A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

“So, it’d be alright if someone else was nice to you?” He asked.

Li Yingying flinched. “O-of course not, why would you say this?”

“Any rich person could get you gifts and take you to the beach.” Chu Chen had been a manager for so many years and had seen all sorts of people in the entertainment circle. Li Yingying’s simple mindset was practically written on her face, unlike other scheming female celebrities.

She loved wealth and material goods, but did she really love him for the person he was?

Chu Chen wasn’t sure, but at that moment, he did not want to avoid the question any longer.

Li Yingying did not expect him to ask such a question. Her face went red and she seemed to have been exposed for something personal. “W-why, Chu Chen, i-it’s you I love.”

“Is it me, or is it money?”

That day, they parted ways on an unpleasant note.

Li Yingying, who felt insulted, had run away with her hands over her face. Back in City S, they went into a cold war. She was so sure that Chu Chen would make the first move and apologize, but he had not even contacted her after a few days. Li Yingying got uptight and had no better choice than to give Chu Chen’s mother a call and pour her grievances to her.

When Chu Chen returned home from work, his mother chided him. “The both of you were doing so well together, why did you do this? Hurry and apologize to her, don’t let my daughter-in-law run away!”

Chu Chen felt that he did go overboard that day as well and hence, went to look for Li Yingying at her place in a small estate. In the late afternoon light, there weren’t many people on the streets of that humble estate. He walked towards the foot of Li Yingying’s apartment and saw her taking the trash out in a lace dress and some nude makeup.

He had bought that dress for her. Ever since they got together, her dressing had become more extravagant than before.

Chu Chen was just about to walk up towards her when he saw a man appear beside her. He held her arm and said some things that were inaudible to Chu Chen. Seeing that their expressions seemed a little odd, Chu Chen stopped in his tracks.

The two of them got increasingly agitated and began raising their voices at each other.

He heard the man say, “Li Yingying, I didn’t expect you to be this materialistic. Three years of our relationship isn’t even worth as much as the clothes and bags he gave you?!”

Li Yingying scoffed at him. “Don’t be naive! What are feelings even? Can they keep me warm?! Zhou Qiang, I do love you, but what have you given me? I don’t want to spend the rest of my life just having cheap food with you! I have the chance to be a rich mistress now, why would I say no to that life?! Please stop coming to look for me, we’re over!”

So it seemed like love was worthless in her eyes.

Chu Chen had just found out the truth, and yet he did not feel hurt at all—as he had guessed, he wasn’t truly in love with her. His thoughts drifted and he recalled the time Xia Ling sat on the swing in Pei Ziheng’s backyard. She had looked at that man smilingly and said, “You’re not allowed to stop loving me. Even if we’re left with nothing someday, we have to continue to be in love!”

She was a butterfly, a little genie.

When compared to her, tons of women became nothing more than greedy fools.

He found himself losing interest in this.

He turned around and left the little estate that was now illuminated by the streetlights.

Unwilling to return home to his mother’s long-winded talks, he walked about aimlessly. When he finally snapped back to his senses, he realized that he had arrived at Imperial Entertainment’s entrance. Alas, besides his workplace, where else could he actually go? He mocked himself and decided to enter the building; since he was already here, he might as well do some work.

He walked along the quiet and empty hallways but noticed that there was light coming from the Honor Hall.

It was late, who could be in there? The Honor Hall exhibited portraits of the Heavenly Kings and Divas in Imperial Entertainment over the years. But it wasn’t a popular place for anyone to visit, much less at night.

Chu Chen entered and saw a man.

Pei Ziheng was standing before the largest portrait right in the center of the hall in silence. It was Xia Ling’s portrait. In it, she was wearing a bright red dress and in the middle of a spin. Her dress was swaying, her hair was slightly messy, but in her eyes was radiance and glamor that filled the rest of the picture.

Chu Chen called our quietly, “Boss.”

“She’s beautiful.” Pei Ziheng had not even turned around when he uttered this with a hint of sentiment.

Chu Chen was a little stunned, given that he rarely spoke with such an emotional tone. Perhaps everyone was a little more fragile in the dead of the night. He wisely kept quiet for a while, knowing that Boss did not require an answer. Pei Ziheng then reached out and stroked the glass pane, where Xia Ling’s beautiful eyes lay behind. He was gentle with his touch, as if any force he applied would break something fragile.

Thereafter, Pei Ziheng turned around and asked him, “It’s late, what are you doing here?”

Chu Chen smiled sadly. “I broke up with my girlfriend.” After witnessing the scene in the estate, there seemed to be a wound in his heart that had not closed or healed yet. He was frustrated at his dull and boring life, but the breakup was only necessary.

Pei Ziheng wasn’t too surprised. “She’s not suitable for you.” He had heard about her from Chu Chen before and had long felt that this ordinary girl was simply not good enough for his right-hand man.

Chu Chen gave another sad smile. Well, what kind of girl suited him then?

He turned away slightly to avoid seeing that red-clothed demoness.

Those eyes were too beautiful, it felt as if one could fall into a trap permanently if they looked at them for too long.

Pei Ziheng… must really love those eyes too? Or rather, he was missing them. Chu Chen suddenly understood why his boss was standing here so late at night. The girl he kept at home had been tortured horrifyingly and had lost the glow in her eyes. In this world, no other pair of eyes held such beauty; once it was destroyed, it was gone for good.

Pei Ziheng took one last look at the photo before leaving.

His footsteps were heavy and he seemed to be carrying a heavy burden.

Chu Chen felt bad for him as well, and in a moment of impulse he said, “Boss, let her go.”

He did not mention who exactly, but both of them knew full well. The big man suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around, looking at him with a cold, ruthless look in his eyes.

Chu Chen’s heart stopped momentarily as he tried to regulate his breathing.

Pei Ziheng glared at him for a while. Only when he backed off under the pressure did Pei Ziheng solemnly say, “Just this once, I’ll take it that I didn’t hear this.”