That realization reignited Pei Ziheng’s hopes.

Until today, her body remained his alone. He had heard that a woman was always loyal and devoted to her first love, maybe someday, she would love him again as she did before.

The corners of his lips tipped upwards slightly. This was good news for him.

What he did not know was that it was no virgin’s blood, it was no more than Feng Kun’s scheme.

[If you’re going to act, you have to do it well. Let Rao Rao cut her finger to give Pei Ziheng the impression that he has taken your “first time.”] Feng Kun had told Xia Ling calmly. [He’ll think that he’s the only man who’s ever laid a finger on you, and your baby will be safer this way.]

Hence, Xia Ling took his suggestion.

As much as she did not want to lie to Pei Ziheng, the baby’s life was her utmost priority.

From that day on, their relationship underwent some changes.

Pei Ziheng treated her like a princess, as usual, but there was something more. He often looked at her with a gentleness that men showed only toward their wives. “The entire Pei family is waiting for me to bring a wife home.” He would sit by her and pare fruits for her patiently whenever he had time. “After you passed on, I’d told them that I would remain a bachelor my whole life. If I change my mind now and decide to start a family, they’d be more than happy, even if my other half was a commoner.”

There were so many underlying interests involved among them, yet he never once mentioned to her the pressures he had had to face.

It would be alright if she knew that the Pei family truly welcomed her, but what if this was all just an illusion that he had crafted for her?

Xia Ling knew what he was getting at.

“I’m fine being alone.” She said as she tried to mask her exhaustion. “Marriage brings nothing but trouble.” She glanced at the fruit in his hand and intentionally digressed. “I don’t feel like having peaches today.”

He put the pared peach down and held an apple up instead. “How about this?”

“Oranges.” She picked an orange from the fruit basket and got a knife for herself. The elders had always said that women expecting boys craved sour foods, while those expecting girls craved spicy foods. Realizing that she had been craving sour stuff and that she was likely pregnant with a boy, her expression softened, and some color returned to her cheeks.

Pei Ziheng looked at her, practically spellbound.

She did not look as stunning as in her previous life, but this time, she had an air of mystery, an aura that drew people’s eyes to her. She was almost like a piece of precious jade that had gone through eons of formation to become the beauty it was today — not breathtaking, but exuding a lasting elegance.

He took the orange and knife from her hands. “Be careful not to hurt your hand.” And he went on to pare it for her.

Xia Ling did not resist it, she merely sat there in a daze as he got to it.

“You never liked doing things on your own.” Pei Ziheng was concentrating on his paring his orange perfectly. “Why are you peeling an orange on your own now?”

“It’s boring.” She said.

“You find it boring at home?” He handed the orange to her. “I’ll go out with you.”

Xia Ling thought for a while. “You’re busy with work,” she said. “and there’s not much around here that’s fun. I’ve had enough rest, I want to sing.”

He was stunned for a while before he smiled. “Return to Imperial?”

She nodded lightly. She had to return to Imperial Entertainment, whether she liked it or not. She had to find a way to interact with the outside world and to contact Feng Kun, just so that she could get help if she needed to. For her child’s sake, she had to do this.

Seeing that she was serious about returning to Imperial Entertainment, Pei Ziheng was pleasantly surprised. He thought that last night could’ve been their turning point — now that her body was his, her heart would slowly return to him as well. “I’ll have Chu Chen bring the contract here.” He got up and gave Chu Chen a call.

A while later, Chu Chen arrived in the living room with the contract.

It was a few good pages of ink on paper.

Xia Ling did not bother reading the contents since it was in Pei Ziheng’s control anyway. She took the pen and signed her name on the bottom of the paper.

The moment she wrote the name “Ye Xingling” on the paper, she felt something inside her crumble. The way it hurt so much on the inside, it was as if her heart had fallen into pieces. She recalled the day she signed that name on Skyart Entertainment’s contract two years ago. Back then, she was so full of hope for the future and had sworn that she would never return to Imperial Entertainment. And now? After going a full circle, she still ended up back in the cage.

She closed the contract file and handed it back to Pei Ziheng.

Pei Ziheng looked at her gently. “We’ll pop a champagne tonight to celebrate this.”

There was nothing worth celebrating. She said, “I just want to have something to do to relieve my boredom, I don’t wish to be a Diva anymore, so don’t pack my schedule.” She paused for a while before adding, “I don’t think I can earn anything much for you and the company.”

“Don’t bother about that.” Pei Ziheng was still gentle with his tone. “Chu Chen will be your manager. He’ll make the arrangements according to your wishes.”

Chu Chen listened by the side and acknowledged his instructions. He was not surprised by the arrangement since Pei Ziheng usually had him manage the artistes that he admired and valued the most. Xia Ling was one of them, followed by Xia Yu, and now, Ye Xingling.

She was unhappy with it. “I don’t like Chu Chen.” She did not bother to sugarcoat her words in his presence.

Pei Ziheng and Chu Chen were not alarmed by it. Back when she was still a trainee at Skyart Training Camp, she already had several conflicts with Chu Chen.

“He’s the best manager we have.” Pei Ziheng said. “Be good.”

Although he was trying to appease her, it was obvious that he was not about to let his decision be challenged.

Xia Ling sighed. It seemed like there was no running away from this manager whom she could not see eye to eye with. Oh, how she missed Sister Mai Na now, and even Lin Yunan, they were both so much better than Chu Chen. But she had no choice, Chu Chen was Pei Ziheng’s right-hand man, and Pei Ziheng would make sure he kept a close eye on her.

Knowing that there was no use resisting, Xia Ling simply accepted the arrangement quietly and went back upstairs.

Chu Chen and Pei Ziheng remained downstairs.

“She’s a little willful, it’ll be hard on you.” Pei Ziheng told Chu Chen.

Chu Chen responded courteously, “Boss, you’re too civil. Taking good care of Miss Ye is my responsibility.” He did not know that Ye Xingling was Xia Ling herself, but all he needed to know was that Boss loved this woman. So what if it was going to be hard on him? He had had his fair share of easy time rising to the position he was in today.

Pei Ziheng patted him on his shoulder.

Chu Chen was an ambitious man who yearned for both power and money, and Pei Ziheng could satisfy his wants. Pei Ziheng could give him a high-paying position and sufficiently large power and authority, on just one condition — that he took good care of Pei Ziheng’s woman. Chu Chen was smart enough to realize that and had always done his duty well.

Pei Ziheng could not be more at ease having Xiao Ling under his care.