Long Hui left everyone and marched off in anger to his own residence.
Iris, Jin Liwei and Meimei glared at his back. Yang Jiahui watched him leaving, a sad expression on her face, while Long Tengfei looked conflicted. Long Hui was still his eldest son after all.
“Jerk!!!” Meimei spat when Long Hui was gone.
“Xiao Mei, you should stop,” Yang Jiahui said in an exhausted tone, massaging her temples.
“I’m only telling the truth, Auntie. Uncle Tengfei, your son is a big jerk!!!”
Yang Jiahui sighed, not bothering to scold her niece anymore.
Long Tengfei didn’t respond to Meimei, turning to Iris instead. “Xiulan, you shouldn’t have provoked your brother. He…he’s very stressed. It’s hectic at the company now, not to mention that he also has to deal with the custody battle.”
Iris frowned. “And I’m not stressed? Ying Yue is not stressed? Father, my schedule is also very hectic. I’m not only juggling my showbiz career but also my studies and my businesses. But do you see me acting out, making a mess of things and hurting others? And also please remember that he’s not the only one dealing with the custody battle. Liwei and I are also very involved in it. If we leave your son to do what he wants, Ying Yue and your grandson will suffer. Liwei and I can’t do that, Father. We won’t leave Ying Yue on her own. She would be powerless to fight the custody battle without our help.
“And don’t forget that it’s your son who filed for this custody battle in the first place and made a mess of everyone’s lives! Yes, Ying Yue left him before when she was pregnant but they got back together. It was your son who left Ying Yue this time and started distancing himself. So excuse me, Father, but don’t tell me that I shouldn’t have provoked your son. He’s the one who provoked us first. What you’re asking me is to be understanding of him, but does he deserve it? Do you want me and Ying Yue to martyr ourselves over a man like him? No way!”
Silence.
“Father, I have a request,” she said.
Long Tengfei looked at her now calm expression. “What is it?”
“I want to become more involved in Long Industries,” she said.
Jin Liwei glanced at her, not surprised that she changed the topic all of a sudden.
In contrast, the others looked taken aback and confused. They knew that Iris never showed any interest in becoming involved in working at the family company before, aside from partnering with Long Industries for her company, Orchidia Beauty.
Despite this, Long Tengfei was still a full-fledged businessman and at the same time, a father. He smoothed out his own expression as well before speaking to his daughter in a serious tone.
“I know that Sir Lu Jianhong is your business mentor and that you’re a Cross Academy student. But even so, I can’t give you an important position in my company just like that. And I’m sure that you’re not asking me for an insignificant position, especially since you’re already the President and CEO of your own company. Your two brothers started from the bottom and worked their way up. Your sister Jingjing would have also done the same if you didn’t poach her from me after she graduated from business school. Even if you’re a genius, I can’t just give you a high position and hand it to you on a silver platter.”
The others took on the role of spectators as they watched the father and daughter’s discussion. It felt weird because the conversation went into a completely different turn after the earlier heated argument between Iris and Long Hui. The change in topic was unexpected…and confusing.
“I understand, Father,” Iris replied with a brief nod. “I won’t ask for much. Just this. Please make me the face of Long Industries. I’m a musician, a celebrity. That’s my calling in life, despite my other skills in business and languages. My fame has been experiencing quite a significant increase, especially after I won a number of awards earlier this year and at the Sommet International Film Festival in France. I’m now one of the most well-known faces in the country. The film festival has also made me a little more known in Europe.”
“I’ll be an effective brand ambassador for Long Industries. With my current status as a celebrity, I know that I can greatly contribute in increasing and improving the company’s impression, reputation and presence among the Chinese people.”
The corner of Jin Liwei’s mouth hooked upward into an almost unnoticeable smile. His smile might be small but it was filled with tremendous pride for his baby girl. He also nodded his head, approving of her “sales talk” about herself. Without a doubt, she was Grandpa Lu’s student.
Long Tengfei looked at his daughter for a long time, studying her. There was a quick flash of pride in his eyes before he hid it behind a stern expression.
“You know what you’re asking of me?” he asked.
“Of course, Father.”
“You’ll have to work hard in fully understanding Long Industries. Brand ambassadors are different from normal endorsers that way. You won’t just endorse our company but also represent its entirety, including its values,” he told her.
“Yes, I’m ready. I want this position, Father. Please give it to me.”
Iris looked at Long Tengfei straight in the eyes, conveying to him that she was serious in her request. She needed a way to gain more influence within Long Industries besides being a shareholder, especially since Qiao Yu was having difficulty in purchasing shares in the company under her name. Sellers were biased against her. The first time was mostly a fluke because Qiao Yu was friends with the person who sold the shares.
She didn’t want to start at the bottom of the company like what Long Hui and Long Jian did. That would take too long—years. There was no way she would waste that much time. If she couldn’t take the traditional route, then she would need to find an unconventional way to enter Long Industries. And this was what she decided to do.
Once she succeeded in doing this, then she could take over the entire company along with the Long clan, wash it completely clean of filth, and safeguard it until her godson expressed desire in inheriting it. If Little Jun didn’t want it, then maybe one of her future children would. Only time would tell.
This was her ultimate goal in making this request from Long Tengfei. She already discussed this with Jin Liwei beforehand. She had a motive but didn’t share it with Long Tengfei. He didn’t need to know it.
