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

After several months of studying together, we should have become classmates with an increasingly close relationship.

However, the rivalry between Liu Haocun and Zhou Ye, who were born on the same day, month, and year, has become increasingly intense.

Especially after Liu Haocun was taken by Shen Mo to the premiere of "Brotherhood of Blades".

Although Liu Haocun did not deliberately show off, Zhou Ye felt that she seemed to have become even more radiant.

At that moment, an even stronger obsession—the desire to prove myself and to be seen—quietly sprouted in my heart.

During lunch break that day, Zhou Ye learned by chance that Shen Mo had returned to the company and was currently in his office upstairs.

It instantly ignited her restless desires.

Zhang Ruonan's bold act of directly asking for WeChat was like a successful model swirling in her mind.

Perhaps, I also need a chance to be brave.

Zhou Ye has never been a timid person, and besides, as an artist, being close to an idol is itself a huge attraction.

Her heart suddenly started racing. She straightened her hair and practice clothes in front of the mirror in the practice room, took a deep breath, and went out.

She quickly organized her thoughts, trying to figure out how to introduce herself naturally and politely, and then report on her progress.

Shen Mo was probably pleased to give himself another chance.

However, when she knocked on the office door with a mix of trepidation and anticipation, her smile instantly froze on her face.

Shen Mo sat behind his large desk, flipping through documents.

The person sitting in the chair in front of his desk was none other than Liu Haocun.

She seemed to be whispering something.

When she saw Zhou Ye enter, a hint of surprise appeared on her face, which quickly turned into a faint smile.

Zhou Ye's heart sank suddenly, and a feeling of being beaten to it surged up instantly.

She quickly adjusted her expression, suppressed her momentary displeasure, put on a cheerful smile, and strode inside.

"Hello, Mr. Shen!"

She stared intently at Shen Mo, completely ignoring Liu Haocun.

"I'm a new trainee at the company this year, and I met you on the day of my interview."

"I heard you went back to the company, so I thought I'd come and update you on my learning progress!"

"I'd also like to hear your advice on my future plans!"

She spoke slightly quickly, with a hint of directness and urgency.

Shen Mo saw in her eyes a firm and radiant desire for recognition.

She began by briefly and concisely recounting her recent breakthroughs in acting and dialogue.

The results of the company's internal assessment, the praise from the teachers, and one's own understanding and desire for the role.

Throughout her speech, she frequently revealed her admiration for Shen Mo.

Zhou Ye saw Shen Mo put down the documents in his hand and lean back in his chair.

It seemed like he was putting aside his work to listen attentively to his own report.

Her tone then became even more cheerful.

Suddenly, Liu Haocun, who had been sitting quietly, got up and walked behind Shen Mo, reaching out to press his temple directly.

Shen Mo was also suddenly surprised. He raised an eyebrow but did not refuse.

Zhou Ye's report continued, just as she was about to fast-forward to the core part, "requesting roles."

Liu Haocun raised his head and looked at Zhou Ye, his gentle words carrying a hint of well-intentioned reminder.

"Zhou Ye, Brother Mo's work is very tiring every day."

"You should go directly to General Manager Yang to discuss reporting your learning progress."

But to Zhou Ye, it was nothing short of a resounding slap in the face.

In particular, Liu Haocun still had a calm expression on his face that said, "I'm doing this for your own good."

This is clearly an accusation that she doesn't know the rules and is being reckless and disruptive.

In contrast, Liu Haocun was still massaging Shen Mo at that moment, making it clear which was closer and which was farther away.

The competitive spirit that had been building up for months suddenly erupted at this moment.

Zhou Ye felt a surge of anger rush to the top of his head.

The smile she had been trying to maintain vanished instantly, her gaze sharpening as she fixed her eyes on Liu Haocun, her voice rising involuntarily.

"Then what are you doing here?!"

Her question came out of her mouth, thick with the smell of gunpowder.

"Do I need you to teach me what to do?"

"I will naturally communicate with President Yang, but I'm a fan of Brother Mo, and I'd like to say a few words to him, is that not allowed?"

Her posture suddenly became aggressive, like a small beast whose territory had been invaded and whose body was covered in spikes.

The previously carefully maintained obedience and energy vanished, revealing her true nature: stubbornness, unwillingness to admit defeat, and even a bit recklessness.

The air in the office seemed to freeze instantly.

Liu Haocun's hands suddenly stopped moving. She seemed not to have expected Zhou Ye to confront her so directly and react so violently.

She widened her eyes slightly, looking somewhat helpless and aggrieved. She subconsciously looked at Shen Mo, her lips moved, but in the end she didn't say anything.

Shen Mo looked up and took in Liu Haocun's expression. He pursed his lips slightly and glanced at Zhou Ye's tense face.

He sighed softly.

"Say less, everyone."

His gaze first fell on Zhou Ye.

"Zhou Ye, Hao Cun is reminding you of the procedures; he means no harm."

Zhou Ye bit his lower lip, his eyes slightly reddening, unwilling to accept his fate and wanting to refute.

But when she met Shen Mo's eyes, her confidence inexplicably diminished, and she could only stubbornly turn her head away.

Shen Mo then looked at Liu Haocun.

"Haocun, Zhou Ye is new here and not familiar with the company, which is understandable."

"Be more careful about how you speak next time."

Liu Haocun immediately lowered his eyes, nodded slightly, and responded softly.

"I understand, Brother Mo."

As he spoke, he bowed slightly and nodded to Zhou Ye.

"I'm sorry, Zhou Ye."

Shen Mo looked at Zhou Ye again, his tone softening.

"I know about your progress; I read all your teachers' reports."

"You don't need to worry about being left behind. The company will take into consideration any suitable role opportunities that come up."

"Also, don't be so impulsive; it won't be good for your future."

Hearing Shen Mo's comforting words, Zhou Ye finally calmed down and put away his agitated state.

Realizing what was happening, she quickly bowed and lowered her head.

"I'm sorry, Haocun, I wasn't in the right state of mind today, and I couldn't control my temper."

Good heavens! Zhou Ye, what have you done?!

You actually threw a tantrum in front of Brother Mo!

"I'm a true fan of Brother Mo."

She paused for a moment, then added her explanation.

"In my excitement, I wanted to get closer, but after being interrupted, I got a little carried away."

"Okay, you can go back now. I'll keep an eye out for suitable opportunities for you."

Shen Mo did not continue to criticize Zhou Ye for his defiance.

Zhou Ye stood up, glanced at the two people in front of him, nodded, and left the office.

The door was gently closed.

The office returned to silence, and Liu Haocun quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry, Brother Mo..."

"I just wanted to give her a heads-up, but I didn't expect her to react so strongly."

She resumed the gesture of pressing her hands, just like when she once served as a guest assistant on the set of "Brotherhood of Blades".

Shen Mo rubbed his temples and reached out to hold her small hand.

"It's alright, don't worry about it. You don't need to press anymore, you can go down now."

In the practice room downstairs, Zhou Ye slammed the door shut, leaning against the cold door panel, his chest heaving violently.

Liu Haocun...

Zhou Ye will not let this score go so easily.

Even though he lost his temper because of her provocation, her seemingly innocent and pitiful appearance made Zhou Ye even angrier.

You wait!

She walked to the mirror, looked at the girl in it with a stubborn look in her eyes, burning with an indomitable spirit, and slowly clenched her fist.

Just wait and see.

-----------------

Shen Mo rested for less than a week before another movie he had previously arranged started filming.

The schedule is so full because it's designed to perfectly match Tian Xiwei's vacation schedule.

We should try to finish it within the two months of summer vacation so as not to affect her studies.

After all, I'll be a senior in high school next semester.

(Note: In order to allow her to start her first year of college at the age of 18, her academic year was moved up by one year. Just think of it as skipping a grade in elementary or middle school.)

On the other hand, the bell signaling the end of the final exams was nothing short of a bugle call to arms for Tian Xiwei.

She rushed out of the classroom almost at the last minute, not returning to her dormitory, but heading straight to the company.

As the elevator ascended, she tidied her slightly disheveled bangs in front of the mirror, unable to suppress a smile.

Two months, a full two months!

No need to get up early to memorize vocabulary, no need to stay up late to do practice tests.

the most important is!

I can see Brother Mo every day now, and I can even make a movie with him!

Take My Brother Away!

She liked it very much just from hearing the name.

"bite--"

Tian Xi took a deep breath and stepped out of the elevator.

Forcibly suppressing the urge to jump around, she walked through the office area with practiced ease, waving generously to the few employees who looked up at her.

Shen Mo's office door was unlocked.

She knocked symbolically twice, and before there was a response from inside, she pushed the door open.

Shen Mo was sitting behind his desk, looking at a document on his computer screen, when he heard the noise and looked up.

Upon seeing this familiar figure, he smiled and turned his chair to face her.

"Brother Mo—!!"

A crisp, loud call broke the silence of the office.

Tian Xi casually tossed her schoolbag onto the sofa and dashed off in a flash.

She went around the desk, opened her arms, and threw herself into Shen Mo's arms, hanging around his neck.

Shen Mo's chair slid half a step backward from the impact, and he instinctively raised his hand to support her back, afraid that she would fall.

The air around my nose was filled with the refreshing scent of shampoo from her hair, mixed with the vibrant energy unique to young girls.

"Are you on holiday?"

"Um!"

Tian Xiwei clung to him, resting her chin on his shoulder and nodding vigorously.

She turned her head to the side, her eyes sparkling as she looked at his profile so close to hers, her tone filled with undisguised joy and pride.

"I've finished my exams! Summer vacation has officially begun! Brother Mo, I'm here to report for duty!"

Her warm breath brushed against Shen Mo's ear as she spoke.

Shen Mo sighed helplessly, but a hint of doting smile appeared in his eyes.

He didn't rush to take her off; instead, he reached out and ruffled her fluffy hair, his voice filled with indulgence.

"Okay, okay, there's no need to be so excited after the exam, is there?"

"The door isn't even closed, what kind of order is this?"

"I'm happy!"

Tian Xiwei, feeling perfectly justified, nuzzled against his shoulder like a spoiled kitten.

"Two months! I'm yours for two whole months!"

"Oh no, it belongs to the 'Take My Brother Away' crew!"

She chuckled, guiltily loosening her grip on his neck, her face flushed.

She knelt on his lap and made a fist gesture of encouragement.

"You're mine now! Go for it!"

[Because Li Yitong wasn't there this time, she could finally be alone with Shen Mo.]

Shen Mo was amused by her and gently patted her back.

"Alright, come down now and close the office door. Be mindful of your appearance."

Tian Xiwei reluctantly slid off him, then skipped and hopped over to close the door.

Then she ran back quickly and sat directly in Shen Mo's lap.

She tilted her head and looked at him, her face beaming with a dazzling smile.

"Brother Mo, I've practically worn out the script!"

When will we join the production team?

"Is Chu Ran joining the production with us?"

"She plays my best friend Miaomiao, right?"

"And there's more..."

She fired off a barrage of questions, her excitement evident in her words.

Shen Mo let her chatter on and on, and when she paused for a moment, he poured her a glass of water from his empty teacup and handed it to her.

"Do you have iced cola?!"

Tian Xi pouted slightly, looking at him pitifully, her little legs swinging back and forth.

"There are some in the tea room outside, just go get them yourself."

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiwei quickly shook her head, took the teacup from Shen Mo's hand, and drank it all in one gulp.

Shen Mo smiled slightly, took back the empty glass, and poured her another glass.

"Filming will officially begin next week, and Chu Ran will join the crew with us then."

"Take a few more days to familiarize yourself with the script. After all, your summer vacation is not long, so try to finish filming as soon as possible so as not to affect your classes next semester."

"Okay!"

Tian Xi rolled her eyes at him, her gaze shifting mischievously.

"Brother Mo, will you be on set the whole time this time? You won't be off to do something else halfway through, will you?"

Shen Mo looked at her expectant eyes and shook his head.

"Don't worry. I'm the male lead, so I'll definitely be on set most of the time."

He paused, then reached out and tapped her head.

"But don't just focus on having fun, the summer before your senior year is crucial."

"I've hired a tutor for your academic subjects. You need to catch up on your studies during breaks from filming so you don't fall behind."

"ah--"

Tian Xiwei's face immediately fell, and she dragged out her words.

"Understood...Teacher Shen!"

But she quickly cheered up and patted her cheeks.

"But if I can act with Brother Mo, then I'll take the tutoring!"

"I promise it won't interfere with filming!"

Seeing her face instantly brighten from cloudy to sunny, Shen Mo shook his head and chuckled.

This girl!

"Oh, right!"

Suddenly remembering something, Tian Xiwei jumped off Shen Mo.

She darted to the chair opposite Shen Mo's desk, sat down, put her hands on the edge of the desk, and blinked her big eyes.

"Brother Mo, during this filming, did you...?"

"Hmm, some intimate scenes?"

Her face held a hint of curiosity and a barely perceptible probing.

Shen Mo looked up and met her clear yet slightly mischievous gaze, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"Didn't you read the script? You didn't know?"

"I saw it!"

Tian Xiwei spoke with righteous indignation.

"But a script is just a script; who knows if it will be changed during filming! I need to be mentally prepared!"

As she spoke, she herself became a little embarrassed, her ears turning slightly red, but her eyes still sparkled as she waited for the answer.

Shen Mo found it somewhat amusing to look at her shy yet trying-to-be-calm demeanor, and deliberately teased her.

Yes, there are quite a lot.

Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up instantly, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Shen Mo paused for a moment before continuing.

"After all, they're playing siblings. Isn't it normal for them to bicker, carry each other, and playfully fight?"

As he spoke, he gave her another tap on the head as a demonstration.

Tian Xiwei suddenly pouted, covered her head with her hand, and glared at him coldly.

He opened his mouth several times, but ultimately failed to reveal the true nature of the Sichuan-Chongqing Tyrannosaurus Rex in his mind.

Seeing her like this, Shen Mo finally couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright, go back and have a good time for a few days. Don't forget to review the script. We'll set off together next week."

Tian Xi wrinkled her nose slightly, raised her chin arrogantly at Shen Mo, and suddenly turned around, her ponytail almost hitting Shen Mo's face.

As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped, and her face broke into that radiant smile with her dimples.

She turned around, raised her right hand, and playfully waved her five fingers outwards near her temple.

The iconic kitten salutes!

"I'm heading back now! See you in a few days, Mo-ge!"

After saying that, she turned around again, skipped and hopped to pick up her schoolbag from the sofa, slung it over her shoulder, and went out.

Shen Mo stared at the closed door, the smile on his lips lingering for a long time.