lovenovelstory Chapter 1 Next Stop: Rebirth!
Chapter 1 Next Stop: Rebirth!
Six o'clock in the morning.
Xu Lang's head throbbed as if he had been knocked on by ten stagehands in turn.
He opened his eyes, his arm felt a little numb, and turned his head to look—
Bai Lu rested her head on his arm, snuggling in his arms like a cute little kitten, enjoying the soft touch.
She was breathing evenly, her hair falling loosely on her arms and the pillow, with a few strands playfully resting on her chest.
The blanket slipped down to her waist, revealing her smooth shoulders and—
Xu Lang suddenly turned his head and scanned his surroundings.
This hotel... seems familiar; it looks like it was on the morning of September 15, 2013.
Why do I remember it so clearly? Because it was the day they broke up.
But it's 2026 now!
My head hurts a little!
Time is messed up? My memories are a bit hazy!
It must be a dream!
I suddenly closed my eyes, then opened them again, and nothing had changed.
The two of them got drunk at a small bar last night, spouting nonsense like "we see each other less and less" and "may we each be well," before finally breaking down in tears and almost getting kicked out by the owner for causing trouble.
and then?
Memories are like being maliciously edited by an editor; forcing yourself to recall them only makes your head ache terribly.
"Well……"
The movement in his arms interrupted his thoughts.
Bai Lu frowned and slowly opened her eyes.
The two locked eyes, and the air froze for three seconds.
"Ah—" Bai Lu sat up abruptly, suddenly realizing she was completely naked, and hurriedly grabbed the blanket to wrap herself up:
"Xu Lang, you...we..."
"Don't panic, don't panic!" Xu Lang quickly sat up, realizing he was completely naked, and quickly pulled up a corner of the blanket:
"Last night, we drank too much, then we cried our eyes out, and almost got kicked out by the boss!"
Bai Lu's eyes gradually shifted from fear to confusion, and then slowly regained their clarity:
"...I remember now, we said we were breaking up and had a farewell dinner at a bar."
"Yes, let's break up." Xu Lang nodded, his brain racing.
If I'm not mistaken, he caught up with the trend of the times—rebirth!
From the day I was reborn in 2026 to the day we broke up.
Outside the window, there's a huge "Welcome to Hengdian Film City" sign, and on the bedside table is a Samsung phone that has already withdrawn from the Chinese market.
Turning to look at Bai Lu, she looked even younger, with chubby cheeks and clear, bright eyes.
Everything was telling him that he had truly been reborn.
"Xu Lang!" Bai Lu... no, it should be Bai Mengyan, she doesn't have a stage name yet, her bright eyes fixed on Xu Lang, tentatively asking:
"How are you?"
Xu Lang took a deep breath and turned around.
Morning light streamed through the gap in the curtains, falling directly on Bai Mengyan's face. She squinted, a subconscious action that made Xu Lang's heart clench.
In their previous life, they were separated on this very day.
Both of them are models, taking on various gigs and traveling all over the country, resulting in them being apart most of the time and often arguing about it.
After discussions, both parties decided to part ways amicably.
According to the script of her previous life, Bai Mengyan would have made great strides and become a top model. Later, she would have been noticed by Yu Zheng and signed by him. Soon after, she would have risen to the ranks of top actresses.
Xu Lang also followed suit and entered the entertainment industry. Although he was handsome, he lacked connections and resources, and he remained an extra.
He has played corpses and eunuchs. Later, with the accumulation of experience and the improvement of his acting skills, his career gradually improved, and he eventually won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actor.
On his way back from receiving the award, a sudden downpour occurred. He saw a girl fall into the water and jumped in without hesitation.
In the end, the girl was rescued, but he remained forever in the swift-flowing river.
Stop!
Xu Lang shook his head, temporarily sealing away those painful memories.
Looking at the youthful and inexperienced Bai Mengyan, he said calmly:
"I'm fine, better than ever before."
Bai Mengyan frowned, clearly disbelieving: "Last night we..."
"I've had too much to drink!" Xu Lang shrugged, trying to relax, and said:
"Perhaps they felt they should have a farewell ceremony before breaking up. After all, they were together for three years; they couldn't just end things like a wrap party on set, where they just toasted each other and that was it, could they?"
"Pfft!" Bai Lu was amused by him, her eyes slightly reddening, but she forced a smile:
"You're still as good at talking nonsense as ever, Xu Lang. We're still friends, right?"
For a fleeting moment, Xu Lang thought about making amends!
After all, having been reborn, he could surpass her and become a top star, bringing her along so they wouldn't have to be apart so often anymore.
But once she said that, it was clearly impossible.
"Of course, the most familiar stranger!" Xu Lang got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom:
"Give up one tree, and I can have the whole forest, hehe!"
If you're going to break up, then break up. Adults should have dignity.
Then, he lived a respectable life for thirteen years, watching helplessly as the other party soared higher and higher, while he himself floundered in the mud.
Screw dignity.
Bai Lu paused slightly, and just as he was about to enter the bathroom, she spoke:
"So... what happened last night won't change anything, right?"
"Change?" Xu Lang paused, then turned to look at her.
Xu Lang smiled.
That was the smile of Xu Lang in his thirties, a smile forged after thirteen years of hard work and seeing through the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, a smile with a touch of roguishness and confidence.
"Of course things need to change. I've thought about it. I agree to break up. After all, I can't always be the man behind you. Besides, with my height, I can't block anything when I stand behind you."
Bai Mengyan: "...Your mouth!"
"So—" Xu Lang said with a serious and earnest expression:
"I plan to change careers and enter the entertainment industry."
Bai Mengyan stared at him for a full ten seconds before tentatively asking:
"You...are you still hungover?"
"Do you know how tough this industry is? Those aspiring actors we know have been drifting in Hengdian for eight or ten years, eating boxed lunches every day while waiting for their chance..."
"I know!" Xu Lang interrupted her, his tone eerily calm.
"I also know which group's boxed lunches are the best, how to refuse when the assistant director tries to give me a room key without losing the opportunity, and how to deal with investors trying to get me drunk—"
In their previous life, the two started as Taobao models and later transitioned to print models and runway shows. They attended many classes together, from open courses and refresher courses at Beijing Film Academy to Central Academy of Drama, and even paid for short-term acting workshops.
But she always thought that Xu Lang was just keeping her company, that it was just a hobby.
"...Anyway, I know a lot, and I still have you!"
Bai Mengyan looked at him with slight wariness: "We've already broken up, Xu Lang, don't count on me..."
"No, no, no, you've misunderstood!" Xu Lang hurriedly waved his hands, making a gesture of surrender.
"I've decided to embrace the whole forest. I mean, could we add a breakup clause?"
Bai Mengyan was a little speechless, but since she was the one who initiated the breakup, she would try to accept it if it wasn't too unreasonable.
"What terms?"
"Mutual assistance clause! For example, if an investor tries to take advantage of you, you can mention my name!"
Bai Mengyan was speechless for a moment, then rolled her eyes: "What's the point of mentioning your name?"
Xu Lang grinned: "Just say your ex-boyfriend practiced Sanda (Chinese kickboxing), wasn't very bright, and didn't know his own strength..."
Bai Mengyan couldn't help but chuckle, but her eyes were even redder than before:
"Fool!"
"By the way, about last night..." Xu Lang paused deliberately, stepping one foot into the bathroom:
"Good performance—"
"Xu Lang, are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
A pillow flew over, and Xu Lang laughed as he closed the door.
In the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror; he touched his face, which was still youthful and full of vitality, with a light in his eyes that had not been worn down by reality.
But his eyes had gained a deeper, sharper edge.
"Xu Lang, you saved a life; God has given you a second chance at life. Don't waste it!"
He said to himself in the mirror:
"Fine, let's break up then, but we'll meet again at the top!"
One hour later!
They both took a shower, got dressed, and exchanged a brief hug with slight smiles.
"Xu Lang, where do you plan to go next?"
Xu Lang straightened his back and habitually patted her head:
"Next stop—"
He looked out the window at the GG sign and said:
"Downstairs, it's the crew of Yu Zheng's 'The Return of the Condor Heroes'!"