A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Old Master Li kept him in the meeting room, forcing him to participate in the decision-making process.

The Old Master said, “Li Lei, you’re an important candidate to be the heir of the family businesses, and very likely will become the head of the family. How can you be absent at such a critical stage? Are you intending to concede the head of the family position to Li Feng?”

Li Lei wanted to say that as long as Xiao Ling was fine, he could not care less about the head of the family position.

However, he knew that if he said something to that effect, it would only intensify the Old Master’s hatred towards Xiao Ling and would not help things. Hence, he stayed in the meeting room and had an emergency call with the uncles in the family to decide on the way forward.

The matter was pretty grave this time.

Li Feng had overturned a huge mob in Latin America, killing dozens of people. There was a ripple effect as a result of this. The mob’s friends banded together to launch a joint attack on the Li Family, who were now in a disadvantageous position with no allies. They were fending off the attack but only just. The situation was highly precarious.

When the emergency meeting had concluded, the Old Master instructed Li Lei. “Pack your things. We need to head back to the headquarters this instant.”

Li Lei said, “Grandfather, let me resolve the issue with the charity fund, which has a negative impact on Skyart. I can’t leave now. Go back to the headquarters first, I’ll be there in a few days.”

Grandfather looked at Li Lei with eagle-like eyes. “For Skyart? It’s for that female star, isn’t it? Xiao Lei, you’ve grown up, haven’t you. For a woman, you’re leaving the family in the lurch?!”

“There are so many uncles helping out, and you’re going back to hold the fort. I don’t believe that the Li Family can’t manage without me for a few days.” Li Lei returned his grandfather’s glare. “Xiao Ling needs me now, and if I just leave like that, what kind of man would I be? Grandfather, she trusts me, and so, she’s allowed me to manage the charity fund and agreed to be the endorsement model. Now, you’re asking me to leave in the midst of this crisis. Is that what you taught me in the Li Family?”

The Old Master had nothing to retort Li Lei with. Thus, he instructed his subordinates to tie Li Lei down so that he could not leave.

Li Lei continued to glare at his grandfather and said, “Grandfather, don’t make me hate you.”

The Old Master’s gaze narrowed.

The grandfather-grandson pair stared at each other for a long time before the Old Master abruptly shouted, “Useless fool!” He waved off his subordinates.

The Old Master really cared for this grandson and was preventing him from being with Xia Ling for his own good. While they seemed at loggerheads all the time, the Old Master was unwilling for animosity to build between the two of them. “I’ll give you three days.” The Old Master said. “In three days, you’d better be back at the headquarters.”

Li Lei lowered his head respectfully as he watched his grandfather leave with his subordinates in tow.

Three days.

He knew that this was his grandfather’s limit.

Li Feng was always like a ticking time bomb, and time and again, he had put the Li Family in dire situations. Now, if the Old Master didn’t go back to hold the fort, Li Feng would only become more radical. His killing spree in Latin America would go out of hand and would be impossible to rein in. They needed the whole family to work together to address the issue.

Now, he turned to Xia Ling, who was crying by his side. He couldn’t bring himself to explain the matter. After a moment of silence, he gently said, “Are you hungry? Let’s bring you back to rest and have something to eat.”

She broke into a smile.

“Do you only know how to use food to entice me?” She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.

The mild sunlight was shining into the car through the windows.

Her hair was a little messy, and her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Yet, her smile was like dawn breaking on her face, making her look so beautiful that his heart skipped a beat.

Li Lei stretched his hand out and caressed her face lovingly.

He carefully removed the silver hair-tie that she had used to keep her hair up, releasing her long locks and combing them with his fingers. He wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and complimented. “You look much better this way.”

His voice made her feel peaceful.

“Have a short rest. Then, I’ll send you back to the bungalow and cook something nice for you.” Three days were short and precious, and the problems that he had to settle were complicated. However, he could still spare half that time to take care of her.

However, she said, “I’ve booked an afternoon flight to City Y. I have a concert over there tomorrow. The first of my world tour.” Even though there was the incident about the medication poisoning to grapple with, concert timeslots were too important to cancel.

Li Lei said, “I’ll accompany you there.”

He drove her to the airport and bought an air ticket for himself, requesting for the seat beside her. That seat was originally Lin Yunan’s seat, but since he had been fired, it was now empty.

Xia Ling spoke up in Lin Yunan’s defense. “He was just following protocol in trying to solve the problem. Holding the press conference was inevitable. Please don’t fire him.”

“Following protocol? He should be thinking for you.” Li Lei was not moved. He wasn’t interested in a Manager that was bent on making Xiao Ling into a Diva. All he wanted was for Xiao Ling to be safe and not get hurt. However, Lin Yunan failed to do that. Lin Yunan was a businessman and would always put monetary benefits first. If it meant putting Xiao Ling through some pain so that she could reap rewards later, he would do that without hesitation.

Just like this press conference.

Yet, this was not what Li Lei wanted.

Xia Ling was the most precious gem in his hands.

“I’m bringing Sister Mai Na back to manage your concert.” Li Lei said.

Xia Ling wanted to argue back.

“You’re tired, take a rest.” Li Lei was not interested to grapple with her over these little details. Lin Yunan needed to be punished. He took out his tablet and said, “I have some business matters to settle. I’ll wake you when we’ve reached City Y.”

Seeing that he was busy, Xia Ling did not want to disturb him and, thus, kept quiet.

She was indeed very tired as the press conference in the morning had drained her. As the plane taxied to the runway and took off, she drifted off into deep slumber.

She dreamed of the orphanage and the smiling faces of the children that had died.

They took the drugs from her hands and were thanking her with bright smiles on their faces.

She woke with a scream.

Li Lei held her hand to comfort her immediately. He asked, “What’s wrong?”

She was still in shock, and her face was pale as she shook her head. “I dreamed… of some scary things…” she said haltingly.

“Everything will pass.” His voice was calm and steady. “I’ll be by your side. Don’t be afraid, Xiao Ling. Nothing can harm you.”

She shook her head again. “No… it was me… I hurt them…”

Li Lei looked at her and continued in his gentle voice. “That incident has nothing to do with you. Logically speaking, there shouldn’t be such a big oversight over de-worming medication. I think someone is picking on Skyart. The children’s death was partly my fault in that case. I will investigate the incident thoroughly. Just do a good job at your concert.”

He had already sent people out to investigate the incident. It shouldn’t be long before the truth was revealed.

Xia Ling shut her eyes and breathed deeply, forcing herself to calm down. “I wonder who was so cruel.” The smiling faces of the two boys appeared in her mind again, and she felt her heart clench with pain.