A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

“I… Did I do something wrong?” Ah Nuo asked carefully.

Big Boss and Madam Boss both nodded at him. Big Boss cleared his throat. “Did you pass the measurements meant for Xiao Ling to Su Tang?”

Ah Nuo jumped in shock. “No, no… that’s not possible… I wouldn’t make such a big mistake.” Even if he were careless, he wouldn’t pass something for Madam to her love rival. He wasn’t ready to die yet. He relayed honestly. “When I got the measurements from the tailor, I was going to send it to Miss Ling immediately. I was really only delayed for a few minutes… Boss, you asked me to get a tie from your apartment…”

As he spoke, he suddenly opened his eyes wide in realization. “Oh my, I was wrong! Boss, Miss Ling, I’m so sorry!”

“What are you saying?” Li Lei had a hunch that something was amiss.

Ah Nuo explained, “Boss, I went to get the tie for you from the room, and put the slip of paper with the measurements in the closet for the moment. When I left, I think I took the wrong one…”

His voice gradually grew smaller.

Li Lei recalled. “Every year I’ll tailor some clothes and the measurements are all stored in the closet near to the drawer where I keep my ties.”

Xia Ling was speechless. So this was just a huge blunder. She couldn’t resist chiding. “Why do you keep so many measurements in your house? Are you waiting to eat them?”

Li Lei had nothing to say. Actually, these matters were usually handled by Su Tang, and she loved to compare his measurements year on year, to check if he had gained or lost weight. Later, it became a habit and he had a drawer in his closet that kept all these measurements.

However, he couldn’t tell this backstory to Xia Ling. That would be courting death.

He told her, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go home and throw it all away.”

“Yes, throw them all away.” Xia Ling angrily responded. “All the clothes are now too big! Boohoohoo… what do I do now? Don’t you know that suits that don’t fit well look horrible?!”

Li Lei wanted to say that he couldn’t tell the difference.

But he knew that saying that would make Xiao Ling unhappier. Hence, he resisted the urge to do so.

Knowing that he had made a big mistake, Ah Nuo tried to salvage the situation. “Or… or… should I go look for the right measurements now? Miss Ling, maybe you can get the tailor to make a new outfit?”

“Do you think this fabric is so easily available?” Xia Ling was upset. The tailor had told her that she was extremely lucky to purchase this high-quality fabric made from goat wool and wild silk. The way it was woven together was also extremely special. This was the one and only reel of such fabric in the world.

She felt extremely depressed but caught sight of the guilty expression on Ah Nuo’s face when she looked up.

“Forget it… go busy yourself with your other matters.” She sighed. “There will definitely be an alternative solution. It’s just a suit, right? A small matter… don’t take it to heart…”

“But…” Ah Nuo felt really bad. Wasn’t this Boss’ engagement outfit?

“It isn’t his wedding outfit, why are you getting so nervous?” Xia Ling consoled. “I’m upset mainly because the suit that Su Tang made has measurements that are more accurate than the one I made… it’s nothing to do with the outfit itself.”

Ah Nuo went away feeling a bit better.

Li Lei was mildly touched at Xiao Ling’s reaction. He knew that Xiao Ling was heartbroken over the botched suit, and there was a grave disappointment in her beautiful eyes. However, she controlled her temper and consoled Ah Nuo instead, so that he wouldn’t feel too guilty about it.

That was because Ah Nuo was his trusted subordinate.

Hence, she was being considerate of him.

Feeling touched, Li Lei said something that he might live to regret. “Xiao Ling, you’re really so considerate and kind… I’m willing to do anything for a wife like you!”

“Really?” Xia Ling’s eyes narrowed, like a cat surveying her prey. “Anything at all? You’re not going to regret this?”

“No regrets!” Li Lei said rashly.

“Very good…” Xia Ling thought of something. “This suit is so beautiful… it’ll be a waste not to wear it. We can’t make any changes to it or else there will be alteration marks, which will make it imperfect. You should eat more in this period and gain some weight. Work hard to get yourself to a size that will fit this suit.”

As she spoke, she patted him on the shoulder in a show of support.

Hu… Huh??

Li Lei donned an expression of shock. Didn’t everyone alter clothing to fit them? Who had to gain weight to fit clothes? Even though it was just one size too big, did she think that it was easy trying to gain weight with his high metabolism? What’s more, he had to make sure that he gained weight such that the measurements for his shoulders, waist, and limbs matched those of the outfit.

He realized that he had just dug himself a pit.

Xia Ling became much happier, thinking that she had found the perfect solution. “Work hard to gain weight, I won’t despise you for being fat.” She smiled widely, feeling that she was the most intelligent being on the planet. This idea killed two birds with one stone—not only would Li Lei be able to fit the suit perfectly, but he also would not be able to fit into the suit that Su Tang bought after gaining weight.

That would anger Su Tang to death.

Li Lei didn’t know what she was thinking and tried to bargain. “Can you…”

“Nope, can’t!” Xia Ling rejected him before he finished his sentence.

Li Lei felt wronged. “But you haven’t heard what I was about to say…”

“Do I need to?” Xia Ling gave a cold laugh as she gave him a once over. “I was just thinking that you’ve lost some weight recently. So it was true. “Ah Nuo said that he got these measurements from your closet, which means you were more buff before. Make sure you get back to this size, do you understand?”

She was actually feeling worried for him for working long days and nights and losing weight from the stress of his schedule. Taking over the running of the Li Family was no easy task. She couldn’t help him with that, so all she could do was to supervise his exercise to make sure that he became buffer.

Li Lei wanted to say something more.

Xia Ling said, “It’s decided, then. I’ll get Ah Nuo to supervise you closely. He’ll be so happy to know that the problem with the suit can be solved through this method. Also, if the suit doesn’t fit on our engagement day, don’t even think of coming to my place. We will only get engaged when you can fit into the suit.”

Li Lei was completely speechless. What was all this?

However, the mere thought of wearing a suit that was one size too big for the engagement ceremony and the looks of disdain from the Xia Family members was too much for him to accept. Fine! Let’s do it! He couldn’t lose face in front of Xiao Ling’s family! He needed everyone to see that her fiancé was the most handsome in the world!

Li Lei clenched his fists in determination. It was just gaining some muscular mass, right? Easy!

He started the painful days of carbohydrate loading and exercising every day…