A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Xia Ling nodded.

The day Old Master Li was released, she didn’t accompany Li Lei to fetch him. She guessed that the grandfather-grandson pair would have lots to say to each other, and as an outsider to the family, it was better that she stayed away. Later, a helper reported to her that the Old Master had chased Li Lei out of the house with his walking stick. As he hit Li Lei with the stick, he shouted that he “didn’t have a grandson like that.” His voice was so loud such that the entire Li Family could hear him.

The helper was extremely worried that the Second Young Master would lock the Old Master up again in his anger.

In contrast, Xia Ling felt relieved. If the Old Master had so much energy to chase Li Lei away, that was a good sign. It was much better than the period when she went to visit where he looked downcast and dull. Li Lei would feel more relieved to see the old man strong and healthy.

She remained in the headquarters with Li Lei for a few more days. Seeing that things were stabilizing, they decided to return to China.

Their return was highly publicized and all the media—both for entertainment and business news, and even some international press—were alerted. The reporters with cameras of all shapes and sizes, together with Xia Ling’s numerous fan clubs, formed a huge crowd in the arrival hall at the airport such that it was hard to move.

The security guards in the airport set up a barricade. It was as if they were walking the red carpet.

Yet, what hadn’t Xia Ling seen before? She wasn’t even bothered to dress up and was wearing a comfortable, plain-colored shirt, pumps, and sunglasses. She held onto Li Lei’s arm as she stood by his side and walked slowly towards the crowd.

The man was fit and handsome, the lady relaxed and exuberant.

Their height difference was of perfect proportions, eliciting screams of excitement from the crowd as they caught sight of the attractive couple.

A well-connected reporter with a special pass came forward to approach the couple, pushing a microphone in front of them. “Mr. Li, Miss Ye, welcome back. May I ask if the passing of power within the Li Family went smoothly? What are your plans now that you’re back?”

Li Lei replied, “The pass-on of power was smooth. Everyone loved Xiao Ling. We are planning to live as how we were before. There are some new plans, but we are not at liberty to reveal those at the moment.”

The reporter conveyed his well-wishes to them.

Xia Ling smiled and waved to her fans in greeting.

There was another wave of screams from the fan club.

The commotion seemed like it was about to burst through the airport roof. The two of them got onto their car. Li Lei unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt after he settled into the car, breathing a sigh of relief. “That was madness.”

Xia Ling smiled. “Two-thirds of them were fans.”

“Two-thirds of the reporters were also here for you.” Li Lei said proudly. “My Xiao Ling is still the best. I was able to experience a true superstar welcome because of you.”

Xia Ling leaned her head against his chest affectionately. “If my man wasn’t you, they wouldn’t have been half as excited.”

A superstar and a wealthy young master—they were the perfect pair. Regardless of how successful a female star was in her career, she would still seem imperfect without a good love life. She was one of the lucky ones with the most successful career and a perfect other half.

Listening to the steady throb of his heartbeat, Xia Ling shut her eyes in contentment.

Li Lei smoothened her hair gently and said, “Have a nap. You must be tired from the long flight. I’ll wake you when we’ve reached home.”

She calmly fell into dreamland.

Lin Yunan came to visit the very next day. He silently grumbled that he had to be the manager with the hardest to handle artiste. She would encounter problems every other day that she wouldn’t tell him about, and would disappear suddenly. As such, all her schedules would be delayed and he would have to deal with the aftermath of broadcast stations and sponsors begging for his help. Regardless, Miss Diva wouldn’t give a hoot about it all.

“Can you give some thought to your career?!” Lin Yunan threw a pile of papers in front of her. “So many people are begging you to appear for your schedules, literally throwing money in your face. And you? You refuse to accept any of them! At this rate, the country is going to forget who you are!”

Xia Ling instructed her helper to pour Big Manager Lin a cup of tea to cool down.

She yawned lazily. “I have things to do recently.”

“What could you possibly have to do?!” Lin Yunan blurted out several profanities in irritation. “I didn’t say anything when you were kidnapped by Li Lei a while ago. Now that you are back, you’re still not going to work?! Which idiot gave you so many billions? I should take them all away from you! I’ve realized that you have little motivation to do anything when you have money!”

Ever since Phoenix Down Corporation was created, Xia Ling’s motivation to work had been low.

Xia Ling felt her temples start to throb from his berating. “I want to go pick Shaohui up. When I’ve settled the matter with Shaohui, I promise to start working on some of those schedules, okay?”

“Shaohui?” Lin Yunan was stunned for a moment before remembering that he hadn’t seen that child in a long time. “Didn’t that child follow you back to the headquarters? Where did he go?”

“Erm…” It was difficult to explain to Lin Yunan what exactly had happened. Xia Ling skirted over the question and said, “His foster family took him for a few days. Li Lei and I are going to pick him up from them.”

Lin Yunan was silent for a while. People who knew Xia Ling well would know that the child was her life. Schedules? Her Diva popularity? They were less important than a finger on little Shaohui’s hand. Since she was preoccupied with her child, it would be futile to try to change her mind about her schedules.

Lin Yunan felt depressed… extremely depressed. He dejectedly walked out from Xia Ling’s house, prepared to decline all the waiting schedules.

Xia Ling called Xia Moyan and said angrily when he picked up, “Return me my kid!”

Xia Moyan’s voice was calm. “Xiao Ling? You’re back from the Li Family headquarters? Are you doing well? Did they treat you alright?”

Xia Ling was exasperated. “Xia Moyan, listen up right now. If you don’t return my child to me, I’m going to go burn down your house! Do you hear me?!”

Xia Moyan responded lightly, “My house is also your house.”

“I don’t care!” Xia Ling shouted. “Return me Shaohui!”

Xia Moyan said, “Okay.”

Xia Ling was taken aback. “Okay… okay?!” She hadn’t expected him to agree quite so easily. She started to get suspicious and asked, “What are you trying to do now?”

“I’m not trying to do anything.” Xia Moyan replied. “You’ve been through many trials and found your sycamore, and have reconciled with Shaohui. Your life is becoming more and more stable, and it’s time for you to come back to the family. The Xia family will organize a comeback ceremony for you. Then, you will see Shaohui and you can bring him back with you.”

“What comeback ceremony?” Xia Ling asked.

Xia Moyan said, “After the ceremony, you can tell the world that you are the Xia family daughter and openly call me ‘brother.’ Also… you can reconcile with your real parents.”

Xia Ling’s heart skipped a beat.

The thought of meeting her real parents and greeting them face-to-face was thrilling to her.