A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Can never go back.

Those four words hammered his heart repeatedly.

His throat went dry as his heart sank, but he was as persistent as before. “I’ll give you a good explanation. Xiao Ling, come with me.” He held her hand and led her to the guest room.

Xia Ling trembled a little the moment his skin touched hers.

How many years had it been? How many years ago did he last held her hand? She remembered those sweet memories — him holding her hand as they went to the playground, went shopping, went to see dolphins in the aquarium…

The memories flooded back, and it all seemed too long ago.

She tried to shake his hand off, but he held even tighter.

She looked up and glared at Li Lei. “Let me go!”

Li Lei did not say anything, nor did he release her. With lips pursed tightly, he continued dragging her along.

“Let me go!” She shouted and tried to free herself, but to no avail. She screamed, “You jerk! Gangster! Liar! Let me go!”

The clear and anxious voice echoed through the hallways.

Su Tang grabbed her dress tightly as she watched the scene unfold with a straight face. Ever since the turn of events four years back, Li Lei seemed to have become a different person. He was no longer the calm and easygoing Young Master that he used to be. Instead, these few years, he had become authoritative, and made it a point for everyone to greet him politely, with no exceptions… no way could anyone scream at him like this wretched woman was doing.

If it was anybody else, they’d have been punished many times over.

Xia Ling did not stop. “Li Lei, let me go! Do you think you’re all that great? I don’t care for it! I don’t care, do you hear me?! Let me go! Let me go!”

She screamed her lungs out and struggled all she could.

All of a sudden, she felt the room spinning, and when she returned to her senses she realized that Li Lei had pinned her to the wall. His well-built physique was against hers as he held her in an embrace.

His handsome face was just inches from hers.

She could feel his breathing.

Xia Ling stopped struggling, almost as if a curse had been cast on her — she forgot how to struggle, or even move. Her eyes widened and her mind was a blank.

He lowered his head and he pulled her in for a long, domineering kiss.

Xia Ling felt like her lips had been wrenched apart by his. She wanted to flee, but was completely pinned down by him.

It was a forceful kiss, but it felt extremely soft and sentimental.

She was paralyzed in his arms, and before long, any wishes that she had of running away ceased. This felt all too familiar, it took her back to the countless nights they had spent together and the countless dreams she had had of him. At one point, she had thought that his embrace would be too much to ask for or even imagine. But now, he was back…

He had come back, finally.

Her eyes turned red as her vision became foggy.

The hallway was silent while Su Tang witnessed the entire scene from a few feet away. Light shone through the windows and fell on the two of them, a perfect golden illuminating the beautiful couple.

But the more beautiful it was, the more Su Tang’s heart hurt.

She wished she could go right up to them and wrench Xia Ling from Li Lei’s arms and push her to the ground! The wretched woman… how dare she?! How dare she get Li Lei back as if she was entitled to him, how dare she seduce him so shamelessly even after so many years?!

She had no decency!

How could she be so thick-skinned?

Su Tang was heaving with anger and used every bit of self control to keep her composure. Her slender fingers had clenched together into a fist, ripping apart some fabric from her dress. One of the nannies saw that and got a shock. She hung her head even lower and wished that she wasn’t even present.

She was worried that Young Master was stirring a storm.

Li Lei and Xia Ling were still in an embrace and kissing.

Xia Ling unconsciously placed a hand on his waist and tilted her head up slightly, as if he had broken her barriers.

Su Tang’s jealousy peaked and she nudged her son. “Go and tell Daddy that we should get going.” The two people who were still in each other’s arms did not hear her.

Li Rui looked at his mother, and then at his father and Xia Ling.

Suddenly, his brows furrowed and he stomped towards them. He pushed Xia Ling’s leg. “Bad woman! I hate you! Stay away from my father!”

Xia Ling was so engrossed in her kiss, his touch startled her. Li Lei felt her jump and held her even tighter, before realizing that a boy was glaring at his beloved woman.

Most children were sensitive to the presence of a “bad woman” ruining their parents’ marriages.

Li Lei’s look darkened, but he didn’t want to fly into a rage at the child. He quietly told Xia Ling, “Come with me.”

Xia Ling was jolted back to reality after that push. She instinctively shook her head and refused to go with Li Lei.

“What exactly do you want me to do?!” Li Lei was getting anxious. He lifted her chin with his finger. “Xiao Ling, tell me, what exactly do you want me to do? I came all the way back from overseas, and this is not how I wanted it to turn out!”

“This isn’t how I wanted it to turn out either!” Xia Ling raised her voice and sounded like she was about to cry. “Li Lei, I’m not somebody at your beck and call! Four years ago, you left and abandoned me at your own will! Now you’re back for me, and I have to be at your disposal?!

“Have you thought of me? Have you considered my feelings?!”

Tears rolled down uncontrollably. “I don’t love you anymore!”

“You’re lying.” His voice was so soft it was scary.

“I’m not lying!” She cried.

He was done with the nonsense she was spouting and carried her to the guest room, leaving Su Tang and the rest wide-eyed in shock. Li Lei brought her into the presidential suite and tossed her onto the bed.

She felt as if her bones were about to fall apart, and tried to crawl out of bed. But he pinned her down.

“Xia Ling, I’m telling you,” there was fury in his voice. “Don’t you even think of not loving me! You’re my woman! Su Tang isn’t! And Li Rui isn’t my flesh and blood!”