"Hm? Why are you laughing? What's funny?" the COO asked when he saw his current deputy chuckling beside him.

Long Jian caught himself and regained his senses. He cleared his throat and returned the COO's smile. "Nothing, sir. I just remembered something funny." Then he apologized to the other people they were chatting with for being distracted.

The COO patted Long Jian's shoulder, a kind smile on his face, like a father looking at his own son. The conversation in their little group continued.

Long Jian glanced at Iris who was now speaking with their father, Yang Jiahui and the other executives and board members. His expression was neutral. However, when he turned to look at Long Hui, a mocking expression flashed in his eyes before covering it with a pleasant smile.

Later that evening, the inauguration party finally ended. It was a straightforward affair. No drama occurred during the party—at least, nothing that the media and the other guests detected. Yet unbeknown to them, several plots went into motion that very day. Behind the pleasant smiles and easy chatter hid a complex game of chess involving the entire Long clan.

###

Long Jian returned home late that night from the party. It was almost midnight already, yet the lights were still on in the house.

His mother, Zhu Ning, was watching the TV in the living room. She lay on the couch with a grumpy expression, as she watched the late-night entertainment news. The inauguration party to commemorate Iris Long becoming the first ever celebrity brand ambassador of Long Industries was currently being featured on the show. Long Jian saw himself for about a second in the same frame as Iris.

No wonder his mother looked like she swallowed a frog by her ugly expression. She had been on a constant bad mood almost every single day ever since the Orchidia Beauty grand launch. It was driving her crazy that the news kept on featuring Iris Long and her mother, Wei Lan.

However, instead of avoiding the news, Zhu Ning actively sought the latest updates about Iris Long and Wei Lan. Iris Long becoming more famous was natural given her numerous accomplishments this year.

As for Wei Lan, she had also become a celebrity in her own right because of her new status as a Spanish viscountess. She was no longer known simply as Iris Long's mother. She had also increased her reputation in a good way after becoming an ambassador for her daughter's foundation, Iris of Hope. In just a few days after Orchidia Beauty's grand launch, she had already set up an online auction selling many brand name clothes, shoes, bags, and other luxury designer items owned by her, her daughter, Jin Liwei, and even Grandpa Lu, Grandma Li and Huang Yuyan. 100% of the profits earned from the auction went to supporting the foundation's current causes.

Wei Lan was now carving a name for herself as a noble philanthropist. Most members of high society still continued to view her in a negative light, but the general public was starting to admire and idolize her. With just her relationship to Iris Long, she had already received the automatic support of the entire Black Stars.

All of this favourable attention to Wei Lan was filling Zhu Ning with so much hatred and envy.

Long Jian worried that his mother was becoming obsessed with the mother and daughter, Iris Long and Wei Lan, who Zhu Ning claimed to be her mortal enemies.

He saw magazines and newspapers showing Iris Long and Wei Lan's names and images in big, fat headlines littering all over the living room. Most of them were torn into pieces, no doubt by his mother. He sighed at the sight.

"I'm back, Mother," he greeted.

"Hmph." Zhu Ning forced herself to a sitting position on the couch and glared at her son. "I watched the news the entire evening about that fucking party for that little slut Long Xiulan! I saw you getting all chummy with your father's current slut of a wife Yang Jiahui! Tell me, whose son are you?! Hers or mine?! Her dried up womb is unable to produce a child for Tengfei so now she's stealing you from me and you're just going to happily let her?!! If you like her so much to be your new mother, then go and live with her and your father and become a complete happy family!!!"

Long Jian scowled at his mother's outburst. He worked from early morning till afternoon before attending the inauguration party. He was exhausted. He didn't need this kind of drama right after arriving home. It took a lot of effort for him to control his temper.

"Mother, calm down."

"How can I calm down when my own son is betraying me? You're the only one I have but look at you! Not only are you getting along with that slut Yang Jiahui, but you're also acting very close to your father's two evil spawns—that little slut Long Xiulan and that son of a bitch Long Hui! Have you forgotten our goal? Those two are your enemies! They're the ones blocking your way as the successor of your father! What are you doing, acting all chummy with those two evil spawns?!"

Long Jian's expression was now as ugly as his mother's. There were so many things that he wanted to say to her but he held back. At the end of the day, she was still his mother. He loved her and didn't want to disrespect her.

They were interrupted by the next news story on TV.

"Orchidia Beauty, the newest popular brand of skincare products owned by internationally-acclaimed multi-award-winning musician Iris Long, made an announcement on their website saying that they will be releasing new products at the end of the month. Their first products, which sold out in record-breaking speed not once but twice since its launch and are now top best-sellers, all focus on facial skincare. Their next sets of products are for the body, reportedly featuring lotions and other body creams. Orchidia Beauty says that they are working hard on increasing their manufacturing capacity as soon as possible to meet the huge demand for their current and upcoming products…"

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