Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"Why are you helping me?" he asked.

“I said, fair trade.” Yang Mi picked up her coffee and took a sip. “I’ll help you get Chen Chen, and you help me get the role of Fang Qing. And… I want more than just the role. I want you to promise me that among the actresses in this movie, I must be the one with the most special relationship with you, besides Chen Chen.”

"Most special?"

“Yes.” Yang Mi’s eyes sharpened. “I want to be your ‘partner,’ not just an ‘actress.’ I want to participate in casting discussions, participate in script revisions, and have a say. In exchange, I will help you manage those actresses—make sure they all like you, but don’t cause you any trouble.”

She was too direct. Zhang Yu looked at her; under the light, her face was cold and shrewd, like a calculating queen.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell others what I've said?" Zhang Yu asked.

“You won’t,” Yang Mi said confidently. “Because you need me. Zhang Yu, I know you’re playing a big game. Although I don’t know exactly what it is, I know you need these women’s affection and infatuation. And I can help you—I understand women, I know how to make them infatuated with you, and I know how to keep them from crossing the line.”

She's right. Zhang Yu definitely needs help. These past few days, he's felt increasingly overwhelmed—handling the ambiguous relationships with so many actresses, pushing forward the collection of Starshine Marks, and facing Chen Chen's disappointment and pain. He needs a helper, and Yang Mi is indeed the most suitable candidate.

"I'll think about it," Zhang Yu finally said.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.” Yang Mi smiled. “But Zhang Yu, I have to remind you—time waits for no one. Chen Chen is furious right now, and if you don’t make amends in time, she might really leave you. And once she leaves, your game… will lose one of its most important pieces.”

She spoke the word "chess piece" softly, yet with great weight. Zhang Yu's heart skipped a beat—yes, Chen Chen wasn't just the person he loved, but also one of his most important star-studded imprints. If she truly left, his mission would be greatly affected.

"What are you planning to do?" he asked.

“First, you need to take the initiative to go to Chen Chen and apologize to her,” Yang Mi explained in detail. “But don’t explain about your relationship with Song Qian; that will only make things worse. You should say… you’re very tired, confused, and don’t know how to handle these complicated relationships. You need to show vulnerability and let her see your fragility.”

Zhang Yu remained silent. Show weakness? That wasn't in his nature. But perhaps... Yang Mi was right. Sometimes showing weakness is more effective than being forceful.

"And then?" he asked.

“Then, I’ll make my appearance.” Yang Mi smiled like a fox. “I’ll pursue you openly, flirt with you in public, and make you feel very troubled. That way, Chen Chen will think—you’re not a womanizer, you’re just too outstanding and too many women are eyeing you. You’re the victim, not the perpetrator.”

This plan was despicable, but very effective. Zhang Yu looked at Yang Mi and suddenly felt that this woman was terrifying—she was too good at manipulating people's hearts and emotions.

"If I agree, are you sure you can handle Chen Chen?" he asked.

“I’m 90% sure,” Yang Mi said confidently, “but the premise is… you have to cooperate with my acting. When I’m ‘pursuing’ you, you can’t reject me too completely; you have to act as if you’re both troubled and unwilling to hurt me. That sense of contradiction is what will move Chen Chen the most.”

Zhang Yu remained silent for a long time. The jazz music in the coffee shop changed to "My Funny Valentine," a song that was both sad and tender.

"Okay," he finally said. "I promise you."

“A wise choice.” Yang Mi raised her coffee cup. “So…we’ll have a pleasant collaboration?”

Zhang Yu did not raise his glass: "I hope you can remember that Chen Chen is not a pawn, she is the one I love."

“I know.” Yang Mi put down her cup, her eyes becoming complicated. “It’s precisely because I know that I’m helping you. Zhang Yu, to be honest, I’m a little envious of Chen Chen—it’s rare that she can make someone like you fall in love with her. But I also want to remind you that in this industry, true feelings are often the most luxurious and the most dangerous thing. You must be careful to protect them.”

As she spoke, there was a rare sincerity in her eyes. Looking at her, Zhang Yu suddenly felt that this woman might not be as cold-blooded as she appeared.

“Thanks for reminding me,” he said.

The two chatted about some more details and left the cafe at nine o'clock. The winter night in Beijing was cold, and the streets were nearly deserted. Yang Mi stood at the cafe entrance, wrapping her shawl tighter around herself.

"Director Zhang," she suddenly said, "can I ask you a question?"

"Just ask."

"Why do you collect those women's affections?" Yang Mi looked at him, her eyes exceptionally bright in the night. "It's not for fame or fortune, nor for desire. I can sense that you have a deeper purpose. What is it?"

This question is too direct. Zhang Yu looked at her for a long time, then said softly, "If I said it was for a mission that had to be completed, would you believe me?"

“I believe you.” Yang Mi nodded. “Because you don’t seem like that kind of superficial man. But Zhang Yu, I want to remind you—no mission is worth sacrificing true feelings. A girl like Chen Chen, once missed, will never come again.”

She spoke very seriously. Zhang Yu looked at her and suddenly realized that perhaps he had underestimated this woman—she was not only intelligent and ambitious, but she also had her principles and bottom line.

“I will remember,” he said.

"That's good." Yang Mi smiled. "Alright, I should go back now. Starting tomorrow, I will be 'pursuing' you, so please be prepared."

She turned and left, her burgundy shawl flashing like flowing blood in the night. Zhang Yu stood at the café entrance, watching her figure disappear around the street corner, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

This game is getting more and more complicated. But he has no way out.

He took out his phone and texted Chen Chen: "Where are you? I want to see you."

After a long time, Chen Chen finally replied: "I'm in the school library."

"Wait for me, I'm coming right away."

After sending the text message, Zhang Yu hailed a taxi. Outside the window, the Beijing nightscape flashed by, dazzling with lights, but Zhang Yu felt a chill in his heart.

He was about to do something despicable—to deceive Chen Chen and take advantage of her kindness and love, following Yang Mi's plan.

But he had no choice.

This is the price of gaming.

At 10 p.m., the Beijing Film Academy library was almost closing.

Zhang Yu found Chen Chen in the rare book section on the fourth floor. She was sitting by the window, a thick book open in front of her, but her eyes were vacant as she stared out the window. A dark blue coat was draped over the back of the chair, and she was only wearing a light gray sweater, which made her look particularly thin in the dim light of the library.

“Chen Chen.” Zhang Yu walked over and sat down opposite her.

Chen Chen turned to look at him, his eyes still red and swollen, but his expression was calm: "Why are you here?"

"I've come to apologize," Zhang Yu said sincerely. "I'm sorry about what happened this afternoon."

Chen Chen looked at him for a long time, then softly asked, "Zhang Yu, do you love me?"

That's a very direct question. Zhang Yu nodded: "Love."