A Star Reborn: The Queen's Return

He returned to the office and called over a few of his trusted subordinates to open up an investigation. Tan Ying was also part of it. Tan Ying now was no longer just the general manager of the training camp. He also shouldered important responsibilities, and was one of his valuable side-kicks.

He asked Tan Ying, “You’ve been in the country for the longest time. Naturally, you’re the most familiar with the entertainment world. Does Madam usually have any enemies?” Since he was unable to investigate the hit-and-run driver, he was going to flip it around and investigate based on what kind of people Xia Ling could have offended. Who would hold such a deep grudge against her that they were desperate to take their lives?

Tan Ying said, “Madam has offended some people, but they are all small contradictions such as fighting over an advertisement. None of them are enough to anger anyone until they are willing to risk offending the Li family in order to murder her secretly. Boss, I’m guessing it is someone who has grievances toward the Li family. Since he is unable to harm you, he has diverted his attention to Madam and the children.”

His words made sense, and a fire ignited itself in Li Lei.

Another of his sidekicks said, “There are some who have a deep-seated hatred—Madam has married you, and has even fostered Young Master Rui. This brings deep hatred to Miss Su Tang.”

Li Lei’s heart skipped a beat. How could he have forgotten about her?

He heard Tan Ying reprimand. “Jack, what are you saying! Su Tang has been fighting alongside us for so many years and is utterly loyal to Boss. How could she have tried to murder Boss’s wife and children?!”

Jack said, “Being loyal to Boss doesn’t mean being loyal to Madam.”

Su Tang’s popularity in the Li family was indeed good, but there were bound to be some who were not affected and could analyze the situation calmly.

Tan Ying was about to say something, but Li Lei had already calmed down. He said, “Investigate Su Tang as well as the enemies of Li family. See which forces have been active in S City and investigate them too.”

“Boss!” Tan Ying was anxious. “You will hurt Su Tang’s feelings if you do this!”

“Tan Ying.” Li Lei stared straight at him. In the dim light, his eyes were as sharp as a falcon in hunting. “Can I trust you?”

Tan Ying was even more anxious. “Of course! You have seen my loyalty all these years!” In a hurry to show his loyalty, he addressed his Boss honorifically, which he rarely did. “Boss, I’m only speaking for Su Tang because I hope everyone can get along cordially. I don’t want to see any disturbances within the Li family!”

“If anything terrible happens to Xia Ling, that will be the true disturbance.”

“Su Tang can see the big picture, she would never harm Madam!”

“Won’t she,” Li Lei said softly, as if he were asking Tan Ying or talking to himself. Perhaps Su Tang was a woman who could see the big picture in other situations, but regarding love... He thought back about the woman who had passed through the primitive jungle alone, enduring humiliation in order to rescue him from dying... His heart ached as if a needle had pierced itself into him.

“I hope it’s not her too,” Li Lei said. “However, nobody can maintain their wits in the face of love. Tan Ying, let me ask you, if it was really Su Tang who had tried to murder Xiao Ling, would you stand on her side?”

“Su Tang wouldn’t...”

“I’m saying what if.”

Tan Ying was silent. He looked at Li Lei’s serious expression, and arranged his own too. He gave his answer, “If it was really Su Tang, I would never protect her.” Even though in terms of personal feelings, his affection for Su Tang was far greater than for Xia Ling, but he understood that Xia Ling was now the Li family’s matriarch. The Li family’s future heir was also Xia Ling’s son. Hence, Xia Ling’s safety was more important than a hundred Su Tangs added together. He could not be confused because of his personal feelings.

“Good.” Li Lei stared at him. “I will hand the investigation of Su Tang to you. Whether she is innocent or guilty, I will leave it up to you to find out.”

“Boss!” This time, it was Jack who was anxious. How could he let Tan Ying investigate Su Tang? If Su Tang was the real murderer, but her crimes were covered by Tan Ying, what could he do?!

Tan Ying was shocked too. He had not thought that Li Lei would hand such an important task to him.

“Boss?” He asked uncertainly.

“If you don’t think you can handle the task, you can reject it,” Li Lei said calmly. As the saying went: Untrusted men cannot be appointed, but those appointed should be fully trusted. He did not want such a valuable subordinate to remain spiteful and have thorns in his heart over Su Tang’s matter. Hence, he had decided to take the opportunity to let Tan Ying investigate the truth for himself. Li Lei did not wish for Su Tang to be the murderer too, but what if it really was Su Tang? With Tan Ying’s testimony, those in the Li family who were on Su Tang’s side would have nothing to say.

He did this for Tan Ying and those subordinates, and also for Xia Ling.

This was the only way where if Su Tang was the true criminal, the subordinates would not be able to complain against Xia Ling.

No matter what, Xia Ling was still an outsider. To have a firm standing in the Li family, it was simply not enough to have a son. It would also take a long time to integrate and operate inside.

Li Lei hoped that one day, the subordinates would protect Xia Ling just like how they were protecting Su Tang.

Tan Ying stared at Li Lei, his expression perplexed. After a long while, he said, “I can take on the mission.”

Li Lei smiled. “Don’t disappoint me.”

The matter was thus settled. Tan Ying began his investigation on Su Tang. All traces of Su Tang’s whereabouts were investigated; where she had been to, the people she had met with, those she had called...

Su Tang never imagined that the person secretly investigating her would actually be Tan Ying, who was always on her side. She did not have any precautions against Tan Ying and had left some clues unknowingly. These clues caught Tan Ying’s vigilance, and even if Tan Ying was reluctant to admit it, his high professionalism still made him take action—he installed several monitors and bugs in Su Tang’s residence. Soon, he obtained evidence.

[What a useless piece of trash, how could you have failed to kill even one?!] In the room, Su Tang had called the killer in utter discomfit. [You still have the nerve to ask me for money?! Get lost!]

It was unknown what the person on the other end had said, but Su Tang had replied in annoyance, [Don’t drag in these unrelated topics. So what if Li Rui is my son? He alone can be exchanged for Ye Xingling and Li Shaohui, it’s worth it!]

After a while she said, [Don’t bother threatening me. You solve the problem you yourself created! Isn’t that wretch still lying in the hospital? Find some way to get rid of her! I’ll double the price! If you can’t get rid of her, then don’t expect to get the rest of the money!] After saying that, she hung up the phone in a fit of rage.

Tan Ying was beyond shocked.

He had not imagined that it would actually be Su Tang! It turns out that Su Tang, who had always been so elegant and generous, actually had such a vicious ugly side. When she had screamed that Xia Ling was a “wretch”, what had been the difference between her and a city shrew? What was even more terrifying was that she had said she could use Li Rui to exchange for the lives of Ye Xingling and Shaohui...

As the saying went: Even a tiger would not eat its own cubs. This woman’s heart was even more wicked than that of a tiger’s!

If that huge lorry had hit, let alone Ye Xingling, both of Li Lei’s children would have been killed! The Li family only had these two young masters which the whole family was dutifully protecting. But under her words, they had become worthless sacrifices! Tan Ying’s heart jumped to his throat. This was the first time he felt that women like Su Tang could never be married.