A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Zheng Desong turned towards the security officers and gave them a dressing down. “How do you both even handle anything! Hurry and apologize to Mr. Li and Miss Ye!”

The old security officer looked awful. “I’m very sorry, it is our fault for not being discerning. We’ve realized our mistake, and hope that you’d be magnanimous and forgive the average people like us…”

He said all the right things and looked at them pitifully.

It was not easy for them to make a living. Thus, Xia Ling was about to tell Li Lei to let it go when the young security officer raised his voice. “Why should I apologize?! The inappropriately dressed are not allowed to enter in the first place. I was just enforcing the rules!”

Zheng Desong looked at him expressionlessly. “Did the rules also say that when you see our guests encountering difficulty, you should simply watch as a bystander and mock them about it?”

“I…” The young security officer choked on his words.

“Go to the finance department to settle your wages, you don’t have to come tomorrow,” Zheng Desong told him coldly.

The young security officer was in shock and only just realized the severity of the situation. He looked as if he wanted to plead for a second chance but, unwilling to put himself down, he stood rooted to the ground, conflicted and awkward, and appeared like a laughing stock.

Zheng Desong did not give him a second look. He turned towards Li Lei and Xia Ling with an apologetic smile and said, “I’m sorry you had to see our embarrassing security officers. Let me apologize on their behalf, I’m really very sorry for the mistake. I will punish them as necessary and ensure that you’re given a satisfactory account.”

Xia Ling looked towards the old security officer and felt awful about it. He never offended her in any way, and even when he stopped her from entering, he was polite and kind about it. She pointed at the old security officer and told Li Lei, “He…”

Li Lei understood her immediately and said, “Manager Zheng, you can let the older one off.”

Zheng Desong was surprised, and then nodded smilingly. “Miss Ye, you’re too kind-hearted.”

Xia Ling was speechless, this was being kind-hearted? It seemed like taking Li Lei along with her had an additional function — to be awarded praises.

The old security officer thanked them profusely. This time, the young security officer had come to a decision and awkwardly apologized. “I… I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Manager Zheng, Mister, and Miss, please don’t fire me!”

Xia Ling did not have a good feeling towards this young security officer. Zheng Desong was right, enforcing the rules? Then what about the fact that somebody had spilled coffee on her and ridiculed her? Why was he standing there and enjoying the show?

She pursed her lips tightly, not saying a word. Li Lei’s expression was also as cold as ice.

Zheng Desong read their expressions and said, “Please do not plead on his behalf, it’ll make things difficult for me. This security officer does not have the proper skills and quality, even if he did not offend Miss Ye today, he would have offended other guests in the future. Wouldn’t this be causing us more problems? I have to set the rules straight this time.”

Li Lei was satisfied and proceeded to walk Xia Ling into the studio.

Zheng Desong led the way and took them to his office. He then offered them seats, served Li Lei tea, and appointed somebody to get Xia Ling a change of clothes. Just before they left, Xia Ling suddenly recalled something and turned towards Li Lei. “You said…”

Li Lei sighed and told Zheng Desong, “Manager Zheng, regarding my appearance here today, please keep it a secret.”

Zheng Desong appeared surprised, but quickly put on an understanding smile. “But of course, I’ll instruct the security officers right away.”

She was relieved. Although Li Lei was the Big Boss of Skyart Entertainment, he was lazy and hardly had a hand in many of their public appearances, and in fact, he almost never showed himself. Xia Ling guessed that few people knew him, and as long as they did not publicize this matter, it should pass quietly — that was also why she was willing to let him come along.

Otherwise, if word got around, who was to say what the story would be distorted into.

An employee led Xia Ling to a small makeup studio and found her a dance outfit. It was pale green in color and flowy in its cut, almost like a whiff of smoke that could escape between her fingers.

The employee was slightly apologetic. “I’m sorry, Miss Ye, we don’t have brand new outfits here. This one was borrowed from the props team. However, don’t worry, although it’s just a prop, it was cleaned and sterilized very thoroughly. I hope you won’t mind.”

She nodded her head as a show of acceptance. If not for Li Lei, they might not even have agreed to lend her a dance outfit. This was an outcome she was more than thankful for.

The employee left the room and shut the door for her.

Xia Ling changed into the outfit and looked at herself on the full-length mirror, realizing that the outfit was surprisingly fitting. She tried a few dance moves and realized that it felt very light and that the outfit did not restrict her movements in any way.

Yup, very satisfied.

She turned around and prepared to leave the room.

But just as she placed her hand on the doorknob, she heard voices from the corridor outside —

“The one who just auditioned is not bad, the expression in her eyes were strong enough, and her thighs are round and tough. I like her.” It was a light-hearted voice.

“Director Jin, have your preferences changed recently? How could that girl match up to your Li Beier in any way? Her face, her body, wow, even the thought of it is thrilling.” The other voice was even more playful.

Xia Ling was stunned. Director Jin, Jin Yifei?

Before she could think further, the first voice was heard again, along with a laugh. “You like her? I can let you play with her for a few days.”

“How could I lay a finger on your woman…” The second voice sounded tempted.

“What’s the matter with that? I’m pretty sick of her anyway. That girl is getting greedy. If I don’t teach her a lesson, she will probably forget how much she’s really worth.”

“In that case, it’d be bad for me to reject you. Thanks in advance, Director Jin…”

The both of them started laughing, and their voices soon faded into the distance.

Xia Ling rested her hand on the doorknob for a moment, the coolness of the stainless steel sending a chill down her spine, alerting her. Was Director Jin picking a character for his show, or was he picking a mistress? She suppressed her unhappiness and thought for a while. Instead of heading to the audition studio, she detoured to the office first.

Li Lei was surprised to see her. “Xiao Ling, why are you back?” He then tilted his head slightly and looked at the outfit she was in. His eyes were gleaming with admiration. “You look really good in this outfit.”

Xia Ling ignored his second line and said, “I just recalled something. When I bumped into Li Beier at the entrance, she said that the role had been internally decided and that she would be the one to take it. If that’s the case, there’s no need for me to audition.”

Li Lei’s pleasant expression faded as he flashed Zheng Desong a questioning look.

Zheng Desong immediately replied, “Li Beier really doesn’t know how to handle things, Miss Ye, please don’t hold it against her. To be honest with you, she was indeed the internally decided choice — she’s been rather close to Jin Yifei recently, and her dancing is pretty good. But after that, our assistant director recommended Miss Ye and Jin Yifei was very interested. He called off the deal he had with Li Beier and said that the role would be based on merit and would go to whoever deserved it more based on the audition.”

I see , Xia Ling thought, no wonder Li Beier glared at me with such hatred.

But, did Jin Yifei purely admire her for her dance, or…