A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

“Where is Pei Ziheng?” She asked.

Nanny Zhou cautiously asked, “Mister was in the study the whole night and left early in the morning. When I went into the study to do the cleaning, it smelled like smoke. Miss Ye, did you guys have a fight?”

Xia Ling shook her head. “We didn’t. Don’t worry, Nanny Zhou.” She continued. “I want to go out today. I have some inspiration to write a song. Inspiration is usually fleeting, so don’t stop me, Nanny Zhou.”

“But Mister…”

“I’ll go to the office to look for him and explain to him personally.”

Nanny Zhou’s expression was full of hesitation. Mister was bound to lose his temper if he knew that Miss Ye was not going to listen to him. However, Miss Ye was stubborn as well — she refused vehemently to see a doctor, and there was no way anyone could persuade her otherwise. Nanny Zhou was caught in the middle. She was just a mere servant and could not juggle both their worries. As she was still pondering on what to do, Xia Ling had already pushed open the door and left the house.

There was no car parked in the little garden in front of the door, which was unusual.

Xia Ling went in search of the driver. However, the driver said, “Mister told me that I don’t have to drive you anywhere today.”

It looked like Pei Ziheng was adamant that she stay home to wait for the doctor. Her expression darkened, and she coldly said to the driver, “Send me to the office. I will explain to him personally once I see him. If you don’t send me there, I’m going to walk out to the streets and flag a cab.” Her Porsche was still parked by Luo Luo’s apartment, and she never found the time to drive it over.

The driver reluctantly agreed to send her to the office since it was not a forbidden area set down by Pei Ziheng, and he could not run the risk of her going to flag a cab.

The drive to Imperial Entertainment was smooth.

Xia Ling got off the car and did not go straight to the main building to look for Pei Ziheng. She instead headed straight to Feng Kun’s office.

Feng Kun was waiting in the office for her, and his room was decorated in a way that emitted warmth and comfort. There were many aqua-culture plants and soft music playing in the background. He had even prepared a pot of calming tea for her. “Why did you come here so late today?” Feng Kun passed her the tea. “Is there anything troubling you?”

“Don’t talk about it.” Xia Ling sighed. “I barely made it out of the house today.” She quickly explained to Feng Kun about Pei Ziheng insisting that she see a doctor. She then worriedly said, “It’s only Wednesday the day after tomorrow. We would still have to wait for two days before going to the hospital. If he tries to force me to see a doctor again today, what am I to do?”

Feng Kun frowned at the complexity of the problem.

He thought about it before saying, “Sleep in the recording studio today. I’ll accompany you, and we will tell everyone else that you had to work late.” Artistes would usually have irregular schedules. She was the exception that was able to wake up and go to sleep at regular timings.

It would not be weird for her to occasionally have to “work late.”

Xia Ling smiled. “That’s a good idea. When I left the house today, I told Nanny Zhou that I had inspiration and needed to go write a song. It’s perfect to ride on this ‘overflowing inspiration’ to work through the night.”

Feng Kun smiled as well.

The two of them were long-time partners in work and were extremely compatible. They looked every bit the part of making music, such that the people that Pei Ziheng sent to make sure it was so could not see anything amiss.

His Xiao Ling was disobedient in every way but was extremely committed when it came to music. If anyone were to disturb her while she was hard at work, she would get furious.

In her past life, while she was still a Diva, there was a time that Pei Ziheng interrupted her when she was recording a song. She was so angry that she ignored him for a full week. Last night, they had just had a big fight, and Pei Ziheng did not want to step on her pet peeve at this point in time to exacerbate the unhappiness.

Hence, Pei Ziheng went home alone.

He thought to himself that seeing the doctor could wait for tomorrow.

Seeing that he had left, Xia Ling and Feng Kun breathed a sigh of relief and stopped pretending to discuss the song.

Feng Kun started to pack up the song manuscripts and said to Xia Ling, “You might have to make do with sleeping on the couch today. I’ll get someone to bring up a blanket. I’ll be in the recording studio next door. Call out if you need me.”

It was getting late, and Xia Ling was feeling very sleepy. Hearing Feng Kun’s words, she obediently lay down on the couch to sleep. Feng Kun was not a workaholic like Wei Shaoyin and did not put a proper bed in the office. The blanket was also only purchased after hearing news of Xia Ling’s pregnancy. It was definitely not the most comfortable sleeping arrangements.

However, at this stage, she could not afford to be picky.

She wrapped herself up in the blanket and drifted off to sleep.

She dreamed of herself carrying a beautiful little boy and a handsome man like the sun was looking at her warmly from a distance. They appeared to be separated by glass, and he was distant and blurry, seemingly unreal.

“Li Lei…” She reached out to him in her dream. “I’ve missed you…”

That glass shattered at her touch, turning into shimmering sunlight. That handsome man ran towards her and reached out to hold her hand. The warmth from the tips of his fingers felt so real that it made her long for him even more.

She gripped his hand a little tighter. This was the first time that she dreamed of him since the accident. She wished that she did not need to wake up from this dream…

Li Lei half-knelt and pressed his cheek to her palm, gently and quietly.

“Xiao Ling… my Xiao Ling.” He murmured.

Even though it was just a dream, she wanted to get more of him. Following her instincts, Xia Ling leaned closer and closer to him. She felt herself being enveloped in a warm embrace. Li Lei’s gentle and caring voice rang out beside her ears. “Why are you so restless in your sleep? You’re going to roll off the sofa.”

She murmured something unintelligible in response. She was in a dream… so what if she rolled off the sofa?

“Don’t leave…” She pressed deeper into his embrace. This dream was so real, and she could not bear to release him.

“Okay, I won’t.” He said softly, before kissing the top of her head. “Xiao Ling, sleep for a while longer. I’ll be here with you.”

She slept soundly in his embrace, her breathing returning to normal, and the room was silent again.

She suddenly snapped awake as if realizing something and opened her eyes. Li Lei… he was right here by her side! He was holding her in his arms on the couch.

Xia Ling did not know how to react. She blinked her eyes in a daze, looking at the handsome man that was right in front of her. She hesitated, before reaching out to touch his face. The familiar lines on his face, his sharp nose, his nicely-shaped lips, and that deep-set eyes that were like the morning forest.

It was him… it was really him.

“Li Lei.” Xia Ling called out, her voice brimming with amazement. “Am I dreaming?”

The man in front of her flashed a bright smile as he stared into her eyes without blinking. “It’s not a dream, Xiao Ling. I came to find you.”

Xia Ling’s nose crinkled, and she could barely hold back the tears. He was here… he was finally here. He did not leave her in the darkness to face her worries and terrors alone.