A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

A few directors hung their heads low and kept quiet upon being scolded.

Xie Linlang stood by the side and quietly said, “It’s my fault. I’m not good enough.”

Tan Ying rubbed his temple and softened his tone. “It’s not your fault.” If Xia Ling did not use a falsetto today, they would still be able to fight it out. But competitions were cruel, whoever was more talented would beat the other.

Xie Linlang already reached her potential today and did very well.

She really couldn’t be blamed for this outcome.

“Ha.” Somebody in the meeting room let out a cold laugh. The laughter shocked a few people, causing them to their heads around instinctively. As expected, it was Wei Shaoyin.

Ever since Xia Ling was forced to leave Skyart, he and Tan Ying had not been on talking terms.

Tan Ying did not have an easy time dealing with him, this Arrogant Wei was really not one to offend. His family business was no smaller than Skyart Entertainment, and he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Nobody could go against him even if he made a mess of Skyart, much less give a snide laugh.

Tan Ying took a deep breath and pretended not to have heard it.

But Wei Shaoyin let out another one. “Do you really think that if Xiao Ling didn’t use a falsetto, Linlang would be able to beat her with some hard work? Aren’t you too naive!”

Tan Ying did not wish to argue with him, but seeing the desolate look on Xie Linlang’s face as well as the rest of the directors, he felt a need to voice out, “Ye Xingling is your precious, but you’d better not be too biased! She’s already left Skyart and is an outsider now, how could you be on her side? Moreover… how is Xie Linlang unable to beat Ye Xingling? Ye Xingling’s just equipped with a falsetto!”

Wei Shaoyin snorted.

Tan Ying was about to scream at him for being so rude. Wei Shaoyin was really going overboard! It was Xie Linlang who quietly said, “Let’s talk about what we should do from here.”

They didn’t come together for an argument. Xie Linlang was just a singer with no background or power and dared not offend the superiors in the company. Being caught between Tan Ying and Wei Shaoyin made things difficult for her.

The tension between Tan Ying and Wei Shaoyin had been rising for a while now, and Tan Ying finally found someone who was also being targeted by Wei Shaoyin. He hurriedly found an ally. “Linlang, tell me. If Ye Xingling did not have a falsetto, would you be able to beat her?”

Xie Linlang was caught in a fix.

She honestly didn’t think she would be able to win. Ye Xingling wasn’t just good at showing off her skills, her voice was also packed with layers of emotions that only the best of the best could manage. To the laymen, Ye Xingling simply had a good voice, but to the professionals, they knew just how difficult it was to attain that level.

But if she spoke the truth, it would embarrass Manager Tan.

Tan Ying figured the answer in her moment of hesitation.

His expression turned awful as he secretly cursed at how meek Xie Linlang was. However, in order to maintain his dignity, he changed the subject and started discussing the upcoming plans.

He felt that Skyart should have some publicity strategies in order to mitigate the negative impact on their image.

However, with Xia Ling’s overpowering prowess, their attempts were all in vain. Instead of improving the situation, everybody was getting even more excited for Xia Ling’s next performance — the venue was the same as the one Skyart had picked. This time, Skyart’s singers were going to be Lu Tao and Leng Hui, the pair of street dancers.

Lu Tao went to look for Xia Ling in private. He was desperate. “Sister, Goddess, Grandma… on account of our past, could you please let me off? My team’s popularity is nowhere comparable to yours, to begin with, and after all that news, the disparity is pathetic.”

Xia Ling looked at him half smilingly. “Oh?”

“Sister, Goddess, Grandma!” Lu Tao pleaded.

Xia Ling smiled as she recalled the days spent in Skyart’s training camp. Back then, she had still been immersed in the pain from her previous life and unable to escape. But on hindsight, that was also the time she met Li Lei. Those were the good days.

While Lu Tao was just a small part of those good memories.

Still so simple, so pure.

Lu Tao could not figure out what her smile meant, and so close to kneeling down to beg her. “I can give you anything, really! Sister, Sister Xiao Ling, just let me off this once, okay?”

“Uh, it’s not impossible.” Xia Ling said slowly.

Lu Tao’s eyes lit up. “You’re not competing against us at the head-to-head battle anymore?”

“You wish.” Xia Ling said simply.

Lu Tao was upset again.

“But…”

“But what?” Lu Tao’s eyes came to life again.

Xia Ling reached into her little handbag and took out two concert tickets. She handed it to Lu Tao. “Come and support me.”

“Ah?” Lu Tao was confused.

She did not explain further and simply waved her hand and walked away.

Lu Tao was still in a daze as he watched her leave. What’s this, he came here to ask for help and ended up with two concert tickets. Wasn’t this helping her opponent gain even more popularity? He had no idea what to make of it.

The following day, Lu Tao arrived at Skyart’s dance studio.

His assistant came up to him. “Brother Tao, how did it go?”

“What do you mean how did it go.” Lu Tao wasn’t very friendly. “I think the odds are against us, we’d better try harder.”

“Didn’t you say that you’re on very good terms with Miss Ye? That a chat with her was all it would take for her to not compete with our team any more?” The assistant asked.

“Yes, that’s what I said.” Lu Tao straightened up in an attempt to look high and mighty. “But how could I possibly do such a thing? I’m a man. I’d rather face my challenges than ask her for help.”

The assistant looked at him with admiration.

Meanwhile, Leng Hui looked up at him, expressionless.

Lu Tao immediately felt his conscience gnaw at him.

Well, now that his plan had failed, he had no choice but to start preparing for the concert.

He warmed up his body, all ready for an intensive training session.

“You don’t have to be so hard on yourself.” Leng Hui suddenly said.

Lu Tao responded, “How could I not? I don’t want to lose too humiliatingly!” This duo was considered one of the best in the line of street dance, but they were still a notch below Ye Xingling, who was somewhat considered a Diva now. To be fair, he was already not in her league when they first met at the training camp a few years back. Now, her singing had only improved. He was definitely not her match, but he was still hoping to put up a good fight to maintain his dignity.

“Don’t you know? Ye Xingling has spread the news.” Leng Hui said calmly.

“What news?” Lu Tao was genuinely unaware of it.

Leng Hui said, “She issued a challenge and asked if Skyart dares to take it up.”

“What? Damn it!” Lu Tao was so shocked he could barely watch his language. It was bad enough that she didn’t let them off or help them out on account of their past. Now, she was even going the extra mile and adding fuel to fire by issuing a challenge? He felt more exasperated than ever…