Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

“Of course,” Li Xiaoming said. “That’s why we need Director Zhang to oversee the process. So, after filming ‘Old Tales of Jiangnan’ is finished, let’s hold a formal audition so everyone can compete fairly, how about that?”

That's a well-chosen statement. It saves Zhang Yu face while also giving these women hope.

“Okay.” Zhang Yu nodded.

The dinner continued, and the atmosphere became lively again. But Zhang Yu knew that from this moment on, the way these women looked at him was different—he was no longer just a talented director, but a "caster" who could decide their fates.

This power is fascinating, but also dangerous.

After the meal, Li Xiaoming suggested going to the tea room to have some tea and sober up. Zhang Yu wanted to refuse, but Chen Chen gently touched his hand: "Go ahead, I'll go with you."

Her voice was soft, but firm. Zhang Yu looked at her; her eyes, clear beneath her light purple cheongsam, warmed his heart with their understanding and support.

"Okay." He nodded.

The tea room was on the third floor of the hotel, overlooking the river with a great view. The guests were seated at several tables, the aroma of tea wafting through the air, accompanied by the melodious sound of a guqin. The warm afternoon sun shone through the windows.

Zhang Yu, Chen Chen, and Huang Ying sat at one table. Zeng Li naturally sat down next to them, and Li Xiaoran hesitated for a moment before following suit. Bai Bing, Shu Chang, and Liu Yifei sat at another table. Zhang Hanyun, Wang Ou, and Zhang Zilin sat with Li Xiaoming and the investors.

"Director Zhang," Zeng Li spoke again, unusually talkative today, "what do you think is the most important thing in acting?"

The question was old news, but Zhang Yu answered it very seriously: "Sincere."

"sincere?"

“Yes.” Zhang Yu looked at the river outside the window. “The audience is very smart. If you’re even slightly fake, they can tell. So what an actor has to do is not ‘act,’ but ‘become.’ You have to truly believe that you are that person, how you would think and act in that situation.”

As he spoke, he looked at Zeng Li and said, “For example, if you’re going to play a socialite, you can’t think, ‘I’m playing a socialite.’ You have to think, ‘I am a woman who moves among men. I need money, I need protection, I need love. When I’m laughing, I might be crying inside. When I’m seducing someone, I might be cursing inside. This complexity is what makes the character so charming.”

Zeng Li listened intently. She discovered that Zhang Yu not only understood acting, but also human nature. This depth is rare among young directors.

"And what about me?" Li Xiaoran asked softly, "What's the most difficult thing about being a dancer?"

“The hardest thing is dignity.” Zhang Yu turned to her. “Dancers are considered lowly in the eyes of the world, but they can’t think that way themselves. They have to have their own pride—I sell my art, not my body; I earn my living through my skills. The conflict between this pride and reality is the crux of the play.”

He explained it very clearly. Li Xiaoran nodded, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

Chen Chen quietly looked at Zhang Yu. In the sunlight, the lines of his profile were clean and sharp, and the mole under his left eye was clearly visible. The focused look on his face when he spoke, the profound look on his face when he analyzed the character, all of this moved her, and also made her... uneasy.

A man like this is destined to be loved by many. Can she hold onto him?

she does not know.

Halfway through his tea, Li Xiaoming received a phone call, then walked over with a somewhat strange expression: "Director Zhang, there's some unexpected news."

"what?"

“People from Shanghai TV came and wanted to interview the crew of ‘Old Tales of Jiangnan’,” Li Xiaoming said. “They heard we were filming here and came all the way from Shanghai.”

Zhang Yu frowned: "Now?"

"It's already on its way and will arrive in half an hour," Li Xiaoming said. "This is a good thing; it's free publicity."

It was indeed a good thing. But Zhang Yu didn't like this kind of surprise attack. He looked at everyone present and suddenly had an idea.

“Then let’s do the interview,” he said. “But… how about something more fun?”

"What?" Li Xiaoming asked, puzzled.

Zhang Yu smiled, a lazy smile tinged with a hint of slyness: "Let these 'potential actresses I might work with in the future' participate in the interviews. Just say it's a casting call for 'The Scholarly Family,' let the reporters take some footage and write a report."

Li Xiaoming's eyes lit up: "Great idea! It can promote the new movie and give these girls exposure at the same time. Director Zhang, brilliant!"

The women present all heard this, and their eyes lit up. Media exposure was incredibly important to them.

Only Chen Chen, looking at Zhang Yu's sly smile, felt a strange, inexplicable feeling welling up inside him—he was playing a very grand game. And the pieces on that game were these beautiful women.

At 2 p.m., the Shanghai TV interview team arrived on time.

The team leader was a female reporter in her thirties named Zhou Wen, who was capable and shrewd. Her eyes lit up when she heard that they could interview so many female celebrities today—this was big news.

The interview took place in a tea room. Zhou Wen was very professional, first interviewing Zhang Yu and Chen Chen, asking about the initial inspiration and filming process of "Old Tales of Jiangnan". Zhang Yu answered very appropriately, demonstrating both talent and humility.

Then, the main event begins.

"I heard that Director Zhang is casting for his next film, 'A Family of Scholars'?" Zhou Wen asked. "Are all the beautiful women here today candidates?"

Zhang Yu laughed: "You could say that. We're in the initial stages of contact to see if there are any suitable actors."

"Could you ladies please briefly introduce yourselves and tell us what kind of roles you'd like to play?" Zhou Wen handed out the microphone.

The first person to take the microphone was Zeng Li. She was clearly a seasoned professional; she smiled brightly and spoke with elegance: "Hello everyone, I'm Zeng Li. I'd like to play the socialite Su Manli in 'A Family of Scholars.' This role is complex and challenging, and I really want to give it a try."

She spoke with great confidence, and she looked stunning in front of the camera, truly possessing the allure of a socialite.

Next up is Li Xiaoran, who is much more gentle: "I am Li Xiaoran, and I want to play the dancer Bai Die. This role requires a very good dance background. I have studied ballet for more than ten years and I hope I can do it."

Her temperament perfectly matches the character, gentle yet resilient.

When Bai Bing took the microphone, she appeared as aloof and cold as a winter plum blossom on camera: "I am Bai Bing, and I want to play the singer Lin Wanqing. This character... is very broken, but very beautiful. I want to portray that broken beauty."

She spoke briefly, but the determination in her eyes was very touching.

Shu Chang is lively and adorable: "I'm Shu Chang, and I want to play the younger version of Lin Shuwan! I'm young, so I'm perfect for playing a young girl!"

Liu Yifei said shyly, "I am Liu Yifei, and I also want to play a teenage girl role... I will work hard."

Zhang Hanyun smiled sweetly: "I'm Zhang Hanyun, a newcomer who wants to try everything. Please give me your guidance, Director Zhang!"

Wang Ou is the coolest. She raises her eyebrows at the camera and says, "I'm Wang Ou, and I'd like to play a cool female reporter role—if there is one."

Zhang Zilin, in her most dignified manner: "I am Zhang Zilin, and I want to try playing a refined lady from a prominent family. This is a turning point for me, and I will put my heart into it."

Each woman spoke her desire to the camera. At that moment, the tea room shone brightly, breathtakingly beautiful. Zhou Wen blushed with excitement—so many beautiful women, so much juicy gossip, this report was sure to go viral.