A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Su Tang’s expression was as if she had just seen a ghost. “How could there be such a bizarre thing?”

Xia Ling held her head high with a form of arrogance. “You are just ignorant. Su Tang, it was wrong of you to fight with me from the very beginning. Did you have that good of a birth background? Did you have a family that can support you? Did you make Li Lei fall in love with you at first sight? Are you as loveable as me? As beautiful as me?”

She asked the questions as if firing a cannon. Su Tang almost vomited blood.

Forget about her background and family, but making Li Lei fall in love with her at first sight?!

“Li Lei did not fall in love with you at first sight!” Su Tang exploded and dug into her words viciously. “He only thought of you as someone to sleep with in the beginning! Don’t think I don’t know, many women came back and forth before you arrived! You were nothing special in his eyes! You only managed to win his favor through some shameless means!” Su Tang said to Xia Ling in a high-pitched voice.

Xia Ling had known about Li Lei’s playboy history since a long time ago, but she did not put much thought into it on account of how he had cut off all flirtatious relationships with other girls after meeting her. So now that Su Tang had mentioned it, she was not hurt by it but was even more excited in attacking Su Tang. “You’re right, he had so many partners in the past. Hehe, Assistant Su… Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten that you have no more rights to be an assistant anymore. Miss Su, your muddling along turned out to be even worse than I had imagined. You’ve been beside Li Lei for so many years, yet unlike me, you’ve been unable to even control him and prevent him from finding more women? The moment he met me, he voluntarily cut off connections with those girls. I really don’t know what to say about you,” Xia Ling said joyfully, watching as Su Tang’s expression turned even worse.

Su Tang puffed up her chest and said, “What are you so arrogant about! Besides your family and a few strokes of luck, you are no better than me!” What she was most unsatisfied about was the fact that she had lost to such a stupid woman like Xia Ling! This stupid woman was unable to help Li Lei handle his business matters, and could do nothing besides singing. She could not even protect herself in times of danger. She was this stupid, yet had still managed to get through all the obstacles so far. She not only managed to get rid of stupid people like Gu Lin and Nangong Qingya, but she had also even gotten rid of her, Su Tang! You have to know that she had been praised as a “genius” since young!

She was the one who was compatible with Li Lei!

Xia Ling continued to agitate her further. “Yes, yes, so what if you are smart? Oh yes, did you not hear me just now? I said that I was more beautiful than you, more beautiful.”

She smiled sweetly, her fair skin looking extremely attractive under the dim lights of the investigation room.

Su Tang was about to explode with anger. Beautiful?!

Was she kidding?!

She still remembered the first time she had seen Xia Ling. That girl had been so small and skinny and had been wearing a training dress that was so out of fashion. Her appearance could have only been considered fresh, and she wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. And what about Su Tang at that time? She always had exquisite make-up, and her long hair had been carefully arranged. Her skin, her nails, even her matching earrings and bracelets, there was no place on her whole body that did not radiate a radiance that attracted people.

Those days, the chances of turning heads while Su Tang walked on the streets were fairly high.

Even Li Lei had jokingly said to her that out of all the beauties he had seen, Su Tang was the most beautiful.

His words had made her overjoyed. She was secretly looking forward to the day when he would look back from his riding on thousands of sails and come back to live with her for the rest of their lives. She had always thought that she was different, that she was Li Lei’s favorite person. She had thought that he was not touching her simply because he did not want to play with her casually. She had always looked forward to the day when the player would give his heart to her and they would spend their lives together.

However, in reality, if not for Xia Ling who had appeared out of nowhere, this wrong of hers could have been fulfilled.

Old Master Li had already established his thoughts on how “Su Tang was a good wife material”. However, every time Grandpa had said that Li Lei would have burst out laughing inexplicably. Su Tang’s heart had been injured by his mockery. Finally, Old Master Li had seen enough. He had reassured Su Tang, [Xiao Lei has said that when he has reached a suitable age and is still unable to find a girl he likes, he will marry you if you are willing.]

She had left Old Master’s tea room with her face red and full of embarrassment.

However, she had remembered those words in her heart and had taken greater care of Li Lei.

Unfortunately, the “girl he likes” had to appear. It turned out to be an unattractive ugly duckling, even in the eyes of Su Tang who had seen plenty of handsome men and beautiful women.

But today, that small woman was actually boasting in front of her saying that she was more beautiful?!

She could not tolerate it!

Su Tang sniggered coldly and said, “Beautiful? Why don’t you look at yourself in the mirror? Tan Ying must have been blind to have chosen you to join the training camp. With you looking like that, nobody would even want you if you were put in a pageant!”

“You can continue to be jealous, but I am ‘more’ beautiful than you.” She added more emphasis on “more”, and even turned around to ask the bodyguard on purpose, “Tell me, who is more beautiful?”

The bodyguard said seriously, “Of course it is Madam.”

God was a witness to his sincerity, he was not just saying that against his beliefs. The Xia Ling in front of him was indeed much more attractive than Su Tang—

Now that she had recovered fully, she was wearing a soft pink shirt, making her originally pale skin look much better with the color. Her long black hair had been trimmed carefully, and it was smooth and light. She also had long butterfly wing-like eyelashes and light, beautiful cherry-like lips…

In comparison, what about Su Tang?

She had straw-like messy dry hair, dark yellow skin, and deeply sunken cheeks…

There was simply no need for a comparison?!

Su Tang realized that something was wrong, and she realized with a shock that today, she would be described as haggard, and the gap between her and Xia Ling who had been so pampered was huge. The white swan and ugly duckling from so many years ago had been completely reversed today. That woman had become a highly-regarded allure, while she herself had become the one nobody would want in a pageant!

“As the saying goes, one’s appearance is formed by their heart.” Xia Ling lowered her head to play with her fingernails lightly. “Some people become more and more beautiful, while some become increasingly ugly. Su Tang, didn’t you say you wanted to see Li Lei? Aren’t you afraid that with your current state now, he’ll see you and love me even more?”

“Nonsense!” Su Tang shouted angrily. She charged forward intending to hit her but was stopped by the bodyguard.

“It’s not nonsense.” Xia Ling smiled. “Have you heard of Madam Li in ancient times? She had been adored by the Emperor all her life, and when she was dying, her appearance was described as extremely haggard. She knew to prevent the Emperor from seeing her, so as to leave behind a beautiful memory of herself in him. Li Lei has never even loved you before. If he sees your current state, I’m afraid he’ll have nightmares.”

Su Tang was furious. “You, this wretch!”

“Li Lei knows best who is the true wretch.” Xia Ling was still smiling. She was not afraid of her. “He doesn’t want to see some wretch, so he has sent me here to send you off. Su Tang, Su Tang, do you have anything you want me to help you convey?”