His Genius Wife Is A Superstar
Chapter 1626: I, The Dreamer (Part II)

Iris Long owned the stage. Even with the presence of world-famous icon, Enrique Valdez, playing the lead guitar beside her, she didn’t lose out at all.

She continued singing, her voice sounding like a blessing from the heavens. There were so many raw emotions packed within her controlled singing voice that it was a marvel to listen to.

"The enemies are strong

"But we are stronger

"That’s because you and I

"Are together forever"

Iris pointed at Enrique Valdez who responded by pointing his electric guitar at her. Their actions drew a series of loud cheers from the audience.

"I, the greatest what?

"It is I!

"I, the dreamer~

"The dreamer of the impossible

"Dream that we made possible

"To achieve is what I say!"

Then Iris pointed at the camera next.

Backstage, Jin Liwei watched his wife’s performance on the TV hanging by the wall.

Dom and Iris’ glam team squealed while singing along.

JJ pretended to look annoyed, but his mouth was twitching into a smile. He looked a little creepy.

Despite their antics, Jin Liwei remained focused on his wife.

He knew that his wife wrote this song thinking of him. The corners of his mouth curved up.

Iris pointing at the camera meant that she was pointing at him. His heart felt hot and full. The love he had for his wife felt as if it was going to overflow at any moment.

"Go for it, love," he whispered. "You’re the best."

As if hearing what he said, Iris once again pointed directly at the camera, basically pointing at him again.

She sang in an even more powerful voice, sounding like a magnificent musical theatre actress.

"And you!

"You who believed in me~

"Yes, you!

"You who defended me~

"There is nothing impossible

"When we are together

"We can achieve anything

"For I, the dreamer~

"And you, my believer~

"Will become us, the winners!"

The beat and the melody changed, increasing in intensity.

Enrique Valdez stepped forward and strummed his electric guitar. His solo part infused a drop of hard metal energy into the music, bringing the song to newer heights.

The band musicians complemented him, without taking the spotlight away.

Iris threw her head back, vibing to the music with her whole being. Her obvious enjoyment of the music made the audience and home viewers thoroughly enjoy the performance. They could feel her genuine joy at performing live on stage. Her energy was infectious.

After Enrique’s guitar solo, she stepped forward and began singing the final part of the song while the music reached a crescendo.

"They may drag us down

"To the deepest abyss

"Where they try to trap us

"With toxic words unseen

"But we’ll rise again

"You and I

"Together forever

"Beyond the day we die"

Iris’ voice reached whistle notes, even doing an impressive run with them.

The crowd went insane.

The female host almost fell off the stage from her excitement. If not for her partner, the male host, for catching her just in time, she would have cracked her head already from the big fall.

The Black Stars weren’t any better. They looked like deranged, rabid dogs as they screamed and shook from music-induced ecstasy.

Finally, the music started slowing down. Iris’ voice also slowed down, pulling the power back and transforming it into light and airy notes, like a mountain breeze.

"Because I, the dreamer

"And you, my believer

"Have become us, the winners~"

Everything stopped.

Even the audience held their breaths.

Then Enrique Valdez strummed his guitar for the final time alongside the band members.

Iris’ voice once again reached as high as the sky, the power like a soaring phoenix.

"Yes, the winners!

"Oh, yes, we’re now the WINNERS~"

The epic last notes stretched for a few seconds before ending abruptly at the same time that Iris threw her arms wide open.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Then the screams exploded. It felt like there was an earthquake in the whole studio because of how loud the audience was cheering, clapping, and jumping.

Iris was breathing hard. Her sweat looked like morning dew glistening under the sunlight.

She looked around at the cheering audience and even recognized Zhou Mei’er, Ming Li, and some of her long-time fans.

Then she turned to face her music mentor, Enrique Valdez, and did her iconic curtsy bow to him. Everyone gave him a round of applause.

The Black Stars cheered even more loudly, following their Boss Iris in paying respects to the legendary hitmaker.

Although Enrique Valdez wasn’t the main star in tonight’s performance, he still owned his guitar solo part. It was also extremely impressive for a global superstar like Enrique Valdez to retract his powerful aura to allow another star, namely, Iris Long, to shine front and centre stage.

Enrique Valdez didn’t put on any airs. He also bowed to his student, Iris Long. Then he took her hand and together they bowed to the musicians behind them.

This song "I, the Dreamer", all the songs in Iris Long’s upcoming album, and tonight’s performance wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and loyalty of all these musicians. Despite the numerous temptations, nobody among them violated their non-disclosure agreements and leaked Iris Long’s songs to the media and competitors. They were all principled professionals who valued their craft and integrity.

Finally, Iris Long, Enrique Valdez, and all the musicians bowed together to the audience.

The crowd’s cheers and applause felt like they were going to lift the roof off the studio.

Even the program staff, especially Director He, joined in giving the performance a long-standing ovation.

"Tonight’s ratings are going to be through the roof," the assistant director said.

Director He couldn’t stop smiling. He was laughing and clapping at the same time.

"Accepting JJ’s crazy idea of putting Iris Long as tonight’s final performer at the last minute was the best decision I made this year," he said. "I knew that she’d deliver. Even without Enrique Valdez, Iris Long always delivers!"

The entire team of MusicFest Tonight was ecstatic. They couldn’t wait to know the ratings for tonight’s episode.

Just based on the number of companies who frantically called them earlier the day to negotiate the broadcast rights of their TV commercials after learning that Iris Long was going to be the final performer with Enrique Valdez was already a clear indication that tonight’s episode was going to be part of the program’s history.

Back on the stage, the hosts joined Iris Long, Enrique Valdez, and the musicians.

Male host: "What a performance!"

The female host was still too overcome with emotion that she couldn’t deliver her lines properly. She just kept clapping and couldn’t stop looking at Iris Long and Enrique Valdez. It was clear that she was a huge fan.

Iris chuckled and mouthed the words "thank you" to her.

The female host almost cried there and there. Thankfully, her professionalism still kicked in at the last minute. She managed to restrain her tears and pick up where she left off.

Female host: "Indeed, what an incredible performance! Congratulations, Iris Long! Congratulations, Mr. Enrique Valdez! Congratulations on your comeback single, ’I, the Dreamer’."

Iris smiled. "Thank you very much."

Enrique Valdez nodded in his response.

Male host: "Can you tell us a little about this comeback single?"

Iris Long: "As my fans, the Black Stars, already know, I’ve been working on a new collab album for a long time with Mr. Enrique Valdez. It has been delayed several times because of my wedding and giving birth to my babies. But here I am now, ready to come back with new music. ’I, the Dreamer’ is actually the lead single of my upcoming album."

Female host: "Awesome!"

The male host once again gave a sheepish look at his partner. He paused for a couple of seconds as he listened to a quick instruction via his in-ears.

Male host: "My next question is for Mr. Enrique Valdez."

Iris acted as the impromptu interpreter. She whispered the translation to Enrique Valdez.

He nodded at the male host, gesturing for him to begin asking him.

Male host: "Mr. Enrique, may we know the extent of your contribution to this single?"

The camera zoomed in on Enrique Valdez’s handsome face. So many people swooned after seeing his close-up. His hazel eyes were too sinful!

Enrique Valdez: "Iris and I are both credited as the music composers, but I would say that Iris did most of the work in creating this song, ’I, the Dreamer’. She is also the sole lyricist. That’s one of her biggest strengths. Be it in any language, she could convey what she wants to say through music. I only helped her in polishing the music harmonies and refining the technical aspects during the recording. Of course, JJ was also instrumental in bringing this song to fruition. This song is a labour of love from all three of us, the musicians, the technicians, and everyone who worked together while we were making it."

Iris translated his words to everyone as accurately as possible. She didn’t bat an eye when translating the parts where Enrique praised her. Her professionalism as an interpreter shone this time.

Female host: "Iris, may I ask who your inspiration is for writing this song?"

Iris Long: "Yes, of course. My inspiration is my husband."

Everyone squealed after hearing her answer.

She chuckled.

Backstage, everyone glanced at Jin Liwei. He couldn’t hide the curving of his mouth. His eyes softened as he continued watching his beautiful wife on TV. He was so proud of her!

Back onstage, Iris beamed, showing everyone the sincerity of her answer.