A Star Reborn: The Queen's Return

Ye Xingfei was stunned for a while before scoffing. “Don’t act like you’re not bothered.”

Xia Ling spoke slowly and surely, “Who in the singing world can surpass me? I really wish I had a competitor. Otherwise, it gets boring after a while. Feifei, I came from Skyart’s training camp, and now I’m sending you there as well. As for how far you can go... it depends on you.”

Ye Xingfei did not expect to be granted such an opportunity after creating such a scene.

However, she was not the least bit grateful. “Drop your pretense. Back then, I’d gotten into Skyart’s training camp on my own ability, I don’t need you to send me there. You, on the other hand... did you think you could’ve been selected if not for me? You should thank me!”

Xia Ling looked at her like she was a joke. How nice it must feel to be young and naive, to be able to insist on one’s unreasonable fallacy. Rather than feeling annoyed, she felt sorrier for Ye Xingfei’s lack of intellect—it’d been difficult to find someone less intelligent than herself in her last lifetime.

She did not say more and took her leave.

The bodyguard still did not release Ye Xingfei. He kept her in the lounge until Tan Ying, who’d received instructions, came to pick her up and send her to the training camp. Manager Tan had a way with disciplining others, and chances were that it wouldn’t take long before Ye Xingfei kept her mouth shut in front of the media representatives.

After this minor hiccup, Xia Ling got to her work and completed her shoot a little past her scheduled time.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” She rushed out and told Li Lei before she even changed out or removed her makeup. “Where are we going for dinner tonight?”

Li Lei’s eyes shimmered. “I’ll take you to a good place.”

He led her to the car and drove to a high-end club at the border of the city.

Xia Ling got off the car, and the once quiet place suddenly illuminated, revealing the familiar faces of Wei Shaoyin, Feng Kun, Sister Mai Na, and even Bai Murong, Luo Luo and more.

“Xiao Ling, congratulations!” A group of them popped party poppers at her. “Congrats on finding your family! When are you going to marry Boss?”

Xia Ling was a little shocked by this. “What are all of you doing here?”

Luo Luo spoke for everyone, “It’s Boss’ idea. He said we should throw a celebration for you, and at the same time hold a gathering since we haven’t met in a while. Xiao Ling, you’re amazing, you actually managed to acknowledge the Xia family as your kin. I heard they’re extremely rich and powerful, is that true?”

Luo Luo wasn’t in the high society and had not heard about the tales of the Xia family.

Xia Ling smiled. “Rich or not, they’re still eating three meals a day and sleeping on a bed. And since we’re finally all here today, let’s have a good time tonight.”

The group of them huddled and walked into the club.

There were champagne pyramids and cocktail tables all around the clubhouse. Under the enchanting lights, and with the string ensemble’s accompaniment, the place was like a dream set.

Xia Ling drank as she caught up with these old friends.

Feng Kun approached her. “Congratulations, Xiao Ling. After all these years of suffering, it’s finally paid off.” Although everyone present was her friend, the only person who truly understood her difficulties in both lifetimes was Feng Kun. This man had watched Xia Ling throughout her journey—from the little girl that Pei Ziheng pampered, to the Diva she became after years of practice, and then having her wings broken as she reached rock bottom... followed by her reincarnation and the struggles she faced, before finally achieving what she did today.

“I truly admire all that you’ve done and overcome,” said Feng Kun from the bottom of his heart.

Xia Ling was a little tipsy. “When someone’s forced into that situation, they don’t really have a choice but to work around it. Moreover, thankfully, I had Li Lei with me.”

Thankfully, he had been her guardian angel.

“To you and Li Lei.” Feng Kun raised his cocktail.

“Cheers.” Xia Ling downed her cocktail.

As the party reached its climax, the string ensemble began playing faster-paced songs as well. A few of them got onto the dance floor and began dancing to the music. Meanwhile, Xia Ling was having a mild headache from the alcohol and decided to take a breather at the garden outside.

The garden was quiet, with the only sounds being the rustling of the leaves and a vague tune coming from the clubhouse.

She stood there alone for a while before hearing a foreign voice. “Miss Ling.”

She turned around and realized that it was a man she’d never seen. A man with deep-set features and dressed in a tailor-made suit was looking at her politely. But she knew that behind that polite expression, he was sizing her up, almost like one was assessing a prey. It made her uncomfortable.

She tensed up intuitively.

“You don’t have to be so tense.” That man could sense that she was getting defensive and attempted to be a little less cold. Perhaps because he had been too used to looking at this world with those cold and ruthless eyes, his attempt failed.

Xia Ling was still looking at him with caution. “How did you get in? The whole place is booked tonight.”

The man said, “A booking can’t stop me. I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Wei Lingnan. You’ve probably heard Wei Shaoyin mention me.”

Wei Lingnan?

Xia Ling did not find the name familiar at all, but on closer look, he did share some semblance with Wei Shaoyin. In fact, even his clean-cut disposition was similar to Wei Shaoyin’s.

The difference was that Ah Wei gave the impression of a proud, elegant man, while this person made others feel threatened.

She dared not let her guard down. “How are you related to Ah Wei?”

The man smiled, but before he answered her question, Ah Wei’s nervous voice could be heard ringing through the hallway. “Uncle! What are you doing here?!”

Wei Shaoyin rushed towards them and grabbed Xia Ling’s arm, pulling her back a step. He seemed frightened and looked at Wei Lingnan even more cautiously than Xia Ling did.

Xia Ling was curious now.

“He’s your uncle?” She recalled now, vaguely, that Wei Shaoyin or Li Lei had indeed mentioned something about the Weis. It was said that the head of the Wei family was now Wei Shaoyin’s uncle, who possessed an incredibly large amount of biochemical weapons. If they were to be released, it could cause destruction.

Xia Ling remembered how a long time ago, just a tiny amount of the Wei’s chemicals had disfigured a girl completely. The horrifying image was still branded in her mind; it was basically the real-life version of a human turning into a zombie.

She felt a chill down her spine and subconsciously backed off a few steps.

“It seems like you’ve heard of me, indeed.” Wei Lingnan smiled again. “Relax, I’m not that scary.”