Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

“A true dancer doesn’t need those things,” Zhang Yu interrupted her, his gaze still fixed on Liu Shishi. “Can you do it?”

Liu Shishi stood up, took off her cardigan, revealing a form-fitting dress underneath. She walked to the open space in the center of the office, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them—at that moment, her demeanor completely changed.

She is no longer that quiet, teenage girl, but a professional dancer.

Without music, she counted the beats herself. First came a few basic ballet movements—plié, tendu, relevé. The movements were textbook perfect, but more than just perfect; each movement carried an elegant tension. Next came an improvisation of modern dance, her body flowing like water, the extension of her arms, the twisting of her waist, the touching of her toes—all precise and expressive.

What's most touching is her expression—when she dances, her eyes shine with a focus and passion that cannot be faked.

After a three-minute impromptu dance, Liu Shishi was slightly out of breath, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead. She looked at Zhang Yu, awaiting his evaluation.

Zhang Yu was silent for a few seconds, then clapped: "Very good. Your basic skills are very solid, and more importantly, you have expressiveness. This is very rare among thirteen-year-olds."

"Thank you, Director Zhang." Liu Shishi bowed, then sat back down in her chair, resuming her quiet demeanor.

“But I have to tell you, the training camp is tough.” Zhang Yu looked into her eyes. “Every day from six in the morning to nine at night, besides dance, you also have to learn acting, vocals, and lines. Your classmates are all older than you, so it will be very difficult for you to keep up. And—if you sign a contract, you have to stay here for at least three years and can’t go home often. Have you thought it through?”

Liu Shishi looked at her mother. Her mother's eyes were red, but she still nodded.

“I’ve thought it through.” Liu Shishi turned back to look at Zhang Yu. “I’m not afraid of hardship or fatigue. I want to be an actress, like Sister Shu Chang and the others, standing on the stage and in front of the camera.”

Her voice was soft, but every word was firm. Zhang Yu looked at her; this aloof girl had an indomitable spirit deep down.

"There's another question," Zhang Yu said. "The training camp forbids trainees from dating, especially with teachers or directors. Can you do that?"

Liu Shishi paused for a moment, then blushed slightly: "Director Zhang, I'm too young, I haven't thought about dating."

"Just because you haven't thought about it now doesn't mean you won't in the future," Zhang Yu smiled. "But the fact that you answered like that shows you're very clear-headed. Okay, I'll admit you."

Liu Shishi's eyes lit up: "Really?"

“Really.” Zhang Yu took out a contract from the drawer. “But some clauses need to be adjusted. Because you are a minor, your parents will have to sign the contract on your behalf. Also, we will arrange for academic tutors during the training period so as not to interfere with your studies. Can you do that?”

"I can do it!" Liu Shishi nodded vigorously.

Ms. Liu took the contract, her hands trembling: "Director Zhang, thank you... thank you so much... Shi Shi has loved acting since she was little, but we had no connections, we never expected this..."

“You’re welcome.” Zhang Yu interrupted her. “It’s Shi Shi’s own talent. Ms. Liu, you have to understand that this path is difficult. Shi Shi is still young and may encounter many setbacks. You need to be mentally prepared.”

“I understand.” Mrs. Liu wiped away her tears. “As long as Shishi is happy, we parents will support her.”

After signing the contract, Wang Ou took Liu Shishi and her mother to complete the formalities. Before leaving the office, Liu Shishi looked back at Zhang Yu, her eyes filled with gratitude, expectation, and a hint of barely perceptible dependence.

Zhang Yu nodded to her.

After closing the door, Zhang Yu leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. The mole under his left eye felt slightly warm.

Liu Shishi's mark is beginning to sprout. This aloof ballet girl, like a budding magnolia, needs careful nurturing to slowly blossom.

But he wasn't in a hurry. She was still very young; she had plenty of time.

My phone rang; it was Chen Chen calling.

"Hello?" Zhang Yu answered.

"Zhang Yu, where are you?" Chen Chen's voice was anxious. "Zheng Shuang's parents have come to the training camp and are demanding to take their daughter away. Wang Ou can't stop them!"

Zhang Yu frowned: "I'll be right there."

The atmosphere in the training camp's reception hall was tense.

A middle-aged couple stood in the center of the hall; the man's face was ashen, and the woman's eyes were red and swollen—they were Zheng Shuang's parents. Zheng Shuang stood opposite them, biting her lip, her face pale. Wang Ou stood between them, trying to comfort her.

"Mr. Zheng, Mrs. Zheng, let's talk this out..."

"What are you saying!" Mr. Zheng roared. "My daughter is only sixteen years old, and you tricked her into coming to this so-called training camp! All this free training is a lie! I'm taking her away today!"

Zheng Shuang raised her head, her voice trembling but firm: "Dad, I'm not leaving! I want to stay here!"

"Shut up!" Mr. Zheng pointed at her. "You stole money from home, ran away from home, and now you've learned to talk back? I'm going to beat you to death today!"

He raised his hand to strike, but Wang Ou stopped him: "Mr. Zheng, this is a training camp, you can't fight!"

"It's none of your business if I hit my own daughter!"

"That's none of my business." A calm voice came from the doorway.

Zhang Yu walked in. He was wearing a dark gray casual suit today, without a tie, and exuded an undeniable aura. The mole under his left eye was clearly visible under the light.

"Director Zhang!" Wang Ou breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Yu walked up to Zheng Shuang's parents and extended his hands: "Mr. Zheng, Mrs. Zheng, I am Zhang Yu, the person in charge of 'Hua Yu'. You can talk to me about anything. Don't make things difficult for the child."

Mr. Zheng sized him up but didn't shake hands: "You're Zhang Yu? The one who tricked my daughter into signing that contract?"

“It’s not a scam, it’s a legitimate contract.” Zhang Yu withdrew his hand, his expression unchanged. “Zheng Shuang came to the training camp voluntarily. She has read and signed the contract. If you have any questions, you can consult a lawyer.”

"She's only sixteen; her signature doesn't count!"

“Therefore, the contract needs to be signed by a guardian.” Zhang Yu looked at Zheng Shuang. “But Zheng Shuang is already sixteen years old and has partial civil capacity. Moreover, she is here to study, not to do anything illegal. Why don’t you give her a chance?”

Zheng's mother burst into tears: "Director Zhang, it's not that we don't give her a chance... it's just that this child is too willful! She's been rebellious since she was little, doing whatever she wants. She studied dance for eight years, and then just gave it up. Now she wants to study acting... We're just an ordinary family, how can we afford to support her tormenting herself like this!"

"The training camp is free," Zhang Yu said earnestly. "It includes all the food and lodging, plus a living allowance. Zheng Shuang can learn the most professional acting skills here and will have the opportunity to become a real actress in the future. Isn't that a good thing?"