A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Xia Ling had seen the script and found it alright.

The role she was to audition for was a dancer who would perform a beautiful dance at a palace event before killing the emperor. The role required the performer to be extremely skilled in dance, and the character of the role was not easy to grasp and present as well. If done properly, it would be a highly interesting and fantastic act. However, the level of difficulty was extremely high, and any lack of cautiousness could ruin the portrayal of the role.

Li Lei asked her how the script was.

She said, “I’ll have to discuss it with Sister Mai Na.”

Li Lei looked hurt. “Why not with me?”

Xia Ling simply said, “Can you tell the difference between folk dance and classical dance? Or the difference between ‘War and Death’ and ‘The Gambler’?” This Big Boss was good at everything, but he was indeed lacking in professionalism. The first time they met, he had not even heard of the best-selling song from her previous life that brought to fame. The previous night, when Lin Yuanyi mentioned “War and Death,” his look of confusion revealed his complete ignorance of it. Xia Ling sometimes shared Lin Yuanyi’s sentiments — landing in the hands of somebody so unreliable, how had Skyart Entertainment not shut down yet?

Li Lei was even more hurt now, but Xia Ling was speaking the truth, and he had no way to refute it.

Sister Mai Na arrived quickly. She was a top-tier manager indeed – after having an understanding about “War and Death” and the role, she paused for a mere moment before saying, “Take it up.”

Xia Ling asked, “Are you not afraid that I wouldn’t do a good job?” She was nowhere as confident about her acting as she was about her singing. In her previous life, she had only acted in a grand total of one film, and that role was one that Imperial had specially tailored for her.

Sister Mai Na said, “This is a rare opportunity. Although this role is not easy to act out, it suits you quite well, and there isn’t that much screen time, so if you put in more effort for it there shouldn’t be a big issue. There are so many big shots in this show, and it is a blockbuster. You have a four and a half minutes solo dance scene… it’s definitely worth fighting for.”

The entertainment circle was not a place where accumulating experience meant the most, so it would be foolish not to take a shortcut.

Nobody would give up the chance to rise to fame.

Hence, Xia Ling nodded. “Alright, I’ll take it.”

She gave Wei Shaoyin a call to let him know that she would not be able to go to the recording studio for a while and that her priority would be to secure the role in “War and Death” first. Not only did Wei Shaoyin not make things difficult for her, he simply restlessly replied, “Alright, go ahead.”

His response got Xia Ling worried instead. “Ah Wei, what’s the matter, are you unwell?”

On the other end of the line, Wei Shaoyin was in the recording studio, wearing his crisp and clean white shirt with a memorial album between his slender fingers. The album had a black kraft cover with a gold butterfly on it, and besides the butterfly were two words in a beautiful handwritten font — Her Masterpieces.

It was the Diva Xia Ling’s last album.

The album included the newly released “The Caged Butterfly” and some of her other songs.

Wei Shaoyin stroked the butterfly gently. “Xia Ling’s last album, have you listened to it? I suggest you listen to it. Feng Kun’s a jerk, he’s using past records to boost their image… But, Xiao Ling, we have to postpone our original schedule for the song release, because this album that the jerk has put together has awed everyone again!”

It was rare to hear Wei Shaoyin praise Feng Kun, even though it was with the word “jerk.”

Xia Ling was stunned for a while before the second thought flashed past her — a new album from her previous life? What in the world?

She was very sure that there was the only song she had not released, which was “Caged Butterfly,” unless Feng Kun actually produced a version with no background music, several versions of mixed audio, and several versions of accompaniment… and shamelessly made up an album with those?

Forget it, that was not the main point. The main point was: “How long would the postponement be?”

“We definitely have to wait until the hype about this new album is subdued.” Wei Shaoyin was desolated. “In any case, it’s impossible for us to get it out in time for this year’s Best New Artiste Award. Whether it’s yours or not depends on your luck.”

“My luck…” Was not all that good.

Xia Ling wanted to mock herself, but considering Wei Shaoyin’s fragile current state, she swallowed the urge. She smiled. “Yup, that’s alright. We’re just one song down anyway, I, Big Sister, will still fight my way through.”

“You’re barely of age.” Wei Shaoyin scoffed.

“I’ll be 19 next year.” Xia Ling countered. The days passed quickly indeed. It had been long since she revived. She joked with Wei Shaoyin for a bit and waited until he felt better before she hung up.

In the following days, she spent all her time practicing her dance in preparation for the audition.

The audition criteria for “War and Death” was high — not only did candidates have to choreograph their own dance item, they were even required to include several Grade S dance moves. Time was tight, and Xia Ling tried a few different choreographies before deciding on one.

As the day arrived, Li Lei knocked on her door and said he would send her to the audition.

“You’re coming with me?” Xia Ling furrowed her brows.

Li Lei laughed. “A boyfriend sending his girlfriend there, that’s a given.” He often fetched her when she worked overtime in the recording studio as well, but that was different — there were no outsiders in the recording studio, but now they were going out, in public.

Xia Ling was worried that their relationship would be exposed.

Li Lei casually said, “I’ll be good. I won’t bring you any trouble nor expose our relationship.”

Looking at how he appeared so expectant, Xia Ling’s heart softened. “Alright.”

Li Lei was extremely glad that his innocent act worked. “Oh, also, tell your assistant she need not come along.”

“Why?”

“I’m sending you there, why do I need to send someone else?” His expression changed quickly and was now looking hurt again. “You’re really treating me like a chauffeur.”

“But…”

“But what?”

“I won’t be the only one at the audition, and all the other artistes will have their assistant with them. If mine doesn’t come along, I’ll lack prestige.”

“Prestige?” Li Lei grinned widely. “Am I not enough to give you prestige?”

Xia Ling was speechless.

Oh, Boss, if the assistant came along, it would be obvious to everyone who the assistant was. But with him, how were they going to explain their relationship? If she dared reveal his identity, gossip would be all over the tabloids the next day, along with speculations of a minor celebrity seducing a rich man…

Xia Ling was vexed.

Li Lei could see her frustration and offered. “How about I let you have Su Tang for a while?”

The image of that beautiful lady with eyes as cold as jade came to mind, and she had an internal battle with herself before deciding she could not afford to have her. Moreover, it did not help with the explanation, why would a Big Boss’s special assistant decide to be at her beck and call?

“Forget it.” Xia Ling surrendered. “Just the two of us then — but don’t tell anyone that you’re my boyfriend, and don’t mention that you’re my boss either.”

“Sure.” Li Lei grinned in satisfaction. “I don’t mind revealing my identity.”

“I do!”