Before the Black Stars could react, Iris Long gave them a final bright smile and waved goodbye before walking away with her eye-catching entourage through the lobby. Assistant Cai Guang was leading them and the group disappeared in the elevators, presumably to meet with President Long.
It took a few seconds before their Boss Iris’ words registered in the brains of the dumbfounded Black Stars. When it did, everyone in the lobby area almost became deaf from the loud screams.
That same day, all the Black Stars working in entry-level positions at Long Industries resigned en masse. It surprised their supervisors but didn’t affect the company too much. They could always hire new employees. There were thousands of new graduates vying for these entry-level positions.
They never expected that this mass resignation created an unnoticed ripple among the Black Stars holding higher positions in the company. When they heard that their Boss Iris herself invited their fellow Black Stars to apply at Orchidia Beauty, they felt envious and started evaluating their current situations at Long Industries whether it was feasible to resign or not and try their luck applying at their beloved Boss Iris’ company.
Those who resigned immediately applied at Orchidia Beauty, targeting different positions that matched their qualifications. They knew that their Boss Iris’ invitation wasn’t a guarantee that they would be hired but their excitement boosted their hope. For Black Stars like them, working at their Boss Iris’ company was like a dream come true.
All this would happen in the next few days. Back to the present, Iris didn’t know that her words were this effective.
Cai Guang wanted to say something at her trying to poach people from her father’s company but kept his mouth shut in the end.
Iris didn’t notice his glances because she was too busy inhaling her husband’s scent on the silk scarf wrapped around her neck. Being trapped inside the elevator was making her a bit nauseous with all the different smells assailing her. Fortunately, it wasn’t too bad.
Ever since she started taking the supplements and following the health plan that Theresa Blipsburg custom-made for her, all her previous pregnancy symptoms had become much more manageable. They hadn’t disappeared completely but Iris was already satisfied. At least, she wasn’t fainting anymore. Theresa assured her and Jin Liwei that she would only feel progressively better from now on.
“Boss, endure it a little more. We’re almost there.” Dom said these words in an effort to calm Iris.
Cai Guang shook his head at his distant nephew. Iris might look a little unwell but she was very calm. Dom was telling her to calm down and yet he was the one who looked panicked instead.
“I’m fine, Dom,” Iris said.
He nodded but still urged Cai Guang, “Uncle, please hurry up!”
Cai Guang could only stare at his nephew. What did the brat mean for him to hurry up? Could he, Cai Guang, make the elevator go faster? Even if he could, he still wouldn’t do it. What if it made the Young Miss Xiulan feel worse? Wouldn’t he have to suffer the wrath of not only her father President Long but also her husband President Jin? He, Cai Guang, wasn’t a foolish old man to court death like that!
Dominic, this distant nephew of his, was so smart and yet sometimes he was so dumb. Tsk tsk. Cai Guang couldn’t help but scold Dom in his heart.
The elevator ride felt long, especially for Iris and for everyone who was worrying about her, but it was actually short in reality. When the door opened, Iris managed to maintain her poise and not stumble out of the elevator to breathe in the fresher air of the hallway.
The group followed Cai Guang all the way to Long Tengfei’s office. Cai Guang announced her arrival first before she stepped inside. Dom was about to follow her but Cai Guang pulled him back and glared at him.
“Xiulan,” Long Tengfei greeted his daughter and even stood up.
“Father,” Iris greeted him back.
Once he reached her, he suddenly didn’t know what to do with himself. He just stood there in an awkward manner before gesturing for his daughter to sit on the couch. Iris immediately noticed that the modern couch was different to the traditional-style carved wood sofa with foam embed that decorated the office before.
Long Tengfei cleared his throat. “I had Cai Guang replace the old seats with something more comfortable for today. It’s not good for pregnant women to sit on hard surfaces for long periods of time.”
Iris’ eyebrows both rose. She felt a little surprised at first but didn’t find Long Tengfei’s thoughtfulness too abnormal. Long Tengfei had never been showy about his concern for his children but he definitely cared for all of them in his own distant way. That didn’t make him a great father. Not at all. On the contrary, he had many shortcomings as a father but nobody could deny that he took responsibility for all his children, both legitimate and not, and supported all of them financially without any complaints.
“How are you?” he asked before sitting down on the opposite couch, still looking awkward in front of his daughter.
“Better,” Iris replied and noticed that refreshments were already served on the coffee table. Long Tengfei must have prepared for her arrival in advance. She didn’t stand on ceremony and immediately grabbed one of the bite-sized pastries.
Long Tengfei’s eyes softened while watching his daughter enjoying the refreshments. He took this chance to examine her from head to toe and back up again. He frowned.
“Eat more. You lost so much weight. Shouldn’t you be getting fatter when you’re pregnant?”
She wiped crumbs from her lips with a serviette. “I already gained a little weight after my bed rest ended a few days ago. My friend from Cross Academy prescribed some supplements for me and is helping me become healthier.”
“Good.” Long Tengfei was relieved. If someone from the academy was helping his daughter, then the person must be a genius and knew what he or she was doing.
“Liwei is also taking care of me,” Iris didn’t forget to add.
They chatted about trivial things for a few minutes before Iris finally got straight to the point.
“Father, I would like you to stop interfering in Eldest Brother Lin Yehan’s lawsuit against Elder Brother Long Hui.”
