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

Shen Mo had just finished a project meeting and was rubbing his temples when a cautious knock came at the door.

Thump, thump, thump.

After three evenly spaced taps, there was a two-second pause, and then, as if to make amends, a timid tap was added.

Just hearing that she had a conflicted personality, several figures flashed through Shen Mo's mind, before finally settling on Wang Churan's face.

Shen Mo looked up and smiled.

"Come in, I don't eat people."

The door was pushed open a crack, and the first thing to peek in was half a fair-skinned face and a pair of big, bright eyes.

After confirming that only Shen Mo was inside, Wang Churan quietly moved in and closed the door slightly behind her.

She was dressed exceptionally well today, in a white hooded sweatshirt, light blue jeans, and her ponytail was tied high, with a few unruly strands of hair softly falling over her eyebrows.

"Mo, Brother Mo..."

She stood by the door, her voice barely audible, her fingers unconsciously twirling the drawstring of her hoodie.

Shen Mo put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and smiled slightly.

"What? You're on vacation and not practicing downstairs, what are you doing here? Did your teacher think your lines lacked power and sent you here to practice your voice?"

Wang Churan's face instantly turned bright red, and she waved her hands repeatedly, her speech becoming increasingly hurried.

"No! No! I... I am..."

She hesitated, unable to speak, and bit her lower lip in frustration.

Seeing her helpless expression, Shen Mo found it amusing and deliberately dragged out his words.

"Don't be nervous, take your time. The way you're acting, anyone who didn't know better would think you're about to confess your feelings to me."

"Brother Mo!!"

Wang Churan was filled with shame and indignation. She raised her eyes to glare at him, but when her gaze met Shen Mo's smiling eyes, her momentum instantly deflated, and she could only angrily turn her face away.

Shen Mo knew when to stop teasing her and pointed to the sofa.

"Don't stand there, sit down. You're standing so straight, it's tiring to watch."

Wang Churan then moved to the edge of the sofa, but only sat on a third of it, with her back straight and her hands neatly placed on her knees, like a primary school student waiting for a teacher's scolding.

Shen Mo chuckled, got up, walked around the desk, and sat down on the single sofa opposite her.

"Chu Ran, your current state makes me suspect that someone at the company is bullying you, and you've come to me to complain?"

"No way!"

Wang Churan immediately denied it, but still didn't relax.

She suddenly took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, raised her head, and looked directly at Shen Mo. Although her ears were still red, her tone was much clearer.

"Brother Mo, I'm here to... thank you. Thank you for giving me the role in the movie 'Beijing Love Story'."

After she said those words, she seemed a little more relaxed, but the seriousness and solemnity in her eyes made Shen Mo put away his intention to continue teasing her.

Although it's just a supporting role in the movie version of "Beijing Love Story", it has great significance for Wang Churan at present.

She is no longer the mean and cunning negative character from "A Little Reunion".

This opportunity was given to me by Shen Mo.

"Thank you, Brother Mo." She repeated softly again, this time in a lower but more sincere voice.

Shen Mo looked at her, his gaze softening.

"Chu Ran."

"We talked about it last time, and you did a great job with the advice I gave you."

"You've stopped being so prickly. You've tried to trust your companions and integrate into the group... I've seen all of these changes."

Wang Churan was stunned. She didn't expect Shen Mo to bring this up, and she certainly didn't expect him to say "I've seen it all."

A warm feeling of being silently cared for, mixed with an indescribable bittersweetness, quietly crept into my heart.

"I watched a few scenes from 'A Little Reunion'."

"Although the character is not likable, you did a good job. You didn't just portray the 'badness' superficially; you brought out the character's own predicament and awkwardness."

Wang Churan's breath hitched slightly, and her nasal cavity suddenly felt a little sore.

She blinked hard, trying to suppress the inexplicable dampness.

"Now that the role of 'Beijing Love Story' has been handed to you, it's a new beginning."

Shen Mo looked at her and said, "The amount of screen time isn't the key; the key is how you treat her."

"Bring her to life, make her performance real, and take responsibility for your acting career. Understand?"

"clear!"

Wang Churan nodded vigorously, the blush on her face not yet completely faded, but her eyes had become firm and bright.

Seeing her serious expression, as if facing a formidable enemy, Shen Mo couldn't resist teasing her.

"That's right."

"What's wrong with you today? You were all shy and hesitant just now, but now you look so serious."

"This isn't the Chu Ran I know, the one who dared to yell at me."

"I wasn't being coy at all!"

Wang Churan instinctively retorted, her big eyes widening again, but this time she didn't flinch.

"And... I didn't yell that time, I just... I couldn't help but cry, and you still scolded me with a stern face."

She muttered softly, with a hint of grievance and coquettishness.

"Besides, you're the hottest star right now, and a big boss on the Forbes list. You're so busy you're practically invisible. You haven't even come to the practice room to see us for months."

"They might have forgotten about us. How could I dare to act recklessly in the boss's office?"

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. Oh, is this little girl using this opportunity to complain and act cute?

He deliberately put on a stern face, "Then try being fiercer next time, glare at me hard and see what happens!"

Wang Churan pouted, "I... I don't dare."

"Are you that afraid of me?"

Shen Mo got up and walked to her side, reached out and rubbed her head, then sat down next to her.

Sitting face-to-face in the office might indeed be a bit too formal and serious.

Wang Churan bit her lip, not daring to comb her messy hair.

"It's not fear... it's respect..."

She couldn't find the right words, her voice grew softer and softer, and she knew she couldn't keep making things up.

"I'm a little scared!"

Her voice suddenly became much brighter, with a hint of the same intensity as when she yelled at him.

Shen Mo was stunned for a moment. He had originally planned to make a few more jokes, but now he suddenly couldn't say them.

"Silly girl."

His tone was full of gentle helplessness.

"I prefer your arrogant side, so get back to normal!"

"You need to know that the real Wang Churan is the most attractive."

"Chu Ran," Shen Mo's voice softened.

"I'm telling you to let your guard down and stop being a hedgehog, not to smooth out your edges and become obedient and timid."

"The real you has a temper, is a little arrogant, and has a sharp tongue, but you are loyal, hardworking, and these qualities are very precious."

"Don't hide them."

Wang Churan felt a lump in her throat, and her tense shoulders finally relaxed.

She turned her head to look at Shen Mo, her large eyes now brimming with soft, moist light.

"Brother Mo~~"

She called out, the last syllable unconsciously drawn out, carrying a hint of dependence that she herself was unaware of.

"That's right."

Shen Mo smiled and casually ruffled her hair again. "That feels much better."

Wang Churan, her hair disheveled, protested softly, "Brother Mo, you can't mess up a girl's hair like that..."

But there wasn't much real resentment in his tone.

Shen Mo readily withdrew his hand, but then suddenly seemed to remember something and became slightly serious.

"However, there is something I really need to remind you of."

"Huh? What's wrong?" Wang Churan asked, puzzled.

Shen Mo pointed to her eyes, looking very serious.

"You have big eyes."

Wang Churan was completely bewildered. Was having big eyes a mistake?

Shen Mo suppressed a laugh and explained.

"With big eyes, when you look upwards, especially when you blink quickly at someone, the whites of your eyes will be very noticeable."

"In front of the camera, or to people who don't know you well, it's easy to be misunderstood as rolling your eyes, which can be considered impolite and even lead to unnecessary misunderstandings and attacks."

Wang Churan was stunned for a full three seconds, subconsciously recalling her usual expressions.

"Is...is it really that serious?" She was skeptical.

Shen Mo nodded emphatically, "It's not that I don't want you to make expressions, but you need to be more conscious of controlling the range of your expressions."

"Use your eyebrows, eyes, and facial expressions to convey the emotions you want to express without giving others the misunderstanding that you are rolling your eyes."

"Oh……"

Wang Churan nodded as if she understood, but her gaze drifted to Shen Mo. Her pupils suddenly turned slightly upwards, her head tilted to the side, and she let out a soft "hum" through her nose.

A vivid, slightly provocative, and smug "eye roll" was instantly completed.

Then, before Shen Mo could react, she couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. She laughed harder and harder, bending over and clutching her stomach, her shoulders shaking.

Shen Mo looked at the girl in front of him who was laughing without any regard for her image, feeling both amused and helpless.

He stretched out his right hand, made a fist, and pressed it lightly on the top of her head, like stamping a seal.

"No respect for elders." But the tone was full of indulgence.

Wang Churan finally managed to stop laughing, straightened up, and the blush on her face had not yet faded.

As she reached out to tidy her hair, which Shen Mo had ravaged again, she wrinkled her nose at him in feigned displeasure and snorted.

This vivid and lively appearance made Shen Mo's smile deepen.

This is the kind of person Wang Churan should be.

As he laughed, Wang Churan's expression suddenly turned serious, as if he had remembered something important.

She bit her lower lip, a hint of hesitation flashing across her face, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

She leaned forward slightly, her hands unconsciously gripping Shen Mo's forearm.

"Brother Mo," she said, her voice lowered, filled with obvious worry.

"Could you... find some time to visit Haocun?"

"Haocun?" Shen Mo's expression hardened. "What happened to her?"

Wang Churan's fingers unconsciously tightened a little.

"She's been acting really strange lately."

"She would often get distracted during practice, and several times I found her hiding in a corner where no one was around, secretly crying, her eyes always swollen..."

"When I asked her, she always said nothing was wrong. I pressed her for a long time before she would finally say a little bit..."

She took a deep breath. "Something happened at Haocun's house..."

Shen Mo didn't urge her, but just looked at her quietly, gesturing for her to continue.

Wang Churan's fingertips were a little cold, and his voice was lowered even further.

"Her mother used to run a dance training class in her hometown. Two years ago, one of her students had an accident during class and became paralyzed."

"At that time, Haocun was a boarding student at the Affiliated High School of Beijing Dance Academy. Her parents kept it from her until recently when the other party sued them in court."

"The compensation amount will most likely be over a million..."

"She overheard her parents arguing on the phone, sensed something was wrong, and pressed them for details until she found out..."

Her eyes welled up with tears: "Brother Mo, their family is just an ordinary family in Northeast China. A little over a million... even if they sell the house, it's far from enough."

"These days, she pretends everything's fine and practices like crazy, but her whole demeanor..."

"Looking at her, my heart aches for her..."

"She's been trying so hard these past few days, but the atmosphere around her... I feel like she's about to suffocate."

Wang Churan continued, "Fortunately, she received a signing fee of over 100,000 yuan when she signed the contract, and the company also covered her room and board and training expenses..."

"Otherwise, she really won't be able to hold on."

"Even if you add the share of the salary from the recent film 'A Little Reunion,' it's still not enough."

Wang Churan raised her head, her large eyes filled with pleading tears.

"Brother Mo, could you... go see her?"

"Even just a few words would be appreciated, she's really scared..."

Shen Mo was silent for a moment. "Where is she now?"

"In the practice room downstairs."

He suddenly stood up, his movements swift and decisive.

Wang Churan was startled: "Brother Mo?"

"Let's go." Shen Mo said succinctly.

"Now? Now?" Wang Churan was a little confused.

"Otherwise what?" Shen Mo glanced at her, reached out and pulled her up from the sofa. "Go and bring her over?"

He raised his hand and gently ruffled her hair again, this time with a much gentler touch, conveying a reassuring meaning: "Don't worry, I'm here."

With just a few simple words, Wang Churan's bewildered heart was instantly calmed down.

Her eyes lit up, and she quickly jogged to catch up with Shen Mo, muttering to herself as she did so.

"Brother Mo, please stop ruffling my hair all the time, it's ruining my hairstyle..."

Shen Mo didn't even turn his head: "What, you call me 'brother,' and I can't even touch your hair?"

Wang Churan was speechless after being choked by his words. She secretly made a face at Shen Mo's back and then quickly caught up with him.

The elevator doors slowly closed, and the small space fell silent.

Wang Churan looked at the continuously decreasing floor numbers, hesitated for a moment, and then softly asked about her deepest concern.

"Brother Mo... given Haocun's family situation, is there really... any way to help them? They have so much money..."

Shen Mo stared at the blurry reflection on the elevator's metal door, his voice calm.

"Problems that can be solved with money aren't really problems."

He turned his head to look at Wang Churan, his eyes deep and steady.

"With me here, neither she nor any of you will ever reach a dead end."

The elevator arrived with a "ding," and the doors slid open to both sides.

Wang Churan stared at Shen Mo's tall and straight back as he took the lead, momentarily stunned, before a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and followed.

The system has matched you with the urban fiction category. Click to view details.