Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

Zeng Li wiped away her tears and nodded shyly, "I'm sorry, Director Zhang, I lost my composure..."

“It’s alright,” Zhang Yu said. “Now, I want you to do an exercise. Stand up.”

Zeng Li stood up. Zhang Yu also stood up and walked up to her.

“Now, I am you,” Zhang Yu said. “You are the audience. You have to say Zhou Manli’s lines to me, but not in Zhou Manli’s tone, but in Zeng Li’s tone. Use your true emotions and express your true feelings.”

Zeng Li was stunned: "This..."

“Give it a try.” Zhang Yu looked at her. “Let’s start with that sentence, ‘If you want to cry, just cry. Nobody will see us here.’”

Zeng Li looked at Zhang Yu, took a deep breath, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke: "If you want to cry, just cry... No one will see you here..."

“No.” Zhang Yu shook his head. “You’re not comforting others, you’re comforting yourself. Try again.”

Zeng Li tried again, this time changing the lines to her own words: "Just cry if you want to... no one cares anyway..."

Her tears fell again. This time, she wasn't acting as Zhou Manli; she was talking about herself.

"Continue," Zhang Yu said. "Next sentence."

“When I was young… I cried like this too…” Zeng Li’s voice choked up, “But what’s the use of crying? Those who are meant to leave will still leave, and those who are meant to part will still part…”

She became more and more emotional as she spoke, pouring out all the grievances and loneliness she had endured over the years. Zhang Yu simply listened quietly, occasionally guiding her to delve deeper into the topic.

Half an hour later, Zeng Li finally finished speaking. She was so tired that she was almost collapsing, but the feeling of tightness in her chest disappeared, replaced by a sense of relief after venting.

"How are you feeling?" Zhang Yu asked.

“I feel much better…” Zeng Li wiped away her tears. “It’s like I’ve finally emptied out all the pent-up garbage in my heart.”

“That’s right.” Zhang Yu smiled. “Actors need to know how to store emotions, and also how to process them. Right now, are you still carrying Zhou Manli’s repression?”

Zeng Li sensed it for a moment, then shook her head: "It's gone. I am Zeng Li now, just Zeng Li."

"Okay." Zhang Yu patted her shoulder. "That's it for tonight's special training. Go back and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow is another new day."

Zeng Li looked at him and suddenly said, "Director Zhang, thank you. Not only thank you for helping me get out of character, but also thank you... for being willing to listen to what I have to say."

"You're welcome," Zhang Yu smiled. "It's my job."

Zeng Li walked to the door, then turned back to look at him again. Zhang Yu stood in front of the French windows, his back to her, his shadow stretched long in the lamplight. At that moment, an impulse welled up inside her—she wanted to go over and hug him from behind.

But she restrained herself. She wasn't a young girl anymore; she knew some boundaries shouldn't be crossed.

"Goodnight, Director Zhang," she said.

"Good night."

After Zeng Li left, Zhang Yu stood by the window, looking at the night outside. The mole under his left eye felt slightly warm.

Zeng Li's mark has taken another step closer. This mature woman's emotions are like aged wine, requiring slow and careful appreciation.

My phone rang. It was a message from Wang Jinghua: "The matter of Shu Chang's parents has been resolved. The Industry and Commerce Bureau investigated and found no counterfeit goods. It was a malicious report. The person who reported it has admitted to taking money from Wang Zhongjun."

Zhang Yu replied: "Very good. Sue Wang Zhongjun for instigating defamation. This time I'll make him suffer."

Just as I put down my phone, another message came in. It was from Jing Tian: "Director Zhang, I can't sleep... Can I come to see you?"

Zhang Yu looked at the message and a smile crept onto his lips. He replied, "Come over."

Ten minutes later, Jing Tian knocked on the door and came in. She had changed into a pink silk nightgown with a white knitted cardigan over it, her hair was loose, and her face still had a flush from her bath.

"Director Zhang..." she greeted him softly, a little shyly.

"Sit down." Zhang Yu gestured to the sofa. "Why can't you sleep?"

"I just... can't sleep." Jing Tian sat down beside him, fiddling with her fingers. "My mind is a mess, thinking about what happened on set today, thinking about what happened last night..."

Zhang Yu looked at her, then suddenly reached out and lifted her chin: "Look at me."

Jing Tian looked up at him, her eyes flickering.

“You’re scared,” Zhang Yu said. “Scared that what happened last night will affect our relationship, scared that I will look down on you because of it, scared that this relationship will not have a future.”

Jing Tian's tears fell: "How did you know..."

“Because I am Zhang Yu.” He wiped away her tears. “I know everything. So I want to tell you—last night was consensual, and I never belittle any choice made willingly. As for the outcome…”

He paused for a moment: "In this industry, the most unreliable thing is a promise. But I can tell you that as long as you are in 'Huayu,' I will protect you. As long as you are willing to follow me, I will not let you down."

Jing Tian looked at him, her tears flowing even more fiercely: "Director Zhang, I... I really like you. Not out of gratitude, not out of admiration, but out of genuine affection. But I know you have Sister Chen Chen, Sister Shu Chang, and other actresses... I don't know what I mean to you..."

“You’re mine,” Zhang Yu said directly. “That’s enough. I don’t like comparisons or rankings. Everyone is an independent individual, with their own place in my heart. Your place is Jing Tian’s place, and no one else can take your place.”

He put his arm around her shoulder: "Don't overthink it, just follow your instincts. This industry is too complicated, overthinking will only make you tired."

Jing Tian leaned on his shoulder and nodded gently: "I'll listen to you."

The two sat quietly for a while. Zhang Yu could feel Jing Tian's body gradually relaxing and her breathing becoming even.

"Tired?" he asked.

“A little…” Jing Tian said softly.

"Go back to sleep then." Zhang Yu patted her back. "You have filming tomorrow, so make sure you're well-rested."

Jing Tian shook her head: "I don't want to go back... Can I sleep here? Just on the sofa..."

Looking at her pleading eyes, Zhang Yu softened: "Okay, you sleep on the sofa, I'll sleep in the lounge."

"You're sleeping here too?" Jing Tian's eyes lit up.

"Okay." Zhang Yu got up and took out a blanket and pillow from the cabinet. "You sleep on the sofa, I'll sleep on the floor."

"That won't do!" Jing Tian quickly said, "You sleep on the sofa, I'll sleep on the floor..."

"Stop arguing." Zhang Yu spread the blanket on the ground. "I'm a man, you're a woman. How can a woman sleep on the floor?"

Watching his busy figure, Jing Tian felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She suddenly hugged him from behind, pressing her face against his back: "Director Zhang, you're so good to me..."

Zhang Yu turned around and looked at her: "It's only right that I treat you well. Go to sleep."

That night, Jing Tian fell asleep on the sofa, while Zhang Yu slept on a makeshift bed on the floor. Although they were more than a meter apart, there was a strange sense of intimacy between them.

Late at night, Zhang Yu woke up and saw Jing Tian curled up on the sofa, the blanket halfway down. He got up and gently covered her with the blanket, his fingers inadvertently brushing against her cheek.

Jing Tian mumbled something in her sleep, turned over, and continued sleeping.