Acting Duo

Seeing Iris Long's suddenly weak and ill appearance, the staff members were alarmed.

Iris threw a quick, meaningful look at Dom before continuing to sway as if she was going to fall at any moment. She held onto Tang Yiyi's arm tightly as if her life depended on it.

Dom caught his boss' look and immediately understood her intention. Without any hesitation, he brought out his over-the-top, award-worthy acting performance. He gasped loudly. His expression was filled with fear and righteous indignation.

"Oh no! This is bad! Miss Long is going to faint! Don't you know that she was comatose for a year?! Her heart can't handle too much stress! How could you agitate her this way! Quick! Take those troublemakers away! How dare you three bully her?! Do you plan on killing her?! You murderers!"

Dom wailed loudly, alarming the surrounding staff even more.

Tang Yiyi immediately panicked. She had no idea that a performance was currently playing in front of her, starring the acting duo of Iris Long and Dominic Chua. Although there was something unnatural and awkward about the actions of the two, Tang Yiyi was still concerned because it was a fact that Iris was comatose before. She wrapped her arms around Iris protectively. Iris dropped her head to her manager's shoulders, closed her eyes, and let her knees buckle.

"Iris!" Tang Yiyi was afraid. She held up Iris' limp body to prevent her from falling on the floor.

Dom swooped down and carried his boss princess-style.

"Is Miss Long gonna be okay?" The staff asked worriedly. "Someone call an ambulance!"

"No need," Dom quickly stopped them. "Miss Long brought her medicine. I'll just give her some and she'll be fine. Just please give us a few minutes to ourselves. I know that Miss Long won't want her condition to cause trouble for you and the show."

"Yes, yes. Of course. We'll leave you inside your dressing room. Don't hesitate to call any of us and we'll immediately assist you if you need anything."

"Thank you. Please excuse us." Dom carried his boss inside the dressing room; a panicked Tang Yiyi following behind them.

"Big Sis Yiyi, please close the door behind you."

"Yes, yes." She fumbled with the door before she was able to close it properly. "Will Iris be really okay? What do we do now? I think we should call an ambulance. This looks serious. Wait, let me cancel her performance first."

"No need for that, Elder Sister Yiyi." Iris' calm voice almost made Tang Yiyi's soul fly out of her body.

"Iris!"

"Ssshh!" Dom gestured for her to be quiet, as he put his boss down on her own feet.

"W-what's going on?" Tang Yiyi was confused alongside the hair stylist and the make-up artist.

"Boss, boss! Ehe. How was my performance? Was I good? I was good, right? No, I was awesome!"

Iris smiled. "Yes, Dom. You were awesome. Worthy of the best supporting actor award."

"Ehehehe. Of course! Who do you think I am? I'm your assistant! If I can't even do this much, then I'm not worthy! But boss' acting also deserves the best actress award. Did you see everyone's faces when you started tearing up and fainting? Ahaha!"

Iris turned to the makeup artist. "Sorry, but can you do a quick touch up of my makeup?"

"Y-yes." The makeup artist woke up from her daze and immediately set to work. The hair stylist followed suit and fixed Iris' already immaculate hair.

"You two! You were acting?!" Tang Yiyi couldn't believe them. "You almost scared me to death!"

So that was why their actions didn't feel natural. However, everyone was too caught up in the moment that nobody paid close attention to whether Iris and Dom were faking it or not. 

"Forgive us, Elder Sister Yiyi." Iris spoke in a calm voice. "If Dom and I didn't do that, we would've all been forced to stay in that disagreeable situation for a long time. I don't have the time nor the energy to spare arguing against those stupid girls. I just want to focus on my upcoming performance and do my best."

Tang Yiyi's eyes softened. Finally, she sighed and said, "I understand. Just don't scare me like that again. But are you really okay?"

"Don't worry, Elder Sister Yiyi. I'm healthy."

"Do you really have selective amnesia?" Tang Yiyi remembered what Iris told the three girls earlier.