"We've already been engaged for a year before our wedding," Jin Liwei told the reporters in a cold tone. "The moment I proposed to Xiu—Iris Long, I already wanted to marry her and make her my wife right there and then. It was only because she wasn't ready yet at that time that we delayed our marriage. I respect her choice and was willing to wait for her until she feels ready to finally commit herself in marriage with me."

His eyes flashed with anger as he glared at the reporters. "How dare outsiders like you suggest that I only married my wife because she became pregnant? Pregnant or not, I would have still married her. In fact, I'm thrilled that she's giving me a child to make our family more complete."

The reporters were cowed by him. He was indeed the CEO Jin Liwei. His aura was no joke. It would take an average person a lot of guts to just stand before him without running away.

Most of the reporters decided that it was?time to retreat from this topic. However, the more courageous ones (or foolish, depending on the perspective) didn't want to give up just yet. They steeled themselves and pushed their mics forward despite shaking in their boots from CEO Jin's almost murderous eyes.

"Iris Long, why did you keep your pregnancy a secret for so long and only revealed it now? Is it because you didn't want to destroy your image to your fans and the public or give up your showbiz career, that's why you tried so hard to hide your pregnancy? Or did you feel ashamed that you got pregnant before marriage?"

Jin Liwei's expression turned blacker. He was about to erupt but a firm tug on his arm stopped him. He looked at his wife beside him and saw her smiling. Her eyes, however, was cold and filled with strength. He only hesitated for a couple of seconds before stepping back and letting her take the lead against the aggressive reporters. If this was what she wanted, then he would give the moment to her. He just needed to stand beside her and become her strongest backer.

"You're wrong," Iris told the reporters, looking at the aggressive ones straight in the eyes.

Some turned away and avoided her gaze while a few didn't care and even challenged her by looking at her directly in the eyes as well.

"I never felt ashamed becoming pregnant. Why should I? I'm carrying the child of the man I love and one who loves me back. Just like what my husband told you just now, we were already committed to each other long before our marriage. We married because we love each other and not solely because I became pregnant.

"To answer your question, I hid my pregnancy for so long exactly because of people like you who don't have any respect for people's privacy. Celebrities like me are people, too. We have the same rights just like everyone else. My husband and I want to exercise our rights in choosing the right moment to reveal that we are expecting the fruit of our love. As parents, we don't want to make our child become prey to unwanted media attention even before being born.

historical

"Also, you mentioned my fans. Please take back your words. I believe in my fans. They don't have narrow minds. They respect me as a human being, not just as a commodity for entertainment. I know that the Black Stars will feel happy for me now that I became pregnant. Surely, they'll also help me protect any children of mine just like how they do their best to protect me."

"Yes, that's right! The Black Stars will always protect Boss Iris!"

"Scram, toxic reporters and evil paparazzi! We'll go to war with you if you try to harm our Boss Iris' precious baby!"

"Boss Iris' baby is the Black Stars' precious baby!"

The voices of the Black Stars were heard throughout the red carpet. Others looked at them, including the reporters.

Earlier, the Black Stars had been orderly, polite and respectful of the spectator rules. They refused to imitate other fans who would go crazy seeing their favourite celebrities without any regard for everyone else.

Now, however, they looked furious on behalf of their Boss Iris. Their numbers might not be as many as the fans of superstars like Jin Chonglin, but their fighting power wasn't in any way inferior. [Read official chapters on W e b n o v e l (dot) com. Please stop supporting piracy. Also follow author on Instagram: @arriacross]

The Black Stars appeared particularly intimidating due to the suits they were wearing which made them look like dangerous triad members. They looked like they were about to jump over the barricades to beat up the presumptuous reporters with their own hands.

"Comrades, raise your mighty slippers and protect our Boss Iris and our precious baby!"

It was only then that people remembered that the Black Stars had an infamous battle (troll) unit called the Slippers Army. Usually, the Slippers Army only operated online to defend Iris Long's name and reputation but there were some instances that these soldiers (trolls) proved that their fighting power were just as destructive in real life as they were online.

The reporters couldn't help but step away from the barricades. The more aggressive ones, however, sent the Black Stars challenging looks just like what they did to Iris Long earlier, trying to provoke her fans to attack so that the reporters could sue them for physical assault.

Iris Long made eye contact with Zhou Mei'er (a.k.a. CaptainBlackStar) and raised her hand into a stop sign. Zhou Mei'er immediately controlled her fellow Black Stars. Iris sent her fans a smile of gratitude before facing the bloodthirsty reporters once again.

"Thank you for your time but I'm afraid I'm starting to feel cold," Iris said. "I just recovered from being sick. If something happens to me or my baby because I'm forced to stay longer with you..."

She stared at the aggressive reporters. Beside her, Jin Liwei's threatening aura was enough to fill the rest of her sentence.

"Yes, yes. Please hurry and go inside to warm up. It's not good for pregnant women to stand for too long."

The quick-witted reporters immediately tried to soothe the tense atmosphere.

After a final glare, Jin Liwei escorted his wife inside the venue.