A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

In the abundant sunlight, she appeared exceptionally blissful.

Li Lei’s expression softened unconsciously. In order to protect her serenity and bliss, he was more than willing to face all the troubles and frustrations alone.

The rest of the wedding ceremony went on smoothly. After sending the guests off, the couple took a helicopter to the Li family headquarters, received their welcomes and blessings, and moved into the newly renovated house. The new house was constructed back then because Xia Ling wanted to keep a distance from Su Tang. It was near tall mountains and the blue sea and surrounded by a bamboo forest—the view was simply perfect.

Happy with how the house turned out, she kissed Li Lei on the neck.

Li Lei smiled affectionately at her. “You like it? We can come here to stay more often.”

“Sure.” She did not hesitate for even a moment. Deep in her heart, she knew that there was no way Li Lei could abandon such a huge business now that he had taken over as the head of the household. In that case, they would have to live in the headquarters for good eventually. As of now, Li Lei was just delaying this process on account of her career.

But she could not hold him back forever just because of her matters.

Managing the black triad business was very different from managing a usual one. It was like walking on a tightrope—any lack of conscientiousness could cost them their survival. As for singing? Couldn’t that be done anywhere?

Xia Ling thought about this for a moment before planting another kiss on him.

Little Shaohui covered his eyes with his hands. Seriously, Dad and Mom didn’t even care that he was still too young for this, hmph. Although his hands were over his eyes, he was still peeping through the gap between his fingers. How envious… Dad and Mom were so loving. When he grew up, he was going to find a beautiful wife to spend the rest of his life with, too.

The little one peeped for a while more before making his way to the new house.

Xia Ling, Li Lei, and Shaohui lived at the headquarters for a while. Li Lei settled the urgent matters as soon as he could before the family of three went for a round-the-world honeymoon trip.

Why as a family of three?

Li Lei had not planned on bringing Little Shaohui alone initially. They finally got to spend their time as a couple, why would he want to bring a gooseberry along? But Little Shaohui wouldn’t have it and went crying to Xia Ling about how Dad did not want him anymore. Xia Ling could not bear to see him cry and decided on the spot that they were taking him along.

Now it was time for Li Lei to be the one crying.

But it was a two to one vote, there was no point in crying over it.

Li Lei had no choice but to take their son along with them.

They mainly toured around European countries and specially picked out the places in which Xia Ling had never released an album in so no one would recognize her. Xia Ling rarely got to enjoy such moments of being free from paparazzi. She toured happily and even put on some weight.

The tour lasted over a month but seemed to have flown by so quickly. The day of returning had come.

On this day, Xia Ling was sitting before the mirror, grooming herself in her ocean-view hotel room. Little Shaohui dashed in and climbed his way onto her lap. “Mom, Mom,” He looked up at her. “Let me tell you a secret.”

“What secret?” Xia Ling smiled at her son as she put her ivory comb down.

In the morning light, the child’s soft lashes fluttered as he blinked his eyes. He whispered, “When I went to the little forest back there to look for some fruit jam, I heard Dad talking on the phone. I think Aunt Su Tang and Xiao Rui are sick. Xiao Rui’s sickness sounds serious and he misses Dad.”

Xia Ling’s heart almost dropped. What was it again this time?

She asked the child, “What else did you hear?”

The child shook his head. “That’s all. Oh, and I heard Dad tell them not to tell you about it.”

Why didn’t Li Lei tell her? Xia Ling only considered that question for a second before deciding to directly ask him about it. Having gone through so much together, she no longer held any doubts about him.

She quietly asked the child, “Then why did you come to tell Mom?”

The child blinked his eyes. “Because Mom told me to treat Xiao Rui as my little brother.” Of course he had to tell his mother if his little brother was ill. Big Brother Du and his private teacher told him that brothers in such a big family had to be close and nice to each other. Otherwise, every minor issue could trigger much unhappiness.

Xia Ling ruffled his hair.

Honestly, she did not regret getting Shaohui to treat Li Rui as his little brother. After all, the child was innocent and she did not want to make things difficult for Li Lei. She said to Little Shaohui, “Alright, Mom knows what to do now. I’ll ask Dad about it.”

Once she said that, Li Lei’s voice could be heard coming from the door. “Little rascal has learned to tell on others?”

Both mother and son turned around to see a man leaning against the door hinge. He attempted to look fierce but failed to conceal the smile in his eyes.

“It’s Dad!” Little Shaohui called out before hurriedly covering his eyes. “I didn’t let out a secret! You can’t see me, you can’t see me…”

“You’ve even learned to lie.” This time, Li Lei could not help but laugh. He walked over, held him up by his back collar, and took him in his arms. “The other time, Brother Du Zheng told you to be close and harmonious as brothers, right?”

Shaohui nodded his head honestly.

Li Lei asked, “What else did he say?”

Shaohui quietly replied, “Brother Du Zheng said that I’ll be taking over the whole family business in the future. For everyone to respect me, listen to me, and be willing to do things for me, I’ll have to be nice to them from now on.” He paused for a while to think before adding, “And I guess that if I’m nice to Li Rui, he’ll like Mom someday.”

He knew that Li Rui had always hated his mother, and hoped that the two of them could get along well.

Li Lei pinched his cheeks and smiled. “Have you thought of other ways to deal with them?”

“Huh?” Little Shaohui was confused.

Li Lei went on. “It’s not wrong to want everyone to respect and like you. But is being nice to them the only way to achieve things?”

The child looked at Dad and then turned to look at Mom.

Xia Ling looked everywhere but at him. She thought, I’m sorry Shaohui, even Mom can’t help you this time. The question your Dad has come up with involves the family business and inheriting the throne, it’s not my business!

The child was speechless.

Li Lei asked, “You have no idea?”

Little Shaohui shook his head.

Li Lei placed him on the bed and began teaching him. “There are many ways. Getting them to be grateful towards you and appreciate you is one way, but you can also make them fear you, or… you can make them disappear from this world.” His tone got deeper, and it was beginning to get more serious.

Xia Ling felt a chill down her spine but did not stop Li Lei.

She knew that such gory and dark ideas were something that they had to deal with. In a world where all sorts of evildoers existed, given Shaohui’s status and the expectations others had of his future, being too kind and vulnerable would land him in trouble.