Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"Chen Chen, I..."

“You don’t need to explain,” Chen Chen shook his head. “I said I could accept it. But Zhang Yu, I also need to tell you—I can accept you playing this game, but that doesn’t mean I won’t feel pain. Every time I see you being close to other girls, every time I see the way they look at you, it hurts me…”

She pointed to her heart: "It will hurt. But it's my own choice, and I accept it."

The snowflakes fell heavier and heavier, landing on the two of them. Zhang Yu looked at her, the woman he had loved deeply in two lifetimes, standing in the snow, saying to him, "I accept it." That feeling was more painful than any accusation.

"I'm sorry." These were the only three words he could say in the end.

"No need to apologize." Chen Chen smiled, a bittersweet sense of relief in his smile. "To love someone is to accept them completely. I accept your complexity, your games, and... my pain. That's love, isn't it?"

She held out her hand, and snowflakes landed in her palm, quickly melting. "Let's go, take me home. I'm too tired today."

Zhang Yu held her hand; his palm was icy cold. He held it tightly, wanting to transfer his warmth to her. The two walked side by side in the snow, just like in Xitang. But some things were different now.

When she dropped Chen Chen off at his dormitory, she suddenly turned around and hugged Zhang Yu. The hug was tight and forceful, as if she wanted to meld him into her body.

“Zhang Yu,” her voice muffled in his arms, “no matter what games you play, no matter how many girls are around you, please remember—there will always be a place for you here.”

She pointed to her heart: "Forever."

After saying that, she let go of my hand, turned around, and ran into the dormitory building. Her figure in the light pink sweater quickly disappeared into the snow.

Zhang Yu stood in the snow, not leaving for a long time. Snowflakes fell on his shoulders, on his hair, and on the mole under his left eye.

That birthmark gleamed with a barely perceptible, eerie light in the snowy night.

He could feel a new starlight imprint within him being activated—Song Qian's. The girl's fervent and pure emotions transformed into the first true wisp of starlight energy, flowing through his body.

Progress: 108/7

But what was the price of this energy? It was Chen Chen's tears, her pain, and her words, "I accept it."

Zhang Yu looked up at the snow falling in the night sky. Snowflakes landed on his face, icy cold.

Once the game starts, it can't be stopped.

This is his choice.

Whatever the cost.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, covering the entire city of Beijing. On this Valentine's Day night, some were confessing their love, some were heartbroken, some were collecting starlight, and some were paying the price.

But life goes on, and so does the game.

This is the entertainment industry, this is life.

……

At 7:00 a.m. on February 15, 2000, Beijing was covered in a blanket of white snow after a night of heavy snowfall.

Zhang Yu woke up on his single bed in his dorm room at Beijing Film Academy, his throbbing hangover making him frown. After taking Chen Chen back to his dorm last night, he went to a bar and drank alone until 2 a.m. It wasn't a celebration, but an escape—an escape from the guilt Chen Chen's "I admit it" brought on by his words, and also an escape from the throbbing sensation brought on by the newly awakened starlight mark within him.

Song Qian's emotions were too intense, too pure, and the resulting starlight energy was exceptionally bright. He could feel that energy flowing through his body, like a warm fire, quite different from those he had previously collected—Chen Chen's deep affection, Bai Bing's persistence, Zeng Li's passion, Yang Mi's admiration. It was the purest love of an innocent young girl, without any impurities.

My phone vibrated on the bedside table. It was a text message from Song Qian: "Director Zhang, good morning! Did you sleep well last night? It's snowing heavily today. Want to go to the Forbidden City to see the snow? I heard the Forbidden City is especially beautiful after a snowfall!"

A smiley face followed the text. Zhang Yu could imagine her excited expression when she sent the message—her eyes sparkling, her cheeks rosy, like a little deer eagerly anticipating going out to play.

He hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I have something to do today, maybe next time."

Almost immediately, another text message came in: "How about tomorrow? Tomorrow is fine too! Or the day after tomorrow! I'm available whenever Director Zhang is free!"

Her enthusiasm was irresistible. Zhang Yu put down his phone and got up to wash. The mole under his left eye was clearly visible in the morning light, and there was a weariness in his eyes that he himself couldn't quite explain. This game was more mentally taxing than he had imagined.

After washing up, my phone rang again. This time it was Li Xiaoming: "Director Zhang, the first preparatory meeting for 'A Family of Scholars' is at 2 PM this afternoon in the Rong Xinda conference room. All the main cast and crew members and potential actors need to be present. Can you come?"

Zhang Yu glanced at the calendar; today was indeed the first formal meeting scheduled. He replied, "Okay."

"Okay! I'll send you the address. Oh, and I've also notified Miss Chen Chen; she said she'll be there on time."

Seeing Chen Chen's name, Zhang Yu's heart tightened. Their last conversation on Valentine's Day was still fresh in his mind, and today they were to meet in the conference room, in front of so many actress candidates... The thought of this situation was incredibly awkward.

But we still have to face what we have to face.

At 10 a.m., Zhang Yu went to the school's editing room, hoping to calm himself down by working. The rough cut of "Old Tales of Jiangnan" was finished; now it was time for fine editing and adding music. He sat at the editing table, watching the monitor as Chen Chen wore a cheongsam—she held an umbrella in the rain, wrote letters in the study, and knelt in the ancestral hall... Every shot was as beautiful as a painting, and every glance was full of stories.

"Director Zhang."

A familiar voice came from behind him. Zhang Yu turned around and saw Chen Chen standing in the doorway. Today she was wearing a beige cashmere coat over a light blue turtleneck sweater, her long hair was loosely tied up, and she wore light makeup. She looked quite energetic, but there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

"Why are you here?" Zhang Yu stood up.

"Huang Ying said you were in the editing room, so I came to check it out." Chen Chen walked in and sat down in another chair. "I've seen the rough cut, and it's very well shot."

Her tone was calm, as if she were discussing someone else's work. Zhang Yu looked at her: "Did you...sleep well last night?"

"It's alright." Chen Chen avoided his gaze and looked at the monitor. "I think this shot could be shortened a bit. Three seconds is enough for the moment Shen Qingwan turns around, but now it's five seconds, which is a bit dragging."

She spoke very professionally, clearly discussing work. Zhang Yu nodded: "You're right, I'll write it down."

The two discussed the edited footage for an hour, focusing entirely on professional issues, without a single personal topic. That deliberate distance was more painful for Zhang Yu than any argument.

"Chen Chen," Zhang Yu finally couldn't help but speak up during a discussion of a close-up shot, "about yesterday..."

“What happened yesterday is in the past.” Chen Chen interrupted him, his eyes still focused on the monitor. “We all have meetings today, so let’s focus on our work.”

She spoke casually, but Zhang Yu could sense the undercurrent beneath the calm. He said nothing more, simply silently noting down each of her suggestions for revision.