A Star Reborn: The Queen's Return

She asked Xiao Hong, “What weird disease are you talking about?”

Xiao Hong blinked. “I’m not sure. Zhao Yixuan and the Pei family are keeping it a secret and as a mere trainee, I am unable to find out. Yingluo, everyone relies on you for these gossips. It’s easier for you to look into it than us.”

The crowd looked at Xia Yingluo pleadingly.

Xia Yingluo saw their eyes and laughed. “No wonder you’re telling me about this, your motive is for me to find out more.” They had been friends for quite a while and were no longer so afraid of her. They were much closer than before.

She did not really intend to find out more about Zhao Yixuan’s disease, she had better things who do. However, when she went home during the weekends, she mentioned it to her parents.

Li Lei was combing Xia Ling’s hair. The husband and wife were deeply in love with each other, living a peaceful life. Hearing her question, Li Lei laughed at Zhao Yixuan’s predicament. “Bully my daughter, enjoy your retribution. From what I’ve heard, his entire body is now rotten, apart from his face. Any person would puke at the sight of him shirtless, and the smell is also horrible. Not sure how much perfume and drugs he has to use to even step outside. It actually isn’t life-threatening, but still very disgusting.

Xia Yingluo was stunned. “So it’s a skin disease?” Threatening to divorce over a mere skin disease, Miss Pei was really cruel.

Her mother, Xia Ling lay on the chair comfortably, enjoying the service from her lover. She said, “This kind of disease is actually the most insufferable kind. With his whole body rotten, who wouldn’t break up with him?”

At the side, Li Lei’s combing paused and he said sadly, “What if my body is rotten, you wouldn’t want me anymore?”

Xia Ling smirked at him. “Did you not know that I married you for your looks? If you dare to have a full-body rot, I’ll divorce you right away.”

Li Lei became even sadder.

Xia Yingluo was already accustomed to her parents’ display of affection. She muttered, “How did he catch this disease, isn’t he quite healthy.”

Li Lei knocked her forehead with the comb. “Stupid.”

Xia Yingluo rubbed her head and looked at Li Lei tearfully. “You insult me.”

“Don’t tell others that you are my daughter. So stupid. Just think about it, who did Zhao Yixuan offend recently?”

“He offended me, but I didn’t even retaliate. Dad, don’t tell me it was you. This is not your style, right?” Li Lei’s usual style was killing people with guns and knives, he was not very good with these underhanded methods.

Li Lei scolded her again. “Stupid, think again.”

Xia Yingluo finally got it. She shuddered. “Wei Lingnan?” That man had an arsenal of high technology weapons, it would have been a piece of cake for him.

Li Lei said, “He still cares about you.”

Xia Yingluo looked down with mixed feelings. Wei Lingnan was already bearing a serious injury, yet, he was still thinking about her, seeking revenge for her. What about her? Every time they met, she would argue with him.

Xia Ling looked at her daughter after Li Lei was done with her hair and asked, “Yingluo, what does your heart say?”

“I don’t know, maybe he thinks of me as a mere substitute.”

“Do you love him?” Xia Ling asked gently.

Xia Yingluo was at a loss.

“If you love him, you should fight for it. Don’t care if you are a substitute. If you don’t love him, leave him. Don’t mix with these dangerous characters. No matter your choice, we will stand on your side.”

Xia Yingluo was unsure about her choices.

Her mother’s words echoed in her heart. However, another voice encouraged her to find Wei Lingnan. She tossed and turned in bed, often waking in the middle of the night. She dreamt of the mystical and purple Skatana Planet, and she sometimes told herself how good it would be if she was really Ah Luo.

She met someone at the school gate when returning to the training camp.

The man in white shirt stood under the sunlight, holding a bouquet of white flowers. He smiled at her and said, “I have recovered and am here to visit you.”

Xia Yingluo did not tease him like last time and said, “Let’s find a place to sit.”

Not used to her sudden gentleness, he followed her into the forest of the training camp. On their way there, many trainees smiled at them and remarked, “They look really good for each other.”

Wei Lingnan was happy to hear that.

It was a nice, sunny day.

Xia Yingluo brought him to the wooden bench by the lake. “You just recovered, don’t catch a cold.”

Actually, for Wei Lingnan’s body constitution, a small cold was nothing. Nonetheless, he complied and sat down on the bench.

Xia Yingluo turned her head to look at him, suddenly realizing how handsome he was. His looks were out of this world.

“What are you staring at?” Wei Lingnan asked.

“You are so handsome, why are there so few girls that want your love?” Xia Yingluo asked. It was a random question, but she was quite curious about it.

“Isn’t Gu Jinxiu one of them?” he replied.

Xia Ling’s face darkened. Wei Lingnan realized his mistake and tried to save the situation. “She doesn’t love me for my looks, she’s only after my money and status as she knows my family background. She might not even love me as a person.”

Xia Yingluo said, “You seem to know it very well.”

Wei Lingnan said, “I didn’t live so long without learning anything.”

They looked silently at the peaceful surface of the lake for a while.

Xia Yingluo asked him, “Zhao Yixuan’s disease, was it your doing? You didn’t have to do it.” Zhao Yixuan was a mere speck of dust in her eyes, revenge did not matter anymore.

Wei Lingnan said, “Anyone who dares to touch my woman will get it from me. My punishment on him is considered light.” He had wanted to kill him. But he thought that this disgusting bastard was no longer a threat to him, killing him would be having mercy on him. Letting him live on in misery, suffering through the physical pain and betrayal from those around him was the best option.

Xia Yingluo lowered her head and went quiet again.