Chapter 1573 Preparing For Departure

Iris left her husband on the couch and sat beside her mother-in-law instead. She hugged the now hysterical Huang Yuyan.

"Your grandma can't die!" Huang Yuyan cried while clutching onto Iris as if she were her lifeline. "Your grandpa and your dad already died! Your grandma can't die, too! What am I going to do if she leaves?!"

Seeing his mother like this, Jin Liwei finally regained all his wits about him. He and his wife worked together in trying to calm Huang Yuyan down.

Finally, Huang Yuyan recovered a semblance of calmness. She was still a mess but at least she stopped being hysterical. Most of it was thanks to her daughter-in-law, Iris, who had a stronger calming effect than her iceberg son, Jin Liwei.

"Mom, why don't I help you pack?" Iris suggested. "We need to leave within two hours."

The teary-eyed Huang Yuyan nodded, looking very dependent on her. However, she realized something before shaking her head.

"No, it's better to call someone else to help me pack, my dear. I know you and my son should be busy making arrangements for our departure. Sorry for letting you see such an embarrassing side of me. I'm just too distraught after hearing what happened to your grandma."

"Don't be sorry, Mom," Iris said, continuing to comfort her mother-in-law. "Okay, I'll call someone else to help you pack."

After arranging a couple of female bodyguards to help her mother-in-law pack her luggage, Iris and Jin Liwei continued to make arrangements for their departure.

The husband and wife separated to maximize the time. Jin Liwei met up with their security team to inform them about the change of plans and also to begin the hotel's check-out process.

As for Iris, she headed to Alric Bauer's hotel room. It took an entire two minutes before the German opened his door. He looked annoyed at being awakened. His hair was a mess, his eyes glazed and still sleepy.

"Sorry for waking you up, Alric," Iris said. "There has been an emergency and we have to leave Germany in less than two hours."

The sleepiness disappeared in Alric's eyes in an instant. "What happened?"

"My grandmother-in-law had a heart attack. We need to return to our home country to make sure that she's okay."

Alric nodded. "Okay. I'll start packing."

"No, Alric. You won't come with us."

He froze and looked at her in confusion.

She explained, "You know that Orchidia's launch here in Germany is very important not only to me but to our company. It's going to be our gateway here in Europe. We need to ensure that it succeeds."

He nodded.

"It's unfortunate that I won't be able to personally witness this milestone for Orchidia, but this doesn't mean that I would leave without at least appointing someone to represent me in our company's launch here in Germany," Iris continued.

Alric pointed at himself. "You mean me? You want me to represent you?"

She nodded. "Exactly. First of all, you're German so you should be able to understand our German customers the most. And most importantly, you're not only our company's Chief Product Officer but also one of the major shareholders. You have more than every right to attend as my representative in our German launch."

He thought about it for a couple of seconds before nodding. "Okay, I understand. I'll attend the launch for all of us. Go and prepare for your departure. I'll inform my sister about the change of plans. Don't worry about Orchidia Germany. I hope that your grandmother-in-law will be fine and recover."

"Thank you, Alric."

After saying a brief goodbye to him, Iris left and hurried to Chen Fei's room next. When she got there, Chen Fei was almost done packing.

"I'm almost ready, Xiulan," Chen Fei said.

Iris released a sigh of relief. "Good. Did Brother Chonglin inform you?"

"Yeah. He was crying when he called me. I could barely understand what he was saying. His assistant had to take over the call and explain what happened to me." Chen Fei glanced at her. "How's your husband?"

Iris sighed again, heavier this time. "He's acting like a robot. He automatically shut down his emotions so that he can take care of our departure arrangements."

Chen Fei couldn't help but sigh as well. "I originally planned on staying here in Germany to represent the headquarters at the launch, but I just can't leave Chonglin alone. You know how impulsive he is. Even I'm not sure what he might do if we leave him to his own devices in this kind of critical time."

Iris nodded. "I already spoke to Alric Bauer. He'll be the one to attend the launch on our behalf."

"That's good." Chen Fei zipped her last suitcase before plopping herself on the bed and releasing a heavy sigh. "I'm not very close to Grandma Li, so I can't really pretend to feel distraught about what happened to her. I just feel sorry for the brothers. Your husband is strong and he has you, so he should be fine. Chonglin is a nutcase but he has me now, too. I'll do my best to comfort him. I won't allow him to go crazy. He's my future husband after all."

"You're right," Iris said. "We, ladies, need to be the strong ones this time around."

Chen Fei gave her a side-eye. "What the hell are you talking about? I've always been the strong one in my relationship with your brother-in-law."

Iris laughed. "Then excuse me for misspeaking."

"You're excused." Chen Fei waved a dismissive hand. Then she got up from the bed. "Help me with my luggage before you return to your suite. I'll head downstairs and wait for you there."

"Okay." Although she said this, Iris didn't move to take a suitcase. Instead, she went to the phone and called the front desk, requesting a bellboy and a baggage trolley to come help.

Chen Fei rolled her eyes at her actions but otherwise didn't complain.

"Done." Iris smiled at her friend. "Help is coming. I need to return to my babies now."

"Go!"

Iris didn't feel any reluctance as she left her friend to wait for the bellboy and baggage trolley. She returned to the suite and found that the nannies had already bundled up her sons.

The twins were already strapped in their baby carriages.

Little Matcha was still sleeping deeply, unaware that he would be returning home soon.

On the other hand, Little Mochi was now wide awake and making a big fuss. As soon as the baby saw Iris, he immediately reached out his little arms to her, looking as if he wanted to jump his baby carriage directly into his mommy's arms.

Iris' heart melted. Even so, she still didn't take her baby out of the baby carriage. She only bent down to kiss and comfort Little Mochi until he settled.

Dom came out of the main bedroom followed by a few bodyguards. They were all wheeling suitcases.

"I've already checked your bedroom and confirmed that nothing has been left," Dom told Iris when he saw her. "I already packed all of your luggage, including mine. We're all ready to go."

Iris sighed in relief. "You're truly a lifesaver, Dom."

He smiled but it was muted given the reason why they all had to prematurely leave Germany and return home.

"Let's go," Iris announced.

All of them headed downstairs to the hotel lobby together. Bodyguards surrounded them while also helping wheel and carry the luggage.

"Mama?" Little Mochi wanted his mommy to carry him.

"Later, sweetheart," Iris said. "Mommy is busy. Little Mochi is an awesome baby so he knows how to wait, right?"

The baby pouted at first. But when he heard his mommy saying that he was an awesome baby, his mood immediately improved by leaps and bounds.

Indeed, he was an awesome baby!

He no longer whined for his mommy to carry him. After all, he was awesome!

Iris chuckled.

Then she continued messaging her Cross Academy friends, informing them that she wouldn't be able to meet them at the launch after all.

Originally, she planned on returning to the academy with AJ Zheneres, Theresa Blipsburg, and Amanpio Kileksky after Orchidia's German launch. She wanted to check in with the headmaster, Professor Erwan Dupont, and discuss her current progress in the academy. Most importantly, she wanted to visit Ashandra Knightson and make sure that her friend was okay after what happened in Paris.

All these plans, however, needed to be scrapped. For now, at least.

Just like what Iris said to her husband, family was more important.

She needed to be there for the family after what happened to her grandmother-in-law.

AJ Zheneres was the first one to call Iris because they were in the same time zone. "What happened?"

Iris told her about her grandmother-in-law's heart attack.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," AJ said. "I pray that Grandma Li recovers soon."

"Thank you, AJ."

"I'll still go to Munich to attend Orchidia's launch. Even when you're not there, I'm still going to support your company. Don't worry about Orchidia's launch in Germany, Xiulan. If your company encounters any trouble, just tell the person in charge to contact me. I'll be more than happy to provide assistance."

Iris' eyes moistened. "I don't really know how to thank you, AJ."

"You and your family all treat me like one of your own. Ever since I became friends with you, my circle of close friends and acquaintances have expanded. You're all very loyal, too. The least I can do is to repay your loyalty."

After the phone call, Amanpio Kileksy called next.

Like AJ Zheneres, Amanpio wished a quick recovery for Grandma Li and confirmed that he would still attend Orchidia's launch in Germany.

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