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

After parting ways with Huang Lei, Shen Mo did not immediately return to the company. Instead, he had the driver turn around and head towards the Beijing Film Academy, a place he had not visited for a long time.

He was going to visit someone, Wang Chunzi, his main acting professor for four years during his undergraduate studies.

Standing in front of that familiar office door, Shen Mo straightened his collar and knocked on the door.

The door opened, and a woman dressed in simple, elegant clothes opened it.

Her makeup was exquisite, and she exuded an intellectual and gentle temperament.

The first thing that crossed her eyes when she saw Shen Mo was a hint of surprise and joy.

"Shen Mo?"

Wang Chunzi's voice was gentle and pleasant, "What brings you here today? Come in quickly."

"Teacher Wang."

The composed mask that Shen Mo habitually wore on his face instantly melted away, revealing a smile that was both dependent and mischievous, and his tone became much lighter.

"I just missed you, and I thought I'd show you off a bit!"

"Smooth-talking!"

Wang Chunzi chuckled lightly, gave him a reproachful look, her eyes still sharp.

"With such a commotion outside, you still thought of coming back to see your teacher. You still have some conscience."

She led Shen Mo to sit down on a chair nearby, took a paper cup, and poured him a cup of tea.

I saw you on the news.

Wang Chunzi's gaze fell on his face, carrying a scrutinizing look and a hint of barely perceptible concern.

"They went head-to-head with a company the size of Huayi and still came out on top?"

She shook her head slightly, her tone filled with emotion and a hint of disbelief.

"Back in class, you were the most outgoing, had the most ideas, and worried me the most. I was always afraid you would go astray."

"I never expected you to leave this world in such a spectacular way."

Shen Mo picked up his teacup and, with a grin, said something like he used to fawn over his elders when he was a child.

"That's because you laid a solid foundation; otherwise, I wouldn't have had the confidence to try and make things happen."

"Besides, if I go astray, will you forgive me?"

"Don't give me that. You're just trying to make me happy."

Wang Chunzi gave him an elegant glance, but a faint smile appeared in her eyes, clearly enjoying the student's affection.

"Tell me, you didn't come here today just to have tea and catch up, did you? Is there anything you need my help with?"

Shen Mo toned down his joking expression, but his tone remained somewhat relaxed.

"You can hide anything from me."

He briefly explained Huang Lei's invitation to attend the freshman orientation and some of his concerns, especially mentioning his worries about potential resistance from Hua Yi within the college.

Wang Chunzi listened quietly, her slender fingers gently turning the teacup.

After Shen Mo finished speaking, she slowly opened her mouth, her voice gentle yet carrying a firm strength.

"Huang Lei is a quick-witted person, but his suggestion this time wasn't bad."

She looked at Shen Mo, her gaze clear and wise.

"Don't worry, Beijing Film Academy has its own rules and integrity. As an academic institution, it won't be easily swayed by commercial disputes."

She leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a natural air of defense.

"You are a student I, Wang Chunzi, personally mentored. Now that you have achieved such success, it is only natural for you to return to your alma mater to share your experiences."

"I'll be attending a meeting with the school leaders tomorrow, and I'll bring this up when the time is right."

"With your current achievements and positive image, I believe there won't be any problems."

"Teacher, are you so confident?"

Wang Chunzi raised her teacup, took a sip, and smiled knowingly.

Do you know Zhang Huijun?

"The Dean?!"

Wang Chunzi didn't keep anyone in suspense, "He is my teacher's husband."

This relationship was indeed unexpected. Shen Mo looked at Wang Chunzi and suddenly smiled.

"So, in terms of connections and mentorship, you're not bad either."

"As long as you don't do anything illegal or criminal, the teachers still have a say in the school."

Hearing Wang Chunzi's assurance, Shen Mo felt much more at ease.

He raised his teacup with a slightly sly smile.

"With you here, I can finally relax! Teacher Wang really loves me the most!"

"You!"

Wang Chunzi was amused by him, shook her head helplessly, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes revealed her tenderness.

"The renowned CEO Shen is actually being cheeky with me!"

She looked at Shen Mo, her eyes filled with relief.

"However, seeing you like this now, your teacher is truly proud of you."

Before leaving, Wang Chunzi escorted Shen Mo to the school gate and gently gave him some words of advice.

"Go back and prepare your speech carefully. Make sure the content is solid and your attitude is sincere."

"Since you're back to speak, you should show your best."

"I promise I won't embarrass you!" Shen Mo immediately assured him, his smile radiant.

-----------------

Since this incident, Dilraba has not left the capital.

Yang Tianzhen had originally arranged some out-of-town appearances for her, but she postponed or adjusted them for various reasons.

She felt a heavy weight pressing on her heart, always believing that the root of the problem lay with herself.

If it weren't for her that day, or her fans, perhaps Shen Mo wouldn't have been dragged into this storm, let alone gone to war with a giant like Huayi.

This thought clung to her like a vine, constantly plunging her into self-blame.

She knew her abilities were limited and she couldn't be of any help on this battlefield.

The only thing I can do is stay in the company, as if that will bring me closer to the "battlefield".

Being able to know Shen Mo's condition immediately means that at least she can appear when needed.

In the afternoon, Dilraba habitually huddled in the corner of the sofa in the practice room's rest area, gazing absently at the hazy sky outside the window.

"Hey, Turtle Ba, your shell's practically grown onto the sofa!"

A cheerful, teasing voice rang out beside her.

Dilireba snapped out of her daze and turned to see Bai Mengyan sitting next to her, gulping down a bottle of mineral water while glancing sideways at her.

"Yume-yan".

Dilraba called out softly, then lowered her head again.

Bai Mengyan put down the water bottle, casually put her arm around her shoulder, and shook her vigorously.

"Alright, alright, stop looking at me like I'm a sinner!"

"I've been watching you for days! Aren't you tired?"

Dilraba was taken aback by her bluntness, pursed her lips, and lowered her voice even further.

"But, if it weren't for me..."

"Stop!"

Bai Mengyan stretched out her index finger and almost poked Dilraba's nose.

"Stop trying to glorify yourself! Do you really think Huayi only took action because of that little thing?"

"They've been eyeing Brother Mo and our company for a long time! Your situation was just a trigger; even without you, they would have found another excuse!"

"They might even make up stories about something between Mo Ge and me! After all, I'm only turning 18 next month."

As she spoke, she rolled her eyes first.

Her exaggerated statement startled Dilraba for a moment, and then she couldn't help but chuckle softly.

But the smile quickly faded: "But in the end, it's all because of me."

"Oh my dear Dilraba!"

Bai Mengyan patted her back hard, with a force that carried a hint of disappointment.

"What's the use of you sighing and complaining here? Will it help Brother Mo drive Hua Yi away? Or will it help you fight their boss?"

She leaned closer to Dilraba, lowered her voice, but her eyes sparkled.

"What we need to do now is not blame ourselves, but train hard and work hard!"

"Once we're strong enough and become big stars, then we can really help. Then let's see who dares to mess with Brother Mo!"

She paused, looking at Dilraba's still somewhat confused eyes, and adopted a more relaxed tone.

"Besides, do you think Brother Mo is the kind of person who would be defeated by something like this? He's incredibly capable!"

"We two turtles should really just focus on ourselves and not cause any trouble for Brother Mo. Come on, let's not sit here getting moldy, let's get up and take a walk!"

Without saying a word, Bai Mengyan pulled Dilireba up from the sofa.

"What turtle?"

Just then, Shen Mo's voice came from the doorway.

In the past few days, Shen Mo had noticed Dilraba appearing in various corners of the company, staring blankly at him with a worried look on her face.

Now that the issue has been initially resolved, it's time to visit her and prevent her from developing health problems because of this.

The two girls were startled when they suddenly heard Shen Mo's voice.

Dilraba, like a startled fawn, suddenly raised her head.

Seeing Shen Mo leaning against the door frame, two blushes instantly rose on her cheeks, her eyes darted around in a panic, and she subconsciously tried to pull her hand away from Bai Mengyan.

Bai Mengyan reacted quickly. After a brief moment of surprise, she immediately returned to her usual carefree demeanor and even gripped Dilraba's hand even tighter.

"Brother Mo! You scared us!"

"It's nothing, it's nothing. I was just saying that Dilraba lies here every day, jokingly calling her a lazy little turtle!"

She tried to bluff her way through.

Shen Mo walked in slowly, his gaze lingering for a moment on Bai Mengyan's cheerful face.

Then he looked at Dilraba, who was hanging her head and seemed to want to hide herself.

He walked up to them, his voice much gentler than usual.

"Reba".

Dilraba's body trembled slightly before she had to raise her head. Her voice was barely audible, with a heavy nasal tone and obvious guilt.

"Brother Mo, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Shen Mo asked knowingly, his tone calm.

"It's all because of me that so much trouble has arisen."

Dilraba's voice grew softer and softer, and her eyes began to redden again.

"I... there's nothing I can do to help."

Seeing her looking so guilty and on the verge of tears, Shen Mo sighed softly in his heart.

He reached out, gently picked up the unopened bottle of mineral water on the table in front of her, unscrewed it, and placed it back in front of her.

"Drink water."

This action startled Dilraba for a moment, and she subconsciously took the water bottle.

Shen Mo then looked at her, his tone calm and clear.

"Listen, Reba. This has nothing to do with you from beginning to end."

"Huayi's target is Mohen, and that target is me."

"You don't need to take any responsibility for this, and you don't need to feel guilty."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Bai Mengyan, who had also quieted down beside him.

"What you need to do is, as Mengyan said, train hard, work hard, and make yourselves stronger."

"What you need to do is, as Mengyan said, train hard, work hard, and make yourselves stronger."

Shen Mo's gaze returned to Dilraba's face, filled with encouragement.

"When you shine brightly enough and stand at a high enough level, that in itself is the best support for Mohen and for me. Do you understand?"

Dilraba stared blankly at Shen Mo and nodded, but her eyes were still like dusty stars, dim and without light.

She understood the reasoning, but the heavy burden in her heart couldn't be lifted with just a few words of advice.

Shen Mo looked at her, who was trying to be cheerful but was still listless, and remained silent for a moment.

He suddenly raised his hand and, somewhat awkwardly, gently rubbed the tip of his nose with his knuckles.

This is a small gesture that rarely occurs when he is thinking.

[Perhaps we could express it in a different way.]

"Actually," he said again, his voice more candid.

"Your presence at the company, watching over me every day, is, in a way, a form of support."

These words were unlike his usual decisive and ruthless style, which stunned Dilraba and Bai Mengyan, who both looked at him in surprise.

Shen Mo's gaze shifted slightly for a moment before refocusing on Dilraba.

"So, stop making that face. Seeing you like that just makes me feel..."

"I've been a bit negligent as the boss."

"If you really consider me your 'Brother Mo,' then relax and trust me."

Dilraba was completely stunned; she had never imagined that Shen Mo would say these things to her.

These are not the kinds of things a boss and employees would say; they express a genuine concern that transcends differences in status and position.

A strange feeling of being needed slowly welled up in my heart, diluting some of my self-blame.

Shen Mo seized the opportunity and, not giving her a chance to dwell on the past, extended an invitation that she could not refuse.

"Let's go."

"Huh?" Dilraba hadn't fully reacted yet.

"Let's go have dinner."

Shen Mo's tone was very natural, as if this was the most normal arrangement.

"I know a shop that makes good lamb skewers and baked buns."

"Mengyan is with us too, let Dilraba help us taste it, it has a bit of the flavor of northern Xinjiang."

Bai Mengyan was the first to react, her eyes lighting up instantly, and she immediately pulled up Dilireba, who was still in a daze.

"Go! Go! We absolutely have to go!"

"Brother Mo is treating! Dilraba, hurry up and let's turn our grief into food!"

Dilraba was pulled along by Bai Mengyan and passively followed for a couple of steps before gradually coming to her senses.

She turned her head to look at Shen Mo following behind her, and then at Bai Mengyan who was excited beside her. The icy blockage in her heart seemed to be quietly shattered.

She jogged a couple of steps to catch up with Bai Mengyan, sniffed softly, and responded quietly.

"Um."

At that moment, she suddenly felt that the sky was not so gloomy anymore.

The barbecue restaurant is small and even a bit shabby, but the aroma of charred lamb skewers emanating from the grill at the entrance instantly whets the appetite of diners.

The atmosphere was slightly quiet while waiting for the food to be served.

Dilraba held the slightly hot teacup in both hands, sipping it slowly, her eyes occasionally glancing furtively at Shen Mo across from her.

Bai Mengyan was the first to break the silence. She took a deep breath and said exaggeratedly.

"Wow, it smells so good! Brother Mo, how did you find this amazing shop? The aroma makes me feel like I could eat a whole sheep!"

Shen Mo smiled slightly, handed a pair of chopsticks that had been rinsed with hot water to Dilireba, and casually replied.

"When I was in school, a friend from northern Xinjiang took me here. The food was pretty authentic."

Just then, the owner brought over the first batch of freshly grilled lamb skewers and baked buns.

Shen Mo naturally picked up a skewer, but instead of eating it himself, he handed it to Dilraba's plate.

"Try it," he said casually, "and see if it tastes like your hometown."

This gesture warmed Dilraba's heart.

"Thank you, Brother Mo."

She whispered a thank you, then carefully blew on it and took a small bite.

"How is it?" Bai Mengyan asked impatiently.

Dilraba chewed slowly, her eyes gradually brightening. She nodded vigorously, her voice slightly muffled but filled with genuine surprise because of the food in her mouth.

"Mmm! Delicious! The lamb skewers are cooked just like the ones back home!"

Seeing her finally reveal a genuine smile, a hint of relaxation flashed across Shen Mo's eyes.

He picked up a skewer and ate it casually.

Bai Mengyan became even more uninhibited, enjoying her meal while chattering away and even trying to learn a few phrases of the northern Xinjiang dialect from Reba to strike up a conversation with the owner.

Dilraba gradually relaxed, occasionally laughing out loud at Bai Mengyan's funny imitations, and then quietly explaining to Shen Mo how a certain dish was made in her hometown.

Shen Mo mostly listened, occasionally interjecting with a question or two about the customs and culture of the northern frontier.

This simple dinner was eaten by just three people, without the owner or staff, sharing the delicious food.

Dilraba looked at Shen Mo across from her, then at Bai Mengyan beside her who was trying her best to make her happy, and the last bit of gloom in her heart was finally completely dispelled.

"Brother Mo, try this."

Her voice was still not loud, but it had regained some of its former lightness and warmth.

Shen Mo glanced at the half-eaten baked bun, then at her eyes which had finally regained their sparkle, and softly hummed in acknowledgment, accepting this clumsy yet sincere gratitude.