Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"Let's take a break and touch up our makeup," Zhang Yu said.

Bai Bing stepped off the stage, the hem of her cheongsam swaying with her steps, revealing her long, slender legs clad in stockings. She walked to the rest area and sat down, whereupon her assistant immediately handed her warm water. Zhang Yu went over and sat down beside her.

“He acted very well,” he said. “Especially that stagger at the end. If it was intentional, it would be even better—Lin Wanqing was drunk and forced to finish the song, her steps unsteady as she left the stage.”

Bai Bing looked up at him: "It wasn't on purpose, I really lost my balance. But... Director Zhang is right, it makes it more realistic."

Her cheeks were slightly flushed from her singing, and fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead. The neckline of her light red cheongsam was slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone and a line of snow-white skin. Zhang Yu could smell the faint scent of perfume emanating from her, mixed with the smell of sweat, creating a strangely alluring fragrance.

“Stormtrooper,” he suddenly said, “have you ever thought about what you would do if you weren’t an actor?”

Bai Bing paused for a moment, then shook his head: "I've never thought about it. I've been studying opera since elementary school, applying to drama school, becoming an actor... it seems like this is the only path in my life."

"Do you like it?" Zhang Yu asked. "Do you like acting?"

“I like it.” Bai Bing’s eyes turned serious. “When I’m acting, I can not be Bai Bing, I can be anyone. I can cry, I can laugh, I can love, I can hate… That feeling is very free.”

When she spoke of "freedom," there was a longing light in her eyes. Looking at her, Zhang Yu suddenly realized that this aloof woman actually had a fire burning inside her—a love for acting and a yearning for freedom.

"And what about you?" Bai Bing countered. "Does Director Zhang enjoy making movies?"

Zhang Yu was silent for a moment: "I like it, and I don't like it. I like the feeling of creating, but I don't like... the complexity of this industry."

“But you’re still in this circle,” Bai Bing said, “and you’re quite adept at it.”

“It’s not that I’m in control, it’s that I’m not in control of my own destiny.” Zhang Yu smiled bitterly. “Bai Bing, sometimes I feel that we are all the same—struggling in this circle, living behind masks, saying things we don’t mean, and doing things we can’t control. The only difference is that I play the role of a director, and you play the role of an actor.”

Bai Bing looked at him with a complicated expression: "Director Zhang, you seem... particularly sentimental today."

"Really?" Zhang Yu smiled. "Maybe he's just tired."

He didn't say anything more. Some things are better left unsaid; once said, there's no turning back.

It was 1 p.m., lunchtime. The crew had ordered boxed lunches, and the staff and actors were looking for a place to eat on set. Zhang Yu, carrying his boxed lunch, walked to the long corridor by the Bian River and found a quiet spot to sit down.

He had only taken a couple of bites when he heard footsteps. He looked up and saw Zhao Liying walking timidly towards him. Today she was wearing a simple white shirt and black pants, her hair was tied in a ponytail, she had no makeup on, and she was also holding a boxed lunch in her hand.

"Director Zhang...Director Zhang," Zhao Liying greeted softly, "May I sit here?"

"Have a seat," Zhang Yu nodded.

Zhao Liying sat down opposite him, eating her food in small bites, but her eyes kept sneaking glances at him. Zhang Yu could sense her nervousness and admiration.

"Are you ready for the audition this afternoon?" Zhang Yu asked.

"Ready...ready." Zhao Liying nodded. "I practiced all night last night and memorized all my lines. Director Zhang, I...I definitely won't let you down."

She spoke earnestly, her eyes sparkling. Zhang Yu looked at her; this girl possessed a special resilience, like wild grass—humble yet tenacious.

"Don't be too nervous," Zhang Yu said. "An audition is just to see how well you fit the role, not an exam."

“Yes!” Zhao Liying nodded vigorously, then suddenly remembered something, “By the way, Director Zhang, about yesterday… about yesterday, I believe you. Those reports were all made up.”

Zhang Yu was taken aback: "Why do you believe me? We've only known each other for a day."

“Because…because your eyes are so pure when you look at people,” Zhao Liying said. “I’ve been an extra many times and met many directors. Some directors look at actresses with…dirty eyes. But you’re different. Your eyes are respectful and pure when you look at people.”

She spoke simply, but sincerely. A warm feeling welled up in Zhang Yu's heart—in this complicated circle, there were still people willing to believe in him, and with such pure faith.

"Thank you," Zhang Yu said softly.

Zhao Liying blushed and lowered her head to eat. Sunlight shone on her face, revealing the fine downy hairs on her skin, like those of a newly ripened peach. This girl was so young, so innocent, like a blank sheet of paper.

Looking at her, Zhang Yu felt a surge of intense guilt—was he really going to ruin her? To destroy this innocence with his games and his scheming?

But he needs her starlight mark.

This realization disgusted him, but he couldn't stop.

The auditions were held backstage at the theater at 2 PM. There were three roles available for audition today: a Xinjiang dancer, a singer, and a maid named Xiao Cui. The actresses auditioning included Gulnazar, Tang Yan, Zhao Liying, and several newcomers.

Zhang Yu sat on the judges' panel, next to Li Xiaoming and the production manager. The backstage area had been temporarily set up as an audition venue, with a large mirror and several chairs.

The first to audition was Gulnazar. Today, she wore a traditional Xinjiang outfit—a long red dress embroidered with gold thread, a small floral hat, her long hair braided, and her makeup vibrant. The moment she entered, the entire backstage area lit up for a moment—her exotic beauty was truly dazzling.

"Hello Director Zhang, hello President Li." Gulinaza bowed and then began her performance.

She was to perform a scene depicting a Xinjiang dancer's first arrival in Shanghai, where she is bullied by thugs while performing on the streets. There were no lines; everything relied on body language and facial expressions. Gulnazar's dance skills were excellent; her spins and backbends were full of power and beauty. During the scene of being bullied, her eyes conveyed a powerful shift from fear to defiance, portraying the situation very realistically.

"Very good." Zhang Yu nodded. "Go back and wait for further instructions."

Gulnazar smiled happily and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Director Zhang!"

As she left, her long red dress billowed up like a burning flame.

The second is Tang Yan. Today she wore a light green embroidered cheongsam with a white knitted cardigan over it, her long hair was styled in an elegant updo, and her makeup was gentle and graceful. She was going to perform a scene of a singer removing her makeup backstage and feeling sorry for herself in front of the mirror.

Tang Yan's performance was very nuanced—she sat in front of the mirror, slowly removing her makeup, her eyes shifting from alluring to weary, finally becoming empty. The process was slow, but very moving, allowing the audience to feel the desolation in this woman of the night.

“Not bad,” Zhang Yu said. “The emotional layers are very rich.”

Tang Yan smiled and said, "Thank you, Director Zhang."

She got up and left, her back view in a light green cheongsam graceful and charming.

The third was Zhao Liying. She changed into a maid's outfit—a light blue coarse cloth dress, her hair styled in two buns, and her face only lightly powdered. She was to perform a scene where the maid Xiao Cui, secretly in love with the young master, is distracted while washing clothes in the courtyard.