His Genius Wife Is A Superstar Chapter 1662: Discover with Jericho Maya (Part II)

"Wow, you were so young back then," Jericho Maya remarked, shaking his head as sympathy flickered in his gaze.

'This man is truly dangerous,' Iris Long reflected. 'He creates such a comfortable atmosphere that I feel the urge to reveal everything to him. I must remain vigilant to ensure I don't let anything slip.'

Jin Liwei appeared to detect her discomfort, stepping forward to cast a stern glare at Jericho Maya. The journalist simply offered a smile, trying to use his expression to ease the tension.

Fortunately, the topic of the car accident was dropped by Jericho. While the public in China already knew the crash was a malicious premeditated murder attempt by the former fiancée of Jin Chonglin, many specific details remained hidden from the world.

That period had been incredibly taxing for the relationship between Iris and Jin Liwei. Their bond had even fractured into a breakup. Jin Liwei was determined never to lose his wife again, having learned a brutal lesson from that ordeal. Most critically, it had nearly cost him the woman he loved and the mother of his children.

Even though he had been forgiven, a sense of guilt toward the original Long Xiulan would always haunt Jin Liwei. He would spend the rest of his life atoning for his part in concealing the truth of the accident to protect what he once considered family interests. His only path to redemption was to cherish and love his wife, who now lived as the current Long Xiulan, also known as Iris Long.

This was his path to making amends.

It was a commitment he intended to uphold for as long as he lived.

Returning to the conversation, Jericho shifted the focus away from the car crash.

He inquired, "You were in a coma for an entire year. What was the recovery process like?"

"Extremely difficult," Iris replied. "My physical state was incredibly fragile. Walking just a few paces was enough to leave me drained. I had to rebuild my strength through a strict diet, and the rehabilitation process was agonizing. I never want to go through physical rehab again. While everything was a struggle, I also felt a sense of gratitude."

Jericho: "Gratitude... for what?"

Iris gave a small smile. "I was thankful because I was granted a second chance at life. Miracles like that are rare. Even when they happen, some people fail to value them and waste the opportunity. I realized how fortunate I was and vowed to live life to the absolute fullest. I decided to follow my passions, hunt down my dreams, and live without any regrets."

Jericho: "That’s wonderful."

Iris: "Thank you."

Jericho: "Your album, 'Rebirth,' marked your return to the entertainment industry. Many tracks on that record became massive hits. At that time, you actually overtook your brother-in-law, Chonglin, in both awards and music chart rankings."

Iris let out a soft laugh. "I did, didn't I? If you remind him of that, he'll probably lose his mind."

Jericho: "Are you and your brother-in-law close?"

Iris: "Yes, he is my husband's only brother. My kids really love their Uncle Lin Lin. We are a close-knit family. Beyond that, we are business partners now, since my husband and I co-own our entertainment firm with him."

Jericho: "That would be LXC Studio, correct?"

Iris: "Yes."

They spent a few moments discussing LXC Studio. Jericho then displayed a picture of the failed marriage proposal Jin Chonglin made to Chen Fei during the Liberté launch in Paris. The image captured a comedic moment of Jin Chonglin on all fours, while his dancers helped him search for the engagement ring he had dropped out of nerves.

The room erupted in laughter at the sight of the photo. It was undeniably hilarious. Even the usually stoic Jin Liwei couldn't hide a faint smirk.

Jericho asked for the story behind the picture. Iris happily shared the details, showing no hesitation about poking fun at her brother-in-law.

"Please pass along my congratulations and best wishes to your brother-in-law and his fiancée," Jericho requested.

Iris: "I certainly will."

Jericho: "According to my notes, Chonglin's fiancée is an employee at your firm. Is that right?"

Iris: "Correct. Chen Fei serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Orchidia. She manages the daily business operations. She has been by my side since the company's inception, along with my sister, who acts as the Chief Financial Officer. Chen Fei and my older sister are best friends. Both of them joined me when Orchidia was founded. The company wouldn't be the success it is today without their contributions."

Jericho: "Now I really want to get an interview with your brother-in-law."

Iris: "That might be a challenge. He’s a superstar, after all. Securing an appointment with Prince Lin Lin is no small feat."

Jericho: "He is indeed a superstar. But so are you."

Iris simply laughed and smiled at the interviewer.

Jericho: "I'm being serious. Many Filipinos have fallen for you during your visit to the Philippines. You've been a trending topic across local social media. Your music, particularly your newest release, has hit the top of our local charts and is a staple in karaoke bars."

Iris: "Is that so?"

She was, of course, already well aware. Dom was always on top of the data, making sure she was updated first thing in the morning and right before bed.

Jericho: "It's the truth. To us Filipinos, you are already a superstar. Right now, I’d say you’re even more popular than your brother-in-law here in the Philippines."

Iris: "If he hears that, he's going to have a fit."

The mood in the room became significantly more relaxed after that exchange.

Jericho then addressed Jin Liwei. "Mr. Jin, in your opinion, who is the superior artist—your wife or your brother?"

"My wife," Jin Liwei replied without a second of doubt.

Dom led the group in a chorus of squeals at the romantic gesture.

Iris directed a joyful, bashful, and deep look toward him.

"My wife is number one," Jin Liwei emphasized.

Jericho pointed at him. "I love that answer!"

Jin Liwei: "I am merely stating a fact."

Jericho turned back to Iris. "And what is your take on that?"

Iris: "I have full confidence in my husband's judgment."

This triggered another wave of laughter.

'This interviewer is incredibly talented,' Iris thought to herself. 'He is a master at managing the mood without making anyone feel awkward. Stay focused, Evelina.'

Jericho: "You've achieved incredible musical success at such a young age. What else do you hope to accomplish?"

Iris's expression turned serious. She paused to reflect before answering.

"There are still many new paths I wish to explore. I don't want to be confined to a box or repeat the same patterns. The possibilities in music are infinite, and I want to discover as many as I can in this life. I feel I haven't reached my full potential yet, so I'm working hard to refine my current skills while learning new ones. It is never too late for education.

"Regarding my immediate goals, I dream of holding a massive solo concert. Performing on my own grand stage for fans across the globe is a major dream of mine. I put that on hold to focus on starting a family with my husband. We are waiting until our children are old enough to handle that kind of intense schedule. I refuse to leave my kids behind when I eventually tour; I will be bringing my entire family with me."

Jericho: "Wow. That sounds like quite a challenge."

Iris: "It will be. That's why I don't make these decisions lightly. My husband and I have to coordinate everything together. Ultimately, our family is the priority. Family always comes first."

Jericho: "That's a great sentiment. When that time comes, will a concert in the Philippines be on the schedule?"

Iris: "Oh, definitely. I'll make sure of it."

Cheers broke out from the crew behind the cameras.

Jericho laughed. "It seems several of our crew members have recently become fans of yours."

Iris looked toward them. "Thank you!"

Jericho: "I'd also love to hear about your personal creative process when you're crafting music."

Iris: "Certainly."

Iris provided a concise, clear breakdown of her musical workflow: finding inspiration, jotting down concepts, composing the score, lyric writing, band rehearsals, recording sessions, post-production, filming videos, the release, and finally, live performances.

Jericho: "That sounds incredibly intense! Do you ever burn out?"

Iris: "No, never. I find it exhilarating! I might get physically exhausted because it’s a lot of work, but getting tired of the process itself? Never. Music is my life. To me, it's as essential as breathing."

Jericho: "I see. Your passion for music is very evident. I've interviewed many artists over the years, and I've noticed a trend. Those who truly love the art stay in the industry long-term. However, those who are only chasing fame usually don't last. They either pivot to acting or quit the spotlight entirely, using their fame as a stepping stone for business or politics before vanishing from the public eye."

Iris nodded in agreement.

Jericho: "I can tell you're the type who genuinely loves the craft. Even though you've used your success to launch several thriving businesses, you haven't abandoned music. You always come back. Why is that?"

Iris: "As I mentioned, music is my life. If you took it away, my world would lose its flavor instantly. It would be like losing a sense. I can't even conceive of a world without music. I would... likely lose my mind."