A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Back when she was working among the other secretaries, she’d already witnessed Xia Ling’s wilfulness. But that was common among girls, and it was nothing like how she’d acted this time. And for some reason, the Big Boss who was always so stern and intimidating allowed her to do that, without displaying any anger.

Chu Chen said, “I suggest you find a way to manage the ‘loudspeakers’ around here.” Too many people had seen what had happened. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that the people at the front desk were still in a discussion, presumably over the scene, and that wasn’t a good sign.

Secretary Xie knew what he was getting at and smiled. “I will, thank you.”

She was thanking him for reminding her to act in a way that Boss favored, which would help her secure her position.

This was one of the rules for survival in the higher tiers of this glamorous company—find allies, help one another and get things done perfectly before the Boss said anything.

And in Imperial Entertainment, this rule was even simpler—

Whoever managed to handle Xia Ling’s affairs well would be safe.

Over on the other side, Pei Ziheng forced Xia Ling to get to the hospital. He allowed her to scream, shout and even get physically aggressive with him, but he handed her to the specialist doctor upon arrival.

The doctors did the checkups thoroughly and finally heaved a sigh of relief at the end of it all.

The doctor in-charge said to Pei Ziheng, “Miss Xia was showing signs of a miscarriage, but thankfully she got here in time and the situation is now under control. I advise that she remains warded over the next few weeks and not go anywhere. This is for the fetus’ safety.”

Pei Ziheng thanked the doctor and had her checked into the VIP ward.

At this point, Xia Ling had quietened down and was no longer throwing a fit.

Since there was no way to escape Pei Ziheng’s clutches, she might as well conserve her energy. If there was anything that disappointed her, it was that the baby was still alive inside her. It was a tough little one, somehow managing to survive the Xia Ling’s fight with someone else. She felt extremely conflicted. Should she be feeling comforted or upset that this child just wouldn’t die? Whatever the case, there was nothing she could do about it.

The worst-case scenario would be giving birth to this bastard child.

She looked down and rested her hand on her abdomen.

Pei Ziheng walked towards her and sneered. “Are you very disappointed?”

Xia Ling mocked lightly. “What if I say I am?”

Pei Ziheng turned away and walked out, slamming the door. The bang startled Xia Ling and she began feeling even more distraught. How did things between them turn out this way?

She lay on the bed day after day without wanting to eat anything. She was getting more haggard.

The doctor in-charge said to her, “Miss Xia, you can’t go on like this, the child is malnourished now. If you remain this way, you’re going to be very weak during labor, that’ll pose a danger to yourself.”

Xia Ling looked at him snidely. “No matter the situation, you’ll find a way to deliver the child, no? As for whether I get out of it dead or alive, it doesn’t matter, anyway…” Anyway, her heart had been dead the moment she found out that Pei Ziheng was getting engaged to Wang Jingwan.

The doctor in-charge did not know how to react. He simply offered her some words of comfort before taking his leave.

She was kept in such a small space and was even surrounded by Pei Ziheng’s men when she wanted to take a stroll outside. The assistants and bodyguards made sure the path was always clear for her so that she wouldn’t be in conflict with any passersby around. She found life to be boring and hopeless and began losing her temper every so often.

But no one dared offend her.

Everyone simply smiled meekly around her.

But they’d never give her any freedom. They could never compromise on the task that Pei Ziheng assigned them.

As such, she became even more overbearing. She became fiercer to the people around her, started hurling things in the ward and ate less and less.

As she got even more vulnerable, the doctor had a word with Pei Ziheng again. “Miss Xia can’t go on like this. It’ll be hard for her to sustain until her labor.”

Pei Ziheng said, “I know.” He kept quiet for a while before going to look for someone.

On this day, Xia Ling was hurling things in the ward again.

The door suddenly opened and a mild-mannered man walked in. It was Feng Kun. Feng Kun caught the pillow that she’d thrown from the bed and smiled. “Why, you’re in a terrible mood?”

Xia Ling did not expect it to be him. She was stunned for a moment before asking, “Why are you here?”

Feng Kun closed the door and walked to her bedside. Handing the soft pillow back to her, he said, “I heard you’re hospitalized, so I’m here to see you. How are you feeling? Better?” He saw that she was indeed a lot more haggard than before. She looked almost like a cracked crystal, one that would shatter into fragments upon touch. For some reason, his heart ached when he saw her this way.

Xia Ling turned away and said angrily, “Hmph, so you’re the person Pei Ziheng sent to persuade me.”

“You’re right. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even be allowed in.” Feng Kun did not anger her further and instead remained calm and kind. “He wants me to persuade you to have this child properly. But Xiao Ling, I want to know, do you really not intend to keep this child?”

Xia Ling sneered. “Would I be lying?” It was such a shame that she couldn’t get what she wanted despite trying so hard for it.

Feng Kun could tell that she had a lot of grievances with regards to the baby, and asked her again, “Are you sure about this? This is your child with him that we’re talking about.”

Xia Ling looked down and stroked her abdomen gently. Her belly was still flat, but she knew he was there. Yes, this was her child with him, something she yearned for in the past.

But what about now?

He came at the wrong time, at a juncture where she didn’t even know if she could spend her life with Pei Ziheng. She didn’t want him to be a bastard child—who’d be happy with that?

“I’m sure about this.” She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Feng Kun then said, “If you really are sure about this, I have an idea.”

Xia Ling looked at him in shock. “Aren’t you going to persuade me to keep the baby?”

Feng Kun smiled. “I’m your friend.”

He knew her very well. She was a woman of pride, how could she tolerate being a shameful mistress in hiding? She should be soaring high and free—that was the Xia Ling he knew.

Xia Ling eyed him closely before finally breaking into a smile. “Yes, you’re my friend. So, what’s your idea?” This was how valuable friends were. It wasn’t obvious during the good times, but at one’s lowest, true friends would always be there for them.

Thankfully, not everyone had abandoned her.

Feng Kun said, “Xiao Ling, hear this right. There is one person who’d hate for you to have this child.”

Xia Ling intuitively sat up. “Who?”