Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

Li Xiaoran's heart pounded like a drum. His words were so direct and honest that they left her at a loss. She was thirty years old, had experienced relationships, and knew what it felt like to be moved. She truly felt moved by Zhang Yu—from the first time she saw him, from when he earnestly explained the play to her, from when he cared about her mother.

But she also had concerns. Zhang Yu had Chen Chen, and so many actresses surrounded him. She didn't want to be one of them.

"Director Zhang, I..." She bit her lip, "I don't know. I do have feelings for you, but I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid of becoming just one of your many women," Li Xiaoran said, mustering her courage. "I'm afraid this relationship won't work out, and I'm afraid I'll be the one who gets hurt in the end."

Zhang Yu reached out and gently lifted her chin: "Xiao Ran, look at me."

Li Xiaoran looked at him.

“I won’t promise you anything, because promises are the most unreliable thing in this industry,” Zhang Yu said seriously. “But I can tell you—in my heart, everyone is unique. You are not a substitute for anyone, nor are you anyone’s alter ego. You are Li Xiaoran, and you have an independent place in my heart.”

His thumb gently brushed against her lower lip: "As for the outcome... life doesn't have so many outcomes. What matters is the process, the feeling in the moment. Are you willing to follow your feelings this once? Even if you get hurt in the end?"

Li Xiaoran looked at him, at this dangerous yet alluring man. She knew he was seducing her, knew this path might lead to an abyss. But she couldn't control her heart—that urge to get closer to him, to be embraced by him, to sink into depravity with him.

Then she made a decision.

She reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, then kissed him.

The kiss was light and tentative, like a dragonfly skimming the water. But Zhang Yu didn't let her back down; he held the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Their lips and tongues intertwined, their breaths mingled, and desire ignited in the air.

After a long while, Zhang Yu finally released her. Li Xiaoran was panting, her lips were swollen and red, and her eyes were glazed.

"Have you thought it through?" Zhang Yu asked.

"I've thought it through." Li Xiaoran nodded. "I'm willing. I'll follow my feelings."

That night, the lights in Zhang Yu's office stayed on very late.

Li Xiaoran's mark was truly fulfilled that night. This aloof and reserved woman, after her complete release, possessed astonishing passion and tenderness. Her sacrifice, like the warm winter sun, was gentle and enduring.

Number of Starshine Marks: 48/108.

At three in the morning, Li Xiaoran fell asleep in Zhang Yu's arms. She slept soundly, her face still streaked with tears, but the corners of her mouth were turned up. Zhang Yu looked at her peaceful sleeping face and gently stroked her cheek with his fingers.

This thirty-year-old woman possesses a mature body and rich emotions. Her love, like aged wine, needs to be savored slowly, but once tasted, its aftertaste lingers.

Outside the window, Hengdian is shrouded in darkness. In the distance, the sound of roosters crowing drifts in—dawn is approaching.

Zhang Yu gently got up, covered Li Xiaoran with a blanket, and then walked to the window. The mole under his left eye felt slightly warm, but his heart was heavy.

Another milestone achieved, bringing him closer to his goal. But each harvest felt like a wound in his heart. These women were all sincere to him, yet he couldn't give them a complete commitment.

My phone lit up; it was a text from Chen Chen: "Arrived at the hotel. Missing you. Goodnight."

Zhang Yu replied: "Good night, sweet dreams."

He stared at his phone screen, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. Chen Chen was his fiancée, the person he had promised to spend his life with. But what he was doing now…

He shook his head, deciding to stop thinking about it. He had chosen this path, and he would see it through, even if he had to crawl.

At six o'clock in the morning, the whistle blew to signal the start of morning exercises at the training camp.

Meng Ziyi was the first to rush out of the dormitory, starting her run full of energy. Zhang Zilin and Zhang Hanyun followed behind her, the three girls chatting and laughing.

Liu Yifei also came out, with her mother Liu Xiaoli beside her, holding water and a towel. Liu Xiaoli finally agreed to let her daughter stay, but on the condition that she accompany her for morning exercises every day and supervise her daily routine.

"Yifei, slow down and watch your breathing," Liu Xiaoli reminded her.

"Okay, Mom!" Liu Yifei laughed and ran away.

Zhang Yu stood by the office window, gazing at the vibrant scene at the training camp. Each of these young women had a dream, each possessed potential. His mission was to help them realize their dreams, and in doing so, fulfill his own duty.

The birthmark under my left eye is persistently hot.

Liu Yifei's mark is rapidly taking root. This fifteen-year-old girl is as pure as a blank sheet of paper. Her sacrifice will be the most unique one.

But it's not the right time yet. She's too young and needs time to grow.

Wang Ou walked out of the office building, dressed in sportswear, ready to join her morning exercise. She saw Zhang Yu by the window and nodded to him. Zhang Yu nodded in return.

Wang Ou's influence is also steadily growing. This mature and intelligent woman will be a great partner and ally.

There are also Meng Ziyi, Zhang Zilin, Zhang Hanyun... and other promising girls in the training camp.

One hundred and eight marks, the road ahead is still long.

But every day, we are getting closer to our goal.

At 8:00 AM on the set of "Awakening of Insects".

Today's scene is a major one—Shen Qingqiu (played by Li Xiaoran) encounters her husband and lover at a coffee shop and confronts them. This scene involves a lot of emotional ups and downs, requiring the actress to have extremely strong control.

Li Xiaoran had already finished her makeup and changed into a dark green embroidered cheongsam. Her hair was styled into delicate waves, and her makeup was glamorous, but her eyes were cold. She sat by the monitor, closing her eyes to rest, her fingers unconsciously tapping her knees.

Zhang Yu walked over and handed her a glass of warm water: "Are you nervous?"

"A little." Li Xiaoran opened her eyes. "This scene is too important, I'm afraid I won't act well."

"You acted well." Zhang Yu patted her shoulder. "Remember how you felt last night, and release that suppressed anger. But be careful not to overdo it. Shen Qingqiu is a lady from a respectable family; no matter how angry you are, you must maintain your dignity."

“I understand,” Li Xiaoran nodded.

Filming begins. In the café, a gramophone plays soothing jazz music. Shen Qingqiu sits by the window, slowly stirring her coffee. Just then, her husband walks in arm-in-arm with a young woman, the two chatting and laughing, oblivious to her presence.

The camera zooms in and focuses on Li Xiaoran's face. Her expression shifts from calm to shock to anger, and finally back to calm—but it's the calm before the storm, her eyes as cold as ice.

She put down her coffee spoon, the porcelain clinking together with a crisp sound. Then she stood up and slowly walked over to the couple.

"What a coincidence." Her voice was soft, but carried an undeniable authority.

The husband froze, his face turning deathly pale: "Qingqiu, what are you doing here..."

"That's what I should be asking you." Shen Qingqiu's gaze swept over the young woman, a cold smile playing on his lips. "And who is this?"

The young woman panicked and tried to hide, but Shen Qingqiu's gaze kept her rooted to the spot.

"Let me introduce you," Shen Qingqiu said, looking at her husband. "After all, someone who can make time for you when your father is seriously ill must be very important."