Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

My phone vibrated on the table. It was a text message from Yang Mi: "Director Zhang, as agreed, I will begin 'pursuing' you today. I will sit next to you at the press conference, and there will be some intimate actions. Please cooperate. Remember to show a conflicted feeling of 'being troubled but unable to refuse'."

Zhang Yu looked at the text message, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. The deal struck three days ago at the coffee shop was about to take place today. He replied with a simple "Okay," then tossed his phone onto the sofa.

A knock sounded at the door, and Chen Chen pushed it open and entered. She was wearing a modified moon-white cheongsam dress, her long hair styled in an elegant updo, her makeup exquisite and appropriate, though there were faint dark circles under her eyes. She definitely hadn't slept well last night—ever since that "reconciliation" at the library three days ago, she'd become unusually sensitive, frequently texting him in the middle of the night, asking where he was and what he was doing.

"Are you ready?" Chen Chen walked to the window and stood next to him. "I heard there are a lot of media here today."

"Ready?" Zhang Yu turned to look at her. "And you? You don't look like you slept well."

Chen Chen forced a smile: "I'm a little nervous. This is my first time attending such a large-scale press conference."

"Relax," Zhang Yu said, taking her hand. "I'm here for you."

His hand was warm and strong. Chen Chen looked down at their clasped hands and asked softly, "Zhang Yu, Yang Mi... will be here today too, right?"

"Yes, she plays the female reporter Fang Qing."

"So... will she sit next to you?"

Zhang Yu's heart tightened—Chen Chen was too perceptive. He remained calm: "The seating arrangement was made by President Li; I don't know anything about it."

Chen Chen didn't press further, but her eyes dimmed for a moment. She withdrew her hand, turned, and walked towards the sofa: "Sister Huang Ying is waiting for me downstairs. I'm going to the dressing room first."

"Chen Chen," Zhang Yu called out to her.

She turned around, her eyes filled with both expectation and unease.

"No matter what happens today, please remember—" Zhang Yu looked at her, "you are the most important person to me."

He was telling the truth. But Chen Chen just smiled bitterly: "Most important, but not the only thing, right?"

Without waiting for Zhang Yu's reply, she pushed open the door and left. Her figure in the moon-white dress looked particularly frail in the corridor.

Zhang Yu stood there, looking at the coffee in his hand that had gone cold. Outside the window, the Beijing sky was a cold, grayish-blue, much like his mood at that moment.

At 10 a.m., Zhang Yu went downstairs to the rehearsal hall for final preparations. He ran into Zeng Li in the corridor—she was wearing a burgundy bodycon dress with a black fur shawl, her long hair styled in big waves, and her makeup was bright and flamboyant; she looked like a walking flame.

"Director Zhang!" Zeng Li's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she quickly walked over. "I was just looking for you! There's a private party after the press conference today at my friend's bar. You absolutely have to come!"

Her perfume was rich and sensual, enveloping Zhang Yu as she approached. Zhang Yu calmly took a half-step back: "I'm afraid I'm not free today; I have things to do after the press conference."

"What could be more important than drinking with me?" Zeng Li pouted her red lips, her tone coquettish. "Director Zhang, how many times have you rejected me? This party is specially arranged for you, with many big names in the industry. It will be good for your future development."

When she said "development," her fingers lightly traced the collar of Zhang Yu's shirt, a suggestive and provocative gesture. Zhang Yu could see the cleavage faintly visible beneath the deep V-neck of her dress, her snow-white skin appearing especially alluring against the backdrop of the wine-red dress.

“Ms. Zeng, I’m working.” Zhang Yu’s tone was distant but polite.

“Work needs to be relaxed too,” Zeng Li persisted. “Besides… I have some new ideas about the character that I’d like to discuss with you privately. You know, the more I think about the character Su Manli, the more profound she seems…”

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, almost pressing herself against Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu could feel the softness and warmth of her body, and smell an even stronger scent of her perfume—the scent of desire and temptation.

"Zeng Li." A cool voice came from the side.

The two turned their heads and saw Bai Bing standing not far away. Today, she was wearing a light gray suit with a white silk shirt underneath. Her long hair was tied in a low bun, her makeup was light, and her temperament was aloof and cold. But Zhang Yu noticed that the top two buttons of her shirt were undone, revealing her delicate collarbone and a line of snow-white skin. The kind of restrained sexiness she exuded was more alluring than Zeng Li's straightforwardness.

“A Stormtrooper,” Zeng Li raised an eyebrow, her smile laced with provocation. “What’s up?”

"President Li is looking for you, about the media interview." Bai Bing's voice was calm and even.

"Okay." Zeng Li reluctantly straightened up, giving Zhang Yu a flirtatious wink. "Director Zhang, please reconsider the party tonight. I'll wait for your call~"

She swayed away, her body curves, encased in a burgundy dress, undulating with each step, like a beautiful serpent.

Only Zhang Yu and Bai Bing remained in the corridor. Bai Bing walked up to him, looking at him with a complicated expression: "Director Zhang, you need to be careful of Zeng Li."

"What?" Zhang Yu asked.

“She…doesn’t just want the role.” Bai Bing’s voice was soft. “I heard she has special relationships with several investors. She wants to use you to access higher-level resources.”

Zhang Yu looked at her: "Why are you telling me all this?"

Bai Bing was silent for a moment: "Because... I don't want you to get hurt. This circle is complicated, and some people... are not as simple as they seem on the surface."

As she spoke, a rare look of worry crossed her eyes. Zhang Yu's heart skipped a beat—this aloof woman, it turned out, could care about him after all.

"Thanks for the reminder," Zhang Yu said. "I'll be careful."

Bai Bing nodded, turned to leave, but stopped: "Also... Senior Chen Chen isn't feeling well today, please take good care of her."

She finished speaking and left, her figure in the light gray suit standing tall and lonely. Zhang Yu watched her leave, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him—each of these women had special feelings for him, each approached him, cared for him, and even... wanted to possess him in their own way.

What he had to do was navigate through them, collect their starlight imprints, and complete that damned mission.

This realization disgusted him, but also gave him a morbid excitement—the feeling of having the power to control other people's emotions was as addictive as a drug.

At 11 a.m., Zhang Yu met Song Qian in the rehearsal hall. She was wearing a light pink sweater with a white long skirt, her long hair loose, and she had no makeup on, looking like a pure and innocent college student. Upon seeing Zhang Yu, her eyes immediately lit up: "Director Zhang!"

"Song Qian," Zhang Yu nodded, "Are you nervous about today's press conference?"

"I'm so nervous!" Song Qian stuck out her tongue. "It's my first time participating in such a big event, I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing."

"Relax and just be yourself," Zhang Yu said. "Although your role doesn't have many scenes, it's very memorable. Do your best."