A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return
chapter-235

Chapter 235: Valentine’s Day Night

Pei Ziheng carried Xia Ling into his Rolls Royce.

“To the hospital.” He instructed the driver in a deep voice.

Xia Ling was still writhing in pain in his arms. Her left hand was holding her abdomen, and an expression of pain was plastered on her face.

Pei Ziheng looked down at her before hurrying the driver. “Hurry up.” He lowered his head to Xia Ling again and covered the cold, slender hand on her abdomen with his warm, broad palm. “You’ll be fine.”

His voice seemed to have the miraculous power of consolation.

Xia Ling softly responded with an “mmhmm” and became quiet.

Pei Ziheng said, “So silly.”

“Hmm?” She was confused.

“Why did you anger him if you knew you couldn’t beat him?” Pei Ziheng said. “You aren’t who you were before. Li Lei isn’t protecting and looking out for you. Stay away from those rich bastards, do you understand?”

Hearing his words, Xia Ling too felt that she had acted stupidly.

“I didn’t think too much into it.” She glumly said. “I won’t do it again.”

Perhaps she had been too sheltered before and did not know the consequences of a woman offending these wealthy gentlemen. They were unlike Pei Ziheng and Li Lei, who had true power within their households and would not disgrace themselves. Pei Ziheng and Li Lei would weigh out the consequences before causing such a childish commotion in public.

However, the likes of Gu Yao were different.

They were loaded and willful. Regardless of the gravity of the mess they made, someone in their household would clean up after them.

Thus, they did not care about the consequences.

She was just like that in her past life and would act out as she wished, knowing that Pei Ziheng would back her regardless of what she did. Habits were hard to change, and she had merely acted as she would have in her past life when Gu Yao instigated her earlier, without caring too much about what would happen. In fact, that kick on the crotch that she gave Gu Yao was considered a light one compared to what she would have dealt out in her past life. Yet, she had forgotten that given her backing in her past life, there was no way she would have gotten into such a spat with Gu Yao in the first place.

They only chose to bully her because she had no backing at the moment.

“In this world, is it tough to depend on just me?” She asked softly.

Pei Ziheng tightened his hold on her. “Only men should depend on themselves. Women are meant to find a good man to lean on.” His voice was gentle as he patted her softly on the top of her head. He suggested once again. “Come to Imperial Entertainment?”

Xia Ling could not help but laugh. “How many times have you asked? Boss Pei, are you not sick of hearing me reject you?”

Hearing her laugh, Pei Ziheng’s lips curled into a smile. “One day you will agree.” He remembered the first few times he had met her, she had been defensive, afraid and her gaze full of animosity. The worst was when she had kicked and cursed at him. Now, she was obediently lying in his arms, allowing him to put his hand over hers on her abdomen and willingly joking with him.

There would come the day when he would get what he wanted.

He adjusted himself into a more comfortable position and held onto her more steadily.

Xia Ling thought of something and asked, “Why did you appear at Wisteria Grand Hotel?”

Pei Ziheng replied, “To find you.”

“Find me?” Xia Ling looked up at him, stunned.

Under the dim light in the car, his brows looked as handsome as always, but there was a mysterious glint in his eyes as he did not reply to her question. Today was Valentine’s Day, and since Xia Ling had passed away more than a year ago, he was troubled as to what he would do on this day. When he closed his eyes, her image would appear in his mind, wilfully asking him for a present… or holding his hand as they walked in a sea of roses…

The pain of these memories was with him with every breath he took.

He could not bear the loneliness that he felt, and guilt ate at his heart like a poisonous worm. On this torturous day, he had suddenly thought of this girl in front of him right now. Her every look and smile were so similar to that person in his memories…

Like her voice and her face were still present…

His gaze looked past Xia Ling and into the distance. In a husky and low voice, he said, “I’ve prepared something for you. A French candlelight dinner and a string quartet… a house full of roses and a sea of chocolate… I believe you will enjoy all of that.”

His words gave her a shock.

When he had appeared at that time of danger in the Wisteria Grand Hotel and saved her, Xia Ling was extremely grateful and felt that security from years ago return. When he was around, it seemed like he would shelter her from the storms of the world.

But, what was this with the roses and chocolates?

She had only passed away such a short while ago, and Pei Ziheng was already inviting another woman to spend Valentine’s Day with him?

Even if this “other woman” was her reincarnated self, she was still someone else in the eyes of others.

She could somewhat understand. He was only in his thirties and had power and youthfulness. He was in the prime of his life. Asking him to be celibate for the rest of his life after her death was impossible. However, understanding and being upset were two things altogether… She merely wished that he loved her and her only.

But Pei Ziheng clearly did not.

Their fate had run its course.

Suddenly realizing that being carried by him was inappropriate and suggestive, she struggled to free herself from Pei Ziheng’s arms. However, this movement pulled at her injured abdomen, and she sucked in a breath from the pain.

Pei Ziheng frowned and wanted to pull her back into his arms, but was met with resistance.

“Thank you, Mr. Pei.” Clarity returned to her gaze. “I can sit quite well by myself.”

Pei Ziheng’s gaze darkened seeing that her prickly defense was back. However, he did not say anything given that he too had ulterior motives, and quietly kept a safe distance from her.

He was exceedingly patient.

When they reached the hospital, the driver hurried to deal with the relevant administrative procedures, and Pei Ziheng accompanied Xia Ling as she underwent X-ray and checks.

The assessment indicated that there were no major issues, but there was a massive bruise on her abdomen from the kick which would likely take quite a while to dissipate. Pei Ziheng asked someone to help with the admission procedures. “Stay here in the hospital for a few days and leave when you’re completely recuperated.”

Xia Ling was speechless. It was just a small injury, was admission even necessary?

But when she saw the determination in Big Boss Pei’s eyes, she decided that it was pointless to fight with him over this. Anyway, she wasn’t keen on going back to the Wisteria Grand Hotel and feeling like a monkey on display in the zoo after the big commotion earlier.

Xia Ling settled into the VIP suite ward.

The ward was a private room with high-quality parquet flooring and a comfortable bed, quite like the room she had at the hotel. As she lay down on the bed, Pei Ziheng sat by the bed peeling an apple for her. His fingers were long, and he seemed skillful with the knife as the apple peel fell over between his fingers without breaking.

Watching him peel the apple was like watching an artistic display.

Xia Ling was mildly distracted and thought of the time when she was first adopted by him.

Then, he was spoiled and clumsy around the house. He could hardly tuck her into bed, let alone peel an apple. How did he become so good at it? Perhaps it was because he had chosen to do everything himself when taking care of her… If she removed that unfortunate love story and her ingrate of a sister, he was her only family in this entire world.

Xia Ling’s chest tightened as these thoughts ran through her mind.

Pei Ziheng was halfway through peeling the apple when his phone suddenly rang.

He looked down at the phone screen and saw the name displayed — Xia Yu.