Chapter 939 - Stepson
At a five-star hotel.
Wei Lan and Randy arrived at the luxurious lobby wearing glamourous semi-casual outfits. As soon as they walked in, many heads turned to take a good look at the eye-catching pair.
A former model before hooking up with her first husband Long Tengfei, Wei Lan still retained her willowy figure and youthful appearance. She knew all of her best angles and could identify the best sources of light in an instant upon arriving at a place for the first time to give her the best picture-perfect spot to pose at all times. It was a talent that she developed during her modelling years and continued to hone ever since then.
Although not as famous as her daughter, the multi-award-winning musician Iris Long, Wei Lan still carried a lot of clout in her own right. Her overall reputation was not very pleasant but it had been improving quite a lot recently due to using her new title as a Spanish viscountess in various philanthropic works via her daughter's foundation, Iris of Hope.
High fashion magazines started reaching out to her, inviting to feature and interview her. She had even graced a handful of covers of some popular magazines in recent weeks, both domestic and international, since returning to the country and announcing her new status as a member of the Spanish nobility.
In fact, she was currently having more exposure than her celebrity daughter who started withdrawing from the public eye a few weeks ago. It came to a point where she was now seriously considering hiring a manager of her own, just like how her daughter had Tang Yiyi, to manage her so-called career. There was no doubt that she also considered herself as a celebrity just like her daughter who was just as beautiful and talented as her.
A pretty hotel employee welcomed them with practiced politeness and enthusiasm.
"Welcome, Vizcondesa Lan and Mister!" She also nodded at the couple of bodyguards following behind the pair.
Wei Lan looked very pleased that the young woman addressed her by her title. It was obvious that someone informed the employee beforehand. She was liking this particular hotel more and more.
"Mr. Aguila is expecting you. Please follow me and I'll bring you to the penthouse suite where he's staying."
"Thank you," Randy replied.
Wei Lan gave the young woman a nod and a brief smile which she thought showed her elegance and grace as a viscountess.
The group followed the female hotel employee inside the elevator. The young woman used a special key in order to make the ride up to the top floor smooth with no interruptions.
"Vizcondesa, I'm so excited to meet your stepson," Randy whispered.
Wei Lan smiled. "We're scheduled to have dinner with René Alejandro tonight. You'll personally see what a fine maaaaaan he is, just like my equally fine gentleman of a husband. But make sure to behave yourself, Raaaaaandyyyy doll. My husband treasures his adopted son very much. Even I have to be careful lest I upset my stepson, and in turn, upset my deeeaaaar husband."
"Don't worry, Vizcondesa. I won't embarrass you tonight!"
"Fabuuulooooous!"
"But how come you didn't pick up your stepson at the airport when he arrived yesterday?" Randy asked.
Wei Lan released a dramatic sigh. "It's because René Alejandro didn't inform meeeeee at all! I thought that he would only come to China when the renovations at our new house are all finished. If I kneeeeew that he was coming yesterday, I would've called deeeaaaar Liwei and borrowed one of his private jets to pick up my stepson. After all, they're now like stepbrothers-in-law, riiiiiight?"
Randy thought about it for a few seconds before nodding.
"I would've looooooved to prepare an extravagant welcoming paaaaartyyy for René Alejandro but he's such an independent man that he already arranged his own accommodations by himself. As expected of my husband's genius son!"
"He sounds a bit similar to Miss Xiulan," Randy suddenly commented. "They're both very strong-headed people who like to do things their own way."
"You're absooooluuuutely right, Raaaandyyyy doll! If my daughter didn't already have deeeaaar Liwei, I might play matchmaker and pair her up with René Alejandro! Isn't it a graaaaaand idea? Then she would become the next viscountess after me!"
"But that's i.n.c.e.s.t!"
Wei Lan rolled her eyes in a dramatic manner. "What nonsense are you talking about, Raaaaandyyyy doll? My daughter and stepson aren't blood-related. What's more, René Alejandro is only adopted and not blood-related to my husband! There's noooooo i.n.c.e.s.t at all!"
"No i.n.c.e.s.t by blood but there's i.n.c.e.s.t in the law." Randy hesitated. "Well, I don't know for sure. I have no idea about the laws in Spain regarding this."
"I don't know either and I don't care," Wei Lan said, shrugging. "Also, why are we even talking about laws regarding i.n.c.e.s.t, for goooooodness' sake? I was just talking about a possibility of matching Xiulan to René Alejandro but that's impossible now because my daughter already has deeaaar Liwei who's a multibillionaire. As expected of myyyyyy daughter. She did very well!"
"Very true. Sir Liwei dotes on Miss Xiulan very much. He gives her everything she wants."
Wei Lan sighed dreamily. "To be honest with you, having loads of money is mooooore attractive in a man than having an old, aristocratic title. I knoooow that my husband and stepson are boooooth wealthy but I have nooooo idea how wealthy because they're sooooo secretive about the true extent of their wealth. Since they're also dedicated philanthropists, they can be veeeery reserved in spending their own money. They don't liiiiike flaunting their wealth at all! It's a goooood thing that Xiulan and deeeaaar Liwei have the intention to take care of me. Don't you think so too, Raaaaandyyy doll?"
He nodded. "Of course, Vizcondesa. Both Miss Xiulan and Sir Liwei are very filial people. They won't abandon you."
She nodded, satisfied.
Ding!
The elevator door opened. They followed the hotel employee and entered a luxurious and spacious penthouse unit.
As soon as they walked in, they heard instrumental guitar music playing in the background. Randy, a Zumba instructor, was also knowledgeable at other genres of Spanish music.