Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

Tang Yan trembled with anger: "And what about you? Back then, for an advertising endorsement, you got me drunk and sent me to President Wang's room. Why weren't you kind to me then?"

Zhao Ming's expression changed: "That...that was a misunderstanding. President Wang just wanted to get to know you, he meant no harm..."

"No malicious intent?" Tang Yan sneered. "Then why did his men prepare cameras? Why did you drug my drink?"

She never told anyone about these things, not even Zhang Yu. It was the darkest night of her life. If she hadn't desperately maintained her last shred of consciousness and escaped through the back door under the pretext of going to the toilet, the consequences would have been unimaginable. And the next day, Zhao Ming even blamed her for being "insensible" and ruining his "great opportunity."

“Let bygones be bygones.” Zhao Ming put on a tender expression. “Yan Yan, I’ve never forgotten you. I’m doing quite well now, I have my own company. If you’re willing, I can help you terminate your contract, and we can start over…”

"Enough!" Tang Yan interrupted him. "Zhao Ming, let me tell you, I'm doing very well now. I have the opportunity to play roles I like, I have directors who respect me, and I'm doing something truly meaningful. Please don't come looking for me again."

She walked past Zhao Ming and headed straight for the building entrance. But Zhao Ming called out from behind, "You'll regret this, Tang Yan! Zhang Yu can't protect you for long!"

Tang Yan didn't turn around. In the elevator, she leaned against the mirror, feeling utterly exhausted. Zhao Ming's appearance made her realize that the past wasn't truly over; the hurt was only temporarily buried, and could resurface at any moment.

The phone rang at that moment; it was Zhang Yu.

"Tang Yan, we're going to Shanghai tomorrow morning at seven o'clock." Zhang Yu's voice came through the receiver. "There are a few scenes in 'Awakening of Insects' that need to be filmed on location in Shanghai. I'll take you there in advance to get a feel for the environment. Also, there's a lecture by an expert on Republican-era architecture, which will be helpful for understanding the character."

"Okay, Director Zhang." Tang Yan tried her best to make her voice sound normal.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone: "Are you alright?"

Tang Yan was surprised by Zhang Yu's keen observation: "No...it's nothing."

“If anything happens, you can tell me.” Zhang Yu’s tone was unusually gentle. “Remember, you are not alone in facing this.”

These words almost brought tears to Tang Yan's eyes again. She took a deep breath: "Thank you, Director Zhang, I'm really fine. I'll be there on time at seven o'clock tomorrow morning."

After hanging up the phone, Tang Yan looked at her reflection in the elevator mirror, her eyes slightly red, and clenched her fists.

She will not be defeated. For her mother, for Zhang Yu's trust, and even more so for that dream of shining brightly on the stage.

The next morning, when Tang Yan appeared at the entrance of the residential compound with a small suitcase, Zhang Yu's car was already waiting there. To her surprise, Zhou Xun was also in the car.

"Sister Xun?" Tang Yan was somewhat surprised.

"Just asking for a ride," Zhou Xun chuckled. "I have an event in Shanghai, so we can go together. What, you're not happy about it?"

"Of course you're welcome!" Tang Yan quickly replied.

On the way to Shanghai, Zhou Xun and Tang Yan chatted for a long time. They talked about everything from acting techniques to anecdotes in the industry, from life ideals to real-life challenges. Tang Yan discovered that this award-winning actress was actually very easygoing in private, with absolutely no diva airs.

"Sister Xun, did you encounter anything similar when you first started out?" Tang Yan asked, mustering her courage. "Like... being rumored to be involved in scandals, being maliciously slandered, and the like."

Zhou Xun looked out the window at the scenery rushing by, and after a long while replied, "It's much more than you can imagine. Once, I was discussing a script with a director until late at night, and we were photographed by paparazzi. The next day, it made the headlines saying that we were living together. The director's wife almost filed for divorce after seeing the news."

"Then what will you do?"

“I didn’t explain anything.” Zhou Xun turned back. “Because explaining was useless. Later, the director’s wife came to visit the set and saw that we were really just working, and the rumors slowly subsided. But in this process, I learned one thing—in this industry, your private life will always be scrutinized under a magnifying glass. So either completely protect your privacy or face it frankly.”

She paused, then looked at Tang Yan: "Director Zhang is a good director and an upright person. But precisely because of this, your interactions are more easily misinterpreted. You should be prepared for that."

Tang Yan nodded: "I understand."

Zhang Yu, who had been driving in silence, suddenly spoke up: "Tang Yan, you must remember that actors ultimately speak through their work. When your performance is strong enough, people will forget the scandals and only remember the characters."

As the car entered downtown Shanghai, Tang Yan was stunned by the sight before her. The Bund's collection of international buildings gleamed in the sunlight, as if time had flowed back to the 1930s. She suddenly understood why Zhang Yu had brought her here—standing before these buildings, the atmosphere of the Republic of China era was palpable.

In the afternoon, they attended a lecture by an expert on Republican-era architecture. The old gentleman had a full head of white hair but was in excellent spirits and knew Shanghai's old buildings like the back of his hand.

"The Paramount Ballroom wasn't just a dance hall back then; it was the social center of Shanghai," the old gentleman said in Mandarin with a Shanghai accent. "Politicians, businessmen, intellectuals, gangsters—all sorts of people converged there. A singer who could establish herself at the Paramount Ballroom was no ordinary person. She had to be shrewd, perceptive, and know what to say to whom and what to do in what situation."

Tang Yan took careful notes. These details were exactly what she needed to create Lin Wan—the character's living environment determined her behavioral logic.

After the lecture, Zhang Yu took Tang Yan to several well-preserved old buildings to experience them firsthand. In an apartment building built in the 1930s, they entered a unit that had been preserved in its original state.

“Imagine Lin Wan living here,” Zhang Yu said. “During the day, she sings and socializes at the Paramount Ballroom; at night, she returns to this small room, takes off all her pretenses, and faces her true self.”

Tang Yan stood in front of the old-fashioned lattice window, looking at the street shaded by sycamore trees outside. In a daze, she seemed to see a woman in a cheongsam sitting in front of a dressing table, removing her makeup in front of the mirror, her eyes tired but determined.

At that moment, the character Lin Wan truly came to life in her heart.

……

The morning at Shanghai Film Park was shrouded in a thin mist. The opening ceremony for the film "Awakening of Insects" was held in front of a restored Paramount building, with a red carpet laid out and a camera set up on an incense table, where tradition and modernity converged.

Tang Yan stood in the third row of the actors, her palms slightly sweaty. She wore a simple white shirt and jeans, a stark contrast to the well-dressed actors around her. Zhou Xun stood in front of her, wearing a dark green cheongsam, exuding a dignified yet sharp aura; Chen Kun, on the other hand, wore a gray suit, reminiscent of a gentleman from the Republican era.