A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Pei Ziheng’s voice was soft, but Chu Chen heard it clearly—

I’ll take it that I didn’t hear it this time around—this simply meant that if he were to say this again, awaiting him would be strict punishment! This was the first time Pei Ziheng had talked to him in this tone.

Everyone had their bottom line which couldn’t be infringed upon.

Staring at the “dragon amongst man” walk away, Chu Chen’s heart palpitated. He realized that his shirt was drenched with his cold sweat. He felt that he was bewitched. Else, he would not have been so stupid to go over the line. After working with his boss for so long, he should have learned that for some things and tasks, he should only listen and follow orders, instead of probing more.

After that night, he hid this matter deep down in his heart and never talked about it again.

He was still Pei Ziheng’s right-hand man: assisting him in handling everything about Xia Ling, contacting the slave-training club, buying those shameful and not-to-be-seen equipment, giving the excuse of “recovering from disease” during press releases to cover up the fact that she had been imprisoned, and even negotiating with Wang Jiawo to promise that the Wang Family would not assert revenge against her.

Everything was under his control.

Occasionally, when he looked for Pei Ziheng at the secret lock-up, he would see Xia Ling as well.

That demoness-like woman looked even more haggard. She was pale and skinny, almost like a piece of paper that could be gone with the wind. She was very obedient and her ankles were locked with thin gold chains. Even when her skin was scratched and bloodied, she did not dare to scream. She lay tamely in Pei Ziheng’s arms, and when he released her from his embrace, she would even look up at him with admiration.

Well, everyone led a different life.

Chu Chen told himself, it was great that she was able to get along with his boss again.

Pei Ziheng told Chu Chen, “I am planning to let her out.”

Chu Chen was not surprised. Now that the murder case of Wang Jingwan had died down, and she had become obedient, it was impossible to lock her up for eternity. Moreover…

He recalled the look in Pei Ziheng’s eyes as he browsed through her past photos that night in the “Honor Hall” of Imperial Entertainment.

Beneath his solemn appearance, he actually missed the flying butterfly. After all, beauty trapped in a cage was not truly beautiful. Maybe deep down in their hearts, they all had a secret longing—a longing that the vain butterfly would return.

Unfortunately, things went wrong before that day arrived.

When the stage lights dimmed, Chu Chen knew instinctively that something was wrong. This was City S’s best concert hall. Professionals would have checked the equipment thoroughly before every show. How could they make such a lowly mistake like a power shortage? He had jumped to his feet, but before he could break through the horde of audience and the security, the lights had switched back on. Following which were screams of terror from the crowd…

The butterfly had fallen.

Looking back, Chu Chen did not understand how he managed to survive that period. He had to settle her funeral, handle the queries from reporters, console the dejected Pei Zhiheng while maintaining his focus against those power-hungry people eyeing Pei Ziheng’s seat in Imperial… he was so busy that he did not have time to mourn her death.

Chu Chen’s mother asked, “That girl who came over to eat, she died just like that?”

Chu Chen rubbed his forehead, unable to answer her.

His mother sighed with sympathy. “It’s a pity, she was young and pretty. By the way, Chu Chen, remember to visit her tomb. And bring along the yam powder I made. She liked it a lot.”

He helped his mother make the yam powder before searching high and low for the antique Italian porcelain bowl that he brought home many years ago. It was a limited edition item, and even his mother was unwilling to use it.

His mother stopped him. “Why use such a rare and expensive antique as an offering bowl for her? We don’t reuse offering bowls, it will be such a waste.”

Chu Chen said, “I’ll buy another one for you.”

He insisted on using the bowl.

She was such a vain person, how would a normal bowl be fitting for her?

Ever since her death, every time he worked overtime till daybreak, or when he was tired and dizzy, an illusion would flash before his eyes—her eyes filled with hurt and disbelief, staring at him in despair as if saying, “Chu Chen, why did you lie to me?”

If only he plucked up the courage to grab her hands when she escaped.

If only he had tried harder to persuade Pei Ziheng when he was looking at the photo in Honor Hall.

Would there be a different ending? Without the tragedy?

However, dead men never rise. There was no point in regretting now.

He had always been a pragmatic person who did not allow himself to sink into such despair. He told himself again and again, “Look, this is how the weak end up. In this dog-eat-dog world, only the strong will survive.”

He would continue to follow Pei Ziheng until he got stronger.

Even though Xia Ling had passed on, he was still, without a doubt, the best agent in Imperial Entertainment, or even the entire industry. There were many artistes who wanted him to help them boost their popularity. To achieve this, the artistes schemed against each other every day, while he had a bird’s eye view of all their antics. He knew he would find a new source of entertainment very soon and get over her death.

Pei Ziheng assigned Xia Yu to him.

He threw himself back into work. But Xia Yu was different from her sister. She knew how to observe and examine the situation. Even when she threw her tantrums, she did it to an extent that abided by the unspoken rules of the entertainment circle, which meant that he did not need to clean up after her. And it turned out that there was simply… no fun.

He still missed his time as Xia Ling’s agent.

He still couldn’t get over her death.

Until Ye Xingling appeared.

The first time he saw her, her eyes caught his attention. After Xia Ling’s death, he would habitually use people’s eyes to rate them. Unfortunately, all of the artistes he met had disappointed him. None of them had eyes as pristine as Xia Ling’s.

But Ye Xingling was different.

Her eyes were like a clear, iridescent glass surface. Compared to Xia Ling’s eyes, her eyes were a different kind of distant and cold. However, it radiated innocence like a body of clear water.

He was deeply attracted to her.

As if he was looking aimlessly for someone else in her.

He knew that Pei Ziheng was also attracted to the innocent and mysterious air she exuded. In some ways, she was too similar to Xia Ling.

He accepted Pei Ziheng’s orders to turn her into his exclusive sex toy.

“From now on, things won’t be boring anymore.”

Chu Chen thought as he accepted the order.