A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Jin Ling’er covered her mouth and sniggered. “I’ve never seen people roll before. These few ladies, you can help me increase my knowledge.”

“You!” Jin Ying was furious. She didn’t expect them to be so sharp-mouthed. That was weird, shouldn’t this lowly girl who sells her body for a living bow down and talk in a low tone to prestigious ladies such as herself? She felt like she was already on the losing end in terms of grandeur because of how she was shorter than the other noble ladies. How could these two little bitches be so self-righteous?

Xia Yingluo played with the orchid casually, calm and unruffled.

Du Jingjing’s eyes were sharp and she noticed the orchid in her hands. “The thing you’re holding is my family’s ‘Superb Jewel’? Where did you get it from? Are you shameless, how could you have bent such a precious flower?” Her family’s Superb Jewel was the most premium orchid, and they had spent great efforts searching for a famous craftsman to breed it successfully. The whole family was immensely proud of it, but now that it was bent, she was sure to have caused big trouble.

Xia Yingluo looked at the flower on her hand. “So this is called Superb Jewel.”

Just looking at it, she could tell that it was a premium orchid. But she didn’t put it to heart. Since the Du family had bent it and given it to Old Mister Shan Kouya, it was already bent, so why should she be tentative about it?

Du Jingjing thought she had found a big piece of information to use against her. “Do you not have any culture? How could you just bend my flower like that? You’re done, hurry up and call Brother Li Rui and see how he handles this situation. This is such an expensive flower, you won’t be able to pay for it even if I sell you!”

“Who are you selling?” Suddenly, a sound came from nearby.

Everybody looked down and saw that amongst the flora and fauna, the hall’s door had been opened. Li Lei, Xia Ling and a few of the other guests were all escorting an old grandpa wearing a hemp cloth attire, looking quietly at them.

“Uncle, Uncle Li, Master Shan Kouya…” Du Jingjing looked at them and greeted each of them. Then, she pointed at Xia Yingluo. “You came just at the right time. This wild brat got in here somehow and bent my family’s most precious orchid. I want her to pay!”

A hint of surprise and a strange expression flashed in a few of the elders’ eyes.

The old grandpa in the middle smiled and looked at Xia Yingluo. “I was just thinking why my orchid was missing, it turns out there was a little thief.”

Xia Yingluo also grinned. She wanted to say something when Master Shan Kouya gestured a shush to him.

“It looks like you are not getting along well.” Xia Ling, who was standing beside Li Lei, said and looked at the noble ladies. “You all think that Xia Yingluo secretly bent the orchid and you want her to compensate for it?”

“Yes, Madam Li,” Gu Jinxiu said. She didn’t waste the opportunity to showcase herself. “Jingjing and I and a few others were all chatting on the grass patch when we saw Xia Yingluo and Jin Ling’er sneak in. I recognized that she was a poor student in Imperial’s training camp, and was afraid she wouldn’t know the rules and would offend you, fellow elders. So me, Jingjing, Jin Ying and a few others all came to look. As expected, we found out she secretly bent the precious orchid.”

Xia Ling glanced at her own daughter, meaning to tell her that this little brat really had bad relationships with people.

Xia Yingluo shrugged innocently. She didn’t do it on purpose.

The sunshine gleamed in Xia Ling’s eyes and she smiled at Gu Jinxiu. “What’s your name?”

Gu Jinxiu was elated at having been noticed. She said respectfully, “My name is Gu Jinxiu. I’m the Gu family’s daughter. I’ve met Madam Li before.”

Xia Ling nodded slightly. “Gu family. Yes, I remember. I was once very familiar with your family.”

Gu Jinxiu was elated and felt she was being recognized, so she continued to try harder. “Right? I heard that when my great-grandpa was still alive, he appreciated you a lot, and even wanted the juniors to learn from you. Unfortunately, I was born late and didn’t have the chance to personally witness your glorious days.”

“Are you calling me old?” Xia Ling asked.

“No! I didn’t mean that!” Gu Jinxiu was anxious and wanted to bite her own tongue off. She laughed forcefully. “Madam Li, you’re so beautiful, how could you be old? You’re even more beautiful than us.”

Xia Ling smiled radiantly again and complimented her. “At least you know how to sugarcoat.” She looked up and said to Li Lei, “Look at other people’s daughter, so smooth and slick in making social connections. Unlike our family’s brat? She comes out to be bullied and always makes us worry for her.”

Xia Yingluo was unhappy. Mother, you’re clearly scolding me indirectly. Boohoo, how am I that horrible?

Li Lei glanced at his daughter, who was full of grievance. He suppressed a laugh. “Isn’t it? Why did we give birth to a stupid daughter.”

Xia Yingluo felt even more aggrieved. She circled spots on the orchid in her hands quietly.

Gu Jinxiu continued to make conversation. “That’s because Uncle Li and Aunt have too high an expectation of your daughter.” With just a few words, she had already called “Madam Li” as “Aunt”. “I heard that Jennifer is talented and good-looking. She’s not only beautiful but also has incomparable wits and intelligence that is rarely seen in the world and is much stronger than us. I really do want to see her and make friends with her.”

Xia Ling couldn’t help but laugh.

Gu Jinxiu only thought she was happy and laughed along with her.

Xia Yingluo also laughed, and Jin Ling’er was laughing even harder. She stuck up her thumb. “Ms. Gu, you really have wonderful insight. Bravo!”

Gu Jinxiu frowned. Why was this wild brat so insolent? She glanced at Du Jingjing at the side, and Du Jingjing also found them extremely irksome. She chided Jin Ling’er and Xia Yingluo. “Why aren’t you two getting lost?”

“Oh.” Xia Yingluo responded honestly now and dragged Jin Ling’er away.

“Wait.” Old Master Shan Kouya stopped her. “Little brat, are you just leaving? Leave the orchid.”

“Yes, leave the orchid.” Du Jingjing remembered it. “This orchid was given to a prestigious guest like Old Master Shan Kouya, who are you to take it?”

Xia Yingluo really put the orchid casually at the side and was about to leave.

“Come back!” Old Master Shan Kouya couldn’t help but glare at her. “You’re really leaving because they asked you to? When were you so obedient?”

Xia Yingluo was unhappy. “Each of you complained about me and called me stupid.” She glanced at her parents in grievance, then pointed at Du Jingjing. “She even told me to get lost! Why should I stay here? Humph, I’m going back to the training camp. I’m going to ignore you all.”

Gu Jinxiu had yet to respond. She only focused on trying to impress the Li family and continued to chide her. “How are you talking to the elders?! Do you have any discipline?! A poor student is a poor student, you don’t have culture at all. Unfortunately, Ms. Jennifer isn’t here, or she’d be able to let you gain some insight with her etiquette model on how a proper lady should behave.”

Xia Yingluo stared at her, stunned. Gu Jinxiu didn’t even need a sketch to shoot her mouth off?

After a second, Xia Yingluo finally found her voice. “Thank you so much for complimenting me. I didn’t even know I was that impressive.”