A Star Reborn: The Queen's Return

Chapter 37 - There Are No Private Matters For Trainees

This chapter has been translated by Atlas Studios. All credits belong to them.

The eye-catching boy turned around, and hence, the men clustered around him did too.

Upon seeing Xia Ling being surrounded, Li Lei's brow furrowed, and he did a hand signal. On this command, the crowd of tall men stopped laughing and quickly resumed their professionality and got into position. What seemed like a crowd that one could easily breeze through immediately became an iron wall of sorts, and a vague sense of lethality buzzed in the air.

The hold that the two bodyguards had on Xia Ling tightened.

The atmosphere turned into silence.

There was a pause before Li Lei chuckled. "What is Imperial Entertainment's Mr. Pei doing with my artiste?"

Pei Ziheng looked serious. "Li Lei, this is a private matter."

Xia Ling's heart leaped into her throat, fearing that Pei Ziheng's rationale would turn Li Lei away immediately. After all, her boss never really mixed his relations with work, and shortly before she had just rejected becoming his lover, so surely she must have dealt a blow to his reputation somehow. If he wanted to be a bystander and watch her get humiliated and bullied, this was the perfect time for him to do it.

Yet, he just looked curiously at Pei Ziheng. "Skyart Entertainment trainees have no private matters."

Xia Ling let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and immediately felt like her boss was a great person. He was clearly planning on intervening. And he was not completely wrong, Skyart's trainees did not have any secrets — trainees were backup artistes, and in the eyes of an artiste, there was no divide between what was private and what was public.

"Li Lei," Pei Ziheng's voice rang low, mildly amused, "she's just a small fry. I can't believe someone as important as you can recognize a mere trainee."

Li Lei innocently replied, "I am a boss that cares about my employees."

He started again. "Mr. Pei, please release Ye Xingling. She is still a kid, so she still makes mistakes. If she offended you in the past, please let me take her to the task. I will be made answerable for her mistakes."

Pei Ziheng studied him deeply, an unreadable look on his face.

Li Lei's demeanor still had not changed. He was relaxed, a half-smile was playing on his lips as the tens of men behind him continued to step up their guard. The tension in the air was thick and suffocating.

On the other hand, Pei Ziheng only had two bodyguards, and Xia Ling in tow.

Finally, Pei Ziheng lightly raised his hand.

The bodyguards let Xia Ling go.

The moment of freedom startled her momentarily, in disbelief that it came so simply, that Pei Ziheng had moments of weakness as well. Yet, immediately after, her heart swelled with dismay...

"Why are you still standing there, come over here." She heard Li Lei say.

A moment of clarity struck her, and she clambered over to his side, staying close behind his figure. His gang of men swarmed around her, and she tried to calm down as cold sweat drenched her back.

Pei Ziheng's eyes never left her, targeting closely, and it was becoming a thorn in her back.

Li Lei shifted, almost unnoticeably, and his figure eclipsed hers.

"Li Lei," Pei Ziheng spoke slowly. "you can defend her now, but that doesn't mean you can do the same for the rest of her life."

"I don't need you to worry about that now, Director Pei." Li Lei grinned.