A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return
chapter-111

Chapter 111: Don’t Be So Quick to Decline

Sister Mai Na also saw him, and her facial expression immediately became cold.

Chu Chen gave a gentle smile as he said, “That was an amazing postulation by the queen manager of Skyart Entertainment. Xia Yu is indeed in for a rough ride. She offended someone she could not afford to offend. There was no way that she would come out of that unscathed.” He stopped momentarily before continuing, “Good afternoon, Mai Na and Ye Xingling. It’s nice to see both of you here.”

Sister Mai Na coldly replied, “To what do we owe the pleasure of Big Manager Chu honoring us with his presence?”

This was Skyart Entertainment’s recording studio, a good distance away from Imperial Entertainment. There was no way that Chu Chen had passed by coincidentally.

Chu Chen continued smiling, and asked, “Aren’t you going to invite me inside to sit down?”

Sister Mai Na retorted. “With what do you qualify to come into Skyart Entertainment for a seat?”

“I’m here on business. To be more accurate, I’m here to look for Ye Xingling.” Chu Chen did not lose his temper at Sister Mai Na’s taunting and explained his presence slowly. “If you’re not going to invite me inside, would you like to have the conversation with me here on the steps?”

As he spoke, he looked around.

There were crowds of people walking along the streets, though it was relatively quiet on the steps leading up the recording studio. The three of them were good-looking people, full of charisma and dressed to the nines. What’s more, Xia Ling had a face that screamed “celebrity”, and many passersby were starting to look curiously in their direction.

Sister Mai Na frowned slightly before turning to walk into the recording studio with a huff.

Xia Ling quietly followed.

Chu Chen gave a light laugh and followed slowly behind as well.

In the meeting room of the recording studio building.

A soft carpet was spread across the floor of the meeting room, and the heavy, deep-green curtains blocked out any of the outside sounds. A genuine leather sofa set was placed against the wall in the room, and Sister Mai Na walked toward the sofa set and sat down elegantly. She then turned to Chu Chen and curtly said, “Speak. What are you doing here?”

Chu Chen sat down across from Sister Mai Na, placed the crocodile skin business case by his side, and replied, “Mai Na, you’re very clever and very resourceful in getting things done. This time I underestimated you. I admit defeat.”

Sister Mai Na gave a cold laugh and said, “Cut the crap.”

Xia Ling also felt that he was speaking rubbish and turned her attention to the room temperature — as the air conditioning was tuned to too low a temperature, it was rather cold. She stood up from beside Sister Mai Na and pressed the bell to get a staff member to bring a shawl to the room as well as some roselle tea, which was Chu Chen’s most hated kind of tea.

Only then did she return to her seat.

Chu Chen was still rambling on. “… Xia Yu has already apologized on all media channels, and Imperial Entertainment is willing to admit defeat and pay the price.”

The staff brought the tea to the room.

As Chu Chen said a word of thanks to the staff as he received the tea and took a sip, his facial expression became grave… the drink was too sour and did not taste good.

Xia Ling silently laughed to herself, reveling in the success of her plan.

She picked up the teacup in front of her and sipped it slowly. “This tea is pretty good. Do you not like it, Mr. Chu? Shall I get someone to change it to Pu Er or Longjing tea?”

Chu Chen put down the teacup. “I’m not used to drinking this type of tea. Sorry to trouble Miss Ye with the change.” The taste of the roselle tea was strong in his mouth, leaving Chu Chen really uncomfortable. He was keen to drink something else to lighten the awful taste.

Xia Ling turned her head slightly as she laughed. “Mr. Chu, you’re really interesting. What are you apologizing for? Who said I was going to help you?” She had merely asked in passing, and knowing that he really did not like the taste made her really happy.

Chu Chen was speechless.

Sister Mai Na did not know whether to laugh or cry. She gave a warning glare in Xia Ling’s direction, telling her not to take it too far.

Hence, Xia Ling reined herself in and stopped teasing Chu Chen. She immediately felt bored again and swirled the teacup in her hands as she counted the petals in the cup silently.

Chu Chen righted his expression and said, “The purpose of me coming here today is to apologize to Miss Ye on my Boss’ behalf.”

Xia Ling gave a start and stopped counting the petals in her cup, looking up at Chu Chen.

Sister Mai Na’s eyes became sharp as she stared at Chu Chen. “Your Boss? Pei Ziheng?”

“Yes.” Chu Chen affirmed and stared at Xia Ling closely. “Boss has already done a thorough investigation. Miss Ye did not insult Xia Ling at all, it was a whole misunderstanding.”

“Ha, misunderstanding.” Xia Ling gave a cold laugh. Pei Ziheng had kidnapped her without reason and had tried to poison her mute. If Li Lei had not saved her in time, God knows what crazy things he would have done to her. She had suffered so much and felt so terrified, only to receive an apology and an attribution of the whole situation to a misunderstanding?!

Chu Chen saw her upset expression and slowly said, “Apologies.”

Sister Mai Na asked, “Then, did your Boss find out who the culprit that maligned Xiao Ling is? Was it Xia Yu?”

Chu Chen nodded. “Yes, that’s right. Boss will punish her.”

“Punish? How is he going to punish her?” asked Sister Mai Na, her voice sharper. “Is he going to poison her mute as well?”

Chu Chen said, “She is no longer part of the Pei family.”

“What?” Sister Mai Na was taken aback momentarily.

Xia Ling sat up straight after hearing this. “You’re saying that…”

“Miss Xia Ling and Xia Yu were both orphans that Boss adopted years ago.” Chu Chen explained. “There were formal papers drawn up, and they were registered under the Pei family registry. Hence, after Miss Xia Ling passed away, she could be buried in the Pei family graveyard. Now, Xia Yu has been removed from the Pei family registry because of what she has done, and she is no longer considered to have been adopted by Boss.”

Xia Ling was stunned. “What about her inheritance?” She remembered that after her death, the fortune that she left behind should be inherited by Pei Ziheng and Xia Yu according to the next of kin relationship. That was a huge amount of money, enough to make some of the Pei family members envious. Now that Xia Yu had to leave the Pei family, would Pei Ziheng let her take the fortune she left behind for her?

She knew that Xia Yu was sick for a long time and did not earn very much over the years. As such, she remembered clearly well that her younger sister did not have any savings.

Chu Chen misunderstood her, and a look of disdain flashed across his eyes. “Boss only removed the guardian relationship he has with her and will still give her every rightful penny that she deserves. In fact, when Miss Xia Ling passed away more than a year ago, other than some of the items that she used on a daily basis and some fixed assets, Xia Yu inherited the rest of what Miss Xia Ling left behind. She will be leaving the Pei family with this inheritance.”

Xia Ling felt herself relax. With the money of that inheritance, Xia Yu would be able to live a comfortable life.

She caught herself midway through her thought. Why did she care about what happened to Xia Yu? They were at such loggerheads right now. If Xia Yu were standing in front of her right now, the thing that she would undoubtedly want to do the most would be to give her two tight slaps.

Chu Chen said, “Boss will not shortchange anyone that is willing to follow him, particularly women. He is very generous when it comes to money. Miss Ye, I’m here today for another reason as well. Other than apologizing to you on Boss’ behalf, I have a small gift that Boss has asked me to pass to you as well.”

Seeing his meaningful look and smile, Xia Ling suddenly understood —

It looked like Chu Chen thought she was a money-minded woman as she had asked about the inheritance.

Xia Ling’s expression turned cold. “I don’t want any present, no matter what it is. Tell him to take it back.”

“Don’t be so anxious to decline,” said Chu Chen. “Perhaps you should first have a look before you make your decision.” He took out a big envelope from the crocodile skin business case and pushed it across the table.