A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Ah Wei’s misfortune was not just about Boss taking it out on him.

Just as he finished working tirelessly on her new song “Eyes Beneath the Mask,” some sad news came along — the Diva Xia Ling’s tribute song “The Caged Butterfly” was about to be launched.

Why was this considered sad news?

Any new release that clashed with the launch of “Caged Butterfly” was definitely at a losing end. The press and media would be focussing on news coverage of this tribute song that the public had been longing to hear about, and as for the other new songs? Nobody would be interested in them.

Ah Wei was grumpy. There was only this period left for the release and publicity before the Best New Artiste award reveal. He cursed and swore at Feng Kun in the recording studio. “This workaholic bastard! Are you pitting yourself against me on purpose! You could be enjoying your holidays abroad, but you choose to come back at such an untimely period, what for! Does Imperial owe you your wages!”

Xia Ling could not listen to it any longer. Hey, Ah Wei, you actually think of the “workaholic” word as a negative too?

She took a look at the black card with rose-gold embossment. “Three days from now at Imperial Entertainment Building. Ah Wei, if you’re not going, I’ll just throw this away.” In her previous life, she held a cocktail reception every time she released a new song and invited some socialites as well as the big shots in the industry. She always made it an event unique to her to distinguish herself from the rest of the celebrities.

It sure was unique, with so many distinguished guests getting together every once in a while. If not for Pei Ziheng’s status, there was no way a celebrity in the entertainment industry could manage to invite them.

Hence, her status in the entertainment circle was impossible to be challenged, no one else but she had such an honor.

But, she remembered Ah Wei never attended the receptions.

Just as she took an aim and was about to throw it in the bin, Ah Wei snatched it over.

“Hey, don’t! Who says I’m not going?” Ah Wei was flustered.

“Huh? You want to go?”

“Imperial Entertainment’s reception, hmph, pretentious and snobbish.”

That’s right . Xia Ling agreed with him silently. That’s precisely why Ah Wei doesn’t like Imperial, then why is he attending this time?

Ah Wei clenched his teeth. “I want to know what Feng Kun’s “Caged Butterfly” is all about. If it’s a lousy work, I’ll shove “Eyes Beneath the Mask” in his face!”

Xia Ling was silent. So he was there to spy on his rival.

Feng Kun always had very high standards and took great care of even the smallest of details. In a song as important as “The Caged Butterfly,” there was no way he would make a mistake. Xia Ling wanted to advise Ah Wei not to waste his time but decided to forget about it considering how stubborn Ah Wei was.

She lazily said, “You have fun there, I’ll be at home sleeping.” He had been working her out for the past many days, and even though Li Lei was there to rescue her occasionally, to stop her from overworking, she was still exhausted from all the work. She had planned to catch up on her beauty sleep over the next few days, do some yoga, and get some massages…

Her daydream had only lasted a mere few seconds when she heard Ah Wei—

“You’re coming with me.”

“Huh?” Xia Ling looked up in shock.

“You’re a singer, can’t you be a little more diligent? You’ll go and learn more about your rival song, no skiving.” Ah Wei flipped to the back of the invitation in slight frustration. “Those at Imperial Entertainment are very contentious… remember to wear a formal gown on that day.”

Xia Ling walked out of the recording studio in disappointment.

She had no interest in going for the event at all. In fact, she wanted to stay away from anything that had to do with Pei Ziheng. What reason should she give Ah Wei to escape attending the reception? Flu, fever, stomachache?

Before she decided, Li Lei had appeared again.

“Xiao Ling,” During dinner, Li Lei held her intimately. “can you take me along to the cocktail reception for the launch of ‘Caged Butterfly’?”

More coquettishness.

Xia Ling could not bear with it and released herself from his grasp. “Why?”

“This reception is exceptionally large-scale, and Pei Ziheng invited every big shot possible. I want to see how close he is to each of them.”

Xia Ling nodded in understanding. He had the same motive as Ah Wei — checking out on his competitor. But that meant she had to make some sacrifices. She had no intention of going, to begin with, but both Ah Wei and Li Lei insist on going… One of them got provoked the moment he saw Feng Kun, while the other had attacked Pei Ziheng before. She was afraid that something might happen if nobody was there to watch them.

She hesitated for a bit before finally saying, “We’ll go together.”

Li Lei cheered and edged towards her again. “I knew it, my Xiao Ling is the best.” The truth was, he was not going there to analyze his competitor whatsoever, he only wanted to go because he heard that she was going, and he was worried about her sharing the same space with Pei Ziheng.

Pei Ziheng’s relationship with her was a mystery, the less she talked about it, the more Li Lei worried. He felt as if she could be taken away by somebody else anytime.

Li Lei was not going to let his woman meet somebody that could well be his love rival.

As such, two people who had no intention of attending the “The Caged Butterfly” launch reception initially ended up showing up together.

Oh right, and Ah Wei as well.

When they got off the black Lincoln limousine and walked along the red carpet, all the guests were silent for a moment — it was no secret that both Li Lei and Wei Shaoyin were outstanding men. One was a wonderful balance of beautiful looks and brawns, just like a handsome beast, while the other was cold and elegant like the peak of an iceberg. The two striking figures appearing side by side took everyone’s breath away.

Between the two of them was a petite girl.

She wore a rose-colored mermaid-bottom maxi dress, had beautiful fair skin, and clear eyes that reflected a hint of arrogance. The way she walked on the red carpet appeared as if two knights were escorting a princess.

“It’s Ye Xingling.” Most people around recognized this celebrity.

“Skyart’s Big Boss and their chief music producer accompanied her?” People were whispering and discussing. “She’s a minor celebrity who just made her debut, how did she have such an honor? What’s her background?”

“Not much of a background, she came from a humble home.”

Everybody was confused and speculating now.

In the corner of the reception ballroom, Feng Kun was discussing with an official in hushed voices. Noticing a change in the atmosphere, he looked up and saw her instantly — the girl standing before the grand entrance, escorted by two extremely gorgeous men, her eyes scanning the surroundings like a goddess who just arrived. She resembled somebody so much…

He instinctively took a step forward and bumped into a waiter, spilling some champagne onto his own custom-made black suit. The waiter profusely apologized in all sincerity.

Feng Kun simply waved him away.

As he snapped out of his daze, Feng Kun smiled sadly. How could that be Xiao Ling? I must be missing her too much to mistake another girl for her.