A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

She had no memory of such a person and had no clue who he was. However, he did not seem like to be part of the Ye family.

Probably realizing this from her baffled expression, he smiled at her pleasantly. “Hello, I’m Nan Sheng, your Fourth Uncle’s friend.”

Xia Ling replied, “Hello.” She was still puzzled though — her Fourth Uncle was a 40-odd-year-old middle-aged man, but this Nan Sheng person seemed to be in his 20s at best. How did they become friends?

Fourth Uncle half-jokingly answered her unspoken query, “Master Nan is my good friend in the industry. Xiao Ling, you’ve to be polite.” Master Nan’s family ran a textile business, manufacturing many mattresses, pillows, curtains and the like, and their products were highly popular among consumers. His goods were complementary to Fourth Uncle’s, and hence, they were close business partners.

But this Master Nan was a third generation heir and was way more well-to-do than Fourth Uncle who had started his business from scratch, which was why Fourth Uncle was always polite and civil around him. He introduced him as a friend, but the truth was Master Nan had the greater say, and he could not afford to offend him.

This time, Fourth Uncle had unintentionally brought up the birthday celebration and, having never attended a celebration in the village, Nan Sheng was curious and had decided to join in on the fun. Fourth Uncle did not think that rejecting him was a good idea, and at the same time wanted to take this opportunity to get even closer to him.

Xia Ling could not be bothered. What Master Nan? She had never heard of him.

“City S?” she asked. City S was the city she lived in.

“Yes.” Master Nan smiled with some reservation. “Nan family of City S.”

Xia Ling nodded her head politely. She had spent two lifetimes in City S, living there ever since she followed Pei Ziheng out of the orphanage more than a decade back. She had been in touch with the wealthiest and most influential figures in the city but had never heard of any Nan family. It seemed like this Master Nan’s family was just richer than average, but not anywhere in the top-tier. Otherwise, she definitely would have heard of them.

Seeing that she did not have much reaction, Master Nan was slightly unhappy.She only got famous recently, it isn’t surprising that she hasn’t heard of my family. Moreover, how much exposure do these minor celebrities from humble families even get? He thought. With that, he let it slide.

“Master Nan, you said that the outfit Xiao Ling got is one that cannot simply be bought with money, what does that mean?” Somebody asked out of curiosity.

“If I didn’t see it wrongly, this outfit is from SSD.” Master Nan’s sharp eye had noticed the inconspicuous SSD logo in the corner of the box. He was a little baffled, how could an unexposed minor celebrity like Ye Xingling get an outfit from SSD? Even with this doubt, he went on. “This store sells custom-made outfits, and only for their members. It’s not easy at all to get a membership card. One has to go through their evaluation and be of a certain status, money itself won’t do.”

“Money itself won’t do? How about my Fourth Uncle?” Second Uncle’s little daughter asked naively.

Fourth Uncle looked towards Master Nan, waiting for his answer. What is SSD? I’ve never heard of it.

Master Nan glanced at Fourth Uncle. “Uncle Ye, don’t look at me like that. You won’t be able to get this outfit even with money. For businessmen like you who’ve only just made a name for yourself, it’s not possible to get a membership card in their store.”

Fourth Uncle was surprised, now seeing Xia Ling in a different light. This little girl could actually achieve something he could not? He was a businessman with networks and contacts and was more exposed than many people. He knew that there were many things which could not be bought with money indeed — it was a matter of status. But when did this little girl become someone of such high status?

It seemed like a celebrity was still a celebrity alright. Even if she was not as worldly as he was, her status was different.

Besides Fourth Uncle, many others had changed impressions of Xia Ling as well, viewing her with admiration.

“Sister Xiao Ling is amazing,” said Second Uncle’s little daughter. “When I grow up, I want to be a big star too.”

Xia Ling smiled and pinched her cheek. “Sure, I’ll look out for you then.”

The little girl was delighted to hear that. She climbed on all fours onto the bed and held onto Xia Ling, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “That’s a promise, let’s hook pinkies!” She made a pinky promise with Xia Ling and turned around to face Master Nan. “Then, can you get stuff from this store as well, Uncle Nan?”

Nan Sheng was stunned, completely unprepared for her to ask such a question. An expression of awkwardness appeared on his face.

SSD’s barrier to entry was too high, even the Nan family was not of high enough status to get the membership card. He knew about this store because he had always wanted to truly integrate into the high society in City S, and hence spent time and effort in researching such details. Moreover, his family was in the textile industry and had some knowledge of this brand and their products. He had applied for membership before but was declined outrightly even when he resorted to bribery.

“I…” He darted a few glances about, not knowing how to answer the little girl’s question.

Fourth Aunt continued the sentence while berating the little girl. “Ying Ying, how can you talk like that? Don’t you know who Uncle Nan is? If Sister Xiao Ling can get it, how could Uncle Nan not be able to? Right, Master Nan?” She smiled at Nan Sheng, trying to curry favor.

Nan Sheng was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Nodding his head was not a good idea, but neither was shaking his head.

He laughed awkwardly and switched topics. “Where’s Big Aunt? Why’s she not here yet? It’s about time for dinner.”

“That’s right, I’ll go hurry her, it’s time for dinner…” Most of them did not notice what had just happened and went along with it.

Nan Sheng felt a weight off his shoulders, but his doubt had not faded — if a third-generation heir like him could not even apply for the membership card, how could this minor celebrity with such a humble background manage it? It seemed like she must have her connections, but what could it be…

His eyes landed on Xia Ling. Y es, she is a pure and neat-looking girl. Not an extraordinary beauty, but the way she sits quietly exudes a cool and mysterious charisma. Girls like these appeal to men. Moreover, the entertainment circle is a messy place, where minor celebrities will find themselves rich men for backing. Maybe that’s how she got her SSD membership, or this outfit could well be one that a rich man gave her as a gift…

Nan Sheng’s speculation had an element of truth in it.

Xia Ling was completely oblivious to him as she continued her familial conversation with Grandma Ye. “… A man I like? Grandma, I’m still young… Admirer? I do have a few of them… Haha, Grandma, I’m not even thinking about marriage…”

Yes, this must be it, this girl is not so pure.

Nan Sheng’s imagination was sparked. The Nan family had made a fair bit all these years, but in no way were they on par with the high society — it was way too difficult to affiliate with them and having money was simply inadequate. He had tried very hard, but still, to no avail. Meanwhile, this Ye Xingling must have connections with some wealthy family, maybe he could use her to upgrade his and his family’s status…

Looking at the girl who was still talking so wary-free, Nan Sheng’s eyes deepened.