She learned to be a bit more tactful with time but this trait would always show up especially in situations like this. Whenever someone targeted her or the people she cared about, she wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate.
The reporters were hanging on to her every word, afraid of missing anything. Even the other guests who happened to hear what she said decided to stay around and continue listening.
”Want me to act like everything is fine after everything that cheating couple did?” Iris continued saying in front of the cameras. “As you all already know, I’m a musician, not a seasoned actress. I’m not good in pretending. I prefer to write songs and convey my emotions through my music rather than force myself to act fake.
”What’s more, my talent fee is quite expensive. Not many could afford me. But of course, if I really like a project and believe in it, I might agree to lower my price. Maybe even work for free. It depends. Unfortunately, the cheating couple’s wedding is not a project that I want to involve myself even if they pay me three times my average talent fee rate.
”People need to learn that sometimes blood is not thicker than water. Our family is often our greatest source of love, warmth, comfort, happiness, motivation and inspiration. But unfortunately there are some people who experience the exact opposite. Their families are toxic vampires—parasites. They suck out all the love, warmth, comfort, happiness, motivation and inspiration instead.
”When you are high up there enjoying all the success that you worked so hard to earn by yourself, they’re always there wanting—no, demanding—their own shares. They act as if they deserve your success just based on their blood relations with you. They want you to pull them and their own families up as if it’s only natural. And when you refuse, they get angry and act like you’re a bad person, an ingrate, who have forgotten where you came from.
”If you don’t recognize them for who they are—toxic parasites—and cut them off from your life before it’s too late, then you’re the one who’s going to suffer in the end. They’ll continue bleeding you dry until you’re left with nothing. And when you have nothing left to give them, I bet that they’ll be the first ones to flee as if you have an incurable disease. When it’s your turn to ask them for help like how you helped them in the past, they’ll slam their doors close in your faces.”
Many people who were listening to what she said felt emotional. There were those who experienced this kind of unfair and seemingly hopeless situation in some way. This wasn’t uncommon at all.
Iris Long was right!
Those kind of opportunistic, greedy relatives and friends were nothing but toxic parasites. The best solution was to cut them off from their lives before it was too late.
Then the people became a little confused and curious at the same time. Why was Iris Long talking about this?
Was she likening her half-brother, Long Hui, to toxic parasites?
This was too extreme, wasn’t it?
Long Hui was considered the crown prince of the Long clan. He had money and status. He wasn’t a destitute, opportunistic relative. Or was he?
The people didn’t know all the details about the real situation behind closed doors. They only knew about what was being reported in the media.
Then Iris said, “Of course, the cheating couple’s situation is not the exact same as the one that I just talked about.”
Before the people could sigh in relief, she added, “They’re worse. They’re shameless character assassins who pretend to be victims. They expect to be forgiven and be left off based on familial relations. And when we don’t agree, we’re painted as resentful people who continue to hold a grudge.”
She turned to her husband and asked, “Liwei, are we the ones who turned our backs on our familial relationship with them first?”
”Of course not,” Jin Liwei replied without hesitation. “That man was the one who abandoned his family and hurt them for his own selfish, greedy ambition. He cheated on the mother of his son with another woman who had a similar background to him. Then he shamelessly turned the situation upside-down and accused the mother of his son of cheating on him instead with one of my best friends. The worst thing is that he made the accusation in the media.”
Iris nodded. “Indeed. Such a devious action. If he had been successful, the mother of his son would have been vilified by the entire nation. Fortunately, we are there to protect her and my nephew from all the lies.”
The people listening couldn’t help but feel impressed by the perfect back-and-forth exchange between the husband and wife.
The wife provided the main artillery while the husband supported her with secondary armament.
It was clear that they were out for blood.
Iris faced the reporters again. “Now tell me, if you were in my shoes, would you force yourself to attend that kind of person’s wedding and paste a fake smile on your face just for the sake of familial relations? If you can, then you must either be a saint or a fool. I’m not sorry to say that I could never do that. How about you, Liwei?”
”Better to attend Eldest Brother Yehan’s gala than do something thankless like that,” Jin Liwei said. His gaze on her was extremely doting that others almost choked from all the dog food.
”Exactly. That’s why we’re here. Supporting the silver-medal victory of the national shooting team is a more honourable way to spend our time than wasting it on attending a cheating couple’s wedding. The athletes deserve all the good things that are happening to them because they worked hard for it with their blood, sweat, tears and more. Not like other people who expect all the best things when they did nothing to deserve them.”
”En.” Jin Liwei nodded.
”The national team athletes are such wonderful inspiration to everyone, especially the youth. I want my children to be like them when they grow up—focused, driven and hardworking for all the right reasons.”
Jin Liwei smiled. His gaze almost never left his wife since she started speaking. “You’re right.”
She beamed at him.
’Hey, hey, hey! Can you two tone it down a little? Do you want to drown everyone in dog food?’
The people grumbled in their hearts but didn’t dare to say their thoughts out loud.
CEO Jin was already intimidating enough. They couldn’t offend him that easily without worrying about the consequences.
What if they also end up shifting his wife’s line of fire on them? Iris Long’s sharp tongue was no joke. She had the ability to crumple one’s self-worth with her barrage of poison-coated words. In addition to this, she also had a history of getting into physical fights before. Her goddess persona that she managed to build today was extremely deceptive. It hid a vicious barbaric cavewoman who would beat up anyone who threatened her and her family.
No, thank you. Offending this couple was not worth it.
It was better to watch the couple attacking others instead. Like right now.
Poor Long Hui and Mao Qiuyue.
Did they not think that they would kick an iron plate by offending Jin Liwei and Iris Long?
Even if they didn’t fear Iris Long, why would they provoke CEO Jin?
He was THE Jin Liwei, for goodness’ sake!
One of the reporters remembered something.
”Iris, your side insists that Long Hui’s accusation that the mother of his son, Miss Jiang, and Mr. Lin Yehan cheated on him is false. However, we all saw today that Miss Jiang is Mr. Lin’s partner in this gala. They look very close. Some even witnessed the two of them holding hands earlier. Are they in a relationship? If they are, then is this not proof that Long Hui’s accusations have substance?”
Jin Liwei’s expression darkened. Gone was his doting expression. His glare could freeze people to death.
The reporters stepped back and shivered but didn’t escape. They all wanted to hear the answer to this question.
Iris patted her husband’s arm and then raised an eyebrow at the reporters. “It’s not my place to admit or deny anything. This is Jiang Ying Yue and Eldest Brother Lin Yehan’s matter. It’s up to them to make any clarifications. Go ask them, not me or my husband.”
The reporters were a little disappointed but they already kind of expected this answer.
”But I can say this,” Iris added.
The reporters’ eyes lit up and pushed their microphones forward.
”Jiang Ying Yue and Eldest Brother Lin Yehan both have clear conscience. If they don’t, my husband and I won’t support them so much like this. Right, Liwei?”
”En.”
At this time, the invitees from LXC Studio finally arrived. Tang Yiyi immediately zeroed in on Iris being surrounded by a bunch of reporters. She rushed to the group and squeezed herself beside Iris.
”Manager Tang,” the reporters greeted her.
Tang Yiyi sent Iris a meaningful look before smiling at the reporters. “I’m sorry, everyone. I have something important to tell Iris. Jin Chonglin is just outside the hall. You can go interview him next.”
When the reporters finally left to find Jin Chonglin, Tang Yiyi pulled Iris to a corner and glared at her. Jin Liwei followed them.
”Iris, can’t you be more careful of your words in front of the cameras?!”
