A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

She asked softly, “So that child…”

“That child was conceived in the forest.” Li Lei said. “They discovered it after a month or so during a check-up in the hospital. The nurse thought that the child was mine and told everyone, thinking that it was news for celebration. In front of so many people, Su Tang couldn’t bring herself to deny it. The point that she conceived was hard to calculate and all that we knew was that it was conceived in the forest. If it wasn’t those aborigine men, then it had to be me.

“She lowered her head and didn’t say anything.

“Hence, this was what was cemented as the truth. Everyone was delighted, particularly my Grandfather. He made sure that Su Tang was given the very best and brought her home to take care of her. He also rushed me to organize the wedding.”

Xia Ling felt a sharp pain in her heart.

So that was why he chose to follow through with the marriage? She had heard that they had a wedding ceremony…

She heard Li Lei continue, “I went to find Su Tang and tried to convince her to abort the child. She refused to listen and insisted that she wanted to keep the child. I asked her why… The father of the child was unclear… Why did she want to keep this child that was conceived out of an accident? She said…. that she loved me.”

These three words made Xia Ling’s heart clench with pain again.

Why did that woman have such courage to utter those three words? Because she saved his life? Then, what did she, Xia Ling, have with Li Lei…

Her heart was heavy as she asked, “What ridiculous reason is that? She loves you, so she wanted to keep another person’s child?”

Li Lei shot her a glance. So Xiao Ling’s view was that if you loved somebody you wouldn’t have someone else’s child… Then, her child with Pei Ziheng, Pei Shaohui… what was up with that? Who did Xiao Ling love? She even named the child that she adopted “Shaohui”…

His heart grew heavy as well.

He didn’t dare to question her for fear of what she would say. There was already a massive gap between them, and he didn’t want to raise anything about Pei Ziheng to make matters worse. Even if she loved somebody else, he was not going to give her up.

Never again.

Li Lei collected his emotions and continued, “She said that she loved me and she wasn’t going to marry anyone except me in this life. She wasn’t going to have a child with anybody else as well. Even though she knew I didn’t love her, she asked that I let her have the child and let her retain the connection with me on paper…

“I said that she was being ridiculous and asked that she quash that thought.

“However, she asked if I would be able to live with the fact that she would be all alone throughout her life all the way till she died.

“Xiao Ling, she was so obstinate that I really couldn’t reject her. As such, I allowed her to have the child and to be the father to the child. Only three people know about this — Grandfather, Su Tang and myself. You’re the fourth person. Xiao Ling, I know that this is unfair to you. Even though Li Rui isn’t my biological son, but he is still my son on paper. But I really didn’t touch her. I’ve only loved you since the start.”

Xia Ling was speechless.

The tale was too shocking for her to digest immediately.

She shook her head and said, “You… let me think.” As she spoke, she pushed him away and stumbled forward. This was why she refused to listen to his explanations near the airport and at the hotel. She was afraid that she would soften her stance, would understand his plight, would fall for him again…

Now, she truly did soften and was hesitating.

Yet, she told herself again and again. Xia Ling, you can’t accept this… Regardless of his predicament, he’s brought you so much pain in these 4 years. The pain inflicted cannot be undone. You cannot forgive him so easily.

She was afraid to put all her heart and soul on one person again.

Subconsciously, she picked up speed.

“Xiao Ling!” Li Lei called after her in anguish, stretching his hand out to hold her back. If this explanation could not bring her back to him, he was at a loss of what to do.

In the night breeze, the leaves rustled softly.

She was dressed in a white shirt dress, her petite frame looking weak.

She didn’t turn her head back but said softly, “Li Lei, so what? It’s been 4 years… a whole 4 years… I beg you to just let me go… let me lead a peaceful life.”

She tried to push his hand away.

Li Lei’s heart sank more and more as she pried his fingers away from her one by one. He knew that he could not win her back, but he still came forward. “This…” He pushed the item in his hands into hers. “This is my gift for your adopted child. Xiao Ling, please keep it.”

His voice was gentle, almost begging.

Xia Ling accepted the deep-blue box, her heart in turmoil, and hurried away from him.

She returned to the place where her team was waiting.

Lin Yunan, her assistant Wei Wei, and her team of bodyguards were still in dead-lock with Lin Yunan’s team. Seeing her appear, Lin Yunan breathed a huge sigh of relief and pulled her over. “My Big Madam, do you know how long you’ve been gone? You’re a big star now and shouldn’t be running all over the place! Let’s go now, do you know how many teams of paparazzi I had to chase away?”

Xia Ling lowered her head and got onto the car.

Lin Yunan accompanied her in the back seat of the car. He stretched out and pressed the button to bring up the sound-proof glass between the driver seat and the back of the car. He then turned to her. “What was Li Lei looking for you for?”

Xia Ling shook her head and didn’t say anything.

Lin Yunan was worried. These few years, he had groomed her to become a Diva and everything was going smoothly. The only problems that arose were her relationship problems. First, there was Pei Ziheng to give him cause for concern. And now, Li Lei was back. Lin Yunan was worried that there were storms brewing ahead. He could already see the tabloid papers having a field day.

They sat in silence.

When Xia Ling returned home, it was already 11:00 PM.

Shaohui came running forward on his stubby legs, dressed in his pajamas with teddy bear prints, to give her a huge, warm hug. “Elder Sister.” He addressed her in adoration.

Xia Ling’s mood picked up at seeing this precious little one. She bent over and picked him up. “Why are you still up at this hour?”

“I’m waiting for Elder Sister to come back to sleep with me.” He whined endearingly.

This child was so clingy. Initially, she had prepared a special bedroom for him with his own small bed. However, this child enjoyed crawling onto her bed and hugging onto her as he slept. After a while, this became a habit. Xia Ling knew that this was not ideal, but every time she looked into his puppy-dog eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to reject him.

She decided that she would try her best to come back home earlier so this child wouldn’t have to wait up for her.

“Elder Sister, what is that?” She suddenly heard the child ask.

Xia Ling turned and realized that his nanny had brought a blue box into the room. It was the blue box that Li Lei passed to her.

“This is…” She thought for a while before deciding to tell the child the truth. “This is a present from an Elder Brother for you.”

The child gave a yelp of excitement as he struggled to free himself, wanting to go over to open the present. He managed to open the box with difficulty after struggling with the wrapping paper with his stubby fingers for a long time, revealing the contents inside.