There was just something about the way Iris Long performed that completely grabbed everyone’s attention and focus. It was like being spellbound. Even when the song finally ended, they still felt it resonate within them like a buzz from a fine, exotic wine.
While Iris and the Pandemonium band members were basking in the audience’s adoration, Jin Chonglin felt a little threatened. Just a bit.
”Damn, Sister Xiulan’s voice levelled up again,” he muttered while clapping.
Lin Dong nodded. “Her voice sounds more mature.”
”Not only that. It sounds fuller and richer. Her high registers have always been amazing, but it’s her low registers that underwent a major evolution this time. I’ve never heard her reach this kind of low notes before. It sounds as amazing as some of her high notes. She makes it sound easy but not a lot of women can reach such a low pitch.”
Lin Dong rubbed his chest. “My heart hurts a little.”
Jin Chonglin sniggered at his manager’s comment but the truth was that he also felt the same. The way Iris sang this time gave them literal heartache. It wasn’t just a feeling. Their chests really felt a bit painful.
Painful in a way that felt good at the same time. It might sound masochistic but it was the truth.
They wanted to listen to Iris Long sing more even though she might make them feel too emotional that it hurt.
”What’s up with her?” Jin Chonglin continued muttering under his breath. “Does giving birth really changes the quality of a person’s voice this much? Or maybe it’s because her boobs have become bigger? Her bigger boobs increased her lung capacity—OUCH!!! What the hell are you doing?!!! Stop it, you crazy woman!!!!!”
Chen Fei ground the tip of her stiletto heel on his foot before withdrawing it. She sneered at him, not at all apologetic for what she did.
”You dirty pervert. How dare you talk about your sister-in-law’s breasts? Just wait until your brother hears about this. He’ll fucking kill your perverted ass.”
Jin Chonglin panicked after hearing what she said. He didn’t doubt her words. His elder brother might really kill him. He endured his hurting foot and quickly grabbed her.
”Let me go, you dirty pervert!” Chen Fei was infuriated. She struggled against him. “Get your dirty paws off me!”
”Quiet!” Jin Chonglin covered her mouth with his hand.
”You two, what are you doing?!” Lin Dong’s eyes almost popped out of his head. He stared at them in disbelief.
Jin Chonglin and Chen Fei froze. They looked around and realized that everyone was staring at them.
Iris and the Pandemonium band members had already gotten off the stage without any of the two of them noticing. Iris raised an eyebrow but still continued walking with easy grace to her husband’s side.
On the other hand, the Pandemonium band members started snickering and waggling their brows. Their eyes shone with mischievous glint as they threw their Boss Lin Lin and Orchidia’s COO Chen Fei a lot of suggestive looks.
Chen Fei immediately pushed Jin Chonglin away. They both straightened and pretended that all was well.
”I’m gonna fucking kill you after this, you damned bastard,” Chen Fei said in a low voice while giving everyone a “forced” natural smile.
”Don’t shift the blame on me, you troublesome woman,” he replied in a similar way. “This is all your fault. You were the one who started shouting like a lunatic and attracted everyone’s attention.”
”You shitty motherfucker. How dare you blame me? You’re the one who grabbed me with your dirty paws.”
Lin Dong glared at them. “Stop it, you two! Now you’ve really done it. Expect tomorrow’s headlines to feature a sensational lovers’ quarrel between the two of you!”
The two followed his line of sight. They saw the reporters taking countless photos and video footage of them like sharks who smelled blood in the sea.
”Oh, shit.” Chen Fei was out of her element. She wasn’t a celebrity so she didn’t know what the best thing to do in this kind of situations.
Jin Chonglin sighed before waving at the reporters and flashing them with a big smile. Then he did something that made Chen Fei want to beat him up.
He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close until the sides of their bodies were pressed against each other.
Chen Fei immediately started struggling but he whispered a warning to her, “If you want the situation to become worse, then go ahead and start making a ruckus.”
She stiffened. “Then what’s the plan?”
”Just go along for now. Trust me, I know what I’m doing. I’ll handle the aftermath.”
”Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’ll trust you just this once. But if you get me into a deeper mess because of this, I’ll bury you alive, you bastard.”
Jin Chonglin didn’t reply. He just started chatting with Lin Dong and the others at their table as if there was nothing wrong in the world.
Lin Dong stared at Jin Chonglin for a few seconds before going along with him as well.
Chen Fei restrained the strong urge to clobber Jin Chonglin and joined the conversation as well. His hand on her waist felt hot and sticky.
Disgusting!
She wanted to slap it away (and maybe even break a few of his fingers) but she tamped down on her increasingly violent thoughts.
’Murder is a crime, murder is a crime, murder is a crime,’ she kept chanting in her mind.
Fortunately, there were other performers who went onstage and shifted the audience’s attention from Jin Chonglin and Chen Fei.
The next performers weren’t all celebrities. Many of them were talented civilians like folk dancers, hip-hop dancers, ballroom dancers, acrobats and even magicians. Although they couldn’t compare to the star power of Iris Long and Pandemonium, their performances still entertained the audience.
The people had already temporarily forgotten about the stimulating scene between the superstar Jin Chonglin and Orchidia’s COO Chen Fei.
At the latter half of the gala, Iris went onstage once again and began performing some of her best hits, including “Phantom of Your Love”, “Black Star” and “Rebirth”.
Inspired by what Pandemonium did earlier, she also called Jin Chonglin to the stage for another impromptu performance. They sang the famous theme song “Shining Eyes” from the hit drama “Our Love, Our Destiny”.
The audience went crazy.
Iris Long’s natural charisma was already off the charts. But when Jin Chonglin’s superstar power was added into the mix, the result was simply incredible.
After their duet, Iris Long once again stepped off the stage amidst a deafening standing ovation. She noticed the teenage athlete wiping tears as he clapped for her with all his might.
She stopped mid-walk and faced him and the other members of the national shooting team. Then she did an extra-deep and extra-elegant version of her iconic curtsy bow to give respect to the amazing athletes.
The applause became even more deafening.
It took a while for the audience to calm down. However, they were unable to take a breather because Jin Chonglin owned the stage in the next moment. From out of nowhere, a group of people appeared and started dancing with him.
He even brought his own back-up dancers!
As expected of a superstar.
His professionalism was top-notch.
Iris couldn’t even feel envious while watching her brother-in-law. All she could feel was admiration.
One of her goals was to surpass Jin Chonglin as a superstar.
Showbiz was a field where one couldn’t just rely on appearance, talent or hard work alone. It also needed a lot of luck.
If one was destined to be a superstar, then one would become a superstar whether one intended it or not.
Iris wanted to be a superstar that would be remembered beyond her death. She dreamed of her music being enjoyed by the future generations and inspiring more talents into developing their craft.
As she watched Jin Chonglin giving his all while performing in a small stage like this, Iris felt a deeper appreciation for the world of music. Her musical style differed to Jin Chonglin’s style yet they continued to inspire each other into improving their artistry.
Beside her, Jin Liwei watched his wife’s reactions more than his younger brother’s performance. He could sense his wife’s thoughts and emotions just from her expressions alone. He raised her hand and kissed it.
She smiled at him.
There were no words needed between them at this point. She could see his utmost support for her dreams. She laid her head on his shoulder while they enjoyed Jin Chonglin’s performance together.
They noticed the arrival of Yang Jiahui but didn’t remark on it. She slipped inside the hall while most of the audience was engrossed in the performance.
The gala was so much fun that nobody had time to think or even gossip about Long Hui and Mao Qiuyue’s wedding. Even their original wedding guests who bailed on them and attended today’s gala instead forgot about it.
There was tomorrow for gossiping (and ridiculing). Today was the time to enjoy themselves and celebrate the silver medal victory of the national shooting team.
After Jin Chonglin’s performances, the gala entered a more casual state where the guests ate and drank, and of course, went around the hall to chat with each other.
Iris and Long Jinjing left their husbands’ sides while Chen Fei felt relieved to leave her seat beside Jin Chonglin. The three women met up and nodded at each other before heading straight to the national shooting team and their coaches.
