A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xia Ling gave Lin Yunan an impressed look.

Following which, she gleefully added, “Mr. assistant here… did you forget to get your story straight with the Gu family father-daughter pair? Your lie was just too obvious. Gosh, the Gu family is saying all sorts of things now, what exactly should I believe?”

Gu Lin’s face was ashen. She blurted out instinctively, “Of course you should believe me!” She turned and chided her assistant loudly. “Why did you speak out? What do you know?!”

The personal assistant was upset at her berating and thought to himself: If not for your mistake, would I have to think of a way to salvage the situation? Fine… since you don’t appreciate my kind attempt at saving you, I’ll just keep quiet. After all, you’ll think that I’m wrong regardless of what I do.

The assistant took a step back and shut up.

Gu Lin was satisfied with her show of authority. She had effectively made her assistant keep quiet.

Her confidence returned and she looked back at Xia Ling. “I never lie. I told you that my dad suffered a stroke because of you. What are you going to do about it?”

Xia Ling smiled. “So Miss Gu came out shopping even though CEO Gu suffered a stroke?”

Lights from the cameras all around flashed non-stop, capturing this exchange in its entirety.

People in the crowd were tutting as well. “How unfilial… I would beat my daughter alive if she treated me like that.”

“Exactly! Such a waste for the Gu family… raising her all these years.”

“Such an ingrate.”

Gu Lin was stunned and had no idea how to turn the situation around. She anxiously turned to her personal assistant, hoping that he would jump in to help. However, the personal assistant didn’t want to help her at all given how she scolded him earlier, so he merely gave her an expression of helplessness.

Cold sweat was breaking out on Gu Lin forehead in her anxiety. After a while, she exclaimed, “Why do you care?!”

The crowd booed. Was Miss Gu admitting that she was being unfilial? Who would have thought the beautiful and well put together Miss Gu was such an ingrate?!

Xia Ling was satisfied with Gu Lin’s reaction and subsequently from the crowd. As expected, it was the right strategy to bring all these people to look for Gu Lin, catching her off-guard. Gu Lin was different from Xia Yu and Su Tang in that she was not as calm and meticulous. She would usually panic when put on the spot.

Additionally, there were so many witnesses present that she would be unable to deny anything later on.

Xia Ling pressed Gu Lin even more. “It’s not that I want to pry into your household matters. However, I’ve never met CEO Gu, so how can you say that I caused him to suffer a stroke? Please tell me, I’m curious.”

Gu Lin gave a cold laugh. “How can I say? He went to find you at the film site the other day and you refused to see him. He waited in the sun for such a long time. My dad is getting on in years… he had to wait in the sun with the wind blowing at him, feeling all anxious and frustrated… that’s how he had a stroke!”

Before Xia Ling could open her mouth, Lin Yunan laughed out loud.

“What are you laughing at?!” Gu Lin glared furiously at him.

“Miss Gu, you really don’t know what it’s like to be a normal person being born with that silver spoon in your mouth, do you?” Lin Yunan chuckled and looked at Gu Lin like he was looking at an idiot. “Xiao Ling here is a superstar… a Diva, you know? She’s worked so hard to get herself into this position. Do you think she’s like you who just needs to stay at home with your dear parents providing for you? Xiao Ling needs to work, whether it’s in a rainy or windy day, with countless fans, reporters, business partners, etc., all waiting to look for her. If she needs to meet every single person that wants to meet her, how will she get anything done at all? She won’t have time to sleep!”

Everyone around nodded in agreement at Lin Yunan’s words. Indeed… superstars were busy, why would she meet just anyone?

“Your dad didn’t make an appointment. I didn’t know he was coming at all.” Xia Ling said. “That day, my schedule was completely packed. I can’t delay all my other schedules for your dad.”

“What can’t be delayed?” Gu Lin exclaimed. “My dad wouldn’t have taken too much of your time. Don’t tell me you don’t even have a few minutes to spare.”

“Ah… I really don’t.” Xia Ling calmly responded.

“You!” Gu Lin didn’t expect her to be so direct, and was so angry she almost wanted to hit her.

Lin Yunan piped up again. “Miss Gu, did you not understand a word I said? I told you that there are countless people waiting to see Xiao Ling. If she spares a few minutes for everyone, Xiao Ling doesn’t get to eat or sleep between her schedules!”

“My dad isn’t just anybody! He’s the CEO of the Gu Family Magnate!” Gu Lin said proudly, puffing out her chest. “How can he compare to just any normal person?!”

Xia Ling wanted to laugh out loud. This Miss Gu was really shooting herself in the foot. “So what you are saying is that your dad is more important than everyone else just because he’s a CEO? I should prioritize this CEO who I have no business dealings with and has no idea what I do over my fans, who follow me to my concerts across several cities, or the reporters that painstakingly stand in queue to interview me? Just because he’s a CEO?”

Xia Ling’s words incited fury from the crowd.

“Yeah, why does he deserve to see her? So what if he’s rich?”

“So people in the Gu family think they are better than everyone else? Why are you looking down on all of us?”

“Hmph… and to think I’ve bought the Gu family perfumes before! I’ll never buy them again!”

“Boycott the Gu family! Boycott the Gu family!”

The crowd chanted. Many of them were normal working class citizens, and Gu Lin’s words brought out deep class divide hatred. The rich tended to enjoy many perks, and it was fine if they were being low profile about it. What now… after enjoying all the riches they are openly stating that they should be given special treatment?!

The crowd was overcome with anger.

Gu Lin was frightened by this turn of events. From where she was standing, the chanting to “Boycott the Gu family!” was spreading through the crowd rapidly.

Her face turned pale, and she weakly tried to defend herself. “I… I didn’t mean it like that… ”

Unfortunately, her voice was too soft and was drowned out by the crowd’s chanting.

Xia Ling gave her a pained look. “Miss Gu, I’m disgusted that you would feel that the Gu family is more important than anyone else just because you have more money. Why would you have such a wrong mindset?”

Gu Lin was close to tears in her anger and anxiety. She raised her voice and exclaimed, “I really didn’t mean it like that!” What if everyone really boycotted the Gu family? What was she to do? What if this affected their perfume sales? Grandfather Gu would skin her alive! She shouted in an even louder voice, “I really didn’t mean it like that!”

She was close to hysterical.

Finally, someone heard her voice.