Rebirth: A big star falls in love with me

The flight from Berlin to Yanjing landed late at night. As Zhang Yu stepped out of the cabin, the sub-zero wind outside made him shiver. He tightened his coat and hurried towards the exit.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Li Xiaoran: "Have you landed yet? Guanli has a fever, and I really can't help it. Can you come over?"

Zhang Yu's heart clenched. He immediately replied, "Coming right away."

The driver was already waiting at the exit. After getting in the car, he gave Li Xiaoran's address, and the car drove into the streets of Yanjing late at night. Neon lights flickered outside the window, but his thoughts drifted back to that rainy night three years ago—Li Xiaoran was holding her newborn child, crying and saying, "I don't need you to take responsibility, but the child needs a father."

Zhang Guanli, his eldest son, is three years old, smart and adorable, but his health has always been poor due to premature birth. Zhang Yu visits him every month, trying his best to fulfill his role as a father. Li Xiaoran never makes any demands, raising the child alone while continuing her acting career.

The car stopped in front of an upscale apartment building. Zhang Yu hurried upstairs; the door was ajar, but he pushed it open and entered. In the living room, Li Xiaoran paced back and forth, holding her child, looking exhausted. Seeing Zhang Yu, her eyes reddened.

"I had a fever all day, and the medicine didn't bring it down." Her voice was hoarse. "I didn't dare go to the hospital, afraid of being photographed."

Zhang Yu took the child; the three-year-old's face was flushed, and he was breathing rapidly. He touched his forehead; it was alarmingly hot.

“We have to go to the hospital.” He made a quick decision. “I’ll drive, you carry the child, and we’ll go through the underground parking garage.”

Li Xiaoran hesitated for a moment, then nodded. The two wrapped the child in a blanket and left directly from the garage. Zhang Yu had chosen a private hospital, made prior arrangements, and used a special passage.

After examinations, tests, and IV drips... it was 3 a.m. before the child's fever finally subsided. Li Xiaoran leaned against the hospital bed, so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. Zhang Yu took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, then sat down in the chair opposite her.

"Thank you," Li Xiaoran said softly.

"Of course," Zhang Yu said, looking at her. "You should rest for a while too. I'll keep watch."

Li Xiaoran shook her head and suddenly asked, "How was the Berlin Film Festival? I saw in the news that Tang Yan won an award."

"It's alright," Zhang Yu replied succinctly.

“She’s a good girl,” Li Xiaoran said. “You…treat her well.”

Zhang Yu remained silent. He understood the meaning behind Li Xiaoran's words—she never fought or competed, quietly raising the child, only hoping that he would visit occasionally. This forbearance pained him and made him feel guilty.

“Xiao Ran…” he began.

"Stop talking," Li Xiaoran interrupted him. "I know what you're going to say. But I don't need promises or titles. Having a father like you is enough for my coming-of-age ceremony."

She paused, looking at her sleeping child: "You know, he keeps asking me lately why Daddy can't be with us every day. I don't know how to answer him."

Zhang Yu felt a sharp pain in his heart. He walked over and gently put his arm around Li Xiaoran's shoulder: "I'm sorry."

Li Xiaoran leaned against him, silently shedding tears. The only sounds in the ward were the ticking of the medical equipment and the gradually brightening sunlight outside the window.

……

On the third day after returning to China, Zhang Yu arranged to meet Chen Chen.

The two met at a coffee shop in Sanlitun. Chen Chen arrived first and was looking down at her script. She wore a simple white sweater, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, and her natural beauty was still captivating. Upon seeing Zhang Yu, she smiled slightly.

"Did you adjust to the time difference after returning from Berlin?"

"It's alright." Zhang Yu sat down. "How's the script coming along?"

Chen Chen pushed a stack of papers over: "The final draft of 'Them,' take a look. I've adjusted Tang Yan's role to better suit her current status as a Golden Globe winner."

Zhang Yu flipped through the script, his brow furrowing slightly: "Isn't the emotional arc of this lawyer character a bit too thin?"

“I did it on purpose,” Chen Chen said. “I wanted the audience to see that women don’t need a romantic storyline to support their characters. Her career, her growth, and her struggles are enough to make a character stand out.”

Zhang Yu looked up at her, a hint of appreciation in his eyes: "You're becoming more and more opinionated."

“I learned it from you.” Chen Chen smiled, a hint of nostalgia in his smile. “Back when we were together, you always said that we should express ourselves. I remember that.”

A subtle silence fell over them for a few seconds. Both of them recalled their past—dating, marriage, divorce, and going their separate ways. It was a rare treat that they could still sit together and discuss the script.

"How is Mingchen doing lately?" Zhang Yu asked about his other son.

“Great, you’re starting kindergarten now,” Chen Chen said. “A few days ago he asked when his dad was coming to see him. I told him his dad was busy, and he said even when he’s busy, he still needs to eat and sleep, so why can’t he come?”

Zhang Yu felt guilty: "I'll go see him this weekend."

“No need to do it on purpose,” Chen Chen said. “He’s used to it. Besides, you have your own life now, and I don’t want to disturb you.”

“Chen Chen…” Zhang Yu looked at her, “No matter what happened between us, the child is innocent. I will fulfill my responsibilities as a father.”

Chen Chen nodded, his eyes slightly red: "I know. That's why I never stop you."

The two drank their coffee in silence. The sunlight outside the window was perfect, but it couldn't penetrate their complicated thoughts.

"Oh, by the way," Chen Chen suddenly said, "Huang Ying is coming back to China next week and said she wants to see you. How's her project going?"

“We’re still in talks,” Zhang Yu said. “The conditions in Hollywood are very demanding, and it’s a difficult situation for her to be caught in the middle.”

"She's had a tough time too," Chen Chen sighed. "Someone who was so proud back then now has to bow down and beg for help."

Zhang Yu remained silent. Huang Ying, Chen Chen, Li Xiaoran... these women had all had stories with him, yet now they existed in his life in different ways. He didn't know whether this was fortunate or unfortunate.

……

On Friday afternoon, Zhang Yu was in a meeting at the company when he received a call from Jing Tian.

"Director Zhang, are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner." Jing Tian's voice was as warm as ever.

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment: "Is there something you need?"

"Can't I invite you to dinner if there's nothing wrong?" Jing Tian laughed. "Just kidding. I do have something I'd like to ask you about. It's about the new project, and I'd like to hear your opinion."

Zhang Yu thought about it and agreed.

Dinner was arranged at a private restaurant in the Guomao area. Jing Tian arrived before Zhang Yu, wearing a dark green dress and with exquisite makeup, looking like she had prepared carefully.

"Director Zhang, please have a seat." She poured tea attentively. "How was your trip to Berlin?"

"It's alright," Zhang Yu replied simply.

Jing Tian didn't care about his coldness and said to herself, "I heard Tang Yan won an award, congratulations. Everyone in the industry knows about you two, best wishes."

Zhang Yu looked at her: "You didn't just come here to offer your blessings, did you?"

Jing Tian smiled: "Director Zhang is still so direct. Okay, I'll get straight to the point. I'd like to ask you to be the producer of my new project."

She sent me the project information—a female-themed film with a substantial investment, and the cast was still being negotiated.