Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"Tang Yan, look at me!" Zhang Tianai let go of Zhang Yu and waved excitedly at Tang Yan.

Tang Yan stood not far away, watching this scene with a gentle smile on her lips, but a complex emotion flickered in her eyes—envy? Jealousy? Or... something else?

Mr. Wang observed everything, and his smile deepened. He walked over and patted Zhang Yu on the shoulder: "Director Zhang is really popular! Young, promising, and talented, no wonder all these young ladies like you!"

When he said "I like you," his tone was ambiguous. Zhang Yu understood the implication—this old fox was using women as leverage again.

"Mr. Wang is joking," Zhang Yu said casually. "I'm just teaching her how to play ball."

"Yes, yes, yes, teach her how to play ball!" President Wang smiled meaningfully. "Then, Director Zhang, will you also teach Tang Yan? This child's ball skills need some pointers."

Tang Yan walked over, her long, straight legs, visible beneath her white athletic skirt, gleaming white in the sunlight. She looked at Zhang Yu, her eyes holding a mature woman's allure and a hint of probing: "Director Zhang, would you be willing to teach me?"

“Of course,” Zhang Yu said.

And so another round of "teaching" began. Tang Yan was smarter than Zhang Tian'ai and learned quickly, but she was also better at seizing opportunities—every time Zhang Yu corrected her posture, she would "accidentally" lean against him or "unintentionally" touch his hand. Her body was fuller and her curves more pronounced than Zhang Tian'ai's, and every touch carried a clear sense of provocation.

"Director Zhang's hands are so warm." Once, when Zhang Yu covered her hands with his to teach her how to hold the cue stick, Tang Yan said softly, her tone ambiguous.

Zhang Yu looked at her. This woman was more mature and calculating than Zhang Tian'ai. Her beauty was outward and passionate, like a blooming rose, but with thorns on its stem.

"Miss Tang's skin feels very cold," Zhang Yu said. "Is she wearing too little clothing?"

"It's inconvenient to wear too many layers when playing ball," Tang Yan laughed, her smile as alluring as a fox's. "Besides... this way, when Director Zhang teaches me, he can more clearly sense my problems."

She was too blunt. Zhang Yu laughed: "Miss Tang knows a lot about playing ball."

“I understand people better.” Tang Yan looked at him with deep eyes. “Director Zhang, you know what? I’m very good at judging people. You seem very serious on the surface, but deep down… you’re a player. You’re enjoying this game, enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by women.”

She sounded a lot like Yang Mi. Zhang Yu thought, perhaps any smart woman could tell.

"So, Miss Tang, do you think this game is fun?" he asked.

"It's fun, but dangerous," Tang Yan said. "Those who play with fire will eventually get burned. Director Zhang, you need to be careful."

She spoke very seriously. Zhang Yu looked at her and suddenly felt that this woman might not be as superficial as she seemed—she saw things clearly and understood things thoroughly.

“Thanks for reminding me,” he said.

After the game, Mr. Wang suggested having lunch at the clubhouse restaurant. The restaurant was very upscale, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lush green golf course, and sunlight streaming in through the glass, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The four sat down and ordered food. Mr. Wang was good at creating a relaxed atmosphere; after a few glasses of red wine, everyone felt much more at ease. Zhang Tian'ai had drunk a bit too much; her cheeks were flushed, and she became quite talkative.

"Director Zhang, can I...can I learn acting from you?" She looked at Zhang Yu with bright eyes. "Although I'm still in school, I really want to learn from a good director. Our teacher said that working with a good director on a film is more useful than four years of schooling."

“You are still studying, so you should focus on your studies,” Zhang Yu said.

"No!" Zhang Tianai shook her head, her tone somewhat willful. "I just want to learn from you! Director Zhang, will you take me as your apprentice? I promise to be obedient, I promise to work hard, I promise... I won't cause you any trouble!"

She spoke like a child asking for a toy. Tang Yan laughed beside her, "It's getting warmer, don't make things difficult for Director Zhang. He's so busy, how could he have time to teach you?"

"I can wait!" Zhang Tianai insisted. "Just teach me for an hour or two when Director Zhang has time! Director Zhang, please..."

As she spoke, she reached out and tugged at Zhang Yu's sleeve, her eyes pleading. The gesture was so childish, but paired with her pure and lovely face, it was hard to resist.

Zhang Yu looked at her. This girl was too young, too innocent, like a blank sheet of paper. If he really took her as his apprentice, it would be like dragging her into this complicated game.

But he needs her starlight mark.

“Okay,” he finally said. “I can teach you some basics when I have time.”

"Really?" Zhang Tian'ai's eyes widened, then she jumped up happily. "That's wonderful! Thank you, Director Zhang! Thank you, Master!"

She changed her tune so quickly. Zhang Yu laughed: "Don't call me Master, just call me Director Zhang."

"No, it's Master!" Zhang Tianai insisted. "Once a teacher, always a master!"

She almost blurted out "I'll be your father for life," but quickly changed her mind. Tang Yan and President Wang both laughed.

Lunch ended in a pleasant atmosphere. After the meal, Mr. Wang said he had to leave first and asked Tang Yan and Zhang Tian'ai to stay with Zhang Yu for a while longer. Zhang Yu knew this was to give them a chance to be alone.

After Mr. Wang left, the three moved to a sofa seat by the window. Zhang Tianai excitedly asked many questions about the performance, which Zhang Yu answered one by one. Tang Yan sat quietly to the side, sipping her coffee and occasionally interjecting a few words, but mostly observing.

"Director Zhang," Tang Yan suddenly spoke up, "is there a suitable role for me in 'The Scholarly Family'?"

The question was direct. Zhang Yu looked at her: "What type of role would Miss Tang like to play?"

"I want to play... a woman who is gentle on the outside but complicated on the inside," Tang Yan said. "The kind of woman who survives in a chaotic world, uses her wisdom and beauty to navigate relationships with men, but is actually very lonely inside."

She was very accurate, so accurate that Zhang Yu was somewhat surprised—the character she described was a minor but outstanding supporting character in the script, a Shanghai singer who later became the mistress of a warlord.

“There is indeed such a character,” Zhang Yu said, “but he doesn’t have many scenes.”

"I don't care about the size of the role," Tang Yan said earnestly. "I just want to play characters that can move people. Director Zhang, could you give me an audition?"

"Okay." Zhang Yu nodded. "Come to the film set for an audition tomorrow afternoon."

"Thank you, Director Zhang!" Tang Yan's eyes lit up. "I definitely won't let you down."

Zhang Tian'ai listened from the side, somewhat unwilling: "What about me? Master, are there any suitable roles for me?"

“You’re still in school, so you should focus on your studies,” Zhang Yu said.

“I can ask for leave!” Zhang Tian’ai said. “As long as Master gives me a chance, I’ll do anything!”

She spoke too hastily. Zhang Yu looked at her; this girl's adoration was too pure, too fervent, like a flame. He needed that flame, but he was also afraid that it would consume her.

“There’s a female student character in the script, but she has very few scenes,” Zhang Yu finally said. “If you really want to play the role, you can give it a try.”