This year's Sommet International Film Festival finally concluded . The Chinese participants needed to return home to their country soon . Their participation in the film festival wasn't a vacation . It was still part of their work .
Everyone involved in "Strong Yet Broken" was busy . The film helped each of them gain recognition in their own respective fields, especially Yin Meixing who was now a well-respected actress . They had new projects that they were all working on .
Iris Long was also the same . Time was tight for her . The official launch of her company, Orchidia Beauty, was in three days . She and Jin Liwei needed to return as soon as possible in order to make it in time .
At the moment, there was an air of mystery surrounding Orchidia Beauty . They deliberately leaked a portion of the grand launch's guest list to the public . It included many impressive figures .
The Jins: Jin Liwei, Jin Chonglin, Li Zhiruo (Grandma Li) and Huang Yuyan .
When the people saw that the Jins would be attending, they didn't question it because Jin Chonglin was an endorser of Orchidia Beauty . They assumed that his family would be coming to support him . And now that everyone knew that Iris Long and Jin Liwei was engaged, it added another reason for the entire Jin main family to attend . After all, both Iris Long and Jin Chonglin were endorsers of the new company .
The Lus: Sir Lu Jianhong (Grandpa Lu) and Lu Zihao .
People also didn't question their attendance because many knew that the Lus and the Jins were close to each other . Perhaps the Lus would also be attending to support Jin Chonglin . It had also already been reported that Iris Long was close to both the Lu grandfather and grandson .
The Longs: Long Tengfei and Yang Jiahui .
Also Vizcondesa Lan of Castillo de Estrellas of España .
It was a given that Iris Long's parents were also invited .
Other than this leaked guest list, there wasn't any substantial information about Orchidia Beauty itself . They hadn't revealed the identities of the people running it yet . On their press release announcing the company's official launch, they only promised to reveal everything to the public during the grand party . This made the people more curious about it .
Why the need to act so mysterious? Was this just a marketing strategy to create hype? Or was there truly something the company was keeping a secret that would shock everyone once revealed?
Iris was feeling very excited for the launch of her company . She had been working on it since last year . That was why she didn't want to stay in France any longer than necessary . She urged Jin Liwei and the others for everyone to return to China as soon as possible .
In the end, they all decided to stay one more day in France in order to rest . Iris wanted to depart immediately but Jin Liwei persuaded her to wait one more day . The two of them had been attending events with everyone from "Strong Yet Broken" throughout the entire duration of the film festival . They almost had no time to rest .
During the final day of their stay in France, Iris and Jin Liwei decided to host both a victory and farewell lunch party . Everyone from "Strong Yet Broken" came . All of them couldn't help but gasp in amazement at the grandeur of Jin Liwei's villa estate . Guan Jintao couldn't see, but his wife described everything to him .
Maestro Ludovico De Luca, his wife and Enrique Valdez also attended . Their arrival made everyone from "Strong Yet Broken" starstruck . They swore that from now on, they would do their best to maintain their relationship with Iris Long . She was connected to all of these impressive people, including Sir Lu Jianhong and Madam Wei Lan, now a Spanish viscountess . Not to mention that she was engaged to the Chinese billionaire, Jin Liwei .
They were in the grand dining hall . The large and long dinner table was removed in preference for lounge chairs and small tables instead . The lunch was buffet-style which Iris and Jin Liwei now preferred whenever they hosted parties, thanks to the Chua family's influence . It was less formal and encouraged everyone to mingle freely .
The atmosphere was light and cheerful . Everyone was still feeling euphoric over Iris Long and Yin Meixing's double wins last night . Their beautiful trophies were displayed on a high table for the others to admire . It was the producer who suggested it, feeling proud of the women's achievements for his film .
While they were all chatting and eating, the French butler announced a surprise guest . Moments later, the stunning Ashandra Knightson walked into the dining hall . The men who hadn't met her yet, except for Lu Zihao, stopped what they were doing when they saw her . Their jaws fell down and their eyes widened upon seeing such a beauty . Lu Zihao wasn't affected at all .
Iris smiled brightly when she saw her friend . She and Jin Liwei welcomed the artist . They spoke in English .
"Ashandra, I'm so happy that you dropped by . This is our last day here before we have to go home to China," Iris told her friend after hugging each other .
"Xiulan, I missed you so much! AJ and Theresa also miss you . Florence is in Southeast Asia right now, but I know that she's also missing us," Ashandra said to Iris before giving a friendly hug to Jin Liwei as well . "Good to see you again, Liam . You better take care of my friend or us Cross girls will rip you apart and feed you to the rats . "
"Don't worry . If I ever hurt her, you're free to punish me . I'll deserve it," Jin Liwei replied .
Ashandra nodded, satisfied at his answer . Then she turned to Iris again and scolded, "Why did you only tell me now that you're here in France? If I knew, I would've hurried to meet you here . We could've spent more time together!"
"I didn't know that you were in Italy attending an art exhibition . I thought you were still at the Academy busy working on your next masterpiece . I didn't want to disturb you . "
"Silly girl . You're welcome to disturb me anytime . What are friends for?"
Iris responded with a warm smile . "Thank you . "
"By the way, I heard what happened last night . Congratulations on winning the Best Soundtrack Award! I'm so proud of you . This is for you . " Ashandra handed Iris a gift bag .
"May I?" Iris asked .
"Of course . Please open it . "
Iris gasped when she saw what her friend gave her .
"Ashandra, this is beautiful! Thank you!"
"I'm glad you liked it . It's one of my latest works . "
The gift was a large, beautiful, silk scarf . Although it was a scarf, it was also an incredible painting . An ethereal woman wearing a pristine white dress was soaring to the heavens among the stormy clouds with her jet-black wings . The woman's angelic beauty was a contrast to her demonic wings . Her eyes looked fierce and determined, as she flew towards whatever was up there .
"I chose this particular scarf to give you because the woman in my painting is very similar to you, Xiulan . As a person, your kindness and generosity are like that of an angel . But once you set your mind into something, you obsessively pursue it like a demon," Ashandra explained .
"Exactly," Jin Liwei wholeheartedly agreed to the artist's brief analysis of his baby girl .
Iris didn't reply to the two . She continued to admire the scarf instead . Then she asked, "What's this painting called?"Find authorized novels in Webnovel,faster updates, better experience,Please click www . webnovel . com for visiting .
"I call it the 'Demonic Angel' . "
"Beautiful," Iris whispered .
Later, Ashandra greeted Grandpa Lu, Maestro De Luca and Enrique Valdez . They all knew each other because they were former and current students of Cross Academy .
After Iris introduced her friend to everyone, the party resumed its light and cheerful atmosphere . The people who hadn't met Ashandra yet were all very curious of her . When they learned that she was an accomplished artist whose works always sold out at insane prices in auctions, they were all very impressed .
Once again, everyone from "Strong Yet Broken" were amazed by Iris Long's connections . It seemed that Ashandra Knightson was her personal friend . Meaning, Iris met the respected artist on her own instead of getting connected through Jin Liwei . In fact, even Maestro De Luca and Enrique Valdez seemed to be only close to her and not to Jin Liwei .
If other people started accusing Iris Long of using CEO Jin Liwei to climb socially, then the "Strong Yet Broken" team would be the first ones to defend her .
Chapter end
Report
|
Donate
Oh o, this user has not set a donation button.
|