A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Xia Ling smiled at Luo Luo’s arrival and gave her a hug before walking over to Sister Mai Na and a few others to greet them.

Sister Mai Na was in a maroon off-shoulder gown. With her neat, clipped hair, she exuded the air of a leading lady as she always did. Upon seeing Xia Ling and Li Lei, she raised her wine glass. “Congratulations on your reconciliation.”

Xia Ling turned around and glanced at Li Lei. “Mm, we won’t split again this time.”

“Congratulations, Xiao Ling and Boss Li,” Luo Luo said. “Oh right. Congratulations Murong, ‘Powerful Opponent’ is a hit!”

Bai Murong smiled and pinched her nose teasingly. “Practice your singing well, we can duet next time.”

Luo Luo stuck out her tongue out jokingly. “I’m nowhere as good as Xiao Ling. If we duet, you’ve gotta guide me along.”

“Call me Brother, and I’ll consider.” Bai Murong laughed.

Luo Luo gave him a stare before breaking into laughter and calling him “Brother.”

Bai Murong ruffled her hair.

Xia Ling watched their interaction and found it a bit unusual. She quietly asked Sister Mai Na, “They are…?”

“After filming Extraordinary Risks, they’ve maintained a very close relationship, and Murong gradually stopped dallying with other women. So, what do you think they are?” Sister Mai Na replied.

Xia Ling understood now, it seemed like Luo Luo, the little innocent bunny, had been abducted by Bai Murong, the big grey wolf. She was worried that Luo Luo would be bullied, but looking at how happy and compatible they were together set her mind at ease. She quietly gave her blessings.

They chatted and joked about with one another easily. Although their Big Boss Li Lei was around, everybody felt comfortable and at ease, coming together like old friends at a reunion. Wei Shaoyin joined in the conversation as well, and soon, everybody was discussing why he had given up his position in the family business and chosen a music career instead.

“You don’t know how boring it is in a drug manufacturing company,” Wei Shaoyin said with a look of disdain. “Those researchers go about doing the same boring things day after day, what sort of life is that? If I hadn’t escaped in time…” He was about to say more when the butler approached them.

“Young Master, there’s a guest at the door — Mr. Lin Yunan.”

“Lin Yunan?” Wei Shaoyin furrowed his brows, “Which Lin Yunan?”

“My manager… in the past.” Xia Ling had not seen him since the paragliding incident. Back then, Imperial Entertainment had transferred her over from Dongyue Culture and Entertainment without providing a good reason. She felt like she owed him something.

“Let him in,” Xia Ling said.

Hearing what she said, Wei Shaoyin gave the same instructions.

Lin Yunan came in a more casual outfit — a grey-blue shirt with buttons unevenly done up. He did not maintain his sleeves well either, with one side rolled up haphazardly to the elbow. He stormed in and immediately caught sight of Xia Ling holding a glass of wine. “Ye Xingling, you returned to Skyart right after you left Imperial? Did you even think of me? Or even to return to Dongyue for a visit?” He was evidently unhappy.

Xia Ling had not even had a chance to speak before Li Lei responded, “Why are you speaking to our Xiao Ling like this?”

Lin Yunan sized him up. “Li Lei? Don’t interrupt me, I’m talking to my singer.”

Now, it was Sister Mai Na who was unhappy. She placed the wineglass on the table and said, “Whose singer? Let’s be clear here, she’s my singer.” She was Xiao Ling’s current manager, and nobody was going to argue that.

Even Wei Shaoyin commented, “Exactly. Xiao Ling is Sister Mai Na’s, return to where you came from and don’t be an eye-sore here.” The way Lin Yunan dressed put him off — even the buttons weren’t done up properly. It really upset this clean freak.

He couldn’t wait for this guy to get out of his sight.

Lin Yunan practically bore his teeth at him. “Wei Shaoyin, I see. Your uncle got me to keep a lookout for you in the entertainment industry. I haven’t even bothered all these years, but if you step on my foot now, you can be sure I’ll keep my eyes on you.”

“You know my uncle?” Wei Shaoyin was shocked.

“Isn’t he Wei Lingnan, the one who has a boring face like Pei Ziheng. He has business connections with my family.” Lin Yunan was trying to scare him. It was true that he knew Wei Lingnan, but they were in no way on close terms. He was only bringing up names because he heard that Wei Shaoyin was intimidated by his family members.

Wei Shaoyin was indeed intimidated and did not mention anything about chasing him out anymore.

Lin Yunan continued talking to Xia Ling, “It was you who got me back into the entertainment industry, how could you just leave like that? In any case, your options are: to let me be your manager, or to let me be your manager.”

Xia Ling smiled bitterly, this man really sounded like a scoundrel now. But to be fair, she was the one at fault. He had pinned all his hopes on grooming her to become the next Diva, but she had let him down with no good reason. Then again, she was already under Sister Mai Na now, how should they handle this?

“How about multi-manager?” This was Li Lei’s idea.

Typically, a manager would be in charge of several artistes, but each artiste would only have one manager. However, there was another option, which was a “multi-manager” style. It was very common overseas, and it often involved a few managers and artistes in one unit.

That also meant that a single artiste could indeed have a few managers.

This would be a first for both Skyart and Dongyue.

Sister Mai Na frowned. She was worried that Lin Yunan wasn’t reliable enough to take good care of Xiao Ling. And she felt better being in complete control of the situation.

Lin Yunan was unhappy too. “I’ve always taken a one-to-one style with my artistes. Once I’ve decided on one, I don’t even manage a second one concurrently. Li Lei, I can’t believe you’re suggesting something like this as an insult to me.”

“Who’s insulting who now?” Sister Mai Na was angered.

Li Lei watched them calmly.

Xia Ling stood by the side and did not know what to do. She really shouldn’t have gotten Ah Wei to let Lin Yunan in—she should have gone to the door to speak to him personally. How could she have forgotten that Lin Yunan and Sister Mai Na were not on good terms?

Seeing that a fight was about to ensue, Xia Ling decided to say something. “Sister Mai Na, don’t be offended, this is just Lin Yunan’s way of speaking. Lin Yunan, it’s true that I got you back into the industry and then left you to your devices. But I will never return to Dongyue. Back then, Dongyue terminated my contract on their terms which I was not even aware of, and then transferred me to Imperial Entertainment. I can’t possibly return to a company like that.”