to a fraction of the great Fantom's genius. To him, Fantom was the best!
"I don't know how Fantom died. My mentor also had no idea. He kept asking the department head, but the department head refused to divulge any details."
Iris felt a little choked up watching the man getting emotional over her past life's death. She looked away to control her emotions.
Jin Liwei grabbed her hand and squeezed it, silently comforting her.
This time, the nerdy tech billionaire keenly caught her also getting emotional at the mention of the great Fantom's death.
"I knew it!" He jumped from his seat and pointed his finger at her. The almost feverish excitement returned to his face. "It must be true that you're Drakon, Fantom's disciple! Why else would you also be affected by your master's death like me?!"
There was another collective gasp among Grandpa Lu's friends. Their heads snapped in her direction. Their eyes opened wide and their jaws fell down.
Iris took a few deep breaths. She asked him, "Did you hear that from your mentor and the department head's conversation?"
"Yes." He nodded, his head bobbing like a chicken.
His eyes continued to shine as he looked at her, causing Jin Liwei to scowl.
"Are you really Drakon?" he asked.
Instead of answering his question, she asked instead, "Did the department head say that I'm Drakon?"
He nodded again, harder and faster this time. "Yes! He told my mentor that although it's a big shame that the world lost a legendary figure like Fantom, his legacy fortunately didn't die with him. He has a disciple! And Cross Academy managed to recruit Fantom's one and only disciple! The hacker, Drakon! He said that Drakon is unexpectedly a very beautiful young lady who's also a celebrity in China! I did my research and you're the only one who fits the description, Iris Long!"
Iris didn't respond right away.
"Are you really Drakon?! Please tell me that you're Drakon! And is it true that you're Fantom's one and only disciple?" Nôv(el)B\\jnn
She looked at him with a complicated expression. He looked like he was going to cry if she denied it.
Sighing, she could only bite the bullet now. This was how she managed to catch Cross Academy's attention and become recruited there again in the present life anyway.
"Yes, I am Drakon. And yes, Fantom...she's my master. She taught me everything I know about computers."
Tears flowed down the nerdy tech billionaire's eyes.
She was taken aback but didn't know what to do.
"Y-you're really Drakon, that rising hotshot hacker?" one of Grandpa Lu's friends asked.
She nodded, sighing again.
"No wonder," another commented.
"And here we were wondering how you could be admitted to Cross Academy with your mediocre level in Foreign Languages and Business Administration."
"Hey!" Grandpa Lu smacked his old friend in the back. "What in the bloody hogwash are you talking about my beloved disciple? I want to know! Mediocre level? Hah! You're the mediocre one!"
1523 Legend of the Great Fantom (Part III)
"Jianhong, calm down," Grandpa Lu's astronomer friend tried to calm him down but to no avail.
The old man was incensed.
His other friend wasn't afraid of him and said, "Everyone here can speak multiple languages so Iris Long being a polyglot isn't really something special among us. Granted, she might speak more languages than us, but the number of languages she knows and her level of proficiency in them doesn't matter if she doesn't apply them to her main career. And her running multiple businesses isn't a stand-out among us here either who have been standing at the very top of the business industry for decades. We don't look down on celebrities, but we can't help but wonder if she deserves her spot as a Cross Academy student."
Beside Iris, she could sense Jin Liwei's mood plummeting fast. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, silently communicating with him to calm down.
However, it was Grandpa Lu who couldn't bear the slight toward his beloved disciple. He stood up, red-faced, and pointed at his friend. "Youâ"
"Grandpa Lu, please calm down," Iris said in a soft, soothing voice.
"Hmph!" The old man glared at his friends but still listened to Iris and sat down again. He crossed his arms over his chest and continued harrumphing.
Iris sighed at the sight of her husband and the old man. Jin Liwei was like a volcano about to erupt. Grandpa looked like a kid who was sulking after throwing a tantrum. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the two of them. Nevertheless, her heart felt warm because they were only acting this way for her sake.
She gave her husband another comforting squeeze in the hand and a soothing smile at the infuriated old man before facing the others.
The nerdy tech billionaire looked at her with fanatic eyes. Tears continued flowing down his now red face. His expression was so intense that Iris felt complicated looking at him. Good thing that her instincts told her that he held no malicious intent toward him. He was simply ecstatic to be meeting someone directly connected to his idol, Fantom.
Even though she and Fantom were the same person, he didn't know that. If he did, maybe he would have already croaked from overexcitement and ascended to the heavens.
Iris faced Grandpa Lu's friends. Her expression was calm yet serious.
Her aura changed. Gone was the warm, welcoming host of today's launch party. Instead, it felt like they were now facing a formidable queen who had the power to decide their fates.
"Understandably, you think that wayâthat I don't deserve my spot at Cross Academy given my achievements so far," she said. "I may appear impressive among the normal, average people, but among top geniuses like you, I fall short."
Most of them nodded, agreeing with her.
Jin Liwei's expression turned uglier. Grandpa Lu was about to lose his temper, but Iris sent the old man another comforting smile while giving her husband another squeeze in the handâfirmer this time.
Her eyes were cold as she looked at each gentleman in the room. "Now that you know I'm Drakon and that Fantom was my master, this should prove that it's not a fluke that Cross Academy recruited me."
The nerdy tech billionaire nodded. "Of course! If the great Fantom taught you even just a fifth of his talents, then you should already be more than qualified!"
Nobody refuted him despite him not being a Cross Academy student himself. Although these alumni had their own pride as certified geniuses, all of them admitted that Fantom was indeed a true legend.
Then someone said, "Wait, Iris. You referred to Fantom as a "she". Is Fantom female?"
The nerdy tech billionaire froze alongside the others. They all turned their heads at her, waiting for her reply.
Iris was amused at their expressions but still replied, "Yes, Fantom was female."
The nerdy tech billionaire gasped. "For real?!!!"
She chuckled before nodding.
"No way!"
"Seriously?"
Grandpa Lu couldn't hold it anymore. "What's wrong with Fantom being a girl?! Why are you old fools acting like you haven't seen the world?! Tell me, I want to know! Fantom was the top hacker in the world and you all assumed that she's a boy! You might be geniuses but you're all still pinheads! Xiulan my girl's master was as amazing as her! Hmph!"
"Now, now, Jianhong, that's not what we meant at all," his astronomer friends said.
"Hmph!"
Iris felt complicated watching Grandpa Lu defending her without any regard for his own image. Even she wasn't entirely sure how much the old man knew about her real identity.
Most of the time, Grandpa Lu acted like he didn't know anything. But there were times like this when his eyes would reveal infinite knowledge and wisdom as if he knew every little secret she and her big brother concealed from everyone else.
Even her big brother, the former Nikolai Vetrov, was no match against Grandpa Lu who was like a bulldozer when educating the younger generation.
The nerdy tech billionaire couldn't help but ask, "C-can you tell us more about Fantom?"
"No," Jin Liwei requested the man's request before Iris could say anything.
"Why?!" The other man didn't want to give up. He looked at Iris with a hopeful expression.
She sighed. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. Fantom's identity, it's...special. It wouldn't do anyone in this room any good to learn about who she was in real life."
The man still wanted to ask more questions but Jin Liwei's threatening glare frightened him. He could only swallow the words in his throat and pout like a little kid.
Some of Grandpa Lu's friends also wanted to insist on knowing more, but the old man's glare stopped them.
Iris released another sigh before granting them some revelation to satisfy their curiosity. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"It's true that Fantom is dead. The circumstances of her death are too complex and too dangerous even for a powerhouse like our Cross Academy. My master...she just wants to rest in peace. I hope that you can all grant that for her."
1524 Legend of the Great Fantom (Part IV)
Iris' voice choked a little after saying these words.
Now, it was Jin Liwei's turn to give his wife a comforting squeeze. He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead as if protecting her from the whole world.
Although she was alive and well now, and even built her own beautiful family with her loving husband, the fact that she had died in her past life could never be erased.
Evelina Vetrova, a.k.a. Fantom, indeed wanted to rest in peace after death.
Or more specifically, she had wanted to be from the suffocating prison shackling her as a member of the Vetrov family.
The others thought that she became emotional because of her master-disciple relationship with the deceased Fantom.
Grandpa Lu once again started scolding his old friends.
The nerdy tech billionaire also felt guilty. "I'm sorry, Madame Drakon. I just can't control myself when it comes to Fantom. HeâI mean, she has been my idol for the longest time. Just thinking about her great feats and contributions to the world of computers, the internet, and cybersecurity is enough to make me overexcited to no end. I hope that you forgive me for wanting to know more about her. I'll respect her wishes and won't try to dig deeper about her anymore."
Iris had already controlled her emotions. She gave the man a kind smile. "Thank you."
Death, especially the death of a prestigious person who contributed to the progress of humanity in the technological age like Fantom, would always fill people with great commiseration.
Grandpa Lu finished his tirade. None of his friends uttered so much as a peep. He harrumphed in satisfaction, but the same commiseration could be seen in his old, wrinkled eyes.
Warmth filled Iris' heart. Even though she hadn't met these people in her past life, they all admired her as Fantom. She felt that perhaps she wasn't all that alone in her past life after all.
Even so, she didn't like the negative energy currently filling the atmosphere. It was too depressing. Today was supposed to be a happy day for her as the owner of Liberté.
But first, she still needed to make something clear to this group of gentlemen before she let them return to the lively party outside.
Once again, her aura changed. It was more intense than earlier.
She channelled her inner Vetrov and stared down on this group of gentlemen (except for Jin Liwei and Grandpa Lu) like a predator stalking its prey. One wrong move and she would attack before devouring them.
The nerdy tech billionaire shuddered. The older gentlemen performed much better, but they still felt discomfort under her cold, predatory gaze.
"Now that you've learned that I'm Drakon and Fantom was my...master, I hope that none of you would divulge any of the information revealed today to other people outside of this room. Or else...."
The lights in the private room flashed a few times before descending into darkness. Only a single light remained lit, dimly illuminating the room but also casting long shadows everywhere.
Before the gentlemen could react, their phones started buzzing and pinging one by one. They checked their phone and gasped.
Each of them received a threatening e-mail with attached files containing alarmingly accurate secret information about them.
Although they always tried to uphold their reputations as Cross Academy alumni, it was inevitable that they had their own secrets that they didn't want other people to discover. These secrets would taint their reputations, possibly even ruin them forever once known to the world.
They looked at the cold Iris in horror.
Grandpa Lu's friends gripped their phones, as they used their genius IQ to find some ways to escape from this dangerous predicament that they found themselves into.
In contrast to their reactions, the nerdy tech billionaire's eyes became filled with even more fervour.
"Meow! The e-mail has a signature meow at the end! This is WhiteTigress, am I right? So it's true that WhiteTigress and BlackPlanther are your disciples?!"
He didn't care at all about the threat of his deepest and darkest secrets being revealed to the whole world. All he cared about was fanboying his idol's disciples and grand disciples.
"Hah." Jin Liwei shook his head after releasing an exhausted sigh.
He finally realized that the nerdy tech billionaire posed no danger to his wife. There was no need to drown in an ocean of vinegar anymore. The other man was just another one of his wife's numerous fans, albeit a fan of her past life as the legendary hacker, Fantom.
At the mention of her AI cat children, Iris was filled with great pride and joy. Ketchup and Panther were undoubtedly her greatest creations by herself.
Of course, her twin sons could also be considered her greatest creations, but she couldn't have created them by herself without her husband's contributions. Little Mochi and Little Matcha were the products of the love between her and Jin Liwei.
On the other hand, Ketchup and Bacon were purely created by herself alone. As a computer programmer and hacker, the two AI cats were her ultimate creations.
"I knew it! So it's true." The nerdy tech billionaire saw her smile and directly concluded that his conjecture was correct. Then he made another request. "Is it possible for me to meet them? Please?"
"No!" Jin Liwei once again rejected his request before Iris could respond.
"Why?!" The nerdy tech billionaire was about to go crazy.
"No means no." Jin Liwei didn't relent.
Ketchup and Bacon were also his kids. There was no way that he would allow their real identities to be exposed to outsiders. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The other man cast another hopeful look at Iris.
"I'm sorry," she said. "WhiteTigress and BlackPanther are still...uh, minors. My husband and I are responsible for their safety and well-being."
"Minors?!" The nerdy tech billionaire was shocked.
Grandpa Lu's friends were also dumbfounded.
"How old are they?"
"They're kids," Jin Liwei said in an intimidating, cold voice. "My wife and I won't reveal anything else about them. If you still insist on digging deeper, maybe the e-mail you received just now isn't enough."
That shut them up.
Chapter 1525 Legend of the Great Fantom (Part V)
Grandpa Lu took it upon himself to scold his old friends again, warning them about asking any more questions regarding Drakon's disciples.
"I just think that if WhiteTrigress and BlackPanther are truly still young children, then that means that they're also true geniuses," one of his friends said. "They would benefit a lot if they enroll in Cross Academy."
Another gentleman asked Iris and Jin Liwei, "Are the two under your custody?"
"En." Jin Liwei said.
Well, Ketchup and Bacon were his and his wife's own AI cat children. So technically, the two AI cats were under their custody. Nobody would be able to find any paper trails about the so-called custody, though.
Someone asked, "Your adopted kids?"
Neither Iris nor Jin Liwei replied to that question.
Grandpa Lu interrupted. "Why are you still asking so many questions like insecure boyfriends? Tell me, I want to know! Liwei my boy already told you not to keep on digging deeper but you all still insist. Don't blame this old man for not warning you if your secrets are revealed to the world! Hmph!"
Like the husband and wife, Grandpa Lu also felt very protective of Ketchup and Bacon. He also considered the AI cats as his great-grandbabies.
Ketchup was very sweet and caring to an old man like him. Bacon, on the other hand, reminded him so much of the new Haohaoâa two-faced, crooked rascal! He was still extremely adorable, though.
The old man understood that by creating such advanced AI entities like Ketchup and Bacon, Iris had already put herself in great danger. Keeping Ketchup and Bacon's existence a secret was of the utmost importance.
Even those from Cross Academy couldn't be trusted with this kind of incredibly dangerous secret. Greed could change people's hearts.
It wasn't worth the risk.
There was no way that Grandpa Lu would allow his friends to endanger his disciple and his AI cat great-grandbabies!
In the end, the threat of their deepest and darkest secrets being revealed to the whole world became enough deterrent to the gentlemen in the room to keep their mouths zipped about the revelations they learned today.
For now, at least.
Grandpa Lu's friends now looked at Iris Long in a different light. Now they knew that her beauty was deceptive.
She was a wolf in sheep's clothing!
They realized that her connections weren't inferior to theirs. In fact, she was the most dangerous out of everyone here.
Just her connection to the legendary hacker Fantom was enough to prove that she wasn't simple at all.
Even though they didn't know the extent of what Fantom had taught her, nobody among the people present had not heard of Drakon yet.
Drakon was the rising star hacker of today alongside her supposed disciples, WhiteTigress and BlackPanther. Now that she had confirmed that the two were indeed her disciples, it just proved that her own capabilities should not put her master Fantom's legacy to shame.
With how today's world was becoming more and more reliant on computers, mobile devices, and the internet, hackers were a frightening existence. They could compromise people's data and destroy lives, not to mention disrupt government services and economies.
Grandpa Lu's group of friends couldn't help but curse their bad luck for encountering such a deceptively dangerous beautiful young woman.
Indeed, the saying was correct.
Curiosity killed the cat.
Damn their curiosity!
Now they had to deal with being blackmailed with their deepest and darkest secrets.
In contrast to these gentlemen's worries, the nerdy tech billionaire looked like he had finally ascended to heaven. His eyes were filled with worship for Iris Long.
The way he looked at her caused Jin Liwei to barely control his temper. If not for Iris holding him back, he might have already lashed out at the nerdy tech billionaire and taught him how to look at someone else's wife properly.
After Iris coerced promises not to divulge today's revelations to other people, she finally let them go.
The nerdy tech billionaire looked reluctant to part with her.
"The launch party isn't over yet," she told him in a helpless tone.
"Ahem!" Jin Liwei positioned himself between his wife and the other man.
The nerdy tech billionaire could only leave the private showroom with great reluctance. Nôv(el)B\\jnn
If others saw them right now without knowing the specific situation, they might think that the trio was involved in a love triangle.
The way the nerdy tech billionaire looked at Iris was like a jilted lover who saw the woman he loved with another man.
Jin Liwei understood this, so his expression became increasingly ugly.
As for Iris, she didn't think too much about it. She already treated the nerdy tech billionaire as a fan.
Now that the others left, Grandpa Lu could finally speak his mind more freely.
"That was close, Xiulan my girl! Ah, this kind of overly stimulating incident is too much for your poor grandpa's old heart!"
Although Grandpa Lu said these words, the twinkle in his eyes betrayed the thrill he felt. He definitely enjoyed what just happened.
Iris consoled him while he continued pretending to be a fragile old man. Both Iris and Jin Liwei knew that Grandpa Lu must be feeling great.
Although Iris was curious, she didn't dare to question the old man about the extent of his knowledge of her secret identity. His big brother had already hinted to her long ago that the old man wasn't as simple as they thought. Grandpa Lu might know more than he let on.
After a few moments, Grandpa Lu finally left the couple alone in the private showroom.
Once he was gone, the flat-screen TV hanging by the wall meant to entertain waiting customers at the shop flickered and showed a fluffy white cat with glowing green eyes.
"Hello, Mommy and Daddy! Did the cute and mighty Ketchup do a good job? Meow~"
"Yes, Ketchup," Iris said with a smile. "You did an excellent job. Thank you. You saved Mom."
"Hehehe~"
"Keep an eye on those uncles and grandpas, Ketchup," Jin Liwei said next. "Don't hesitate to extort them if they so much as breathe a word of what happened inside this room."
A black cat with golden eyes appeared next to Ketchup.
"Extort? Does Father need Bacon's assistance?"
Chapter 1526 Meeting Director Jabar Wilkins (Part I)
Jin Liwei sighed at the sudden appearance of his AI cat son.
Iris also had no idea when Bacon had acquired the function of being summoned by the keyword "extort" and other words with similar meanings. She certainly wasn't the one who programmed the function herself.
The only possibility was that Bacon had been learning bad things at Shadow Winds again. She had already expected this when she allowed Bacon to join his Uncle Zihao, but she still couldn't help but worry.
Unlike Ketchup which she painstakingly created herself over two lifetimes, Bacon was an AI that she created from the remnants of a corrupted computer virus program. His nature was inherently destructive.
"Bacon, you're not busy?" Iris asked.
The pure black cat swished his fluffy tail behind him. "Please do not worry, Mother. No matter how busy Bacon is, Bacon will always have time to spend with our family because Bacon is a classy panther."
"What panther? Bacon is clearly a little kitty just like the cute and mighty Ketchup! Right, Mommy and Daddy? Meow~" Without changing his bored expression, Bacon raised a paw and moved to kick his sister before their parents could react. This time, however, Ketchup wasn't easy to bully. Ketchup nimbly dodged and pounced at her brother.
The two AI cats started wrestling.
Iris and Jin Liwei didn't find anything wrong with it. They thought that the siblings were just being affectionate with each other by play-fighting just like normal cats. They had forgotten that Ketchup and Bacon weren't actual cats but AI entities instead.
"Ketchup, don't forget to keep an eye on those uncles and grandpas, okay?" Jin Liwei reminded his AI cat daughter.
"Okey dokey, Daddy!" Ketchup replied while performing some impressive cat kung fu against her brother. "The cute and mighty Ketchup will keep an eye of a white tigress on those uncles and grandpas who doubted Mommy! Hmph hmph! Ketchup will spread their stinky secrets to the whole wide world if they betray Mommy's trust. Mreow!!!"
Bacon dodged and pinned his sister to the virtual ground. "Father, can Bacon be the one to extort those blind old men?"
Ketchup couldn't escape. It was clear that she lost this round. She cried pitifully.
"Alright, Bacon," Jin Liwei said with a sigh. "Release your big sister." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Bacon obeyed with great reluctance. "Father, what about Bacon's request?"
"Fine," Jin Liwei said. "But only extort if those people violated their promise to your mom. Don't do anything before then."
Bacon's expression remained bored, but his tail told another story. It rotated so quickly that only a blur could be seen. Extorting money from people excited him.
"Cooperate with your Big Sister Ketchup," Jin Liwei added. "Once she informs us that someone violated their promise to your mom, then you can do your thing."
"Yes, Father. Bacon understands."
"Okey dokey, Daddy! Meow~"
"Yes, Father. Bacon understands."
"Okey dokey, Daddy! Meow~"
After speaking to their two AI cat children, Iris and Jin Liwei left the private showroom and returned to the party outside.
Iris glanced at Grandpa Lu who was now back with his group of friends. They nodded at her with polite smiles, acting as if they hadn't just been blackmailed by Iris with their deepest and darkest secrets.
Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier they got.
They could act as if nothing was wrong.
This suited Iris perfectly. She didn't want anything ruining Liberté's launch party. She and Jin Liwei returned to walking around the place to chat with the guests.
Iris noticed a hot and fervent gaze on her. She turned and saw the nerdy tech billionaire staring at her with shining, red eyes. His gaze was similar to how the Black Stars looked at her, so she only smiled at him before chatting with a guest.
Jin Liwei, however, didn't appreciate the other man's sticky eyes on his wife. He sent him a cold and threatening glare.
The nerdy tech billionaire quickly realized his bad behaviour and hurriedly gave Jin Liwei an apologetic head bow before avoiding the couple with his eyes. After confirming that Iris Long was Drakon and that she was his idol Fantom's one and only disciple, the nerdy tech billionaire had now transferred his admiration from Fantom to Iris Long. He couldn't stop himself from fanboying.
"What's wrong?" Iris asked her husband.
Jin Liwei moved his eyes away from the other man and smiled at his wife. "Nothing, love. Are you thirsty?"
"A little."
"Stay here. I'll get you a drink."
"Thanks, darling."
Jin Liwei left and headed to the refreshments area. Iris finished chatting with another guest when a tall man approached her.
"Hello, Iris," the man greeted her with a big smile while extending a hand toward her.
"Hello, Director Wilkins." Iris recognized the American man from the guest list she had memorized from the day before. She shook his hand and smiled at him.
Only last-minute plus-one guests like Sheikha Amira flew past her recognition because they weren't included in the original guest list in the first place.
"Oh, you know me?" Director Wilkins asked.
"You're a famous Hollywood film director, so of course I recognize you," she replied with a smile.
The director chuckled.
Iris added, "And I'm the one who personally put your name on the guest list. My music mentor mentioned that I should invite you. I didn't expect that you would accept my perfumery's invitation, so thank you very much for attending today."
"Your music mentor is Enrique, right?"
She nodded.
The director's expression became more open. "Enrique is one of my long-time friends in Hollywood. A real friend. We've worked together many times. His film scores always elevate my films to the next level."
"Yes, Teacher Enrique has always been amazing."
Director Wilkins stared at Iris for a few long moments. She remained calm and smiled at him, not at all bothered by his direct scrutinizing eyes on her.
This, however, was the scene that Jin Liwei saw when he returned with drinks in his hands.
Who was that huge, dark man glaring at his wife?
He immediately ran back and stood in front of his wife, protecting her behind him.
Chapter 1527 Meeting Director Jabar Wilkins (Part II)
Iris was startled. She held back her husband.
Fortunately, Director Wilkins didn't take offence at Jin Liwei's wary defensiveness. In fact, he even looked amused and smiled at him good-naturedly. He offered his hand.
"Darling, this is Director Wilkins, Teacher Enrique's friend," Iris introduced.
Jin Liwei quickly realized that he had misunderstood. He accepted the other man's hand and shook it. "Director Wilkins. I'm Liam Jin."
The director grinned. "I know. You are Liam Jin, a filthy rich billionaire CEO."
"Ahem." Jin Liwei didn't take offence at the director's description of him either. He knew that he was in the wrong for making swift assumptions about the man based on his outer appearance.
"My apologies," he said.
"No worries. You're only protecting your wife from a big, scary, black man like me."
"That's...not what I intendâ"
Director Wilkins waved a dismissive hand, cutting him off. "I'm already used to it. Like I said, don't worry about it. I'm proud of my roots and what I look like. I don't let stereotypes define me. I work my a** off because I have to do it. Nobody else is going to do it for me, that's for sure. I reached my position in Hollywood by shedding blood, sweat, and tears, and not by being offended by every little thing. I'm a fighter, not a victim."
"Yes, you're right," Jin Liwei said. "But I still must apologize if I offended you."
The director grinned. He didn't look like he was pretending. He truly didn't mind it anymore. "It's fine."
Iris looked at the director with admiration. She had heard from Enrique Valdez about the director's difficult struggles throughout the early days of his career in Hollywood.
Wilkins didn't start out rich or famous. He wasn't a genius like Enrique Valdez. He didn't have connections that would have given him a leg up in the industry. He only had his pure passion for filmmaking. He powered through despite numerous setbacks until he finally made a breakthrough with a critically acclaimed film that swept through the awards season. This was a film in which he collaborated with Enrique Valdez for the first time.
It could be said that Enrique Valdez was the one who gave Wilkins the leg up in the industry. But people must know that it wasn't easy to invite the legendary hitmaker to create a film score, especially if the director wasn't already famous or established in Hollywood.
Enrique's decision to collaborate with a non-famous film director was enough proof that he saw potential in Wilkins. And indeed, the legendary hitmaker's instincts were correct.
Wilkins' career skyrocketed after his triumphant collaboration with Enrique Valdez. They would continue to collaborate throughout the years to create even more amazing masterpieces, stamping their legendary collaborations in the history of the Hollywood film industry.
Enrique told Iris that she should invite Director Wilkins to Liberté's launch party because the director was vacationing in France. She welcomed the suggestion and immediately asked Clover to add the American director's name to the guest list.
"Let's go find a seat," Director Wilkins suggested. "I want to have a chat with you two."
"Yes, of course." Iris and Jin Liwei led the director to a more private section of the garden party.
They could see most of the party from here, but others wouldn't easily see them. It was a great spot for private chats that didn't need total isolation.
Jin Liwei waved to a waiter who served them more glasses of champagne. Iris asked for a mocktail instead because her alcohol tolerance wasn't great, to begin with.
"Cheers to Liberté's successful launch!" The director gave Iris a toast.
"Cheers," Jin Liwei replied.
Iris smiled. "Thank you. Cheers!"
They chatted about the party for some time before the director changed the topic.
"Enrique told me so much about you," Director Wilkins said. "You know Enrique. He's a very taciturn person. It's very rare for him to talk more than a couple sentences in one go. That's why I came to your launch party today because I'm so curious about you, Iris Long. Enrique has a very high opinion of a young lady like you. I feel that I need to meet you in person."
"It's my honour to meet a Hollywood legend like you," Iris replied in a polite tone.
"What legend?" Director Wilkins laughed. "Legend is a big word that we must be cautious in throwing around. Sure, I've achieved a lot given my low starting point, but I'm still far from being a legend. I still need to accomplish more, and I intend to accomplish more. One day, I'll surely become a true legend."
Iris liked this director's ambitious attitude very much. Based on what Enrique told her, Wilkins had it rough. Even so, the director still managed to maintain a positive attitude and never allowed himself to retain a victim mentality.
Despite repeated failures, he continued to persevere. And even when he had become successful, he still maintained a good balance between confidence and humility. This man was an excellent role model.
"Director Wilkinsâ"
"Call me Jabar."
Iris smiled. "Director Jabar."
Wilkins turned to Jin Liwei and said, "You, too."
Jin Liwei nodded. "Jabar."
Wilkins laughed. "From now on, you are my friends! Cheers!"
He once again led a toast to celebrate the beginning of his friendship with the husband and wife. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
After downing his champagne, Wilkins' expression became a bit more serious. "I asked for a private chat with you because I want to ask you for something."
"What is it, Jabar?" Iris asked.
"To tell you the truth, I'm in a slump right now. I don't know Enrique's real intention for arranging for us to meet, but I know that he's not the type of person to do something random out of the blue. He must have predicted that we could mutually benefit from each other. He didn't tell me anything except to watch 'Strong Yet Broken'. I didn't attend that year's Sommet International Film Festival, so I'm not familiar with that film. After watching it, I must say that almost everything about the movie is engaging, but what really impressed me the most was the film score. It added so much colour to the emotions of the scenes, giving life to the entire movie."
Chapter 1528 Meeting Director Jabar Wilkins (Part III)
Director Wilkins continued, "Then I checked the credits and saw that the entire film score was composed by you, Iris Long. This sent me into a bingeing spiral where I watched everything that I could find about you. My favourite is your guest performance with Maestro Ludovico de Luca's symphony orchestra in Germany."
Iris' eyes widened. "You even watched that performance. It feels like it happened so long ago."
"I heard that Maestro de Luca is also your music mentor along with Enrique."
She nodded.
He sighed in admiration. "You must be a true genius like Enrique."
"En, my wife is indeed a genius," Jin Liwei replied before Iris could say anything. His gaze on her was soft and filled with love.
Wilkins chuckled at the sight. "So it's true that CEO Liam Jin is head over heels in love with his wife. That's good! A man who's loyal to his wife is a real man! Cheating men are cowards who lack self-control. I say it's not difficult to stay faithful. If you no longer love each other, just divorce! At least have the decency to separate from your current partner before finding another one. There's no need to hurt and humiliate your partner by cheating on her."
"Exactly." Jin Liwei's expression became more open after hearing the director's words. "But I'll never separate from my wife. She's the only one for me."
Iris watched the two men bond over their values about life and love.
She was glad that the awkward misunderstanding from earlier had been ironed out without any remaining issues. She didn't want her husband to have a conflict with Jabar Wilkins, especially since she admired the director for his grit and optimism in life.
Wilkins turned to her again. "Iris, you are a very talented and skillful composer. If it's alright with you, I hope we can collaborate on my next project."
His sudden request caught Iris by surprise. Even so, she didn't hesitate.
"Of course, yes!"
Iris wouldn't pass up this chance to collaborate with a famous Hollywood director. No matter what kind of project it was, she would make it work.
Her swift acceptance pleased the director very much. Jabar laughed and ordered another round of champagne for him and Jin Liwei and another mocktail for Iris.
"Good! I like straightforward people like you, Iris."
She shrugged but the smile stayed on her lips. "I don't like wasting time, that's all."
"Cheers to that!"
"Cheers!"
"Liam, you too! Cheers!" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"En, cheers."
After another round of drinking, Wilkins revealed more about his slump.
"I have now entered a stage in my life when the inspiration isn't just there anymore. My last five films performed below expectations. The latest one almost flopped. The critics are roasting me, declaring that I'm now past my prime and that I'm recycling old techniques that are severely behind the times."
Iris put down her mocktail glass and focused on listening to the director's story. Jin Liwei ordered a glass of flavoured sparkling water and replaced both his and the director's champagne glasses. This wasn't the time to get drunk. He and his wife still needed to maintain their wits for the later part of the launch party.
Wilkins didn't mind that Jin Liwei replaced his alcohol with water.
He continued, "Some of my contemporaries are calling me stubborn for holding on to my original ideas, saying that times have changed and that I should keep up with the times to stay relevant. But my philosophy is different from theirs. I want to create timeless masterpieces that will be remembered even after I'm dead rather than trendy blockbusters that may be profitable at the moment but will eventually lose their influence in film history."
Iris nodded, agreeing with his philosophy. Her admiration for him grew even more.
"To be honest with you, these constant setbacks have taken a toll on me. Now I know what it feels like when people say that it's easier to climb the top than to stay on top for the rest of your career. People call me a renowned Hollywood director, but if I continue to release films that perform below expectations, then at this rate, I'll surely fade away from the spotlight until nobody knows me anymore. I'm hungry, I'm desperate! I want to create my next masterpieceâno, my best masterpiece yet, but now that I've fallen this low in my career after reaching the top, nobody trusts me anymore.
"I had many friends in Hollywood when I was one of the top directors in the industry. But now that I'm close to being a nobody, they're either avoiding me or acting as if they don't know me in the first place. Only Enrique and a handful of others remain as my true, loyal friends in Hollywood. They're very rare real friends. I'm very thankful for them, but I know that they can't always rescue me when I'm in trouble. At the end of the day, I need to be the one to take control of my life, career, and future."
Wilkins paused to down his glass of sparkling water. Jin Liwei immediately refilled it.
Iris remained quiet, continuing to listen to the director's story.
The director asked her, "Do you want to hear about my next project?"
"Yes," she replied.
Jin Liwei also changed her drink from a mocktail to a glass of flavoured sparkling water.
She smiled at him as thanks.
Then Wilkins said, "My next project is an epic multi-film series. I want it to become the next big movie franchise. I optioned the original novel series that it will be based on, but so far, nobody is willing to take the risk of funding it due to the large investment requirements. I'm not the type to settle for anything cheap and sub-par just to save money. I'm willing to spend a lot to produce the highest quality film that I can create. If this was before, production companies would be flocking by now. But look at them, they're now avoiding me for fear that they're going to flop."
Iris grew more serious. "What's the progress of your current preparations?"
Chapter 1529 Rebirth (English Version)
At her question, Wilkins released a helpless sigh. "Not much progress. I only have myself and the book series that I optioned. I already renewed the option agreement twice and it's going to expire in three months. I've been running around pitching the film adaptation to various production studios, but they don't want to take the risk with me. I'm willing to invest everything I have for this film series, but my liquid assets aren't enough. I'll have to liquidate my other assets or take out a loan at this rate."
Iris and Jin Liwei looked at each other after hearing about the director's predicament.
"I already agreed to be the music composer of your film," Iris said. "So at least, you already have me on board. How about this? Send me the details of the project, and if I like it, I might help you with the funding. No promises, though."
Wilkins' eyes lit up. "Sure! I'll send you the project files right away!"
"No rush. Enjoy the party for now. I'll be here in Paris for a few more days. We can meet again another day before I leave."
"Okay, got it." Wilkins looked livelier and more hopeful.
They all returned to the party.
Clover called for the guests to return to their tables.
"Today, we're going to give you a special treat. Please help me welcome on the stage our beautiful owner, the super-talented Madame Iris Long!!!"
Jin Liwei stood up and led the applause for his wife. Grandpa Lu also cheered loudly for Iris and threatened his old friends to do the same.
The nerdy tech billionaire also clapped his hands as if he were in a clapping competition. His acquaintances were startled by his actions. His expression looked manic. This was the first time that they had seen him act this way. Did he finally lose his mind after years of doing nothing but facing the computer screen? They all backed away a few steps from him.
Director Jabar Wilkins was also enthusiastic in cheering for Iris.
As for the other guests, they gave a much more polite applause. They had heard that Madame Jin was a singer, but not many of them had watched her perform live before. This would be the first time. They were all curious if she really did have talent or if she was only a product of nepotism.
Iris didn't care what other people thought about her. At this moment, all she cared about was her performance.
The stage was calling her.
She could feel the blood thrumming inside her veins, her heart skipping inside her chest, and her breath trying to catch up to her excitement.
Jin Liwei once again escorted her up the steps of the stage.
"You'll do great, love," he whispered to her ear. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
She smiled, taking a few seconds to look at his handsome face. Then she kissed the corner of his mouth before stepping onto the stage.
She didn't see the stupid grin on his face after the kiss.
The band of musicians nodded at her. There were classical instruments in addition to an electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums.
She gave them a smile before taking her position in front of the grand piano.
"Once again, thank you all for coming today," she spoke to the mic addressing the audience. "This song is one of my biggest hits from my album 'Rebirth' back in my country. If you live here in Europe, maybe you've heard the instrumental version of my album which is called 'Rebirth Melodies'. If not, it's okay. I hope that you enjoy the English version of my original song, 'Rebirth'. This is the first time I'm performing this version in public."
The spotlight dimmed. The backlight showed Iris' beautiful silhouette on the stage.
Then an exquisite piano melody began playing. The spotlight gradually illuminated the woman who started singing with the music.
"Caged and chained in a tiny world
Wondering what it's like outside
A little bird imprisoned by love
Dying little by little inside
I want to be free
Free as a bird
But where are my wings
I cannot fly"
Iris' fingers danced on the piano keys. Her ethereal voice shocked many of the guests who weren't familiar with her.
What was this heavenly voice?
She continued singing, her voice caressing the audience's ears like velvet. The melody also started rising, preparing for the chorus.
"I sing a song inside my cage
While shadows destroy my tiny world
Break my bones a thousand times
Go ahead, I will not cry
These red roses smell so sweet
At last, I'm free
Will I ever fly"
Then the other instruments joined in. The harmony absorbed every one's complete attention. Even the ones who had still been busy chatting now stopped and focused on Iris' performance on the stage.
Iris demonstrated her powerful voice and wide vocal range. Her voice didn't falter at all while she played the piano. Each of the other musicians was also skillful and harmonized with her perfectly.
"From the ashes, I rise like a phoenix
A little bird no more
I spread my wings, so big and wide
Now I am free
Now I can fly
Oh, I can fly up in the sky
While tears flow down my joyful eyes
Up I fly, up I soar
Until I brush against the clouds
I'll stay up here and touch the stars
I'll reach as high that I can"
This performance gave the audience goosebumps. There were so many emotions packed in the music that some of the audience members began tearing up. It felt like Iris' voice had the power to directly touch their souls.
After singing the chorus a couple of times, the melody started slowing down. The other instruments also gradually stepped back, allowing Iris' enchanting voice and lone piano to take the spotlight once again. Her voice softened, making the audience feel as if a goddess was whispering in their ears.
"This rebirth of a tiny bird
Into a rising phoenix
Power courses through my veins
To break the chains
To spread my wings
So this is freedom
I am free
Oh yes, I am free~"
Chapter 1530 Iris Long and Jin Chonglin's Duet (Part I)
This time, nobody had to lead the applause. Everyone in the audience gave a standing ovation of their own accord.
"Superb!"
"Bravo!"
"Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!"
Iris stood up and executed her signature curtsy bow, drawing another round of applause, louder this time. She turned around and faced her band of musicians. Then she also gave them a curtsy bow as thanks for their amazing cooperation with her. The musicians all beamed and bowed to her as well, clapping for her, for themselves, and for everyone.
"Thank you," Iris mouthed to everyone.
Jin Chonglin watched his sister-in-law basking in the audience's adoration after a successful performance. Even he couldn't help but feel awed. He was still savouring the beautiful performance in his mind when he felt a hard elbow hitting him on the side.
"Huh? What?" he asked, a little dazed.
Chen Fei rolled his eyes at him and gestured for him to clap his hands. There were other people around them. It wouldn't do Iris and Jin Chonglin any good if someone reported that he didn't clap after his sister-in-law's performance. The media would definitely spin it into a sensational narrative about a superstar brother-in-law feeling jealous and threatened by his talented sister-in-law.
"Oh." Jin Chonglin realized it, too, so he followed suit and started joining the applause.
His mind, however, was still replaying Iris' beautiful performance. He had watched her perform "Rebirth" live on stage many times before especially while the two were competing with each other for the top spot in the music charts.
Usually, English versions of a song couldn't capture the emotions of the original song. This English version of "Rebirth", however, was an exception.
This version that Iris performed also somewhat differed from the original version. The musical arrangements were a bit different, including Iris' vocal arrangement. It highlighted her increased vocal range while also making it casual enough for a party performance. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Perhaps it was because Iris had matured a lot after giving birth, but the way she sang now felt more soul-stirring than before. Her high notes were as impressive as ever, but it was her low notes that Jin Chonglin felt particularly imposing. She didn't have this vocal quality before she got pregnant.
Jin Chonglin felt a little envious.
Just a tad bit.
His vocal range had basically reached its full potential by now. It was already difficult for him to make modifications to his vocal range. He also had to be cautious because any careless modifications might damage his vocal chords which would be detrimental to his career as a singer. The only thing he could basically do right now was to change concepts and styles.
Iris' vocal range increased after giving birth. Maybe he could also....
"Babe," he called.
"What is it?" Chen Fei asked while continuing to clap with everyone else.
"Let's have a baby."
She glared at him. "You're still going on about this?"
"Sister Xiulan's voice improved after having a baby. Maybe if Iâouch!"
He gave her a look of disbelief and hurt for stepping on his poor foot.
"Go back to school, Jin Chonglin," she scolded him. "Maybe if you're the one giving birth and not me, then your voice might also improve like Xiulan's. Don't be stupid and learn more about Science."
He pouted but didn't retort.
Back on the stage, Iris had no idea that her brother-in-law was so envious of her improved voice that he was even insisting on having a baby again. She finally got the audience in control again.
"Thank you, everyone. Thank you! Next, I would like to invite my brother-in-lawâ"
Another round of excited cheers.
Iris chuckled. "Please help me invite to the stage my brother-in-law, the one and only Jin Chonglin!!!"
Most of the audience partook in the cocktails and champagne, so they were more relaxed now. After Madame Iris Long's superb performance, they looked forward to superstar Jin Chonglin's performance as well.
Jin Chonglin was still distracted by his painful foot. Then his girlfriend elbowed him again.
"What now?" he asked, sulking a little.
"They're calling you on stage!" Chen Fei said. "Go!"
"Oh, right." He immediately changed expressions, flashing everyone his killer smile and waving as he walked toward the stage.
Chen Fei fought the urge to roll her eyes again. If she kept rolling her eyes, they might not go back to normal.
Although she scolded Jin Chonglin for asking her to have a baby with him again, the truth was she felt happy in her heart. With a smile that she tried restraining, she also joined the other audience members in cheering for her boyfriend.
Jin Chonglin chatted with Iris on the stage. Both were professionals and knew how to entertain with seemingly unscripted chatter.
He took over the conversation and asked the audience directly, "Has any of you watched the TV drama, 'Our Love, Our Destiny'?"
There was another round of cheers and a few raised hands.
"Oh? Plenty, it seems." He nodded in approval.
Although he didn't star in the drama himself, it still became extremely popular internationally, partly because of the theme song he sang with Iris Long.
Both the TV drama and theme song became the most popular in Asian countries, so Jin Chonglin was a little surprised that some watched it among the guests today. He was very pleased.
"This song that we are going to sing is the theme song of the TV drama, 'Our Love, Our Destiny'. My beautiful sister-in-law and owner of Liberté, Iris Long, wrote this song. Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy our song, 'Shining Eyes'."
Someone gave Jin Chonglin an acoustic guitar while Iris sat in front of the piano again.
The band of musicians behind them also took their positions. The spotlight dimmed once again before gradually illuminating the two performersâone handsome, the other beautiful.
Jin Chonglin strummed his guitar. The classical musicians followed suit and harmonized with him. Then Iris began playing the piano, enveloping the melody, making it full of passion.