A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

The concert was going to be held at the largest stadium in the city.

It was in the central business district, where the skyscrapers stood tall, and the beautiful city lights were like stars in the sky.

Security barricades had long been set up near the stadium. In fact, several of the main streets in the CBD had been closed off. This was a feat that was not commonly seen for artistes.

“Wow.” Fans were waiting in excitement outside the security barricades. “Crystal, look! They are closing the streets off from here! I remember that they didn’t do that when the popular boy group sfy was here!”

“Yes, yes!” The girl called Crystal responded, her face flushing red in excitement. “If you want to see how popular an artiste is, you just need to see where they start closing off the roads! Every additional inch is additional money spent! Closing off a hundred meters is already God-like. Our Xiao Ling has closed off close to a kilometer!”

“Who was the last person that closed off a kilometer?! Quick, check!”

“Do we need to check that? Other than Xiao Ling, the last person that closed off a kilometer was Xia Ling! The Diva Xia Ling!” The two girls became even more excited. They were proud of their idol. The Diva Xia Ling had only managed to get a kilometer of roads closed off for her 10-year anniversary concert. And Xiao Ling? She had accomplished this feat at her very first concert.

The two girls were dancing around in joy, and they couldn’t wait to spread the good news to the other waiting fans.

Unexpectedly, another fan responded in disdain. “You’ve got it wrong! The Diva Xia Ling did manage to close off a kilometer of road, but she closed off the road leading to Clear Water Road. Ye Xingling has closed off the road leading to Huayang Street! That’s one street more than Clear Water Road!”

“Oh my…” Crystal’s eyes were opened wide. “In other words, Xiao Ling has managed to close off a longer stretch of road than the Diva Xia Ling?!”

“Exactly!” That fan proudly announced. She was Ye Xingling’s die-hard fan, and she felt a great sense of satisfaction from seeing her idol gain so much recognition.

After a moment of silence, there was a new round of screams. It was not long later that all the other fans were informed of the record that Xiao Ling had set. Many hugged those around them in joy, regardless of whether they were previously acquainted.

Xia Ling had not arrived and the atmosphere already was lit.

A red carpet was spread on the wide street for the kilometer that was closed off. It was grand and eye-catching. A low-key, antique car drove near to the Huayang Street entrance and was stopped by the security guards.

“I’m sorry, this street is closed off. Please make a detour.” The security guard instructed the driver.

The driver showed him a temporary access pass.

The guard bowed and let him through.

In the back seat of the car with bulletproof windscreen sat Old Master Li in a black traditional outfit, his face solemn. Su Tang accompanied to his right in a white qipao with red plum flower prints. On his other side was an old butler that had been working for him for many years. Looking at the scene outside the car windows, the Old Master commented unhappily. “This brat! Creating such a huge spectacle for a mere singer. Doesn’t he know that a big tree would attract the wind?”

Su Tang did not say anything but clenched her fists such that her sharp fingernails pricked into her palms.

The old butler was consoling the Old Master. “Young Master Lei had always been one to act with reason. Maybe he isn’t making this such a big thing solely for Miss Ye, but also because Miss Ye is a singer from Skyart Entertainment. Raising her profile would also mean raising Skyart’s profile.”

“Hmph, you don’t have to console me. Do you think I don’t know my grandson?” The Old Master said in a cold voice.

The old butler did not say anything further and complained silently. Young Master, Young Master, why did you ask your grandfather to attend this concert out of the blue? Don’t you know how upset the Old Master will be?

The Old Master seethed in silence for a while, before asking, “Where’s that brat?”

The old butler wiped the sweat that was forming on his brows, not daring to respond. Did he need to ask? Young Master Lei was most probably accompanying Miss Ye. As expected, he heard Su Tang reply in her chic voice, “The dusk black tailored suit that the Young Master favors disappeared from his room, and he’s borrowed the kitchen from Nanny Qian. I heard that he was baking a hazelnut cake in secret.”

The Old Master understood her immediately. “What?! A man cooking for a girl! How demeaning!”

The butler was speechless. Old Master, who was the one who happily hired the world’s best chefs to teach Young Master Lei when he asked to learn cooking?

The butler knew that the Old Master was unhappy that his beloved grandson, the grandson that he invested so much time and effort to teach, was chasing after a random woman.

Ever since returning from overseas, the Old Master had put up with inconveniences to keep Young Master Lei under tight scrutiny. For instance, he had taken up accommodation in the Young Master’s small apartment. Yet, while Young Master Lei did not use his own kitchen to cook for Miss Ye, he still went downstairs to borrow the kitchen of his subordinate to perform the task.

The butler gave a bitter smile. This grandfather-grandson pair was two peas in a pod, both equally stubborn. How long was this tug-of-war going to go on for?

Oblivious of the Old Master’s bad mood, Li Lei and Xia Ling were enjoying alone time in the Porsche.

“Xiao Ling, I baked some delicious cake for you.” Li Lei carefully took out the hazelnut cake that he had painstakingly prepared. The cake was cut into neat squares and placed in a beautiful paper box. Every piece was only as big as a square candy, easy to eat in one bite.

“Why did you cut it so small?” She asked as the fragrance of the cake wafted towards her.

“Then, it won’t destroy your makeup.” Li Lei smilingly replied.

Xia Ling felt a warmth enter her heart. He was so considerate that she did not know what to do. What if she fell too much into his sweetness and couldn’t free herself?

He picked up a small piece and fed it to her. “Is it nice?”

“Delicious.” Xia Ling felt that Li Lei’s cooking was the best in the world.

“I’ll get the staff to bring the rest backstage. You can eat a few pieces if you’re hungry later on. Holding a concert is tough work.” He fussed over her.

“Okay, I’ve got it.” She replied obediently and reached out her fair fingers for another piece.

He gave a satisfied smile.

The Porsche drove slowly towards the long, winding red carpet and stopped in front of it. There were countless fans waiting outside the security barricade on both sides of the red carpet, as well as many reporters with zoom cameras in hand.

The camera flashes flickered without stopping.

Li Lei said, “I’ll take my leave now. Take care when you are walking down the red carpet. I’ll see you tonight.”

“See you tonight.” She glanced out of the car window and realized that this was the entrance of Huayang Street. She thought to herself in mild irritation: Li Lei, why are you competing with Pei Ziheng? In her past life, Pei Ziheng had closed off the roads all the way to Clear Water Street, so Li Lei was now closing it off to Huayang Street? Didn’t they think that the one who would suffer was she? She had to walk the whole stretch in her stilettos…

Even though she was complaining silently, she still felt a warm and fuzzy feeling in her heart.

The sharply dressed security guard opened her car door, and she elegantly stepped off.

There was a frenzy of camera flashes and screams as if it were going to overturn the entire night sky.