Chinese entertainment industry has been booming since 2008.

The news of Yang Mi and Zhang Yang meeting at a private club was somehow discovered by paparazzi with a keen sense of smell.

Although no actual photos were taken, the headline "Yang Mi meets with Zhang Yang, suspected of switching jobs to Starlight Pictures" was enough to ignite the internet.

Public opinion was in an uproar.

"Is Xiao Dongxie leaving Rongxinda? Is it true?"

"Yang Mi is trying to latch onto Zhang Jinyang's coattails!"

"Has Little East Evil managed to seduce Zhang Yang? Sister Bingbing, you need to be careful."

"Sister Bingbing, Yang Mi has already revealed her hand. How are you going to deal with it?"

Rongxinda's phone lines were immediately overwhelmed with calls, but the official response remained the same: "This is a private matter for the artist, we have no comment."

Faced with various strange comments online, Zeng Jia demonstrated her professionalism as a top agent. She neither denied nor admitted them, but instead guided fans and the media to focus their attention on Yang Mi's "ambition" and "pursuit of breakthroughs".

.....

Reporters from all walks of life wanted to interview Zhang Yang, but unfortunately they couldn't find him at all. Well, Zhang Yang is in Hong Kong now, so it would be a miracle if they could find him.

Zhang Yang's trip to Hong Kong was naturally purposeful; his goal was to meet Liu Yifei, whom he had always admired, and discuss collaborating on the film "You Are the Apple of My Eye".

...

In Hong Kong's Repulse Bay villa district, a low-key black Bentley drove onto Repulse Bay Road and stopped outside a villa.

Zhang Yang got out of the car alone, without any entourage. He was dressed in a simple white linen shirt and khaki trousers, a stark contrast to his usual impeccably tailored image in front of the media. He looked more like an old friend visiting. He looked up at the villa hidden in the greenery, his gaze calm.

Just as he was about to ring the doorbell, a girl in sportswear with no makeup jogged back along the path beside him, leading a golden retriever, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

The two met unexpectedly at the entrance of the villa.

Zhang Yang was slightly taken aback. The Liu Yifei in front of him was completely different from the ethereal and aloof image on the screen. She was full of vibrant life.

She possesses a clarity and tranquility that stands out from the current superficial atmosphere of the entertainment industry, like a piece of unpolished jade, warm and gentle yet carrying a natural sense of aloofness. Especially her eyes, clear and bottomless, yet like a deep pool, unfathomable, yet irresistibly inviting exploration.

Zhang Yang had seen all sorts of beauties in the entertainment industry—bright, charming, and dashing—but a woman like Liu Yifei, who possessed both girlish purity and classical charm, as if she had stepped out of a traditional Chinese ink painting, still made his heart skip a beat. His mind went blank for a moment, leaving only one thought: she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Liu Yifei also stopped and looked at the tall man at the door with some surprise. She recognized Zhang Yang. He looked younger and sharper than he did on TV, even though his expression was gentle at the moment.

"Zhang Yang?"

There was a hint of uncertainty in Liu Yifei's voice, to which Zhang Yang smiled and nodded.

Liu Yifei loosened the leash, and the golden retriever obediently sat down beside her. She smoothed the strands of hair that were damp with sweat on her cheeks and gave a slightly apologetic smile: "Sorry, I didn't know you were so punctual. I just finished walking the dog."

It was an ordinary sentence, yet it instantly broke down all possible formalities and barriers.

"It's okay, I just arrived a few minutes early."

Zhang Yang smiled and glanced at the docile golden retriever: "A very cute dog."

...

The aroma of tea wafted through the living room.

After taking their seats and exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhang Yang got straight to the point and handed over the project proposal for "You Are the Apple of My Eye".

"This is a story about youth, about missed opportunities, and about growing up."

Zhang Yang's gaze fell on Liu Yifei, and he said sincerely and earnestly: "The female lead, Shen Jiayi, is the white moonlight in the hearts of all boys in that era. She has good grades, a clean temperament, and seems somewhat distant, but she is pure and resilient at heart. She is also an individual with her own independent soul and subtle struggles in the context of that era."

Zhang Yang noticed that when he was interpreting the character of Shen Jiayi, Liu Yifei's fingers holding the teacup tightened slightly.

Liu Xiaoli carefully reviewed the project proposal, focusing on the production team, investment scale, and distribution plan, clearly valuing the project's core strengths.

Liu Yifei looked down at the description of Shen Jiayi in the script, her long eyelashes drooping, revealing little emotion.

"Sissi!"

Zhang Yang suddenly shifted the topic to her, his tone becoming direct: "I heard you studied martial arts before and rarely used a stunt double for action scenes."

Liu Xiaoli frowned slightly, seemingly finding the question somewhat abrupt.

Liu Yifei nodded: "Yes, I think the character will be more complete if I do it myself."

"For Shen Jiayi, are you willing to temporarily forget those martial arts skills, and even forget the halo of 'Liu Yifei'?"

Zhang Yang looked at her, his eyes sharp and focused: "The role of Shen Jiayi doesn't require you to 'play' a fairy. I need you to become an ordinary, real girl who worries about exams, has a crush on a senior, and runs in the rain while holding back tears. This may mean that you have to break many of the things that have helped you succeed in the past."

Zhang Yang's words caused Liu Xiaoli's expression to change slightly.

Just as Liu Xiaoli was about to say something, Liu Yifei suddenly raised her head, the glimmer in her eyes shining even brighter. She met Zhang Yang's gaze, her voice still gentle, yet carrying a strength: "If Shen Jiayi in the script is worth it, I'm willing."

In an instant, Zhang Yang knew that he had found his Shen Jiayi, not just in terms of appearance and temperament, but also in terms of her determination to dedicate herself to the role.

The subsequent conversation went exceptionally smoothly. Zhang Yang didn't dwell too much on the business terms, but instead talked to Liu Yifei about her experience of becoming famous at a young age and the loneliness she felt under the gaze of countless people.

Liu Yifei gradually became more talkative. She discovered that Zhang Yang's understanding of her character went far beyond a producer's control over a project; it was more like a creator's exploration of another soul.

As they left the villa, the setting sun had already turned the sea a golden-red hue. Liu Yifei saw Zhang Yang to the door.

The sea breeze ruffled her long hair, and she suddenly spoke: "Zhang Yang, thank you for seeing...another me."

Zhang Yang turned around and looked at her figure standing at the intersection of twilight and light, which perfectly matched all the imaginings of "Shen Jiayi" in his memory.

"No!"

He smiled and corrected, "It's thank you for letting me see this."

As the car drove away from Repulse Bay, Zhang Yang dialed his assistant Sun Yu's number: "Liu Yifei has been confirmed as the female lead for 'You Are the Apple of My Eye.' Get the contract ready."

Sun Yu on the other end of the phone was somewhat surprised by Zhang Yang's speed and certainty, but since the boss had already spoken, he was just an employee and should just do as instructed.