A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return
chapter-234

Chapter 234: Offering a Hand of Protection

The security guards thought to themselves. “Of course, you’re just a small star… How can you compare yourself to Master Gu?”

But outwardly, they courteously said, “Miss Ye, we seek your kind understanding. We’re just going by the book here.”

Yeah right, going by the book!

Xia Ling was so angry she almost laughed out loud. So, all of them were looking down on her?! As her temper took over, she pushed through with all her might and ran out of the crowd, not giving the slightest notice to the guards.

Someone shouted out. “Catch her! Don’t let her get away!”

Immediately, several security guards chased her, and then three or four pairs of hands pinned her down. Amidst the pushing and shoving, her carefully done-up hair came undone, and her top button on her blouse was ripped off. It fell on the marble floor and rolled to the side.

Disheveled and upset, Xia Ling shouted out in a frantic tone. “Let me go!”

However, no one cared to listen to her cries.

Gu Yao had stopped covering his crotch area and howling out in pain by now. He stood up with the help of two security guards and walked shakily before Xia Ling. Without a word, he kicked her in retaliation.

“B*tch!” He shouted. “You dare kick me?! I’ll make you pay, I’ll make you pay!”

Xia Ling fell to the ground with a groan from his kick, holding on to her abdomen and writhing from the pain. He had not controlled his strength when delivering the kick, and she suspected that her intestines might have been punctured from the force of it.

Gu Yao did not stop there. Being kicked in the crotch by a woman in front of such a crowd was embarrassing and shocking, and he was almost delirious with anger. One kick was not enough for him to vent his anger, and he made to follow with a second kick.

Some of the security guards moved to hold him back a little but did not put their all into it. How would they dare to be in the way of the angry Master Gu? They would be in danger of losing their jobs if Master Gu did not vent all his anger on this small star.

Xia Ling lay on the floor breathing with difficulty.

Gu Yao’s second kick was aimed at her chest, right where her heart was!

Several of the weak-hearted onlookers turned away, not bearing to look.

At this moment, there was a furious yell from the side. “Stop right there!” Before anyone could react, they saw Gu Yao fly backward, smashing into two flower vases in his way and falling to the ground near a pillar close by.

The crowd exclaimed out in shock and looked around to see what had happened.

They realized that there was another tall and well-built man in the big hall who was wearing a well-tailored black suit. His expression was cold as a knife, and his charisma and authority rivaled that of a God. That man was…

“Boss Pei… Imperial Entertainment’s Boss Pei…” Someone in the crowd recognized him and spoke out in a low voice.

The crowd reacted even more strongly to this. What was Boss Pei doing here? Why was he getting involved in this little spat?

Pei Ziheng’s expression was so cold it seemed to have frozen over. He parted the crowd and walked with long strides to Xia Ling. The slender and petite girl on the floor was shaking at the shoulders from the pain, her face ghostly pale, and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.

Pei Ziheng felt his heart tighten at the sight. He squatted down and helped her up, asking, “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Xia Ling lifted her head and saw that it was Pei Ziheng, not knowing when he had come over and why he had appeared here. The pain in her abdomen was torturing her, and speaking was difficult for her. However, she did not want to appear weak in front of everyone and said, “I… won’t die.”

It was apparent from her tone that she was in great pain, and Pei Ziheng’s face darkened even more at this.

“Hang in there.” He said before sweeping her up in his arms and heading out of the hall.

As he walked by Gu Yao, he gave him a cold glare, seeming like he was looking at a dead man.

Everyone watching on was stunned at Pei Ziheng’s presence and looked on in silence. As they opened up a path for him, none of the security guards dared make another move. Why would they? That was Imperial Entertainment’s Boss Pei, and his status was higher than Master Gu’s by several tens of thousands of times over! None of them would dare offend Boss Pei for the sake of Master Gu.

Xia Ling’s slender and fair hand held on tightly to Pei Ziheng’s shirt sleeve, and she buried her face in his arms, not allowing anyone to see her painful, distorted expression. She was an artiste, maintaining her image in front of a crowd was almost second nature to her. Even though she was being carried in the arms of a man and her hair was a mess, she made sure that her back and shoulders were in a flattering position.

Like a princess in the arms of an emperor.

Everyone watched on as they left.

A wealthy woman in the crowd, who was holding onto the arm of her husband, came to her senses after a while. “Oh my, am I mistaken? Pei Ziheng is carrying that lady? Isn’t he known to not even get close to women?” Pei Ziheng had developed a reputation in the business world for being celibate. Ever since he had taken over the family business, he had kept his private life spotless and had very few scandals. Even his engagement with Wang Jingwan seemed to be a formality, and they had never been intimate in a public setting.

Ever since Xia Ling died, there had been rumors of him having several lovers by his side, but no one had been able to verify these rumors.

This was the first time that anyone had seen Pei Ziheng protect a woman, and that small artiste was one that had just been dumped, the protagonist of much controversy in the entertainment circle right now.

Seeing Xia Ling being carried off, Gu Lin’s expression was filled with anger. How did that b*tch get so lucky? Wasn’t she just dumped by Brother Lei, how did she manage to nab Imperial Entertainment’s Boss Pei already? Imperial Entertainment matched the Li family in terms of wealth and power, and was not to be trifled with by the Gu family. Gu Lin thought with trepidation and worry… would he take revenge on them for how Xia Ling was treated?

“I need to tell Brother Lei about this!” Gu Lin was full of anxiety and was keen to look for someone to help back them. She immediately took out her mobile and dialed a number. “Hello, I’m looking for Brother Lei…” She explained to Li Lei about what had transpired at Wisteria Grand Hotel, exaggerating the facts and peppering up the story as soon as he picked up the phone.

At the Li family headquarters.

During this period, Li Lei’s mobile was being tapped. The Old Master was concerned that he would rekindle his feelings for Ye Xingling and had banned him from contacting her altogether. As such, Li Lei did not dare contact her.

However, he was constantly watching out for news about her.

When he received Gu Lin’s call, he listened patiently to her entire story, trying to discern from himself the truth within. His Xiao Ling… she was humiliated and kicked in public.

Li Lei clenched his fist and felt upset at his helplessness and inability to protect her.

The part of the story that was like a needle to his heart was the fact that another man had stepped forward to help her in her time of need. And that man was none other than Pei Ziheng, the man that she had always been pining over!

Li Lei’s eyes darkened over.

“Gu Lin, if I ever find out that you made trouble for Xiao Ling again, don’t blame me for ignoring all our family ties!” Li Lei coldly and sharply said. “Even if I have broken up with her, it doesn’t mean I will let anyone bully her! If you wanted to complain to me about her, you’ve found the wrong person.”

Complain?

He was a step away from ripping Gu Yao apart after hearing Gu Lin’s story.

Ignoring Gu Lin’s shock and pleas, Li Lei hung up. He rang somebody else up and gave the person on the other end of the line a few instructions.