Chapter 274: The Blue Diamond Necklace

Pei Ziheng pushed an exquisite gift box in front of her. "This is a gift for you."

Xia Ling did not move from where she was. "It looks expensive. I can't accept that." The box was small and square, the blue velvet exterior elegant and attractive like the night sky. It was apparent that it was a jewelry box, and knowing Pei Ziheng, it definitely would not be a cheap item.

She could accept gifts from anyone but him. Accepting a gift from him felt like... felt like it meant something else...

She did not dare have any deeper involvement with him.

Pei Ziheng opened the box and, as Xia Ling expected, a blue diamond necklace was lying quietly in the box. The platinum, triple-woven thin chain complemented the exquisitely-cut, beautiful blue diamond. The clarity was high, and every face of the diamond sparkled under the lights. There was a small guarantee card sitting inside the box with a logo on it.

Xia Ling immediately recognized the logo to be a high-end diamond brand. In her past life, she loved accessories from this brand. However, in this life, she would bankrupt herself if she tried to buy that small blue diamond necklace Pei Ziheng was holding in his hands.

She stopped looking at the necklace and raised her head to look straight into his eyes.

"I've seen your performances several times." Pei Ziheng's deep voice rang out again. There was an authority in his voice, not only because of the deepness of it but also through the many years of being in a position of power. "You have very few accessories to go with the gowns that you have donned. When I walked by this store the other day, I thought this necklace suited you and decided to buy it for you."

In actual fact, he had not merely passed by the store.

He had specially gone down to look for a suitable necklace for her. He watched every event that she attended, and when he saw her at the "War and Death" premiere event, he saw that the necklace she wore was a commonly found crystal necklace and clearly sub-par. Then, he had felt a tinge of anger at Li Lei. Was this how he treated her usually? How could he let her look so shabby in these large events where many artistes were gathered together? That man did not deserve to be with her.

Pei Ziheng had especially found time one day to go to the store.

That was his Xiao Ling's favorite store when she was still alive.

He bought the newest model of the season — the most expensive blue diamond necklace. He knew that Xiao Ling would love it if she were still alive to receive it.

"Xiao Ling, put it on." Pei Ziheng said in his deep baritone.

That warm and familiar voice made Xia Ling feel like she had gone back in time.

As if in a trance she reached out and received the necklace from him.

Opening the platinum clasp, she was about to put the necklace on. Suddenly, her fingers touched something as they moved to her neck — she was wearing a thin red string around her neck, and at the end of the string was a simple amulet. Li Lei had given her this amulet and had told her never to take it off.

She retracted her hand from her neck.

"Sorry, I already have a necklace." She put the blue diamond necklace back into the box.

Pei Ziheng's gaze fell onto the string around her neck. The red string made her skin look all the more fair and succulent, and he felt his breathing quicken. Pei Ziheng discretely calmed himself and said, "A red string? It's an amulet, right?"

Xia Ling nodded. She could not fathom why she did not dare tell him that it was a gift from Li Lei.

She said sheepishly. "It's for protection."

Pei Ziheng did not insist on her putting on the necklace. However, he picked up the sparkling blue diamond necklace and put it in the palm of her hand. "Keep it. Wear it with your dresses next time."

Xia Ling could hardly resist, and even though she had warned herself thousands of times over to be careful of Pei Ziheng, she almost put the necklace on hearing his voice that seemed to have magical powers on her. Now, it would be contrite to give the excuse that the gift was too expensive and she could not accept it.

She had no choice but to agree.

She consoled herself silently. In her past life, she earned loads of money for him, and after her death, all of that went to him and Xia Yu. Now, she had merely received a necklace from him. It was not too expensive...

She repeated that phrase as if trying to hypnotize herself.

Pei Ziheng watched her and asked, "What are your plans after leaving Skyart Entertainment?"

Xia Ling was slightly startled, before she replied, "I don't know yet. I'll just take things as they go along. Many management agencies are getting in touch with me, but I haven't decided where I want to go yet."

"Do you want..."

"I'm not going to Imperial Entertainment." Xia Ling laughed and interrupted him. "Boss Pei, thank you for your kind intentions."

"Why?" Pei Ziheng frowned slightly. Before, it seemed like she could not bear to leave Skyart Entertainment. Yet now, Skyart Entertainment was not a barrier at all. "You have to know that no other company in the industry can match up to Imperial Entertainment."

"I know." Xia Ling nodded and carefully considered her response. "I've been too used to being lazy, and the intense regimental style that Imperial Entertainment has isn't suited for me. I'm hoping to find a company that isn't quite so serious."

"You're saying that I'm serious?"

"No, no..." Xia Ling was close to tears. How would she dare say anything bad about Big Boss Pei? And in front of him, no less? She wasn't prepared to die again.

"Then, what is it?" Pei Ziheng continued pressing her.

When Luo Luo returned she was going to skin her alive! How had she so easily revealed her living situation, especially during this time when she was switching management agencies?! She preferred to be hunted down by hundreds of tabloid reporters than to face Pei Ziheng's interrogation!

Xia Ling could not think of any other excuses. She shut her eyes and blurted out. "I just don't like working with people I know! Especially those that have complicated relationships with me! I left Skyart Entertainment because I felt that it was awkward working under Li Lei! Imperial Entertainment is the same! There's no way I'm going there when you're there. I'm going to find a simple, innocent company that isn't so complicated!"

No, wait up...

She seemed to have said too much...

What complicated relationships?!

Xia Ling opened her eyes that were fraught with anxiety and looked at Boss Pei. He... he... did he derive anything from what she had just said?

Pei Ziheng clasped his hands together in front of him, and his deep-set, mysterious eyes were contemplating her, his face cold and void of emotion. After a while, there was a tinge of a smile in the depths of his eyes. "So, you're saying... you have personal feelings for me?"

"No!" Xia Ling almost jumped up in fright. "Don't misunderstand me!"

"Then, what is it?"

Xia Ling was at a loss for words.

At this moment, she wished someone would come to save her. Li Lei... where was Li Lei? Why was it that he was busy today? Xia Ling took a deep breath, and another before she thought of a lame excuse. "I don't have any feelings for you... but you have feelings for me... Anyway, I'm not going to Imperial Entertainment."

His eyes darkened slightly.

Xia Ling nervously watched him and saw the darkening in his eyes, but this put her more at ease.

"I hope to ensure that my personal life and my work are kept completely separate." She regained her composure and continued. "Regardless of whatever personal relationships, if the other person is in the same company, I'm going to pass the company up." She hinted that if he insisted on her joining Imperial Entertainment, there would not be any chance between them at all.

Then, did that mean... if they were not in the same company, he would have a chance?