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

With the continued popularity of "A Little Reunion", Bai Lu finally tasted the sweetness and pain of being a big star.

In just two months, she traveled around the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, recording variety shows, shooting magazine covers, and accepting endorsements... her schedule was so packed she could hardly breathe.

Only when the familiar outline of the capital city reappeared outside the airplane window did her tense nerves finally relax.

Back in her apartment, she lay in the empty room for a while, when a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

Then she jumped out of bed instantly, rushed into the dressing room, put on a simple and neat beige suit, put on a pair of non-prescription black-rimmed glasses, and tied her long hair into a simple high ponytail.

He casually picked up the Running Man folder from the table, then opened the door and left.

Mohen, your "Assistant Bai" is back!

"Shirosuke is back!"

"Assistant Bai looks great!"

"Little White is getting prettier and prettier!"

As you walk through the office area, familiar greetings echo throughout.

Bai Lu smiled and nodded in response to each one, but her pace quickened involuntarily.

Although being a big star means being fawned over by everyone, you still need to maintain a smile and carefully consider your words at all times, which can feel a bit uncomfortable.

Yet every greeting here was so casual, every smile so familiar, and a feeling of comfort from the bottom of her heart made her feel lazy all over.

After confirming with Rebecca in the secretariat that Shen Mo was currently in his office, the curve of her lips deepened.

"I'll go in and report to General Manager Shen on the progress of the Running Man project."

Her tone was light and businesslike, but only her slightly bright eyes betrayed an unusual anticipation.

Standing before that heavy, dark wooden door, she took a deep breath, raised her hand, and knocked three times on the door with her knuckles.

"Enter."

Bai Lu pushed the door open and entered, gently closing it behind her to shut out the noise from the outside world.

The office was filled with the familiar aroma of tea. Her gaze almost instantly locked onto the figure behind the desk, and her eyes met those of Shen Mo, who was looking up at the door.

The moment their eyes met, Bai Lu's carefully maintained composure melted away like thin ice under the sunlight.

Her pink lips trembled slightly uncontrollably. A thin layer of moisture quickly welled up in his clear black and white eyes.

Shen Mo gazed at her, his expression softening noticeably.

He didn't speak, but simply placed the pen in his hand steadily, then gently pushed off with his foot, and the chair, with the rotation of the casters, created a perfect distance between itself and the desk.

Then, he opened his arms to her.

Bai Lu felt a lump in her throat and, no longer caring about her image, threw the folder onto the table. Then, like a weary bird returning to its nest, she rushed straight into that warm and solid embrace.

All the rushing, exhaustion, and pretense vanished instantly in front of those arms.

Shen Mo caught her steadily, wrapped his arms around her slender waist, let her sit on his lap, and then pulled her into his embrace.

Her high ponytail brushed against his chin, the ends of her hair carrying a faint scent of shampoo.

"Tired?"

His voice rang out above her head, deep and gentle, and his grip tightened.

Bai Lu buried her face deep in the crook of his neck, greedily inhaling his cool and reassuring scent.

She gave a muffled "hmm," her voice thick with a nasal tone.

After a while, she finally spoke in a muffled voice, as if complaining or being coquettish.

"I sleep in the car and on the plane every day. As soon as I get off the car, I put on makeup and then start shooting. I'm like a robot."

"And those skirts, they're so tight they're practically strangling you, they're so uncomfortable to wear."

Shen Mo chuckled softly, "Aren't all big stars like this?"

"I don't want to be any big star."

Bai Lu snuggled against him, looked up, her eyes slightly red, but bright and sparkling as she looked straight into his eyes.

"I just want to be your assistant, hehe, nobody here cares if I'm fat or thin."

Shen Mo gazed at her face, which was so close to his. Compared to two months ago, she seemed a little thinner, and her chin was a bit sharper, but the sparkle in her eyes had not diminished at all.

He raised his hand and gently wiped away the faint dark circles under her eyes with his fingers.

"You've lost weight." His tone carried a hint of heartache.

"I'm tired from running around for gigs," Bai Lu muttered, then remembered something and picked up the folder she had just left on the table, holding it up to him like a treasure.

"Oh right, I almost forgot about the important matter!"

"Brother Mo, Bai Lu, the MC of Running Man, has officially invited you to appear in the first episode of Running Man. Would you accept?"

Her eyes were wide open, and she had a serious expression on her face.

Shen Mo took the document and placed it on the table, his lips slightly pursed, then he leaned back in his chair.

Bai Lu quickly leaned closer, then grabbed his tie and said in a coquettish tone.

"Hey Mo, come over and hang out! You're so popular, help us generate some buzz!"

Shen Mo wrapped his arms around her waist again, pulling her closer to him so that she sat sideways on his lap, creating a more intimate and comfortable position.

"Did the production team send you? Didn't I refuse them?"

"No! I asked to come here myself! This is where my dream began, and where it came true."

"I also want to show my worth! If I can invite guests that they can't even get to, wouldn't that be amazing?"

Bai Lu was held in his arms, a faint blush slowly creeping onto her cheeks, and her voice grew softer and softer.

She blinked, her long eyelashes like tiny brushes: "And also... I wanted you to come with me to record this first episode."

The sound was very soft, but it touched a soft spot in Shen Mo's heart.

He didn't speak, but lowered his head and placed a gentle and precious kiss on her forehead.

Bai Lu trembled, then nestled even softer into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and murmuring softly.

"I haven't seen you, Brother Mo, for months. If you're going to be traveling all over the country with Running Man, it'll be even longer before I see you again."

"I just wanted you to record at least one episode with me, so that at least on that day... I could be by your side openly and honestly."

As she spoke, her fingers unconsciously twirled the end of his tie, wrapping it around and around, entangling her secret hopes and little thoughts at her fingertips.

Shen Mo didn't answer immediately, but let her lean against him, gently stroking her back with his hand.

The office was quiet, with only the slight hum of the air conditioner and the mingling of breathing.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, his words tinged with a hint of amusement.

"If I go, the intensity will be way too much. Are you sure you can keep up if you're on my team?"

Bai Lu immediately looked up, her eyes wide, and he agreed!

"Brother Mo, come on... I'm sure I have the energy!"

As soon as she said it, she suddenly realized that her words might be ambiguous or too blunt, and her ears inexplicably turned redder, but she stubbornly refused to look away.

Shen Mo reached out and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear with his fingertips.

"Okay! Then I'll have to trouble our regular MC, the superstar Bai Lu, to take good care of me, this newbie on variety shows."

Bai Lu nodded vigorously, her ponytail swaying back and forth, her face filled with barely suppressed excitement and sweetness.

She buried her face back in his shoulder, filled with joyful affection, her soft voice drifting out.

"Brother Mo is the best..."

"Little sycophant," Shen Mo chuckled.

Bai Lu nuzzled against his shoulder contentedly, like a kitten that had finally gotten a treat. The tension from days of running around was completely relieved at this moment, and a sense of weariness began to rise up.

She couldn't help but let out a small yawn.

"Tired?"

"A little..."

Bai Lu vaguely admitted that she had found a more comfortable spot in the crook of his neck.

"I haven't slept well these past few days, I keep thinking about how to persuade you when I get back today."

"Now that you've convinced them, can you sleep peacefully?"

Shen Mo's tone carried a hint of a smile, and a touch of barely perceptible pity.

He adjusted his position slightly so she could lean back more comfortably, one arm still around her, while the other reached for the desk and pressed the mute button on the internal phone.

"Um……"

Bai Lu's response was already tinged with sleepiness, but her arms were still wrapped around his neck dependently, showing no intention of letting go.

"Brother Mo, don't move... I'll just lean on you for a little while, ten minutes... just ten minutes..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, and her breathing gradually became even and long.

Shen Mo remained in that position, his gaze fixed on her peaceful sleeping face.

Having shed her heavy makeup and glamorous appearance from the camera, along with her mischievous and lively eyes, her features now soften, revealing a hint of vulnerability amidst the weariness of her long journey.

He remembered the first time he saw her on the streets of Seoul, the girl who was crouching in a corner, crying miserably yet stubbornly.

Now, she can stand on her own and is at ease in front of the camera, but lying in his arms now, she seems to have turned back into the girl who needs a hug to comfort her.

After an unknown amount of time, Bai Lu groggily opened her eyes, blinked blankly, and only when she saw Shen Mo's jawline so close to her did she suddenly realize what was happening, and her face flushed red.

"I...I really fell asleep?"

She felt a little embarrassed and tried to straighten up, but Shen Mo gently pressed her back down.

"Hmm, it's okay, go back to sleep."

His voice carried a calming quality, "Anyway, there's nothing urgent today."

Bai Lu felt a surge of sweetness in her heart, and the lingering sleepiness and shyness were replaced by warmth.

She didn't force herself any longer, gently kissed Shen Mo's cheek, and then relaxed and curled up back into her body.

"Then...are your legs numb? Am I very heavy?"

"It's not heavy at all."

Shen Mo answered crisply, paused, and then added with a hint of mockery, "Much lighter than Bai Mengyan who lay on top of me in the hotel last time."

Bai Lu instantly snapped to attention, looked up at him with a flushed face, her ears practically bleeding.

Although they had already been intimate, as an eighteen-year-old girl in the prime of her youth, she still felt incredibly ashamed.

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying, but the smile in his eyes deepened.

Looking into his smiling eyes, Bai Lu suddenly felt less embarrassed, and a sweet feeling welled up in her heart.

She buried her face back in her arms. "Then you can hug me a little longer~"

"Otherwise, once I go on Running Man... you won't even have a chance to hug me!"

Shen Mo pinched her chin and lifted it slightly, then pressed his lips against hers.

"Do I want to hug you, or do you want to hug me?"