The Entertainment Industry in Turmoil: Young Actresses All Want to Rise to the Top

Will the opponent be content with merely creating a media storm?

I'm afraid not.

This is likely just an appetizer; a series of follow-up moves are inevitable.

The specific targets of this series of moves will directly reveal the opponent's true objective: whether it is aimed at him personally, Mohen Capital, or specific projects.

Shen Mo knew very well that he had to strike first and precisely break his opponent's "ribs" before the opponent could throw a second or even a third punch, so that the opponent would be in so much pain that he would not dare to reach out again.

At 9:00 AM, both Mohen Media's official Weibo account and Shen Mo's personal Weibo account simultaneously released a carefully worded lawyer's statement.

The article also named several of the most vocal marketing accounts, accusing them of fabricating facts and maliciously defaming others, and stated that legal proceedings have been initiated.

While the statement temporarily calmed the anxieties of some fans and onlookers, the online skepticism did not subside.

Shen Mo was waiting—waiting for news from Zhou Wanqing, waiting for his opponents to reveal more weaknesses, and waiting for the best opportunity to reverse public opinion.

Around noon the next day, Zhou Wanqing sent several links via WeChat.

[Love is Not Blind: A pseudo-art film written in a diary-like style]

[A failed protagonist, a mediocre work destined to be forgotten]

[Deconstructing "Love is Not Blind": On its Pale Reproduction of Ordinary Life and its Formulaic Narrative]

……

These newly released smear articles take a peculiar angle, attempting to negate "Love is Not Blind" based on its "artistic value" and "performance depth".

Although it has not yet spread on a large scale, its popularity is slowly rising.

"The fox's tail has been revealed." Shen Mo's eyes narrowed slightly.

The focus of attention has shifted to the film itself. During this period, "Love is Not Blind" was the hottest contender at the Hundred Flowers Awards, and it seems likely to be a competitor for this film.

At 10 a.m. on the third day, Zhou Wanqing's phone call brought decisive news; her voice carried a hint of calm and solemnity.

"Mr. Shen, we have preliminary results."

"Although the funds went through multiple layers of shell companies, they ultimately pointed to a public relations company called Qinan Culture."

"Through cross-shareholding and behind-the-scenes agreements, we discovered that its actual controller is Wang Zhonglei's brother-in-law."

"In other words..." Zhou Wanqing paused.

"In other words, it's Huayi that's stirring up trouble!"

Shen Mo calmly replied, without any surprise in his tone.

His previous calculations were correct; the film "Aftershock" was the biggest competitor of "Love is Not Blind" in various awards at the Hundred Flowers Awards.

One of the producers of "The Great Earthquake" is Huayi Brothers, and the other is China Film Group.

However, China Film Group would not act in such a despicable and petty manner. Only Huayi Brothers, which also focuses on talent management and film production and has a direct conflict of interest, would have the motivation and ability to launch this propaganda war.

"In addition," Zhou Wanqing added.

"We have also learned that several active film and television review bloggers and industry self-media have recently received 'cooperation fees' from Qinan Culture."

"The content direction is based on the cultural value of 'My Love from the Star' and your acting skills."

"The incident at the gate of Mango TV and the smear campaign against 'Love is Not Blind' are most likely just appetizers."

"Hua Yi!" A cold glint flashed in Shen Mo's eyes.

"Is the chain of evidence solidified?"

"The flow of funds, the equity structure of related parties, and the online communication records of some key individuals have all been documented, forming a complete closed loop."

"Although some of the evidence collection methods are not convenient to use publicly in litigation, they are sufficient for exerting pressure through public opinion."

Zhou Wanqing answered decisively.

"very good."

A cold smile curved Shen Mo's lips.

"We anonymously sent the information about Wang Zhonglei's brother-in-law and the actual control relationship between Qinan Culture to several authoritative financial media outlets with which we have close ties, asking them to 'report objectively'."

"Give the list of those influential figures who accept money and their transfer records to Yang Tianzhen; she knows what to do."

"Notify the public relations department to execute the first counterattack plan at noon today."

"clear!"

The call to counterattack sounded precisely on time.

At noon that day, Mohen Capital simultaneously released the complete, unedited video footage from the dashcam and the official surveillance footage from Hunan TV through all its partner platforms.

[The truth comes out: Shen Mo was framed while protecting the artist; full footage reveals the scene of the fanatics' attack]

The video clearly shows how the shadowy figure pounced on them and how Shen Mo protected people before defending himself.

Meanwhile, some legal bloggers associated with Mohen joined in, offering legal interpretations of "legitimate self-defense" and "reasonable responses when facing threats to personal safety."

About half an hour later, news began circulating online that "the fanatic fan had a history of stalking and harassment," further drawing public sympathy towards Shen Mo and Dilraba.

At 1 p.m., the real heavy blow was delivered.

Several self-media outlets published articles almost simultaneously, exposing some evidence that "Qinan Culture" has long employed online trolls, manipulated public opinion, and maliciously smeared its competitors.

The most eye-catching and widely circulated aspect is the familial relationship between its actual controller and Wang Zhonglei, the head of Huayi Group.

In no time, the topic of "Huayi resorts to any means to win the award, and the identity of the mastermind behind it is exposed" spread like wildfire.

The public's natural skepticism about the inside story of the awards, coupled with their indignation at the manipulation of public opinion by capital, caused a sudden reversal in public opinion, and pressure surged toward Huayi like an tidal wave.

At 4 p.m., Mohen Media released an official statement with a strong tone and an assertive attitude.

Inkstone Capital and its artists resolutely resist online criminal forces and will defend their rights to the end using legal means.

The announcement not only reiterated the legal responsibility of those who initially spread the rumors, but also meaningfully mentioned that "more conclusive evidence of behind-the-scenes manipulation has been obtained, and the right to hold all relevant responsible parties accountable is reserved."

This covert war of public opinion, initiated by Huayi, was completely reversed by Shen Mo in just three days, thanks to his accurate intelligence, swift methods, and deeper capital resources.

He not only cleared his name but also exposed the "mastermind" Hua Yi to the light of day, plunging him into a media storm and causing him to lose more than he gained.

However, Shen Mo knew that business competition never ends with the victory of a public opinion war.

Wang Zhonglei's office at Huayi Brothers Media.

On the heavy mahogany desk, the tablet screen was displaying the strongly worded press release from Mohen Media.

Wang Zhonglei leaned back in the large leather boss's chair, his face ashen, the cigar between his fingers untouched for a long time.

The air pressure in the office was so low it was suffocating.

Several core executives stood with their hands at their sides, even deliberately keeping their breathing quiet.

"Bang!"

Wang Zhonglei abruptly stubbed out his cigar in the crystal ashtray, the sound causing the others to involuntarily tremble slightly.

"waste!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a suppressed anger that seemed to be brewing.

"The layers of subcontracting allowed people to trace the leads back to Qi Nan, even uncovering family connections!"

"Did you forget what you were doing before you even started?!"

A vice president in charge of public relations and public opinion broke out in a cold sweat and forced himself to explain.

"Mr. Wang, we didn't expect Inkmark to react so quickly either. Remember our domain name: [domain name omitted], you can read exciting content anytime."

"They not only accurately obtained evidence of the flow of funds, but they also seem to have figured out our contingency plan to smear 'My Love from the Star' later."

"This doesn't seem like a typical public relations response; it's more like they've already laid a trap for us to fall into."

"Were the traps already set up?"

Wang Zhonglei snorted coldly, his eyes sharp as knives.

"You mean, is Shen Mo some kind of prophet, or did someone on our side leak the information?"

The vice president immediately fell silent, too terrified to speak further.

Wang Zhonglei stood up and paced back and forth, looking at his several "incompetent" subordinates, and couldn't help but feel angry.

Having been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry for many years, this was the first time he had suffered such a humiliating defeat at the hands of a newcomer.

The defeat in public opinion is a foregone conclusion.

The label of "using any means to win awards" has been firmly attached to Huayi, which is a heavy blow to Huayi's reputation and brand image.

"Shen Mo... Ink Trace Capital..."

He muttered the two names under his breath, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes, but he had no choice but to start re-examining the situation.

He admitted that he had indeed underestimated the young man.

I originally thought he was just a lucky actor with a bit of cleverness who made his name in the entertainment industry thanks to two hit works and his ability to create hype and marketing.

But I never expected their response to be so shrewd and their counterattack so deadly.

Not only did he quickly quell his own crisis, but he also accurately located the mastermind behind it all, and with a swift and decisive move, struck right into the heart of Huayi.

"Mr. Wang, what should we do now?"

Another executive in charge of artist management asked cautiously.

"Should we issue a clarification statement? Or, should we contact InkSign to see if there's any room for negotiation?"

"Easing?"

Wang Zhonglei turned around abruptly, his face full of sternness.

"To clarify now would be tantamount to admitting guilt! To seek peace would be like offering your face to be slapped again!"

He returned to his desk, placed his hands on the surface, leaned forward, and glanced at everyone present.

"At this point, there is no turning back."

"Now that this battle has begun, it's not something Shen Mo can stop just because he wants to!"

He looked at the group and quickly gave instructions.

"First, completely sever all overt ties with Qinan Culture and all related shell companies, immediately cease all financial transactions, and temporarily place the relevant personnel on leave."

"Even if we have to sacrifice the pawn to save the king, we must clean up the mess!"

"Secondly, all the 'materials' that we prepared beforehand regarding Mohen's 'exploitation of minors' and Shen Mo's 'manipulation of casting with capital' should be temporarily suppressed."

"The other party is on high alert right now, so throwing this out now won't be very effective, and might even give them more leverage."

"Third." A glint of light flashed in Wang Zhonglei's eyes.

"Since we can't gain an advantage in the public opinion arena for the time being, let's change the battlefield."

"Pass the word: mobilize all our connections and resources in project approval, platform procurement, and theater scheduling..."

"In every field that Inkstone Capital has ventured into, they've created obstacles for me."

"I want them to know that in this industry, some rules can't be broken with money!"

"In addition," he paused, his tone becoming even more somber.

"In addition," he paused, his tone becoming even more somber.

"Pay special attention to the two novels that Mohen is currently preparing, 'A Little Reunion' and 'A Little Joy'."

"Isn't the goal to win awards and critical acclaim by relying on realistic themes?"

"I'd like to see how much of a splash these two shows can make if they don't have suitable actors or any TV stations willing to take them on!"

The executives were startled and immediately accepted the order.

"Yes, Mr. Wang!"

Wang Zhonglei was left alone in the office again.

He lit another cigar, and his face was indistinct in the swirling smoke.

Shen Mo's counterattack was indeed brilliant, catching him completely off guard.

But this does not mean the end.

Huayi has been deeply involved in the industry for over a decade, and the network, resources, and foundation it has accumulated are far beyond what a newly emerging capital firm like Mohen Capital can easily shake.

"It's a good thing for young people to have ambition."

Wang Zhonglei exhaled a smoke ring towards the window, his eyes cold.

"But excessive rigidity leads to breakage."

"In this industry, it's not enough to just know how to fight back; you also have to see who can endure longer and who has a deeper foundation."

"Let's take our time."

He picked up the internal phone and connected with his secretary.

"Make an appointment for me with Mr. Wang from Enlight Media and Mr. Zhang from Wanda Pictures. Just say..."

"I have a suggestion regarding the healthy development of the industry, and I'd like to discuss it with them."

Although Shen Mo did not say it outright, the increasingly heavy burden still caused a change in his mindset.

Li Yitong was the first person to notice the subtle changes in Shen Mo.

She noticed that the lights in Shen Mo's office were on later and later, and although he remained calm and composed, the weariness between his brows was still palpable.

That evening, she carried a thermos and went straight into Shen Mo's office.

At his desk, Shen Mo was rubbing his temples while looking at his laptop screen.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? I called my mom to learn how to make soup." Li Yitong placed the insulated box on the coffee table.

Then she went to his desk and closed his computer screen for him.

"There's always something to do, let's eat first."

Shen Mo looked up at her, a hint of relaxation flashing in his eyes, and smiled helplessly.

"Xuezi is so considerate." Shen Mo walked to the sofa in front of the coffee table and sat down.

Li Yitong sat down next to him, rested her chin on her hands, watched him drink soup, and asked seemingly casually.

"Is Huayi under a lot of pressure?"

Shen Mo paused for a moment, then resumed his normal movements.

"As expected. They want to use resources to strangle us."

"What do you need me to do?" Li Yitong asked directly.

"As for 'A Little Reunion' and 'A Little Joy,' I am the producer, so you don't need to worry too much."

Her tone didn't convey much worry, but rather a strong sense of determination to fight side by side.

She understood Shen Mo; at this moment, what he needed least was comforting words and unwavering support.

Shen Mo looked at her, his gaze softening slightly.

"Okay, just keep the crew calm. I'll handle the storms outside."

He paused, then added, "Don't worry, I can handle it."

Li Yitong nodded and didn't say anything more. Some things are better left unsaid.

She simply and quietly cleared away the dishes after he finished eating.

Then she leaned in and sat in his lap, gently wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him a light kiss on the forehead.

"Let's go home! Staying up late won't solve these problems tonight. We might as well get some rest and try again tomorrow."

Shen Mo didn't speak, but pursed his lips and gave a slight smile.

Then he hugged Li Yitong's slender waist tightly, buried his head in her collarbone, and took a deep breath.

He then wrapped his arms around her legs, stood up, picked her up, and carried the insulated box out of the office with a few fingers.