Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

“The Stormtrooper is too young and too aloof,” Li Xiaoming said. “That role requires a mature and sophisticated charm.”

“Aloofness can be portrayed as coldness, and youth can be portrayed as precociousness.” Zhang Yu insisted, “Moreover, Miss Bai has a kind of… brokenness. That feeling is very suitable for the role.”

A sense of fragmentation. This word stirred something within Bai Bing. She looked at Zhang Yu, her gaze complex—this man could actually see through what she was trying so hard to hide.

“I can give it a try,” she finally said.

Li Xiaoming glanced at Bai Bing, then at Zhang Yu, and smiled: "Alright, let's give it a try. Anyway, the casting decision is in Director Zhang's hands."

We then discussed a few more roles. Shu Chang was cast as the younger version of Lin Shuwan, Liu Yifei was cast as the heiress of another family... Everyone found a suitable role.

Zhang Yu realized that Li Xiaoming was serious this time. He genuinely wanted to make this project a success and truly wanted him to direct. Moreover, the terms he offered were indeed very tempting.

"Director Zhang," Li Xiaoming said finally, "you can take your time to consider it. But I hope you understand—in this industry, opportunities don't wait for anyone. Some things, once missed, are gone forever."

Zhang Yu nodded: "I understand. Thank you, Mr. Li."

After the tea party ended, everyone dispersed. Zhang Yu and Chen Chen walked side by side on the way back to the Shen family's ancestral home. The setting sun cast long shadows of the two, like a tranquil painting.

"Zhang Yu," Chen Chen asked softly, "would you take that role?"

"I don't know," Zhang Yu said honestly. "The conditions are very good, but... the price is also very high."

"What price?"

“Freedom.” Zhang Yu looked at the sunset in the distance. “Once you accept Rong Xinda’s role, it’s like getting on their ship. It’ll be hard to get off later.”

Chen Chen understood what he meant. In this industry, the power of capital is omnipresent. Those who are promoted by capital are often also controlled by capital.

"Then what do you want to do?"

Zhang Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's focus on filming 'Old Tales of Jiangnan' first. As for the rest... let's take it one step at a time."

These were his honest thoughts. The shelved mission, the starlight marks, and this complicated circle... everything was too complicated. He needed time to think, time to make a choice.

It was already dark when they returned to the Shen family ancestral home. In the courtyard, Shu Chang was teaching Liu Yifei to dance. The two girls twirled in the moonlight, their laughter clear and crisp, like two flowers blooming in the night.

Bai Bing sat on the veranda reading a book, the lamplight illuminating her face, making her profile appear exquisitely sculpted. Seeing Zhang Yu return, she nodded slightly in greeting.

Gao Yuanyuan and Liu Yan have already returned to the hotel. Li Xiaoming and the investor have also left. Only the film crew and these few new girls remain in the courtyard.

Standing at the doorway, watching this scene, Zhang Yu felt a strange sensation welling up inside him—each of these women was special, each possessing a unique beauty. If he truly wanted to collect Starshine Marks, they would all be excellent candidates.

But he immediately suppressed the thought. He decided to put those aside for now and focus on filming.

That night, Zhang Yu slept restlessly. Those fragmented memories resurfaced in his dreams—the light of the stargate, the one hundred and eight rays of starlight, and the mission he had to complete. He struggled in his dream, trying to grasp something, but he couldn't hold onto anything.

He woke up at three in the morning, covered in sweat.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, and the ancient town of Xitang slept in the night. Zhang Yu walked to the window, looked at the stars in the night sky, and felt a faint warmth on the mole under his left eye.

Can he really let go of that mission?

he does not know.

But he knew that whichever path he chose, he had to keep going. And he had to walk it beautifully and brilliantly.

This is enough.

January 30, 2000, 6:30 a.m.

Zhang Yu pushed open the door and took a deep breath of fresh air. The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and there were already people practicing in the courtyard—it was Shu Chang and Liu Yifei. The two girls were stretching their legs and practicing their voices in the morning light, a scene as beautiful as a youth movie.

Bai Bing also got up and sat on the porch reading a book. She had changed into a light blue tracksuit, her long hair was loose, and her profile looked much softer in the morning light.

"Good morning, Director Zhang." She saw Zhang Yu and closed her book.

"Good morning." Zhang Yu nodded. "What book are you reading?"

“Dream of the Red Chamber,” Bai Bing said. “Director Li said that the singing girl character is a bit like Qingwen—ambitious but with a fragile fate. I want to understand this kind of character better.”

Zhang Yu was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Bai Bing to take it so seriously. He had only mentioned it casually yesterday, and she had actually gone to study it.

"What insights have you gained?" he asked.

"Qingwen's tragedy lies in... her being too genuine, too proud, and unwilling to compromise." Bai Bing's voice was soft. "In that era, such a personality was destined to be hurt. That singer... she must have been the same, right?"

Zhang Yu looked at her; her eyes were clear and earnest in the morning light. This woman, outwardly aloof, possessed a fiery spirit within. That sense of contradiction was indeed very suitable for the role.

“You’re right.” His voice softened. “But remember, acting isn’t about imitation, it’s about creation. You have to understand the character, but you also have to add your own understanding.”

“I understand,” the soldier nodded.

At this moment, Chen Chen also came out. Today she wore a light green embroidered bamboo cheongsam, her long hair was tied into an elegant updo, and she wore a white jade bamboo leaf hairpin. In the morning light, she looked like a fairy who had walked out of a bamboo forest, elegant and graceful.

"Good morning," she greeted with a smile.

"Good morning." Zhang Yu looked at her, his eyes gentle. "How are you feeling today?"

"Very good." Chen Chen walked to his side. "You slept well last night."

Three women stood in the morning light, each beautiful in her own way. Looking at them, Zhang Yu's long-held thought quietly resurfaced—the Starlight Mark... if he really wanted to collect them...

But then, Shu Chang came skipping over: "Director Zhang, Director Zhang, what scene are we filming today? Can we watch it?"

Liu Yifei followed along, her face flushed: "Director Zhang, I also want to learn."

Zhang Yu snapped out of his thoughts and smiled: "Today we're filming the scene where Shen Qingwan writes a letter. You can watch it, but please keep quiet."

"Definitely!" the two girls said in unison.

As dawn broke, a new day began. Filming, directing, exchanging ideas... everything proceeded as planned. But Zhang Yu knew that something had quietly changed.

That mission, those starlight marks, and these beautiful and special women... everything is like a slowly unfolding net, and he stands at the center of it.

But he wasn't afraid. On the contrary, he felt a strange excitement.

Now that we've started this game, we're going to play it to the very end.

And you have to play it beautifully, play it brilliantly, play it... without leaving any regrets.

This is his choice.

In the morning light, the mole under Zhang Yu's left eye gleamed with a barely perceptible glow.

The path to restarting the Stargate may have only just begun.