A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return
chapter-217

People can be domesticated.

Stockholm Syndrome was the best example.

When a girl was kidnapped and imprisoned, she was constantly in danger of being attacked and recklessly abused in a foreign environment… When all of the trauma exceeds the limit she could handle, then her human survival instincts would make her gradually give up fighting and resisting. Instead, she would submit to her kidnapper in exchange for maximum security.

She would acknowledge, be unable to leave, and worship her kidnapper.

No matter how vicious or violent he was.

Her entire life was beyond her control. Every drop of water she drank, every mouthful of food she ate, every piece of clothing she wore, and even the light she saw every day when she opened her eyes and every breath she took… were gifts bestowed by her kidnapper.

Her fear would turn into gratefulness, and she would subconsciously fall in love with him no matter what he did to her.

The most horrifying thing about this mental illness was that even after she was rescued and escaped his frightening imprisonment, she would still remember her kidnapper and even return to his side like a moth flying towards the fire.

Li Lei looked at the explanation on the computer screen and recalled what had happened in these two days. Xiao Ling was usually fine, but this time when she fell into the pit, she had an emotional breakdown because the trap was like a prisoner’s basement. Furthermore, her tearful pleas during her emotional breakdown were “Ziheng, don’t punish me. Ziheng, don’t go…”

That meant she was greatly harmed by Pei Ziheng but still could not forget him.

Could this be Stockholm Syndrome?

Li Lei made a call to James.

At the other end of the phone, James was half-awake. After listening to Li Lei’s question, he immediately became energized. “I just felt that there was something wrong with your Xiao Ling. Her symptoms do resemble Stockholm syndrome a little. However, this sort of syndrome is usually caused by prolonged imprisonment that’s life-threatening or involved some sort of sexual assault. Xiao Ling’s background is too clean, and she was not involved in any of these complication situations.”

Li Lei frowned. “Could it be linked to the last time Pei Ziheng held her hostage and poisoned her?”

James replied, “Stockholm Syndrome caused by that short of imprisonment is theoretically impossible. Thinking about it, even if her illness were caused by that short period, it would definitely not last that long. If Xiao Ling really has Stockholm Syndrome, she must definitely have longer and more serious imprisonment and form of torture.”

“How long must her imprisonment be for it to be this serious?” Li Lei asked softly.

James sighed and said, “This depends on the individual, so there is no specific time.”

“Is a year sufficient?”

“For a weak girl like that, a year is sufficient.”

After talking for a while, Li Lei hung up the phone.

If the Diva Xia Ling experienced the symptoms that Xiao Ling had, it would not be surprising. However, the Diva Xia Ling was already dead. Why did Xiao Ling that sung like her have the same symptoms as her?

It can’t be that she was possessed by Xia Ling’s soul.

Li Lei shook his head and got rid of the absurd idea in his head.

The last sentence that James said before he hung up echoed in his ear. “If your Xiao Ling really has Stockholm Syndrome, you should rejoice that she is still with you. You must not let her ever go back to Pei Ziheng. Once she leaves, there is a large possibility that she won’t come back.”

Damn it.

He punched the table again, and blood oozed out of his already hurt knuckles.

When Xia Ling woke up, it was the morning of the next day.

She got up from the soft duvet and only felt that her entire body was sore and parts of her body felt like they had been torn apart. Every slight movement she made was so painful she could hardly breathe. As if she was lucky to have escaped death, she realized what had happened. She stumbled out of bed and walked in front of the mirror.

The girl in the mirror was pale, had a few red marks on her neck, and was in a mess.

There was a buzzing sound in her mind. What happened? Who had violated her body?!

She relentlessly tried to recall what happened, but her mind was blank. She only remembered that she was tricked by Li Xiaoxing and fell into a pit. After that, she had no recollection of anything else… This was Li Lei’s room. How did she arrive here? What about Li Lei? Where was he?

The door of the bedroom made a sound.

She turned around and saw that Li Lei was standing by the doorway and looking at her with his dark eyes.

She was not wearing anything and could not hide from his gaze. Embarrassed, she covered herself with the bath towel on the floor that was next to the mirror and scolded. “Get out!”

However, Li Lei did not move.

“Don’t stand there barefoot. The floor is cold.”

His calm tone made her even angrier. She glared at him and was so furious her voice quivered. “Li Lei! What did you do to me yesterday?!”

With the white bath towel covering her chest, the red marks on her collarbone were clearly visible.

Li Lei’s expression darkened, and he lowered his voice. “I will be responsible for you.”

So it was him!

“Responsible?” Xia Ling was both hurt and angry. In fact, she was so enraged that she started to laugh. “What right do you have to be responsible for me?! You… you took advantage of me when I was in a difficult state! What different are you from a savage beast?!” She initially thought that he was different and would at least respect her, carefully wait for her and not let her suffer any harm.

That was also the reason why she was willing to be with him. He made her feel safe.

However, right now, that sense of security was broken.

In reality, he was the same as Pei Ziheng. For his own desires, he could violate her in an unscrupulous way.

Li Lei did not think that she would say something like that. “Xiao Ling,” He walked a few steps forward. “Don’t you remember what happened yesterday? Yesterday, you voluntarily hugged me and told me not to go.”

“Don’t you dare come here!” She vigilantly stepped back. The searing pain inside her body was taking its toll on her, and she had to hold on to the floor mirror to barely stand firm. “Li Lei, don’t lie to me. How could I have taken the initiative to hug you?” Even when she was not fully awake, she also did not believe that she would do something like that. No one knew how much she feared physical intimacy between men and women more than her. After being mercilessly tortured by Pei Ziheng during that last year of her past life, that sort of thing… could never give her any more joy.

It only gave her fear and made her feel like escaping.

“I will definitely never accept you,” Xia Ling shook her head and looked at him with a hurt expression. “Li Lei, stop lying to me. Even if I forgot what happened yesterday, it doesn’t mean that I don’t know what sort of person I am!”

Li Lei’s expression became more unsightly than hers.

She was right. The person whom she accepted was definitely not him.

From the start until the end, she kept calling out Pei Ziheng’s name.

How could any man tolerate it?! If he told his experience to others, he was afraid that they would applaud him if he had killed her right there! Li Lei’s anger was boiling in his chest. Since a young age, he had always been privileged and had never suffered such wrongful treatment and humiliation!