A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

“Yup,” said another reporter. “Everyone’s gone, why isn’t she coming down yet? Unless… there’s someone else who hasn’t arrived?” They had covered the entertainment news for years and knew how the battle for the red carpet worked. “Xie Linlang and the rest have already entered, I don’t think anyone else is fighting it out with Miss Ling for the final appearance.”

“Who knows, should we get someone to hurry her a bit?” The reporters were stationed outside the venue in the stinging cold, but no one was willing to leave until they got photos of this Diva.

One of the reporters managed to get hold of Lin Yuhan’s number and decided to make the call. “Manager Li, all the celebrities have left, please get Miss Ling to come out soon. All of us are waiting here just for her.”

Lin Yunan turned around and glanced at Xia Ling, only to realize that her eyes were still closed; she was probably already sleeping.

He calmly said, “What’s the hurry, the most dazzling person is worth the wait.”

Yet, he reached out to nudge Xia Ling once he hung up. “Hey, wake up, you’re about to drool.”

Xia Ling woke up in shock and was about to wipe her lips subconsciously. But Lin Yunan grabbed her wrist in a split second. “Don’t touch it, you’ll smudge your lipstick. There’s no drool, I was just kidding.”

Xia Ling glared daggers at him.

But Manager Lin couldn’t care less. He went on to update her. “According to the bodyguards outside, Xia Yu had reached somewhere near the venue very early on. Her car is parked at the bend fifty meters away, and it’s been more than half an hour. I bet you, once you get off the car and onto the red carpet, she’ll come right after you and make the final appearance.”

Xia Ling ground her teeth. “Then we’ll wait. Let’s see who can wait it out longer.”

“Sister, this is a live broadcast.” Lin Yunan looked at her like she was a fool. “You’re a VIP that they’ll be introducing at the start of the ceremony, and you’ve got a costume change after that. But she’s only going on stage more than a half an hour after you and has way more time to wait it out than you do. Haven’t you figured that out?”

Xia Ling was shocked. “T-Then what do we do?”

Lin Yunan chided her. “Fool.”

Xia Ling looked out the window and saw a huge crowd of reporters gathered just behind the cordon. They were all waiting for her at the red carpet.

“If not for you, these reporters wouldn’t even have the patience.” Lin Yunan told her.

Not everyone had the capacity to do this.

Xia Ling felt a spark go off in her mind. “Wait, I can get off now and walk the red carpet! I’ll complete that distance in the shortest time possible! Before Xia Yu even makes it here, they’d have packed up! Hahaha, she can be late all she wants. When the red carpet ceremony is officially over, she won’t be the ‘final appearance’ even if she comes after me.”

Lin Yunan said, “You aren’t so foolish, after all.”

When she was sleeping, Lin Yunan had been busy figuring out Xia Yu’s location and getting everything planned out for later. He only woke her up when everything was in place.

Manager Lin smiled cunningly as he presented Xia Ling with his plan…

The reporters lined up along the red carpet finally saw the white limousine approach and stop before them. Almost as if they’d received an order, all the bored reporters immediately livened up and enthusiastically snapped away at their cameras. With so many flashes going off continuously, it looked like firecrackers were going off.

The doorman opened the car door.

She stuck a slim leg out the door and set her stiletto on the soft red carpet.

The screams commenced as countless fans looked forward to her appearance. “Xiao Ling! Xiao Ling! Xiao Ling!” The cheers were deafening as posters and neon boards were now raised.

Only then did Xia Ling slowly made her way out, standing elegantly on the red carpet.

She was wearing the most haute evening gown of the season, its thin mesh draped over her shoulders and back beautifully. There were gems studded all over the gown, shimmering in the light, its dazzle bringing out her elegance.

She walked quickly and steadily even with those thin stilettos heels and turned slightly towards the reporters. “I’m sorry to have kept everyone waiting. Let’s get this done quickly.”

She was posing for a few shots while speaking to them. Her movements were so fluid, it was as if her feet didn’t touch the ground.

But the reporters were very upset.

Miss Ling, all the other female celebrities tried to prolong the amount of time they had on the red carpet, but why do you want to “get this done quickly”?! It’s true, we don’t like celebrities who hog the red carpet, but we love snapping photos of you! Could you just… walk a little more slowly?!

“Miss Ling, please slow down! The final appearance doesn’t need to rush!” A reporter couldn’t help but call out.

On hearing that, Xia Ling turned around and flashed the reporter a smile, causing that young man to blush. She did not stop walking this whole time and had completed the red carpet in an almost dance-like movement. The reporters who did not have the time to look for a better angle simply held the shutter button and hoped for the best. To their surprise, the photos still turned out wonderful.

“Alright, it’s a wrap. Thank you, everyone, for your efforts.” Xia Ling thanked the reporters smilingly when she reached the end of the red carpet.

She was a Diva and naturally exuded a respectable grace. Even the way she said “it’s a wrap” sounded a little like an order, and the reporters subconsciously began packing their items as well. They had already spent longer than expected at the red carpet and it was time they rushed inside to capture other moments.

The crowd dispersed.

“Don’t! Don’t leave!” A man rushed forward out of the blue.

He was, however, stopped by two bodyguards taking their positions.

“W-Who are you?! What’s this about?!” That man was in a fluster.

“Mr. Li, am I right?” Lin Yunan appeared out of nowhere and smiled at the man. “Nice to meet you. It must be tough being Miss Xia Yu’s Manager, isn’t it? What a shame, this just isn’t Miss Xia Yu’s year. If it was Chu Chen who accompanied her here today, she probably wouldn’t be this unlucky.”

This middle-aged man was appointed by Chu Chen to be Xia Yu’s assistant manager when she returned to Imperial Entertainment. Although Xia Yu’s main manager was still Chu Chen, he was kept busy enough managing the department and having to wait upon Pei Ziheng. Trivial everyday duties such as accompanying Xia Yu around was left to this assistant manager instead. By now, it was Manager Li who followed Xia Yu to attend such events.

Manager Li looked at him, horrified. “You’re Lin Yunan! Ye Xingling’s manager!”

Lin Yunan smiled. “That’s the right answer, but you don’t get a prize.” He laughed at Manager Li. “Don’t think I can’t read your mind. You’ve waited outside for so long just to make the final appearance, right? What a plan, knowing that all the other celebrities would go on ahead on Xiao Ling’s account. You wanted to come after Xiao Ling right after she’d eliminated your rivals for you, hahaha. Fat hope.”