HIS GENIUS WIFE IS A SUPERSTAR

511 - 520

They were in the grand dining hall. The large and long dinner table was removed in preference for lounge chairs and small tables instead. The lunch was buffet-style which Iris and Jin Liwei now preferred whenever they hosted parties, thanks to the Chua family's influence. It was less formal and encouraged everyone to mingle freely.

The atmosphere was light and cheerful. Everyone was still feeling euphoric over Iris Long and Yin Meixing's double wins last night. Their beautiful trophies were displayed on a high table for the others to admire. It was the producer who suggested it, feeling proud of the women's achievements for his film.

While they were all chatting and eating, the French butler announced a surprise guest. Moments later, the stunning Ashandra Knightson walked into the dining hall. The men who hadn't met her yet, except for Lu Zihao, stopped what they were doing when they saw her. Their jaws fell down and their eyes widened upon seeing such a beauty. Lu Zihao wasn't affected at all.

Iris smiled brightly when she saw her friend. She and Jin Liwei welcomed the artist. They spoke in English.

"Ashandra, I'm so happy that you dropped by. This is our last day here before we have to go home to China," Iris told her friend after hugging each other.

"Xiulan, I missed you so much! AJ and Theresa also miss you. Florence is in Southeast Asia right now, but I know that she's also missing us," Ashandra said to Iris before giving a friendly hug to Jin Liwei as well. "Good to see you again, Liam. You better take care of my friend or us Cross girls will rip you apart and feed you to the rats."

"Don't worry. If I ever hurt her, you're free to punish me. I'll deserve it," Jin Liwei replied.

Ashandra nodded, satisfied at his answer. Then she turned to Iris again and scolded, "Why did you only tell me now that you're here in France? If I knew, I would've hurried to meet you here. We could've spent more time together!"

"I didn't know that you were in Italy attending an art exhibition. I thought you were still at the Academy busy working on your next masterpiece. I didn't want to disturb you."

"Silly girl. You're welcome to disturb me anytime. What are friends for?"

Iris responded with a warm smile. "Thank you."

"By the way, I heard what happened last night. Congratulations on winning the Best Soundtrack Award! I'm so proud of you. This is for you." Ashandra handed Iris a gift bag.

"May I?" Iris asked.

"Of course. Please open it."

Iris gasped when she saw what her friend gave her.

"Ashandra, this is beautiful! Thank you!"

"I'm glad you liked it. It's one of my latest works."

The gift was a large, beautiful, silk scarf. Although it was a scarf, it was also an incredible painting. An ethereal woman wearing a pristine white dress was soaring to the heavens among the stormy clouds with her jet-black wings. The woman's angelic beauty was a contrast to her demonic wings. Her eyes looked fierce and determined, as she flew towards whatever was up there.

"I chose this particular scarf to give you because the woman in my painting is very similar to you, Xiulan. As a person, your kindness and generosity are like that of an angel. But once you set your mind into something, you obsessively pursue it like a demon," Ashandra explained.

"Exactly," Jin Liwei wholeheartedly agreed to the artist's brief analysis of his baby girl.

Iris didn't reply to the two. She continued to admire the scarf instead. Then she asked, "What's this painting called?"