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

In a warm embrace, Meng Ziyi, exhausted from crying, finally fell into a deep sleep.

Shen Mo lowered his head and gazed at the sleeping face in his arms.

Her usually radiant face was now streaked with undried tears, and her swollen eyelids were marred by a slightly pouting lower lip.

Even in his sleep, his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he still harbored lingering resentment.

His heart felt as if something had gently tugged at it.

I do feel guilty, though not much.

The pity was genuine, but it felt very abrupt.

Looking back, was he really a scumbag, a 35+1-year-old middle-aged man in the capital industry?

You could say he's not a jerk.

Because he never actively seeks out women or plays with their feelings, given his current status and wealth, finding one would be very easy for him.

But it's also trash!

In his past life, he had also engaged in many casual flings and one-night stands. Li Yitong even deliberately called him a few times at crucial moments, but Tian Xiwei simply turned a blind eye.

In this life, Bai Lu is with her childhood sweetheart Li Yitong, yet she still cannot resist the genuine affection that draws her closer.

Neither take the initiative nor refuse.

And now, a girl who used to be carefree and always smiling is now watching her cry so miserably, curled up in her arms seeking warmth.

Shen Mo felt that his heart had softened again.

Logically speaking, even if someone is a jerk, what does it have to do with her? What right does she have to criticize herself?

However, these thoughts did not appear immediately. What appeared was an indescribable complex emotion, like a tangled mess, swirling in my mind.

He seemed to have no particular feelings for her before, and he really never noticed her thoughts.

In front of him, Meng Ziyi was always full of energy, even a little carefree, calling him "Brother Mo" while her eyes shone with admiration.

He acted like a fan who had successfully met their idol.

He always thought that it was just fans' biased view of their idols.

He never thought of himself as a RMB (Chinese currency) that everyone would love.

Shen Mo closed his eyes and rubbed his throbbing temples.

In his past life, he navigated the world of fame and fortune, socializing and putting on an act, and could return home with equanimity because he understood the boundaries, knew those people and those things, and knew that once he turned around, they were strangers.

But now?

Bai Mengyan's unwavering passion was something he couldn't easily let go of.

The one in his arms, seemingly carefree, is actually quite sensitive and has clearly developed feelings for him, yet she just happened to "catch" his "misdeeds".

At this moment, Shen Mo clearly felt for the first time that things seemed to be getting a little tricky.

After a while, Meng Ziyi opened her eyes groggily, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Before she could fully regain consciousness, she felt her eyelids were heavy and swollen.

He unconsciously nuzzled his head, the familiar and reassuring scent lingering around his nose.

She habitually reached out her little hand, grabbed the hem of her clothes, and gently rubbed her eyes.

Halfway through the kneading, her hand suddenly stopped.

Her muddled mind suddenly cleared, and the memories from just now surged back like a tidal wave—the aggrieved accusations, the breakdown and crying, and... the embrace that was holding her right now.

She froze instantly.

Her fingers, gripping her clothes, curled slightly, and her pouting lips unconsciously tightened.

She cautiously raised her head, stealthily glancing upwards, wanting to observe Shen Mo's reaction.

In her line of sight, Shen Mo was gazing out the window, seemingly unaware of her series of subtle movements.

Thankfully, I didn't see it...

Just as Meng Ziyi breathed a sigh of relief, a sudden surge of inexplicable grievance and resentment welled up inside her!

[I'm...I'm already in your arms! How can you still ignore me?!]

[I cried for so long, I was so heartbroken, don't you care at all how I am now?!]

This emotion came quickly and suddenly, mixed with lingering grievances and indignation, as well as an inexplicable sense of shame and annoyance.

She forcefully pushed against Shen Mo's chest with both hands and broke free from his embrace.

The movement was so large that the sofa swayed slightly.

She stood still, her chest rising and falling slightly with her rapid breathing, her large, still red and swollen eyes glaring angrily.

My entire body screams "I'm Angry!"

Shen Mo was taken aback by her sudden action, and when he turned around, he met a pair of eyes burning with fire.

Meng Ziyi stood in front of him, her hair slightly disheveled from being in his arms, a few strands clinging to her tear-stained cheeks, her eyes red and swollen, and the tip of her nose also red.

Despite looking disheveled and pitiful, he insisted on making a fierce expression.

Seeing Shen Mo's seemingly bewildered expression, she became even more furious, her chest heaving violently.

I want to say something, but I feel that whatever I say will make me seem too concerned and cheapen myself.

In the end, she just glared at him fiercely, let out a cold snort with a sob in her voice, then turned around abruptly and resolutely rushed towards the door.

"Bang!"

She slammed the door shut with a loud bang, making the walls seem to tremble slightly.

"Bang!"

She slammed the door shut with a loud bang, making the walls seem to tremble slightly.

Shen Mo was completely sobered up by her series of actions.

He stared at the door that was still trembling slightly, and he could almost hear the choked groan she made as she left. For a moment, he felt a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

He raised his hand to rub his temples, feeling the warmth and weight that had suddenly disappeared from his arms, and the faint sweet fragrance of her body seemed to linger in the air.

Looking down at the water stains on his chest, soaked with her tears, Shen Mo shook his head helplessly.

This girl... doesn't seem to have completely calmed down.

"Bang!"

The door slammed shut behind her. Back in her room, Meng Ziyi leaned against the cold door, as if all her strength had been drained, and slowly slid down onto the carpet.

In the quiet room, only her rapid, unsteady breathing and her pounding heartbeat remained.

The imposing aura she had just mustered in front of Shen Mo vanished instantly, replaced by endless regret and self-doubt.

She hugged her knees and buried her burning face in them.

[Was I too fierce just now? I was crying and making a scene, and I even slammed the door...]

The image of myself "throwing a tantrum" kept replaying in my mind.

[Oh no, Mo-ge will definitely think I'm reckless, willful, and foolish, and not mature at all!]

The panic of her image being completely ruined gripped her.

But the thought was quickly suppressed by an even stronger anger.

Why am I thinking about these things?!

She suddenly raised her head and hastily wiped her face.

[He's a two-timing scumbag! He's with Tong Jie, and he's also getting involved with Meng Yan!]

[Do I even care what impression he has of me?! Am I stupid?!]

She tried to arm herself with anger to dispel the unnecessary concern in her heart.

After the anger subsided, a deeper sense of bewilderment and confusion welled up inside me.

[Mengyan...what is she really thinking?]

[She definitely knows about Tong Jie and Mo Ge's relationship!]

[Did she just accept it? Accept this...sharing?]

Meng Ziyi couldn't understand it. She felt that if it were her, she would never be able to tolerate such grievances and impurity.

A thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

[Does Sister Tong know?]

Thinking that Li Yitong had always treated her well, an impulse to "tell on her" began to surface.

[Should I help him cover it up? And watch Sister Tong be kept in the dark?]

But then she hesitated.

[But...would it hurt Tong-jie if I told her? And...]

Moreover, deep down, she didn't really want to push Shen Mo into such a difficult situation, and this contradiction made her even more irritable.

How should I face him now?

[Will you still call him "Brother Mo" with a big smile like before?]

[And then there's Mengyan. Seeing her reminds me of...them...]

A feeling of being "betrayed" by both a close friend and a crush welled up inside me.

[Should I pretend I know nothing?]

[I'd suffocate!]

The most crucial issue cannot be avoided.

Knowing he's this kind of person... do I still love him?

She asked herself.

What came to mind was the image of him earnestly persuading her parents at their home in Chuncheng, the indulgent look in his eyes when he occasionally glanced at her, his focused profile while working, and the warmth of her embrace just now…

But all his kindness now seems like poison coated in sugar!

My heart aches. That infatuation didn't seem to disappear immediately after I learned the truth; instead, it turned into an even more tormenting bitterness and resentment.

An extremely dangerous thought quietly peeked out.

[If Yume-chan can do it... why can't I?]

This idea startled her, and she instantly blushed!

[If...if he were also willing to...]

Realizing what she was thinking, she jerked her head back and slapped her cheeks hard.

[This is insane!]

[How could I, Meng Ziyi, possibly have such thoughts!]

A feeling of shame welled up inside me.

[Sharing someone you like with others? That's too degrading! Too humiliating! I can't do it!]

Her pride and the self-esteem that had been cherished since childhood rebelled fiercely at this moment.

[Scumbag!]

She finally gritted her teeth and redefined Shen Mo's character.

[Yes! He's a jerk! I can't think about him anymore!]

She scrambled to her feet, rushed into the bathroom, turned on the tap, and repeatedly splashed cold water on her face, trying to extinguish the turmoil in her heart and the abnormal temperature on her face.

In the mirror, her eyes were still red and swollen, but her gaze was filled with struggle and confusion.

And a tiny flame, which she herself was unwilling to admit, had not yet been completely extinguished.

Just then, a clear knocking sound rang out on the door.

Immediately afterwards, Shen Mo's familiar voice came from outside the door.

"Ziyi, it's almost time, I have to go now."

His voice was calm, revealing little emotion, as if nothing had happened.

Meng Ziyi's body stiffened instantly. She abruptly raised her head, her wet face streaked with water, indistinguishable between cold water and tears of resentment.

She bit her lower lip hard, staring at the closed door, a feeling that was hard to describe as either anger or disappointment welling up inside her.

[Leave? You're just leaving like that?!]

Am I really that unimportant to you?!

[I know all about your scumbag behavior, aren't you afraid I'll ruin you?!]

She almost wanted to rush out, yell at the door, and demand to know what he took her for.

But her remaining rationality and pitiful self-esteem prevented her from moving.

Just as she was torn between her inner turmoil and trembling with anger, the screen of her phone on the sink suddenly lit up.

A new WeChat message notification popped up.

Sender: Shen Mo

Meng Ziyi's gaze was fixed on that name, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

What else will he post? An explanation? An apology? Or mockery?

She bit her lip hard, her fingers curled up, and she was struggling intensely inside.

[I'm not looking! What's so interesting about news about scumbags!]

But... what if he...?

[Meng Ziyi! Can't you be a little more sensible?!]

[Just one look! Just one look! Delete it after you're done!]

Ultimately, emotion briefly prevailed over reason.

She extended her slightly trembling finger and tapped the message.

On the screen, a picture lay quietly.

It was a hand-drawn, rough yet vivid Q-version drawing.

A little girl sat on the ground, puffing out her cheeks with exaggerated anger symbols above her head. Several squashed balls were scattered around her, and she was clutching a huge, sparkling diamond candy tightly in her arms.

The art style is childlike and simple, yet it inexplicably hits the mark with cuteness.

Below the image is a short line of text.

[A sketch of your birthday present.]

[Made to order, guaranteed to be larger than what they received.]

There was no apology, no explanation, and no mention of any unpleasantness that had just occurred.

He responded to her earlier tearful statement, "I want better gifts than all theirs," in the simplest way possible.

"puff……"

Looking at the cute and ugly chibi version of myself in that painting, looking like a wronged child, and that ridiculously large diamond candy.

Meng Ziyi couldn't hold back and laughed through her tears.

She quickly covered her mouth, but her eyes uncontrollably reddened again.

The disheveled girl in the mirror, her eyes filled with struggle and confusion, was made even more chaotic by this unconventional gift.

The flame she was desperately trying to suppress not only failed to extinguish, but instead, with a "whoosh," it shot up even higher.

She abruptly turned off her phone screen, flipped it face down on the sink, and made a soft "smack" sound.

But the childish drawing and the phrase "I guarantee it will be bigger than theirs" kept swirling in my mind, refusing to leave.

"asshole……"

She looked at her pathetic self in the mirror and muttered a curse in a tearful voice, but she could no longer confidently label him a "scumbag" like before.

How can she continue to "hate" it?