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

When Teng Huatao returned from the restroom, he saw Li Qin sitting in his seat talking quietly with Shen Mo, and his steps paused slightly.

His gaze swept quickly between the two men, a knowing look crossing his face before he returned to normal.

Without any displeasure or doubt, he simply sat down in the empty seat next to him very naturally, and even nodded slightly to Li Qin who was looking at him.

After a series of dazzling song and dance performances, the awards ceremony finally entered its tense core segment.

As the awards were announced one by one, the atmosphere in the venue grew increasingly solemn.

Soon, it was Li Qin's turn to be nominated for the Best Newcomer Award.

The screen flashed images of several nominees one by one. When Li Qin's calm yet slightly nervous face appeared, the camera deliberately lingered for a moment, seemingly capturing the buzz generated by her sitting with Shen Mo.

Although I was mentally prepared and knew that my chances of winning were slim.

But when the presenter clearly announced, "The winner is Zhang Zifeng, for 'The Great Earthquake'!" Li Qin's upright shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly for a moment.

A fleeting hint of disappointment flashed across her eyes, turning into a soft sigh.

Amidst thunderous applause, 11-year-old Zhang Zifeng walked onto the stage amidst congratulations from the crowd.

Under the spotlight, that youthful figure possessed a certain unshakeable power.

Li Qin gazed at the stage, managing only a polite smile.

He spoke in a voice so low that only Shen Mo beside him could hear him, uttering a bittersweet sigh.

"Is this the benefit of having Huayi backing?"

"The youngest winner of the Best Newcomer Award in history, that's really impressive."

Her words contained envy, resentment, and a hint of helplessness at recognizing the rules of reality.

Just then, Shen Mo turned his head and calmly looked at her profile, where she was forcing a smile.

He didn't offer any words of comfort, but instead made an unexpected gesture.

He extended a hand to her, palm up, and laid it out steadily in front of her.

"Now."

"Your backer is now Mohen."

Li Qin stared at the hand with its distinct knuckles, slightly taken aback.

She instantly understood the meaning of the gesture. Without the slightest hesitation, she extended her hand, placed it firmly in Shen Mo's palm, and gently shook hands with him.

This is acceptance, a commitment, and a response to her timely help.

The disappointment in her eyes was quickly replaced by a determined light, and the moment their palms touched, a solid warmth was transmitted to her.

She raised her head, met Shen Mo's gaze, and a bright smile returned to her face, her tone becoming light and confident.

"Alright! Then I'll look forward to next year, when I can... dominate the battlefield with the boss!"

At this moment, the win or loss of the newcomer award is no longer important.

The subsequent awards ceremony saw an unspoken tug-of-war between "Love is Not Blind" and "Aftershock".

Aside from the fact that the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards went to other winners, it was a bit of a surprise.

The remaining major awards were almost entirely shared by these two standout films, creating a delicate balance.

After winning the Best Newcomer Award, "The Great Earthquake" continued its winning streak, taking home the Best Screenplay Award as well.

When Feng Xiaogang accepted the award on behalf of the screenwriter, his gaze seemed to casually sweep over the "Love is Not Blind" crew, carrying the composure and pride of a victor.

However, this momentum was quickly thwarted.

When the Best Actress award was unsurprisingly awarded to Bai Baihe for her role in "Love is Not Blind," the hall erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Bai Baihe excitedly hugged her fellow crew members, her eyes filled with gratitude, especially when she looked at Shen Mo.

This award firmly secured a victory for "Love is Not Blind".

Then came an even greater prize: the Best Actor award.

The presenter deliberately dragged out the words to create suspense, but almost everyone knew that the name was not much of a surprise.

The winner of the Best Actor award at the 31nd Hundred Flowers Awards is—

"Congratulations to Shen Mo on 'Love is Not Blind'!"

The spotlight instantly shone on Shen Mo, and the entire audience erupted in applause, mixed with the barely suppressed cheers of his fans.

Shen Mo remained calm, stood up gracefully, gave Teng Huatao, whose eyes were red with emotion, a tight hug, and nodded to Li Qin, who was beside him with a relieved smile.

He walked steadily onto the stage and accepted the heavy trophy from the award presenter.

"Thank you to director Teng Huatao for his trust, thank you to screenwriter Dahlia for creating such a vivid character, and thank you to every member of the crew who worked tirelessly behind the scenes."

His voice, steady and sincere, came through the microphone throughout the venue: "I also want to thank all the viewers who love this film."

He paused slightly, his gaze seemingly passing over the dense crowd below the stage and directed towards some distant, nonexistent place, his voice tinged with a barely perceptible tenderness.

"Finally, I would also like to thank... those who have always been behind me, giving me strength."

Others might think he was referring to the fans "Ink" or some kind of official statement, but Li Yitong, who was watching TV at the moment, knew that he was talking to her.

Others might think he was referring to the fans "Ink" or some kind of official statement, but Li Yitong, who was watching TV at the moment, knew that he was talking to her.

Shen Mo withdrew his gaze, refocused on the trophy in front of him, and his tone suddenly became clear and firm.

"This trophy is a recognition of 'Wang Xiaojian.' It is also an encouragement to all creators who dare to try new things and break conventions."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the audience, especially in the area where the "Great Earthquake" crew was located, noticeably froze.

The smile on Feng Xiaogang's lips faded, while Wang Zhonglei's eyes grew even more profound.

These words sound inspiring to ordinary people, but to them, they are clearly a declaration of war under the guise of a character.

Shen Mo's victory in the Best Actor award acted as a fuse, igniting the long-suppressed counterattack of "The Great Earthquake".

When the presenter for the Best Director award announced the name "Feng Xiaogang," this pillar of Huayi Brothers almost immediately stood up and walked steadily toward the stage.

He stood in front of the microphone, not speaking immediately. He first looked around the audience, his gaze lingering briefly in the direction of the "Love is Not Blind" film crew, a smile playing on his lips, a smile that was a mixture of arrogance and mockery.

"Thank you to the judges, and thank you to the crew."

His opening remarks were concise and powerful, but then he changed the subject, his voice carrying a weighty weight through the microphone.

"We put a lot of effort into the film 'The Great Earthquake'."

"It is not just telling a story of a nation's traumatic memory, but also exploring the brilliance and resilience of humanity at its core in the face of disaster."

He paused after speaking, slightly raised his chin, and his tone became even sharper.

"There are many ways to make a movie. It can be lighthearted, it can be pleasing, or it can cater to the current market trend."

His gaze swept across a certain direction again, almost imperceptibly.

"But there are always some creators who choose to touch upon a richer history, to shoulder a deeper social responsibility, and to showcase the more complex and authentic power of humanity."

"This kind of power may not be so 'trendy,' but it can withstand the test of time and bear the weight of the word 'film.'"

He didn't directly mention "Love is Not Blind," but every syllable and every stressed syllable clearly drew a line.

On one side is the orthodox path he represents, characterized by "profoundness, depth, and responsibility," while on the other side is the unorthodox path represented by Shen Mo, characterized by "lightness, pleasingness, and trendiness."

This speech was like a battle cry, responding to Shen Mo's previous declaration about "breaking the rules".

Offstage, the morale of the "Great Earthquake" crew was visibly boosted.

The other guests had varying expressions, and they could all sense the increasingly intense tension in the air.

Amidst enthusiastic applause, Feng Xiaogang stepped down from the stage, placing the trophy—symbolizing traditional discourse power and industry status—steadily before the "Great Earthquake" team.

This war without gunfire has entered a more intense phase as awards are handed out.

The final highlight, the Best Feature Film award, unsurprisingly went to "Aftershock".

When Wang Zhonglei and Feng Xiaogang, among others, went on stage together, the momentum of the Huayi camp reached its peak.

Wang Zhonglei's eyes were full of disdain when he looked at Shen Mo.

This most prestigious award proves one thing: experience counts.

Perhaps to maintain balance, or perhaps to reduce the tension, the organizing committee awarded "Love is Not Blind" and another film an award for outstanding feature film.

As the awards ceremony drew to a close, no single entity emerged as the clear "big winner."

But the audience, from celebrities to the media, were not at all surprised by the result.

This is like a carefully choreographed balancing act, a compromise and display of the various forces after their behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

Huayi preserved its dignity and core position as an industry giant in major awards.

Meanwhile, Mohen emerged as a dark horse, snatching the Best Actor and Best Actress awards from the giants with a low-budget film.

It demonstrated its formidable strength and future potential to the entire industry.