Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

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

Zhang Yu turned around and saw Gao Yuanyuan standing not far away. She wasn't having a chance to perform today, so she wore a beige knitted dress with a light gray cardigan over it, her long hair flowing freely, her demeanor as gentle and graceful as spring rain in Jiangnan. She was holding an umbrella, clearly preparing to leave.

"Miss Gao," Zhang Yu nodded in greeting.

"It's raining so hard, Director Zhang, didn't you bring an umbrella?" Gao Yuanyuan walked to his side and looked at the rain with him. "I brought one, I can give you a ride."

"No need, I'll wait until the rain subsides a bit before I leave," Zhang Yu said.

Gao Yuanyuan didn't leave; instead, she sat down next to him. The eaves weren't wide, and the two sat very close. Zhang Yu could smell the faint scent of gardenias on her and feel the warmth of her body.

"Director Zhang," Gao Yuanyuan said softly, "you don't seem to be feeling well today."

"Is it that obvious?" Zhang Yu smiled wryly.

“It’s obvious,” Gao Yuanyuan nodded. “Especially when filming the scene with Chen Chen, your eyes... looked very pained.”

Zhang Yu remained silent. Gao Yuanyuan was too perceptive; she could see through everything.

“Miss Gao is very observant,” he said.

“It’s an actor’s instinct,” Gao Yuanyuan smiled. “And… Director Zhang, I can tell you love Chen Chen very much.”

Zhang Yu was startled: "Why do you say that?"

“Because the look of love in someone’s eyes cannot be hidden,” Gao Yuanyuan said. “When you look at Chen Chen, there is light, tenderness, and... guilt in your eyes. That kind of complex look can only be seen when you deeply love someone but have hurt them.”

She was absolutely right. Zhang Yu looked at her; this gentle woman actually possessed such keen insight.

"Miss Gao, have you ever been in a relationship?" he suddenly asked.

Gao Yuanyuan paused for a moment, then smiled: "I've dated, but it all ended without a trace. In this industry, true feelings are too luxurious. Everyone wears a mask, and it's hard to find someone who is sincere."

"So, do you think I'm a sincere person?" Zhang Yu asked.

Gao Yuanyuan looked at him for a long time, then said softly, "You are a sincere person, but your sincerity... is shrouded in too many things, making it difficult for others to see clearly."

She spoke subtly, but Zhang Yu understood. His true feelings were now obscured by his mission, the game, and the Starshine Mark, making it impossible to discern their original form.

“Miss Gao,” he said, “what would you do if one day you discovered that the person you love was lying to you?”

Gao Yuanyuan thought for a moment: "That depends on what kind of deception it is. If it's a white lie, I can forgive it. If it's a deception that violates principles... I will leave."

"Then what constitutes deception of principle?"

“For example…” Gao Yuanyuan looked at him, “For example, he loves many people at the same time, but tells you that he only loves you. For example, he approaches you not because he loves you, but for other purposes. For example, he treats you as a pawn, as a tool, instead of as a lover.”

Every point she made seemed to be directed at Zhang Yu. A strong sense of guilt welled up in Zhang Yu's heart—wasn't this exactly how he treated Chen Chen?

“Miss Gao,” he said softly, “you are a smart woman.”

“Being smart isn’t good,” Gao Yuanyuan said with a wry smile. “Smart women see things too clearly, which makes it harder for them to be happy. Sometimes, being a little confused and silly can bring more joy.”

She spoke with a weariness that seemed to have set in her life. Zhang Yu looked at her; this woman, barely in her twenties, had a maturity and exhaustion beyond her years in her eyes.

"The rain has lessened." Gao Yuanyuan stood up. "Director Zhang, I have to go back now. You...should go back early too."

She handed the umbrella to Zhang Yu: "Here, take this umbrella. Don't get wet in the rain."

It was a very ordinary black umbrella. Zhang Yu took it: "And what about yours?"

"I don't live far away, it's just a short walk away," Gao Yuanyuan said with a smile. "Director Zhang, take care."

After she finished speaking, she turned and ran into the rain. Her silhouette in the off-white dress quickly blurred in the rain, like a faint ink spreading in the water.

Zhang Yu stood under the eaves, holding an umbrella, for a long time without leaving. He could feel that another new starlight mark had been touched—Gao Yuanyuan's gentleness, Gao Yuanyuan's understanding, Gao Yuanyuan's maturity.

The pace of progress was accelerating, but the emptiness in his heart was growing ever larger.

Can he really make it to the end in this game?

he does not know.

All he knew was that from the moment he awakened those memories, he embarked on a path of no return.

No matter the cost, he will keep moving forward.

At 7 p.m., Zhang Yu returned to the hotel. As soon as he entered the lobby, he saw Li Xiaoming sitting on the sofa in the lounge area, looking rather unwell.

"Director Zhang, you're finally back." Li Xiaoming stood up and walked over quickly. "Something's happened."

"What is it?" Zhang Yu asked.

"Take a look at this." Li Xiaoming handed over a newspaper.

Zhang Yu took the newspaper and saw it was today's "Entertainment Weekly." The front page headline featured photos of him having dinner with Zeng Li, Gulnazar, and Meng Ziyi last night. The headline, as Huang Ying had predicted, read: "New Director Zhang Yu Meets Three Beauties at Night; Girlfriend Chen Chen Suspected of Falling Out of Favor." The report was very detailed, and included individual photos of him with each actress, including one of him teaching Zhang Tian'ai how to play ball and another of him chatting and laughing with Tang Yan.

“These reporters…” Zhang Yu frowned.

“It’s not just the reporters’ problem.” Li Xiaoming lowered his voice. “I’ve inquired, and someone deliberately leaked the information to the media. The photos are so clear, and the angles are so tricky; it’s obvious they were prepared in advance.”

"Who?" Zhang Yu asked.

"I'm not sure yet," Li Xiaoming shook his head, "but it's definitely someone close to us. Director Zhang, have you... offended someone recently?"

Zhang Yu thought for a moment. He had offended too many people—President Wang, several other investors, and the actresses he had rejected... all of them were possible culprits.

"What do we do now?" he asked.

“I’ve already contacted a PR firm, they’ll handle it,” Li Xiaoming said. “But you need to keep a low profile these next few days and avoid going out alone with any actresses. And Chen Chen… you need to appease her. This show still needs her to carry it; if she quits, we’re all finished.”

Zhang Yu nodded: "I know."

"It's good that you know," Li Xiaoming sighed. "Director Zhang, I invested in you because I believed in you. But in this industry, talent is important, but character is also important. Don't let me down."

After he finished speaking, he patted Zhang Yu on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Zhang Yu stood in the hotel lobby, newspaper in hand, a chill running through him. He knew this game was becoming increasingly dangerous. Someone was beginning to fight back.

Back in his room, Zhang Yu took a shower and changed his clothes. He sat at his desk, opened the script, but couldn't concentrate on a single word. His mind was filled with Chen Chen's departing figure in the rain, and her cold gaze.

My phone rang. It was a text message from Yang Mi: "Director Zhang, I saw the news. Do you need my help? I can clarify that we were just discussing the script last night."

Zhang Yu replied, "No need, the company will handle it."

A little while later, Zeng Li also sent a text message: "Director Zhang, I'm sorry for troubling you. Is there anything I can do for you?"