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

A barbecue restaurant near Hengdian World Studios was still bustling with activity even though it was late at night.

As Shen Mo pushed open the door to the private room number on his phone, a wave of heat mixed with the aroma of cumin and chili powder hit him.

Li Lin was already seated inside, with several plates of sizzling, oily skewers on the table in front of him.

"Boss!"

A clear, joyful call rang out.

Li Qin noticed Shen Mo at the door almost instantly. She immediately stood up, a bright and sincere smile blooming on her face.

Shen Mo nodded, walked in, and naturally sat down in the seat opposite her.

"Are you alone?"

"Um!"

Li Qin sat down again, appearing somewhat reserved, but her eyes were bright.

"My assistant and agent are in the next room. I didn't want to disturb your conversation."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone slightly joking.

"I thought Yang Tianzhen was being so harsh on you, not even providing you with a proper assistant."

"Hehe," Li Qin chuckled at his words and quickly waved her hand to explain.

"Mr. Shen, you're too kind. Mr. Yang has been very good to me and made very thoughtful arrangements."

"It's just my own feeling... that some things are easier to say when there are fewer people around."

Shen Mo smiled knowingly, picked up a skewer of grilled beef tallow from the table, took a bite, and nodded in approval.

"The food is good; you have a good eye for choosing places."

Seeing Shen Mo's easygoing attitude, Li Lin relaxed a little and offered him a piece of roasted eggplant.

"Boss, please try this one too."

"This restaurant was recommended by a fellow Hengdian employee on the film crew. They said the food was authentic and the ingredients were fresh."

"Don't bother, you eat too."

Shen Mo gestured for her not to be so polite, "How have you been doing since you joined the crew? Are you settling in well?"

"fine!"

Li Lin nodded vigorously, "Director Lin is very professional and has high standards for acting, but I really like this atmosphere and can learn a lot from it."

"Sister Yitong is also a very nice person and gave me a lot of advice."

She paused, her tone becoming even more sincere.

"Boss, I'm truly grateful to have given me the role of Ni Mantian. I will definitely do my best to play it well and live up to the trust the company and you have placed in me."

As she spoke, she picked up the beer she had poured in front of her and downed it in one gulp.

She expressed her heartfelt gratitude, and although she felt uneasy after resolutely siding with Mohen at the Hundred Flowers Awards, she was still grateful.

However, the 5000 million yuan investment that Shen Mo subsequently provided was comparable to the resources of a blockbuster TV series, such as "The Journey of Flower," which gave him the role of the second female lead.

This was undoubtedly the strongest reassurance, and it made her even more certain that her initial choice was correct.

Looking at the fighting spirit and gratitude shining in her eyes, Shen Mo calmly said.

"I also want to thank you for choosing us so resolutely back then."

"Perform well. If you portray the character of Ni Mantian well, you will be outstanding."

"I will!" Li Qin solemnly promised again.

"Don't be so reserved," Shen Mo said, handing her a skewer of grilled meat with a faint smile.

"I remember when you saw me at the last Hundred Flowers Awards, I didn't look like this."

"Confident, poised, and decisive!"

"Hehehe." Li Qin revealed a slightly naive smile, slowly picked up the wine bottle, first filled the empty glass in front of Shen Mo, and then filled his own glass as well.

"Our status and position are different now."

She put down the wine bottle, held the slightly cool wine glass in both hands, her fingertips lightly touching the inside of the glass, her tone filled with emotion and sincerity.

"Back when we were at the Hundred Flowers Awards, I was still able to muster the courage to treat you as an equal colleague in the entertainment industry."

"And... I was actually hoping to get in back then."

She raised her eyes and looked at Shen Mo, her gaze clear.

"As for now, you're my boss! You've given me such an important role, I'm both grateful and... a little afraid of not doing a good job and letting you down."

Shen Mo looked at her slightly flushed cheeks and her eyes, which were trying to appear calm but still couldn't hide a trace of nervousness, and couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

"The boss's identity is for convenience, not for creating distance."

Shen Mo picked up the wine glass she had just filled for him, but didn't drink it. He just swirled it gently, looking at her with a peaceful gaze.

"With me, you don't have to be on edge all the time."

"What I'd like to see more from you at the Hundred Flowers Awards is the confidence and decisiveness you displayed; that's what will allow you to go further."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of encouragement.

"Show that fighting spirit of yours, that's what a big star like Li Qin should be like."

Li Qin listened intently, her initial restraint gradually dissipating, but it also ignited a deep-seated desire and fighting spirit within her.

From her decision to join Rongxinda after studying Kunqu Opera for four years at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, to her decisive choice to join Mohen, she has always been that brave girl who pursues her dreams.

In a daze, she saw the Hundred Flowers Award for Newcomer held in the hands of the 11-year-old girl, which slowly materialized into the man in front of her.

She nodded vigorously, her eyes regaining their resolve.

"Thank you, boss! I'll let go of any unnecessary burdens and welcome Li Lin's return!"

"That's right."

Shen Mo then raised his wine glass and gestured to her.

"That's right."

Shen Mo then raised his wine glass and gestured to her.

"Once you join Inkmark, we're one family."

"You can be as reckless as you want. As long as you don't make any fundamental mistakes, I'll cover for you."

Because of this promise, Li Qin's face broke into a more natural and bright smile. She held up her cup with both hands and gently touched it with Shen Mo's.

"Thank you, boss! I'll take it seriously."

After downing another beer, Li Lin's face flushed even more, and she blinked several times before her eyes could refocus.

Before she could pour herself another glass of wine, Shen Mo reached out and snatched the bottle from her hand, frowning.

"If you can't drink, then don't. I don't have the rule of serving drinks here."

Li Qin's hand holding the wine bottle froze in mid-air, the curve of her lips frozen in place, then suddenly widened into a bright smile.

She stood up, took the empty wine glass, and sat down next to Shen Mo, then snatched the wine bottle from his hand with a slight pull.

As she poured the wine, she leaned slightly forward, resting one shoulder on Shen Mo's body.

"I'm not here to serve drinks!"

"I'm happy, and I willingly want to drink!"

"Boss, how about a few drinks with me?"

Li Qin tilted her head, resting her chin on the back of her hand holding the wine glass, and looked at Shen Mo with a smile, her eyes still hazy from just two glasses of wine.

Shen Mo turned his head and met Li Qin's hazy gaze, which was very close to his.

He frowned almost imperceptibly for a moment, then relaxed, his tone carrying a hint of helpless mockery.

"Happiness comes with drinking? That's a novel idea."

He reached out and gently pushed her leaning shoulder back a little.

"Sit still, or Director Lin will be giving me trouble tomorrow."

Li Qin sat up straight as he pulled her, but stubbornly pushed the wine glass towards him again, muttering to herself.

"Just one more, boss... the last one! I promise, it won't affect filming!"

She gazed at him longingly, her cheeks flushed, with a touch of coquettish charm.

Shen Mo didn't take the glass of wine. Instead, he moved the empty glass in front of her further away, his voice steady but unquestionable.

"How credible is your guarantee after the third drink?"

He watched her face fall instantly, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"If you want to drink, I'll drink with you to your heart's content on the day you finish filming."

"real?"

Li Qin's eyes suddenly lit up, and she subconsciously tried to move closer, but Shen Mo stopped her in her tracks with a single look.

She had no choice but to sit up obediently, but her smile couldn't be contained and widened.

"Boss, you can't go back on your word!"

"I never lie!"

Shen Mo picked up a skewer of grilled mantou slices and handed it to her.

"Eat something to line your stomach. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach is bad for your stomach."

"Also, if you know you can't drink, then don't drink. Your face turned this red after just two glasses of wine. How dare you come out drinking?"

Li Lin took the slice of steamed bun, took a small bite, and with food still in her mouth, asked the question in a muffled voice.

"Hehe, I'm happy."

"Well... boss, besides drinking, can we do something else?"

Her eyes darted around, a hint of probing mixed with a subtle expectation she herself wasn't even aware of.

Shen Mo paused, looked up at her, and the look in his eyes made Li Qin's heart skip a beat.

He spoke slowly, his tone devoid of emotion: "For example?"

Feeling a little guilty under his gaze, Li Qin quickly lowered her head, pretending to be focused on eating her bread slices, and lowered her voice.

"No...nothing, just asking casually."

She felt as if her little thoughts had been seen through.

"Li Lin".

Shen Mo's voice brought her attention back, and she looked up.

"You have a long road ahead of you, and although I say you should dare to strive and not be reserved."

"However, don't let momentary emotions cloud your judgment; go after what you truly want."

He said it subtly, but Li Lin understood.

The heat on her face subsided slightly, and a slightly teasing smile slowly appeared in her eyes.

"Boss, what emotion do you think affected me?"

A pair of smiling eyes stared at Shen Mo, and with her flushed cheeks, she even had a touch of allure.

Before Shen Mo could answer, she continued with a smile.

"I'm just plain bad at the game but I love playing."

"I like to drink three cups, but I can only drink three cups."

She put down the half-eaten slice of steamed bread and nodded seriously.

"I like to drink it because it relaxes me, releases the suppressed part of myself, and allows me to return to my most authentic state."

As she spoke, she blinked her alluring eyes and pouted, acting coquettishly.

"You can only have two drinks because you'll get drunk after the fourth, and then you'll probably be in a lot of trouble, boss."

"So, boss, would you like to have a third drink with me?"

"The final, third cup!"

Shen Mo gazed into her eyes for a long time, then helped her put down the wine glass in her hand.

"It's getting late. I'll call your assistant over and have him take you back to your hotel to rest."

"We'll drink the third glass of wine after you finish filming."

This time, Li Lin didn't insist and obediently took out her phone to send a message to her assistant.

She put down her phone, looked at Shen Mo, and her bright but somewhat aloof smile returned to her face.

"Thanks anyway, boss, for having dinner with me tonight and... for listening to all this rambling."

He was the first to stand up.

[friend?]

Li Qin watched his tall, straight back as he walked towards the door, pursed her lips, and slowly stood up to follow him.

She quickly caught up and walked beside him.

"Well, boss, could you give your employee friend Li Qin more opportunities for development in the future?"

Shen Mo didn't stop walking; he smiled and glanced at her.

"Then we'll see how you perform."