Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

Upon reading this, Tang Yan's tears flowed uncontrollably. It wasn't acting; it was a genuine outpouring of emotion. The conference room fell silent; everyone was deeply moved by her emotional delivery.

Zhou Xun was the first to applaud: "Great, that's the spirit. Remember how you felt today."

Zhang Yu looked at Tang Yan, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew that this girl was growing up at an astonishing pace. But growth is often accompanied by pain, like the process of a pupa transforming into a butterfly.

When the reading session ended, Zhou Xun walked up to Zhang Yu and asked, "Where did you find this treasure?"

"Luck," Zhang Yu replied simply.

“It’s not just luck.” Zhou Xun gave him a deep look. “You’re very special to her. Not just the kind of special treatment a director has for an actor.”

Zhang Yu neither denied nor admitted it.

Zhou Xun smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm not a gossip. I'm just reminding you that in this industry, even the slightest thing can be blown out of proportion. If you really want to promote her, you have to be prepared to deal with all sorts of rumors."

“I know,” Zhang Yu said, “but the innocent will remain innocent.”

"The innocent will clear themselves?" Zhou Xun shook his head. "In this industry, innocence is the hardest thing to prove. You'd better watch yourself."

The day after the script reading session ended, the first wave of attacks against Tang Yan began.

An article titled "How Did Newcomer Tang Yan Get the Second Female Lead Role in 'Awakening of Insects'?" has been circulating on several entertainment forums. The article does not name names directly, but it implies that a certain newcomer actress obtained an important role through "special connections," and it also includes a blurry photo—in the photo, Tang Yan and Zhang Yu are talking at the entrance of a library, and due to the angle, the two appear to be standing very close.

"Director Zhang, something's happened." Assistant Xiao Chen rushed into Zhang Yu's office, holding a printed article in his hand.

Zhang Yu glanced at it, his expression calm: "Wang Zhongjun has made his move."

"Do you want clarification? We can issue a statement explaining that we were discussing the script that day..."

“No.” Zhang Yu raised his hand to stop him. “Clarifying now will only make things worse. The rule in the entertainment industry is that rumors stop with time and with ability.”

"But what about Tang Yan..."

“I will talk to her.”

After training that afternoon, Zhang Yu kept Tang Yan behind. He didn't beat around the bush and handed her the printed copy of the article directly.

Tang Yan's face gradually paled as she read the article. Her hands began to tremble, especially when she saw the offensive comments.

"Director Zhang, this isn't real...we just..."

“I know,” Zhang Yu said calmly, “but you have to understand that from the moment you took on this role, this is what you have to face. The entertainment industry is not just about applause and flowers; it's also full of open and hidden attacks.”

"What should I do?" Tang Yan's voice trembled with tears. "I can't let Mom see this..."

“You only need to do two things,” Zhang Yu said, holding up two fingers. “First, focus on your acting and use your talent to dispel these rumors. Second, learn to survive in front of the camera—not just the camera of your performance, but also the camera of the paparazzi.”

He paused, then continued, "Starting today, your training will include a new component: media relations. I will have a professional public relations coach teach you how to protect yourself while remaining genuine."

Tang Yan wiped away her tears and forced herself to calm down: "Director Zhang, why don't you clarify? This will also affect you."

“Because my response wasn’t to clarify, but to counterattack.” A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Yu’s eyes. “But a counterattack requires timing and evidence. Now, what we need to do is let things play out for a while.”

Tang Yan nodded, seemingly understanding. She suddenly realized that Zhang Yu had dragged her into more than just a film project; he had drawn her into a complex war. And she, unknowingly, had become a pawn on the battlefield—no, perhaps more than just a pawn.

"Director Zhang, I will be strong." She raised her head, her eyes regaining their firmness. "I will not let these things affect my performance."

“Okay.” Zhang Yu patted her shoulder. “Remember, in this industry, the strongest armor is your work. When your performance is dazzling enough, all the shadows will fade away.”

In the following days, Tang Yan was indeed affected. She would occasionally lose focus during training, her efficiency in memorizing lines decreased, and she even almost twisted her ankle during a dance practice once.

Zhang Yu observed this but didn't point it out directly. He knew this was a hurdle every newcomer had to overcome—learning to maintain professionalism under pressure.

The turning point came during Thursday's acting class. The professor asked Tang Yan to improvise a scene about being betrayed by the person she trusted most. There was no script, only this scenario.

Tang Yan stood in the center of the training room, closing her eyes. She remembered the vicious comments on the forum, the fact that the photos had been distorted, and the "caring" text messages from some so-called "friends"—ostensibly comforting, but actually probing.

When she opened her eyes, her entire aura changed. Her performance contained anger, sadness, and confusion, but at its deepest level was a cold, clear-headedness. She didn't cry out, she didn't hysterically, but rather, with an almost cruel calm, she portrayed a person's journey from trust to disillusionment.

After the performance, the training room fell silent. The old professor was the first to applaud, followed by the other trainees.

"Tang Yan, you've made a breakthrough," the old professor said. "Your performances before were technical, but today's performance is about life. You've finally infused the character with your genuine feelings."

Tang Yan was panting, her training clothes soaked with sweat. During the performance, she had indeed released all the pent-up emotions of the past few days. And strangely enough, after the release, the negative emotions that had been troubling her actually lessened.

After class, Zhang Yu stopped her and said, "Remember how you felt today. That's Lin Wan's state in the second half of the movie—after going through hardships, the pain has been internalized into strength."

“I think I understand now,” Tang Yan said. “Acting is not a way to escape reality, but a way to understand reality and even change it.”

Zhang Yu smiled: "You've grown up faster than I imagined."

On Friday evening, when Tang Yan returned to her rented apartment complex after training, she found a black Mercedes parked downstairs. The window rolled down, revealing a face she both knew and loathed—her ex-boyfriend, Zhao Ming.

"Yan Yan, let's talk." Zhao Ming got out of the car, dressed in an expensive suit, his gold watch gleaming under the streetlights.

Tang Yan frowned: "We have nothing to talk about."

"Don't do that." Zhao Ming blocked her way. "I heard you took a role in Zhang Yu's movie? Yan Yan, you're too naive. Who is Zhang Yu? Would he give you a role for free? He must have something in mind."

"Zhao Ming, please move aside," Tang Yan said coldly.

“I’m doing this for your own good,” Zhao Ming said in a low voice. “Do you know what’s going on in the industry right now? They’re saying you got to where you are by sleeping with people. Once that kind of reputation gets out, your life will be ruined.”