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

Urgent! Major plot twist! Watch now!

It was the same hotel, and even the aromatherapy scent wafting through the corridors seemed somewhat familiar.

But the door to the KTV room in front of me was much wider and heavier than the one I remembered, and the gilded door number reflected a low-key luster under the dim lighting.

Bai Lu stood in front of the door and took a deep breath.

She had specially chosen the off-white suit skirt she was wearing, and even her makeup was more dignified than usual.

Her fingertips were slightly cool, and her palms were a little damp. She was trying to use this look to hide the little deer running wild inside her.

She recalled how, last time, it was in this hotel's KTV room that she had impulsively and directly barged in and taken Shen Mo away.

I also thought of those exquisitely made-up, slender models moving through the crowd.

"I'm here representing Brother Mo..."

She silently repeated the phrase, as if it would give her some confidence and courage.

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her bright eyes were now imbued with the calmness she had learned from Shen Mo.

She raised her hand and pushed open the door.

A deafening roar of sound and a dazzling display of light swept over us in an instant.

The huge circular sofa was almost full of people. Almost all the people from Mohen Assets whom I had seen last time were present, and there were also some new faces.

Several familiar or semi-familiar faces turned around, and the lively conversation seemed to be briefly paused the moment they saw her.

Countless gazes focused on her, filled with surprise, scrutiny, and a sudden realization.

Bai Lu's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a polite smile and straightened her back.

"Assistant Bai?"

Zhao Feng was the first to stand up. He wasn't wearing a suit today; a dark polo shirt made him look easygoing.

His surprise lasted less than half a second before he put down his wine glass, stood up, and took two steps toward the door.

"President Zhao, everyone," Bai Lu's voice was clear, with a slight, barely perceptible tension, but thankfully it was steady enough.

"President Shen had some last-minute arrangements, so he asked me to come on his behalf and celebrate with everyone."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Feng nodded and stepped aside to make way for the central area of ​​the sofa.

"Please come in, Assistant Bai. Mr. Shen is too kind, making a special trip for you."

He said this to Bai Lu, but also to everyone present.

He was emphasizing her importance to everyone present.

Welcome, Bai Zhu!

"Assistant Bai has become even more beautiful!"

"Assistant Bai, you should drink more today!"

A cacophony of welcomes and applause erupted the instant Zhao Feng finished speaking.

A female model who was originally sitting next to Zhao Feng widened her eyes when she saw Zhao Feng, who was half a step behind Bai Lu. This... isn't that... someone? He looks like a celebrity?

Suddenly she felt someone pat her arm. Turning around, she saw a man sitting next to her. She thought others had called him President Li.

She met his gaze, immediately realized what was happening, and quickly stood up, giving up her spot.

"Assistant Bai, please have a seat here."

The man who had just spoken was Li Gong, the vice president of Mohen Capital. He then gestured for Bai Lu to sit in the empty seat that had been left open, and gently pushed a glass of freshly poured champagne in front of her.

Bai Lu sat down as instructed, her straight back revealing her unease and stiffness.

She could feel the gazes around her still subtly surrounding her, filled with curiosity, speculation, and perhaps even a hint of disdain or scrutiny.

"Assistant Bai, would you like something to drink?"

Zhao Feng took a glass of juice from the bar counter by the door and replaced the glass of champagne. "Assistant Bai might be more used to this."

This detail warmed Bai Lu's heart. She took the cup, and the cool temperature eased the tension in her fingertips.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhao."

"Actually, Brother Mo told me to just call you Brother Zhao, but I think I should ask for your permission first."

Brother Mo? Brother Zhao?

The light in Zhao Feng's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly; he understood the deeper meaning of those words almost instantly.

One "Brother Mo" and one "Brother Zhao" instantly elevated Bai Lu's importance in his heart by several levels.

This wasn't Bai Lu seeking his consent; rather, Shen Mo was using Bai Lu to tell him how much he valued her.

His smile deepened immediately, and most of his condescending perfunctory attitude vanished in an instant, his tone becoming more familiar and friendly.

"Assistant Bai—"

"Hey! Look at me, it's time to change my tune."

"Lulu!"

"At the company, you're still Assistant Bai."

"But in private, we're like family. I feel comfortable hearing him call me Brother Zhao, so of course I agree."

He took the opportunity to sit down in the empty seat next to Bai Lu, saying, "President Shen is very thoughtful."

"Since you're here representing him, you're one of us. It's only natural for you to call me Brother Zhao. Everyone here calls me Brother Zhao in private, right, brothers?"

"Of course, Brother Zhao!"

Several nearby employees of Mohen gathered around, all wearing perfectly appropriate smiles.

"Assistant Bai, we don't need you to call us 'brother,' but could you perhaps find a chance to introduce us to other celebrities in the entertainment industry, take us photos, and get us some autographs?"

"Go away!" Zhao Feng waved his hand dismissively, looking at them with a look of utter contempt. "Your standards are so low!"

"I thought you guys were going to ask Lulu to help you find girlfriends in the entertainment industry, is that all?"

"Hehe, we know our own limitations."

Zhao Feng turned to look at Bai Lu, "Lulu, don't be fooled by their unreliability."

"These are all key personnel from our Inkmark Capital!"

"This is Li Gong, the vice president of our Mohen Asset Management, formerly a diamond analyst at Guangfa."

"This is Zhang Chao, formerly a diamond analyst at Zhejiang Merchants."

"This is Liu Chenming, formerly Guolian's best analyst."

……

He then changed the subject, adding a perfectly timed remark.

"President Shen treats us brothers exceptionally well. He not only provides excellent benefits, but he also remembers to celebrate small things like today."

"They even let you represent him, which means they really consider us one of their own."

Zhao Feng raised his wine glass and gently swirled it among Bai Lu and the others.

"Lulu, come on, let's have a drink together. Because you call me Brother Zhao, nobody's allowed to force you to drink tonight. If anyone tries, come to me, I'll handle it!"

Bai Lu was completely relaxed at this moment, her big, dark, bright eyes staring at everyone without blinking.

She smiled slightly, then pushed aside the glass of juice in front of her and picked up the glass of champagne that had been in front of her.

"Since you're calling me Brother Zhao, I should drink this glass of champagne no matter what."

"However," she said, her big eyes darting around with a mischievous glint in them, "after I finish this drink, Brother Li, Brother Zhang, Brother Liu, you can't let me drink any more."

As it turns out, Bai Lu's coquettish and playful tone was fatal to several men in their twenties and thirties.

"Absolutely!"

"Just because you called me 'brother' like that, Lulu, you don't even need to drink this!"

"Anyone who dares to force you to drink too much, I'll fight them to the death for you!"

Bai Lu chuckled, "No way, I still have to drink the first cup."

"I'm here on behalf of Brother Mo to attend your celebration, so I can't be impolite."

After saying that, she raised the champagne in her glass and downed it in one gulp.

"Oh my, my dear lady, drink slowly!"

Bai Lu's decisive downing of the drink instantly startled the several grown men around her.

After all, we don't know Assistant Bai's exact alcohol tolerance. (You've received a new chapter update: Chapter 157, "Representing Brother Mo," reading link.) What if he gets drunk? Should we call President Shen to take care of him?

Perhaps she drank a little too quickly, as a slight blush appeared on her face, but her gaze remained relatively steady.

"It's okay, I can still drink half a bottle."

"If you don't believe me, I'll have a few more drinks with you!"

After saying that, Bai Lu reached out towards the wine bottle on the coffee table, which startled Zhao Feng so much that he snatched it away and hugged it to his arms.

"No, you can't drink it."

"Lulu, if you still call me Brother Zhao, you're only getting juice tonight!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The people around nodded hurriedly, afraid of being too slow.

Bai Lu pouted, looking aggrieved. "Didn't Brother Mo tell me to come and celebrate with you guys? How are we supposed to celebrate if I don't even drink?"

"Sigh, what are you saying? You can celebrate without drinking."

Does Lulu like to sing?

"Want to play a song?"

Zhao Feng handed over a microphone in front of him, and upon glancing at it, he noticed the female model who had just sat down next to him.

"Hey, come here and sing with Lulu."

"We're a bunch of grown men, and we're not exactly good at singing."

It's not that I can't sing, it's that I don't like to sing a duet with this assistant Bai, who's called "Brother Mo".

However, if it's a girl singing along with Bai Lu, that's a different story.

When the female model walked over, Zhao Feng moved to the other side to make room for her to sit down.

"Tonight, your task is to keep this Miss Bai company."

"Whether it's singing, drinking juice, or chatting with her, don't make her feel awkward or lonely."

"If you do this well, I'll give you five times your fee tonight."

A barely audible voice came from Zhao Feng's mouth as the female model sat down.

The female model was clearly quick to understand. Upon hearing Zhao Feng's words, her eyes lit up slightly, and she immediately put on an even sweeter and more enthusiastic smile before sitting down next to Bai Lu.

She also adopted a humble posture, taking the initiative to pick up another microphone and turning to face Bai Lu.

"Miss Bai, my name is Annie. What songs would you like to sing? I probably know a few of them."

Her voice was soft, carrying just the right amount of flattery and companionship.

Looking at the girl with exquisite makeup and a charming smile in front of her, Bai Lu vaguely seemed to see the blurry figure in Shen Mo's arms in the private room a few months ago.

So this is what socializing is all about?

So, this time, it's not Mo Ge who's being accompanied, but me?

"Just call me Lulu."

Bai Lu smiled in response, "My singing is so-so."

"Annie, sing! I'm listening and I'll applaud you."

"How can that be? Brother Zhao asked me to keep you company."

Annie was very good at talking. "How about we order a simple duet? 'When Love Is Near'? Or 'Little Dimples'?"

As she spoke, she looked up and gestured to another girl next to the karaoke machine to operate it.

She was clearly an expert in this area, knowing how to liven up the atmosphere without making anyone feel awkward.

Zhao Feng watched from the side, took a satisfied sip of wine, and winked at Li Gong.

Li Gong understood, picked up his wine glass, and joined the girls who had gathered around in playing a drinking dice game.

Every now and then, he would chat with the other analysts next to him about some interesting cases in the market recently.

The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for Bai Lu to hear. Although she couldn't understand it, she could sense that it was a conscious acceptance from them.

She relaxed and leaned back on the sofa, listening to Annie sing a love song with her beautiful voice. Then, as the intro to the next upbeat song began, Annie half-pulled and half-persuaded her to put the microphone in her mouth.

"Lulu, this song 'Cotton Candy' is really sweet, it'll definitely suit you. Give it a try, I'll sing it with you!"

Bai Lu couldn't refuse, and with a bit of alcohol and the atmosphere, she reluctantly started humming along.

At first, her voice was soft and she was a little reserved, but with Annie's enthusiasm and the timely applause and singing along from those around her, she gradually found her rhythm.

She actually sang very well, but in this unfamiliar environment, she subconsciously didn't dare to sing.

But at this moment, feeling accepted by her surroundings and integrated into the group, the girl's innocent and charming appearance gradually reappeared.

"Hey, I have to say, Lulu's singing voice is actually quite nice!"

Zhang Chao joked with a smile, which drew a chorus of laughter in agreement.

"It sounds much better than your singing, doesn't it!" Liu Chenming added.

"Of course, otherwise how could Lulu be a big star?"

Zhao Feng smiled and shook his head, saying to Bai Lu.

"We brothers are all honest people. We might not always say the nicest things, but we're always sincere. But Lulu, you sang really well. Don't be afraid, sing your heart out!"

After Bai Lu finished singing a section, her cheeks turned even redder, whether from the alcohol or excitement, it was hard to tell.

She put down the microphone, her eyes sparkling, said "thank you" to Annie, and then looked at Zhao Feng and the others.

"Brother Zhao, please stop making fun of me."

"This isn't mockery, it's appreciation."

Zhao Feng waved his hand, his tone becoming much more sincere.

"Lulu, we're all so happy that you could come today and celebrate with us so openly."

"This shows that President Shen doesn't treat us as mere subordinates, and you truly treat us as your own people."

"That's enough!"

These words resonated with some people.

While the capital circle prioritizes profit, it also values ​​personal relationships and social standing.

The fact that Shen Mo sent such a close and willing person to integrate is itself a strong signal of trust and unity.

Li Gong raised his glass again at the opportune moment.

"Come on, to thank President Shen for his trust, and to thank Lulu for gracing us with her presence today, let's have another one!"

"Lulu, you can just keep drinking your juice!"

"Yes, let's have one!"

The atmosphere became lively again.

This time, Bai Lu readily agreed and raised her glass of juice, clinking glasses with everyone.

She knew she had accomplished the most important "ice-breaking" and "statement" of the night.

Now, she is "one of us".

Annie was very dedicated. In addition to singing along, she would also chat with Bai Lu in a low voice about gossip in the entertainment industry, and then thoughtfully pour her juice and hand her snacks.

Around 10 o'clock, Bai Lu took the initiative to suggest leaving early.

He knew it wasn't appropriate for him to stay any longer, since with her there, it would be difficult for them to carry out the subsequent "activities."

Zhao Feng personally escorted Bai Lu to the hotel entrance.

"Lulu, you've worked hard today."

"The brothers are all very happy. Thank you, Mr. Shen, for remembering us. Thank you for being with us today; we all like you very much."

"Brother Zhao, please don't say that. I should be thanking you for taking care of me."

Bai Lu spoke sincerely, the night breeze dispelling the heat from her face, her eyes clear.

"I had a lot of fun today, really."

"That's good."

"Come downstairs often in the future. Mohen Asset Management welcomes Assistant Bai anytime."

Bai Lu rolled her eyes at him, with just the right amount of intimacy.

"If Brother Zhao calls me Assistant Bai, then every time Brother Mo asks me to pass something on to you, I'll tell you at the last minute."

"Haha, then let's not do it, Lulu, please have mercy."

Zhao Feng opened the door of the stopped taxi. "Get in. See you at the company."

He then instructed the driver, "Drive carefully and make sure you get there safely."

The car drove away from the hotel and merged into the dazzling traffic of the capital city.

Bai Lu leaned back in her chair, let out a long sigh, and a tired but satisfied smile appeared on her face.