His Genius Wife Is A Superstar Chapter 1661: Discover with Jericho Maya (Part I)

Late that night, excitement still coursed through Iris Long as she rested in bed beside her husband. Jin Liwei could only smile and shake his head, pulling her into a firm embrace.

"Don't you find Virginia absolutely incredible?" Iris questioned, shifting restlessly within his arms.

"You are the incredible one, love."

Iris playfully slapped his waist. "I am being serious!"

"As am I."

She pouted at him. "That was truly one of the greatest jam sessions I have ever shared with others! It is such a joy when fellow artists can actually keep pace with me. Admittedly, I had to frequently pivot to harmonize with Mr. Albert’s guitar, but since the piano is his primary instrument, it makes sense that his guitar skills are secondary. Miss Dina is also getting older, so it is natural that she cannot keep up as well as she once did. But Virginia? People claim she is past her prime, yet she was magnificent tonight. I truly hope I can preserve my skills as well as she has at that age."

"You will, love," Jin Liwei whispered. "You will be magnificent regardless of your age."

Propping her head up on her hand, she gazed at his sleepy face. "Do you really believe that?"

"En."

"What if I grow old and lose my beauty? Will your love remain?"

He met her gaze intensely. "Yes. I hold my marriage vows in high regard, Evelina. I will love you regardless of your physical form, as long as it is you. Just never leave me."

'Or I will lose my mind,' he added silently in his heart.

"Okay!" She flashed a bright smile. "I will keep loving you too, even when your youth and handsome looks fade. Even if your wealth disappears, my love will stay the same. If that happens, do not worry—your wife will be the one to provide for the family."

He let out a soft chuckle. "En."

Though she settled back into the pillows intending to sleep, her body was too energized to rest. The thrill of the music session replayed in her mind like a loop, keeping her wide awake.

"Stop moving, love," Jin Liwei warned through clenched teeth. "Otherwise, neither of us is going to get any rest tonight."

"But I can't fall asleep—oh!"

He guided her hand to the unmistakable, rigid bulge beneath his pajama pants. "If sleep is impossible, we could spend the night exercising instead. Your husband is happy to keep you company, wife. Hmm?"

Iris turned still instantly. While she felt a flicker of temptation, the thought of tomorrow’s busy schedule caused any scandalous ideas to vanish.

Closing her eyes tightly, she drifted into a heavy slumber almost immediately.

"Love?"

Jin Liwei checked on her, and upon realizing she was truly out, he breathed a sigh. He was constantly amazed by his wife's talent for falling asleep in a matter of seconds. It was a trait their son, Little Matcha, had clearly inherited.

He attempted to sleep as well but found it impossible with his body screaming for release. With another sigh, he carefully slid his arm from beneath her head and stood up. She didn't move an inch.

"You are becoming more mischievous every day," he whispered, watching her peaceful face.

After a quick kiss on her forehead, he retreated to the bathroom for a cold shower to dampen his desire.

###

The following morning arrived with a rush of activity.

The group was accustomed to the busy pace, though the sweltering humidity of the outdoors remained a challenge. Luckily, their time outside was limited, as most of Iris Long's engagements were scheduled to be held indoors.

This day marked the busiest point of their Philippine tour, dominated by a nearly continuous string of interviews.

Two specific sessions were of high priority, featuring two of the nation's most renowned journalists.

The first interview was set to take place at the hotel, sparing them an early morning commute. It was a welcome relief.

Once she was ready, Iris sat down for a hearty breakfast with the entire team. Roughly thirty minutes later, Dom alerted her that their first guest was about to arrive.

The team relocated to one of the hotel's intimate meeting halls. Thanks to Dom’s foresight, the room had been styled to look like an elegant private lounge, complete with a spread of refreshments in the corner.

Soon, the interviewer made his appearance.

It was Jericho Maya, a figure of immense respect in the Philippine media landscape.

He was a decorated journalist with honors both local and international. While he remained a lead anchor for a major news outlet, he also hosted his own popular variety program, "Discover with Jericho Maya."

This session with Iris Long was slated to be a featured special for his show.

Jericho arrived with his own production crew. He approached Iris and her team with an air of humility and openness that put Iris at ease. She felt a sudden, strong urge to be candid with him.

'Wait, this is risky,' she realized. 'His success as an interviewer likely stems from this exact aura. He makes guests want to reveal everything without hesitation.'

Recognizing the danger, she tightened her guard. Carrying many secrets as she did, it would be catastrophic to let her guard down around such a man.

'His talent is truly formidable.'

Despite her caution, she liked Jericho Maya. His eyes held a sense of genuine sincerity and perhaps a deep-seated commitment to justice, which fit his reputation as a top-tier journalist.

The two parties engaged in polite conversation for a few minutes.

Jericho then turned his attention to Jin Liwei. Unlike most people, he didn't seem shaken by the man's cold demeanor, even though Jin Liwei was not known for being approachable.

"Would you be open to a few questions as well, Mr. Jin?"

"I prefer the spotlight to remain on my wife," Jin Liwei replied firmly.

Jericho gave a respectful nod. "Understood, sir. I won't ask anything strictly about you. All questions will pertain to the madam."

Jin Liwei paused, glancing at his wife for her input.

"It is entirely up to you, darling," Iris told him.

He let out a sigh before answering the journalist. "Very well, but I will decline any questions I find unsuitable."

Jericho smiled brightly. "Certainly, sir. This is a recorded session, so any parts you find objectionable will be edited out. My only hope is for honest answers to the questions you do choose to address."

Once the crew finished adjusting the lighting and camera angles, the recording commenced.

"Welcome to a very special edition of 'Discover with Jericho Maya.' Joining us today is a guest who has traveled a long way to be here. Please welcome the award-winning musician, innovative entrepreneur, devoted wife, and mother—Iris Long!"

The camera zoomed in, capturing Iris's striking features.

"I appreciate you having me here, Jericho," Iris said, offering a warm smile. "I am quite familiar with your work. In fact, my assistant and best friend, Dominic, is a huge fan of yours."

"Ah, yes. Your assistant is Filipino, isn't he?"

"He is. Dominic Chua. He is essential to my life and helps manage my affairs so I can prioritize what matters most."

The camera briefly cut to Dom in the background, who waved enthusiastically at the lens.

"I look forward to speaking with you later, Dominic, so please stay close," Jericho remarked.

Dom gave a spirited thumbs-up in response.

"Welcome to our country, Iris Long," Jericho continued, refocusing the interview. "To begin... what brings you to the Philippines?"

Iris provided the answer she had prepared, explaining the growth of Orchidia and her strategy for international expansion. She detailed the establishment of Orchidia Germany for Europe, Orchidia Philippines for the Asian sector, and Orchidia Singapore to handle the remaining global demand.

"We have further expansion plans in mind, but our current focus is on these three key hubs," Iris explained.

"Why specifically choose the Philippines?" Jericho probed.

"The answer is simple: I feel a profound bond with the people here. My closest friend and assistant is Filipino, and his family has become my own. They were the ones who helped me grow my presence here by founding Black Stars Philippines, and I am deeply thankful for that. They are among the most dedicated and loyal people I have ever known. Partnering with them to launch a local division was a natural choice. They possess the exact work ethic and talent I require."

Jericho asked, "So, the Chua family are your formal business partners?"

"Yes, they are," Iris confirmed.

She refrained from going into further detail about the arrangement to protect the Chuas' privacy. Aside from Dom, the family was not accustomed to public attention, and she wanted to keep it that way.

Jericho, picking up on her boundary, transitioned to a new subject.

"Let us discuss your musical journey," he suggested.

"I would be delighted to," Iris replied.

"Let’s go back to the start. You were involved in a serious car accident that resulted in a coma."

"That is correct."

"How old were you at the time?"

"I believe I was eighteen. The coma lasted for nearly a year."

"And you were already established in the entertainment industry before that, weren't you?"

"Yes. I started as a child model before becoming a teen pop artist. It was a vastly different period of my life. Looking back, I think I lacked the maturity and direction to understand what I truly wanted then."

She placed a hand over her heart. It was true—the original Long Xiulan had navigated those years without the benefit of responsible mentorship.