A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

When this news was released, netizens discussed it heatedly.

Everyone had guessed that Big Boss Li had thrown Ye Xingling aside and instructed the company to discontinue her contract after their breakup. However, Skyart Entertainment’s release insinuated that they were the driving force behind her being able to hold on to the Meteor Wings endorsement deal and was clearly showing full support for her going solo.

How did this look like she had been thrown aside?

There was a greater likelihood that their breakup was amicable and peaceful.

Negative rumors about Ye Xingling died down.

Many artiste management agencies started thinking of poaching her. Someone like Ye Xingling, who had strong singing and dancing foundations at the young age of eighteen, was rare in the free market and clearly had great potential. There was no saying how far she would be able to rise up. If they could get her to join their agency, it would be a big win.

Many started to look for ways to contact her.

Xia Ling’s social circle had always been small, and only a few closest to her had her mobile number. During this period, Sister Mai Na and Wei Shaoyin’s mobiles were ringing non-stop with people asking for her contact number or asking to be introduced.

Wei Shaoyin was jumping in anger, and Sister Mai Na was also rather upset.

They both did not want Xia Ling to leave Skyart Entertainment. How many agencies out there could match up to Skyart Entertainment? However, they still meticulously filtered through the managers that were looking for her and introduced the dependable ones to Xia Ling. This was a small gesture on their part as her friends.

“I’ve been in this line of work for years now, and there aren’t any agencies out there that I’m not familiar with.” Sister Mai Na told Xia Ling. “Before you sign with another company, come to ask me about them first. I’ll be your gatekeeper.”

Xia Ling thanked her and said, “I’m not in a hurry. Perhaps I’ll look into it after completing the recording for “Stray Cat” with Ah Wei.” This was her last project at Skyart Entertainment, and as Wei Shaoyin aptly put, it was going to be her best piece since her debut.

It was already almost two years since her debut.

In this time, she had only recorded four songs in total — “Glass Fingertips,” “Meteor Wings,” “Eyes Beneath The Mask,” and “Stray Cat.” This was an unbelievably low churn-out rate for a new singer.

“Glass Fingertips” was her debut song, and she was not familiar with Wei Shaoyin then, and vice versa. Even though they worked hard on that song, there were still signs of teething and getting to know each other.

“Meteor Wings” was made for the Gu family perfume endorsement deal and bore the same name as the perfume she endorsed. Since it was meant to complement the perfume theme, it limited her artistic freedom in the delivery.

“Eyes Beneath The Mask” was a very good song, but was released at the same time that Feng Kun had announced the revival of “The Caged Butterfly.” This discounted the success of “Eyes Beneath The Mask” greatly.

Only the current song they were making — “Stray Cat” — was being made after Wei Shaoyin and her had truly understood each other’s styles. The song and lyrics were full of their talents and inspiration, and the song was being made to perfection. The timing of its release was also going to coincide with her leaving Skyart Entertainment. Netizens were waiting to hear this “last song,” and it was a great marketing gimmick that they had capitalized upon.

In Wei Shaoyin’s words: “There is no way that this song is not going to be a big hit!”

Xia Ling agreed with him. This song was made in the depths of her despair, and the tune and lyrics tugged at the heartstrings of listeners. Even though her relationship with Li Lei had become better, the pain and suffering were apparent in the music. It was music from the soul.

“Stray Cat” was going to be a big hit.

It was birthed from the hearts of all those that participated in its making.

Perhaps because they had created such a wonderful song together, Wei Shaoyin’s attitude towards Xia Ling had also become better. Initially, he had been appalled and furious at the news of her leaving Skyart Entertainment. Now, he would just give her a slightly darkened expression.

“Next time, tell your manager to speak to me.” He coldly said after they completed the recording.

“Ah?” Xia Ling was trying to disentangle herself from the headphones that had caught onto her hair. Hearing Wei Shaoyin’s words, she looked up in confusion.

Wei Shaoyin pridefully turned his face away and refused to elaborate further.

Xia Ling quietly disgested his statement.

“You’re asking me to continue collaborating with you to produce music?” His words finally sank in, and a broad smile spread across her face. How could she forget? Even though she was no longer going to be under Skyart Entertainment, Ah Wei’s recording studio was not completely exclusive to them. He still recorded many songs with artistes under other agencies.

“I will definitely come back.” Xia Ling smiled and promised. She liked Ah Wei very much. His music style was clean-cut and compatible with the voice she had in this life. What’s more, Ah Wei might be picky in his work, but his professionalism was unparalleled in the industry. Xia Ling was worried that she would not be able to get accustomed to working with other producers after leaving Skyart Entertainment.

Hearing her reply, Wei Shaoyin’s expression lifted a little. “Don’t forget what you just said.”

Xia Ling smiled and reasserted her agreement, then left the recording studio in a wondrous mood.

As she got back home, the doorbell rang.

Didn’t Luo Luo bring her key with her? Li Lei was out of town today on business, and he had called to tell her he would not be accompanying her for dinner.

Who could be at the door then?

Xia Ling opened the door and stood stunned with her mouth agape.

In front of her was a tall, well-built man wearing a black checkered shirt. His chiseled and cold features made him seem ethereal, and his deep-set eyes were staring directly at her.

It was Pei Ziheng.

On the corridor, the dim, natural lighting accentuated his perfect profile, as if he were part of a dream before the break of dawn — mysterious, dark, dangerous, and unreal.

“Xiao Ling.” His deep and attractive voice rang out, slowly enunciating her name. “Aren’t you going to invite me into the house?”

She realized then that they had been standing at the doorway for quite a while.

“You… why are you here?” She struggled to find her voice. For some reason, she was so nervous that her hands and feet were stiff. On Valentine’s Day, she was in the warmth of his arms when he had sent her to the hospital. The scenes in the quiet night in the ward, with the dim, warm lighting, him peeling her an apple and them having a simple conversation, was still clear in her mind.

Pei Ziheng gently said, “I heard you’re leaving Skyart Entertainment and wanted to come to see you. Are you really not going to invite me in to sit down? I’ve brought you a gift.”

She stepped aside to let him in, moving as if she were dream walking, before closing the door behind them.

Pei Ziheng sat down on the sofa in the living room and looked around the small house, his forehead scrunching up into a frown. “You’re living in this shabby place?”

“It’s not bad.” Xia Ling breathed deeply and regained her calmness. “I’m renting this with a friend, and the rent isn’t too expensive. We can also take care of each other. Oh right, how did you find out that I’m staying here?”

“Luo Luo.” Pei Ziheng did not hide his source from her. “You’re sharing the flat with her, right? That girl can’t keep a secret and mentioned you were staying together when she was chatting with someone in the recording studio. Chu Chen overheard their conversation.”

So that’s why.

Xia Ling resisted the urge to rub her temples. That innocent white rabbit Luo Luo… did she know that she attracted a big grey wolf to the house?