Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

“Okay.” Zhang Yu nodded. “But you need to coordinate with the lighting company and not breach the contract.”

"Don't worry, my contract expires next month, and I didn't renew it." Liu Yan smiled. "Actually, I've wanted to leave for a long time, but I just hadn't found the right direction. Now I have."

She took a piece of paper out of her bag: "This is my job application. Please take a look."

It was a very detailed career plan, outlining what Liu Yan wanted to do at the studio over the next five years, what she was capable of doing, and what her goals were. It was clear she had put a lot of thought into it.

After reading it, Zhang Yu looked up and said, "Liu Yan, welcome to the team."

Liu Yan smiled happily, a smile as bright as the sunshine. She extended her hand: "Director Zhang, please guide me in the future."

Zhang Yu held her hand, the star-shaped birthmark under his left eye warming slightly. At this moment, Liu Yan's star-like mark shone even brighter—not just with admiration and worship, but with a sense of belonging born of shared ideals.

---

An emergency meeting was held on set at 3 PM.

After Zhang Yu and Liu Yan parted ways, he had just returned to the hotel when he received an urgent call from Li Xiaoming.

"Director Zhang, something's happened!" Li Xiaoming's voice was urgent. "Wang Zhongjun's side has made a move!"

When Zhang Yu arrived at the film set, Li Xiaoming was already waiting in the temporary office, his face ashen. Several documents were spread out on the table, along with today's "Entertainment Morning News".

"Take a look at this." Li Xiaoming pushed the newspaper over.

The front-page headline was eye-catching: "New Generation Director Zhang Yu Faces Financial Crisis; New Film 'Scholarly Family' May Be Difficult to Release on Schedule." The article was skillfully written—it didn't directly say that Zhang Yu had financial problems, but instead quoted an "insider" as saying that the post-production funding for "Scholarly Family" had dried up, the special effects company had stopped working, and the release date might be postponed indefinitely.

"Nonsense!" Zhang Yu slammed the newspaper on the table. "Post-production hasn't even started yet, so how could there be a broken funding chain?"

“But the audience doesn’t know that!” Li Xiaoming was anxiously pacing around. “If this report comes out, those already agreed-upon screenings might fall through! Also, Wang Zhongjun has said that anyone who dares to schedule screenings for ‘The Scholarly Family’ is going against Huayi Brothers.”

This is a blatant ban.

Zhang Yu calmed down and picked up the newspaper to read it again. The article was very professionally written, clearly the work of a veteran; every sentence left room for interpretation, yet every sentence was incisive.

“There’s something even worse.” Li Xiaoming handed over another document. “This is a joint letter from several investors, demanding that the investment in ‘Scholarly Family’ be liquidated in advance, saying they are worried that the project will be abandoned.”

Zhang Yu took the document and glanced at it. The letter was written in a very formal manner, but the core message was the same—either return the money or they would take legal action.

"Was it spearheaded by President Wang?" Zhang Yu asked.

"Who else could it be?" Li Xiaoming smiled bitterly. "Director Zhang, you've stirred up a hornet's nest by rejecting Huayi. Wang Zhongjun is someone who values ​​his reputation above all else. If you disrespect him like this, he'll definitely retaliate."

Zhang Yu was silent for a few minutes, then smiled.

"What are you laughing at?" Li Xiaoming asked, bewildered. "The situation is extremely urgent!"

“I laughed at Wang Zhongjun for being too hasty,” Zhang Yu said. “The more he acts like this, the more it shows that he’s afraid—afraid that I’ll actually succeed, afraid that the studio will actually be successful. So he wants to strangle me in the very beginning.”

"Now what?"

"Hold a press conference." Zhang Yu stood up. "The time is set for 10:00 AM tomorrow at the Hengdian International Trade Hotel. Invite all media outlets; I want to give a direct response."

"What are you going to respond to? Say the report is fake? Nobody will believe that!"

“I’m not saying the report is false,” Zhang Yu shook his head. “I want to talk about something else—the studio’s first batch of project plans.”

Li Xiaoming was stunned: "What project plan? Where did we get a new project?"

“We have it now.” Zhang Yu took out a notebook from his bag and quickly wrote something. “The post-production of ‘The Scholarly Family’ does need funding, but we can bring in new investors. Moreover, the studio will launch two new projects at the same time—a movie and a TV series.”

"Are you crazy?" Li Xiaoming's eyes widened. "You can't even handle one project, and you're launching three at the same time?"

“I’m not crazy, I’m breaking the deadlock.” Zhang Yu said calmly, “Wang Zhongjun wants to use funding issues to hold me back, so I’ll prove to him that I don’t lack money or projects. As long as the work is good, there are plenty of people willing to invest.”

As he spoke, he had already written out a simple project plan:

1. *The Scholarly Family*: A Republican-era film focusing on women, directed by Zhang Yu, starring Chen Chen, Lu Yuan, Zeng Li, Yang Mi, and others. Expected release in October.

2. *The Longest Day in Chang'an* (tentative title): A historical suspense drama, planned as a 24-episode series. It tells the story of a series of cases that occur in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, within a single day.

3. "We All Have to Be Well": A modern urban romance film that focuses on the living conditions of urban women.

Li Xiaoming stared at the plan, dumbfounded: "Where did these projects come from?"

“It’s in my head.” Zhang Yu closed his notebook. “President Li, trust me. Each of these three projects has market potential. As long as we succeed, the studio will be able to establish itself.”

"But the funds..."

“I’ll take care of the funding,” Zhang Yu said. “You just need to help me organize tomorrow’s press conference.”

Li Xiaoming looked at Zhang Yu for a long time. Finally, he sighed: "Zhang Yu, you've really changed. The you of the past, although talented, wasn't this... willing to take risks."

“Because I had nothing to lose before.” Zhang Yu looked out the window at the busy crew on set. “It’s different now. I have a studio, partners, and a group of people who believe in me. I can’t afford to lose.”

As he spoke, the star-shaped birthmark under his left eye felt slightly warm. He could feel the star-like marks resonating—they were waiting for him to lead them out of their predicament.

---

At six o'clock in the evening, in Chen Chen's room

That evening, Zhang Yu knocked on Chen Chen's door.

When Chen Chen opened the door, she was applying a face mask, her face covered in a thick layer of white mud, only her eyes and mouth were visible. Seeing Zhang Yu, she paused, "Director Zhang? Is something wrong?"

"Can we go inside and talk?" Zhang Yu asked.

Chen Chen stepped aside to let him in. The room was very tidy, with the script on the desk, next to financial statements and a calculator—she was indeed seriously studying the studio's finances.

"I would like to invite you to attend tomorrow's press conference," Zhang Yu said bluntly.

Chen Chen peeled off the face mask and wiped his face with a towel: "In what capacity?"

"As a partner in the studio and also the female lead in 'A Family of Scholars,'" Zhang Yu said, "I need you to support me."

After wiping his face, Chen Chen sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Zhang Yu: "Do you know why Wang Zhongjun is targeting you?"

"Because I rejected him."

“More than that.” Chen Chen shook his head. “Zhang Yu, you’re challenging a rule—in this industry, newcomers are expected to be obedient and compliant. You’re disobeying and leading a group of people to start your own business. You’re slapping all the big shots in the face. If Wang Zhongjun doesn’t deal with you, how will he manage the others in the future?”