Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"No." Chen Chen withdrew his hand, his voice calm. "Director Zhang, we're working. Let's talk about personal matters after filming is finished."

She spoke so resolutely. A sense of powerlessness welled up in Zhang Yu's heart—he knew that she was truly heartbroken this time and wouldn't be so easily coaxed back.

“Okay,” he finally said. “Then let’s get to work.”

The filming of the scene in the bookstore went smoothly. Chen Chen was completely immersed in the role, perfectly portraying the surprise, the sense of relief, and the shyness of a young girl meeting her crush for the first time. Zhang Yu watched from behind the monitor, feeling both admiration and pain—the better she acted, the more invested she was, and the better she could distinguish between the role and reality. And in reality, she was drifting further and further away from him.

Filming ended at 5 p.m. As we wrapped, a light rain began to fall. The crew busied themselves packing up equipment, and the actors went back to their dressing rooms to remove their makeup.

Standing at the bookstore entrance, Zhang Yu gazed at the Republican-era street scene in the drizzle, his heart filled with a sense of bewilderment. The star-shaped birthmark under his left eye felt slightly warm; he could feel the star-like imprints flowing within him—Chen Chen's pain, Zeng Li's desires, Bai Bing's persistence, Yang Mi's scheming, Song Qian's purity... Each emotion burned within him like a flame, giving him strength while simultaneously searing his conscience.

"Director Zhang." A crisp voice came from behind.

Zhang Yu turned around and saw a strange girl standing in the rain. She was about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, with her long hair tied in a ponytail. She had no makeup on, but her features were so exquisite that she didn't look real—her eyes were big and bright, her nose was straight and upturned, her lips were pink, and her skin was so white that it was almost transparent. She was as pure as mountain spring water.

What's most special about her is her aura—an ethereal, otherworldly quality, completely different from the heavily made-up female celebrities in the entertainment industry. Standing in the drizzle, she resembles a white lotus blooming in the rain, pure, beautiful, and untouchable.

"Who are you?" Zhang Yu asked.

"My name is Jing Tian," the girl said softly, with a hint of shyness. "I'm a student at the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy. I...I want to try my hand at acting."

Jing Tian? Zhang Yu remembered—Li Xiaoming had mentioned this name, saying that she was a promising talent recently discovered by the Beijing Dance Academy. She was only sixteen years old, but had already filmed several commercials. She had a special temperament and wanted to develop her career in the entertainment industry.

"Which role would you like to try out for?" Zhang Yu asked.

“I’ve read the script and I’d like to try… for the role of Lin Shuwan’s cousin’s classmate,” Jing Tian said softly. “Even though it’s only a few lines, I… but I want to give it a try.”

She spoke so humbly, so cautiously. Zhang Yu looked at her; this girl was too young, too innocent, like a blank sheet of paper, untouched by this world.

"Why do you want to act?" Zhang Yu asked.

Jing Tian looked up, her eyes sparkling: "Because...because I like it. I like watching movies and watching other people act. I also want to be like Sister Chen Chen, playing roles that can touch people's hearts."

When she called her "Sister Chen Chen," there was a look of admiration in her eyes. Zhang Yu's heart stirred—this girl might really just be someone who simply loves performing.

“Okay, then come for the audition tomorrow,” Zhang Yu said. “Ten o’clock in the morning, right here.”

"Really?" Jing Tian's eyes lit up even more. "Thank you, Director Zhang! I will definitely work hard!"

She smiled happily, a smile as pure as sunshine, instantly dispelling the gloom of the rainy day. Zhang Yu looked at her, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him—such a pure girl, did he really want to drag her into this complicated game?

But he had no choice. The collection of Starshine Marks could not stop, and his mission had to be completed.

"Let's go back, don't get wet in the rain," Zhang Yu said.

"Yes!" Jing Tian nodded vigorously, then suddenly remembered something and took an umbrella out of her backpack. "Director Zhang, here, take this umbrella. Don't get wet in the rain."

It was a very ordinary folding umbrella, light blue, with little stars printed on it. Zhang Yu took the umbrella, a warm feeling welling up in his heart—this girl, even her concern for others was so simple and direct.

"Thank you," he said.

Jing Tian shook her head, turned and ran into the rain. Her white T-shirt silhouette quickly disappeared in the drizzle, like a faint ink spreading in the water.

Zhang Yu stood at the bookstore entrance, holding his light blue umbrella, for a long time without leaving. The rain grew heavier, pattering against the umbrella. He could feel that yet another new starlight mark had been touched—Jing Tian's purity, Jing Tian's admiration, Jing Tian's simple affection.

The pace of progress was accelerating, but his guilt was also growing deeper.

Is this game really worth it?

he does not know.

All he knew was that he had no way out.

At 7 p.m., Zhang Yu still went to the "Shanghai Bund" restaurant. It wasn't because he wanted to see Zeng Li, but because Li Xiaoming called to say that several important investors were coming and he had to be there.

The restaurant is near Hengdian World Studios, decorated in the style of old Shanghai. A gramophone plays Zhou Xuan's "Night Shanghai," and the waiters are all dressed in clothing from the Republican era. In the VIP room, a group of people are already seated—Li Xiaoming, several investors, Zeng Li, and... two women that Zhang Yu has never seen before but recognizes at a glance.

The first woman was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, wearing a burgundy velvet halter dress with a black fur coat over it. Her long hair was slightly wavy, her makeup was bright, and her features were three-dimensional and deep, exuding an exotic beauty. She was Gulnazar, from Xinjiang, who had just come to Beijing to develop her career. She had already shot several commercials and magazine covers and was known for her beauty.

Beside her stood a woman a few years older, wearing a light purple knitted dress, her long hair flowing freely. She possessed a gentle and refined air; her features, while not strikingly beautiful, were very pleasing to the eye, and her skin was so fair it was almost translucent, giving her a classic beauty. This was Meng Ziyi, a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, who had already acted in several television dramas, winning over audiences with her elegant demeanor.

Two women with very different styles but equally outstanding looks sat together, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Director Zhang is here!" Li Xiaoming greeted him warmly. "Come, come, let me introduce you to two new friends—Gulinaza and Meng Ziyi, both very promising newcomers!"

Zhang Yu nodded politely: "Miss Gu, Miss Meng, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Gulnazar stood up, her movements elegant and graceful: "Director Zhang, I've long admired your name. I've seen the trailer for 'Old Tales of Jiangnan,' and it's very well made."

Her Mandarin had a slight Xinjiang accent, but it was very pleasant to listen to, like singing. Her burgundy velvet halter-neck dress accentuated her snow-white skin; the slit in the skirt revealed her long, straight legs as she walked, their lines exquisitely beautiful, gleaming softly under the lights.

Meng Ziyi, on the other hand, was much gentler. She simply smiled and nodded, saying, "Director Zhang, it's a pleasure to meet you. I hope to have the opportunity to learn from you."

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a spring breeze. The light purple knitted dress accentuated her gentle and graceful demeanor; sitting there, she resembled a delicate ink painting.