Bright Summit Entertainment Company might be one of the juggernauts in showbiz, but to Jin Corporation, it was just a mere ant. Jin Liwei could squash such an ant and build another management company for the sake of his baby girl—oh right, and for his brother too. (Poor Jin Chonglin became just an afterthought to his brother because of Iris.)
If Bright Summit knew what was right for them, they wouldn't dare to suppress his baby girl.
"No! Iris, what are you saying? I said that some of them are just 'suggesting'. It's just a suggestion, okay? Nobody's pressuring anyone," Tang Yiyi reassured Iris in a hurry. "We're just worried of the backlash you might face from the fans. I already explained to you before that some fans don't take kindly to their favourite celebrities dating. They become vindictive and turn into instant haters. There were some celebrities whose careers have been destroyed because of fan backlash. I don't want something like that to happen to you."
"I see." Iris' cold eyes eased a bit. "Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister Yiyi. But I also told you before that I don't need fans who'll turn their backs on me just because I'm in a relationship. And I don't give a whit about haters. I'll always have haters. It's part of my life, not only as a celebrity but also as a person. Also don't worry too much about haters destroying my career. If I let them destroy my career, then that just means that I'm not strong enough to face them. This is my career, my life, and I won't let anyone block my way in reaching my dreams."
Jin Liwei kissed her temple, fighting the urge to give the manager a piece of his mind. He controlled himself knowing that his amazing baby girl had everything in control. As if he would let anyone block his future wife's way. He would bulldoze them out of the way and then roll the red carpet for his baby girl afterwards.
Iris and Tang Yiyi talked some more. Iris knew that her manager was just genuinely concerned about her, and for that, she was grateful. Based on what Tang Yiyi had been hinting through her words, Iris could sense that she wasn't really a priority for Bright Summit anymore. They were busy promoting other artists during her disappearance.
'I can only depend on my own abilities,' she thought. 'As long as the company doesn't suppress me, I don't need their full support. I can grab and create opportunities for myself with my own hands. If they see me succeeding, they'll naturally start supporting me again.'
The call ended with Tang Yiyi warning Iris to be careful of the media. They would surely start hounding her and start investigating about her unknown fiancé. The manager also assured that she would fight for resources for Iris within the company.
Afterwards, Iris said goodbye to the show's staff. They persuaded her to stay until the show ended, but she declined.
Jin Liwei's subordinates arrived and they escorted the group out of the TV station building. And indeed, a crowd of reporters, paparazzi, fans and rumourmongers flocked outside for Iris. Fortunately, they were duped by Dom and Jiang Ying Yue disguised as Iris, while the real Iris escaped with Jin Liwei in another vehicle.
###
At a high-end nightclub frequented by celebrities and socialites.
JJ was hanging out with his friends. DJ Song was there and other quite influential figures in the country's music industry. They were inside a VIP lounge.
However, instead of enjoying the club's party music, they used the room's soundproof feature to mute outside noise. Instead, they all focused on the huge flat-screen TV hanging on the wall. It was playing "MusicFest Tonight".
"Old J, did you know that Iris can play the guitar like that?" DJ Song asked.
"Yeah. I discovered early on that the brat is a multi-instrumentalist while we were making her album 'Rebirth'," JJ replied. "But I had no idea that she could also play a left-handed guitar nor did I know that her skill level with the guitar was that advanced."
"Are you kidding me? That level isn't merely 'advanced'. It's expert level! No, I think it's beyond that. It's just that the skill levels of those Pandemonium kids aren't high enough to match her, so she's the one who has to lower her level a bit to match them," a famous songwriter observed.
"That's what I think, too," a well-respected studio musician said. "My main instrument is the guitar, so I know what I'm saying. I can say that what she showed tonight is just the tip of the iceberg. Old J, you say that you didn't know that she can play a left-handed guitar. Does that mean that she can play the regular right-handed guitar as well?"
"Yeah."
"Is she right-handed or left-handed?"
"Hmm…" The studio musician swirled tequila as he thought deeply about something. "The way she plays the left-handed guitar reminds me of someone."
"I know, right? That's what I was thinking too," the songwriter said.
DJ Song: "Enrique Valdez."
"Exactly." The studio musician nodded his head. "Enrique Valdez, the legendary hitmaker, also considered as the #1 southpaw guitarist in the world. The way Iris played the guitar tonight demonstrates his exquisite style of playing. The advanced technical skills are a given, but even more than that, she even captured his total control of the music and the band's pace, and also his detailed, fluid and seductive style of playing. And of course, it's even more noticeable because she played the left-handed guitar."
"Now that you mention it, I remember seeing on the news that Iris has been spotted with Enrique Valdez in Europe," the songwriter said.
DJ Song: "If I'm not mistaken, it was when Iris allegedly performed at Maestro De Luca's concert in Germany. There are even rumours that she's lovers with both the maestro and Enrique Valdez."
"Hmph! Ridiculous! Those are just rumours! I know the brat and I can feel her hunger and passion for music. She even dares to quarrel with someone as awesome as me! The brat is not a stupid idiot to ruin her future by entering a relationship with Maestro De Luca—he's married and has grandchildren!—and Enrique Valdez who's also known for his string of lovers. Besides, she doesn't need to sleep with people like them to succeed. She can succeed with her own abilities and talents, and of course, as long as she continues to work with a music producer as amazing as me!"
The friends laughed and continued to discuss Iris' performances on the show while drinking alcohol. They didn't care much about her engagement. They were all music professionals. Once they considered someone worthy of respect as a musician, they wouldn't care about the individual's personal circumstances.
Iris was such a person. They already recognized her as someone worthy of their respect as fellow musicians.
Inside his music studio at home, Jin Chonglin strummed his acoustic guitar. His eyes were intense, as he jotted down several chords on paper to form a melody. He looked like a possessed man.
Earlier, he was relaxing while watching "MusicFest Tonight" on bed. When Iris appeared as substitute lead guitarist of the rock band Pandemonium, he was surprised.
He was watching the show because he knew that Iris was going to perform tonight. He didn't expect that she would make a comeback before him. He wanted to see if she was alright.
Then he watched her electrifying guitar performance. Guitar was also his main instrument, especially when he just debuted as a musician years ago. Seeing her play the guitar like an expert pricked at his self-confidence.
"I thought you're a pianist," he muttered. "Why are you playing the guitar like you're f*cking Enrique Valdez? Are you high or something?"
After the performance, he turned off the TV and hurried to his music studio. He didn't watch her solo performance and had no idea about her engagement.
A sense of urgency overwhelmed him after watching her. He was Jin Chonglin, a superstar. However, he felt like if he didn't do something right now, a bigger superstar would soon surpass him.
Iris Long was back. And she was stronger than ever.
"I won't let you have the throne that easily. May the best musician win."