Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

Tang Yan was indeed nervous when she first entered the studio. Facing the professional microphone and the monitoring equipment outside the soundproof glass, her voice was somewhat strained.

"Relax, imagine you are telling Lin Wan a story," Zhang Yu's voice came through the walkie-talkie. He was here in person to monitor the shed today.

Tang Yan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she spoke again, her voice was much more relaxed:

Time flies, weaving the past; who looks back in the dim light...?

After the first recording, Lao Zhao gave a thumbs up: "The emotion is spot on, but you need to pay attention to a few pitches."

For the next three hours, they polished the song again and again. Zhang Yu had extremely high standards; even a slight change in breathiness or the handling of a final note required repeated adjustments. But Tang Yan didn't become impatient—she gradually understood Zhang Yu's dedication: he genuinely wanted to make this song and this movie a success.

During a break, Zhang Yu handed her a glass of warm water: "Are you tired?"

"A little bit, but it was very fulfilling," Tang Yan said honestly. "I never knew singing and acting were so different."

“It’s all expression, just different ways.” Zhang Yu sat down next to her. “Your behavior today reminded me of someone.”

"Who?"

“Liu Yifei.” Zhang Yu uttered a name that shocked Tang Yan. “When she first debuted, she also had this unpolished yet vibrant quality.”

Liu Yifei is a legend in the Chinese entertainment industry. She debuted at the age of eighteen and reached her peak immediately, winning an international Best Actress award at twenty. Although her output is not high now, every work she does is a masterpiece. She is recognized in the industry as an "actress's actress," a figure that countless younger generations look up to.

"You know Ms. Liu Yifei?" Tang Yan couldn't hide her surprise.

“We’ve worked together.” Zhang Yu’s answer was casual, but Tang Yan could sense that the story behind it was not simple. “She’s a very special actress with an almost obsessive pursuit of art. Sometimes I think, if there were more Liu Yifeis in the Chinese film industry, would our films be different?”

He paused for a moment: "But she also paid a price. In order to maintain the purity of her work, she turned down many commercial opportunities and offended a lot of people. In this industry, sticking to principles often means loneliness."

Tang Yan seemed to be deep in thought. She recalled Zhou Xun saying something similar: Knowing what you want is more important than what you get.

"Director Zhang, do you think I can reach that level?"

Zhang Yu looked at her earnestly: "Standards aren't for comparison, Tang Yan. Everyone has their own path. Liu Yifei has her path, and you have yours. What matters is whether you're walking your own path, not in someone else's shadow."

These words enlightened Tang Yan. Yes, why compare herself to others? She only needed to be the best version of herself.

The final recording session began. This time, Tang Yan completely let go. She no longer considered technique, no longer worried about pitch, but simply sang with the most sincere emotion:

"Perhaps I'll forget the light in my eyes right now. But at least I bravely lived as myself..."

Outside the soundproof glass, Zhang Yu closed his eyes and listened. At that moment, he seemed to see two overlapping figures—one was Tang Yan in the recording studio, and the other was Liu Yifei from the depths of his memory. They possessed the same radiance, the radiance of true actors.

After the recording ended, Lao Zhao clapped excitedly: "Fantastic! This take can be used exactly in the movie!"

Zhang Yu walked into the recording area and handed Tang Yan a tissue—she had cried while singing, but she hadn't realized it herself.

"Thank you." Tang Yan took the tissue, feeling a little embarrassed.

“I should be thanking you,” Zhang Yu said. “You gave this song a soul.”

It was already late when they left the recording studio. Zhang Yu suggested they have dinner together, and Tang Yan agreed.

The restaurant was a secluded, quiet private eatery. After ordering, Zhang Yu suddenly said, "Next month at the Golden Deer Film Festival, 'Awakening of Insects' will be the opening film. Would you like to be my date?"

The question came so suddenly that Tang Yan was stunned.

“Don’t misunderstand, it’s for work,” Zhang Yu added. “As a newcomer to film, you need this kind of exposure. And there will be many industry professionals at the film festival, which will be helpful for your future development.”

Tang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but a strange sense of loss lingered in her heart. "Okay, I'm willing."

“It’s a deal then.” Zhang Yu smiled. “You’ll meet many ‘legendary’ figures, including Liu Yifei.”

……

The Golden Deer Film Festival is the highest-level event in the Chinese film industry, held annually in Xiamen in November. As the opening film, the cast and crew of "Awakening of Insects" were naturally the focus of attention on the red carpet.

This was Tang Yan's first time attending such a grand occasion, and she was so nervous that she barely slept the night before. Li Wei specially invited a top styling team from Beijing to create a custom red carpet look for her.

"It can't be too flashy, after all, you're a newcomer; but it also can't be too bland, it needs to be memorable." The stylist said while helping her try on clothes, "In the end, we chose this light gold dress, which is simple and elegant and matches your temperament in the movie."

Tang Yan in the mirror was wearing a strapless long dress, her hair styled in a retro updo, and her makeup was exquisite but not heavy. She almost didn't recognize herself.

“Beautiful.” Zhang Yu’s voice came from the doorway. He was wearing a black suit today, which made him look even more dashing. “Are you ready? The red carpet starts at 5:30.”

On the way to the convention center, Zhang Yu handed her a small box: "This is for you. You have to return it after the red carpet event."

Upon opening the box, one finds a pair of diamond earrings. The design is simple, but the quality is excellent, and they sparkle brilliantly under the car's interior lights.

"This is too expensive..." Tang Yan hesitated.

“It was borrowed, not given as a gift.” Zhang Yu rarely joked. “I borrowed it from the brand. They readily agreed when they heard that the second female lead in ‘Awakening of Insects’ wanted to wear it. It’s also part of the publicity.”

Tang Yan then put them on. The earrings weren't extravagant, but they perfectly enhanced the overall sophistication of her look.

On the red carpet, flashbulbs rained down like a galaxy. When the cast and crew of "Awakening of Insects" walked the red carpet, the cheers reached a fever pitch. Zhou Xun and Chen Kun walked in front, with Tang Yan following behind, arm in arm with Zhang Yu.

This was the first time she had faced so many cameras, and she was so nervous that her palms were sweating.

"Smile, look at the camera, and walk slowly," Zhang Yu instructed in a low voice. "No need to pose deliberately, just be natural."

His voice had a peculiar calming power. Tang Yan gradually relaxed, and was even able to smile and wave naturally when a camera was pointed at her.

During the red carpet interviews, the host naturally focused on Tang Yan: "Ms. Tang Yan, how does it feel to attend the Golden Deer Film Festival for the first time?"

"I'm very excited and honored," Tang Yan replied gracefully. "Being able to stand here as a member of the 'Awakening of Insects' crew is something I never imagined. Thank you, Director Zhang Yu, and thank you to every senior member of the crew."