A Star Reborn: The Queen's Return

“Who knows...” Xia Shujuan said. “It’s a legend passed on for generations. It’s probably similar to the lama incarnation in Tibet. They say it’s a reincarnation but no one truly knows if it’s real. It’s too out of the world.”

Auntie Liu nodded in understanding. “So it’s like a scam.”

Xia Shujuan glanced around and said, “Madam Ye, please keep your voice down. Saying that of the Phoenix is too disrespectful... you’ll offend the entire Xia Family. Moreover, this time it might be the real deal. Everyone is saying that your Ye Xingling is the reincarnation of Xia Ling. They are so similar in terms of singing abilities and aura.”

Auntie Liu stared in shock. “Who? Xia Ling?! Which Xia Ling are you talking about?!”

“What other Xia Ling is there?” Xia Shujuan said. “The Xia Ling that was popular nationwide... the Diva that everyone knew about. The superstar that was adopted by Imperial Entertainment’s Pei Ziheng.”

“Isn’t Xia Ling dead?” Auntie Liu asked. “How is Xiao Ling similar to her at all? Wait, wait... so you’re saying that that girl is the Phoenix reincarnation... which means that the dead Xia Ling reincarnated within her? How is Xia Ling related to your family?”

“Hai... isn’t it obvious? Her surname is Xia.”

Auntie Liu’s eyes grew wider. “So the Diva Xia Ling is part of this family? Her biological parents are somewhere in this mountain village?”

Xia Shujuan slapped her thigh in agreement. “Exactly! You know her parents as well. They are our Family Head and Madam. As such, once they knew that your girl is Xia Ling reincarnated, they were so eager to bring her back into the family.”

Oh my God, what big news... big news indeed!

The dead Diva Xia Ling had found her biological parents. If she were to sell this information to reporters, how much would it be worth?! Auntie Liu got more excited as she thought about this possibility. She grabbed Xia Shujuan’s hand and said, “Quick, quick, tell me more.”

Seeing Auntie Liu show such interest, a mysterious smile came upon Xia Shujuan’s face. “Madam Ye, I do want to tell you more. But I have some concerns in my heart, and thinking about Miss Ling brings me memories about my long lost daughter. It’s saddening for me to talk about Xia Ling... I just can’t...”

As she spoke, she wiped at the tears that were forming in the corner of her eyes.

Auntie Liu was keen on getting the gossip first-hand to sell to reporters, and hence asked emphatically, “Old Sister... what worries do you have? Come, tell me all about it... don’t keep it to yourself. We have such rapport and hit it off so well... let your young sister here help you. Maybe I’ll be able to help you find a solution to your problem?”

Xia Shujuan looked at Auntie Liu in suspicion. “Sister Ye, you are really willing to help me?”

In this short span of time, the two of them were now referring to each other as sisters, like they were the closest of friends.

Auntie Liu promised. “Of course! Everyone in my area at home knows that I’m most helpful! I will definitely help when I can! Isn’t that right, Old Ye?” She elbowed Father Ye again.

Father Ye nodded without saying a word. His emotions were turbulent at this moment. What? Xiao Ling was the Diva reincarnated? But, but, the age isn’t right... when Xia Ling died, his girl was already fifteen or sixteen years old. Was this a reincarnation? Or was Xiao Ling being possessed by Xia Ling’s dead spirit?

Thinking about her sudden change in character, Father Ye shuddered.

This was a big matter that concerned his daughter. Even though he had just broken all ties with her, they still shared the same blood. His curiosity was piqued and he too wanted to know more.

Xia Shujuan’s objective in speaking to Father Ye and Auntie Liu was to get their help. The entire conversation before this was to get them hooked. Now, seeing their eagerness to help, she said, “Actually, my worry is a simple one. I just want to find my long lost biological daughter. You guys should have heard about her. She is Xia Yu. The sister that Miss Ling brought with her to Imperial Entertainment.”

Auntie Liu was past the age of chasing stars, but thankfully she had a daughter that was up-to-date on all the entertainment news. The year Ye Xingfei got into an accident was the pinnacle of Xia Ling’s career. Ye Xingfei would always tell Auntie Liu all about this superstar. As such, she recalled that there was a sister called Xia Yu.

“Yes, yes, I’ve heard about her. Old Sister, I didn’t think that your daughter would also be an artiste.” Auntie Liu’s face was plastered with a fake smile as she sought to boot-lick Xia Shujuan. Her only aim was to keep her happy so as to get more information off her.

Xia Shujuan sighed. “What artiste? When she was just a little baby she was taken from me. I don’t know which human trafficker or kidnapper did that... My poor little girl was taken from me, and only after them sisters became famous did I see her on television...”

She reached out to wipe off the tears forming around her eyes again.

Did things pan out the way that Xia Shujuan was depicting? Then, she had abandoned Xia Yu since she was unhealthy. It was pure luck that Xia Yu had survived. However, she couldn’t tell another soul about the truth and had to pretend to be the innocent victim. Only this would garner pity for Xia Yu and herself.

Xia Shujuan continued, “All these years, I’ve missed her so. Many times I wanted to go find her. However, to be extremely open with you, the rules in the Xia Family are stringent. None of us are the leave this mountain village unless we get special permission. I’m out of ideas and can only wait and hope to be able to meet my daughter again someday.”

Auntie Liu’s expression was full of sympathy. “Xia Yu must miss you too.”

“You don’t say...” Xia Shujuan lamented. “A blink of the eye and the child is already so big now. Old Sister... do you know where Xia Yu is now? Can you help me find her so that we can be reconciled? A few years ago I could still get news about her on television, but she seems to have disappeared into thin air since. I have no idea where she is now.”

Auntie Liu recalled that Xia Yu was well-know as the sister of the famous Diva Xia Ling. She became a singer and artiste as well but was only popular for a brief period of time. Uncles and aunties of their age did not follow entertainment news much, so it was normal for most people to not have heard of her.

Auntie Liu said, “Let me go back and try to find out for you. But...” Her eyes sparkled calculatedly. “Old Sister, it’s going to be really tough to find someone without an inkling of where she is at all. We’re going to have to pay some people off to help get more info. Old Ye and I are just mere citizens without much spare cash... I really want to help you, but we just might not have the means...”

Xia Shujuan understood what she was getting at—Auntie Liu was clearly asking for money. Xia Shujuan cursed silently. These greedy and cunning citizens! On the surface, she appeared understanding and said, “Of course, of course. But do you think I look like I have money? Old Sister, can you think of a way to help pay for the expenses first? When I find Xia Yu and she’s brought back to the family, she’ll be so happy that she’ll be willing to give you so much more, don’t you think?”