A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

They did not know of any professional advice, and said, “Ye Xingling is really great at singing, and sings live better than many of the artistes we’ve heard. We can’t say for sure what makes it different, but it was really easy to gain the feels for it.”

“That’s right. We will definitely come again if she has another performance.”

“Did you see that little satin vest she wore today? Her figure is really good.”

“That fairy dress she changed into halfway through was really pretty too.”

“I managed to take many photographs when Li Lei presented those flowers, I’ll post them out to my social circle later. They look really good together.”

…

All the different conversations were all focused on complimenting the concert. Even the red carpet and carpet at the entrance were swarmed with fans, all chanting “My Xiao Ling’s the best!”

This was a very successful first show.

Backstage.

Xia Ling’s dressing table was being engulfed by flowers. Besides the gifts and flowers given by her fans, she also received some from many within her circle of friends; such as Wei Shaoyin, Feng Kun, Bai Murong and Luo Luo. They were all present tonight, seated at the isolated VIP table as they watched the entire concert from start to end.

After it ended, they didn’t come backstage to bring about interference, but each of them sent gifts.

[This first show was very successful, congratulations.] The formal, occasion-appropriate flower basket was from Feng Kun.

[Not bad.] A bunch of white irises came from the prideful, sharp-tongued Wei Shaoyin.

[Xiao Ling, you’re going to be a Diva at her peak.] The pink holiday cacti came along with a card on which a huge heart was drawn, and was inscribed with the names of Luo Luo and Bai Murong.

[That was not bad, I concede to the best.] This was from Lu Tao.

…

And many, many more.

Xia Ling, with her make-up still on and her hair half-up, leaned by the side of the table as she sifted through all the cards. The corners of her mouth tilted upwards to reveal her slight amusement. As she went through each gift, she came upon a bouquet of red roses.

This one was even larger than the ones gifted to her by Wang Tao and Li Lei, and way more extravagant. A black card of good texture lay in the middle of the bouquet, on which a golden butterfly in mid-flight was drawn on using a familiar drawing style.

There was no inscription, nor a message left behind.

And yet, Xia Ling knew who it was from.

Pei Ziheng… Did he come to watch her concert too?

She felt conflicted. She had already let go of him, but he still came back expressing his love for her. If this continued on, she wouldn’t know what to do if he advanced further and further. The concert’s success had made her feel so happy as if she were soaring, but now those feelings sunk to the ground.

Someone knocked on the door.

Xia Ling placed the card and flowers back onto the table, calling out, ” Come in.”

A man with icy, dull eyes dressed in a white shirt entered.

Xia Ling’s eyes lit up, as she bounded over to wrap him up in a big hug. “Brother.”

Xia Moyan used his slender fingers to smooth out some of her unkempt hair.

“Are you tired?” he asked her.

She shook her head. “Brother, why have you come?”

“Something urgent has cropped up. I’m leaving this city tonight, and have come to say goodbye.” Xia Moyan replied.

Xia Ling blinked, startled. She never expected her brother to leave so suddenly, and this made her heart sink even lower. “When will you be back?”

“I can’t say for sure, but it could stretch to a few months or even half a year.”

Xia Ling couldn’t bear for him to leave. Ever since she clashed Xia Yu, she had no blood relative by her side. Now she found a brother, but their time together was short-lived. However, she knew that her brother had his own things to settle, and couldn’t always be by her side. She could only unwillingly say, “I will miss you.”

Xia Moyan nodded and left her a phone number. “Call me if anything comes up. But don’t call often, you’re independent. You can’t be contacting relatives all the time, and have to only use the phone when necessary, understood?”

“Yes.” Xia Ling replied.

She suddenly thought about it, and asked him, “Can I reveal your identity to Li Lei? The last time we kept hanging out together, he seems to have misunderstood. I don’t want him feeling upset over it.”

Xia Moyan’s eyes blazed with fury. “That blockhead?” He recently felt very dissatisfied with Li Lei, and immediately resorted to calling him a blockhead. “Whoever makes you upset has to pay the price. Let that blockhead suffer inside, and it shall serve as a test and an experience.”

“Brother!” Xia Ling panicked and whined.

She didn’t want any misunderstandings with Li Lei again. They had gone through so many obstacles, and it wasn’t easy for them to finally end up back together. Why rile something up out of nothing?

Xia Moyan lowered his head to stare at her. “This world doesn’t only have him as a blockhead. I can find a better one for you.”

“I want him!” Xia Ling became even more riled up.

Xia Moyan sighed, what an extroverted female. However, he wouldn’t be satisfied if he didn’t make Li Lei suffer a little. His own sister, whom he would do anything for, how could she let a man like that bring her such pain and tears? After a moment in deep thought, he said, “You can tell him of the nature of our relationship, but only if he does one thing.”

“What is it?” Xia Ling asked in joy.

“Me leaving this time was a little too hasty, and I didn’t have time to head to the South Palace to help you demand that 30 billion dollars worth of compensation money. I initially intended to head back home to arrange for someone to settle this for me, but looking at this now, I shall let your man do it.”

“Brother, you’re saying you want Li Lei to go to the Nangong family to help me claim that 30 billion dollars?”

“Yes.” Xia Moyan was calm.

“Brother!” Xia Ling felt anxious again. “His grandfather is in the midst of forcing him to collaborate with the Nangong family. If he goes there to demand the money, he will cause his grandfather much upsetness, this won’t do.” She felt distressed.

Xia Moyan was still calm. “If he doesn’t do it, he will cause me to be upset.”

Xia Ling felt as if a whole flock of crows was flying above the roof…

To provoke either his father or his brother-in-law, this was a question of choice, and it was a hard one.

Xia Moyan saw the expression on her face and said, “Xiao Ling, this is the most I’m giving in. If he can’t even do this for you — if he can’t even bear this responsibility — how can I entrust you to him?”

Xia Ling wiped at her nose. “Then could you change it to an easier challenge?”

What did he mean by this responsibility? This was 30 billion dollars of extortion from the Nangong family. This could well lead to their bankruptcy.

“This isn’t considered easy enough? I could settle problems at the age of 7. He’s already 20. If he can’t even handle this, how can he bring himself to marry you?” Xia Moyan didn’t budge from his position.

Xia Ling was near tears. She wanted so much to tell her brother that this really wasn’t the same. He didn’t use honest ways to solve the issue, and Li Lei wasn’t the dishonest kind. He could only use honest methods to try and obtain the 30 billion dollars. But she didn’t dare to say these words out loud. Her brother’s facial expression was already a bad one. If she described Li Lei as even weaker than before, she was afraid her brother would really separate them and find another match for her.

She unwillingly agreed.

It was decided that, if Li Lei couldn’t accomplish the task, she would help him cover it up and fake it till her brother believed he succeeded.

But how could Xia Moyan not know that she would harbor that thought? He chose not to expose her, because anyway, he would know whether Li Lei managed to finish the task in the end, and also…

He narrowed his eyes unhappily. Did Xiao Ling really think that the man she loved was weak?

Definitely not.

There were many parasol trees around, but only the best, the most unique ones would be approved of by the Phoenix.

Though this stupid Phoenix might have a slightly poorer taste.