A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Xia Ling reached out to hold onto him.

The child was heavy and her legs felt a little numb with him on her lap. She scrutinized his face under the lighting in the room and smiled. “You’ve gained a bit of weight and became taller. The water and food here are definitely better.”

Madam Xia smiled as well. “They have to grow more when they’re young.”

Xia Ling knew that things weren’t that simple. When she was pregnant with Shaohui, she had the paragliding accident and a lot of antibiotics were used on her in the hospital. Later, she had to scheme against Pei Ziheng for a long time during her pregnancy, which took a toll on her mental condition. What’s more, he had fed her that abortion medication. This child was so weak when he was born, if not for the Xia Family taking good care of him and giving him the necessary nutrition, it was hard to think that he could be this healthy.

No one could tell that he used to be skinny and frail.

She caressed Shaohui’s face and said to Madam Xia, “Thank you for all that you’ve done… and also a big thank you to Daddy and Brother.”

Madam Xia lamented. “Not being able to raise you myself is the biggest regret in my life. Later, when your brother brought Shaohui home, I treated Shaohui like how I would’ve wanted to bring you up. Unfortunately, he’s a boy like your brother… how nice would it be to have a little girl.”

Hearing this, Shaohui raised his head up from Xia Ling’s chest. “Grandma, Grandma, why don’t you get mummy to make me a sister? I want a pretty and cute sister! I’ll help you take care of her!”

Madam Xia laughed out loud at his words. “Little rascal… you can’t even take care of yourself now.”

Little Shaohui said in all seriousness, “I’ll be really, really, really good to my sister. Just like how uncle treats mummy!” He turned and said to Xia Ling, “Mummy, can you give me a little sister?”

Xia Ling recalled that she could no longer have a child, and her heart clenched. However, she didn’t want to upset the child and merely pinched his soft cheeks. “Okay, after mummy and daddy gets married.”

Even though she couldn’t give birth anymore, she didn’t want to be in a situation where she was pregnant out of wedlock again. The pain that she experienced while trying to give birth to and care for Shaohui was not something that she wanted to go through again. Thankfully, Shaohui was a boy and was a little more hardy to criticisms. If she had a girl who was sensitive to the title of “illegitimate daughter,” she would under so much mental torture from the harsh words of others.

Little Shaohui asked, “Mummy, when are you and daddy going to get married?”

Xia Ling pinched his cheeks again. “Mummy has to discuss that with Grandma and Grandpa.” She looked up at her mother and said, “Mum, Shaohui is almost six years old. It’s time that he goes to school. I’m planning to send him to the private elite school in S city. Before then, he needs to have a different identity so that he doesn’t get teased in school.”

Madam Xia understood that Xia Ling was referring to his “illegitimate son” status.

Madam Xia looked down at her grandson and then back to her daughter. “You’ve thought about it carefully? Marriage is a lifelong decision. Don’t marry someone on account of your child. You need to make sure you are happy when deciding who to marry.”

Xia Ling said, “Yes, he’s really good to me.”

No multitude of words could weigh more than these words of affirmation. After going through so many trials and afflictions, she was now about to understand her own heart. She wanted to be together with that man in sickness and in health, regardless of wealth.

Madam Xia said, “Let me discuss it with your father.”

Marriage was a big matter, especially to a respected household like the Xia Family. Hearing this, Xia Ling nodded and hesitated before adding, “Mum, can you please put in a good word when you speak to Daddy and Brother? Don’t make life too difficult for Li Lei.”

Madam Xia was taken aback before laughing out loud. “You… are you feeling worried now? Don’t worry… they have their boundaries.” She knew her husband and son well. She guessed that Li Lei would be able to win over the old man after their game of chess. As for Moyan? He loved his sister so. Even though he didn’t like Li Lei, he wouldn’t go so far as to destroy his sister’s happiness.

She reassured Xia Ling before telling her to get some good rest. “Tomorrow night is the comeback ceremony. Rest early tonight.”

She then left the room, taking little Shaohui with her.

Xia Ling took a shower and changed into her pajamas, before crawling into the comfortable king-sized bed. However, she couldn’t fall asleep even after tossing and turning for a long time. She could hear the sounds of crickets outside the window, and the room was dimly lit by the nightlight in the corner of the room. She opened her eyes and her mind drifted. What was Li Lei doing now? Was he sleeping? Did Dad and Brother create any trouble for him?

Suddenly, she heard some rustling near the window.

“Who’s there?!” She sat up alertly, grasping the blankets tighter around herself.

Someone entered through the window and laughed in a low voice. “Shh… it’s me.”

“… You scared me!” Seeing that it was Li Lei, Xia ling relaxed and pinched his cheeks like she pinched Shaohui’s earlier. However, she used more strength this time. “Do you have a death wish? Climbing into my room through the window in the middle of the night?!” It wasn’t the first time that a certain big boss had to climb through a window. In the many years of their courtship, he had to climb through many windows.

Li Lei yelped in pain from her pinch. “Ouch… pain!”

He reached out and hugged her to him. “I missed you… it took me so long to make your dad happy. I was saying all kinds of good things and he was so happy… but he asked me to go to the guest room! What’s the meaning of that? Thankfully, I could easily solve that problem. What’s climbing through a window? The security in the Xia Family is quite lax.”

Someone knocked on the door just after Li Lei finished his sentence.

“Who’s that?!” Xia Ling became nervous again, afraid that Li Lei would be discovered. She covered his mouth with her hand.

The voice outside the door was calm. “Miss Ling, this is Xiao Cui. Madam asked me to come tend to you. Earlier, Madam asked me to bring two cups of fruit wine to help you relax, and also asked me to tell you and Mr. Li that tomorrow’s ceremony will be extremely tiring, so you should get some rest.”

Xia Ling was speechless.

She glared at Li Lei angrily. Who was the one that said that the Xia Family security was lax? Wasn’t climbing through a window really easy for him? How did he get found out?!

Li Lei looked at her red face in amusement, trying to decide if she was angry or embarrassed.

He was calm as he gave her a peck on the cheek and went to open the door, receiving the two cups of fruit wine on her behalf. “Madam is so thoughtful.” He smiled at Xiao Cui and her face turned red at his lazy charm.

He took his time to thank her before shutting the room door again.

Xia Ling snapped back to her senses and angrily pinched him again. “You dare climb through a window to my room the first time we’re back here?! And to get found out by my mum?! Ah?! Li Lei, where are your stealth skills?!”

“Don’t! Wine! The wine is going to spill!” Li Lei precariously balanced the two cups of wine and placed them down on the bedside table while fending off Xia Ling’s attacks.

“Weren’t you all frightened earlier? Why did you suddenly come alive when I closed the door? Do you only know how to bare your claws at me?!” After having been bullied for the whole day, and being on his best behavior in front of the Xia Family Head and Xia Moyan, he was tired of having to control himself. He accurately pounced onto Xia Ling and his lips curled into a smile. “It’s time for you to see what my true skills are.”