386 My Own Company

It was a busy summer season for Iris Long.

She was currently one of the most in demand celebrities in the country. Her status as a multi-award-winning musician and as a genius polyglot increased her fame and reputation. There was no doubt that she successfully established herself as a household name across the country.

Several multi-million endorsement deals were offered to her. Of course, she accepted some of them but also rejected a lot. The Bright Summit higher-ups couldn't understand why she would reject such enticing deals. Despite doing their best in persuading her to change her mind, she didn't budge.

The higher-ups were dismayed that they couldn't reason with Iris. So they scolded Tang Yiyi instead when Iris wasn't present.

"Manager Tang, I think Iris Long's head is growing bigger because she's becoming more famous. These endorsement deal offers are from world-renowned beauty brands! Other celebrities will do anything just to get these deals, but she's rejecting them?! She should treat these as once in a lifetime opportunities. Anything can happen in showbiz. She won't always have this level of fame for her entire career! You should talk to her and make her understand what she's going to miss because of her ignorance."

Tang Yiyi could only apologize, nod her head, and assure the higher-ups that she would talk to Iris and try to persuade her to change her mind. When they finally left, she sighed.

"Of course Iris isn't going to accept any endorsement offers from beauty brands. Why should she endorse her own company's competition?" Tang Yiyi muttered under her breath.

She only recently found out that Iris was developing her own beauty company. At first, Tang Yiyi also couldn't understand why Iris rejected the endorsement offers. She constantly bothered Iris in an effort to change her mind.

Then Iris brought Tang Yiyi to Orchidia Beauty's factory, then to the warehouse, and finally to the company's current main office. Tang Yiyi was very confused why Iris was touring her around this unknown company.

"I've been using Orchidia Beauty's products for some time now," Iris told her.

"Oh? I was wondering why you've been glowing, so that's why! Your skin looks smoother and healthier."

Iris looked pleased at the compliment. "I've been using Orchidia Beauty's skincare products since I returned from Europe. Well, the products weren't called Orchidia Beauty then, nor were they this developed. The formula and their effectiveness have improved a lot since then."

"Okay… So? Why are you telling me all of these?" Tang Yiyi didn't understand. "Wait… Did this company made an endorsement offer to you and you want to accept it? Iris, you should tell me these things first. If you really like their products, no problem. I'll negotiate the best deal for you. But you have to understand that this Orchidia Beauty or whatever isn't a well-known company in the country. At least I've never heard of it before. Endorsing world-renowned beauty brands will be more beneficial to you."

Instead of answering her, Iris handed her manager a freebie bag filled with Orchidia Beauty skincare products.

"Here, Elder Sister Yiyi. You can try them yourself. I guarantee that you'll love them and you'll see results after using them for only a few days."

Then she launched into sales talk, describing the benefits of each of the products. She even grabbed Tang Yiyi's arm and began applying tiny amounts of various lotions and serums.

"Iris! What are you doing? Answer me first!" Tang Yiyi grabbed the bottle of lotion from Iris and stopped her from applying more on her skin.

"Fine. Orchidia Beauty didn't make any endorsement offers to me," Iris said.

Tang Yiyi frowned. "Then why did you reject the endorsement offers from those other famous beauty brands? Why are you so into this Orchidia Beauty?"

"Because Orchidia Beauty is my own company. I'm not going to endorse my competition. That's just stupid, Elder Sister Yiyi. Besides, I know that my company's products are superior to anything available on the market right now."

"Huh?" Tang Yiyi blinked a few times. Her brain momentarily failed to process what she just heard. "What…"

Iris swept her hands. "This entire place, the factory and the warehouse that we visited earlier—everything is mine. So make sure to use my company's products from now on. Okay, Elder Sister Yiyi?"

A few days later, Tang Yiyi called Iris in excitement.

"Iris, the products you gave me are amazing! My face has cleared up and looks brighter! My skin also feels so moisturized, even though I only use the products once a day! How much are these? Let me buy more!"

Iris chuckled. "They're not available for sale yet, Elder Sister Yiyi. I can give you some more samples, if you want. But once we launch, you need to buy the products because I won't give them to you for free anymore."

With that, Iris was able to make Tang Yiyi support her decision to reject the endorsement offers from the other famous beauty brands.

Back to the present.

Tang Yiyi returned to her office after speaking with the higher-ups. She needed to keep Iris' company a secret. Bright Summit's higher-ups would certainly be unhappy that there was no chance for Iris to change her mind. Some of them might even discourage Iris from launching her own beauty company and products because Bright Summit wouldn't get a cut from it, unlike regular endorsement deals.

"Better not tell anyone about it for now," she murmured to herself.

###

Because of Meimei, Iris started to get closer to Long Jinjing and Chen Fei. Meimei would invite all of them to hang out together whenever they were free. Of course, Jiang Ying Yue was also part of the group.

Dom also joined because he and Meimei were self-proclaimed spirit twins. With his addition, the group became insanely boisterous. At first, he clashed against Chen Fei. He didn't like the woman's snide remarks about Iris.

He wasn't aware that it was already normal for both Iris and Chen Fei to insult each other. There weren't any hard feelings between the two anymore. They even began liking each other. Still, they continued verbally attacking each other.

Meimei, Long Jinjing and Jiang Ying Yue were already used to Iris and Chen Fei. They could feel that there weren't any animosity or hatred whenever the two insulted each other. Meimei even declared that insulting each other was Iris and Chen Fei's way of expressing their friendship.

"Who's friends with this bitch? Not me." Chen Fei said.

Iris looked at Chen Fei straight in the eyes. Then with a lovely smile, she said in a singsong voice, "Roses are red, violets are blue, look at my five fingers, the middle one is for you~"

"What did you say, bitch?" Chen Fei scowled at her.

Iris gasped in exaggerated horror. "What uncultured words, Chen Fei! Your uncouth behaviour deserves a slapping. But if I were to slap you, it would be considered as animal abuse!"

"You!"

"Ahahahaha! That's a good one, Xiulan!" Meimei burst into laughter while slapping her thighs. "I love that you're becoming more expressive now and not too robotic anymore! You can even joke now! I'm so proud of you!"

Iris shrugged. "I learned these from Dom."

"Well, my twin bro is the best!"

Jiang Ying Yue also laughed but more subdued compared to Meimei's raucous laughter. A giggle escaped from Long Jinjing's lips before she stopped herself when Chen Fei glared at her.

Chen Fei also glared at Meimei and Jiang Ying Yue. Meimei just laughed harder, even pointing at Chen Fei while doing so. Jiang Ying Yue wasn't the least bit intimidated by Chen Fei's glare. She could clearly sense that there was no anger behind it.

Scenes like these became common for the group. However, Dom didn't know about this kind of relationship between Iris and Chen Fei when he joined. That was why Dom got into heated arguments with Chen Fei. He fiercely defended Iris and treated Chen Fei like an enemy.

Meimei tried explaining to him many times that Iris and Chen Fei weren't really fighting whenever they insulted each other. However, Dom was extremely loyal to Iris. He would get triggered every time he heard Chen Fei saying something unpleasant about Iris.

Suddenly, the Iris vs. Chen Fei battles became Dom vs. Chen Fei instead. But after a few meetings and after knowing each other more, Dom and Chen Fei started getting along.

These girls' days out, as Dom called it, continued. They all grew closer to each other.

When Meimei, Long Jinjing and Chen Fei finally graduated from university that summer, Iris and the others threw a celebration dinner for them at a restaurant. While eating, they discussed their career plans.

Meimei already rejected Long Industries' job offer. She was happily living her dream as a webtoon artist.

As for the other two, they still planned on working at a small branch division of Long Industries. They estimated that it would take them a few years before they could be promoted to the main company like what happened to Long Jian. While they were talking, Iris handed them a file folder each.

"What's this, little sister?" Long Jinjing asked.

Chen Fei opened the folder and began reading aloud. "Orchidia Beauty is a skin-care company founded by Long Xiulan and the German siblings Alric and Alona Bauer… Huh? Oh, is this one of your companies you were talking about before?"

"Yes," Iris confirmed.

Chen Fei: "So? Why did you give this to me and Jinjing? You want to gloat that you have your own company while your sister and I need to start from the bottom of your father's company? Hmph!"

Iris leaned back on her chair while looking at both Chen Fei and Long Jinjing.

"Why start from the bottom of an old company as errand girls when you can become executives of a new company instead? Isn't is more exciting to make something successful with your own abilities? Long Industries? Boring. Come work for my Orchidia Beauty instead."