A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

In about ten minutes, the crowd had dispersed significantly.

Watching from the window of the makeup room, Xia Ling complimented. “Big Manager Lin, you’re still the most resourceful. You’ve managed to take in so many of them using that helicopter decoy.”

Lin Yunan smiled arrogantly. “Of course. Remember who you are talking about here.”

The broadcast station wouldn’t let Xia Ling board the helicopter, and they had to abide by their rules given that they were on the broadcast station premises. Thankfully, Lin Yunan thought of the alternative plan of getting a bodyguard to board the helicopter as a decoy. The bodyguards that followed Xiao Ling around were all highly skilled. Climbing up a rope ladder to the helicopter was a piece of cake.

The broadcast station had no choice but to agree given Lin Yunan’s persuasive powers, coupled with the reliable-looking bodyguard.

The female bodyguard that was of similar build and size to Xia Ling impersonated her to scale the rope ladder. This proved effective. Not only did no one realize it wasn’t Xia Ling, but the bulk of the crowd had also dispersed as a result.

The other artistes were overjoyed and bade Xia Ling goodbye as they made their exit.

Xia Ling was about to follow when Lin Yunan stopped her. “Are you stupid? You think you can leave as easily as them? Believe me… the moment you step out of this place, you’ll be surrounded by the remaining reporters and fans.”

The reporters and fans wouldn’t react so strongly with the other artistes. Even though some would get excited, many would maintain their sanity. Hence, they could leave quite safely. Xia Ling, on the other hand, would garner way too much attention.

Xia Ling was close to tears. “But… but… I want to go home… boohoohoo…”

She watched enviously as the other artistes broke free from the crowd with their assistants and managers in tow, leaving for home on their respective vans.

Lin Yunan rolled his eyes. “Go home? You can just wait here patiently until everyone has left. You can only leave this place when almost everyone is gone.”

“Then, how long do I have to wait…”

“Optimistically… an hour or two…” Lin Yunan glanced at his watch and estimated.

Xia Ling wanted to cry again. An hour or two? Then Shaohui could only go to bed around midnight? The child was clingy right now, and especially on an important day like this when “Daddy proposed to mummy,” he would be waiting up for her back home. She looked pleadingly at Lin Yunan. “Do you have any other bright ideas for the crowd to go away more quickly?”

“Idea…” Lin Yunan enjoyed when she begged him for help. He said, “Of course, a wonderful manager like me will have some more ideas.” He snapped his fingers. “Wei Wei, come here.”

Wei Wei came over, a look of confusion on her face.

Lin Yunan gave her a series of instructions.

“Wow… that’s so despicable!”

“Wow… that’s so despicable!”

Xia Ling and Wei Wei remarked simultaneously. What horrible idea was this?

Lin Yunan rolled his eyes. “Fine, don’t do it. The one that wants to go home urgently isn’t me.”

Xia Ling became anxious. “Fine, do it! It’s worth a shot! I’ve had the short end of the stick with Xia Yu so many times, it’s about time I get one back at her. This doesn’t even amount to the interest on the debt she owes me. Wei Wei, go for it.”

Wei Wei also remarked. “Well, I guess despicable people should be dealt with using despicable means! Brother Lin, your idea is a good one! I’ll go do as you say now!” She ran off to do his bidding.

Outside the broadcast station.

The reporter was going down his list in the cold wind. “Wei Shaoyin, Zheng Chenghao, Xie Linlang, Lu Tao… there are so many that haven’t come out yet.”

His colleague commented while snapping another shot of a passing artiste. “It’s really cold out tonight. I think we should leave after waiting for a few more big names. Leave the smaller fries to the other people to report on.”

“My thoughts exactly.” The reporter responded, rubbing his hands together for warmth.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd.

“What’s going on?” The two reporters glanced at each other. One of them rushing over to find out, before running back quickly to grab his colleague. “Go, go, go… big news!”

“What big news?” His colleague almost fell over from being pulled. “My focus lens! That’s worth almost five hundred thousand yuan! It’s going to get smashed!” As he spoke, he grabbed his gear and ran after his colleague. “If this isn’t a groundbreaking piece of news, I’ll skin you alive!”

“Xia Yu is in that Audi out front. She’s heading towards the nearest police station to turn herself in!”

“What?! She’s really turning herself in?! Go, go, go… we need to catch up with her!” The reporter revved up his motorcycle. She was turning herself in for attempted murder! A top female artiste was confessing her crimes! This was big, big news! Other than Li Lei’s proposal to Xia Ling, this was the other piece of news that was worth mentioning!

Very soon, half of the remaining reporters and fans went off chasing down the Audi, wanting to get in on the action at the police station.

Xia Yu was flustered as she quested her assistant, Mei Mei. “Why are so many people following us? I’ve already changed my car! Did you carelessly leak my whereabouts?”

“I… I didn’t,” said Mei Mei in a soft voice.

Earlier, she had gone off to meet her friend and Hua Lie, almost forgetting the time. When she returned to the music festival with Xia Yu’s jacket, the proceedings had ended and she was met with the raging crowd outside.

Xia Yu was so angry that she threw her jacket at Mei Mei, commanding her to find another car so that they wouldn’t be followed. Xia Yu knew that the reporters would be on her tail given that she was the second biggest piece of news after Xia Ling’s engagement. Many reporters were waiting to pounce on the story of her turning herself in for attempted murder of Shaohui.

Mei Mei managed to get another Audi dispatched from the company with much difficulty.

The dispatch officer on the other end of the line was insulting when Mei Mei had called to request the Audi. She was getting the brunt of ill-treatment from following Xia Yu! Imperial Entertainment was a place where picking the right factions mattered. Moreover, Xia Yu was Xia Ling’s sister. In the past, Xia Ling had offended many people with her arrogant and overbearing attitude, but no one dared take it out directly on her. Now that Xia Yu had lost favor, they were all treating her doubly badly as revenge for her sister’s past attitude.

As such, Xia Yu was being completely bullied at Imperial Entertainment.

And Mei Mei, as her assistant, was the target of many insults as well.

However, this was coming to an end really soon…

She recalled Hua Lie’s offer to her today: “You’re welcome to come over and be my assistant.” The knowledge that these intolerable days were almost over lifted her mood considerably. As for Xia Yu? Xia Yu didn’t treat her subordinates well. While she looked weak and pitiful, she was, in fact, evil and harsh to her staff. Her assistant had to do many difficult tasks for her.

As such, Mei Mei didn’t feel guilty at all in making arrangements to leave Xia Yu’s team in secret.

“Excuses…” Xia Yu seethed. “I think you’re clearly not interested in any bonuses this season. If it were not for your carelessness, how would so many people know that I’m in this car?”