Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

"Director Zhang, good luck at tomorrow's press conference!" Zhao Liying waved goodbye, "I'll support you online!"

Her figure faded into the night, her white shirt gleaming softly under the streetlights. Zhang Yu stood at the hotel entrance, the star-shaped birthmark under his left eye growing even hotter—Zhao Liying's radiant mark, pure and fiery, just like her.

---

At 11:30 p.m., an uninvited guest

Back in his room, Zhang Yu had just taken off his coat when the doorbell rang. Through the peephole, he saw two women standing outside—one around fifty years old, with an elegant demeanor, wearing a dark blue suit; the other about thirteen or fourteen, wearing a white dress, with long hair reaching her waist, and delicate features like a porcelain doll, especially her eyes, which were so clear they could reflect the entire world.

Zhang Yu opened the door.

"Hello, Director Zhang Yu." The older woman smiled. "I am Liu Xiaoli, and this is my daughter, Liu Yifei. I'm so sorry to bother you so late."

Liu Yifei. Zhang Yu remembered—this girl, known as "Fairy Sister" in her past life, was still a naive young girl. Her mother, Liu Xiaoli, was a dancer who later became her manager and strongest supporter.

"Hello, Teacher Liu. Hello, Yifei." Zhang Yu stepped aside to let them in. "Please have a seat."

The room wasn't large. Zhang Yu had the mother and daughter sit on a single sofa, then pulled up a chair from the desk for himself. Liu Yifei was quiet, sitting upright with her hands on her knees, but her eyes couldn't help but curiously scan the room—especially the well-worn script of "A Family of Scholars" on the desk.

“Director Zhang, let’s get straight to the point.” Liu Xiaoli got straight to the point. “Yifei and I have been visiting a friend on set in Hengdian these past few days and heard about you. Yifei has loved acting since she was little and really liked the movie you directed, ‘Autumn Day.’ She was very worried after seeing the news today and insisted on coming to see you.”

Liu Yifei blushed and whispered, "Director Zhang, I believe you are innocent. Those reports... are all nonsense."

Her voice was soft, but firm. Zhang Yu looked at her; this girl, who had remained pure despite years of ups and downs in the entertainment industry in her previous life, was now still an innocent young girl.

"Thank you for your trust." Zhang Yu smiled. "How old is Yifei this year?"

“Thirteen years old,” Liu Yifei said. “But I’ve been learning to dance since I was five, and I can sing too. Director Zhang…do you have a suitable role for me in your play? Even just one line would be fine; I want to learn.”

She spoke earnestly, her eyes filled with the purest yearning for acting. Zhang Yu recalled his past life; Liu Yifei had also started her acting career at this age, making her debut with the role of Bai Xiuzhu in "The Story of a Noble Family."

"Is Yifei still in school?" Zhang Yu asked Liu Xiaoli.

“Yes, she’s in junior high school in Beijing,” Liu Xiaoli said. “But I support her in pursuing her dreams. Director Zhang, Yifei is very talented and hardworking. If you have a suitable role in your film, please consider her. The salary isn’t the issue; the main thing is the learning opportunity.”

Zhang Yu thought for a moment. There was indeed a role in "A Family of Scholars"—Lin Shuwan's younger sister, a little girl in her early teens. Her role wasn't large, but it was crucial. They originally planned to cast a child actress, but hadn't found a suitable one yet.

“There’s a character in the script named Lin Shuyao, Lin Shuwan’s younger sister.” Zhang Yu picked up the script from his desk and turned to the relevant page. “She only has three scenes, but she’s very important. She witnessed her sister’s love and was separated from her sister during the war, which was Lin Shuwan’s lifelong regret.”

Liu Yifei's eyes lit up: "Can I try?"

"Do you know how to cry?" Zhang Yu asked. "There's a scene where you and your sister are separated from each other by the crowd while fleeing. You need to portray that feeling of fear, helplessness, and heartbreak."

Liu Yifei thought for a moment, then nodded: "I can. Director Zhang, I can show you right now."

As she spoke, she stood up and walked to the center of the room. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, and when she opened them again, her entire aura had changed—from a quiet young girl to a child separated from her family in the midst of war.

"Sister...Sister, where are you?" she asked, her voice trembling, her eyes instantly filling with tears. "Sister...don't leave me..."

She began searching the room, her steps faltering, her eyes filled with panic, tears streaming down her face. It wasn't a loud wail, but a suppressed, desperate sob, all the more heartbreaking. Finally, she crouched down, hugging her knees, curling into a ball, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

The performance ended, and the room was silent. Liu Yifei looked up, tears still streaking her face, but her eyes had regained their clarity: "Director Zhang, is this... alright?"

Zhang Yu clapped: "Very good. Especially the last squatting motion, it really brought out the child's helplessness."

Liu Yifei smiled happily, her tears still wet on her face, her smile as radiant as the sunshine. Liu Xiaoli also showed a relieved expression: "Director Zhang, so this role..."

“It’s given to Yifei,” Zhang Yu said. “But there are a few things I need to clarify. First, Yifei is still in school, so filming can’t interfere with her studies; second, filming will be very demanding, and we might have to stay up all night; third, the pay won’t be too high, because it’s a supporting role.”

“No problem!” Liu Xiaoli said immediately. “The salary isn’t an issue; the main thing is the opportunity. Director Zhang, thank you so much!”

Liu Yifei also bowed deeply: "Thank you, Director Zhang! I will definitely work hard!"

It was almost midnight when the mother and daughter left. Liu Yifei reached the door, then suddenly turned around and took a small box out of her bag: "Director Zhang, this is for you."

It was a handmade amulet, made of red silk with the word "peace" embroidered in gold thread.

“My grandma taught me that,” Liu Yifei said softly. “Director Zhang, I wish you a successful press conference tomorrow.”

Zhang Yu accepted the amulet, a warm feeling welling up inside him: "Thank you."

“And…” Liu Yifei blushed, “Director Zhang, can I… can I hug you? Just once.”

Zhang Yu paused for a moment, then opened his arms. Liu Yifei gently hugged him, a very brief embrace, like a bird flitting across a branch. He could smell the faint scent of jasmine in her hair and feel the delicate softness of the girl's body.

"Goodnight, Director Zhang." She let go of her hand and left with her mother.

Zhang Yu stood at the door, looking at the amulet in his hand. The star-shaped birthmark under his left eye heated up even more—Liu Yifei's starlight mark, pure as mountain spring water, untouched by the corruption of this industry.

The pace is accelerating. We've already reached level twenty-one.

But the emptiness in his heart grew ever larger.

---

March 12, 2000, 3 PM, Hengdian International Trade Hotel Banquet Hall

The banquet hall was packed with people. Reporters from fifteen media outlets, their cameras and microphones aimed at the stage; the main actors of the film crew sat in the front row—Chen Chen, Zeng Li, Lu Yuan, Bai Bing, Yang Mi, Gao Yuanyuan, and Zhao Liying; the investors' representatives sat on the other side, with President Wang prominently featured, a meaningful smile on his face.