A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return
chapter-540

The sun was shining outside the window.

Inside the house, there were many evergreen broad-leaved plants, giving people a chilling feeling.

Xia Ling turned pale as she looked at the man in front of her with indescribable devastation. She hated the fact that she was not dreaming now or filming a scene. If a director shouted “Cut!” now, how good would it be.

She wished she had not pushed this door open.

She would rather not know that Li Lei had been investigating her.

Li Lei looked at her and gently said, “Xia Ling, you’ve hurt me so much by lying to me.”

She lowered her head, preventing him from seeing her expression. Her hands were clenched, her fingernails dug into her skin, and she felt a sharp pain. “I didn’t want to lie to you.” She used all of her strength, but her voice was still very soft. “It’s just… this thing is so screwed up. People would think that I’m mentally ill.”

This was not the complete reason.

She did not say the deeper reason because that would cause indelible damage.

She didn’t dare to look him in the eye. Her body was trembling, and her white teeth bit her lower lip. Unknowingly, she bit too hard and blood flowed out. The man facing her stepped forward and stopped in front of her. He placed a warm and dry hand gently on her cheek.

Her body shrank.

He stopped in his movements for a while before continuing. His touch was very gentle like he was touching a butterfly’s fragile wings. He slowly lifted her head up and rubbed her lips with his thumb to wipe the blood from her lips.

“I’m sorry.” He said.

She looked at him with incomprehension.

He said, “If only I knew you earlier.” If they met earlier in her past life before Pei Ziheng, would it mean that all of the damage would not happen? How good it would be if she met him on that day in the orphanage.

Xia Ling batted her soft eyelashes like a butterfly flapping its wings. Slowly, her tears fell. She understood what he meant by his apology. It turned out that Li Lei did not blame her for hiding her identity for so long. He only pampered and loved her so much that he wished he could transmigrate through time to protect her.

Her tears rolled down her cheeks.

He took her into his arms for a long time.

“Xiao Ling.” He said, “I swear, I won’t ever let you encounter that sort of thing.”

Her body stiffened. That sort of thing? Was he referring to her murder during the last concert of her last life or did he know that she was imprisoned by Pei Ziheng and the dark days of her past life? She did not dare to ask him as she was afraid that if he really knew everything, she would feel invisible, lowly, and dirty.

Looking over his shoulder, her line of sight unconsciously landed on the thick wooden desk. At a corner, there was a light blue card with the words: Stockholm Syndrome.

Below it was a thick file.

Xia Ling’s heart froze. He knew about it. He knew everything.

She started to struggle intensively to break free from him and stumbled into the corner of the wall. She did not dare to look at him. “I’m very… dirty.” Her voice was weak. “I’m not worthy of you.”

He looked at her warmly. “We’re already together for so long. Who cares whether you’re worthy or not?”

Her mind was in a mess, and she did not understand what he meant. “I’m sorry that I lied to you and caused you to stay with me for so long without knowing anything. I will…” She wanted to say that she would leave. She was a woman who was abused and humiliated and could no longer have children. How was she qualified to be with someone who was so good to her?

There was a sour feeling in her heart. She could not say the word “leave.” She was not worthy of him, but she could not bear to leave. He was Li Lei, the only sunshine in her life and her final salvation.

Her tears fell again.

A tissue gently wiped her face.

“You’re crying like a cat. Even Er Mao will laugh at you.” Li Lei said, “It’s great that you’re back now. How can I manage feeding two pets alone? In the future, you will take care of Er Mao and Hairball with me. We will set good examples for them by not running away from home and not bearing such a sad thing alone.”

She sobbed louder. Her thin arms rested on Li Lei’s shoulders, and her voice was hoarse.

Li Lei hugged her again like he was hugging a child who had been hurt. If this made her feel better, he would let her lie on his shoulders forever.

A few days ago, he already confirmed her identity and was heartbroken for her. He was also furious at that beast Pei Ziheng. However, every time he went to Feng Kun’s house to see her, he did not dare to mention it as he was afraid that if he touched her wounds, she would run further away. Li Lei already decided to bury this matter in his heart forever and not let her know anything. He would treat her even better and make her happy.

However, by mistake, she found out about it.

“I won’t do anything with a tie anymore.” He said, “Xiao Ling, I love you. I don’t care whether you are Ye Xingling or Xia Ling.”

He loved her, not her identity.

After this day, he was gentler towards Xia Ling than usual, but she didn’t seem to be as lively as before. Sometimes, she would be careful when she saw him as if she were avoiding something. He knew that it was quite awkward, or rather, she felt inferior after someone discovered her wounds. However, it did not matter because they had enough time to heal slowly.

Sometimes, she would sit on the windowsill and stare into the distance with a sorrowful expression.

Every time that happened, Li Lei knew that she was thinking about the past. When that happened, it was as if there was an invisible and transparent glass wall in the air that was so far away from him that he could not touch it. Now Li Lei understood why Pei Ziheng was able to manipulate her emotions so well. They were an unrightful couple in her past life. Since she was so badly injured, how could she easily forget such a tragic past?

If he were the one who hurt his beloved woman, he was afraid that he would also be hung up on her.

Often, Li Lei felt fearful. How should he fight against him?

He could only be extremely gentle and take care of her meticulously. Perhaps in time, the scars made by another man would fade after a long time of warmth.

He cooked for her, drove her to jobs, and even drove her on that day she was burying the baby with Pei Ziheng.

The journey was very long as it was in the outskirts of another city. There was a cordon around the periphery of the cemetery. Today, people were not allowed to wait, and only Imperial Entertainment’s chairman Pei Ziheng and his divorced wife were allowed to hold the funeral ceremony for their baby.

Xia Ling arrived first. She was dressed in white and had black flowers on her chest.

Today, Li Lei also wore a formal black suit. He held her and gave her courage and strength.