A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Gu Lin was mad. At home, she broke things and would not stop crying.

Her father couldn’t bring himself to continue seeing his daughter like that and confronted his own father about it in desperation. “Dad, can’t you see? Lin Lin really likes Li Lei; she’s liked him since they were kids. How about you give her a hand? Don’t you drop by the Li’s often? How about you bring her along the next time you visit?”

Old Master Gu slammed the lid on the teapot and glared penetratingly at his son. “Gu Jiacheng, don’t you dare be distracted by others’ wealth! Lin Lin is confused, must you? What place is the Li’s? How can they accept someone like Lin Lin? What do you take them for? You think I can just randomly bring people as I like?”

“But…” Mr. Gu’s voice dropped to a whisper. “How is Lin Lin worse than Ye Xingling? Even Ye Xingling can make it to the Li’s, why can’t my daughter?” There came his source of motivation behind asking Old Master Gu for a favor. All these years, he had feared to go against the word of his own father, but that was before he found out that even small celebrities were going around the Li’s.

“You think Ye Xingling is that simple?” Old Master Gu was just about to die from sheer anger. “My dearest son, what must I say for you to understand? The girl managed to get Lin Lin down so easily. Whatever she can accomplish, doesn’t mean Lin Lin can do it as well! Furthermore, Li’s son simply adores her, can’t you see? I advise you to leave them alone, don’t get one of those funny ideas! Let’s exist in peace.”

Mr. Gu huffed but had nothing to say in response. He did fail, after all, so he had to retreat for the time being.

In secret, he had already sent his payment over to the wretched girl.

Xia Ling rounded up all the presents she had gotten for Li Lei.

Li Lei rarely spoke about his father, and whenever Xia Ling asked, he would only say, “He’s a capable person, responsible enough to take on the burden of raising a family, had two wives die and never took on a third.”

She had pressed for more, but Li Lei refused to divulge further.

Xia Ling had felt that Li Lei’s relationship with his father was a little shallow, even bordering on fake. She laughed at him. “You don’t know how lucky you are, you’re not like me…” She never knew what her biological parents looked like, but she stopped herself from carrying on.

Li Lei merely smiled and said, “Maybe yours are better.”

He was referring to the calculating Ye’s. Xia Ling wasn’t going to correct him.

She prepared her important gifts, and then prepared several small presents and candies for the other relatives and the children, working on it for half a day and only stopping when she was satisfied.

Li Lei bought her an outfit for Chinese New Year — a red woolen coat with a beige sweater. She looked festive without losing her womanliness. Li Lei himself made sure to complete the couple look with his beige woolen coat and red sweater, and when they held hands, they looked quite the picture.

They hopped onto a plane to an island near the South Pacific, where the Li headquarters were.

Vast expanses of trees and grass greeted them as they touched down in their private airport. The neatly trimmed trees lined the roads, dotted with flowers and stretched on endlessly, and on both sides, tens of uniformed servants bowed towards them. “Welcome home, Second Master.”

Li Lei brought Xia Ling in.

The head butler was already expecting Second Master’s return home and promptly went out to greet him. “Your Thunderous Yard has been tidied up. Also, not too long ago, Old Master acquired some new shrubbery and got some people to move it in, saying that you would certainly love it when you come back.”

Li Lei grinned. “Grandpa gets me. Right, where is he?”

“Old Master is awaiting your arrival.” The butler was also smiling. “He’s been waiting for you in the Calming Heart Garden for a while. You can go there first to settle down, and then later bring Miss Ye along to see him.” After all, he was bringing an outsider home. Li Lei and his grandfather had spoken beforehand, no wonder many people knew there was going to be another girl coming home.

Xia Ling just stood beside Li Lei, maintaining her smiling demeanor. She didn’t speak, just listened.

She was not acting out, even though the place was practically a castle from her dreams. Even when she laid eyes on the sentry and the patrol squad, not even a flicker of surprise crossed her face.

The rumors said she was just a small celebrity, after all.

But her performance was intriguing to the butler.

Second Master did choose her; even if she were average, there must be something about her.

The butler welcomed both of them into the Thunderous Yard before leaving.

Then, the door closed.

A growl rumbled, then Er Mao’s tail came lashing out, and suddenly he pounced on Li Lei in affection.

“Yo, you came back earlier than we did.” Li Lei beamed, caressing Er Mao’s sides. Er Mao was sent home with a helicopter specially made for beasts, and when he was sent home, he had been on high alert, circling the Calming Heart Garden for many times before being absolutely sure that it was safe territory, and then waited patiently for Li Lei to arrive.

Li Lei played with him for a while, then turned his head to face Xia Ling. “This place is mine, only Er Mao and I live here. Now there’s you, so that makes the three of us. You don’t have to feel constricted here.”

Xia Ling visibly relaxed, finally putting down the facade she had put on the entire day.

She curiously scanned the yard, a complete change from her disinterested attitude beforehand. Everything was interesting now. His yard was the same as other people’s, clean and bright, minimalistic, yet so incredibly relaxing.

She immediately decided that she was going to love this place.

She went in to take a momentary rest, then showered and put on a change of clothes. She put on some light makeup, brought her presents, and anxiously went to meet Old Master.

Her hands were in Li Lei’s when they came into Old Master’s Calming Heart Garden.

He was calmly drinking tea.

“Grandpa,” Li Lei called, smiling.

The old man slowly turned his head. He had a head of silver hair, his eyes bright but unreadable. Looking at Li Lei brought out some affection. “Xiao Lei is back.” Li Lei grabbed Xia Ling’s hand and looked at her.

Xia Ling was so nervous she felt her body stiffen.

Li Lei gripped her hand even tighter as if to give her strength.

Even before coming home, Li Lei had told him about Xia Ling. Back then, Old Master had been entirely respectful towards his decision, saying that status wasn’t an issue as long as he had decided that she was the right person. It was then that Li Lei knew that he was going to love Xia Ling unconditionally.

Ever since he was a kid, Grandpa had loved whatever he did anyway.

Old Master Li considered Xia Ling for a while. “So you’re Xiao Lei’s girlfriend? Come a little closer, let me take a closer look.”