"Wow, you were so young back then," Jericho Maya said while shaking his head. Sympathy shone in his eyes.


    ''This man is truly dangerous,'' Iris Long thought. ''He makes me feel sofortable that I want to spill everything to him. I need to always be alert to avoid saying something I shouldn''t.''


    Jin Liwei must have sensed her unease because he stepped forward and red at Jericho Maya. The journalist smiled at him, attempting to calm him down with a look.


    Fortunately, Jericho didn''t ask more about the car crash. Although the fact that it was a deliberate and malicious murder attempt by Jin Chonglin''s former fiancée had already been exposed back in China, many of the details had been blocked from the public.


    It had been an extremely difficult time in Iris and Jin Liwei''s rtionship. They even broke up. Jin Liwei didn''t want to lose his wife ever again. That experience taught him a harsh lesson. Most importantly, it almost cost him the love of his life and the mother of his children.


    Despite the forgiveness, Jin Liwei would always feel guilty for the original Long Xin. His involvement in hiding the truth behind the car crash to protect what he had thought were the family interests was something that he would always pay for the rest of his life. He could only make up for it by loving and cherishing his wife, who was now living as the current Long Xin, a.k.a. Iris Long.


    This was his redemption.


    And he intended to continue redeeming himself for the rest of his life.


    Back to the present, Jericho moved on from the topic of the car crash.


    He asked, "You wereatose for one year. How was the recovery process?"


    "Very difficult," Iris said. "My body was extremely weak. Just walking a few steps already exhausted me. I had to nurse my body back with proper diet. The rehabilitation was also painful. I don''t want to experience physical rehab ever again. Everything was hard, but I also felt thankful."


    Jericho: "Thankful…because?"


    Iris smiled. "Thankful because I was given a second chance in life. Not many are given this kind of miracle. And even if they had, some might not cherish it and end up wasting such a great opportunity. I realized then that I''m so lucky. I decided that I''m going to live my life to the fullest. Pursue my passion, chase my dreams, and live without any regrets."


    Jericho: "Wonderful."


    Iris: "Thank you."


    Jericho: "You made a showbizeback with your album, ''Rebirth''. Several of the songs in the album were smash hits. You even surpassed your brother-inw, Chonglin, that time—in the music charts and in awards."


    Iris chuckled. "I did, didn''t I? He''ll blow his top if you remind him of that."


    Jericho: "Are you close to your brother-inw?"


    Iris: "Yes, he''s my husband''s only brother. My children also adore their Uncle Lin Lin. We''re all family. We''re also business partners now, as we co-own our own entertainmentpany together with my husband."


    Jericho: "LXC Studio, right?"


    Iris: "Yes."


    They talked about LXC Studio a little. Jericho also showed a photo of Jin Chonglin''s botched marriage proposal to Chen Fei at Liberté''sunch party in Paris, France. The photo showed a hrious shot of Jin Chonglin on all fours with his back-up dancers looking for the engagement ring that he lost in his nervousness.


    Everyoneughed at the photo. It looked so funny. Even the indifferent Jin Liwei couldn''t stop the slight upward curve of his mouth.


    Jericho asked about what was going on in the photo. Iris was more than happy to talk about it, not caring at all about embarrassing her brother-inw.


    "Please send my congrattions and best wishes to your brother-inw and his fiancée," Jericho said.


    Iris: "Of course."


    Jericho: "ording to the information that I have here, Chonglin''s fiancée works in yourpany. Is that right?"


    Iris: "Yes, that''s right. Chen Fei is the Chief Operating Officer of Orchidia. She runs the day-to-day operations of thepany. She has been with me since I started thepany, along with my own sister, who is the Chief Financial Officer. Chen Fei and my older sister are best friends. The two of them joined me when I founded Orchidia. Mypany wouldn''t be where it is now without the two of them."


    Jericho: "I really want to interview your brother-inw now."


    Iris: "I think that would be difficult. He''s a superstar. It''s not easy to make an appointment with Prince Lin Lin, you know."


    Jericho: "Indeed, Prince Lin Lin is a superstar. But you''re a superstar, too."


    Irisughed and only smiled at Jericho.


    Jericho: "I''m serious. So many of us Filipinos have fallen in love with you during your stay here in the Philippines. You''ve been trending all over social media here in the country. Your songs, especially yourtest one, have topped the local music charts. They''re also very popr in the local karaoke scene."


    Iris: "Really?"


    Of course, she was already aware of it. Dom was at the top of his game, always informing her about this information first thing in the morning andst thing before they retired for the night.


    Jericho: "Yes, it''s true. That''s why for us Filipinos, you are already a superstar. I think that at the moment, you''re more popr than your brother-inw, at least here in the Philippines."


    Iris: "He''s going to have an apoplexy if he hears that."


    The atmosphere considerably lightened after this.


    Jericho turned to Jin Liwei. "Mr. Jin, who do you think is a better artist—your wife or your brother?"


    "My wife," Jin Liwei answered without any hesitation.


    Dom led everyone to squeal from too much sweetness.


    Iris gave him a happy, shy, and meaningful smile.


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


    Jericho pointed at him. "I like your answer!"


    Jin Liwei: "I''m only telling the truth."


    Jericho turned to Iris. "What do you think about that?"


    Iris: "I trust in my husband''s judgment."


    Another round ofughter.


    ''This interviewer is really skilled,'' Iris couldn''t help but think. ''He really knows how to control the atmosphere without making the interviewee ufortable. Focus, Evelina.''


    Jericho: "You''ve achieved so much in the field of music despite being so young. What more do you want to aplish?"


    Iris grew serious. This time, she didn''t answer right away. She thought about it more.


    "There are still so many new things that I want to try. I don''t want to limit myself in a box and do the same thing over and over. Music has endless possibilities. I want to explore as many of these possibilities as I can within this lifetime. I also feel like I haven''t yet reached my true potential. That''s why I''m still working hard on polishing what I have now while also learning new things. It''s never toote to learn.


    "I guess if we''re talking about my ns for the near future, I want to hold a big solo concert. To perform on a big stage—my own stage—in front of my fans from all around the world. That''s one of my biggest dreams. I wasn''t able to do that because I had to focus on building my family with my husband first. We still have to wait until our children are old enough to cope with such a hectic schedule. I don''t want to leave my children behind when I hold solo concerts in the future. I''ll definitely bring my whole family with me when that timees."


    Jericho: "Wow. That sounds…challenging."


    Iris: "It will be challenging. That''s why it''s a decision that I don''t dare to make lightly. It''s something that my husband and I need to coordinate together. After all, our main priority is our family. Family will alwayse first."


    Jericho: "That''s right. Family should alwayse first. When that timees, will you be holding a concert here in the Philippines?"


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


    Cheers erupted from behind the scenes.


    Jericho chuckled. "Some of the crew have be your fans recently."


    Iris looked at them. "Thank you!"


    Jericho: "I also want to know about the creative process that you personally do when ites to making music."


    "Sure."


    Iris gave a sinct, easy-to-understand summary of what she usually did when making music. From taking inspiration, writing down ideas,posing music, writing the lyrics, rehearsing with the band, recording the music, working on post-production, filming music videos as necessary, releasing the music, and finally performing on stages.


    Jericho: "Wow. That sounds so intense! Don''t you get tired?"


    Iris: "No, never. It''s very fun. I love it! I get physically tired, yes. It is a lot of work. But get tired of it to the point of not wanting to repeat the process ever again? Never! Music is my life. It''s as natural as breathing to me."


    Jericho: "I understand. And I can see that you really do love music. You know, I''ve interviewed so many musicians before—both from here and abroad. And I see a pattern. Those who really love music will keep making music or working in the industry for a long time, no matter what. But for those who''re only in the industry for the sake of fame, they usually don''tst. Either they shift to another field, like acting, orpletely leave showbiz. They just use their showbiz fame as a stepping stone to the next stage of their life, be it in business or politics. Or they justpletely disappear from the limelight."


    Iris nodded.


    Jericho: "I can see that you''re the type who really loves music. Even now that you''ve leveraged your fame to start several sessful businesses, you haven''t left the music industry. You keep on returning to it. Why is that?"


    Iris: "Like I said, music is my life. Take away music from me and my world will instantly lose all vour. It''s like losing one of my senses. I can''t even imagine a world without music. I would…probably go crazy."