Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

Zhang Yu had a headache. How did these actresses get such good information?

“Zeng Li, your scenes haven’t been cut, they’re being added.” Zhang Yu explained patiently. “As for Yang Mi, I just gave her a major scene. Your roles are different, your acting styles are different, there’s no need to compare.”

"Unnecessary?" Zeng Li laughed, but the smile was a little cold. "Zhang Yu, in this industry, everyone is comparing themselves. Comparing screen time, billing order, and how much attention the director pays to them. You say it's unnecessary because you're the director, you're in a high position. But we actors survive in these comparisons."

She was being very realistic. Zhang Yu looked at her; this woman, who had been in the entertainment industry for many years, understood the cruelty of this circle better than anyone else.

“Zeng Li, I will keep my promise to you.” Zhang Yu said seriously, “Your scenes will not be cut, and your role will be outstanding. Moreover… I have already spoken to Director Chen Kai, and you are basically confirmed as the second female lead in his new drama.”

Zeng Li's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Really." Zhang Yu nodded. "So, don't get distracted by these little things. Focusing on performing your current role well is the most important thing."

Zeng Li stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly sighed: "Zhang Yu, you really are... both lovable and hateful. You're clearly using us, yet you always manage to give us what we want most."

“This is not exploitation, it’s cooperation,” Zhang Yu said. “Each takes what they need and achieves mutual success.”

“What a mutually beneficial arrangement.” Zeng Li smiled, this time with a more genuine smile. “Alright, I believe you. But Zhang Yu, let me remind you—Yang Mi is no simple woman. She’s too ambitious. Be careful not to get hurt by her.”

"I understand," Zhang Yu nodded. "Thank you."

After Zeng Li left, Zhang Yu leaned against a pillar in the pavilion, rubbing his temples. The birthmark under his left eye felt slightly warm; he could feel the brilliance of the other stars in the crew fluctuating—Yang Mi's ambition, Zeng Li's unease, Bai Bing's aloofness, and the expectations of the newcomers...

Each mark represents a responsibility, and also a...bond.

---

2 p.m.

The scene scheduled for this afternoon was a river-jumping scene, but due to Chen Chen's illness, it was changed to an indoor scene—a conversation between Lin Shuwan and her sister Lin Shuyao while Lin Shuwan is ill. Liu Yifei arrived in Hengdian yesterday afternoon and officially joined the crew today.

In the dressing room, Liu Yifei, dressed in a light pink embroidered jacket and skirt, her hair styled in two buns, sat obediently while the makeup artist applied her makeup. Seeing Zhang Yu enter, her eyes lit up: "Director Zhang!"

"Yifei's here." Zhang Yu walked over. "Have you read the script?"

"I looked at it!" Liu Yifei nodded. "I memorized my lines all night. Director Zhang, in this scene... Lin Shuyao knows that her sister is sick because of Gu Jiangnan, and she feels sorry for her sister, but she doesn't dare to say it, right?"

“Yes.” Zhang Yu was somewhat surprised. “You understood it very accurately.”

“Because I also have an older sister,” Liu Yifei said softly. “Although I am an only child, when I was in dance school, there was a senior who took special care of me. When she was sick, I felt this way—heartbroken, but not knowing how to help her.”

She spoke with great sincerity. Zhang Yu looked at her; this girl possessed a maturity in her understanding of emotions beyond her years.

“Good, keep that feeling,” Zhang Yu said. “Remember, you’re not acting, you *are* Lin Shuyao. You love your sister, you feel sorry for your sister, you hate the person who hurt her, but you don’t dare to say it.”

"Yes!" Liu Yifei nodded vigorously.

Filming begins. The hospital ward set is very simple: a wooden bed, a table, and a medicine pot. Chen Chen, playing Lin Shuwan, lies on the bed, pale-faced and with vacant eyes. Liu Yifei, playing Lin Shuyao, sits by the bedside holding a bowl of medicine.

"Sister, take your medicine." Liu Yifei scooped up a spoonful of medicine, blew on it, and held it to Chen Chen's lips.

Chen Chen mechanically opened her mouth and drank the medicine, but her eyes remained vacant. She portrayed that lifeless state of being ill so realistically—so realistically that Zhang Yu felt a pang in his heart.

"Sister..." Liu Yifei's voice trembled with tears, "Please don't do this... Shuyao is scared..."

Tears streamed down her face, each drop landing in the medicine bowl. Those tears weren't acted; they were real—she was deeply moved by Chen Chen's state of mind and genuinely felt sorry for her "sister."

Chen Chen's eyes finally lit up. She raised her hand and gently wiped away Liu Yifei's tears: "Shuyao, don't cry... I'm alright..."

"Sister is lying." Liu Yifei cried even harder. "You're so sick...it's all that Gu Jiangnan's fault...Sister, forget about him, okay? Shuyao will be with you, Shuyao will always be with you..."

The scene was filmed three times, and Liu Yifei cried genuinely in each take. Even after the final take, she was still immersed in the emotion, clinging to Chen Chen. Chen Chen also hugged her, gently patting her back.

"Cut!" Zhang Yu called out, his voice a little hoarse. "Very good... this take is done."

The scene was quiet, with several female staff members wiping away tears. Liu Yifei's performance was so moving; the deep sisterly bond she conveyed touched everyone.

After the shoot, Liu Yifei held Chen Chen's hand and said, "Sister Chen, you need to rest well... You're really sick, I can tell."

Chen Chen patted her head: "I'm fine. Yi Fei acted very well, really."

"It's all thanks to Sister Chenchen's excellent care," Liu Yifei said earnestly. "When I look into Sister Chenchen's eyes, I truly feel like you're my sister, that you're really sick, and that you're really making me sad..."

Chen Chen's eyes reddened, and she hugged Liu Yifei, saying, "Thank you."

Zhang Yu watched this scene from a short distance away. The star-shaped birthmark under his left eye felt slightly warm—Liu Yifei's star-like mark, pure as crystal, without any impurities.

---

Six o'clock in the evening.

That evening, Wang Zhongjun hosted a banquet at the best hotel in Hengdian, inviting Zhang Yu and the main cast and crew. Zhang Yu initially didn't want to go, but Li Xiaoming said it was a matter of courtesy and it wouldn't be right not to attend.

The banquet was held in a private room on the top floor of the hotel, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire Hengdian night view. When Zhang Yu arrived, most of the people were already there—Wang Zhongjun, Li Bing, Li Xiaoming, Zeng Li, Yang Mi, Lu Yuan, Bai Bing... and several senior executives from Huayi Brothers.

"Director Zhang is here!" Wang Zhongjun greeted him warmly. "Come, come, sit next to me."

After Zhang Yu sat down, he realized his position was rather awkward—Wang Zhongjun was to his left, Li Bing to his right, and Zeng Li and Yang Mi opposite him. Both actresses were dressed up meticulously for the day; Zeng Li wore a burgundy velvet gown, while Yang Mi wore a black off-the-shoulder dress, each vying for attention.

The banquet began, and toasts were exchanged. Wang Zhongjun was adept at creating a lively atmosphere, sharing a few amusing anecdotes from the industry that made everyone laugh. Li Bing, on the other hand, sat quietly, occasionally exchanging a few words with Zhang Yu about filmmaking, asking very professional questions.

“Director Zhang,” Li Bing said in a low voice, “I watched ‘Autumn Days’ and really liked the delicate handling of emotions. Especially the scene where the female lead is waiting for the train at the station, a long take, no dialogue, but all the emotions are in her eyes. It’s hard to imagine that was your first film.”