A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

She slowly sank into the seat opposite him.

The young girl back then had now become an old lady with a head of silvery hair. Her lips had lost their gleam, no longer possessing the same allure as before. But all these didn’t do much to cover up the beauty she held today. This was the kind of beauty that came from months and years of accumulated peace and calmness, and that was even more precious than natural beauty.

There were over a thousand old women in this universe, but she was the most beautiful of them all.

Pei Ziheng stared at her, momentarily caught in a daze. It was obvious that Li Lei had been treating her well, not allowing her to work nor undergo any discomfort. He felt a wave of reassurance wash over him, and also a tinge of disgruntlement. The feeling of both emotions winding together felt foreign.

The housemaid came up to ask her what she wanted to drink.

She said, “I’ll have some rose tea, thank you.”

He spoke warmly, “It’s been so many years, but your taste is still the same.” No coffee, no alcohol, only warm water or floral and fruit teas. With such nourishing tastes, he figured that she would live till a ripe old age.

She laughed. “These few years, I’ve been idle, and am more able to brew tea with flowers I pick on my own.” The children had grown up, each of them now living their own lives. She had successfully retired, and to fill her time, she had taken up an interest in gardening. She paused for a moment, before continuing, “If you like it, I’ll send some over when I get home.”

He warmly accepted the offer.

For two people who had not met for many years, and who had left such deeply significant marks in each other’s lives, they had nothing to say to each other. In that silent moment, she was the one who first broke the silence. “Why are you still living here? Staying in such an old house isn’t good for the body. You should move to somewhere more suitable for you.”

He replied, “I like it here.”

This response was said with a low voice, with such warmth and meaning, as he looked at her.

She bowed her head slightly.

Deep in her heart, she knew why he liked this place. This house was personally designed by her and had come a long way, carrying with it the many memories they shared between them.

“Pei Ziheng.” She gently called out his name. Her voice did not possess the same sharpness and clarity as it did before, but something about it touched his heart. These few words left the tip of her tongue with much bitterness and a sigh.

What more could she say?

So many years had passed, and yet he was still hung up on the memories of the past, dwelling in the same space he was in since then. How could she still hope for him to wake up from those dreams of his? With much bitterness and sadness, a person understood the importance of family and children as they age. But here he was, all high and mighty but alone. At the age of 92, he had nothing.

If he didn’t meet her, would he have had a much more blissful life?

She gently held the cup of rose tea to her lips, taking a small sip, while lowering her eyelids.

It didn’t seem like he was thinking as much as she did, nor bearing many negative feelings. “Is the rose tea nice?” he asked. “We always have your favorite things prepared. Every now and then, the maids will replace the expired ones with new ones.”

She felt her nose scrunch up.

Such an embarrassment. How old was she, to still be crying when she was a guest?

She fought back her tears as she struck up a casual conversation with him, discussing mostly about typical topics like the weather, food, and drinks, about how she cared for this family of kittens she owned, how she found her partner…

It felt like they talked a lot, but yet didn’t really talk about much.

He was half paralyzed, and couldn’t sit down for long. He chased her off without inviting her to have dinner. “It’s late, you should head back early, and not let people at home worry for you.”

Startled, she said, “I stay overseas. There isn’t a plane for me to catch at this time.”

“I’ll get someone to prepare the guest room for you. When you leave tomorrow, I won’t be here to send you off.”

She did not expect his attitude to be so determined. It was strange. He was the one who requested for her to come, so why did it seem like he could not wait to send her away after only chatting for a short while? “Pei Ziheng…” She spoke in a low and gentle voice but had nothing left more to say.

Pei Ziheng smiled at her. “Go back, my little girl.”

She was obviously an old woman with a head full of silver hair. Yet, in his eyes, she would always remain the most beautiful view. He stood up to send her off, as she made her way out of the tea house with the help of a housemaid, before suddenly collapsing back onto the sofa in cold sweat.

Why didn’t he just keep her there a while longer?

Why not continue to chat with her casually for a longer period of time?

He could not. His body was already at its limit, and his waist could no longer hold him up. He didn’t want her to see a trace of his physical difficulties, not even a single bit. He wanted to always be that strong man in front of the woman he loved with all his heart, putting up a strong front.

She was that little girl in his memories.

And he wished he would always be that strong, dependable mountain for her to lean on.

The maid walked back into the tea house and, upon seeing him collapsed onto the sofa, was so startled that she hurriedly brought him back to the bedroom. She called the doctor in, and the doctor had a solemn expression on his face after inspecting his chest with the stethoscope. “Pei Ziheng, you are pretending to be too strong. Sitting on the sofa and drinking tea like a normal person has exerted too much on your body. In the following days, you must stay in bed to recuperate and not go anywhere at all, understood?”

He didn’t take into mind much of what the doctor was saying, and waved his hand at them, indicating he wanted them out of his room.

The doctor didn’t dare to disobey and retreated.

Pei Ziheng laid on the bed, staring out of the window wistfully with a heavy heart as if a huge hole were cut out of him. He wanted to lift his hands, but did not have the strength to do so, and could only slightly wriggle his fingers such that the tip of his fingernails grazed across his palms. Earlier, while passing Xia Ling her teaspoon, his nails unintentionally touched her hand.

What a warm and blissful feeling.

It left a sense of nostalgia.

He knew that their meeting this time was probably the last time they would meet in this lifetime. In the end, there was nothing he could gain, nothing he could keep with him. Not even that small sensation left behind on his fingernail.

Pei Ziheng slowly shut his eyes.

That night, he had a long dream.

He dreamt of the days when he was young, when he first met her under those iris flowers, reaching his hand out towards that girl who was so unbelievably beautiful.

Come, Xiao Ling, let me bring you home.

He dreamt of the house they lived in at that time.

The first time he brought her back, it was to the place he often stayed at when he was young. The best one out of all the houses the Pei family owned, a longhouse inherited by them, where it was dedicated to them as a living residence.

He held her hand and entered amidst the welcome of the maids.

When she first arrived, the little girl was wary, and carefully analyzed her surroundings. Seeing so many exquisitely, reverently dressed maids, she didn’t even know how best to put her arms and legs, and quietly stood a little closer to him.

“Nanny Zhou, this is Xia Ling.” He introduced her to one of the housemaids. “Prepare a room for her, as she will be staying here from now onwards. From now on, she will be referred to as Miss Pei.”

Nanny Zhou looked at her, startled and in wonder, and agreed. She raised her head towards Pei Ziheng and said, “Sir, Miss Jingyu has come and is currently waiting for you on the second floor.”