A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

“Shush, we’re almost there,” Li Lei told her.

“Uncle Haichao, are we close?” Xia Ling called out to him.

Xia Haichao looked at the two of them. “At least a mile to go.”

Xia Ling said, “… Li Lei, put me down.”

Li Lei replied, “I can still go on. I’ll put you down when I can’t walk on anymore.” What a joke, everyone could tell from Xia Haichao’s expression that this was a test, how would he dare to put her down? This was the first time he was meeting his father-in-law, he had to make a good first impression. Otherwise, what if he decided not to let Li Lei marry his daughter?

However tired he might be, Li Lei had to complete this task.

Xia Ling moved her legs wildly in the hope that Li Lei would give up, but he was stronger than her, and his grip got even firmer… Hence, she decided to stop making things difficult for him. The route was long and Li Lei took each step slowly but steadily. He even had the heart to joke with her. “Wifey, what do you think, is your husband strong and attractive?”

Xia Ling had intended to ask, Who’s your Wifey?

But seeing that he was soaked in sweat, her words dissolved into a gentle “Uh-huh.”

“Uh-huh? That’s it?” Li Lei wasn’t satisfied with her answer.

Xia Ling asked, “What more do you want?”

Li Lei thought for a while. “Sing me a song.”

Xia Ling said, “Aren’t you being childish? You’re a full-grown adult, do you need to listen to songs while walking?”

Li Lei pouted. “You’ve never sung a song especially for me.” As a Diva, she’d always been singing songs for others. Even in her last life, she’d written “Perfect Dream” for Pei Ziheng alone. But in this life, the two of them didn’t even have a song that was truly theirs.

Li Lei thought for a bit. “How about, I sing you a song?”

Xia Ling almost broke out in cold sweat. “Don’t!” She’d experienced this Boss’ singing first-hand—it sounded like a cross between a wolf’s howl and a ghost’s whimper and was so bad that Skyart’s employees would go into hiding when they heard him. He could sing on any other day, but right now, in her territory? No way was she going to let him embarrass her this way.

She surrendered. “Alright, I’ll sing for you.”

She considered a few songs before settling on one that had been popular recently. “That year the flowers bloomed beautifully, as you stood under that little bridge… That year the birds chirped wondrously, as you spoke of the splendor of a little village… The splendor of nature couldn’t hold a candle to your eyes, the coming of spring took me back to your smiles…”

Her beautiful voice echoed through the thickness of the trees.

In the thin fog, some birds had flown out of their homes and circled them.

Everyone was immersed in her voice, and even Auntie Liu had forgotten about her petty anger. The locals nearby put down their chores and exchanged glances. “Look over there… Do you see that? It’s the Phoenix, the Phoenix really has returned! In the stories that our ancestors passed down, there was a part that said: ‘Birds gather around the Phoenix’!”

“Indeed!” The locals were excited but dared not make too much noise. Instead, they lowered their volume and continued enjoying the music, as their hearts swelled with admiration.

With her voice as accompaniment, Li Lei’s footsteps seemed to lighten as time went by. He felt less fatigued and even thought that he could go on for another three miles. At that moment, utmost pride surged in his chest—his Xiao Ling was the best singer, the most perfect being in existence.

They went on walking.

When they reached the mountaintop, Li Lei put Xia Ling down.

Xia Ling stopped singing and looked towards a courtyard in the distance—it was a wooden and stone structure that appeared majestic in the fog. It stretched out along the mountain ranges and appeared to be a large-scale vacation resort.

On the entrance was a sign that said “Heaven and Earth Palace.”

“This is where the Family Head, Madam, Young Master Moyan, and Little Young Master Shaohui live.” Xia Haichao told them. “Please follow me.”

Xia Ling turned around and glanced at Li Lei. He gave her hand a soft squeeze and a reassuring smile as they walked in together. The courtyard was quiet, but down the hallway, shuffling footsteps could be heard before some people came forward. An elderly man came first, followed by an elegant woman who now stood by his side, and right next to them were Xia Moyan and Shaohui.

Xia Ling stopped in her tracks.

Almost intuitively, she figured out who that elderly man was—

“Dad!” She choked on these words.

The elderly man appeared calm and composed initially, but responded emotionally right after he heard her, “Xiao Ling!” He hurriedly came down the steps.

Xia Ling let go of Li Lei’s hand and rushed forward, wrapping him in an embrace.

Kinship was a strange thing. Although this pair of father and daughter had never met and had been apart for years—or one could say, a lifetime—even in a crowd of strangers, one look at each other was enough for them to recognize the other.

This was what it meant to be family.

“Dad…” Xia Ling’s voice turned nasal as she lay her head on her father’s chest. Two lifetimes of pain and suffering surged in her, as well as the longing she’d had for her family…

“Good girl, my good girl…” Xia Family Head’s voice was breaking too. This elderly man who stood fearless and expressionless in the face of challenges now had tears welling up in his eyes. “My Xiao Ling, you’ve suffered. Father has finally found you…”

Both father and daughter smiled and cried at the same time.

The elegant lady who stood by the side came forward as well and wiped tears from her eyes. “Xiao Ling.”

Xia Ling released her father and turned to look at the lady, before leaning in for a hug. “Mom!”

“Xiao Ling!” The lady cried profusely as well while holding her daughter tight.

After being apart for decades, this family had finally found each other and come together. Xia Family Head and his wife spent a long time scrutinizing Xia Ling from head to toe, but couldn’t seem to get enough of it. “You’ve been living on your own outside, and don’t know how to take good care of yourself. Look at how thin you are!” Madame Xia felt bad for Xia Ling.

Xia Ling smiled shyly and told her not to worry.

Mother and daughter settled into casual everyday conversation in no time.

Xia Family Head couldn’t find a place in the conversation and turned away, only to see a young man standing nearby. “You must be Li Lei?” He narrowed his eyes slightly and scrutinized his son-in-law to-be, just as every father-in-law did.

Li Lei tensed up, afraid that he’d appear rude in any way. He cautiously replied, “It’s me, Dad.”

“Who’s your dad?!” In the same way that Xia Moyan felt when he first addressed him as “Brother,” Xia Family Head felt that this young brat was getting too comfortable, too fast.

Li Lei felt that he wasn’t wrong. “Xiao Ling’s family is my family as well, so Xiao Ling’s father is my father.”

Xia Family Head was speechless.

Xia Moyan muttered into his ear, “Father, do you see that? This guy just needs to be taught a lesson.”