A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Xia Ling was quiet for a long time before eventually nodding.

It was not because she had been convinced but because she did not want to listen to Sister Mai Na’s persuasion anymore. She knew that Sister Mai Na had good intentions and only gave her such advice because she was really looking out for her. However, she could only appreciate Sister Mai Na’s good intentions, as her experiences with Pei Ziheng were too horrifying and complicated that there was no need for anyone else to know about them. As such, she was unable to tell Sister Mai Na why she insisted on rejecting him.

After some time, Sister Mai Na would forget about this situation and settling it then would not be too late.

On the other hand, Sister Mai Na thought that Xia Ling had accepted it and smiled. “That’s a good girl.”

Xia Ling took the property file home with mixed feelings. She laid on the sofa and looked at it over and over in a daze. It was definitely Number 666. This villa was supposed to be Xia Yu’s, but today, it was used by Pei Ziheng as a random gift.

What about Number 1314, then? What will be its fate?

Pei Ziheng would have probably given it away as well, right?

She was lost in her thoughts for a while before hearing the doorbell ring.

Er Mao, who was napping on the carpet, open its eyes and looked at her before looking at the door and lightly wagged its tail.

Thus, Xia Ling knew who her visitor was. Only when Big Boss Li visited would her pet leopard be willing to react. “Er Mao, open the door,” she said lazily.

This leopard understood humans and was practically trained into a dog by Li Lei. It was proficient at catching frisbees, opening doors, and all sorts of other tricks. The only trait it lacked was that it did not know how to bark. After hearing what she said, Uncle Er Mao moved its furry ears, got up gracefully, and walked to the door with solemn steps. It straightened its two hind legs and used its paw to press a switch, causing the door to open silently.

“Yo, Er Mao.” It was, without a doubt, Li Lei. Unsurprisingly, as soon as he saw Er Mao, he smiled and bent down to scratch its chin to affectionately greet it.

Er Mao used its large head to rub its owner’s trouser legs before walking to another side of the carpet to lie down.

Li Lei walked to the sofa and looked down at Xia Ling, who was sprawled on it, and said, “Stop being so lazy… Get up! Come to eat something with me.” He thought that he was truly the world’s best landlord. Not only was lodging included, so was food. As long as both of them were home, he would always drag her out to eat with him.

Xia Ling did not feel like moving. She slowly turned her body and sat up straight.

Due to her movements, the large stack of real estate licenses and gift agreements fell and spread out on the ground.

Li Lei squatted to help her pick up the documents and glanced at the contents. He paused before speaking. “Green Hill Pavilions? Pei Ziheng is gifting you one of the villas there?”

Xia Ling took the files from his hands without saying anything.

She was becoming closer to Li Lei, but there were some limits to their closeness. They could eat and laugh together, but not discuss deeper topics. The situation with Pei Ziheng was her heart’s largest secret and most painful wound. Just touching on the topic would hurt her tremendously. She would rather this secret be kept in the dark forever than for anyone to dig it up.

Li Lei lifted his head to look at her and his gaze hardened. “Why is Pei Ziheng giving you something?”

“It’s nothing.” she said as she stuffed the stack of files into the large brown envelope and placed it a distance away from him. “He was trying to apologize for misunderstanding me during the scolding fiasco.”

Her casual attitude caused his face to darken further. “It was only an apology, yet he gave you such an expensive villa as a gift?”

Xia Ling frowned. “Boss, this is my private matter.” She did not like the way he was interrogating her like a criminal. At the end of the day, this was not Li Lei’s problem. Why should she explain further to him?

“Return it,” said Li Lei.

Xia Ling’s face turned cold. “I’ve already said that this is my private matter.”

“I said to return it.” His voice toughened.

On the carpet, Er Mao, who was having a catnap, lightly raised its head and looked at them with some alertness.

“No,” she said. She did not like it when others interfered in her problems. Besides, Li Lei’s interference this time was really crossing the line. She looked at him with some indifference, refusing to give in.

Li Lei started to become annoyed. “Xiao Ling, do you like the villas in that area? I’ll give you one of them as a gift. Pei Ziheng is not a good person. You can’t accept his things. Return the files to him immediately. Right now!”

“I’m very well aware that he is not a good person,” said Xia Ling. “Also, I don’t want you to give me a villa.”

“You won’t accept mine but you are willing to accept his?!” Li Lei’s facial muscles tensed.

Xia Ling looked at his expression with a hint of timidity but quickly regained her composure. “These are two different things, Li Lei.” She was not too happy and did not call him “Boss”. Instead, she directly called his name. “Besides, Li Lei, who am I to you anyway? Saying that you will give me a villa… Do you think this is like giving me a card or a packet of snacks?”

How would she dare to accept such a large amount of property for absolutely no reason?

Li Lei asked in a low voice, “Who is he to you, then?”

Xia Ling tightened her lips and did not say anything else.

Who was Pei Ziheng to her? Ha, that was so complicated that it was impossible to explain it clearly in words. Their entanglement was deep and lasted two lifetimes. She struggled to escape and lock him up, but that man was everywhere…

Such that even now, he was being brought up by Li Lei.

Seeing that she was speechless, Li Lei’s heart slowly sank. He was not an idiot. He had realized since a long time ago that her heart had been taken by someone. He recalled that time when they were evading the rain in the mountains. She had a high fever and kept whispering “Brother Pei”…

The surname “Pei” was uncommon, yet the only “Pei” involved in her life was Pei Ziheng.

As time passed, he realized that everytime he mentioned Pei Ziheng’s name, she would have an unusual look on her face. Although it was covered up very well, he still could see past her façade.

“Who exactly is Pei Ziheng to you?” He wanted to force an answer out of her.

Xia Ling still reluctantly raised her head. “None of your business.”

“Very well.” Li Lei was furious, yet he smiled. He swiftly snatched the villa gift agreement from the table and tore it into shreds. The pieces of paper drifted and landed in between the two.

“You!” Xia Ling was shocked and mad. She did not think that he would do that.

“I will buy another villa for you as a gift,” said Li Lei. “But you can’t accept this one.”

“I refuse to accept your villa even more!” Xia Ling was also fuming and smiled coldly. “Li Lei, stop being so self-righteous. Do you think that just because you have your stinking money you can take my personal belongings as your own and do whatever you want?! What makes you think that just because that villa was given by you means I would definitely want it? Let me tell you, even if you give me one hundred or even one thousand villas, they can never replace this one!”

That was right. She did not want the villa that Pei Ziheng gave her, but that did not mean that she could tolerate Li Lei doing things as he pleased.

No matter how much she did not want the villa, it was already hers now. What gave him the right to ruin it?!

Since he was like that, how was he any different from Pei Ziheng?