Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

A wave of guilt washed over Zhang Yu. For the past month, he had been busy filming, managing the training camp, and dealing with Wang Zhongjun, and had indeed neglected Chen Chen.

"You've worked hard," he said softly. "Try to take on fewer outside projects in the future and film more of our own."

“That won’t do.” Chen Chen looked up at him. “’Hua Yu’ is just starting out and needs to gain recognition. I’m the company’s top female star, so of course I have to go out and build a reputation. Once the company is stable, I’ll come back and focus on filming your movie.”

She was always so sensible, so sensible it broke your heart. Zhang Yu cupped her face and kissed her deeply. Their kiss was tender and passionate, carrying a month's worth of longing and regret.

After a long while, the two finally separated. Chen Chen's cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were watery: "The soup... the soup is going to burn..."

"If it burns, stew it again." Zhang Yu kissed her again, this time even more urgently. His hand slid inside her clothes, feeling her smooth skin. Chen Chen's body trembled slightly, but she did not resist.

The two made their way to the living room and collapsed onto the sofa. Clothes were scattered all over the floor, and their rapid breathing was especially clear in the quiet night.

"Zhang Yu..." Chen Chen whispered in his ear, "I miss you..."

"I miss you too." Zhang Yu kissed her delicate collarbone, leaving red marks on her fair skin.

For the past month or so, he's been surrounded by Li Xiaoran, Wang Ou, and so many other actresses. But only with Chen Chen can he truly relax and be himself. She is his fiancée, the person he promised to spend his life with.

Just as their emotions were running high, Zhang Yu's phone suddenly rang. It was a text message from Li Xiaoran: "Director Zhang, I've arrived. Where are you?"

Zhang Yu's body stiffened. Chen Chen noticed and asked softly, "Who is it?"

"It's about the film crew." Zhang Yu put his phone aside. "Ignore it."

He continued to hold her, but his mind was in turmoil. Li Xiaoran was still waiting for him, while he was entangled with Chen Chen. This sense of guilt was like a thorn piercing his heart.

"Zhang Yu, is something wrong?" Chen Chen asked sensitively.

"No," Zhang Yu shook his head, "I'm just a little tired."

Chen Chen looked at him, her eyes probing: "Have you been very busy this past month?"

"Hmm." Zhang Yu sat up and lit a cigarette. "Filming for 'Awakening of Insects' is almost finished, and there's a lot going on at the training camp. Wang Zhongjun is still causing trouble..."

He rambled on about work, trying to hide his inner unease. Chen Chen listened quietly, but her eyes remained fixed on him, as if trying to see through his disguise.

“Zhang Yu,” she suddenly interrupted him, “promise me one thing.”

"what's up?"

"No matter what happens, don't lie to me," Chen Chen said earnestly. "I can accept that you're busy, and I can accept that there are other women around you, but I can't accept that you lie to me. As long as you tell the truth, I can understand anything."

These words struck Zhang Yu like a hammer blow. Looking into Chen Chen's clear eyes, he suddenly felt incredibly despicable. He was collecting 108 marks, he was entangled with so many actresses, yet he still expected Chen Chen to understand and tolerate him.

“Chen Chen,” he held her hand, “if one day I do something to betray you, will you forgive me?”

Chen Chen remained silent for a long time before saying, "That depends on the situation. If you fall in love with someone else, I will let go; if you're just playing around, I will wait for you to come back."

Her answer was so rational and mature that it only made Zhang Yu feel more guilty. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly: "I will not fall in love with anyone else. You are my only fiancée."

These words were sincere. No matter how many marks he collected, Chen Chen held a special place in his heart. She was his home, his final haven.

But Chen Chen's eyes reddened as she lay in his arms. She could sense Zhang Yu's hesitation and struggle, and she could tell he was hiding something from her. But she chose not to ask, chose to believe. Because sometimes, loving someone requires playing dumb.

The soup eventually turned soggy. But neither of them seemed to care; they sat embracing on the sofa, looking at the moon outside the window.

“Zhang Yu,” Chen Chen said softly, “let’s get married after we finish filming ‘Awakening of Insects.’ I don’t want to wait any longer.”

Zhang Yu's body stiffened again. Marriage meant commitment, responsibility, and that he had to give up his mission of collecting marks—or at least, slow down.

“Chen Chen, now is not the time…” he said with difficulty.

“Then when will it be time?” Chen Chen sat up and looked at him. “Wait for ‘Hua Yu’ to go public? Wait for you to defeat Wang Zhongjun? Wait for you to cultivate ten Best Actress winners? Zhang Yu, there’s no time in life when you’re completely ready. I’ve waited for you for eight years, and I don’t want to wait any longer.”

Tears streamed down her face: "Don't you... want to marry me?"

"No!" Zhang Yu quickly hugged her. "I want to marry you, I dream about it all the time. It's just..."

"Just what?"

Zhang Yu was speechless. How could he explain? That he had a mission he absolutely had to complete? That he needed to collect the virginity records of 108 female celebrities? That there would be terrible consequences if he failed?

He couldn't say it. He could only hold Chen Chen and repeat, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

Chen Chen cried even harder. She wasn't stupid; she could sense Zhang Yu's concealment and struggle. But she loved him, loved him enough to ignore all of this, to compromise herself for him.

“I’ll give you a year.” She wiped away her tears, her voice hoarse. “After a year, whether you’re ready or not, we’ll get married. If you’re not, I’ll leave.”

This was an ultimatum. Looking into her resolute eyes, Zhang Yu knew he had no other choice.

"Okay." He nodded. "We'll get married a year from now."

Chen Chen smiled, but her smile was tinged with bitterness. She rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Zhang Yu, I love you. So please, don't make me wait too long."

That night, the two slept in each other's arms, but neither could fall asleep. Zhang Yu thought about the one-year agreement and the unfinished mission; Chen Chen thought about Zhang Yu's hesitation and the uncertain future.

The moon outside the window gradually sank in the west; dawn was approaching.

……

The next morning at eight o'clock, in the training camp's small auditorium.

Zhang Yu's acting class started on time. Many people came today—not only the first and second batches of students, but also several newcomers, including Gao Yuanyuan. Liu Xiaoli also sat in the last row, notebook in hand, ready to take notes throughout.

"Today we're talking about 'emotional memory'." Zhang Yu stood on the podium, his white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms. "What is emotional memory? It's about drawing upon your past real experiences and emotions to serve your current performance."

He wrote a few words on the blackboard: joy, sadness, anger, fear.

“Everyone has these emotions, but knowing how to accurately evoke them is a fundamental skill for actors.” Zhang Yu looked around the room. “Let me give you an example—Shu Chang, come up here.”

Shu Chang was taken aback for a moment, but still went up on stage.