Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

Zhang Yu's eyes flickered slightly. Li Xiaoming was quick; he had already begun using the character to win people over.

"I haven't decided whether to take that role yet," he said calmly. "But if I do, Ms. Gao's temperament is indeed very suitable for the role of a female teacher."

"Thank you, Director Zhang." Gao Yuanyuan's eyes were gentle yet expectant. "I really like that script, and it would be my honor to work with you."

The three chatted under the old locust tree. The morning mist gradually dissipated, and sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The staff in the courtyard arrived one after another and began preparing for today's filming.

When Chen Chen came out of the room, this was the scene he saw—Zhang Yu was standing under a tree, with the pure and lively Jing Tian on her left and the gentle and intellectual Gao Yuanyuan on her right, the three of them chatting very congenially. Today, she was wearing a moon-white embroidered bamboo cheongsam, her long hair styled into an exquisite snake bun, adorned with a jade bamboo leaf hairpin. In the morning light, she looked like a woman who had stepped out of a traditional Chinese ink painting, elegant and untouched by worldly dust.

When Zhang Yu saw her, his eyes lit up noticeably: "Chen Chen, good morning."

"Good morning." Chen Chen walked over, his emerald eyes calm and unwavering. "What are you talking about?"

“We were talking about the new drama that Sister Yuanyuan might be starring in.” Jing Tian answered quickly, her tone tinged with envy. “It’s a drama set in the Republican era, about a scholarly family.”

Chen Chen looked at Gao Yuanyuan and smiled politely: "Then congratulations, Miss Gao."

"It's not decided yet," Gao Yuanyuan said modestly. "It depends on whether Director Zhang will take on the role."

Looking at the three women with distinct styles standing together, Zhang Yu felt a strange sensation. In the morning light, they were all beautiful in their own way—Chen Chen's elegance, Gao Yuanyuan's gentleness, and Jing Tian's purity, like three flowers from different seasons blooming on the same morning.

"Alright, let's get ready to film." He snapped out of his reverie and resumed his professional directorial demeanor. "Today we're filming a night scene between Shen Qingwan and Gu Jiangnan in the study. The emotions are intense, so everyone be prepared."

The filming took place at 9:00 AM in the study of the Shen family ancestral home.

This scene is one of the highlights of "Old Tales of Jiangnan"—Shen Qingwan and Gu Jiangnan have a late-night conversation in the study. From initial politeness to gradually opening their hearts, their feelings quietly warm up in the candlelight. There are no intimate actions, no direct confessions; all their emotions are hidden in the exchange of glances, the pauses in their words, and the unintentional touches of their fingers.

The study was meticulously furnished. A mahogany desk, a celadon pen holder, thread-bound ancient books, and a dim kerosene lamp. The candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on the walls, creating a tranquil yet ambiguous atmosphere.

Chen Chen sat behind her desk, her moon-white cheongsam gleaming like pearls in the candlelight. She held a copy of the *Classic of Poetry* in her hand and softly recited: "The ospreys cry 'guan guan' on the river's islet. A fair maiden, a gentleman's ideal..."

Her voice was clear and gentle, like the fine rain of Jiangnan, softly tapping on people's hearts. The candlelight danced on her face, her eyelashes casting fan-shaped shadows on her cheeks, making her as beautiful as a classical painting.

Lu Yuan sat opposite her, dressed in a gray long robe, his expression focused. He looked at Chen Chen, his eyes softening: "Miss Shen likes the Book of Songs?"

“My father loved it most when he was alive.” Chen Chen’s voice carried a faint sadness. “He said that the three hundred poems can be summed up in one sentence: ‘Pure thoughts.’ In this chaotic world, it is the most precious thing to be able to maintain a pure heart.”

“Mr. Shen is right,” Lu Yuan said softly. “Just like Xitang, where war rages outside, it remains as peaceful as ever. Sometimes I think that perseverance itself is a kind of strength.”

The two locked eyes, the candlelight flickering in their gazes. At that moment, the air in the study seemed to freeze, and something was quietly growing within them.

According to the script, Chen Chen should have continued reading at this point, and Lu Yuan should have gotten up to say goodbye. But Zhang Yu, watching from behind the monitor, suddenly had a new idea.

"Stop!" he shouted, walking into the study. "Chen Chen, Lu Yuan, let's adjust this scene."

Both of them looked at him. Zhang Yu stood in the candlelight, his dark gray sweater accentuating his tall and straight figure, and the mole under his left eye was clearly visible in the dim light.

“I think we can add a little detail here.” He walked to the desk, picked up the Book of Songs, and said, “When Shen Qingwan recites ‘a gentleman’s good match,’ her fingers can gently stroke the pages. This movement should be very light and natural, but the audience can tell what she is thinking.”

He then looked at Lu Yuan: "When Gu Jiangnan hears this line of poetry, his eyes can flicker for a moment. He doesn't stare directly at her, but first looks at the book in her hand, then at her fingers, and finally at her eyes. This process needs to be quick, but distinct in its steps."

He demonstrated it himself. He picked up the book, his fingers lightly tracing the pages, his gaze shifting from the pages to his fingers, then to the other person's eyes. Every movement was perfectly timed, every glance brimming with story.

Watching his demonstration, Chen Chen felt a complex mix of emotions. Zhang Yu was indeed a good director; his control over details and his exploration of emotions were frighteningly precise. But it was precisely this precision that made her uneasy—he knew too well how to move people, too well how to manipulate emotions.

"Do you understand?" Zhang Yu asked.

"Understood." Chen Chen nodded.

"Okay, let's do it again."

Filming resumed. This time, following Zhang Yu's instructions, Chen Chen gently stroked the pages with her fingers when reciting "君子好逑" (a gentleman's good match). The movement was light and natural, but in the candlelight, her slender fingers and the white pages created a striking contrast, hinting at an indescribable ambiguity.

Lu Yuan looked at her fingers, his eyes flickered for a moment, and then looked into her eyes. At that moment, the atmosphere in the study completely changed—it was no longer a simple conversation, but a silent exchange between two souls.

"Cut!" Zhang Yu's voice was filled with excitement. "Great! This take is approved!"

Applause erupted from the audience. Chen Chen stepped out of character and let out a soft sigh of relief. The emotions in this scene were so delicate; she had poured almost all her energy into it.

Zhang Yu walked over and naturally handed her a glass of warm water: "You acted very well. Especially that gesture of stroking the pages...it was very moving."

As he handed her the water glass, his fingers lightly brushed against her hand. The touch was warm and fleeting, but Chen Chen's heart skipped a beat.

"Thank you." She took the water glass, lowered her head to drink, and concealed the slight blush on her cheeks.

Lu Yuan also came over and said admiringly, "Director Zhang's guidance is amazing. I didn't even expect the level of expression in his eyes just now."

"You acted well." Zhang Yu patted him on the shoulder. "The role of Gu Jiangnan is very difficult to play. If it's too subtle, it seems fake; if it's too straightforward, it doesn't fit the times. You grasped it very well."

As he spoke, he turned to look out of the study. There, several female celebrities were quietly observing. Gao Yuanyuan's eyes were gentle and admiring, Jing Tian's were clear and curious, Liu Yan's were passionate and bold, and Liu Shishi's were cool and reserved...

Everyone's gaze was different, but they were all looking at him.