Chapter 828: Materialistic Benefits
Many of the fans had mixed feelings about this news. In fact, the current “Ye Xingling” did have an aura that resembled Xia Ling back then—and this was exactly what had led to Ye Xingling’s fans and Xia Ling’s fans arguments time and again. Although some of Xia Ling’s fans had converted and eventually became Ye Xingling’s fans, a good portion of them had insisted that Ye Xingling was simply trying to emulate and imitate Xia Ling. Even if Ye Xingling achieved great heights, she would never be able to replace Xia Ling in their hearts.
Until the Xia family held a press conference and announced that Ye Xingling was Xia Ling, but in her second life.
Those who had initially kept their faith finally gave in this time, many of whom even became “Ye Xingling” fans overnight. Although most of them knew, rationally, that reincarnation was unscientific, this story was just like a beautiful fantasy that everyone wanted to believe.
This story instantly became the talk of the town.
Xia Ling stood before a full-length mirror and did her hair conscientiously. She had to go for a photoshoot that day, playing the role of a young lady from a wealthy family. She applied her own makeup that brought out her elegance and grace, put on a tailor-made gown, and wore some diamond accessories that shimmered against her fair skin.
Lin Yunan walked into the makeup studio and scanned her from head to toe. “After all these years, you’re better at doing makeovers than anything.” He was always stingy with his compliments to her, and never failed to throw in some sarcasm whenever she was late for appointments due to personal matters. This time was no different. “Busy woman, you’ve got even more matters at hand now.”
Xia Ling had long been used to his tone. She was trying to attach a hair accessory, and hence, looked at him in the mirror without turning around. “What is it this time?”
Lin Yunan said, “What a huge revelation of your identity, it must’ve been hard to keep it from me.”
Xia Ling was more patient now than ever before and did not rush him to get to the point. Instead, she casually said, “Isn’t it just acknowledging my parents? Why are you making it a big deal?”
Lin Yunan said, “Me? Making a big deal? Those media representatives and the public out there have no idea which Xia family it is, but do you think I’m in the dark too?” He came from a rich family as well and had his own sources. In the high society, word was already going around that the Xia family she came from was the same one as the great, mysterious Preceptor Xia’s.
If this wasn’t a big deal, what was?!
“I finally get it,” exclaimed Lin Yunan. “I found it weird initially, that after your divorce, Pei Ziheng was generous enough to give you 10 billion yuan to start a company, and then another few billion yuan for funding. In fact, however, the money didn’t come from Pei Ziheng at all, right? It was from the Xia family all along.”
Xia Ling smiled. “Yup, that’s right.”
Lin Yunan burst out, “I’m so silly, I really am! I should’ve guessed it long ago, but I only realize it now, after working with you for so many years! And you, you’re really good at hiding it!”
Xia Ling was done with her hair and was checking out her outfit in the mirror. Seeing that everything was in place, she turned around and smiled at Lin Yunan. “Well, so what if you realize it now? What’s important is that I have a family now, they’re nice to me, and that I love them very much.”
Lin Yunan was half stunned as he looked at her. “You’re really Xia Ling’s incarnate?”
She did not give an answer. “What do you think?”
The look in Lin Yunan’s eyes deepened. “If this was someone else, I definitely wouldn’t believe it. But the Xia family is different—this family has some extraordinary, or rather, psychic abilities that we can’t make sense of. In that case, nothing is really impossible if it involves them.”
Xia Ling sneered. “What’s with all this supernatural stuff? Didn’t you think about how old I was when Xia Ling passed away? The Xia family had been looking for their daughter, but she was already dead when they found her. Seeing that I shared some semblance with Xia Ling, and that they happened to take Shaohui in, they decided to take me as their daughter. It’s just fate.”
“That’s it?” Lin Yunan was skeptical.
“If I really could reincarnate, I would’ve been locked in and taken for a lab test by the authorities. How would I be standing here getting ready for a shoot?” Xia Ling shrugged, but even that didn’t make her any less elegant. In fact, her words weren’t all false. She hadn’t been taken by the authorities for two reasons—firstly, nobody had enough power to dare offend the Xia family; secondly, many of them did not actually believe the reincarnation story wholeheartedly. All that fantasy was just for everyone to better cope with the situation.
Nobody really took it to be the truth.
After hearing her words, Lin Yunan had no idea what to trust anymore. He was confused.
“But,” Xia Ling smiled and happily said, “This is a pretty cool story to use. Xia Ling’s reincarnation, the Phoenix’s nirvana, how cool is that?”
Lin Yunan was speechless.
He now truly believed her. How could this pea brain be the Phoenix incarnate? How could there exist such a silly Phoenix?
He rolled his eyes and changed the topic. “I actually do have something to discuss with you. You’ve acknowledged the Xia family and risen to fame, but have you ever thought of your biological parents’ feelings? I’m talking about the Yes. Somebody interviewed them and asked about their views regarding your ‘reunion’ with the Xia family. The tabloid journalist captured your father’s sad expression, and even captioned that you were being pragmatic, leaving your dad for the sake of material benefits.”
Xia Ling looked surprised. “Uncle Haichao—basically, the main manager of the Xia family—told me that he’d already had a talk with the Ye family, and had told them not to voice their thoughts to outsiders. They’ll abide by it.” When the Xia family “had a talk” with someone, they did it in a more unique way—if anyone were to flout it, their predicament would be tragic. Hence, no one would even try to go against their words.
Lin Yunan was even more convinced now that she wasn’t some Phoenix in her last life. “Hello, Miss, do you even have a brain? The Ye family indeed have not said much, but that doesn’t mean their emotions aren’t written on their faces. The reporters just need a few photos to stir up some gossip. It’s not as if you didn’t know how fertile their imagination can be.”
He even added, “Are you really doing it for the material benefits, though?”
Xia Ling didn’t bother to be kind with her tone. “The Xia family couldn’t wait to acknowledge me.”
Lin Yunan nodded as if he understood her circumstances. “No wonder, who’d dare to go against the Xias’ wishes?” He looked at Xia Ling a little sympathetically. Tsk, what a dream it must be to be a part of the Xia family… Then again, if that meant having to leave their biological parents, shouldn’t there be at least a little pain?
Xia Ling felt that Lin Yunan’s current understanding was for the best. She happily decided that if anyone were to ask her a similar question, thinking that she was doing this for material benefits, she would reply them in the same manner.
Now that her spirits had been lifted, she’d forgotten all about the Ye family article. She simply said, “Just deal with it as you deem fit.”