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

The Running Man program is planned to have ten episodes per season. The first two seasons each consisted of three episodes, and the last season consisted of four episodes, with a one-month interval between each season.

The filming of the first episode of Running Man officially wrapped up in the evening, bringing an end to the day's games and chases.

All that remained were the sounds of staff busily packing up equipment and the MCs chatting and laughing, slightly tired but excited.

Bai Lu stood at the hotel entrance, watching her manager and assistant carry the team's suitcases, one by one, onto the van.

She was still wearing the casual team uniform of the program, and a few strands of her hair were blown by the wind and stuck to her forehead, making her look a little messy.

She just pouted childishly, and her eyes, when looking at Shen Mo, were full of reluctance.

Shen Mo looked at Bai Lu, his brows furrowing slightly. "Leaving now?"

"Pretty much. I have to get to the next recording location tonight, and we have to record the second episode tomorrow morning."

Bai Lu's voice was muffled, and her toes unconsciously rubbed against the ground.

"The director also mentioned that later that evening, the production team and guests would have a meeting to summarize the problems from today's recording of the first episode and the direction for the second episode."

"After all, it's a new show, so I can understand."

"It's just that I'm a little reluctant to part with it."

Her voice trailed off as she spoke, and she looked up, her large, wet eyes staring straight at Shen Mo, filled with a bright, unwavering reluctance.

Seeing her like this, Shen Mo felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.

He reached out and naturally tucked that mischievous strand of hair behind her ear.

Be careful and take good care of yourself.

"If there are problems during recording, don't try to tough it out; communicate with the director team and your agent immediately."

"Okay, Brother Mo."

Bai Lu obediently agreed and took a small step forward, almost touching him.

But this was outside the hotel, otherwise she would have thrown herself into Shen Mo's arms.

At this moment, Deng Chao and his group also walked out of the hotel, chatting and laughing.

Deng Chao was the first to tease, "Oh, Mr. Shen, you're so worried, you personally delivered it to the door?"

"Don't worry, Lulu is the darling of our show, she won't suffer any losses!"

Chen He winked and said, "That's right, Mr. Shen, you can rest assured!"

"With us here, we guarantee Lulu will be well taken care of... well, I mean, happy and healthy!"

Shen Mo smiled in response, his tone becoming more sincere.

"Brother Chao, Teacher Sha, Brother He, and everyone else, Lulu is young and this is her first time being a regular on such a large-scale outdoor variety show. She is still getting used to many of the rules and rhythms."

"From now on, I'll have to trouble everyone to take care of her and look after her."

"She's straightforward, and sometimes she might not be so considerate. Please bear with her."

Sha Yi patted Shen Mo on the shoulder. Since it was the first episode and they were in the same group, his tone was more casual.

"Ah Mo, Lulu is with us, no problem!"

"If anyone dares to bully her, I, her old man, will be the first to object!"

"Besides, with the energy she had today, I might actually need her to take care of me!"

This remark drew laughter from the crowd, and Deng Chao nodded.

"Lulu is great, very talented, and outgoing. She's obviously very popular with the audience."

Bai Lu listened from the side. Shen Mo's request made her feel both warm and bittersweet. She quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her emotions.

Dilraba, who had been standing quietly behind Shen Mo, witnessed the entire scene.

She maintained a polite smile, and even winked playfully when Deng Chao looked over.

But the hands behind their backs, reaching out, unconsciously twisted together.

She looked at Shen Mo's profile, which was focused on giving instructions, and at the undisguised concern in his eyes for Bai Lu, and even a hint of... indulgence, which she wasn't sure if it was just her imagination.

It was like an extremely fine needle, gently pricking her heart.

She also participated in the recording, and she was just as busy and hardworking.

But Shen Mo's attention was clearly more focused on Bai Lu, with whom he was about to part ways.

Those instructions, those requests, those worries hidden beneath the ordinary words...

Everything reminded her that Bai Lu held a more special place in Shen Mo's heart.

And what about Dilraba?

Perhaps he was just an audience member, watching someone else's heartwarming drama unfold.

The production crew's vehicles set off one after another, and Bai Lu's nanny van was also ready.

Bai Lu took one last look at Shen Mo, then sniffed hard and gave a bright, reluctant smile.

"Brother Mo, Baba, I'm leaving!"

Shen Mo stood there, watching her get into the car, turning back every few steps.

"Let's go back too."

He turned around and spoke to Dilraba, his tone now calm and normal.

"Okay, Brother Mo."

Dilraba looked at the two elongated shadows at her feet, one in front of the other. She quietly quickened her pace by half a step, allowing her shadow to briefly overlap with Shen Mo's shadow.

A childish little gesture that went unnoticed, yet it carried a faint sigh.

"Are you hungry?" Shen Mo suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Dilraba lowered her head and stepped on her shadow, almost bumping into it.

"What would you like to eat?"

After filming wrapped, the production crew was busy moving to another location, and the two of them haven't had a chance to eat yet.

"How about we find something lighter? I've been running around all day and can't eat anything too greasy."

Dilraba steadied herself and took two steps back.

"I know a pretty good Chaoshan clay pot congee place nearby. It's very fresh and good for the stomach. I just don't know if you like congee, Brother Mo."

"The production team recommended this place when I came here to film a show last time."

Shen Mo nodded and readily accepted her suggestion, "You give directions."

After leaving the house and getting into a car, we turned into a relatively quiet old street, where we found a rather elegant shop.

At this time of day, there weren't many customers, so they chose a quiet booth further inside.

After ordering, while waiting, Dilraba unconsciously wiped the already clean table with a tissue, her mind churning with countless topics, but she didn't know where to begin.

How are you feeling today?

Shen Mo spoke first, leaning back and relaxing his body.

"Is it your first time filming such a large outdoor event? Are you used to it? I saw you were so scared when Kim Jong-kook was chasing you."

His tone was slightly joking, which immediately eased Dilraba's restraint, since this was the first time she had been alone with Shen Mo.

She smiled a little embarrassedly as she recalled how panicked she had been.

"It was pretty scary, but looking back, it was actually quite exciting."

She paused, then mustered her courage to look at Shen Mo, her eyes shining.

"Brother Mo, you were really amazing when you went one-on-one with him at the end. We were all stunned."

"It's mostly for the sake of the show, but luck also plays a part."

Shen Mo waved his hand and then teased, "But you're quite good at dodging. Except for the very end, I didn't run into you at all."

"That was strategic concealment!"

Dilraba's ears felt slightly warm from his words.

"If you can't beat them, you can only run and dodge."

I don't want to hide either. I want to be by your side, protected by you, just like Mengyan.

But what can I do if the production team won't pair me with you?

She protested softly, her tone unconsciously carrying a hint of coquettishness.

"And I even helped distract him in the end."

"Yes, that's right, Comrade Reba deserves a lot of credit."

Shen Mo nodded readily, but his serious expression and the curve of his lips only made the teasing more obvious.

The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

The atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed.

Steaming hot congee and several delicate side dishes were served, their aroma filling the air.

Shen Mo naturally served Dilraba a bowl first and handed it to her.

"Be careful, it's hot."

"Thank you, Brother Mo."

Dilraba accepted it, feeling a warmth in her heart.

She blew on it gently, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, opened her small mouth, and sipped it, feeling a warm sensation in her stomach.

She secretly glanced up at Shen Mo across from her, watching him slowly and methodically sip his porridge. This feeling was wonderful…

It's as if they've shed their identities as boss and employee, and temporarily set aside the glamour of the entertainment industry, and are just two...friends sitting down to have dinner together?

After drinking half of the porridge, I felt more relaxed.

Dilraba watched as Shen Mo put down his spoon and wiped his mouth with a napkin. His casual demeanor gave her a bit of courage.

She spoke as if by accident, her voice soft and sweet.

"Lulu should be here soon, right?"

"They must be quite busy tonight. After arriving, they'll rest and have dinner, then have another meeting, and they'll have to get up early tomorrow morning."

Shen Mo hummed in agreement. "She's got plenty of energy, she can handle it."

"The first few episodes of the new show are like this, but it gets much better later on."

The familiarity in those words made Dilraba's heart ache again.

This seems to have crossed the line between boss and assistant, and it also seems to be different from the relationship between boss and artist. At least my relationship with Shen Mo has not reached this point.

Her fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the spoon, but her expression remained one of concern.

"Brother Mo, you and Mengyan... have a really good relationship. It feels like you take special care of her."

She paused, as if carefully choosing her words, her face showing just the right amount of curiosity and innocence.

Shen Mo raised his eyes and looked at Dilraba.

The girl's clear eyes reflected the light, making her look innocent and harmless. However, her slightly tense shoulders betrayed that she was not as carefree as she appeared.

How could he not see through this cautious probing?

He didn't answer immediately, but instead picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Yume-ken..."

Shen Mo put down his cup, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes. "She, you could say, is someone I... 'picked up' from South Korea."

"She had just been eliminated at that time, and she was squatting on the street crying very sadly."

The tone wasn't overly embellished, but the initial compassion and the complex emotions of watching him grow up were subtly discernible.

"She doesn't have a strong sense of security, and once she sets her mind on something, she becomes a bit stubborn."

"After joining the company and working as my assistant for a long time, it's inevitable that you'll become more dependent on me."

He looked at Dilraba, his gaze gentle yet direct: "Actually, it's not just that I'm good to her."

"Whether it's Xiaotian, Churan, Haocun, Ziyi, or you, you are all people we have trained."

"From the day you started calling me Brother Mo, our relationship has become more than just that of boss and employee."

"Since you trust me and call me brother, then naturally I will take good care of you."

"Since you trust me and call me brother, then naturally I will take good care of you."

"I have to keep an eye on you so you don't go astray and suffer losses."

As Dilraba listened, the bitterness in her heart didn't completely dissipate, but she seemed to have found a logic that could temporarily put her mind at ease.

Yes, they were all trained by him, and he takes good care of them.

However, Bai Lu might be a bit special, since he picked her up and she was originally his assistant.

Therefore, it was only natural that she had been defending herself before.

Now, it's only natural that they're close.

Fortunately, I am also a member of Mohen, and one of the people he will "take care of".

She didn't know whether to feel relieved or even more disappointed.

"So that's how it is..."

She murmured, lowered her head and took a sip of porridge, concealing the complex emotions in her eyes.

After a while, she raised her head again, a smile returning to her face, tinged with envy and sincerity.

"But Lulu is really amazing and brave."

"During today's recording, she was always at the front of the line for many games, not afraid at all."

"You're not bad either," Shen Mo said, looking at her with certainty.

"Each has its own characteristics."

"Dilraba, you don't need to become anyone else or compare yourself to anyone else."

"You have your strengths: your popularity with the audience, your hard work, and that indomitable spirit, all of which are very valuable."

"You're just too sensitive, it makes you very tired."

"If there's something bothering you, feel free to talk to your brother Mo anytime. Don't keep it bottled up inside."

This sudden encouragement and care left Dilraba stunned.

Is this concern coming so quickly?

Gradually, her eyes lit up.

"Um!"

She nodded vigorously, and this time her smile was much more genuine.

"I will, Brother Mo! Just don't find me annoying, I'll work hard and not let you and the company down!"

"It's not about embarrassing me," Shen Mo corrected her, "it's about making yourself proud."

Dilraba felt a surge of warmth in her heart and nodded emphatically, "Yes!"

After dinner, Shen Mo and Dilraba returned to the hotel. Before parting, Shen Mo called out to her.

"Don't go back to Shanghai tomorrow. Change your flight and come to Beijing with me."

"I just thought of a role that I might want to give a try."

"play?"

Dilraba was a little confused. Wasn't she supposed to be preparing for "Twenty Your Life On"?

"The crew of 'Twenty Your Life On' is still in the preparation stage. Moreover, Ziyi is still preparing for the college entrance examination, and Mengyan is still recording Running Man. It will take some time before filming can begin."

Instead of just waiting around, why don't you join a production team and play a supporting role to hone your acting skills?

"Just consider it as a way to show your face."

"Okay!" Dilraba smiled brightly and readily agreed.

Shen Mo has found her another role!

He genuinely cares about himself!

Maybe he'll even accompany me to the audition tomorrow!

Dilraba! Keep it up! Tomorrow will be another beautiful day!