Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"Director Zhang!" A charming voice came from behind.

Zhang Yu turned around and saw Zeng Li walking gracefully towards him. Today, she wore a dark green cheongsam embroidered with gold thread, with a white mink shawl over it. Her long hair was styled in an elegant finger wave, her red lips were full, and her makeup was as exquisite as a beauty from an old Shanghai calendar poster. The cheongsam had a high slit, and her fair and slender legs were faintly visible in the misty rain as she walked. Her black stiletto heels made a crisp sound on the bluestone pavement.

"Miss Zeng is very punctual today," Zhang Yu said casually.

“How could I dare to be late for Director Zhang’s first scene?” Zeng Li walked to his side and naturally took his arm. Her body under the dark green cheongsam was warm and soft, and her body heat and perfume scent wafted through the fabric—a rich tuberose mixed with a touch of woody calmness, sexy yet dignified.

Zhang Yu didn't pull his arm away, but just looked at her: "You're not in this scene, are you?"

“I came here to study,” Zeng Li said with a charming smile. “And… I missed you.”

She spoke directly, her eyes fixed on Zhang Yu. Rain dampened her temples, a few strands clinging to her cheeks, adding to her allure. Zhang Yu could see her delicate collarbone beneath the neckline of her cheongsam, and the subtle cleavage beneath—the cheongsam was exquisitely tailored, perfectly outlining her full bust and slender waist.

“Miss Zeng,” Zhang Yu’s voice was calm and even, “this is the film set.”

“I know it’s a film set.” Zeng Li didn’t let go; instead, she pressed even closer. “That’s why I dared to do this—it’s normal for directors and actors to discuss the plot in a work setting.”

Her breath brushed against Zhang Yu's ear, warm and provocative. Zhang Yu could feel the curves of her body and smell the stronger scent of her perfume. But he just smiled and gently pushed her away: "Miss Zeng, your filming is the day after tomorrow. Go back and rest today, get plenty of rest."

Zeng Li wasn't angry when she was pushed away; instead, she smiled even more charmingly: "Director Zhang is truly... clear about separating public and private matters. Okay, then I'll head back first. But I have dinner appointments with some investors tonight at the 'Shanghai Bund' restaurant. Director Zhang, you absolutely must come!"

As she spoke, she took an invitation from her handbag and slipped it into Zhang Yu's trench coat pocket. Her fingers lingered for a moment on his chest, with a clear hint of provocation.

"It depends," Zhang Yu said noncommittally.

Zeng Li gave him a deep look, then turned and left. Her figure in the dark green cheongsam swayed gracefully in the drizzle, like a night-blooming jasmine blooming in the rain.

Zhang Yu watched her walk away, then took the invitation out of his pocket—the lettering was in gold, and it read 7 PM, VIP room at a Shanghai restaurant. He smirked, tore the invitation in half, and threw it into the nearby trash can.

Yang Mi, who had just walked up the steps, saw this action. Today, she was wearing a black leather jacket with tight jeans, her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her makeup was cool and glamorous. She looked as cool as a female spy from the Republican era.

“Director Zhang is so heartless.” Yang Mi walked to his side with a playful smile. “If Zeng Li knew how you treated her invitation, she would probably cry all night.”

"And what about you?" Zhang Yu turned to look at her. "Miss Yang, are you here today also to deliver an invitation?"

"I'm here to work." Yang Mi took out the script from her backpack. "I have some new ideas for the role of Fang Qing, and I'd like to discuss them with Director Zhang."

She spoke with a straight face, but the cunning in her eyes betrayed her. Zhang Yu took the script and casually flipped through a few pages: "So, what's your idea?"

“I don’t think Fang Qing should just be a simple female reporter,” Yang Mi said earnestly. “She returned from studying abroad, is knowledgeable, and has progressive ideas. In that era, such women were often very lonely because no one truly understood them. So her feelings for Gu Jiangnan were not just love, but also a spiritual resonance and redemption.”

She spoke with great insight. Zhang Yu looked at her; this woman was indeed intelligent, and her understanding of the character exceeded his expectations.

“Well said.” Zhang Yu nodded. “Then how do you portray this kind of ‘loneliness’?”

“Use the details.” Yang Mi’s eyes lit up. “For example, the way she smokes—not the vulgar way a woman of the night smokes, but a thoughtful, lonely way of smoking. And the way she looks at people—not a direct seduction, but a scrutiny that penetrates appearances and reaches the soul.”

As she spoke, she took out a slender women's cigarette from her pocket and lit it. In the misty rain, her long, white fingers holding the cigarette looked elegant and solitary as she smoked. The smoke rose slowly in the rain, blurring her cold and beautiful face.

At that moment, she truly became Fang Qing—the female journalist who had returned from studying abroad and felt lonely inside.

Zhang Yu gazed at her quietly, a surge of admiration welling up within him. This woman was not only beautiful, but also talented and thoughtful. It was hard not to be captivated by such a woman.

“Very good,” he said. “Keep that feeling.”

Yang Mi smiled, a sly smile in her eyes: "Director Zhang, as a reward, could I treat you to dinner tonight? Just the two of us, so we can have a good chat about the roles."

She's here again. Zhang Yu looked at her and suddenly laughed: "Yang Mi, do you know you're a lot like an animal?"

"what?"

“A fox,” Zhang Yu said, “is clever, cunning, knows how to proceed step by step, and knows when to advance and when to retreat. But no matter how clever a fox is, it can’t escape the eyes of a good hunter.”

Yang Mi's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered: "Is Director Zhang a good hunter?"

“I’m the director.” Zhang Yu turned to look at the filming location below. “My job is to make a good film, not to hunt.”

After he finished speaking, he walked down the steps, leaving Yang Mi standing alone in the rain. Yang Mi watched his retreating figure, a complex smile playing on her lips—this man was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with. But it was precisely because he was difficult that he was more challenging, more...desirable to conquer.

Filming officially began at 9:00 AM.

The square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony has been transformed into a replica of the Shanghai Railway Station from the Republican era. A model steam train is parked on the tracks, extras dressed in long gowns and cheongsams come and go, vendors hawk newspapers and cigarettes, and rickshaw pullers solicit business. Everything is recreated with extreme realism.

Chen Chen had already done her makeup, changed into a light blue floral cheongsam, and wore a beige knitted cardigan over it. She was carrying an old leather suitcase, her hair was styled in two braids, and her face showed the unique shyness and trepidation of a young girl. She stood at the entrance of the "train station," took a deep breath, and prepared to get into character.

Zhang Yu sat behind the monitor and picked up the walkie-talkie: "All departments, prepare—Scene 1, Shot 1, begin!"

Chen Chen carried her suitcase into the "train station." Her steps were hesitant, her eyes filled with curiosity and unease as she looked around at this unfamiliar metropolis. She perfectly portrayed the young girl who had just arrived in Shanghai from a small town in southern China.

"Cut!" Zhang Yu called out. "Great! Prepare for the next close-up!"