Rebirth 02, the Celestial Being Told Me to Stop Pretending

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When Lu Chen came out of the shower, there were three unread messages on his phone.

One of the posts was from Wang Yan: "Baidu has replied that the roadshow will start in March next year, and the company will go public in May."

One of the posts was from Albert Yeung: "Emperor Entertainment has taken the overseas distribution rights for 'The Legend of Sword and Fairy,' you set the price."

One message was sent by Liu Yifei, just now: "Are you asleep?"

He replied to Wang Yan first: "Understood. Prepare funds, at least two million US dollars."

He replied to Albert Yeung: "The price isn't urgent; we'll discuss it after the film is finished."

Then he opened Liu Yifei's chat window and replied with two words: "Not asleep."

Not long after, there was a knock on the door.

Lu Chen opened the door, and Liu Yifei stood in the doorway in her pajamas, her hair loose, holding a script in her hand.

"I can't sleep, help me go over the lines." She spoke a little hesitantly.

Lu Chen glanced at her.

Her expression was very serious, almost to the point of being deliberate.

Lu Chen didn't expose her little scheme, and stepped aside to let her in.

She sat on the edge of his bed, opened the script, and turned to one of the pages.

"I always felt that the conversation between Ling'er and Li Xiaoyao here didn't quite go smoothly."

Lu Chen sat opposite her, took the script and glanced at it.

It was a scene depicting a romantic relationship. Zhao Ling'er asked Li Xiaoyao, "Do you believe in love at first sight?"

Li Xiaoyao said, "I believe you. What about you?"

Zhao Ling'er said, "I don't believe it. I only believe in love that grows over time."

"What's wrong?" Lu Chen asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I don't think Ling'er would use the phrase 'love grows over time' here. She's a very pure person and wouldn't use such a rational term."

Lu Chen thought for a moment.

"You're right. Let's change it."

He picked up a pen from the table and crossed out "love that grew over time" in the script.

Next to it, I wrote three words: "I believe you."

Liu Yifei stared at those three words and remained silent for a while.

"That makes me look more like Ling'er," she said softly.

"Um."

"Lu Chen".

"Um?"

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Lu Chen raised his head and looked at her.

She sat on the edge of his bed, the light from the bedside lamp falling on her face and softening her features.

Her eyes were bright; it was unclear whether she was asking on behalf of Ling'er or on behalf of herself.

"I believe you," he said.

Why?

"Because I've seen it."

The room fell silent, with only the hum of the air conditioner and the faint music coming from the Qin Palace in the distance.

She lowered her head and looked at those three words on the script.

Then he hurriedly stood up.

"I...I'm leaving now."

She didn't even dare to look back at Lu Chen's expression at that moment.

"Take it easy, goodnight."

Watching Liu Yifei's hasty departure, Lu Chen shook his head and smiled.

He then closed the door, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at the three words "I believe you" that he had just written on the script.

He suddenly remembered his past life, when he was thirty-eight years old.

A person sits in an office in Lujiazui, with the night view of the Huangpu River outside the window.

He drank a lot of alcohol, turned on the TV, and saw an interview program playing on the screen. The guest was Liu Yifei.

She was talking about the roles she had played, and she mentioned Zhao Ling'er.

She said, "That's my favorite role. Because Ling'er is so pure; if she loves someone, it's for a lifetime." Lu Chen turned off the TV and finished the wine in his glass.

Back then, we could only watch from afar; even as top producers, we lacked the courage to try and open a breach.

Even later collaborations didn't result in much interaction.

But it's different now.

Now he's here.

From the moment they met, two lonely souls were drawn to and entangled with each other.

Lu Chen went from being a "bankrupt" student at the Beijing Film Academy to becoming a well-known young director in China.

Liu Yifei has become a rising star in China.

But nothing could compare to the sight of her fleeing in disarray that had just fallen into his eyes.

It just goes to show that "he said that no amount of beauty you have that others praise can compare to the first time he met you."

Lu Chen sat in his hotel room in Hengdian, holding the script in his hand, smelling the faint scent of laundry detergent in the air.

He put the script on the table, turned off the light, and lay down.

The sheets also had that scent, a faint one, like springtime.

Lu Chen closed his eyes.

A faint sound came from the next room, like someone walking around or laughing.

He couldn't tell if it was a real voice or his own imagination.

"Goodnight," he said to himself.

I don't know if I'm talking to myself or to the girl next door.

The next morning, when Lu Chen arrived at the film set, Liu Yifei was already getting her makeup done.

She sat in front of the dressing table with her eyes closed as the makeup artist drew her eyebrows.

He stood at the doorway but didn't go in.

"You're here?" She didn't open her eyes, but she knew it was him.

"They're here."

"Did you sleep well last night?"

"fine."

She opened her eyes and looked at him through the mirror in front of her.

"Don't you know that lying is unbelievable? Your dark circles are even worse than yesterday."

Lu Chen didn't reply.

The makeup artist stood by, suppressing a laugh, pretending not to hear anything.

The filming period for "Chinese Paladin" was three months, and Lu Chen traveled back and forth between Beijing and Hengdian.

One week was spent in Beijing handling company affairs and investments, and the other week was spent in Hengdian overseeing filming.

In mid-November, Lu Chen finished his company business in Beijing and prepared to go to Hengdian again.

Wang Yan placed a document on his desk.

"I've confirmed with the investment banks about Baidu. The IPO share is at least two million US dollars and at most five million."

"Then five million."

Wang Yan was taken aback. "Do you have five million US dollars?"

"Not now. But it will be available before May next year."

Are you sure?

"Sure."

Wang Yan didn't ask any more questions.

He found himself increasingly unable to say "no" in front of Lu Chen.

Lu Chen picked up his coat and prepared to go out.

"Where to?" Wang Yan asked.

Hengdian.

"Going again? Didn't you just get back?"

"The crew is rushing to meet the deadline, so I have to keep an eye on things."

"Are you going to keep an eye on the film crew or on the people?" Wang Yan's tone was slightly sarcastic.

Lu Chen stopped and looked back at him.

"You damn Wang Yan, you're getting bolder and bolder these days."

"I learned it from you."

Lu Chen ignored him and went out.

Wang Yan stood by the window and looked down. After a while, he saw Lu Chen come out of the office building parking lot in the Mercedes-Benz E320 he had just picked up.

"Saying one thing and meaning another."

Wang Yan smiled, shook his head, and turned back to work.

It was already evening when we arrived.

Instead of going to the hotel, he went to that small restaurant.

Every time he came to Hengdian, Liu Yifei would wait for him at that little restaurant.

The dishes were ordered: pickled fish, dry-fried green beans, and tomato and egg soup.

She would pour him a glass of water, but not nearly spill it like the first time.

Everything is just right.

When Lu Chen arrived, Liu Yifei was indeed there.

She was wearing casual clothes, and her hair was wet, as if she had just taken a shower.

On the table were pickled fish, stir-fried green beans, and tomato and egg soup.

"How did you know I was coming today?" He sat down and looked at her.

"What if I don't come today?"

"Then I'll eat it myself."

She poured him a glass of water.

Eight-tenths full.

Lu Chen picked up his water glass and took a sip.

"Lu Chen".

"Um."

"Could you please let me know in advance next time you come?"

Why?

"I can order one more dish."

She looked at him, a smile in her eyes.

There was a hint of seriousness in his eyes.

"Okay," he said. "I'll let you know in advance next time."

"Is it a deal?"

"It's settled."

As darkness fell outside the window, night descended once again on Hengdian.