Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

These words were spoken exactly as Zhang Yu had instructed. But Li Xiaoran spoke so sincerely that no one doubted she was lying.

Zhang Yu spoke up at the opportune moment: "As the person in charge of 'Hua Yu,' I hereby officially announce that the company will fully support Ms. Li Xiaoran's decision. All her performance contracts will remain unaffected, and she will continue to receive her salary during her maternity leave. In addition, 'Hua Yu' will establish a 'Single Mother Artist Fund' to specifically help courageous women like Li Xiaoran."

Applause broke out, initially sparse, then growing increasingly enthusiastic. At that moment, public opinion began to shift.

The questions that followed were much milder. The reporters stopped pursuing the scandal and instead focused on the overseas distribution of "Awakening of Insects," Li Xiaoran's future plans, and the development of "Hua Yu."

Forty minutes later, the press conference concluded successfully. Zhang Yu and Li Xiaoran left the venue under the escort of security personnel and got into their car.

As soon as she got on the bus, Li Xiaoran slumped into her seat, feeling like her body was falling apart.

"You acted well." Zhang Yu patted her shoulder. "Especially the part where you shed tears, it was very moving."

"I really want to cry." Li Xiaoran smiled bitterly. "Zhang Yu, won't we be punished for lying like this?"

"Retribution?" Zhang Yu laughed. "In this circle, who doesn't lie? Wang Zhongjun bribed a nurse to expose your privacy, isn't he afraid of retribution? Reporters fabricate stories to grab attention, aren't they afraid of retribution? Xiao Ran, to survive here, you can't have too strong a sense of morality."

Li Xiaoran looked at him. The man's eyes were cold, as cold as a frozen lake in winter. She suddenly felt a sense of estrangement—was this still the Director Zhang who gently taught her acting on set? Or the passionate lover in bed?

"Take me home." She closed her eyes. "I'm tired."

“Okay.” Zhang Yu told the driver the address, then held her hand. “Take good rest during this time. I will adjust the promotion of ‘Awakening of Insects’ and try my best not to tire you out.”

His hands were warm, but Li Xiaoran couldn't feel the temperature.

The car pulled up to the apartment building, and Zhang Yu escorted her upstairs. Once inside, Li Xiaoran suddenly turned and hugged him.

"Zhang Yu, tell me the truth—if it weren't for this child, would you have abandoned me long ago?"

Zhang Yu's body stiffened for a moment, then he laughed: "How could that be? You are one of my most important actresses."

"Just an actress?" Li Xiaoran looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

Zhang Yu cupped her face and kissed her deeply. The kiss was domineering yet lingering, carrying an undeniable possessiveness. Li Xiaoran's body went limp; all her unease and doubts were swept away by the kiss.

“Not just an actress.” Zhang Yu released her, his forehead touching hers. “You are the mother of my child, the person I want to protect for the rest of my life.”

He was only half telling the truth, but Li Xiaoran chose to believe him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in closer. The movement carried a sense of despair, like dancing on the edge of a cliff, knowing she would fall, yet unable to stop.

Zhang Yu lifted her up in his arms, his movements much gentler than before. Because of her pregnancy, Li Xiaoran's body was more vulnerable, and even simple movements required careful attention.

"Be gentle..." she whispered in his arms, "The doctor said..."

“I know,” Zhang Yu’s voice was hoarse. “I’m not stupid.”

But intimacy at such times is more torturous than usual. Li Xiaoran's body is like a fully drawn bow, taut and ready to snap at any moment.

“Zhang Yu…I…”

"Bear with it." Zhang Yu kissed her neck, his hand gently stroking her hair. "For the sake of the child, bear with it."

Finally, he tried to relax her in another way. For a moment, Li Xiaoran bit his shoulder, leaving deep teeth marks. Tears mixed with sweat, soaking the pillow.

After things quieted down, the two lay there embracing. Zhang Yu's fingers traced circles on her smooth back.

“Xiao Ran,” he said softly, “I will give you a proper status after the child is born.”

Li Xiaoran froze: "What do you mean?"

“It means…” Zhang Yu turned to look at her, “I will divorce my wife and marry you.”

Li Xiaoran's heart pounded: "What about Chen Chen?"

“I will make it up to her,” Zhang Yu said. “I will give her money, resources, and everything she wants. But she can’t have my child, while you can.”

These words were cruel, but Li Xiaoran sensed their sincerity. She hugged Zhang Yu and buried her face in his chest.

"Zhang Yu, I don't want a title, I just want you by my side."

"Silly girl." Zhang Yu kissed her hair. "How can my woman not have a title?"

The setting sun streamed in through the window, bathing the room in gold. Li Xiaoran leaned against the man's chest, feeling as if she were dreaming—a dream so beautiful it seemed unreal.

Unbeknownst to her, the mole under Zhang Yu's left eye was slightly warming as he spoke these words.

Li Xiaoran's mark was completely fulfilled at this moment. This stubborn woman was finally completely captivated and unable to extricate herself.

……

7 PM, Hengdian “Hua Yu” training camp.

Chen Chen had just flown back from Shanghai. She had recorded an interview program today and saw the news about the press conference on the plane. As soon as she turned on her phone, dozens of missed calls and text messages flooded in, all about Zhang Yu and Li Xiaoran.

She sat in the training camp's café, a cup of coffee that had gone cold in front of her. Outside the window, trainees finished their day's training and walked back to their dormitories in twos and threes. Their cheerful laughter drifted in, a stark contrast to her current mood.

Wang Ou pushed open the door and sat down opposite her.

"Chenchen, you're back?" Wang Ou asked cautiously.

"Yes." Chen Chen looked up, his eyes swollen, clearly from crying. "I watched the press conference live."

Wang Ou sighed: "Director Zhang's move was just a public relations strategy, don't take it to heart."

"Does a public relations strategy require announcing the wedding date?" Chen Chen smiled wryly. "He has never discussed the wedding in March next year with me. And... Li Xiaoran is really pregnant, eight weeks along."

Wang fell silent. She didn't know what to say. As the artist director, she knew that Zhang Yu and Li Xiaoran's relationship was unusual; as a woman, she understood Chen Chen's pain.

“Sister Ou, tell the truth.” Chen Chen looked at her, “Zhang Yu and Li Xiaoran, haven’t they already…”

“Chenchen,” Wang Ou interrupted her, “some things are better left unknown than known.”

These words were tantamount to an admission. Chen Chen's tears fell again: "Why? What's wrong with me? I waited for him for eight years, accompanying him from obscurity to success, why did he treat me like this?"

“Men are all like that.” Wang Ou handed her a tissue. “They’re always looking for something better. Especially a man like Director Zhang, he’s so dazzling and charming, there are so many women around him.”

"So he accepts everyone who comes his way?" Chen Chen's voice trembled. "Li Xiaoran, Shu Chang, Jing Tian... all the girls in the training camp look at him strangely. He knows this, yet he doesn't avoid suspicion and instead 'focuses on cultivating' them one by one. What exactly is he trying to do?"