His Genius Wife Is A Superstar Chapter 1681: Girl Abante’s Downfall (Part I)

The following dawn, Iris Long and her entire entourage rose early to prepare for another demanding day. Everyone appeared rejuvenated after their rest the previous night.

Golden morning light filtered through the expansive floor-to-ceiling glass windows, illuminating the main living area. Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily across the azure sky.

Had they not witnessed the aftermath with their own eyes, it would have been impossible to conceive that such a terrifying tempest had recently torn through the region.

The destructive storm had arrived and departed with startling speed, ravaging the capital and its surrounding districts much like a fickle child who throws a tantrum only to settle down after being pacified with a treat. While the metropolis and its suburbs had been pristine merely a day prior, the damage was near total in the blink of an eye. Structures built with superior engineering managed to withstand the onslaught, but those lacking architectural integrity faced disastrous consequences.

Currently, the populace was busy scavenging for remnants and exerting every effort to reconstruct what remained.

Existence had to march forward.

Commercial activities resumed their normal rhythm.

As Iris sat before her vanity mirror, her glam squad fluttering around her with the diligence of worker bees, she found herself sighing while listening to the local morning news broadcast.

The suite's main door swung wide, revealing a freshly showered and clean-shaven Jin Liwei.

She caught sight of her husband’s reflection in the glass as he approached her. He no longer resembled a sleep-deprived zombie.

"You are looking much better, my dear."

"En, I slept quite well." His voice retained a slight, husky quality. He leaned down to press a swift kiss upon her cheek. "Good morning, love."

"Good morning." She smiled, tilting her head upward in his direction.

Granting her silent request, he leaned in to kiss her lips once more.

The makeup artist could only suppress a mental sigh as he carefully reapplied lipstick to Iris’s mouth. He and his peers were long accustomed to these displays; they would likely grow more concerned if their employers ever ceased their affectionate behavior.

"Please, go have some coffee first," Iris suggested to her husband. "We shall share our breakfast once I have finished my preparations."

"En." He bestowed another quick peck on her lips before pouring himself a mug of piping hot coffee.

The doorway opened again.

He observed Jiang Ying Yue returning from the airport.

"Has Eldest Brother already departed?" he queried.

"Indeed. Yehan’s aircraft should be taking off within the half-hour."

"En."

Neither offered further remarks.

Jiang Ying Yue provided a nod before returning to her station.

The entrance opened once more.

Dom stepped inside, accompanied by his parents, Domingo and Reina Chua. Jin Liwei offered a polite greeting to the couple.

Domingo and Reina brought along a homemade breakfast. Jin Liwei assisted in setting the table while they waited for his wife to complete her styling.

Eventually, the entire group congregated for the meal. Because they couldn't all fit around the table, several others found spots throughout the living area. Nobody seemed bothered, however, as the fare was exceptionally flavorful.

"You must eat more, Xiulan," Reina insisted.

"Thank you, but I simply cannot," Iris replied. "I prefer not to feel bloated while working later. However, I will certainly sample everything that you have brought, Auntie Reina."

Reina let out a sigh. "The life of a celebrity is truly demanding. One must monitor their intake constantly."

"I am not like Dom, who could consume a mountain of sustenance without gaining an ounce," Iris teased.

The room erupted in laughter.

Dom jokingly tossed his non-existent long hair, basking in pride regarding his inherent ability to remain slender regardless of his consumption.

Following their breakfast, Iris sipped fennel tea to aid her digestion while her hairstylist resumed styling her locks. She and her husband enjoyed a conversation with the Chuas, while the local morning news program played softly in the background.

"I heard from my son that you wish for me to oversee Iris of Hope here within the Philippines?" Reina inquired.

"Only if it does not prove to be a burden, Auntie Reina," Iris replied. "Iris of Hope holds great significance for me. Now that I seek to introduce it to the Philippines, I could only entrust it to someone who has my complete confidence. I rely on you and your family to uphold the original mission, vision, and values of my foundation."

Reina exchanged a glance with her husband, who nodded in return.

"Linda has already mastered the operations of Orchidia Philippines, and Marjorie and her husband are managing their construction firm quite well. They no longer require our assistance as they once did, leaving your Uncle Domingo and me relatively idle. If you truly believe I am capable of operating Iris of Hope here, then I shall certainly dedicate my best efforts to it."

"I shall also do my utmost to support Auntie Reina," Domingo added.

"I am deeply grateful, Auntie Reina and Uncle Domingo," Iris said.

She then shifted the conversation toward the specific projects she envisioned for Iris of Hope.

However, her primary goal was providing immediate relief to those devastated by the recent storm. Lacking the time to organize a formal fundraising gala, she and her husband decided they would provide donations directly from their personal assets.

"I believe it is also viable to collaborate with Orchidia Philippines," Iris suggested. "A small fraction of all profits could flow into Iris of Hope. We are currently implementing a similar strategy at our headquarters back home."

Reina nodded in agreement. "That sounds excellent. You need not concern yourself with the logistics, Xiulan. I will coordinate with Linda and keep you updated with my reports."

Fired up by her new mission, Reina bade farewell to the group and led Domingo away to begin the groundwork for establishing the foundation in the country.

They faced several legal hurdles, but given the reputation and status the Chua family had cultivated recently—largely due to the significant funds Dom and Clover contributed after entering Iris's employment—Reina and Domingo felt confident they could accelerate the bureaucratic process.

Iris felt a sense of relief that Reina had accepted her offer. If she had been forced to seek and vet external candidates, the foundation’s expansion into this country would have been significantly delayed.

Just as she prepared to change into her attire, Dom let out a sudden gasp.

"What is the matter?" she asked.

Dom pointed a manicured finger toward the television, his eyes wide with shock. "Boss! Look, it is Girl Abante!"

The morning entertainment segment was broadcasting a exposé. They paid close attention to the reporter’s narration as a montage of clips featuring Girl Abante played across the screen.

"Numerous former celebrities, whose professional lives faded into the background, have stepped forward to expose the mistreatment they endured under the prominent film producer and talk show host, Girl Abante."

A former leading drama actress stated, "Three years ago, I was coerced into appearing on her talk show. When my responses failed to satisfy her, she and her team manipulated the footage to present me in an unfavorable light. They edited the interview to make me appear arrogant and uncooperative, which invited a wave of public backlash. When I attempted to fight back and reveal her true character, I was swiftly blacklisted from the entertainment industry."

A former actress known for her sex appeal commented, "Girl and I have a long history. She was my manager. She brought me fame, but she also destroyed my livelihood once I refused to comply with her demands. I do not claim to be innocent, and I am not proud of the paths I took, but it is unfair that I am the sole person suffering the consequences when Girl committed far worse acts. I admit it—I slept my way to the top and pursued affairs with directors and producers. Girl was my pimp. When I finally wanted to settle down, wed the man I loved, and start a family, Girl was incensed. She wanted her cash cow to keep performing. For the first time, I pushed back. She leaked my most private secrets while shielding her own interests. My scandal engulfed the nation. Even at my peak, I could not escape the public's judgment. I was cast aside and labeled a disgrace. At the time, Girl had already woven a vast, powerful network. I stood no chance against her influence."

A former action star added, "She propositioned me, and upon my refusal, I was immediately blacklisted. No director or producer dared to employ me once she had spoken out against me."

A retired child actress claimed, "Many remember me as Madam Girl’s protégé. I was her top pick for her film productions and a regular guest on her show. Everything was fine for years, until she discovered that one of her boy toys was courting me—a man I did not even realize was involved with her! Overnight, she blacklisted me and smeared my reputation with fabricated scandals. My carefully curated, pure image was ruined by sex scandals that never occurred, all because she was jealous that her lover wanted to be with me!"

A prominent former director testified, "I have contemplated this for years before finally speaking out. Girl and I were lovers, and we were essentially partners in film. We were far from clean. We both had affairs, but we tolerated it because we were a profitable pair. We witnessed the filth beneath the glitz of the industry and participated in it gladly—profit was always our only priority. But then, I became involved with an actress and she became pregnant. Girl lost her mind. She hired someone to push that actress down a flight of stairs during filming. Needless to say, the actress miscarried my child."