A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return
chapter-209

Chapter 209: Broken Ink Slab

Since he said that it was good, Xia Ling decided to buy that ink slab.

After the clerk packed the item for them, and when they were ready to leave, they suddenly heard a huge uproar. A woman’s shrill and rapid voice was heard. “The old dragon ink slab that I saw was still here when I came yesterday. How is it possible that it was sold today? You’re lying!”

Another store employee patiently explained the situation to her. “Miss Gu, I’m not lying. Someone bought it five minutes ago.”

“I don’t believe it!” That woman pushed the employee aside and dashed into the store. She was startled after seeing Xia Ling and Li Lei.

Xia Ling was also a little startled. It was such a coincidence that Gu Lin was there as well.

Shocked, Gu Lin glared fiercely at Xia Ling before sweetly addressing Li Lei. “Brother Lei~~, why are you here? Were you the one that bought the ink slab?” After saying that, she squeezed in between Xia Ling and Li Lei and started to grab Li Lei’s arm.

Li Lei, who had a girlfriend, instinctively avoided her and quietly held on to Xia Ling again.

“It was Xiao Ling who bought it.” Considering their business relations, he smiled amiably at Gu Lin. “It is almost the Spring Festival. I’m going to bring Xiao Ling home to visit my grandfather, so we are here to buy a present.”

So that was the reason!

Gu Lin was not able to win Li Lei’s heart and was very frustrated about it. After hearing what he said, she was shocked. They had only announced their relationship not long ago, but it had progressed so quickly that he was bringing her to visit his elders?! Hate, indignance, pain, and anger… Gu Lin experienced a rush of emotions as she sourly replied, “You can’t be serious. I remember that Grandfather Gu always liked girls from respectable families. How would he react to a girl like…”

Seeing that Li Lei’s face was darkening, she quickly put on a smile. “Brother Lei~~, it’s too shabby to buy a single ink slab. How about you ask Ye Xingling to sell the ink slab to me, and I will give Grandfather Li a better new year gift in exchange. I’m planning to give Grandfather Li an entire set of China’s four treasures and a box made of rosewood. I assure you that it will be of sufficient value.”

She was very proud of being a daughter of an eminent family. She had money unlike the poor small star Ye Xingling who probably had a difficult time saving before being able to raise that amount of money.

Li Lei frowned. This little girl Gu Lin was spoiled by the Gu Family and dared to speak carelessly.

In the past when he was single, it was amusing when she bullied other people, but now that she was bullying his girlfriend, he could not tolerate it. “It is not about the number or the monetary value. As long as she is sincere, my grandfather would definitely like the ink slab that Xiao Ling gives him. Lin Lin, thank you for thinking of my grandfather even during the new year. Unfortunately, I’m unable to make plans with you. Goodbye.”

Looking at Gu Lin’s wronged and upset expression, Xia Ling almost wanted to laugh.

Wow, does she think I’m a soft persimmon that’s easy to bully? Without Li Lei covering for her, using Xia Ling’s personal ability, she would only make Gu Lin more embarrassed. She was a little regretful that her insulting prowess could not be used. She proudly raised her chin and held on to Li Lei tightly. “I’m hungry. Let’s eat.” She walked out without turning back.

Gu Lin was going crazy looking at the exiting couple.

What right did she have to do this?!

Brother Lei said that he could not make plans with her this year, but she knew that he never had any intention to spend time with her at all! In the past, the Li family was rarely open to outsiders. Although the Li and Gu families were business partners, the only person who had been to the family headquarters was Old Master Gu. Even now, Gu Lin was never allowed to enter the family headquarters.

Every year, she always spent a lot of effort to prepare a new year gift for Old Master Li, but her gifts were only given to him by Li Lei. However, Li Lei had just said that he was going to bring the small star Ye Xingling back to his family headquarters?!

Gu Lin exploded in anger and on impulse, she flung her hand at them. “No way! Brother Lei~~, you can’t…”

“Ah!” Xia Ling gasped in shock. She did not hold the ink slab in her hand tightly enough and it fell to the ground.

“My ink slab!” She immediately knelt down and picked up the ink slab. After opening the packaging, she realized that the grayish purple and blue dragon was broken into two pieces.

Xia Ling felt like crying but had no tears.

This ink slab cost a large portion of her savings and was broken before it was even used. Where else could she go to find a present for Old Master Li? She lifted her head and glared at Gu Lin. “Compensate me!”

Gu Lin realized that she was in trouble. She was shocked at first but suddenly became happy. That ink slab was meant as a gift for Old Master Li by that stupid woman. Haha! She should just prevent her from giving him a gift at all! As such, Gu Lin arrogantly said, “It’s obvious that you did not hold it tightly enough, but you still blame others for your mistake. Compensate you? What a joke!”

Miss Gu was actually willing to use her money to smack Xia Ling’s face, but she was afraid that she would use the money to buy another gift for Old Master Li, so she refrained from doing so. Looking at how anxious Xia Ling was, her mood improved.

“You’re not going to compensate me?” Xia Ling was extremely furious. She could not believe that Gu Lin thought she was easy to bully. Besides shamelessly trying to flirt with her boyfriend, she also arrogantly damaged her things without the willingness to compensate her!

“I didn’t know that the daughter of the Gu family was so shameless.” She sneered as she quickly thought of a way to deal with Gu Lin. “Shop assistant.” She yelled.

The shop assistant was standing near them and watching as they quarreled, so he quickly went over. “Miss Ye, what can I do for you?”

“You have surveillance cameras in your store, right?” asked Xia Ling. She was particularly sensitive towards surveillance cameras and realized that there were a few when she walked into the store.

“Of course.” Sure enough, the shop assistant replied. A store like that which sold valuables could not do without surveillance. Otherwise, many situations could occur like the one just now when something broke and the person who was responsible for it was unclear. In fact, their surveillance cameras were set up mainly to prevent such a situation. Once the shop assistant heard Xia Ling’s question, she immediately understood what she meant. “The surveillance cameras would have recorded the entire scene. Do you need me to get the recording for you?”

“Sure.” Xia Ling looked at Gu Lin and smiled. “Give me a copy of it.”

“What are you trying to do?!” Gu Lin started to become nervous. She was the daughter of an eminent family and was spoiled since a young age, but she did not even think of the surveillance cameras being a problem. If they checked the surveillance cameras, there would be no doubt that she was the culprit.

“What am I trying to do?” Xia Ling smiled. “I want you to pay me, apologize, and compensate for my mental trauma. Otherwise, who do you think is a suitable person to send this recording to?”

“You’re too greedy!” Gu Lin stomped her foot in irritation. How could Brother Lei fall in love with a woman with such insatiable greed? She initially thought that she would only want her to pay back the money at most, but did not think that… she would have to apologize and compensate for her mental trauma!

A faint smile appeared on Li Lei’s lips, and he looked endearingly at the girlfriend beside him who was seriously bargaining with someone. His Xiao Ling was obviously not greedy for money since she did not even want the money that he offered her. However, the way she bargained really made others boil with anger. She was more deceitful than selling broken porcelain in the black market. Compensation for her mental trauma?! Only she could think of a reason like that.

“How much are you asking for?” He could not help but ask Xia Ling in a warm voice.