A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

He said a few more sentences into the phone, largely suggesting that he wouldn’t help block the matter.

The last sentence uttered was gentle but firm. “Uncle Gu, our family relationship should not be withered away on such matters. Nevermind… even if Grandfather was here I would still sing the same song.”

He hung up and reached out to hold Xia Ling’s hand again.

Xia Ling asked, “Is this matter putting you in a tight position?”

Li Lei said, “Don’t worry about it, you’re being too sensitive.” Everything else paled in comparison to protecting her, so the choice to him was clear. It was not a tough decision for him at all.

However, she responded softly. “Thank you.”

“Do you need to be so formal with me?” There was a tinge of annoyance in his voice as he felt that Xiao Ling was treating him like an outsider.

She was taken aback but understood what he was saying. She smiled and lowered her head in silence. In this life, there was no one else that she would love as much as she loved him. Even though she hadn’t formally reconciled with him yet, she knew that the only dilemma that she faced was to decide whether to accept him again or not. He needn’t worry that there would ever be another person in the picture.

They walked alongside each other in the evening breeze.

On the other side, the Gu Family was in chaos.

Gu Lin was spoiled since she was young and was a coward by nature. After Xia Ling threatened to report her to the police, she panicked and worried that her bad doings would be revealed. She didn’t tell the family what she did in the first instance. After dwelling on the matter for a long time, she finally plucked up the courage to tell her father for fear that she would have to pay with her life. By then, several hours had already passed.

Father Gu knew the gravity of the situation and had no time to lecture his daughter. He immediately called Li Lei up. However, it was already too late and Li Lei had accompanied Xia Ling to the police station to record her statement. He even paid a visit to the superintendent to make sure that the evidence and witness statements were well taken care of so that the Gu Family wouldn’t have any opportunity to tamper with them.

He had also alerted his subordinates and private investigators to keep a watchful eye on the Gu Family to prevent them from doing anything to change matters.

Father Gu was a tad too late. While he tried to get his people to destroy the evidence, it was futile.

He knew that approaching Li Lei was useless. The next day, he went straight to look for Xia Ling.

Xia Ling was filming an MV scene in the outskirts of town. The weather was tremendous and she was dressed in a svelte swimsuit which sculpted her perfect figure as she walked along the white, sandy beach.

She walked right by the waves beating on the beach, her long hair billowing in the wind, looking resplendent.

Father Gu watched the film crew busying themselves around her from behind the barricade set up by the staff members. The director, cameramen, producer and her manager were doing everything they could to make the scene perfect.

He wanted to enter the film site but was stopped by a staff member. “Please move back. You’re not allowed to enter here.”

The staff member’s attitude was rough and blunt.

Father Gu started to get angry. Being the head of the Gu family enterprises for many years, no one had dared treat him so carelessly. The staff member took him to be one of her many fans or the media and was afraid that he would do something crazy after entering the film site. He made his identity clear. “I’m the CEO of the Gu family enterprises. I’m looking for Ye Xingling.”

The staff member gave a cold laugh. “Who are you kidding? Of all people to impersonate, you’re trying to be the CEO of the Gu family enterprises? Why would a big CEO come to this godforsaken place and be stuck outside the barricade like everyone else?”

Father Gu was close to losing his temper. “I’m really the CEO of the Gu family enterprises.”

As he spoke, he handed the staff member his name card.

However, the staff member didn’t reach out to accept it but instead gave him a once over with a wry smile. “Oh wow, you even have props and are dressed to the T for the role. I say… why don’t you learn a trick or two from the veteran paparazzi in your line? Who are you trying to kid, man? It’s too over the top!”

Paparazzi would take on different personas in trying to enter film sites, but few tried to impersonate CEOs. These positions were too senior and tended to be busy people with a ton of appointments. It was a persona that was easy to see through.

The veins on Father Gu’s neck were green from him trying to hold in his anger. He never expected to be so disrespected and ridiculed by such a lowly staff member. He was cursing Xia Ling in his heart over and over, but could only take a deep breath to compose himself after thinking about the predicament that his darling daughter was in.

“Go tell Ye Xingling that I’m here. She recognizes me and will know that I am indeed the Gu family enterprise CEO.”

The staff member gave him a look of disdain. “Just get lost.”

He walked away from Father Gu after leaving these last words.

Father Gu was furious and could not stop himself from shouting profanities at the staff member despite his usual composure. On the other end, Xia Ling was still walking along the beach and making turns for the camera, a picture of grace and elegance.

A paparazzi standing to the side patted Father Gu on the shoulder with a pitiful expression on his face. “Hey bro… you’re new to this, aren’t you? Let me give you a word of advice… next time don’t impersonate CEOs or government officials. Just stick to delivery men or something along those lines.”

“Who are you calling a delivery man?! Pfft… what a joke!” Father Gu shouted at him in agitation.

The paparazzi turned away and muttered to himself seeing that his kindness was not appreciated. “What kind of attitude was that? How does he expect to stay in this line with a temper like that? He should just go be a delivery boy instead!”

These words were muttered loud enough such that Father Gu heard him loud and clear, making him even angrier.

Father Gu dialed his subordinates and snapped at them. “Hey, find me that b*tch Ye Xingling’s number right this instant! What?! You can’t find it? You can only get me her manager’s number? Fine! That will do! Give it to me!”

He called Lin Yunan after receiving his contact number.

Lin Yunan was leaning lazily on a huge rock with the assistant director as they admired Xia Ling and the film scene from afar when he received the sudden call from Father Gu. He wondered to himself, “What is Father Gu doing here?”

However, he answered politely, “CEO Gu? Hello, hello… What did you say? You’re just outside the barricades? Alright, hang on a second! I’ll come right out to get you!”

He hung up but didn’t move from where he was, continuing to admire the scenery in front of him.

The assistant director asked, “Brother Lin, aren’t you going to get him?”

Lin Yunan laughed and rolled his eyes. “Dummy! Did you think I meant it when I asked him to wait a sec? He’s nothing to me, man.”

The assistant director shuddered. Brother Lin, the dude is the head of the Gu family enterprises. That’s an enormous MNC, what do you mean he’s nothing to you?

Lin Yunan continued, “Watch and learn… Why am I not hurrying over to get him? Since he’s stuck outside, that probably means he didn’t make a prior appointment. Xiao Ling and the Gu family aren’t close, and she doesn’t get along with Father Gu’s darling daughter. What good reason can there possibly be for him to be here? It’s more likely that he’s here to make trouble for Xiao Ling.”

“I have no idea what’s going on from Xiao Ling’s perspective. How can I just go meet him first?”

“I need to wait for Xiao Ling to finish filming her MV at the very least and ask her what’s going on before I go meet him.”

The assistant director nodded in realization. Brother Lin was truly Brother Lin, the star manager. A true veteran.