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

As his consciousness slowly rose from deep sleep, the first thing Shen Mo felt was not the morning light.

Instead, I felt a slight treading sensation on my chest.

One, two...

It's soft and has a slightly blunt feel, like a paw pad.

He frowned and forced his sleepy eyes open.

My vision was still a little blurry when I opened my eyes and stared at a ball of white fur.

Li Rou Rou.

It was sitting firmly on his chest, its pair of black eyes staring at him.

Seeing that he was awake, she quickly stood up, her little tail wagging like a propeller behind her.

It clearly recognized the man lying on its mother's bed, after all, it was the one who bought it back then.

The little thing seemed very excited, sticking out its tongue and tentatively trying to lick Shen Mo's chin, making affectionate "woo-woo" sounds in its throat.

"Meatball, stop fooling around..."

Shen Mo reached out and scooped up the little fur ball from his chest, hugging it tightly and kneading it vigorously.

The bedroom door was ajar, and faint sounds could be heard coming from the living room outside.

Shen Mo sat up, holding Rou Rou, and walked over in his slippers, leaning against the door frame.

Li Yitong had already finished half of her makeup and was carefully drawing her eyeliner in front of the mirror.

She was wearing a simple T-shirt, her hair casually tied up, revealing her beautiful neck.

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft glow on her.

Seemingly noticing his gaze, Li Yitong paused with her eyeliner, then her crescent-shaped eyes curved upwards.

"Did the succulent wake me up? I came out to put on makeup, and it darted inside in a flash, I couldn't stop it."

Her tone was gentle, but with a hint of schadenfreude.

Upon seeing Li Yitong, the little creature in Shen Mo's arms immediately began to wriggle restlessly and even barked twice in that direction.

"It does remember me."

Shen Mo walked over and handed the impatient puppy back to Li Yitong.

Li Yitong took it and skillfully held it in her arms, letting it nuzzle affectionately against her chest.

"It's very clever; it remembers exactly who treats it well and who gives it good food."

"Right, Meatball?"

She lowered her head and buried her face in its soft, white fur, taking a deep breath.

Shen Mo felt a wave of tenderness wash over him as he watched this scene.

I brought this puppy home hoping to make up for her regrets and give her some companionship.

In retrospect, the objective has been perfectly achieved.

"Don't go today!"

Shen Mo looked at her.

"No, there are still a few action scenes on the schedule, and we have to go to another explosion site this afternoon."

While teasing Rou Rou, Li Yitong continued to finish her makeup in front of the mirror.

"I already got you a day off yesterday."

"Um?"

Li Yitong turned her head in confusion.

Happy birthday, Yukiko!

"You didn't forget because you're busy, did you?"

Li Yitong's eyes widened suddenly as she realized what was happening.

"No wonder, no wonder you suddenly came to visit the set yesterday."

Shen Mo smiled, his gaze falling on her hair, which she had cut shorter for filming.

"Your hair seems to have grown a little."

Li Yitong put down her eyebrow pencil and casually replied.

"Yes, it grows fast, so it might need to be trimmed again in a couple of days."

Then she put the meat down, and the puppy obediently lay down at her feet, looking up at the two of them.

She turned to face Shen Mo and reached out to tidy his hair.

"So, where are you planning to take me to celebrate my birthday today?"

Shen Mo squeezed her hand. "We're not going out to play today."

Li Yitong pouted and gave him a resentful glance.

"Thinking bad things in broad daylight."

Shen Mo suddenly grinned mischievously.

"You're the one who's always thinking bad things!"

"Yukiko, you're so dirty-minded. Just because you don't go out to play doesn't mean you can only do bad things."

"I was also planning to take you to a hot spring to relax."

Li Yitong then realized that she had been teased.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"You were exhausted last night! You're acting like an animal."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo reached out and lifted Li Yitong's chin.

"Sigh, you can't just say things like that."

"Who was it that stayed up so late last night after filming so hard yesterday?"

"And who's the one still fiddling around with all these fancy tricks?"

"Speak, confess honestly!"

When did you learn that?

"USB drives, cloud storage, resources—let me learn those too."

Li Yitong slapped his hand away in annoyance.

"Just tell me whether you like it or not?"

Shen Mo chuckled, took her hand, and gently kissed it.

"like."

"But you were too tired yesterday, so I didn't dare to enjoy myself to the fullest."

"Next time, let me take the initiative!"

"We guarantee that Sister Xue will have a great time."

The simple words made Li Yitong's cheeks flush again.

She withdrew her hand, pretending to be calm, and turned to change her clothes.

"screw you……"

"Go wash up quickly, I've asked them to bring breakfast up, it should be here soon."

As soon as Shen Mo stepped into the bathroom, the doorbell rang. It was Zhou Xueting, who had brought breakfast, and Quan Quan, Li Yitong's assistant.

Breakfast ended in a relaxed and sweet atmosphere.

Li Yitong had a good appetite, probably because she had been relieved of her work burden, or perhaps she was in a particularly cheerful mood.

She ate more than usual and would occasionally nudge Shen Mo under the table with her foot, earning him a look of indulgence and helplessness.

After eating his fill of dog food, Rou Rou lay down at Li Yitong's feet and dozed off contentedly, his little belly round and bulging.

After a short rest, Zhou Xueting and Wang Zheng had already prepared the car.

After a short rest, Zhou Xueting and Wang Zheng had already prepared the car.

We drove towards a high-end resort area in Jinling known for its natural hot springs and privacy.

On the way, Li Yitong leaned on Shen Mo's shoulder, her long, slender, fair fingers entwining around Shen Mo's large hand.

How many more surprises are you hiding?

She couldn't help but ask again. She felt that today was more than just soaking in a hot spring; her curiosity was like a cat's claws scratching at her.

You'll know when you get there.

Shen Mo remained mysterious, then gripped her hand even tighter.

"I promise I won't let you down."

The car drove into a quiet and secluded group of Chinese-style buildings.

This place is very private; each bathhouse is an independent courtyard with its own private hot spring pool and relaxation space.

The staff led them to a courtyard called "Bamboo Stream" and then politely withdrew.

Li Yitong pushed open the door and discovered that fresh and delicate rose petals were floating in the misty hot spring water, and the air was filled with a faint aroma of essential oils.

Besides the usual fruit and tea snacks by the pool, there was also a small, exquisite ice bucket containing a bottle of her favorite champagne.

"Wow……"

Li Yitong stood by the pool, her eyes sparkling as she watched the floating petals and rising steam.

"You even prepared flower petals?"

"Birthdays should always have some kind of ceremony."

Shen Mo gently embraced her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Shall we change our clothes first?"

The two went into the locker room separately.

When Li Yitong came out wrapped in a soft bathrobe, Shen Mo was already soaking in the pool.

Hearing footsteps, Shen Mo opened his eyes and reached out his hand to her.

Li Yitong's cheeks flushed slightly as she untied her bathrobe and carefully stepped into the warm pool water.

The water temperature was just right, instantly enveloping my whole body, dispelling the last chill of the autumn morning, and relieving the muscle soreness accumulated from days of filming.

She sighed deeply, then nestled comfortably into the embrace Shen Mo had prepared for her, finding the most comfortable spot.

" ..."

She squinted, like a lazy cat.

Shen Mo held her in his arms, his fingers gently combing through her damp hair.

Do you like it?

"Um."

Li Yitong nodded vigorously and turned her face to rub against his neck.

"Thank you, Amo."

The two embraced quietly, enjoying the soothing warmth of the hot spring and each other's body heat.

The sound of flowing water and the occasional birdsong drifting from the bamboo grove outside the courtyard wall made time seem to slow down.

After soaking for about half an hour and completely relaxing, Shen Mo gestured for Li Yitong to look at the edge of the pool.

"There seems to be something in the water over there."

"Um?"

Li Yitong followed his gaze with suspicion and saw a small box in a recess in the clear hot spring water.

"What is that?"

She easily reached out and scooped the box up.

The box was transparent, and inside lay a brass key.

"This is……"

Li Yitong took the box, her wet fingers picking up the key, which felt slightly cool to the touch.

On the key handle, a simple plum blossom is engraved with extremely fine lines, next to a small character for "snow".

Shen Mo looked at her surprised expression and said slowly.

"I bought the shop next to Xue Lu, and luckily the price wasn't high in 2014."

"After the connection is made, it can be linked to Xue Lu. I've set up a private wine cellar inside and stored some pretty good wines."

"That way, we won't just be going to Xue Lu to drink tea anymore."

Li Yitong held the small key, her lips curving into crescent moons, and gently kissed him on the cheek.

Then she buried her face in his wet chest and said nothing.

After soaking in the hot spring, my body felt relaxed, and my mood was incredibly soft and carefree.

Shen Mo led her to the lounge connected to the hot spring house, which had already been set up.

Comfortable cushions were laid on the soft tatami mats, and an exquisite lunch was set on the low table, clearly delivered at the perfect time.

"Eat something first." Shen Mo pulled out a chair for her.

The lunch was delicious, and she ate it in small bites, glancing up at him every now and then, her eyes filled with tenderness.

After lunch, Shen Mo took her hand.

"There's one last program."

He led her through a door on the other side of the lounge, into a private spa room where soft lighting and soothing music filled the air.

"I know you're sore all over from filming action scenes, soaking in hot springs alone isn't enough."

Shen Mo pressed her shoulders and made her lie face down on the massage bed.

"I recently sought out a master to learn how to use essential oils for massage to soothe the body."

"Today, I'd like to trouble you, esteemed star, to be my first guest."

Li Yitong was so moved that she immediately lay down obediently.

He's not much less free than me; he makes movies, manages his company, and still manages to find time to learn massage to serve himself.

When the warm essential oil dripped onto her slightly cool back, Li Yitong trembled slightly.

His palms were broad and warm, and the familiar feeling that touched her made her feel very at ease.

Only after experiencing this sense of security did I realize the strength in his palm.

Shen Mo's thumbs slowly pressed along both sides of her spine, and the tension brought on by the intense filming gradually softened under his fingers.

"Does it hurt?"

He asked in a low voice, his breath brushing against her ear.

She shook her head, burying her face in the soft massage bed, her voice muffled.

"……Comfortable."

The air was filled with the aroma of essential oils, like sweet oranges under the sun mixed with the fresh scent of some kind of wood.

His palms grew warmer and warmer, and together with the essential oil, they seeped into the soreness she had left from filming, gradually soothing and rubbing it away.

His movements were unhurried and focused, as if he were handling a precious work of art.

Begin by patiently circling the area in the hollow of the shoulder blade, then gently massage along the contours of the ribs towards the softer areas.

Then, grasp her forearm and knead her knuckles one joint at a time.

She had never been so focused on feeling every part of her body.

Soothing music flowed through the air, which was filled with a warm fragrance.

Her consciousness began to float, as if she were soaking in a hot spring again.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, she felt him comb her loose long hair and brush it to one side.

A gentle kiss landed on the back of her neck.

Her heart softened suddenly.

"Shen Mo".

Her voice was full of dependence and tenderness.

"Um."

He responded, his palm still firmly resting on her waist, conveying a reassuring warmth.

"How long have you been studying this?"

"soon."

"But thinking of you, I studied especially hard."

"You didn't use other female students as practice subjects, did you?"

Shen Mo gently patted her pert buttocks.

"Don't worry, you'll be the first to enjoy it."

His voice carried a faint smile.

He moved his hand down and pressed precisely on her sore calves.

"This period has probably been the most tiring time here."

She took a deep breath, and the relief from the soreness made her let out a sound.

"Yeah, I have to run quite a distance every day."

Inside the massage bed, Li Yitong's eyes welled up slightly, but a bright smile curved her lips.

It feels so good that he sees himself as a precious gem!

Time slowly slipped away amidst the aroma of essential oils and his fingertips.

When he finally stopped and gently wiped her back with a warm towel, she felt a refreshing lightness.

It was as if a heavy shell had been removed, leaving only a warm and comfortable soul.

She turned over and saw him bending down to organize the essential oil bottles, his profile looking particularly focused in the soft light.

She reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"Master, are you only responsible for massaging the back? Is the front massage just a few simple strokes and that's it?"

Shen Mo looked up and saw a mischievous grin on her face.

"Sir, aren't your aches and pains mostly in your back and legs?"

"If you'd like a massage on the front, we can go home tonight, and I can take my time to serve you."

Li Yitong smiled and looked into his eyes.

"Then, Master," she said, her tone suddenly shifting, now tinged with amusement and a strange undertone.

"Your first customer wants to give you a perfect score."

"Then, sign up for a membership."

Shen Mo smiled.

"How long would you like to stay?"

Li Yitong hummed in agreement for a long time, then gently kissed him on the lips.

"Then let's make it a lifetime."

"This is my deposit."

Shen Mo lowered his head and returned the kiss, their foreheads touching, and whispered.

"My guest, it is my pleasure to serve you."