Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

“Especially with ‘The Dying Swan,’ when I was dancing, all I could think of were your words—‘You are not just acting as a swan, you *are* the swan.’ That feeling was so magical!”

She spoke excitedly, completely oblivious to Chen Chen's silence beside her. Chen Chen sipped his tea, his eyes calm, but his fingers holding the teacup were slightly white.

Zeng Li sat opposite, watching this scene, a playful smile curving her red lips. Today, she wore a burgundy dress that accentuated her snow-white skin, making her incredibly alluring. She raised her glass to Zhang Yu and said, "Director Zhang, I'd like to propose a toast to you. Not only can you direct, but you can also teach dance; you're truly a multi-talented person."

Zhang Yu raised his glass: "Ms. Zeng, you flatter me."

“I’m not flattered,” Zeng Li said, taking a sip of her drink, her eyes alluring. “I truly admire him. And… Director Zhang is especially patient with girls, which is even more admirable.”

These words were quite ambiguous. The atmosphere at the table became subtle. Li Xiaoran said softly, "Director Zhang is indeed very good at teaching; I benefited greatly from his teaching in Xitang."

Bai Bing remained silent, simply observing. Shu Chang and Liu Yifei, being young, were unaware of these undercurrents and simply focused on eating. Yang Mi and Liu Shishi sat on the other side; Yang Mi watched coldly, while Liu Shishi looked at Chen Chen with some concern.

Li Xiaoming aptly smoothed things over: "Alright, alright, today is to celebrate Song Qian's successful performance. Let's drink and eat, and stop talking about work!"

The atmosphere became lively again. But Zhang Yu could feel the women's gazes falling on him from time to time—Zeng Li's teasing, Li Xiaoran's gentleness, Bai Bing's complex emotions, Yang Mi's scrutiny, Liu Shishi's worry... and Song Qian's undisguised admiration.

Chen Chen, who was beside him, became increasingly quiet.

Halfway through their late-night snack, Song Qian suddenly said, "Director Zhang, may I have a few words with you alone? Just in the hallway outside."

Everyone looked at them. Zhang Yu glanced at Chen Chen, who kept his head down, eating his food without saying a word.

"Okay." Zhang Yu stood up.

The two walked into the corridor outside the private room. The corridor was quiet, and the sounds of conversation from inside the private room could be faintly heard. Song Qian leaned against the wall, looking up at Zhang Yu, her eyes shining like stars in the dim light of the corridor.

"Director Zhang, thank you so much for today." Her voice was soft. "Without your guidance, I couldn't have jumped so well."

"It's all thanks to your own hard work," Zhang Yu said.

“No, it was you who gave me direction.” Song Qian took a step forward, so close that she could smell the faint scent of shower gel on her. “Director Zhang, can I…can I often ask you for advice? Not just dance, but also acting. I want to be an actress, like Senior Chen Chen, and play roles that can touch people’s hearts.”

Her eyes were sincere and passionate. Zhang Yu could sense the girl's adoration and dependence on him, a feeling... very familiar. Like Bai Bing, like Shu Chang, like many of the young girls he had mentored.

“If you really want to learn, I can teach you,” Zhang Yu said, “but it will be very strict.”

"I'm not afraid of strictness!" Song Qian's eyes lit up even more. "As long as I can improve, I'll accept any level of strictness!"

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, almost touching Zhang Yu. Her body beneath the light pink sweater was soft and warm; Zhang Yu could smell the fragrance of her hair and see the shadows cast by her eyelashes under the light.

"Director Zhang," her voice softened, tinged with shyness, "actually, I invited you to the show today not just to get your approval. I also wanted to... to spend Valentine's Day with you."

She spoke directly and bravely. Zhang Yu looked at her; this nineteen-year-old girl radiated youthful vigor and fearless courage. The feeling was deeply moving.

But he can't.

“Song Qian,” his voice was gentle but firm, “today is Valentine’s Day. You should spend it with more important people, like your family and your friends.”

“You are an important person.” Song Qian insisted, “From the moment you started guiding me this afternoon, I knew…you are different from others. You truly understand me and can truly see my potential.”

As she spoke, she suddenly stood on tiptoe and gently placed a kiss on Zhang Yu's cheek. The kiss was light and quick, like a feather brushing the surface of water, but Zhang Yu could feel the softness and warmth of her lips.

“This kiss is a thank you.” Song Qian took a step back, her cheeks as red as ripe apples. “It’s also… a confession. Director Zhang, I like you. I know there are many outstanding girls around you, and I know that Senior Chen Chen is very important to you. But I don’t care. I’m willing to wait, willing to work hard, until you see me.”

She spoke with such sincerity, and so naively. Looking at her, Zhang Yu felt a complex mix of emotions—guilt, pity, and a hint of... wavering.

The girl's love was too pure, too passionate, like a burning fire. And what he had to do was use that fire to collect that starlight mark.

This is too cruel.

“Song Qian,” he finally said, “you are still young, and you have a long future ahead of you. Don’t waste your feelings on someone who shouldn’t be wasted on.”

"How do you know it's a waste?" Song Qian's eyes reddened, but she was still smiling. "If I think it's worth it, then it's worth it."

She spoke with such conviction. Zhang Yu suddenly remembered himself in his past life—he had been just like that back then, loving and pursuing without regard for anything else, even knowing that the road ahead would be difficult.

Maybe that's what youth is all about. Knowing you'll get hurt, you still go for it without hesitation.

“Let’s go back,” he said softly. “Everyone is waiting.”

The two returned to the private room. Chen Chen looked up, her gaze lingering on Zhang Yu's face for a moment—she saw the faint lipstick mark. Although very faint, it was still visible under the light.

Her face paled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and simply lowered her head to continue drinking her tea.

The late-night snack ended in a subtly awkward atmosphere. Everyone dispersed, and Zhang Yu offered to take Chen Chen back to school. The two walked along the streets late at night, and the snow began to fall again, with fine snowflakes dancing in the air under the streetlights.

"She kissed you?" Chen Chen suddenly asked, his voice calm.

Zhang Yu paused for a moment, then nodded: "Mm."

"How do you feel?"

"...I feel guilty."

Chen Chen stopped and turned to look at him. Snowflakes fell on her long hair, like a layer of fine starlight.

“Zhang Yu, do you know?” Her voice was very soft, “I would rather you tell me ‘I enjoyed it’ than hear you say ‘I feel guilty.’ Because guilt means you care, and caring makes you soft-hearted, and soft-heartedness gives you hope. And hope is the cruelest thing.”

Zhang Yu looked at her; snowflakes condensed into tiny ice crystals on her eyelashes, and her eyes were as clear as the starry sky of a winter night.

"What would you like to hear?" he asked.

“I want to hear the truth,” Chen Chen said. “The truth is, you like the feeling of being liked, you like the feeling of being admired. You like girls like Song Qian—young, beautiful, talented, and wholeheartedly devoted to you. That’s normal; what man wouldn’t like that?”

She spoke calmly, as if analyzing someone else's situation. Zhang Yu was deeply shaken—she was right, he truly did like it. He liked the feeling of being needed, worshipped, and looked up to. It was power, control,... part of the game.