Chapter 63: Peach Blossoms of the Southern Mountains
The bangle was fas.h.i.+oned out of platinum, with intricate carvings of four-leaf clovers. Every detail was perfectly, flawlessly created, and the design was one that every girl would like — unique in its magnificence and cla.s.sy in its simplicity.
Xia Ling took a glance at it and looked up. “What’s this about?”
Li Lei replied, “It’s for you. You won the race and everyone has something for you, so do I.” His tone revealed traces of coquettishness, like a child grabbing for candy.
Xia Ling did not know if she should be laughing, “I don’t need it.”
“You have to take it.” Big Boss Li was even more childlike now.
Xia Ling was about to wring the bangle out of her wrist but was stopped by Li Lei. “No removing it, even I have accepted the necklace from you.”
Xia Ling choked on her words.
Big Boss Li smiled brightly. “You just made your debut. In the future, there’ll be many instances where you need accessories and such. The company has a limited budget for you budding talents, you can’t be wearing the same few pieces all the time. Keep this bangle with you, it can go well for many different occasions and settings.”
Xia Ling rested her hand, acknowledging that he was right. Besides, their talent and substance wasn’t the next thing those female celebrities competed over appearances and dressing? Though she was not like other female celebrities who sought after such material possessions, there was no need to be too pretentious and insist on declining it.
On that thought, she smiled at Li Lei. “Thank you, Boss.”
“‘Boss’ sounds so distant, can’t you change the way you address me?” Big Boss Li was pus.h.i.+ng his limits.
Xia Ling gestured to remove the bangle again.
“No, no.” Big Boss Li gave in. “‘Boss’ it is. Keep it, please keep it.”
A smile flashed across Xia Ling’s mind, feeling the cool metallic accessory on her wrist warm up a little.
In the warm glow of the evening, peach blossoms dotted the landscape of a golden sunset. Xia Ling and Li Lei strolled side by side along flora and fauna with Valiant Song and Thunder following behind. From a distance, the scene looked straight out of a beautiful painting.
Du Yunfeng stood on the upper deck at the club and looked into binoculars. “Second Young Master Li has really fallen into the pit, when did this beast begin doing things like accompanying girls on a walk? … Look, just look at him! He’s moving towards her, he’s touched her shoulder! Oh, she moved away! … He’s moving closer again… she moved away…!”
A group of them watched Du Yunfeng in silence.
They didn’t even need to see it know that Second Young Master Li had fallen into the pit since Li Lei had hurriedly gotten someone to deliver the bangle just a while ago. Though the bangle was just made of platinum, it was carved by a top-notch artisan — ordinary as it looked, it was, in fact, more valuable than all of their gifts combined.
Furthermore, Second Young Master Li got it delivered on a helicopter…
A few of them had thought of taking advantage of the helicopter to deliver their gifts for Xia Ling as well, but besides rejecting their request, Second Young Master Li had threatened them: Whoever dared give Xia Ling their gift before he did would have to bear the consequences!
Petty, he was truly petty.
A few of the men had some unspoken criticisms: if this goes on, won’t he be a slave to his wife?
No, no…
Everyone came to an epiphany, this girl was merely a small celebrity who had just made her debut, and she did not seem like she came from a wealthy family. How could she be Second Young Master Li’s official wife?
He was indeed just having some fun.
In that case, everyone came to an understanding. Maybe Second Young Master Li just wanted to try a different game?
The group of them were having a whale of a time over afternoon tea.
In the path of flora and fauna, Xia Ling was tired from the strolling. She reluctantly bade farewell to Valiant Song and returned with Li Lei.
“I can come with you to see it often if you want,” said Li Lei.
Xia Ling was slightly stunned. While she watched Valiant Song walk off, she quietly said, “Thank you, but it’s alright.” The horse was Pei Ziheng’s, and nothing would change that fact however close she was to Valiant Song.
In the last warm glow, before dark descended, the pain she had buried from her previous life was creeping up inside her again.
Li Lei had no idea why she was down. Though he was right next to her, at that moment he felt that she was far, far away, too distant for him reach out to her.
That was an awful feeling.
The two of them, each with their thoughts, returned to the bustle in the club and had dinner with the rest before heading for bed.
The following day, Li Lei sent Xia Ling back to Skyart Entertainment Training Camp.
As usual, he dropped her off at the garage where n.o.body was around.
Xia Ling said her goodbyes to Li Lei and returned to her dormitory. She pushed open the door to see a few people standing around in the room — besides her roommates, the dormitory warden and a foreign, seemingly timid girl was around as well.
“Ye Xingling, you’re back just in time.” The warden told her. “Yi Yi is a new trainee here, the dormitory is full and there are no extra beds, so there’s no choice but to allocate her here for now. Let her bunk in with the rest of you for a few days — you’ll be moving out soon anyway.”
“Huh?” Xia Ling blinked a couple of times.
“Trainees who have made their debut have to move out of the dormitory, don’t you know that?” asked the warden.
That was when Xia Ling remembered Tan Ying mentioning something of that sort when she had signed the contract. But she had been busy with the styling and the practicing of songs and hence completely forgot about it.
She apologized to the warden and readily welcomed Yi Yi.
It was uncomfortable having to share a bed with another person, but the fault was on her part. In the night, as she lay beside Yi Yi and the rhythm of her regular breathing, Xia Ling began to think. Where would be a good place to move to?
There was no way she could return to the Ye family — who knew when the money-faced Ye parents would betray her again.
Buy an apartment? She must be kidding, the property prices were ridiculously high, where was she to find the money?
Helpless, she went to Tan Ying’s office the following day.
“I’ve asked around a few peers,” she said, “and heard that trainees like me who cannot find a suitable place to move to could stay in one owned by the company.”
“This possibility does exist,” said Tan Ying slowly. “It’s not that I’m unable to let you stay in one, it’s just unfortunate that there are no more vacant apartments under Skyart Entertainment’s name now. How about this, you can rent a place outside and the company will cover the costs.”
Xia Ling had no other options, it seemed that that was the way to go.
She got Wei Wei to seek out a place for her.
Wei Wei, an a.s.sistant the company had a.s.signed her, was a warm-hearted and cheerful girl with a pair of dimples, making her exceptionally adorable when she smiled. In a couple of days, she had managed to find a fairly good apartment and went on to hand Xia Ling the information.
After returning from the Southern Mountains, Xia Ling continued working hard on Wei Shaoyin’s “Gla.s.s Fingertips,” practicing all day and all night, with no heart to bother about miscellaneous things like looking for an apartment. She told Wei Wei to settle it as she deemed fit as long as it was approved by the company.
For different cla.s.ses of celebrities, the company provided corresponding standards of accommodation. Wei Wei was familiar with the guidelines and carefully picked the most suitable apartments to seek Tan Ying’s approval. However…
“Sister Xiao Ling,” Wei Wei was the same age as Xia Ling, but had very politely addressed her as “sister.””all the apartments I picked have been rejected by Chairman Tan.”
Xia Ling was baffled. “Why?”
Wei Wei was puzzled as well, “Chairman Tan did not mention why. He just requested you to speak with him.”
Xia Ling sighed. She was unsure of what Tan Ying was up to this time as she resignedly made her way to his office.