A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Li Lei thought about it before saying, “It’s not necessary.” Xiao Ling was still upset at him, and seeing Su Tang might make things worse. If the two ladies got into a quarrel, there would be big trouble.

Hearing this, Su Tang lowered her head and was quiet for a while before she replied in a small voice, “Okay.”

Seeing how forlorn she looked, Li Lei felt a little bad and tried to say a few words of consolation.

Su Tang made another suggestion. “Why don’t we get Xiao Rui to hang out with Shaohui? The two kids can’t have any big grievances against each other. It would be good for them to interact more and not to get into squabbles with each other.”

These words struck a chord with Li Lei.

If he were to get married to Xiao Ling in the future, Shaohui would become his child as well. Li Rui was, on paper, his biological child, and if the two of them couldn’t get along, it would pose problems down the road. He lowered his head to look at little Shaohui and asked gently, “Can Xiao Rui play with you for a while?”

Shaohui lifted his head to show his big, round innocent eyes, asking, “Is he going to apologize to me?”

Li Lei recalled that Li Rui owed Shaohui an apology. He couldn’t be let off so easily since he had insulted Shaohui’s sister. Shaohui might look harmless, but he held grudges.

“He will apologize to you.” Li Lei promised. “Uncle Li is also saying sorry to you now for not teaching Xiao Rui well, and for him to have said those words to you. Don’t tell your sister, okay?” Xiao Ling’s attitude to him seemed to suggest that she was unaware of Li Rui’s insults. Otherwise, there was no way she would have allowed him to enter the house.

Shaohui cocked his head to the side and contemplated for a while.

Li Lei felt anxious and started to coax him. “Uncle will make delicious dishes for you to eat.”

Shaohui had intended to make things difficult for Li Lei. Hmph, stupid daddy, why did you to cheat on mummy and cause her to be unhappy? Why are you so useless and can’t chase her back? However, now that he heard that Li Lei was going to make something nice for him to eat, Shaohui’s eyes lit up, forgetting his initial agenda. “Okay, okay. Deal!”

“Deal.” Li Lei laughed and reached out his pinky to hook Shaohui’s.

Watching this scene from the side, Su Tang’s gaze was slightly depressed. Why did her child have to apologize to that b*tch’s child? However, given the circumstances, she couldn’t do anything but give in. She forced herself to smile before saying, “I’ll go call Xiao Rui over.” She turned and went into the bungalow.

Li Rui was pushed out by his nanny on a wheelchair.

A few days ago, he was caned by Li Lei. This was the first time that Li Lei had caned him since he had been born. Li Lei had been harsh on him, which frightened him. All this was because of that child called Ye Shaohui! Mummy said that that woman, Ye Xingling, was a b*tch as well! He hated both of them!

He would have revenge, just wait and see.

He apologized to Shaohui with a straight face, under the eagle-eyes of his dad. “I’m sorry.” He did not pull any spanners. Mummy said that revenge required patience and had asked him to swallow his pride this once. Hmph, they would wait for Ye Xingling, that b*tch, to arrive, then he would let them understand who was boss!

Shaohui blinked his eyes and stared at Li Rui for a while before nodding his head and saying like a little grown-up, “As long as you know that you are wrong. Don’t go around insulting others next time. Insulting others makes it seem like you are not well-taught… Moreover, you had to suffer the wrath of my fists and Uncle Li’s caning after your insulting words. See, now you can only sit on the wheelchair. I feel your pain.”

Hearing the words “not well-taught,” Li Lei’s expression darkened. Yet, he didn’t do anything else. After all, little Shaohui was right. These years, Li Rui had been spoiled rotten and had been treated like the crown prince in the Li Family. Everyone would give him the moon and the stars. It was high time he learned some manners.

Li Rui’s face turned ashen in his anger, and he had the urge to go up and give Shaohui a few kicks. However, he knew that he was no match for Shaohui when he was healthy, let alone now full of injuries. As such, the upset Li Rui could only hold in his anger.

Seeing that Li Rui wasn’t saying anything, Li Lei felt a little consoled that Li Rui seemed to have learned some manners and was becoming a little more obedient.

He should definitely interact more with Shaohui.

Li Lei reached out to hold Shaohui’s hand and said, “Let’s go, I’ll bring you to the garden to see Er Mao.” He instructed the nanny to push Li Rui’s wheelchair and follow along. The group of them came to the garden, where the afternoon sun was shining down, the birds chirping and the air brimming with the fragrance of flowers. Li Lei pointed to a huge tree and told Shaohui.

“Er Mao usually likes to sleep on the branches of this big tree. We should go over softly so as not to wake him.”

Little Shaohui nodded and tip-toed his way to the tree.

The old oak tree had layers upon layers of leaves, forming a thick canopy. Leopards had a knack for camouflage, and Li Lei was a little worried that Shaohui wouldn’t be able to find Er Mao.

He lifted his head, prepared to point Er Mao out to Shaohui.

However, Li Lei was still looking for Er Mao when he heard Shaohui let out a small exclamation. “Wow, he’s beautiful.”

Li Lei turned and saw the little child looking a random direction in the midst of the canopy of leaves, where the huge, spotted feline with golden fur was hiding. Er Mao was lazily sleeping in the branches.

Shaohui had found Er Mao faster than Li Lei.

Li Lei was shocked. This child’s observation skills were remarkable.

Even Er Mao was surprised as he wiggled his ears. In fact, he had awoken the moment the group of them had stepped into the garden but was merely too lazy to move. What threat could two kids that his owner had brought over bring? Particularly, he did not like that irritating child Li Rui and couldn’t be bothered with him.

This other child was unfamiliar though…

As Shaohui lifted his head to observe Er Mao, Er Mao too was observing him. He suddenly realized that something was amiss… Hold on… this child seemed to have the same aura as his owner, as well as that woman, Ye Xingling, that his owner pined for day and night!

Er Mao’s ears wiggled again. This time, he gracefully pranced off the tree branches to the ground.

Shaohui was able to see him in his fullness now. Oh my God, he had never seen such a beautiful leopard! He was so elegant, and his toned, muscular body seemed to be the perfect sculpture within the forest-like backdrop. His rose-shaped spots and fur shone under the sunlight, and his yellowish eyes were so clear…

Shaohui was mesmerized by Er Mao.

“Hello.” He greeted the leopard cutely. “I’m Shaohui. Can I be friends with you?”

The leopard responded with a low roar.

Li Rui, who was sitting on the wheelchair to the side, was shocked and jumped a little in his seat.

Yet, Shaohui who was standing in front of Er Mao was not intimidated at all. He reached out his hand carefully. “You’ve agreed, haven’t you?” As he spoke, he carefully stroked the leopard’s thick fur coat.

Er Mao opened his mouth revealing two rows of sharp, white teeth.

Li Lei was a little worried. “Er Mao.” Even though he knew that Er Mao would not hurt anyone that he brought here, Shaohui was a person that he had to be sure to protect. If Shaohui were to be harmed at all, Xiao Ling would shred him into pieces.