After posing for the cameras, interacting with the fans, and answering interview questions from the reporters on the red carpet, Iris and Jin Liwei finally headed inside the convention centre. Because they were the last people to arrive, their entrance to the convention centre would mark the end of the red carpet event.
“Iris Long! CEO Jin! Please stay a little longer!”
The people kept on requesting for them stay. In fact, the couple already went over their allotted time on the red carpet by a few minutes. They needed to leave soon, not wanting to be the reason for the grand launch to be delayed longer than necessary.
Iris waved a final time at the crowd before leaving the red carpet with Jin Liwei. However, she stopped when they reached the bottom of the steps leading to the convention centre’s entrance. These particular steps were particularly steep and higher than usual.
“What’s wrong, love?” Jin Liwei asked when she didn’t move.
“Uh… Darling, my mermaid-style dress is too tight at the bottom. I don’t think I’ll be able to climb these steps without struggling.” Iris sighed. “My designer and I didn’t take these steps into consideration when designing this dress. It’s my fault for not checking everything in the venue thoroughly.”
“I see. Don’t worry, love. It’s no problem.”
Then he bent down and lifted her up all of a sudden, carrying her up the steps princess-style. His movements were so quick and smooth that Iris wasn’t able to react in time. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders to secure herself.
Everyone saw this scene. They all went wild.
“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”
“CEO Jin literally swept Boss Iris off her feet!!!”
“Uwah! Too much dogfood! My single dog self is becoming diabetic…but I don’t care!!! Gimme more! MORE!!! MOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!”
The media captured the moment. They took countless photos, recorded it on video, and livestreamed the event.
###
Rose Young and Jenny Tseng were now drunk out of their minds. Rose was sobbing and cursing, while Jenny kept on laughing and giggling. They already ran out of gin, so they switched to champagne which was the only alcoholic drink left in the condo unit.
The friends were still watching the livestream on the big screen TV in the living room.
When it showed Jin Liwei carrying Iris like a princess up the steps, Rose threw another glass to the floor. She howled like a demented beast, making Jenny cover her ears while still laughing everything in the world was funny.
“Damn you, Iris Long! Curse you, slut!”
Rose was too furious, too jealous and too drunk. Her face turned from red to purple. Then she dropped on the couch like a heavy log.
Despite her drunken state, Jenny Tseng was still able to function properly…or as proper as she could be. She crawled over to her friend who now lay unmoving on the couch.
“Rosie? Yoohoo~ Ahahaha! What the hell, Rosie? Did you really pass out? How lame! So funny! Ahahahaha!”
Jenny lasted a few minutes longer before passing out as well. But not before finishing the remaining champagne by herself.
###
The guests were either chatting or getting to know each other or both inside the grand hall where the official launch party was being held. Waiters and waitresses carrying an assortment of drinks and bite-sized snacks kept everyone from starving until it was time for dinner later.
Suddenly, an unbelievable sight appeared at the entrance. All heads turned towards that same direction.
Jin Liwei walked inside the grand hall carrying Iris Long in his arms, like a mighty prince carrying a beautiful princess he intended to marry. His gait was light and smooth, not looking strained at all, as if Iris Long only weighed like a bag or feathers.
“Oh! How romantic!” many women exclaimed, feeling envious of Iris Long.
“Bahahaha! That’s my boy! So manly—just like ME! Right, Haohao my boy?! Bahahahaha!” a booming voice said in a mixture of delight, pride and amusement.
“What are you saying, you old hag? I want to know! I might not be a gentleman but I’m definitely more passionate than my brother, your husband!”
“You? Passionate? Shameless is more like it!”
“Bahahaha! That’s very true, too!!!”
The people around Grandpa Lu and Grandma Li all chuckled, entertained by the two elders’ banter. Even those who came from abroad still laughed, despite not understanding Mandarin. Just looking at their expressions was funny in itself.
As for the couple who showered everyone with dogfood just by their entrance, Jin Liwei continued to carry Iris while walking to the direction of their families and friends.
“Darling, we’ve already passed the steps. You can put me down now. I’ll be fine and can walk on my own,” Iris said.
“You’re wearing high heels tonight. I saw that they’re higher than usual. Let me carry you a little longer so that you won’t tire and hurt your feet too soon,” he replied with a straight face.
“Oh.” Her eyes widened before warming in appreciation. “Thank you, darling. You’re so thoughtful.”
The corners of his lips curved upward, smug at himself. “En. No problem, love. Anytime.”
There were times that her denseness would still kick in, despite having developed her emotional range to an impressive degree compared to when she just woke up in this second life of hers. Whenever this happened, she would have no idea that her darling was already tricking her with his shamelessness. In fact, she would even fall in love with him deeper and harder because of his “thoughtfulness and concern” for her.
‘My baby girl is too cute,’ Jin Liwei would think to himself after tricking her, falling in love deeper and harder with her as well.
This was why Iris didn’t protest when Jin Liwei carried her all the way to where Grandpa Lu, Grandma Li, Long Tengfei and the others were sitting together.
