Chapter 1101: Celebration Party
Pei Ziheng held a celebration party for her.

He booked her favorite lakeside club and invited the biggest celebrities in Imperial Entertainment. Also invited were the music producers, directors, company executives and the teachers and students from the training camps. So many stars were gathered at the clubhouse, but she was the star of the day.

The veil on her custom-made dress engulfed her in a layer of rose-tinted beauty. Her smile was more moving than a rose.

“There will be catastrophic changes among the female celebrities.” Ji Liangping, the famous movie star under Chu Chen, said to his manager as he looked at Xia Ling from afar.

Chu Chen chuckled. “You are a male celebrity, what is there to be afraid of?”

Chu Chen took a glass of wine from the waiter and enjoyed the show that was unfolding. The artistes were all smiling and congratulating Xia Ling, but their expressions changed once they turned away from her. Some of them were clearly showing their displeasure with her.

The company had limited resources. Now that Xia Ling had the lioness’ share, you couldn’t blame the other celebrities for their hostility.

She was pretty and sang well. Moreover, she was doted on by the boss…

Apart from her, who else could get the company’s resources? Even Li Bingyu and Yun Yan, the two hottest stars in Imperial Entertainment, could only use whatever was left behind!

Who could swallow their pride and accept this?

But so what if they couldn’t? It was a cruel world. Not everyone who put in the effort was guaranteed equal returns. Some girls were destined to have a good life from birth. They did not have to work their way up the social ladder, nor did they need to backstab others. Just a smile and everything that commoners dreamed of would be within their reach.

“Even I am jealous of her,” Ji Liangping said to Chu Chen.

Chu Chen warned him. “Don’t you offend her.”

“I’m not that stupid.” Ji Liangping chuckled. “By the way, does she have a boyfriend?”

Chu Chen looked at him. “And you say you’re not stupid? Let me tell you, during last year’s training camp, a guy tried to woo her. He pushed her against the wall and forced a kiss on her, like in those Korean dramas. In return, his arms were broken.”

“Broken?”

“Completely broken—his arm that pressed her against the wall. Even though they treated his arm at the hospital, he could never play the piano as well as before.”

Ji Liangping was shocked. “Who… who did it?”

“You are not stupid enough to think that she broke his arm by herself, right?”

Ji Liangping was speechless. Then, his expressions turned ugly. After a long while, he said, “Big Boss is really heartless.”

Chu Chen had more insider information than he did. He could not bear to see his hard work in developing Ji Liangping to the star he was today come to naught. He said coldly, “It’s good to have ambitions, and I have always admired your ambition. I won’t bat an eye if you sleep with the likes of Pei Jingyu. However, Xia Ling is taboo. You understand?”

“I understand,” Ji Liangping said.

“Also, do not let Xia Ling know about the guy’s broken arm,” Chu Chen said.

Ji Liangping answered, “Yes.”

It seemed like she was shrouded in more mysteries than they imagined—she was more important to the boss than they thought. Ji Liangping was relieved his manager was Chu Chen—having a good manager was very important, for there was information and rumors that were exclusive only to someone of Chu Chen’s caliber. Meanwhile, he was wise enough not to cross the line. There were traps everywhere in this industry.

Xia Ling was having a lot of fun at the dinner. There were many stars, producers, and directors who wanted to talk to her, all of whom had interesting conversations and did not hold back their praises for her. She was elated and before she knew it, she had drunk a good amount of alcohol.

Chu Chen gave Ji Liangping a pat on the shoulder and left to take care of Xia Ling. “Xiao Ling, you should stop drinking.”

Xia Ling did not have good alcohol tolerance. After a few cocktails, she was in a daze and smiled sheepishly at Chu Chen. “C-Chu Chen, where’s Brother Pei? I want to tell him this joke that I’ve just heard.”

Chu Chen got a cup of tea from the waiter and got her to drink it. “Boss has an urgent call to attend to, he will be back soon. How about I bring you over to Yun Yan and the rest? You can have a chat with them and eat some snacks as well.” This brat was hard to take care of. Sometimes, Chu Chen felt that he had already spent his entire life’s worth of patience on her. Every time he remembered that Pei Ziheng was planning to make him her designated agent, he got worried.

As expected, she started to throw tantrums. “You are lying! He has been on the call for so long. He hasn’t been around since the dance started, what is he doing? There’s so much food, but he’s not eating with me!”

Chu Chen tried to calm her down. “He is really busy.”

Holding on and dragging her, Chu Chen finally brought her to the sofa beside the window. Her intoxicated face was cute and her hair was slightly messy. Her ribbon on her shoulder slid off and showed her glistening white shoulders.

Chu Chen frantically looked for something to cover her. Suddenly, someone handed him a shawl. It was Yun Yan, one of the hottest celebrities in Imperial Entertainment now. “Use this shawl to keep her warm.”

Chu Chen took it from her and thanked her.

Yun Yan took the opportunity and sat beside them. “Let me take care of her, Brother Chu. You can go and do what you have to.” Many people were looking for an opportunity to get closer to Xia Ling. They could see that she was naive and it was easier to get her liking than that of Pei Ziheng. It was a shortcut to fame.

Chu Chen could see her true intentions.

He reminded her. “She is very delicate, and she can’t get too cold or too warm. Don’t let her sleep on the couch for too long. When she wakes up, she will definitely ask for more wine or snacks, but don’t let her have too much of them. Boss banned her from having too much.”

Yun Yan smiled. “I got it.”

Wasn’t it just taking care of a girl? What could be so hard about that? Yun Yan had a niece at home who was just as lively as Xia Ling. Yun Yan assumed she could handle her easily. Hence, she did not take Chu Chen’s words to heart. Who knew that this time, she had misjudged her situation.

Xia Ling slept for a while and woke up suddenly. She stared at Yun Yan for a long time and asked, “Who are you?”

Yun Yan was shocked. “Xiao Ling, I am Sister Yun Yan. You were talking to me just now.”

Xia Ling tried to identify her. After a while, she finally recognized who it was and acknowledged her. But in a matter of moments, she was unhappy again. “Where’s Brother Pei? It has been a whole night, why is he not back yet? He’s actually ditching me for his phone!”

Chapter 1102: I Like Skyart Entertainment
Yun Yan smiled and reasoned with her. “You only slept for five minutes, why don’t you wait a while more? Didn’t you just ask me how I filmed the scene in where I jumped off the cliff? I’ll tell you in detail.”

Xia Ling was unhappy. “I wan Brother Pei! I want to eat ice cream.”

Yun Yan now felt that Chu Chen really had good foresight, this beautiful girl was a foodie! Before that, she had secretly laughed at Li Bingyu’s family for being jealous of her, but now even she was a little jealous—she was still slim even though she loved to eat dessert. This kind of physique would cause public outrage when placed in the entertainment industry where everyone was working hard to diet.

However, her request to eat ice cream was much easier simpler than to see Pei Ziheng.

Yun Yan said, “Sit here and I’ll get ice cream for you, okay? But you can’t eat too much, how about you eat just a small portion of half a spoon?”

Xia Ling said, “No.”

Yun Yan wanted to bite off her own tongue and just give it to her, why was she asking her for permission? She sighed and bargained with her. “Half a spoon? That’s the maximum you can eat, or Brother Chu will scold me.”

Xia Ling was unhappy. “Why can’t you scold him back, humph.”

Yun Yan wanted to cry. How could she scold Chu Chen? Who in Imperial Entertainment besides Boss Pei would dare to go against Chu Chen? Even Pei Ziheng never scolded this trusted lieutenant of his! She finally understood why Manager Chu had a subtle relieved expression when she had said she would take care of this little devil.

This little devil… was a headache!

However, she was already taking care of her, so it was too late for Yun Yan to regret now. The little princess on the sofa squinted and rubbed her eyes before standing up unstably. “I’ll go and eat it myself if you don’t let me.”

Yun Yan was so scared she quickly pulled her back. “I’ll go, I’ll go! Sit here obediently and don’t run around!”

This child was obviously still drunk. If she were to meet with an accident while running around, Chu Chen and Pei Ziheng would definitely peel her skin off! Forget it… the greater the risk, the greater the return. Since she had said she would take care of Xia Ling, she would have to do it well.

Yun Yan finally calmed her down and went to buy ice cream in defeat.

With a delicate tassel shawl over her shoulders, Xia Ling waited impatiently on the sofa. Under the tailored unique rose-color tiny dress, her two white calves swayed about restlessly. After waiting for less than ten seconds, she waved her hand to a waiter passing by. “I want that cocktail.”

The waiter leaned over and handed her a colorful cocktail that was on her tray.

Xia Ling drank the wine and forgot about Yun Yan who had gone to fetch the ice cream. She could only think about Pei Ziheng and why he wasn’t back yet. She staggered off the sofa and followed along the deep winding corridor of the clubhouse in search of him.

She searched floor by floor.

Finally, she was lucky and managed to find Pei Ziheng in a small lounge on the second floor.

Pei Ziheng was still on the phone. “Do it immediately, I want to see results tomorrow morning. Skyart Entertainment? It’s just a small company that doesn’t know it’s worth, destroy it directly.” His voice was cold and murderous.

Xia Ling looked at his back obsessively, as if she couldn’t feel the heavy murderous atmosphere he was giving off. She smiled foolishly and walked up to him like a bear, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. “Liar.” She knocked her little head against his tailored suit. “You’re not playing with me.”

Pei Ziheng was about to fly into a rage from being hugged by someone, but after finding out it was her, his anger suddenly dissipated. He hung up the phone and turned around to hold her into his embrace. “Why are you here? You’re so drunk you can’t even stand properly.” His gentle voice was like a spring breeze, and he was like a different man from when he had answered the phone with a chilly voice.

She looked up at him with shining eyes. “Play with me.”

As she moved, the delicate fringed shawl slipped from her body and revealed a row of her exquisite collarbone and white rounded shoulders. Her body had a good fragrance, like a rose in the late summer.

Pei Ziheng kissed her. “Nobody is playing with you?”

“There is…” She seemed to think long and hard about it before saying vaguely, “Sister Yun Yan, and lots of other brothers and sisters, they’re all fighting to play with me… but, they’re not you, you’re a big liar, a big liar…” she said and fell on him.

He held her with a gentle expression. “What do you want to play?”

She pulled his clothes with one hand. “No, I don’t know… Who did you call just now? Why, why was it so long?”

“It was just business,” he said.

Xia Ling looked at him doubtfully. “Liar, liar… I don’t want to believe your words anymore. You said you would be away for a while, boohoo…” She thought for a long time again before saying, “Skyart? Skyart Entertainment… I’ve heard it before! Hehehe… it’s a big company, I, I like it…”

Pei Ziheng frowned and stabilized her. “You’ve heard of Skyart? That’s impossible, it’s just a small company that was just established. It doesn’t have any productions and will go bankrupt soon.”

Xia Ling shook her head and smiled foolishly. “You’re lying to me again. Skyart Entertainment is a really big company… I really like it.”

Pei Ziheng looked at her seriously and thought intuitively that something was wrong, but what was it? How could he put the girl’s drunk words to heart, but her words were like a tiny thorn stuck in his heart.

Skyart Entertainment.

He was very disgusted with this company. Very disgusted.

Ever since he had heard the name of this company, he had told himself he must eliminate it immediately.

Why? This was just a small company that was not well-known, and there were numerous newly established small companies in the entertainment industry every year, so why did he mind this company so much? It wasn’t right… Something was wrong…

——————————————————————————

In the cold night, heavy snow fell.

The ninety-two-year-old man turned over in his sleep, the wrinkles in his eyebrows deeply carved.

Skyart shouldn’t appear, he thought slyly. At least it shouldn’t appear so early. Didn’t Xiao Ling get in touch with that company after reincarnating? Why did she say she liked Skyart when she was just a teenager?

Yes…

This is a dream…

Xiao Ling remembered Li Lei in her dream even when she was so small?

It’s not allowed…

I do not allow it!

The snow floated down heavily and the old man sunk into a deeper dream.

————————————————————————————

In the small lounge.

Pei Ziheng bowed his head and gave Xia Ling a long kiss, biting her lips as a form of punishment.

“Ouch.” She covered her lips and complained to him in tears. “You’re bullying me!”

“I don’t want to hear you speak about Skyart Entertainment in front of me.” He warned her. “Forget these two words, do you hear me.”

“I won’t!” She was still tearful. “You bit me! I won’t!”

He kissed her again, took her to the chaise couch and closed the door of the lounge. He tore her little dress easily within two or three movements, pressed against her uneasy body and took off his clothes.

Chapter 1103: Their Home
Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The buttons on his polished and fine suit were somewhat tight, and he was slow in unbuttoning with one hand.

Xia Ling lied on the rosy red chaise couch and looked up at him while smiling. “I, I’ll help you.” She reached out her small hands to help him unbutton his suit. She tried a few times and couldn’t unbutton it, so she started tugging at it in an uncivilized manner.

Pei Ziheng was not in a hurry, so he held onto one of her hands and put it to his lips before kissing it.

“Do you like me?” His voice was low and husky.

“I like you.” She was still a little drunk and laughed foolishly.

“Do you want me?” he asked again.

This time she didn’t talk and looked at him for a long while instead. “Liar.” She reached out and tugged on his clothes until the suit button was pulled open, but she was still somewhat dissatisfied and used her hands and feet to push him. “You’re so heavy, it’s annoying.”

He pressed his entire body on her and looked at her intensely.

She pressed her hand against his chest and pushed for a while but failed to push him away, so she got angry instead. “You’re dead heavy, get up.”

He said nothing, only turned his body to the side and watched as she tossed and turned. Xia Ling was drunk and confused. This time, she pushed him aside and turned over to press him under her body. She smirked. “I’m not heavy, I’m going easy on you.”

He looked up at the girl on top of him and smiled slowly. “Help me undress.”

At the sound of his flirtatious nasal sound, the girl turned her head and really set about unfastening his shirt. She unfastened it twice and only loosened half of it, then she went to deal with his tie in a mess. She pulled off his iron-gray diagonal striped tie and lifted her small chin in an announcement. “I want to tie you.”

He chuckled and let her tie him up.

She really grabbed his two wrists and wrapped his tie around them like the way he had dealt with her before. She was so drunk she had no choice but to put in her utmost effort, but still only wrapped one of his hands after a long time. He looked on with interest before asking nicely, “Do you want me to help you?” The girl’s beautiful body was pressed against him, and Pei Ziheng knew he couldn’t control himself anymore. But unfortunately, the girl was still struggling with the tie slowly with her brows wrinkled.

Xia Ling struggled for a long time and kept thinking something was wrong, so she untied him and redid the knot. This time, she still tied only one hand. Pei Ziheng simply retracted one hand and leaned on it while smiling at her. She didn’t notice at all and held onto one of his remaining hand and continued to tie a butterfly knot around it. After half a day, she finally did a good job and announced with satisfaction. “You are my person! My… gift.”

“Gift?” he asked.

“Big liar!” She reached out and hit him, but it wasn’t painful. “Brother Chu Chen and Sister Yun Yan all sent me lots of gifts to celebrate my debut, but what about you! You didn’t give me anything! Boohoo.”

“Isn’t it enough to hold a celebration party for you?” he asked.

“A celebration feast isn’t a gift!” She was very wronged and hit him again. “Big bad guy!”

He chuckled and looked at her, then asked gently, “What do you want?”

Xia Ling stared at him blankly for a long time before suddenly reaching out her small hand to grab his shirt and tear it in two. With a ripping sound, the shirt buttons scattered onto the floor; she had actually torn his shirt open completely. “I want you!” She announced proudly and bowed down to kiss his lips. “You are my gift.”

His expression was dark and intense. Suddenly, he turned her over and pressed her down. They spent a night of lingering emotions.

Pain…

She hurt all over…

Xia Ling was completely blank when she woke, and she had a headache from her hangover. Her body ached painfully, and there was a soreness that made her toss about on the narrow couch in the lounge…

The memories of last night came into her mind.

She turned around and looked at the man sitting near the window, wearing a shirt and a pair of trousers, looking at her silently. Her naked body was draped in his suit jacket.

“Brother Pei…” she called weakly. “It’s so uncomfortable.”

“I told you not to drink so much yesterday.” He sat in the same place and said with warmth, “You drank so much and still squandered around, serves you right.”

Her face turned red at the thought of last night’s scene. “Annoying.”

“You’re getting more and more daring.” He laughed, his eyes sweeping over the iron-gray tie on the floor. “You even dared to tie me up. You would be lucky if you could get up and walk today.”

She reached out and covered her face. How could she be so unscrupulous when she was drunk?

“Are you satisfied with the gift?” He chuckled.

“You’re so annoying!” She still covered her face and said through her fingers, “I don’t want to talk to you.”

“It seems like you’re not satisfied?” He chuckled again and teased her. “I wanted to send you another one, but forget it.”

“Who wants you to send…” She originally wanted to say who would want to make love with him again, but she suddenly halted and seemed to realize something. She put down her hands and looked at him in surprise. “Brother Pei, you prepared a gift for me?”

It was not poking fun at her like last night, but a real gift!

He smiled. “Wear your clothes, I’ll take you somewhere.”

Her tiny dress last night was already wrinkled and in a mess, so he had already sent someone to bring clean clothes for her to change into. The guests in the clubhouse all left, leaving only the two of them. He held her hand and got into the car which ran smoothly all the way to a wealthy area in the prime location of the city.

“The newly opened villa…” She looked at the beautiful house in front of her.

The winding serene alley, the red wall in picturesque disorder, the Japanese roses and ivy planted fully near the wooden fence, bringing a wisp woody sweet scent when the breeze blew past. It was really beautiful here, like a fairy tale world.

Pei Ziheng took her to the front of the villa in the center and gave her a key.

“For me?” she asked. After a moment of surprise, she was somewhat unhappy. “You gave me another villa again, this is already the fifth one. Humph, Brother Pei, you suck, you don’t have any creativity at all.” In this era of soaring housing prices, she was very clear how expensive five villas were, but so what? She wanted to live with him, and it was impossible to move out of the Pei family’s villa, so all these villas were meaningless to her.

But this time, he said, “Didn’t you always disliked living in the old villa? Once this place is decorated, we’ll move over. It’s close to Imperial Entertainment and the environment is very good.”

Xia Ling was in disbelief. “Really?”

This was what she dreamt of, she didn’t expect it to be realized!

Looking at her surprised reaction, he smiled. Over the years, he had been acquiring greater power and had deepened his roots in the ancient and huge Imperial Entertainment. Before, he didn’t move out of the old house because he couldn’t make the decision. But now, he could help her attain a better living space.

In the future, it would get better and better.

He took her into the villa. “Look at the room structure, think about what kind of decoration you like. I’ll arrange for the designer and the construction team.”

She said eagerly, “I must decorate it well! This is our home!” She turned around and hugged him happily. “Brother Pei, thank you.”

Chapter 1104: Call Me Ziheng
Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

He lifted her delicate chin. “Call me Ziheng.”

His low, mellow sound scattered in the still space with an unspeakable temptation.

Xia Ling looked at him motionlessly, her heart skipped half a beat and she almost cried out, “Ziheng.” It was the first time he called his name, and it flowed between her lip and teeth a little awkwardly with a strange sweetness.

Pei Ziheng smiled with satisfaction. “Say it again.”

“Ziheng.”

“Again.”

“Ziheng, Ziheng.”

“Good girl.” He gave her a rewarding kiss. “You have to call me that in the future, understand?”

She blushed slightly. “Can’t I call you Brother Pei anymore?” She was used to calling him Brother Pei and was a little reluctant to change it. Although she was also happy… she was still a little reluctant and shy.

“Silly girl,” he said. “Even Xiao Yu knows to call my name, only you’re this stupid.” Calling him Ziheng was more intimate than calling his surname, but only she was so stupid she didn’t know to change.

“You called me silly.” She felt wronged.

“Aren’t you?”

“You’re the silly one!” She glared at him.

“Call me Ziheng again.”

“No!”

“Be good.”

“No!” …

Only a girl like her dared to throw a tantrum in front of him so unscrupulously, like a butterfly flying in front of a tiger and unconsciously showing off its beauty. She took Pei Ziheng’s hand and walked around in and outside the villa, putting forth a lot of ideas for decoration and discussing it with him with great interest.

Pei Ziheng said affectionately, “You can decide.”

The next day, he found a very good interior designer for her and a complete construction team.

Xia Ling started to busy herself, giving out notices and decorating the new house. Her dream home became perfect bit by bit. The ivy draped over the red wall, and a cluster of rose flowers bloomed in full swing. Their bedroom faced a small grove and had a view of the lake—it was misty in the morning, and at night, the lack reflected the stars from the sky. She couldn’t help but stand at the window and think, how comfortable they would be once they moved in here formally.

Furniture, porcelain…

She personally picked them one by one.

Pei Ziheng liked sandalwood, so she went everywhere to collect fine quality lobular rosewood. To balance the retro elegance and the agility of everyday life, she even spent a lot of time studying how to design furniture so it looked good. She heard there was a home improvement fair in the city, so she was interested in participating.

Pei Ziheng was very busy and couldn’t go with her. Xia Yu said she was unwell and also refused.

Xia Ling wanted to invite Xiao Hua or Yun Yan, but as a new star she was already eye-catching enough in a crowd, if the two popular actresses were to join, it would be useless to even disguise themselves. She sighed and gave herself a low-key makeup, wore normal shirt denim, tied a ponytail, wore sunglasses and a cap and went out alone.

The home improvement fair was crowded with people.

She looked around and gained a lot of new insights and ideas.

She stood in front of a tulle screen with a rosewood bone and admired it for a long time. She couldn’t help but take off her sunglasses and was quickly recognized by people. “You, you’re Xia Ling, right?” The two girls ran over excitedly and surrounded her while suppressing their screams. “Hello, Xiao Ling, we’re your fans. We didn’t expect to meet you here, we’re too excited!”

This was the first time she met a fan, and with some novelty, she said with a smile, “Hello.”

“You’re really Xiao Ling!” The girls jumped in excitement. “Can you give us an autograph? And a photo, we want to take a photo!”

“Sure,” she said in a good mood. She signed with the pen they handed her and also took a photo. The laughter of the girls attracted a group of curious people and some people nearby said, “Look, a star.”

In the precious wood root carving area, two elegant ladies were picking things when one of them heard the commotion and turned to look. Suddenly, her eyes were fixated. “Sister Jingyu, Sister Jingyu,” she screamed in amazement. “Look quickly, isn’t that Xia Ling? Why is she here?”

It was Pei Jingshan who spoke. Very soon, Pei Jingyu also turned to look.

“Tsk, what an embarrassment.” Pei Jingyu was dressed in a high-end, custom-made dress that had a pearl brooch. Her voice was cold and she stared at Xia Ling’s enchanting beauty in jealousy. The crowd increased.

“Yes, what an embarrassment,” Pei Jingshan also said. They had not dealt with Xia Ling since they were young, and now that they had grown up, they were becoming more and more grievous. As big ladies born with a golden spoon, what they were most indignant about was that Xia Ling this wretch was obviously from a lowly background, so how could she share everything they possessed?

The Pei family was rich not to give alms to her!

“Sister Jingyu, should we go and teach her a lesson?” Pei Jingshan had long found Xia Ling unpleasant to the eye. “As a foster daughter of the Pei family, how much of a scandal is it to be surrounded by people in a public place? Big Cousin is too much, why did he even promote her as a star and revealed her face in a drama, she’s really throwing the face of the Pei family sisters.” In fact, Pei Jingshan didn’t even think that the Pei family was managing an entertainment company and all their earnings that supported the ladies’ food and clothes were earned by their artistes.

Pei Jingyu agreed with her words and looked at Xia Ling with a layer of frost on her face. An unknown fire started to rise in her heart! However, she held herself with dignity and didn’t want to lower herself to Xia Ling’s level and argue with her, so she slowly played with the root carving in her hand and said, “Just ignore her.”

The two continued to look at the root carving.

The crowd around Xia Ling was increasing, and she found it uncomfortable and quickly put on her sunglasses again. She smiled and bid farewell to them before sneaking away to a place where there were fewer people. In the nearby area, the exhibit of the root carving museum was the most expensive, so there were fewer people there. Xia Ling walked into it quickly and gasped in relief.

As soon as she looked up, she saw two people she recognized.

Pei Jingyu and Pei Jingshan.

She couldn’t help but frown. She was really unlucky, how could she bump into the sisters on the rare occasion she came out to visit a home fair? She hated them just as much as they hated her.

“What are you looking at,” Pei Jingshan chided her from high above. “lowly servant girl.”

Xia Ling exploded. “Who are you scolding!”

“I’m scolding whoever just spoke!”

“You are the lowly one!” Xia Ling was used to being arrogant and wilful, so how could she possibly swallow this insult? She scolded back on the spot. “What are these two people sneaking around here for? You’re so ugly you don’t dare to go out and see people in case they can’t stand it!”

Pei Jingshan also exploded. “Lowly servant girl, what are you saying. You eat and use all the things from the Pei family, so what are you arrogant about?! You still have the face to come visit the home fair! The root carvings here cost dozens of millions, you still have the face to squander money from our Pei family!”

Chapter 1105: Do You Think You Can Get Married?
Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Xia Ling sneered. “Your Pei family? Your Pei family’s money was still earned by Ziheng! What does it matter to you when Ziheng loves giving me money to spend? I want all the root carvings here!”

Her last sentence was said purely on a whim. She didn’t know how much all the root carvings here even cost, but she since Pei Ziheng had given her a villa and a pink diamond ring worth hundreds of millions without even blinking, what was wrong with buying a few root carvings? Pei Ziheng wouldn’t even have any opinions if she burnt them!

She held her head high and looked at Pei Jingyu and Pei Jingshan.

Pei Jingshan was furious. “You’re shameless!”

The angrier she was, the happier Xia Ling became. She gestured towards the exhibition’s salesperson in front of them on purpose and told him, “Pack all of these root carvings and send them to this address.” She casually took a pen and paper from the counter and wrote down her address on it. Then, she took a black gold credit card from her exquisite lambskin bag and handed it to the salesperson.

The salesperson was shocked senseless. He, was he witnessing young ladies of note fighting for wealth?!

He was just a small white-collar worker, when else would he have seen such a big scene? He held the black gold credit card and stuttered. “Miss, Miss, are you sure? These root carvings all add up to a total of sixty-five million yuan.”

“It’s only sixty-five million yuan.” Xia Ling snorted. “Go ahead.” Her card was Pei Ziheng’s credit card and she didn’t know how much money was inside, but she thought the sixty-five million was just a drop in the ocean.

The salesperson suspected he was dreaming and secretly slapped his thigh before running to swipe the card.

Xia Ling and the Pei sisters were left standing in the same place, glaring at each other coldly and not giving way. After a long time, the beautiful lips of Pei Jingyu curled up into a sneer. “Xia Ling, you really think Big Cousin’s money is yours?” Her heart was bubbling with rage. It was Grandpa’s birthday soon, and she and Pei Jingyu had come today to choose a gift for him. They had seen the longevity rootless agarwood carving and had yet to buy it when they’d been robbed by Xia Ling halfway.

Xia Ling sneered too. “Why do you care whose money I use? If you have the ability, then buy it. If you can buy all the root carvings here, I won’t stop you, ha. I’m just afraid you don’t have that much money?” She deliberately provoked Pei Jingyu.

Pei Jingyu was so mad she wanted to vomit blood. She really wanted to strive for vindication and buy all the things there like Xia Ling, but she couldn’t. Her expenditure was all planned—some were for investment, some for savings, and she didn’t even open a credit card, so how could she possibly have sixty-five million?

She could only say stiffly, “I’m not a spendthrift like you!”

“I think you just can’t afford it, haha.” Xia Ling was unrelenting.

Pei Jingyu wanted to vomit blood again. She glared at Xia Ling with her pair of apricot eyes, her face blue. She desperately wanted to burn a hole in her face, but she still smiled faintly. “Ziheng? You’re calling him so intimately. Is it nice to spend the money you exchanged for with your body? You’re just a sly mistress, how dare you strut around and show off in front of me?”Read more chapter on vipnovel.com

Xia Ling trembled in anger and was stunned by her. She paused for a few seconds before asking, “What did you say?”

Pei Jingyu looked at her arrogantly. “I said you’re just a slut mistress! Stop pretending, Xia Yu has long leaked your secret to us. Many people in the Pei family know that you have slept with Big Cousin, so you can stop hiding this from other people.”

“I didn’t intend to hide,” Xia Ling hurriedly replied. “We’re not as dirty as you think! I’m not his mistress, we really love each other!” She did not expect things to become like this. In the beginning, it was Pei Ziheng who had ordered her to not to show off, but now that she wanted to become a big star, it wasn’t convenient to publicize her relationship, so she had kept it a secret. She had been extremely careful these years and hadn’t expected that the Pei family were already in the know.

Mistress…

This word was like a sharp thorn plunging into her heart.

They must have guessed wrong, she was not a mistress!

Pei Jingyu sniggered. “You’re still pretending? I’ve seen so many people like you who want to climb up the social ladder shamelessly. Do you know how our Pei family treats people like you? We throw you after we’ve finished sleeping with you. Haha, just wait a few more years when Big Cousin has married a prestigious lady, he’ll treat you like garbage.”

She saw Xia Ling’s expression change and felt satisfied immediately.

Xia Ling had never thought about these things. In her heart, it was only natural and reasonable to publicize her relationship with Pei Ziheng after she was famous. She told herself not to fall into Pei Jingyu’s trap, so she suppressed the panic in her heart and said sternly, “Nonsense! Ziheng won’t marry any prestigious lady, he will marry me!” This was what she had been looking forward to ever since she was sixteen, to be his wife one day.

Pei Jingyu looked at her pitifully. “Idiot, go look through the Pei family’s history, which high-powered person like Big Cousin has married a wretch from the untouchables? Which Chairman of the Pei family didn’t marry a prestigious lady? Have you gone crazy wanting to marry into a rich family? Even an ugly toad wishes to eat swan meat!”

Xia Ling’s body trembled slightly. She didn’t believe any of it, but Pei Jingyu’s words couldn’t be refuted.

She said dryly, “I won’t listen to your nonsense. I will definitely marry him.” She paused, looked at the abominable look on Pei Jingyu’s face and put on her arrogance. “Rather than worrying about me, why don’t you worry about yourself instead. When I become your Big Cousin’s wife, I’ll definitely drive you out. I’ll deduct all your pocket money and marry you off to a poor and ugly man! Humph!”

Her eyes seemed to release crackling fireworks in midair.

Pei Jingyu sneered. “We’ll see.” She walked away with Pei Jingshan.

Xia Ling glared after them for a while, then sighed like a deflated ball, feeling frustrated and discouraged. Were their words real? Pei Ziheng would not marry her? Although she said she didn’t believe it, Xia ling really went to ask Nanny Zhou. “Nanny Zhou, could you tell me about the Pei family?”

Nanny Zhou was washing the clothes. She quickly wiped her hands and let Xia Ling sit down at the lobby. “The laundry room is not a place where a lady like you should come to,” Nanny Zhou said cordially. “Miss, why are you interested to hear about the Pei family today? Didn’t you dislike being associated with them?”

“I…” Xia Ling bit her lip, her heart heavy with troubles.

Nanny Zhou asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xia Ling said, “Nanny Zhou, didn’t the Pei family produce a lot of Chairmans? Just like Ziheng? What kind of people were their wives, I heard they were all famous ladies and none of them was a commoner? Is it true?” She looked at Nanny Zhou unblinkingly, waiting nervously for a reply.

Nanny Zhou’s brain buzzed and she thought in her heart that it had come.

Miss had finally realized something was wrong. She was together with Sir in such an unclear relationship, what would happen in the future? Marriage… that was impossible.

But if she told her the truth now, would it be too cruel?

Chapter 1106: So Good to Her
Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Nanny Zhou thought for a while and carefully said while weighing each word, “The Pei family has always been a prestigious house. The previous wives of the Chairmans were all of prestigious family backgrounds and were wealthy and respectable people. You know, since ancient times, marriage has been about family background.”

Xia Ling’s face turned slightly pale and she still asked with a glimmer of hope, “Was there any exception?”

Nanny Zhou sighed and shook her head. Although it was cruel, she didn’t want this girl to have too much hope, for the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. She was worried that when Sir married a wife one day, this girl would be heartbroken.

Xia Ling murmured, “No, there must be an exception.”

Nanny Zhou held her hand with her own rough, coarse hand. “Miss, I know what you’re thinking. You want to marry Sir, don’t you? But you must know how hard it is. Sir is Imperial Entertainment’s Chairman, and his marriage can only be a commercial marriage. Everyone will object to him marrying you.”

Xia Ling whispered, “I don’t believe it.”

The light wind brushed past the corridor, tousling her hair and messing it up just like her mood. She sat in the wind for a long time and said to herself, “Brother Pei won’t abandon me. He said he’ll have children with me and even gave me such a beautiful ring… He’s so good to me, why would he hurt my heart?”

“Miss…” Nanny Zhou still wanted to persuade her.

“What are you talking about?” A low male voice rang turbulently.

Nanny Zhou turned around in shock. “Sir… Sir, you’re back.”

Xia Ling also turned around to see the man standing on the porch. Today, Pei Ziheng wore a suit, the dark gray texture of the excellent material lined his tall figure perfectly, making him look as perfect as a God. She did not smile and greet him as usual, but looked at him in a daze, not moving nor speaking.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Ling?” He stepped forward to stand beside her.

He looked so tender and considerate, her nose soured and she wanted to cry. She couldn’t imagine losing him one day, that must be the most tragic and horrible purgatory in the world. She looked up and asked cautiously, “Ziheng, you’ll marry me? You’ll marry me, right?”

Pei Ziheng’s expression was dim in the light and he looked quietly at Nanny Zhou. Nanny Zhou knew she had done something wrong. Sir never liked her saying too much to Miss, so she bowed her head uneasily.

“It’s none of your business here,” Pei Ziheng said to Nanny Zhou. “You can leave.”

Nanny Zhou quickly retreated.

Pei Ziheng reached out to caress Xia Ling’s soft cheeks and said in a voice as gentle as a spring breeze, “Why are you thinking about that all of a sudden? Don’t you know in your heart if I’m good to you?”

Xia Ling lowered her head slightly and was sulky. “I know.”

“Then what are you thinking about?” Pei Ziheng paused, then continued, “What did you buy today? Why aren’t you happy even after buying so many things.” The card she had used was his, so there would have been an SMS reminder for the large purchase.

She said, “I bought a bunch of useless things. I met Pei Jingyu and Pei Jingshan today and they said you wouldn’t marry me. They even said I was, I was a… mistress.” Her expression revealed her pain and bitterness, as well as some confusion and helplessness. She was really afraid that what the Pei sisters had said was true.

Pei Ziheng’s expression hardened and he asked softly, “Pei Jingyu and Pei Jingshan?”

Xia Ling nodded.

“I will lecture them. They’re already so big and still can’t control their mouths,” Pei Ziheng said sternly. “Xiao Ling, you’re not a mistress. I said before I would make you happy for your whole life. In the future, we will have children and grow old together with our children and grandchildren. Do you believe me or those irrelevant people?”

Grow old together and have offsprings running around.

She was slightly dazzled by the wonderful future he described, and a soft smile appeared on her beautiful lips. “So, you’ll marry me?” Her eyes rekindled with hope. “But Pei Jingyu and Nanny Zhou both said, the wives of Imperial Entertainment’s Chairmans were all from prestigious families, would you marry an orphan?”

Pei Ziheng looked at her gently. “Is it that important?”

She was about to cry. “You won’t marry me?”

Pei Ziheng was silent for a while before saying, “You are still young, you should focus on singing. I don’t plan to get married anytime soon, and our relationship should not be made public yet. But one day, I will tell the world that you are my woman, you just have to wait patiently for that day to come.” He couldn’t possibly marry her, marriage was a tool for commercial interests, and the family’s responsibility was on his shoulders. But he couldn’t tell her the truth, for the girl was too young and wouldn’t be able to accept reality. After a few years when she was a little older, she might become more sensible.

Besides marriage, he could promise her anything.

Xia Ling misunderstood his meaning, however, and thought that “tell the world” meant he would marry her. She broke into giggles and leaned into his arms. “Okay, I’m so foolish to listen to those hateful people. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me, Ziheng. We must be happy in this life.”

He hugged her in silence.

After calming down the girl in his arms for a long time and finally watching her fall asleep, he went to find Nanny Zhou. Under the starry night, the man looked cold. “I don’t want you to talk to Xiao Ling about those complicated things again.”

Nanny Zhou said, “Sir! Miss will discover the truth one day! She will be hurt!”

“She’s still young. It will seem like the sky has collapsed if I tell her now. After a few years, it’ll get better. She will understand she can be happy without marriage.” He would spend many years pampering her and caring for her, and when he married a woman from a prestigious family, she would no longer doubt his love for her.

Nanny Zhou’s expression was bleak. Which girl would accept this kind of thing?

However, she could not say anything about Sir’s decision, so she could only answer with a “Yes.”

The happiness that was like walking on thin ice would continue in the precarious situation. Nanny Zhou lamented Miss’ fate. She was so beautiful and kind, but just because she didn’t have a good family background, her whole life was ruined…

After this conversation, she doubled her care for Xia Ling.

Because she understood better than anyone that Xia Ling’s happiness might only last for a short time. One day in the future, she was sure to be torn apart and mourn in despair. Her whole life would be ruined by Pei Ziheng, and even if he didn’t marry her, he would not let her go. This life, they were destined to be entangled.

Xia Ling did not think as much into it as Nanny Zhou did. Ever since she was pacified by Pei Ziheng, she began to live a carefree life again. Ziheng loved her so much, how could he not marry her? So what if the Pei family’s previous Chairmans all had commercial marriages? Ziheng wouldn’t… she believed him without reservation.

The villa was renovated every day and after a year, they moved in.

Pei Ziheng’s uncle was simply furious. He scolded that he had been enchanted by a vixen—which Chairman of the Pei family moved out of the old house to live separately?

But Xia Ling saw it as a proof of love instead.

Look, he was so good to her and broke so many exceptions for her. One day, he would marry her.

Chapter 1107: Engagement News
Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

In the future, when the ninety-two-year-old Pei Ziheng reminisced on his long life, he found that the happiest years of his life were actually when Xia Ling had looked forward to becoming his bride.

If time could be turned back, he would give her a grand weather before all the damages were too late to prevent. If so, would he be able to continue possessing her innocent smile for ten or so more years? However, the promise of a lifetime was destroyed by his own arrogance and conceitedness.

It had been ordinary at the time.

The young and distinguished business emperor protecting his own little girl who grew up slowly, from a small trainee to a world-famous singer that had many people adoring her voice. No matter how many shocking achievements she accomplished, she would always look to him with such reverence and love.

He was her God.

The day the sky collapsed, the weather was as normal.

In the early autumn, Xia Ling went out and saw the first green ginkgo leaf among a bunch of leaves turn golden yellow. She was delighted and carefully plucked the leaf off, wanting to wait until the commercial today was filmed to show it to him. Fall came very early this year and it was so beautiful, so it must be a good season for a romantic harvest.

Chu Chen accompanied her to the nanny car.

There was also an assistant in the car and a makeup artist. The atmosphere was abnormally silent.

She felt a little strange and smiled. “What’s wrong with you all? You’re usually so noisy, why aren’t you talking today? Are you nervous because we’re filming a new announcement today?”

The assistant and the makeup artist laughed forcefully. “How could we be nervous when Miss Xiao Ling isn’t even nervous.”

She said happily, “Cheer up and lift your spirits. I’ll treat everyone to a good meal once we’re done filming. Oh yes, Chu Chen, when is Ziheng done with his schedule? He just returned from overseas yesterday and must be extremely busy today too. I’ll contact him later and get him to come to eat with us once he’s done.”

Both the assistant and the makeup artist looked at Chu Chen.

Chu Chen smiled. “Boss is busy today and isn’t available. In the short period of time he wasn’t in the company, a lot of things have accumulated for him to deal with. Xiao Ling, EMP TV Station just called and said the program has changed and they have pushed forward the recording time. You will have to rush to record the announcement in the afternoon. We’ll just eat a light meal for lunch.”

“Oh…” Xia Ling was very disappointed. She thought she was free in the afternoon.

Chu Chen still smiled. “I have good news. This way, your schedule tomorrow would be cleared. Boss’ secretary has asked me for your schedule and said Boss intends to bring you out to play.”

“Really?” In the blink of an eye, she was no longer disappointed, and her eyes sparkled brightly. “I knew he was the best.”

Chu Chen responded as usual.

A group of people guarded her into the TV Station building. Today was a personal interview program and mainly invited her to talk about her journey to stardom and some behind the scenes stories. Once she entered the exclusive lounge, the make-up team that Imperial Entertainment set up just for her started doing her makeup, but everyone was strangely silent the whole time.

Xia Ling looked down at the question and answer form and was not aware.

Someone knocked on the door. A staff member of the TV Station came in and said to Chu Chen, “Mr. Chu, the interview room has been arranged. Please confirm and make sure there’s no problem.”

Chu Chen said, “Ah Cha, go and confirm.”

Ah Cha was Xia Ling’s assistant. He responded that he would go and confirm it, but Xia Ling stopped him. “Wait.” She looked up and said to Chu Chen, “You have always been the one going to confirm, why are you asking Ah Cha today? How could she understand my aesthetic style and preferences as well as you do? You go and see, and don’t make any mistakes.”

Chu Chen said, “You’re getting more and more famous, so we have to train Ah Cha and let her take the responsibility.”

“I don’t care!” Xia Ling said. “I want you to go.”

She was extremely unreasonable when she threw a tantrum, not to mention she was on her period these days, so Chu Chen did not want to make her unhappy over such a small matter and had to give in. “Okay, I’ll go.” Chu Chen glanced at Ah Cha meaningfully. “Take care of Xiao Ling and don’t let any of the crowd in, understand?”

“Yes.” Ah Cha solemnly promised.

Chu Chen quickly stepped out. Read more chapter on vipnovel.com

Unexpectedly, the accident still happened.

A TV Station Staff took the question and answer form and asked, “Is Mr. Chu here? We adjusted a few questions at the last moment and need him to confirm it.”

“Brother Chu isn’t here,” Ah Cha said. “You have to go to the studio to find him.”

“Wait.” Xia Ling was still looking at the form and heard the questions had changed. “Bring it here for me to confirm directly. The program is recording soon, we won’t make it if you let him confirm before giving it to me.”

“But that’s not very suitable?” Ah Cha suddenly said.

Xia Ling frowned. “Why are all of you so strange today? Are these questions being answered by me or him? What’s wrong with giving it to me sooner so I can check it?”

She reached out her hand unhappily to the staff. “Bring it here!”

The staff glanced at Ah Cha and back at Xia Ling. He hesitated before handing the form over to Xia Ling. Who was he kidding, this arrogant singer was already famous in the industry for being hard to serve, and many people had even lost their jobs after offending her. He didn’t want to lose his job too.

Ah Cha couldn’t stop it and watched with a horrified expression as Xia Ling took the form.

“What’s wrong with your expression?” Xia Ling was not satisfied. “Why can’t I check the questions? You’re really making a big fuss.” Her eyes swept over the list and she suddenly lost her voice.

On the newly released question and answer form, a few new questions were circled with a red pen. Among them, the most eye-catching one was—[Miss Xia Ling, what do you think about Mr. Pei Ziheng and Ms. Wang Jingwan’s engagement?]

Pei Ziheng…

Was engaged?!

For a moment, she was suspicious of her own eyes, and she stared at the form and stopped breathing. How could Pei Ziheng be engaged? His fiance was… was… a woman she had never heard of?!

Her face turned pale and the sky seemed to spin. She heard herself asking in a dry voice, “This form, there’s something wrong, right? When was Ziheng engaged to someone, I… why don’t I know.”

“Didn’t Mr. Pei tell you?” The staff was shocked. “A few days ago, they held an engagement ceremony after booking a whole island. They even sent a media draft and spread it everywhere.”

Xia Ling’s breathing went tight. “Impossible.”

Suddenly she turned to Ah Cha and the rest. “He’s engaged? Did you all know?”

They were all scared senseless and didn’t know how to react. They had heard the news about Pei Ziheng’s engagement a few days ago and had even admired the engagement photos for being beautiful. But Chu Chen had told them sternly not to tell Xia Ling. Now that Xia Ling knew the truth, would Chu Chen peel their skin?

Chapter 1108: Shattered Crystal Dream
Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Xia Ling looked at them and suddenly understood what these people’s strange silences these days meant. “You all already knew, right? I was the only one kept from it?” Her voice trembled and her gaze swept over her assistant and the makeup artist team. “When was it, he… he wanted you all to hide it from me?”

Assistant Ah Cha opened her mouth. “Miss Xiao Ling…”

She didn’t know how to comfort Xia Ling. Even though the relationship between Xia Ling and Pei Ziheng was kept under wraps, several staff members around them already knew it. No woman would be able to accept her own beloved man being engaged to a fiance that wasn’t her, not to mention how proud Xia Ling was.

However, the TV Station staff failed to understand her reaction and said, “I’m sorry, Miss Xia, we didn’t know you were not aware. Maybe Sir Pei wants to give you a surprise? I’m really sorry, really sorry…”

Xia Ling shook her head and used all her strength to make sure she didn’t lose self-control.

She strengthened herself and asked the staff, “Where’s the news? I want to watch the news.”

There was a newspaper in the staff’s hand which had been a prop for the talk show. The headline on the front page was about the engagement of Pei Ziheng. He handed the newspaper over to Xia Ling.

Xia Ling took it with trembling hands. On the full page of colored report, the most striking part was a big and dazzling photo—on the golden dream-like beach that was level to the azure sea, the man she had been in love with for more than ten years wore a white tuxedo and held the hand of a beautiful woman opposite him, putting on a huge diamond ring on her hand.

With one glance it was obvious that the woman was from a prestigious family. Her complexion was bright and clean and she had a graceful disposition. Her long fishtail dress dragged a few meters along the coastline and the colorful diamonds on the misty gauze were beautiful.

They were gazing deeply at each other in the photo.

The perfect match—this phrase was used to describe the pair of them on the front-page headline.

Xia Ling scanned over it rapidly and read the news report introducing them. The two were engaged in a beautiful island somewhere in the South Pacific three days ago and held a low-key ceremony. Only a few friends and relatives and celebrities were invited, but the standards were very high and even the dress on Wang Jingwan’s body was invaluable.

The newspaper slipped from Xia Ling’s hands.

She could not accept such a reality, or was it all just a dream?

“I want to look for him,” she murmured. “I’m going to find Ziheng and ask him.” She turned and walked out of the dressing room. She staggered along the way and bumped into several people.

“Sister Xiao Ling!”

“Miss Xia! You still have to record the show!”

Behind her, her assistant and the TV Station staff rushed to shout something at her, but she couldn’t hear any of it. Her brain was chaotic and her heart was thumping fast. She wanted to tell herself that it was all a dream, or was it a bad joke that everyone had come together to prank her with? She just wanted to find Pei Ziheng…

She could ask for clarification after finding Pei Ziheng. He would hold her in his arms as always and say gently and lowly, “Silly girl, it’s not true.”

She got on the nanny car and told the driver, “Drive! Go to Imperial Entertainment!”

The driver was surprised. “Weren’t you recording the show? It’s finished so fast?”

In the rearview mirror, she saw her assistant Ah Cha and Chu Chen chasing her, anxiously shouting something while running. Xia Ling didn’t want to see them, these guys were liars who came together to bully her! She screamed urgently at the driver, “Drive quickly! Otherwise, I will dismiss you!”

The driver dared not to disobey her and quickly stepped on the accelerator.

Along the way, she felt chills in her body, and her mind was full of the pictures in the newspaper. Pei Ziheng had been so charming and handsome in the photos, and she had never even seen him in such a nice tuxedo before… that woman, that woman called Wang Jingwan, how could she be worthy of him?! Wang Jingwan was not even as beautiful as Xia Ling herself!

The car arrived at the door of the main building of Imperial Entertainment and a doorman helped her open the door.

Xia Ling got down hurriedly and heard the doorman exclaim in shock. “Miss Xia! Are you not feeling well? Your face is so pale, do you need us to send you to the hospital and call the doctor?”

“Get lost,” she said angrily and pushed the doorman away.

The doorman who had worked at Imperial Entertainment for long was already accustomed to her arrogant temper. Who would have been willing to deal with her if not for her being the most favored girl of the Chairman? He had been scolded to get lost without reason, so the doorman just retreated. Beside him, his companion snorted in dissatisfaction. “What’s so great about her? The Chairman favors her, but the future wife of the Chairman might not deal with her stinky temper! Let’s see how she treats her once Wang Jingwan marries into the family!”

Xia Ling heard the words groggily and was even more frightened.

Usually, given her temper, she would have definitely returned to the doorman to swear at him and would have even gone to the personnel department to get them to get their pay and be dismissed. But today, she was not in the mood—since when had people who watched the door dared to discuss about her like that? Was this because Imperial Entertainment was to have a matriarch soon?

She walked into Pei Ziheng’s office with a heavy heart.

The person at the secretary’s desk saw her and was shocked. “Miss Xia! Are you alright?”

Xia Ling used all her strength to ask, “Where’s Pei Ziheng?” Her voice was hoarse as if she was seriously ill.

The secretary said, “The Chairman is in the VIP Conference room on the seventeenth floor. I don’t know when it will end. How about I help you to the lounge and you can wait for him there?” Just now, Chu Chen had specially called to explain that Xia Ling might have run to the company, so he had asked her to take Xia Ling to rest and tell her it was instructed by the Chairman.

But Xia Ling said, “No, I want to find him.”

The secretary was put on the spot. “But Chairman instructed…”

“I said I want to find him!” Xia Ling suddenly flared up. Her sharp voice startled the secretary.

However, the secretary still braced herself and held her back. “Miss Xia, you’re not allowed to go!”

“Let go!”

The secretary would not let go no matter what. The Chairman’s order was the law here, and it was clear that to be a secretary here, she might lose her job if she violated even one law.

Xia Ling saw she was not letting ho and gathered up her strength.

The secretary had caught onto the sleeve of her little arm. She was wearing a stage costume the TV Station had prepared for her to record the program, and though it was beautiful, the material was very fragile. Thus, when she pulled away, it suddenly tore. Xia Ling didn’t care about it and turned and ran toward the seventeenth floor.

The secretary held onto her again.

Xia Ling was furious and turned to give her a tight slap.

The loud sound echoed in the air and the secretary held onto her face in shock.

Xia Ling ran to the seventeenth floor without even looking back, leaving only a decisive figure.

The seventeenth floor.

The heavy door of the VIP Conference room.

The beautiful girl was pale and looked extremely fragile with her torn clothes.

She stood at the door and took a deep breath before pushing the door open.

Chapter 1109: Joke
Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy and the directors wearing dark suits all sat together.

Among them were many members of the Pei family that Xia Ling knew, and also some strange directors she didn’t recognize.

Many of them turned their heads and looked up at her with different expressions at the sound of the door opening. Sitting at the front was Pei Ziheng, who did not move and was instead continuing to study a piece of information, the wrinkles between his eyebrows as deep as a knife.

Xia Ling maintained her position and stood quietly at the door watching him. The man was still as cold and majestic as the Gods, making her worship and love him. At this moment, under the judgemental stares of the people, her heartbeat was like a drum and she wanted to rush up to him to ask him but could not move her feet.

She was afraid.

She was afraid she would hear an unbearable answer, afraid that he would tell her personally that he was engaged.

She stood alone at the door, advancing and retreating back and forth.

Pei Ziheng flipped the information in his hand. “The Green Jade Media is Wang family’s best business in the entertainment industry, but it can only be regarded as chicken ribs to Imperial Entertainment. After the merger, there would be a lot of redundant trivia to deal with. I will propose this to the Wang family and at the same time strive for better benefits for Imperial Entertainment in the cooperation business.”

Beside him sat his Grand Uncle, Pei Zhenyuan. Pei Zhenyuan had already seen Xia Ling, and he sneered and said, “Ziheng, you know why negotiation is more difficult than what is forecasted. Although the Wang family has promised to give their daughter’s hand to you, they don’t wish for you to put Miss Wang Jingwan in an uncomfortable spot. You have to at least take good care of your own people.”

Pei Ziheng looked up and followed his Grand Uncle’s line of sight. His gaze fell on Xia Ling.

Even though his affair with Xia Ling was a secret, in the past decade or so, the big directors of Imperial Entertainment were more or less informed. The entire conference room was silent, and people exchanged meaningful glances with each other.

Pei Ziheng’s voice was very heavy. “Xiao Ling, go out and wait for me.”

He didn’t ask her why she came, because Chu Chen had already called him and told him that Xia Ling had accidentally heard about the news of his engagement. Originally, he had intended to take Xia Ling out tomorrow to distract her, then slowly, he would skillfully let her accept the news. But now, it looked like all his plans were all disrupted.

Xia Ling looked at him with sorrow and her heart sank to the bottom.

It was needless to ask, the sneer of Pei Zhenyuan had already explained everything, he… was really engaged.

“Why?” she whispered. “Why are you engaged with another woman? You said you would love me for a lifetime, did you… forget?”

Tears blurred her line of sight and he looked even vaguer.

Pei Ziheng frowned. “Be good, go out and wait for me.”

She didn’t go out to wait for him, instead, she was provoked by him and rushed to his front in a few steps. She grabbed his hand-tailored suit and yelled hoarsely at him, “Don’t use this kind of child’s tone to pacify me! I’m not a little child anymore! Tell me, why did you lie to me? I have been with you for so many years, why did you get engaged with another woman in the end!”

She screamed and glared at him with tears in her eyes, her body swaying slightly.

Pei Ziheng’s eyebrows tightened and he looked at his watch. “The meeting is suspended for ten minutes.”

Then, he grabbed Xia Ling with one hand and forced her out of the meeting room. “What the hell are you trying to do!” He threw her against the wall and pressed his hands on her shoulders, exploding in anger. “I told Chu Chen to tell you that I’ll accompany you for the whole day tomorrow. We can discuss this problem then! Didn’t you see I was in a meeting?”

“Is your meeting more important than me?!” She cried again and shouted. “What am I to you!”

“Stop messing around.” Pei Ziheng took a deep breath and suppressed the bubbling anger in his heart. “The merger with the Wang family is at a critical juncture. Be good, wait for me in the lounge and I’ll come to find you after I’m done.”

“No!” She cried incessantly. “Pei Ziheng, don’t marry that woman! Don’t!”

“It’s just a business marriage,” said Pei Ziheng. “It doesn’t mean we can’t be together if I marry her. Wang Jingwan knows about your existence and can accommodate you—this was also one of the conditions I made before promising to marry her. She knows very clearly what she’s doing. Xiao Ling, you have to be sensible and understand the big picture.”

“To hell with the big picture!” She couldn’t help but cry and scream. “I hate you!”

Pei Ziheng looked down at her. “I’m going to the meeting now, you go to rest and calm down. We’ll talk again later.” He let go of her and turned round to return to the meeting room.

Suddenly, Xia Ling grabbed onto him and hugged his body from behind, her tears falling like rain. “Ziheng, don’t go. Please don’t go… Don’t marry that woman, okay? I beg you… I beg you…”

It was her first time begging him, her tears fell like rivulets and her heart was broken.

However, he took her hands off him immediately and walked back into the conference room without looking back.

She was left alone, kneeling down in the long empty corridor and crying incessantly.

She cried for as long as the meeting was held for. Gradually, the news spread inside Imperial Entertainment that Queen Xia Ling was crying outside the VIP Conference room on the seventeenth floor. Could it be she had offended Chairman and had finally lost her position? Some people pretended to pass by and peered at her with curiosity, gossiping behind her back, but she didn’t care. She waited till the meeting was over and the well-dressed directors came out in twos and threes.

The white-haired Pei Zhenyuan passed by her and stopped. “What a scandal.”

He said it with a high, disdainful voice.

She cried and grabbed his suit trousers. For the first time, she bowed to the old man she had never dealt with once. “Grand Uncle, I beg you to persuade Ziheng, okay? Don’t let him marry that woman, don’t…”

Pei Zhenyuan reprimanded. “Let go! Have you not thrown enough face? If not for the fact that you can sing well and help strengthen Imperial Entertainment, why would the Pei family endure having you around? Don’t call me Grand Uncle, how are you worthy?!”

The cool and smooth texture of his suit trousers slowly slipped through her fingers and Pei Zhenyuan walked far away.

Xia Ling was dazzled and waited for a long time at the door for Pei Ziheng. However, she waited until everyone else had scattered and he still did not come out. It was Chu Chen who came out instead. He gently lifted her and said, “Let’s go, don’t wait anymore. Boss will be busy the whole day today. There are several major issues that cannot be delayed.”

“So my business can be delayed?” She choked with emotions and whimpered.

Chu Chen was silent for a long time and said, “Xiao Ling, you have to accept your life.”

“What is life?”

“We are born as commoners, don’t think about fighting with these aristocrats. You can only survive by complying with the rules.” Perhaps it was a reminder of his childhood, and Chu Chen said to her sincerely, “Xiao Ling, we are already considered lucky. We have a brocade of garments and jade meals, and thousands of people revere us. We shouldn’t be too greedy.”

“So I’m being greedy because I want to marry him?” She cried again. “You all think I’m in the wrong, right? Over the years, you saw me looking at him longingly of my own wishful thinking, was it like watching a joke?”

Chapter 1110: Meet with Wang Jingwan
Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Chu Chen supported her and sent her home to rest.

Nanny Zhou saw her expression and panicked. She quickly waited on her to sit down and rest and simmered a hot soup for her.

Xia Ling didn’t have an appetite and couldn’t consume anything. She looked at the bowl of soup and was shocked again, then burst out crying again. Nanny Zhou was very distressed and hugged her while saying, “Miss, my good lady, this is the life of a woman. Don’t cry and stop being at loggerheads with Sir. When Miss Wang marries into the family, you can just ask Sir to protect you.”

Xia Ling’s body shook slightly. “What am I? A mistress?”

It turned out Pei Jingyu’s words from ten years ago had been a prophecy. She was a shameful mistress.

It was ridiculous how she had been full of confidence at that time and had thought he could do everything since Pei Ziheng favored her. But in fact, the Pei family knew themselves best, they were all cold and cruel.

Nanny Zhou pacified her for a long time, but it had little effect.

She sat on the sofa in the living room and spent the whole day staring blankly. Her tears dried and she had absolutely no appetite.

Pei Ziheng came home very late at night when the stars were scattered over the sky. He stepped into the door and saw the inanimate girl in the living room like a broken doll. He frowned and went over to say, “Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

She turned her back to him and ignored him.

Nanny Zhou came over apprehensively and consoled him for fear that they would start arguing. “Sir, there’s soup in the kitchen. Why don’t you eat supper with Miss, she hasn’t eaten anything the whole day. She won’t be able to stand it.”

Pei Ziheng said, “Okay.”

He took off his coat and handed it to Nanny Zhou, then walked over to Xia Ling. “Are you still angry?”

He turned her around and she tried hard to struggle but failed. Xia Ling looked up at him, her eyes swollen like a walnut, but her tears were already dried up and she couldn’t cry anymore. “I hate you.”

“You cried so much.” Pei Ziheng gently rubbed away the mottled tears on her cheeks with his fingers. “Your makeup is all messy. I don’t like to see you cry, give me a smile.”

She flung his hand away in anger.

Pei Ziheng pulled her into his arms and lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Xia Ling, I’m going to marry Wang Jingwan whether you like it or not. It seems like I’ve pampered you too much over the years, why aren’t you listening to me? Be good and go wash your face, take care of your body and keep your bad temper. My marriage is scheduled in two months and I’ll be asking you to sing on stage on the day. Bring out your best song to bless us.”

She trembled fiercely and looked at him incredulously. “Sing on stage?”

“For such a prestigious lady like Wang Jingwan to accept you is giving you and me face. So, of course we have to give her face too,” Pei Ziheng said. “You are Imperial Entertainment’s best singer, who else would sing other than you?”

“I won’t.” Her heart was broken into tiny pieces and she said weakly, “Why are you so cruel?”

“I’m cruel?” Pei Ziheng’s voice was cold. “Is it cruel to use a song to exchange her kindness to you for the next few decades? She’s from a prestigious family and has learned to be a matriarch since young, so she is able to eliminate love rivals. If she has any thoughts on moving you, I may not be able to protect you completely in the face of the fighting and scheming among you women. Why don’t you be kinder to yourself? Get along cordially with her, and there will be no harm made to you.”

He was a man that was quick-witted, so why would he care about the trifle inner matters?

Even if he could protect Xiao Ling from life-threatening issues, her status as a singer, and take care of her money supply, but in terms of all the trivial things and her daily necessities, there were hundreds of means in which the matriarch could make people suffer silently. His Xiao Ling was so innocent, what if she was bullied? He wanted her to be happy and to live as carefree as before.

But Xia Ling said, “I won’t! Pei Ziheng, don’t think of making me sing on stage! You’re not allowed to marry her, don’t marry her, do you hear? Pei Ziheng, Pei Ziheng…”

Her voice gradually turned to begging.

Nanny Zhou brought the soup over. “Sir, advise Miss to eat a little.”

Pei Ziheng took over the small bowl of soup. The golden chicken soup exuded a strong aroma. He lowered his head and brought a small spoon to Xia Ling’s mouth and said gently, “Eat something, be good.”

She pushed him away at once, and the white porcelain soup smashed on the ground, splattering the chicken soup everywhere.

Pei Ziheng’s expression hardened.

“You think about it.” He turned and walked away.

She was left alone again, her hands growing blisters from the heat of the soup, causing her immense pain.

Originally, Pei Ziheng was going to take her out to distract her the next day, but her actions angered him and, since he also had business to attend to, he went to Imperial Entertainment as usual.

Xia Ling was alone at home and didn’t pick up when Chu Chen called. After a while, she heard Nanny Zhou say downstairs, “Mr. Chu, Miss is at home, but she isn’t in a good mood and didn’t eat anything yesterday. If you have time, why don’t you accompany her and persuade her… Okay, Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

She didn’t want to see Chu Chen, so she locked the door.

She stayed at home the whole day locked up in her room.

When Pei Ziheng returned at night, he ordered her coldly. “Xia Ling, if you don’t eat anything, do you believe I’ll pour it down to you?”

She wanted to cry again. “I’ll eat if you promise me not to marry.”

She had thought she could do anything she wanted as long as she had his favor, but now that things came to this, she finally understood that the only one who could call the wind and summon the rain was him and only him. If he did not allow it, then she would struggle to even achieve anything. The only thing she could do was beg him.

“Pei Ziheng.” She looked at him sadly. “Don’t get married, okay?”

“Xia Ling, will you stop throwing a tantrum?” He ignored her and asked Nanny Zhou to bring up a bowl of porridge. He forced her to open her mouth by holding her chin and filling her mouth with the whole bowl of porridge.

She choked and coughed intensely, her frail back shaking as she gave her final struggle.

He stared at her coldly, then dragged her onto the bed before throwing her body on it roughly.

She was his. From body to heart, she must obey and comply.

Xia Ling felt as though she had died. The morning light pierced into her eyes and she lied on the bed for a long time like a dead body. The autumn colors outside the floor-to-ceiling windows were so beautiful, but she already felt the chill of winter.

She did not want her love to die.

She struggled to get up and find Wang Jinwan’s phone number. She set up a meeting with the famous prestigious lady in a high-end cafe in the city.

Wang Jingwan arrived as scheduled.

She was an elegant and noblewoman, wearing a tailored delicate suit and carrying a Hermes platinum bag. The engagement diamond ring on her finger shone brightly. She looked at Xia Ling quietly, then smiled awkwardly and took the lead. “Ziheng told me before to take good care of you after I enter the family.”

Her aura exuded the utmost confidence.