Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"Keep it." Zhang Yu took her hand and placed the box back into her palm. "Consider it... a memento of Shen Qingwan."

His palm was warm and strong. Chen Chen didn't pull her hand away, but just looked at him quietly. After a long while, she said softly, "Zhang Yu, what I said that day...maybe it was too harsh."

“You’re telling the truth.” Zhang Yu shook his head. “I have indeed changed, become more complicated, and more adept at handling things. But one thing hasn’t changed—my feelings for you.”

"But what about you with others..."

“That’s work, that’s a game, that’s the rule of this industry.” Zhang Yu said frankly, “But Chen Chen, a game is a game, and true feelings are true feelings. I can tell the difference very clearly.”

He spoke frankly and honestly. Chen Chen looked into his eyes and saw a candor she had never seen before—he was telling her that he was a complex person, with genuine feelings and a knack for playing games. Accept it if you can, don't...

“I can accept that,” Chen Chen suddenly said, “but you have to promise me that no matter what game you play, you won’t hurt those girls. They… are all very sincere.”

Zhang Yu was stunned. He hadn't expected Chen Chen to say that, to understand him like that.

"I promise you." His voice was soft, but very serious.

The two continued walking, their hands somehow intertwined. The winter sun shone warmly on them. The moment was quiet and beautiful.

But this beautiful vision was soon shattered.

"Director Zhang?"

A clear, crisp female voice came from behind him. Zhang Yu turned around and saw a girl in a white down jacket standing at the entrance of the alley. She was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with long hair that reached her waist. Her features were as delicate as a porcelain doll's, her skin was so white it was almost translucent, and she had two small tiger teeth when she smiled. She was sweet and lovely.

She is Song Qian, a graduate of the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy, and is currently a trainee in South Korea. She came back to China for the Spring Festival. She had made plans with a friend today, but when she saw Zhang Yu from afar on the street, she couldn't help but follow him.

“You are…” Zhang Yu felt that she looked familiar.

"I'm Song Qian, from the Affiliated High School of Beijing Dance Academy." Song Qian jogged over, her cheeks flushed. "Director Zhang, I saw the news about the wrap-up of 'Old Tales of Jiangnan,' and I really liked it! I didn't expect to meet you here!"

She was very lively, with bright, sparkling eyes, like a little fan who had successfully met her idol. Zhang Yu remembered—Li Xiaoming had mentioned this name, saying she was a very promising dancer who wanted to pursue a career in acting.

"Hello, Miss Song." Zhang Yu nodded politely. "This is Chen Chen, the female lead in the movie."

"Senior Chen Chen!" Song Qian exclaimed even more excitedly, "I've seen your costume fitting photos, you're so beautiful! You'd be perfect for the role of Shen Qingwan!"

She spoke rapidly, her enthusiasm almost overwhelming. Chen Chen smiled and replied, "Thank you. Miss Song, are you a dancer?"

“Yes! I study folk dance and ballet.” Song Qian said, turning around naturally with elegant and smooth movements. “But I prefer acting, so I went to South Korea to become a trainee and learn about their acting system.”

"Very insightful," Zhang Yu praised. "It's always good to learn more."

"Director Zhang, can you teach me acting?" Song Qian's eyes lit up even more. "I heard you're a great teacher. Senior Sister Bai Bing and Senior Sister Shu Chang were both taught by you!"

She seemed to know a lot about his situation. Zhang Yu smiled: "If there's an opportunity."

"Now's your chance!" Song Qian pulled a ticket out of her bag. "I have a dance performance at the National Cultural Palace tonight. Can Director Zhang and Senior Chen Chen come? I'd like to invite you to watch!"

It was a beautifully printed ticket that read "Spring Dance - A Special Performance by Young Dancers." The date was today, at 7:30 PM.

Zhang Yu glanced at Chen Chen, who nodded slightly.

“Okay, we’ll go.” Zhang Yu took the tickets.

"That's awesome!" Song Qian jumped up happily. "Then I won't bother you any longer. See you tonight!"

She skipped away, her white down jacket shimmering like a moving snowflake in the sunlight. Chen Chen watched her retreating figure and murmured, "What a lively girl."

"Hmm, very energetic." Zhang Yu put the tickets away. "Shall we go together tonight?"

“Okay.” Chen Chen nodded, but there was a complicated emotion in his eyes—another young and beautiful girl, another girl who was interested in Zhang Yu.

This Valentine's Day is destined to be anything but peaceful.

At 2 PM, Zhang Yu received a call from Song Qian, who asked him to come to the rehearsal hall early to watch her dance and give her some feedback. Zhang Yu initially wanted to refuse, but Song Qian persisted on the phone, saying that this was her first important performance since returning to China, and she was particularly nervous and needed professional guidance.

"Go ahead," Chen Chen said. She was going to the school library to look up information that afternoon. "Anyway, I have things to do."

Zhang Yu sensed the distance in her words, but said nothing. Some things need to be taken slowly.

The rehearsal hall of the National Cultural Palace was on the second floor. It was large, with mirrors on all four sides. When Zhang Yu pushed open the door, Song Qian was practicing. She had changed into a black practice outfit, the tight-fitting design outlining the slender yet flexible curves of her figure. Her long hair was tied into a high bun, revealing her long neck and delicate collarbone.

She was dancing a modern dance to ethereal music, her movements expansive, full of power and beauty. Zhang Yu leaned against the door, watching quietly, and had to admit—this girl was indeed very talented in dance. Her body control was exceptional; every movement was precise and accurate, yet still conveyed emotion.

When the music ended, Song Qian stopped, saw Zhang Yu, and her eyes lit up: "Director Zhang! When did you arrive?"

“Just arrived.” Zhang Yu walked over. “You jumped very well, especially that spin and kneeling motion, it was very dynamic.”

"Really?" Song Qian smiled happily. "I've practiced this move for a long time, but I always felt it wasn't smooth enough."

"It's not a matter of fluidity, it's about breathing," Zhang Yu said. "You're holding your breath while doing that movement. Try taking a deep breath while rotating and exhaling slowly when you kneel down; it will make the movement more dynamic."

As he spoke, he demonstrated it himself. Although he was not a professional dancer, his physical coordination was excellent due to years of martial arts training, and he performed the movements quite well.

Song Qian was stunned: "Director Zhang...you can dance?"

"No, but I understand a little bit of the principle." Zhang Yu smiled. "Dance and acting are both arts of breathing. If you breathe right, your emotions will be right."

"Could you give me some more guidance?" Song Qian's eyes sparkled. "I'm going to dance three dances tonight: a modern one, a folk one, and a ballet. Especially the ballet 'The Dying Swan,' I feel like it's missing something."

"The Dying Swan" is a classic ballet piece that requires extremely high expressiveness. Zhang Yu thought for a moment: "You dance it once and I'll see."

The music started, and Song Qian began to dance. She did dance very well, her technique was impeccable, but as she herself said—something was missing.

“Stop,” Zhang Yu called out. “The problem isn’t the technique, it’s the understanding. You’re acting as a ‘dying swan,’ but you don’t really understand what it feels like to be ‘dying.’”

"Then how should we understand it?" Song Qian asked, puzzled.