A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Xia Ling’s heart sank. It hurt so terribly that it felt numb instead.

She heard herself whispered, “Okay.” So what if she wasn’t okay with it? She couldn’t escape nor hide, and could only be imprisoned in this side of the world to serve him. What was the difference between this and being a mistress? Yes, she wasn’t reconciled. If her sister had been fine, she would fight till the end and would rather be a shard of jade than a whole tile. But now, her sister was missing, and her life and death were still uncertain, so she couldn’t continue to be willful.

Pei Ziheng looked warmly and gently at her. “Have you thought it through?”

“I have.”

“You won’t regret?”

“I won’t regret.”

A hint of a smile appeared in the depth of his eyes, and he leaned back on the sofa and said to her, “If that’s the case, then show some sincerity. Take off your clothes.”

Her body trembled and her face turned pale.

Pei Ziheng said, “Why, are you unwilling?”

Her eyes clearly said she was unwilling, but under his oppressive gaze, she could only say dryly, “Not… not here.” This was the villa’s living room on the first floor, and outside the floor-to-ceiling window was the red wild rose garden that was hidden from view. The winter sunshine just happened to shine and render the world limpid and clear.

What if Nanny Zhou or the butler or the driver bumped into them?

He didn’t move. “Do it here.” He had spoiled her too much, so she didn’t know her limits and even ran away and wanted to marry him? She made such a whimsical request. From today, he would teach her what the rules were, and let him stay with him in peace. This would be good for both of them.

Xia Ling lowered her head, and her white jade-like fingers grabbed onto the mother-of-pearl buttons on her placket, shivering slightly. She stole a glance at him, but he was still unmoving, his cold and majestic face like a demon. In the silent confrontation, she couldn’t stand it anymore and took her clothes off bit by bit, exposing her beautiful collarbone and her curvy chest and abdomen to the cold winter air. It was like a white offering presenting itself to him.

She grabbed onto a thin silk coat with her hands and barely covered her back with it. She begged him. “Let me keep at least this.” She was really afraid that someone would suddenly break-in. If that happened, this thin silk coat was the only thing that could maintain her last, poor dignity.

Pei Ziheng declined to comment and gestured for her to undress him.

She squatted and carefully draped in her silk coat, leaned into his arms and took off his excellent material wool vest and shirt. His sturdy chest was brace and there was not a trace of flesh. Her hands trembled slightly as she moved downwards and unbuckled his custom belt at his waist while shivering. The cold belt buckle touched her finger, and the chill shook the bottom of her heart. She didn’t unbuckle it for a long time. His expression turned dark and suddenly impatiently, so he turned over and pressed her under his body.

She struggled instinctively, but he immediately restrained her. The violent storm-like attack made her feel like a small boat in a storm, carrying a heavy load and involuntarily being touched.

Her eyes gradually darkened and she fell asleep in his arms.

After touching her, Pei Ziheng wrapped her in his shirt and kissed her forehead gently.

She was so beautiful, and it wasn’t enough no matter how many times he demanded it. Only she could make him unable to restrain his emotions and use unscrupulous means to make her stay by his side. Was it cruel? He didn’t think so, because there was no one else in this world that loved her more than he did. Following him was her best home.

He helped her tidy up the mess on her.

His gaze suddenly fell on her wrist—a silver bracelet on the jade-like wrist, seemingly very old, was emitting a faint light in the clear winter sunlight.

That was the gift he had given her when she was twelve.

He still remembered that the inner circle of the silver bracelet was engraved with their abbreviation, and there were four words: Never Leave Each Other.

Thinking of this, he smiled a little and lifted her hand to plant a kiss there. When she had left home a few days ago, he had sent Chu Chen to handle the aftermath—seal the paparazzi’s mouth, and warn the old grandma that had taken her in on what to say and what not to say. The old grandma had taken out a pair of diamond earrings to Chu Chen and said, “This is Xiao Ling’s. She insisted on giving me this as her accommodation fee, but how could I keep it? Give it back to her.”

The pair of earrings was brought by herself.

He remembered that she liked it very much and wore it on many occasions.

However, in a dire state, she would rather take them out and give them away than to give the silver bracelet that was not worth a few dollars. In fact, she still had him in her heart, right?

After what happened in the living room, she was even more silent. Only when she was asking for the progress of Xia Yu did she regain her former spirit. Pei Ziheng helped her “find” for a while, and after a while, he thought it was time and told her, “The results from the private detective and the police are out. The real murderer of Wang Jingwan is Xia Yu. She escaped for fear of punishment, so it would probably be hard to find her.”

Xia Ling found it unbelievable. “What did you say? Xiao Yu is the real murderer?” How could it be? She was her sister, her only blood-related relative in the world, why would she murder Wang Jingwan?

Xia Ling’s expression turned pale and she took a few steps back.

Pei Ziheng lowered his head at her. “The police found the diary left by Xia Yu. In fact, she has always been jealous of you. She was jealous that you were more beautiful and doted on than her, so she wanted you to die. She framed you after killing Wang Jingwan.”

His words were like a heavy hammer hitting her heart.

She groaned in pain. “Impossible… impossible! Xiao Yu is so good to me, how could she be jealous of me? It must be wrong. She doesn’t even dare to kill a cockroach, how could she kill someone?!”

Pei Ziheng said, “Nothing is impossible. Remember the poison I found in your bag in the practice room? That was sneaked in by Xia Yu, but she didn’t expect me to realize the murderer wasn’t you, and to ask the police to investigate deeper. She was afraid, so she ran away.”

Xia Ling was still in doubt. How could their sisterhood of more than a decade die out because of these few words? She still remembered her sister looking at her weakly, calling her sister softly.

“Where’s the evidence?” she asked, her voice trembling. “I want to see the evidence.”

Pei Ziheng said, “The evidence is in the hands of the police and kept secret.” In fact, there was no diary at all. He only said that to make Xia Ling give up.

But Xia Ling was still looking for reasons to convince herself. “Impossible… there must be some mistake. I don’t believe she was jealous and resentful of me! Ziheng, she must have suffered some accident, that’s why she’s missing!”

Pei Ziheng looked at her with pity and didn’t speak.

Xia Ling’s lips were white, and she suddenly looked up and said, “I want to go find her. There must be some hidden meaning, I must find her and ask for the truth!”