A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

She looked at him fearfully and her voice was soft. “I know I’m in the wrong.”

His expression stayed the same. “Where were you wrong, tell me.”

“I, I shouldn’t have poured tea on Pei Jingmei and the rest,” she muttered. “I injured them.”

The girl’s cautious and weak voice echoed in the ward. Several of the Pei family’s faces showed smugness. They didn’t believe they couldn’t control this wild brat! Indeed, at the crucial moment, Pei Ziheng was on the family’s side! Following the obvious attitude of Pei Ziheng, Pei Ren unscrupulously got up, pointed at Xia Ling’s nose and scolded. “Who do you think you are to injure my daughter! Even one of Jingyu’s fingers is more valuable than you! Xia Ling, right, you’re just a beggar living in the Pei family. You… Ah!”

He screamed in pain all of a sudden.

Pei Ziheng had unknowingly twisted his hand behind his back. He said in a cold tone, “Since when was it fourth uncle’s turn to lecture my people?” The tall figure of the man was full of oppression, and a murderous aura emitted from his whole body.

Pei Ren only felt as though his hand was going to break off. Cold sweat formed on his face as he said, “Ne, Nephew Ziheng, what are you doing? I, I’m helping you lecture this stupid…” At least he was still not that dumb. He saw Pei Ziheng’s expression turn colder, and he swallowed the words “stupid brat” back into his throat.

“Father!” Pei Jingyu shouted in worry from the hospital bed. Even with a distance of one or two meters, she could still hear the creaking sounds of Pei Ren’s bones! She was genuinely worried that Pei Ziheng would break his arms off!

“Apologize to Xiao Ling,” Pei Ziheng said coldly.

“What, what?” Pei Ren could not believe it. He wanted him to apologize to the wretch?!

Pei Jingyu was also in disbelief. She couldn’t help but shout, “Big cousin! How could you cover for this stupid brat when she was the one who burnt us and Father is only seeking justice for me! My father is such a distinguished figure, how could he possibly apologize to such an insolent little brat!”

Pei Ziheng ignored her and twisted Pei Ren’s arm even tighter.

More and more cold sweat broke on Pei Ren’s face. His arm was in so much pain that it didn’t feel like his own anymore. He stared in panic at his nephew’s cold expression and began to suspect that if he did not back down, this nephew was really going to disable his arm! Be it in the company or the family, Pei Ziheng’s ruthlessness was notorious!

Pei Ren was afraid and did not dare to challenge his authority. He lowered his voice and said, “I apologize.”

Pei Ziheng still did not let him go. He turned to his side and shifted Pei Ren so that he was facing Xia Ling.

Pei Ren understood his meaning. He wanted him to apologize directly to this stupid brat! He could tell that the brat was just as shocked as he was. Her face was pale and her pair of beautiful breathtaking eyes were staring at him in helpless panic. He was just not willing to lower his voice and apologize to such a brat!

However, so what?

His arm was more important than his pride. Pei Ren weighed the severity of the matter and in the end, did not dare to let Pei Ziheng break off his arm. He swallowed and said to Xia Ling, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have reprimanded you in Ziheng’s place.”

Xia Ling stared at him in a daze. She did not know how to react.

Pei Ziheng loosened his grip on Pei Ren’s arm and Pei Ren heaved a huge sigh of relief. He quickly backtracked three meters lest he was caught by this ferocious nephew again. Pei Jingyu and Pei Jingmei were dumbstruck by this scene in front of them. They had not expected Pei Ziheng to still be protecting that beggar brat at this timing!

“Big cousin!” Pei Jingyu could not overlook it. She said with red eyes, “You have to lecture this stupid brat carefully, our faces can’t be injured for nothing!”

Pei Ziheng still ignored her and lowered his head to look at Xia Ling.

“This time do you know where you were wrong?” he asked.

Xia Ling was unable to respond. She looked at him timidly. Why, was her answer just now wrong? Had she made a more severe mistake?

Pei Ziheng’s expression was gloomy and full of oppression.

A layer of fog settled in Xia Ling’s eyes as she cried, “Don’t abandon me…”

Pei Jingyu was elated to see her cry. As expected, Big Cousin had not let her Father interfere because he had intended to lecture this little beggar himself! “Big Cousin, chase her out!” she screamed.

Xia Ling’s nose soured and she looked pleadingly at Pei Ziheng. Her eyes were full of tears that were about to fall.

Pei Ziheng frowned and reached out to wipe away her tears a little roughly. “Why are you crying?”

She did not dare to cry anymore and tried hard to endure. Her voice, however, still held her tears. “I, I… I won’t dare anymore. It’s my fault that I hurt Jingyu and Jingmei and them all, please don’t chase me out…”

Her little body was trembling.

Pei Ziheng looked at her and felt a deeply hidden part of his heart ache.

He was not fierce on her anymore but was still unhappy. “Who said that I was going to chase you out? What does it have to do with you injuring Pei Jingyu and the rest? Have I said that I blamed you?”

“Ah?” She looked up in confusion.

Pei Ziheng looked at her sternly. “You still don’t know where you’ve gone wrong? Why didn’t you tell me that you were being bullied by them in etiquette class?”

It turned out he was blaming her for not telling him?!

Xia Ling was in a daze, and so were Pei Jingyu and Pei Jingmei. They had originally thought that Pei Ziheng was here to help the ladies vent their anger, but unexpectedly, his anger was due to the wretch being bullied and keeping quiet about it.

Pei Jingyu was so angry her veins throbbed. How could things have come to this?!

“Big Cousin!” She screamed fiercely. “Who bullied her, she was the one who hurt us! I’ll tell Grandpa if you don’t punish her!” In this whole family, her Grandpa’s status was the most respected and even Pei Ziheng had to consider the consequences.

However, Pei Ziheng only glared at her coldly. His murderous aura made Pei Jingyu shut up immediately.

Pei Ziheng lowered his head and continued to lecture Xia Ling. “If anyone else bullies you in the future, make sure you tell me. Also, you can fight back like this again. It doesn’t matter how vicious you are. If you’re in trouble, I’ll cover for you.”

It took some time for Xia Ling to understand his meaning.

She batted her eyelashes lightly and a single tear fell down her cheeks as she nodded fiercely. It turns out Brother Pei was not intending on abandoning her, he was only fierce on her for her own good… Her heart melted and she was so touched she didn’t know what to say. Her little hand was held by his rough, warm hands and he carried her out of the room.

The two walked a long distance in silence. He stopped at the exit of the hospital.

“Brother Pei?” Xia Ling lifted her head to look at him.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were being bullied?” He clung onto the question she had not answered.

Xia Ling wanted to cry again. “I was afraid… afraid you wouldn’t want me anymore.” She was so weak and stupid, what if he abandoned her just like how the Pei family’s ladies and Xia Yu had predicted?