Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xia Ling glanced at him and quietly increased her distance from him.
It continued to rain as the eulogy was read. She recalled Shaohui’s funeral a few months ago. For a moment, she suspected if she were really a curse.
Warming the hole, sprinkling the soil, and sealing the tomb.
Supporting himself with a cane, the head of the orphanage wiped his tears with the back of his hand.
Someone invited Xia Ling up to sing.
Dressed in black with a solemn expression, she sang a memorial song in front of the tombstones that were lined with black bricks for the two children. “If there’s an afterlife, you have to be happy… If you have a family, you must cherish them. If you have parents, you must get along with them… If you have dreams, you will have light. If you have peace, you are blessed…”
Her song lingered in the cemetery that was surrounded by pine trees.
At the same time.
Deep in the mountain.
An old man held a spoon and was adding fragrance to a fire. Smoke rose. Suddenly, there was no wind. Birds flew past and made cawing sounds.
The old man looked up at the mountains.
In the depths of the dense green jungle, birds flew around in pairs and called out the same sound.
“The Phoenix… is singing.” He whispered.
Beside him, there was a young man dressed in white with a bright face and indifferent eyes. It was Xia Moyan. “Father.” Xia Moyan softly asked, “What does it mean by ‘the phoenix is singing?’”
Didn’t the stupid phoenix of their family sing every day?
The old man continued to look at the group of flying birds. They were flying towards the north and headed to the S City. They chirped loudly yet melodiously like a naturally talented band.
“A hundred birds facing the Phoenix…” The old man said. “Do you still remember the day your sister was born? These birds also called out like this, so I knew that God gave us a Phoenix. She was a singer and usually sang, but in those times, she never achieved the true song of the Phoenix. Do you know what is the true song of the Phoenix?”
Xia Moyan did not know.
He only knew that he did not have to answer his father and only needed to continue listening.
Sure enough, the old man said, “The true song of a Phoenix is a prayer. She achieved nirvana, reincarnated, and is able to communicate with the forces of nature. Anyone who is blessed by her will definitely be in good hands.”
Xia Moyan slightly raised his eyebrows as he did not expect his stupid sister to have such an ability.
No wonder, the Phoenix was the noblest person in the family since ancient times.
He fell into a trance as he looked at the birds dancing in the sky.
In the cemetery.
After Xia Ling finished her song, everyone was mesmerized by her. Her singing was so good and made everyone feel peaceful. At that moment, everyone felt that their troubles were gone and were tranquil.
A sound of nature.
Vaguely, they had a feeling that this girl would not just be a Diva of the entertainment industry in the future.
Xia Ling turned around and walked back. Suddenly, a child rushed out and threw a stone viciously at her. “Bad woman! You killed Xiao Hai and Songsong!”
She was still immersed in sadness and was caught off guard.
There was an uproar in the crowd. The stone was the size of a fist. If it really hit her, she would definitely be hurt. No sooner after it, suddenly, a man ran out and protected her in his arms. That stone severely hit that man’s arm. The man stumbled and unsteadily, both of them fell to the ground.
Xia Ling’s eyes widen as she saw Pei Ziheng’s beautiful face inches away from hers.
She tried her best to push him away to no avail.
“Let go of me!” She said, rather embarrassed.
Only then did Pei Ziheng let her go and helped her up. “Are you ok?”
She shook her head. Her black dress was covered in mud, and there was grass all over her hair. She was in a mess. On the other hand, the child was already under control. However, he looked emotional as he struggled and screamed.
The adults pulled the child away.
As Xia Ling recovered from the shock, the teachers of the orphanage already surrounded her. “Miss Ye and Chairman Pei, are you ok? We’re really sorry. The child is too insensible. The two people who died were his friends, and he only did this because he’s overly upset.”
Xia Ling shook her head. “I’m fine.”
The teachers looked at Pei Ziheng with concern. “Chairman Pei, what about you? Just now, that child hit you. Are you hurt?”
Pei Ziheng rolled up his sleeve to reveal his arm. On it was a large bruise, and it was a little swollen. The teachers gasped and quickly insisted for him to get medical help.
However, Pei Ziheng said, “I’m fine. Luckily, it did not hit you.”
He said the last sentence to Xia Ling.
Seeing that his arm was injured, Xia Ling felt a little guilty. “Thank you.”
He was very gentle. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.” His voice was low, dark and ambiguous.
Xia Ling took a step back. “I should be going.” She left with Sister Mai Na and a few other staff members. After a few steps, she turned around to look at him one last time.
Pei Ziheng observed as she disappeared.
Chu Chen appeared beside Pei Ziheng. “Boss, let me deal with your injury.”
Pei Ziheng lowered his gaze. “Don’t interfere. Let it be there a few more days.” He was the one who hired someone to provoke the child who threw the stone. He also deliberately stood the nearest to her so that he could rush up at once to protect her once the stone was thrown. Xiao Ling was a very soft-hearted girl. Sure enough, after he shielded her from the stone, even though she still maintained her distance from him, she couldn’t help but look back.
This was a good sign.
“Let’s go back to Imperial Entertainment.” He said to Chu Chen. “I have to work overtime for the next few days. After Xiao Ling resumes her tour, I will continue the plan.”
Chu Chen respectfully acknowledged him.
Xia Ling returned home and recalled what happened during the funeral. She was devastated. It turned out no matter how the orphanage tried to fixed the situation, the children still hated her. This hatred was like a sword that caused her immense pain.
Habitually, she took out her phone and wanted to call Li Lei.
However, she remembered that he sounded very busy these days over the phone, and she did not have the heart to disturb him frequently. Sister Mai Na and the others were also very busy. She put down the phone and slowly went into a trance. She only thought of how big the world ass but there was no one she could talk to.
She kept less contact with Li Lei than before.
After a few days, she did not even contact him.
She was very worried and asked Tan Ying if he knew if something was going on. Was he in any danger? Tan Ying said vaguely, “Boss just received a new task and there’s no signal there. After about 10 days to a month, he will be back.”
She was still very worried and continued to ask questions, but she did not manage to get more information.
She knew that Tan Ying did not like her.
A few of Li Lei’s subordinates such as Ah Nuo had a good relationship with her. Unfortunately, they did not know what had happened.
She spent this period of time worrying.
The anthelmintic drug scandal slowly ended.
Sister Mai Na told her that she could continue with the third stop of her tour.