A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Xia Ling was stunned for a moment. She’d never thought of getting Pei Ziheng a gift, unlike thoughtful Sister.

She looked at her sister in admiration. “You’re so thoughtful. But Brother Pei provides for our food, accommodation, and everything. Even if we get him a gift, we’ll be spending his money. That wouldn’t be very nice… What do you intend to get him?”

Xia Yu smiled. “How could we use his money to get him a gift? That’s too insincere. Sister, I’ve been feeling a little bored in the hospital these few days, and I got a friend here to teach me how to make dried flower bookmarks. Didn’t you say that Brother Pei often reads his documents and such in the study till late? If he places a dried flower bookmark between his documents, that’d probably lift his spirits.”

Xia Ling’s eyes lit up. “That’s a good idea, why didn’t I think of that? I’ll make it with you.”

But Xia Yu shook her head and declined tactfully. “Sister, if you want to make it, I’ll do it with you another time. This time, let me make it on my own for Brother Pei, alright? He’s spent so much money and resources to treat my illness, I should thank him properly.” She regretted mentioning the gift to Xia Ling. She should’ve just found time to make it while Xia Ling was not around, and got the housemaid to hand it to Pei Ziheng instead!

This sister fought with her over everything. This time, she couldn’t let it happen again—she had to be the one to make a gift for Brother Pei first! Maybe after this, Brother Pei would come to realize that she was kinder and more thoughtful than her sister, and would gradually favor her more…

With this in mind, Xia Yu looked up at her sister pleadingly. “Please.”

Xia Ling could never reject her sister when she gave such an expression. So, she simply smiled and said, “Alright, you can do it on your own this time. But don’t get yourself too tired out, you’ve got to have your rest too. I’ll come over in a few days to help you hand it to him.”

Xia Yu thanked her sister and watched her leave.

A few days later, Xia Yu completed the bookmark and handed it to Xia Ling.

It was a beautiful tuberose bookmark, white in color with a faint hint of red on some petals, making it more unique than the typical sort. Xia Ling kept looking at it from all angles. “This is so beautiful. Xiao Yu, you’re amazing, I wouldn’t be able to make something this pretty. Eh? What’s the red color here? I don’t remember tuberoses coming in such a color?”

Xia Yu lowered her head in embarrassment. “I was too careless. When I was making the bookmark, I’d accidentally hurt myself and bled a little, and it got onto the bookmark. I wanted to make a new one, but I couldn’t find another tuberose that was this pretty…” She bit her lower lip lightly. “Or maybe, I’ll just try and look again.”

Xia Ling put the bookmark aside and tended to her hand. “Why were you so careless? Ah, you’re really hurt.” Seeing the plaster on Xia Yu’s finger, Xia Ling’s heart ached. “Don’t make bookmarks anymore in future. You can just give this to Brother Pei, I’ll explain to him and he surely wouldn’t mind.”

Xia Yu smiled sweetly. “Sister’s the best to me.”

“Of course, you’re my little sister,” Xia Ling said.

Meanwhile, Xia Yu was smiling on the inside. She knew that this dumb sister would stop her from making bookmarks and that she would nervously explain the bloodstain to Pei Ziheng. With that, she had achieved her goals—she had purposely cut herself to leave a bloodstain on the flower, in order to let Pei Ziheng know how much hard work it took to make the bookmark, and how much he meant to her.

In the future, he would probably think of her each time he saw the bookmark. With her continuous efforts to get closer to him over time, he would eventually favor her over her sister!

Xia Yu was busy fantasizing, but she did not forget to remind her sister, “Don’t let Brother Pei know that I got hurt. I don’t want him to worry.”

As she expected, Xia Ling said, “No way! You’re so ill, but you still put in so much time and effort to make this for him. I have to let him know about this. He’ll be so touched.”

“Sister!” Xia Yu deliberately put on a bashful act.

“Alright, alright.” Xia Ling said, “I know what to do, don’t worry about it.” She waved her goodbye and left the ward, not allowing Xia Yu to continue dissuading her.

Xia Yu smirked the moment Xia Ling left.

Outside the hospital, the sun was shining warmly.

Xia Ling looked up at the blue sky and her spirits were lifted. She carefully held onto her sister’s bookmark and hummed a tune as she walked towards the Rolls-Royce waiting outside. She said to the chauffeur, “Let’s go home.”

The chauffeur started the car and headed back to Pei Ziheng’s villa.

Xia Ling looked out the car window and watched the passing cars outside. Turning around, she asked the chauffeur, “What time do you think Brother Pei will be back today?”

He was busy at work all the time and often returned late at night.

The chauffeur wasn’t sure either. “How about, I give Mister’s secretary a call and ask?”

Xia Ling happily nodded her head, and on second thought, she added, “But don’t let him know I’m looking for him, I want to give him a surprise.”

The chauffeur gave Pei Ziheng’s secretary a call and told Xia Ling, “Mister has a transnational meeting today in Imperial, and he’ll be working till late. Secretary Zhou suggests that you sleep first instead of waiting up for him.”

Xia Ling was stunned. “Didn’t I tell you not to mention me!”

The chauffeur stifled his laughter. “It’s not so easy to be Mister’s main secretary. Secretary Zhou is smart enough to guess it was you.”

“In that case…” She sighed heavily. “But I still want to give him a surprise…”

The chauffeur still kept his laughter to himself and gently said, “Don’t worry, Miss. Secretary Zhou promised that Mister wouldn’t hear anything about the phone call.”

She got all excited again and thanked the chauffeur.

The chauffeur was tickled by her. Ever since Mister adopted this girl, their days had become brighter too. In the past, Mister was always so stern and serious, even in the car. But now that there was Miss around, driving was a lot less stressful and felt a lot nicer.

Xia Ling looked out the window again and asked, “What do you think about me going to Brother Pei’s office to give him the bookmark?”

The chauffeur got a shock. “Mister is so busy, will he get angry?”

“I don’t know either…” She had never done something like this and wasn’t sure what to think of it. “Why don’t you call Secretary Zhou again and ask?”

“This is a major decision, Secretary Zhou won’t be able to decide this.” The chauffeur gave a helpless smile. “She’d definitely have to consult Mister about this, and Mister would then know it’s you.”

“How troublesome…” She gave another long sigh.