Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

Nine o'clock in the evening, at the entrance of the training camp.

When Chen Chen got out of the taxi, Zhang Yu was already waiting for her at the door. She was wearing simple jeans and a white T-shirt, her hair was tied in a ponytail, and her face showed signs of fatigue from the long flight.

"Are you tired?" Zhang Yu took her suitcase.

"It's alright." Chen Chen looked at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Where's Yifei?"

“She’s in her dorm, already asleep.” Zhang Yu put his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go, let’s go to my place first.”

The two returned to Zhang Yu's residence—a small villa next to the training camp, rented for him by the company. It was a quiet and private place.

As soon as he entered the door, Chen Chen collapsed onto the sofa: "I'm exhausted. I filmed all day and then had to rush to catch a flight..."

Zhang Yu poured her a glass of water, sat down beside her, and massaged her shoulders: "Isn't the promotion for 'The Longest Day in Chang'an' supposed to start next month? Why are you back so early?"

"I miss you." Chen Chen leaned on his shoulder. "And Wang Zhongjun's side keeps making moves, I'm worried about you."

“What do I have to worry about?” Zhang Yu laughed. “His little tricks can’t hurt me.”

“It won’t hurt you, but it will hurt the people around you.” Chen Chen looked up at him. “Shu Chang’s parents, Jing Tian’s background, and now it’s Zeng Li’s turn—I heard that Wang Zhongjun dug up Zeng Li’s past relationships and is preparing to expose that she interfered in someone else’s marriage.”

Zhang Yu's eyes turned cold: "Is the information reliable?"

“Reliable.” Chen Chen nodded. “A journalist friend of mine revealed that Wang Zhongjun has bribed Zeng Li’s ex-boyfriend to testify that Zeng Li was with him even though she knew he was married.”

"Damn it," Zhang Yu cursed. "I know about Zeng Li's affair. She was cheated on. That man lied to her, saying he was single, and she only found out he was married after dating him for six months. She broke up with him then and his wife even beat her up in the street."

“I know.” Chen Chen held his hand. “But the audience doesn’t know. Wang Zhongjun’s move was vicious. Even if things are cleared up in the end, Zeng Li’s reputation will be ruined.”

Zhang Yu was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I'll handle this. You just got back, don't worry about these things, just get some rest."

Chen Chen looked at him and suddenly reached out to stroke his cheek: "Zhang Yu, sometimes I feel like you're so tired. You have to film movies, manage the company, deal with Wang Zhongjun, and take care of so many actresses... Aren't you tired?"

"I'm tired." Zhang Yu took her hand and kissed it lightly. "But this is the path I chose, and I will finish it no matter how tired I am."

Chen Chen's eyes reddened: "Then what about me? What am I to you? Am I a stop on your journey, or the end?"

“You are my home.” Zhang Yu looked into her eyes and said earnestly, “No matter how far I go, I will always come home in the end.”

Tears streamed down Chen Chen's face. She hugged Zhang Yu and buried her face in his chest: "Zhang Yu, I love you. So please, don't let me lose you."

"You won't lose me," Zhang Yu said softly, holding her close. "Never."

That night, the two slept in each other's arms. Chen Chen slept soundly in Zhang Yu's embrace, as if trying to make up for the sleep he had missed these past few days. Zhang Yu, however, couldn't sleep. He remembered what Chen Chen had said—"You seem to be collecting something."

Yes, he's collecting. Collecting 108 marks, collecting the complete obsession of 108 female celebrities.

But there's no turning back on this path.

The next morning, in the training camp's small auditorium.

It was Liu Yifei's first time participating in a group training session, and she seemed a little nervous. She stood in the last row, watching the posture instructor on the stage, trying her best to follow along with the movements.

"Lower your waist, yes, that's it." The posture coach walked over to her and helped her adjust her posture. "Yifei, you have a great physique and good flexibility, but you lack strength. From now on, you'll need to practice core strength for an extra half hour every morning."

“Okay, teacher.” Liu Yifei nodded obediently.

During the break, Meng Ziyi came over and said, "Yifei, you danced so well! You were like a fairy!"

Liu Yifei smiled shyly: "I've been practicing dance since I was little, so I have some basic skills."

"No wonder!" Meng Ziyi said enviously. "I'm in a bad situation. I studied folk dance, and I'm completely hopeless at modern dance."

“I can teach you,” Liu Yifei said enthusiastically.

"Really? That's great!"

The two girls quickly became friends. Shu Chang watched from the side, feeling a little emotional—Liu Yifei had a special kind of approachability that made people like her unconsciously.

After the morning training session ended, Zhang Yu came to the training camp and called Liu Yifei to his office.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"It's great, the teachers are all very nice, and the classmates are very nice too," Liu Yifei said. "It's just a little tiring."

“It’s normal to be tired.” Zhang Yu took out a timetable from the drawer. “This is your schedule for this week. Physical education and vocal music in the morning, performance and diction in the afternoon, and academic classes in the evening. You have a day off on the weekend, but you have to finish your homework.”

Liu Yifei took the timetable and stuck out her tongue: "So full..."

“If you want to be an actor, this is a must,” Zhang Yu said earnestly. “Yifei, you have talent, but talent needs to be honed. The training camp is the place to hone your skills. No pain, no gain.”

"I understand." Liu Yifei nodded. "Director Zhang, I won't let you down."

Looking at her young face, Zhang Yu suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, your mother is arriving tomorrow. I'll arrange for someone to pick her up from the airport. Focus on your training and don't get distracted."

“Thank you, Director Zhang.” Liu Yifei hesitated for a moment. “Director Zhang, can I stay in the training camp a little longer? It’s not just for the role in ‘Awakening of Insects’; I want to learn systematically.”

Zhang Yu was somewhat surprised: "Does your mother agree?"

“I will convince her.” Liu Yifei’s eyes shone brightly. “I really want to be an actress, a good actress. The training camp can teach me the most professional things, and I don’t want to miss this opportunity.”

Zhang Yu looked at her for a long time, then smiled: "Okay, if your mother agrees, the training camp welcomes you anytime."

"Thank you, Director Zhang!" Liu Yifei said happily.

As she left the office, her steps were as light as a deer's. Zhang Yu watched her retreating figure, the mole under his left eye feeling slightly warm.

This girl was more determined than he had imagined.

2 PM, on the set of "Awakening of Insects".

Today's shoot is Zeng Li's pivotal scene—Zhou Manli publicly exposes her husband's brother's shameful deeds at a family gathering, causing a huge uproar. This scene involves a lot of emotional fluctuations, from restraint to explosion, requiring extremely strong self-control.

Zeng Li had already finished her makeup, wearing a deep purple cheongsam embroidered with gold thread, her hair neatly combed, and her makeup exquisite, making her look like a porcelain doll. But her eyes were cold, as cold as ice.

"Are you nervous?" Zhang Yu asked as he walked up to her.

"A little," Zeng Li said honestly. "This scene is too difficult, and I'm afraid I won't be able to act it well."