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

The music on stage suddenly became more exciting, and a new round of performances began, but it didn't stop Li Yitong from chatting with the two people in the back row.

Although Bai Lu, who was standing next to Shen Mo, was staring at the stage, her fingers were unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

She could clearly feel Shen Mo's warm breath coming from her left, a breath that made her heart race.

However, she could not, or rather dared not, turn her head.

Just then, a figure passed by on her left-hand side of the aisle.

The moment the shadow approached from behind, she subconsciously veered slightly toward Shen Mo and bumped into his arm.

The slight impact was noticed by both Shen Mo and Li Yitong.

Bai Lu quickly turned her body back, her cheeks flushed.

Shen Mo maintained his posture of looking at the stage, his left hand hanging down, gently grasped her tense hand and squeezed it, then let go.

Bai Lu trembled slightly, her fingers, which were twisting the hem of her skirt, loosened a little, but her ears turned red.

"This award is quite interesting."

Li Qin's voice suddenly came from Li Yitong's right. The award being presented on stage was the "Most Reckless Award of the Year on Weibo".

"Well, meager awards are always strange."

Li Yitong nodded and continued the conversation.

"But your award later should be better."

"My award?"

Li Qin chuckled softly and turned to look at Li Yitong.

"That's right, Weibo wouldn't have invited you if you hadn't won an award."

Li Yitong met her gaze, her smile unchanged, even sweeter.

"Moreover, your film 'Brotherhood of Blades' with Amo has received good reviews and performed well at the box office."

"Moreover, your acting skills in that scene with the change in your eyes dominated the trending topics on Weibo for several days."

"For this alone, they should give you an award."

Li Lin stared at Li Yitong quietly for two seconds.

"Amo"... It's interesting that he calls me that in front of me.

The curve of her lips deepened, but her eyes remained calm and focused as she looked at Li Yitong.

"We really have to thank President Shen. He was the one who provided excellent guidance on set."

Li Yitong slowly reached out and placed her hand on the back of Li Lin's hand, then spoke softly.

"Hey, you're older than Amo, you can call him by his name."

"No need to address me so formally."

Li Qin raised her eyebrows almost imperceptibly.

Are you trying to show off your intimacy?

Actually, it's not necessary.

"Then shouldn't he call me Sister Qin?"

Li Yitong smiled gently, leaned lazily against Li Lin, and laughed uncontrollably.

"You can try it and see if he barks. I'm quite curious too."

Li Qin let out a soft breath, a hint of hesitation and probing flashing deep in her eyes.

Was it unintentional or deliberate on her part?

After a few seconds of contemplation, Li Qin's eyes turned calm and relieved.

Perhaps she was confident enough to believe that her position was unshakeable.

Suddenly, Li Yitong reached out and rubbed her arm.

"Is it a little cold?"

Shen Mo noticed her movement and subconsciously raised his hand to touch the buttons on his chest.

Almost simultaneously, Bai Lu on his left also trembled slightly, and Shen Mo could clearly see the goosebumps rising on her arm.

His hand, which was unbuttoning his shirt, suddenly paused, since he only had one suit jacket.

Li Yitong glanced at him with her crescent-shaped eyes, which sparkled in the dim light, just in time to see Shen Mo preparing to take off his coat.

A faint smile played on her lips as she spoke to stop her.

"Don't take it off, or you'll catch a cold."

"There are blankets under each seat, could you please get them for us?"

Li Yitong was very happy with Shen Mo's immediate reaction of unbuttoning his shirt as soon as he saw her rubbing her hands together.

That's good enough, and she didn't want to cause him any trouble in this public place.

She was already well aware that the organizers would provide blankets. Having attended several ceremonies, she was quite familiar with the fact that they did.

Only Shen Mo, who was participating for the first time, didn't know this and foolishly tried to take off his clothes to cover himself.

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo buttoned up his suit jacket again, a hint of relief and helplessness flashing in his eyes.

He leaned slightly forward and reached under the three adjacent seats to pull out three thin blankets.

He opened the plastic bag, pulled out a strip, and without thinking, handed it to Li Lin on his right, bypassing Li Yitong.

"Here you go, Sister Qin, be careful not to catch a cold."

This address made Li Qin pause slightly, then a faint smile appeared in her eyes.

Clearly, Shen Mo had overheard their conversation.

In the past, when the two of them were alone, he called her that and she didn't really feel anything.

But addressing her like that in front of Li Yitong this time brought a strange joy to her heart. .

"Thank you... Shen Mo."

Following Li Yitong's words, she called him by his name directly.

Then, he happened to meet the gaze of Li Yitong, who was looking at him with a sly expression.

Li Qin pursed her lips, beginning to have some doubts. What was she thinking?

Shen Mo took out a second blanket, gently unfolded it, and wrapped his arm around Li Yitong's shoulders and back, draping the blanket gently over her shoulders and arms.

Then he leaned over and spoke in a low voice.

"Say it earlier next time, so you don't get cold."

His tone was one of affectionate reproach and tenderness that Li Yitong found very pleasing.

Li Yitong let him do as he pleased, her crescent-shaped eyes narrowed into slits, she turned her head to him, wrinkled her nose, and muttered softly.

"Who knew you were so stupid? Not only did you not notice it sooner, but you didn't even know there was a blanket under your seat."

Her words were a complaint, but her body honestly leaned closer to him, seeking warmth.

Bai Lu, on the far left, saw all of this.

She instinctively hugged her cold arms, pretending to be fully focused on the stage.

However, just when she thought she would be "forgotten", a blanket was quietly placed on her lap.

Bai Lu didn't turn her head, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

She gently picked up the blanket and draped it over herself.

Under the blanket, her little hand quietly reached to the side and gently placed on Shen Mo's thigh.

Just then, a warm, large hand quietly covered the back of her hand.

Shen Mo's action of covering Bai Lu with a blanket naturally did not escape Li Yitong's eyes.

Bai Lu's movements under the blanket were indeed well concealed, preventing her from noticing them.

Li Yitong reached out and took half of her blanket, covering his legs with it.

"Don't catch a cold either."

However, before she could retract her hand that had been reaching out to distribute the blankets, it was grasped in the palm of a large hand.

Li Yitong's lips twitched slightly, then she realized what was happening and gently hooked her finger into his palm, shifting her attention away from the stage.

On stage, the awards ceremony continued, songs and dances took turns, and applause and cheers rose and fell.

However, Shen Mo didn't keep his hands under the blanket for too long. After all, keeping them in that position the whole time without clapping would attract attention.

With the gala halfway through, the important awards began to be presented one by one.

The words "Weibo Annual Popularity Award" appeared on the big screen. This award is not a big prize, but more of an encouragement and a reflection of popularity.

Therefore, the award presenters didn't keep the audience in suspense and directly announced the list of winners.

"Congratulations to... Zhang Han from 'Boss & Me'... Qiao Zhenyu from 'Swords of Legends'... and Ma Su from 'Breakup Buddies'."

"...and his nuanced and layered performance with his eyes in 'Brotherhood of Blades' captivated countless viewers and film critics—"

"Li Lin! Congratulations!"

The spotlight and cameras instantly focused on the winners, and the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause and screams.

"Ah! Congratulations!"

"Li Lin, you're the best!"

Amid the cheers, a genuine look of surprise flashed across Li Qin's face, and her eyes began to redden slightly.

Clearly, even with Li Yitong's previous hints, the joy of being recognized still overwhelmed her when she actually heard her own name called.

She quickly composed herself, stood up, and her dark green velvet dress shimmered under the lights.

She turned slightly to the side and hugged Li Yitong, Shen Mo, and Bai Lu, who had all stood up.

She only used a little force when she hugged Shen Mo as she passed by.

A thank you slipped quietly into Shen Mo's ears.

"Pshaw! It's just a popularity award, what's there to care about?"

Shuangzi, sitting in the middle, looked at Li Qin's image on the big screen with disdain.

"Exactly, look at her, so naive. Anyone who didn't know better would think she won some big prize."

The two unknown minor artists beside her also fawned over her.

"She's faking it. Look at how good her eyes were in the award-winning clip. Maybe that red-eyed, tearful look was just an act."

On the stage, Li Qin walked up with elegant steps and accepted the trophy.

After the previous speakers finished their remarks, it was her turn to stand in front of the microphone.

Although her voice sounded calm and collected, a slight tremor and emotion could be detected if you listened carefully.

"Thank you Weibo, and thank you to all the viewers who like 'Brotherhood of Blades' and Zhou Miaotong."

"This award is the greatest encouragement for me as an actor to study and understand the characters."

She paused, her gaze turning towards Shen Mo in the audience, her tone becoming gentle and sincere.

"I especially want to thank my teacher Shen for her patient guidance and trust on set. Without you, there wouldn't have been that scene that so many people remember."

"Thanks."

She didn't say much, but she was still deeply moved, and her eyes were fixed on Shen Mo almost without looking away.

Before joining Mohen, she had her Best Newcomer Award snatched away by an 11-year-old girl at the Hundred Flowers Awards.

However, after joining Mohen, he won the popularity award at the star-studded Weibo Night.

The audience erupted in applause once again, and many actors, especially those who had worked with Mohen or longed to work with him, showed envy in their eyes.

After all, while Li Lin's own acting skills were undoubtedly outstanding, who among those present thought their acting was bad?

In their view, who dares to say that this award was not won without the strong operation of Mohen Capital and the boost brought by Shen Mo?

[Qinbao truly deserves the title!]

I've watched that eye contact scene ten times!

[Congratulations, Sister Lin! Another great victory for the Ink Mark series!]

[Sister Qin's decision to join Mohen was the wisest one! I apologize for my initial opposition!]

[Isn't that a bit exaggerated? She was practically a minor character in "Brotherhood of Blades."]

[The person upstairs is jumping up and down in disgust, saying Li Lin's acting in that scene was phenomenal! Are you blind? Didn't you see it trending for days?]

After several performances, the Weibo Night gradually came to an end.

One of the most prestigious awards, the "Weibo Goddess of the Year Award," has also begun to be presented.

"The winners are... Baby from 'Temporary Cohabitation',... Wang Luodan from 'Rise of the Legend',... Zhao Liying from 'Boss & Me'..."

"And Bai Lu, whose popularity soared after appearing on the reality show Running Man seasons 1 and 2, earning her the titles of 'Nation's Daughter' and 'Variety Show Goddess'!"

When Bai Lu's name was announced, the crowd erupted in cheers and screams that nearly shook the stadium.

"Bai Lu!"

"Haku Mengken!"

"Baby!"

Gradually, the chaotic shouts converged and grew louder.

"Meng Yan has milky-skinned beauty!"

"Naturally beautiful Bai Mengyan!"

The shouts and cheers that filled the entire venue made Bai Lu's face turn bright red instantly, and she almost didn't dare to stand up.

The popularity and audience appeal gained from the two seasons of Running Man are now fully on display.

It wasn't until Shen Mo patted her that she covered her mouth with an "Ah!"

His wide eyes were filled with unbelievable surprise and excitement.

She almost instinctively turned to look at Shen Mo, then quickly turned back as if she had been burned.

As she stood up, a radiant smile bloomed on her face, and her vivacity and straightforwardness made the fans scream again.

Shen Mo didn't avoid suspicion and got up as well. Then, to her surprise, he gently hugged her.

"Mengyan! Congratulations!"

Bai Lu's smile became even brighter.

"Thank you, Brother Mo!"

After saying that, she lifted the hem of her long dress and jogged lightly onto the stage.

As she accepted the trophy, the other award recipients beside her—Baby from "Temporary Family," Wang Luodan from "Rise of the Legend," and Zhao Liying from "Boss & Me"—all stepped back to make room for her.

After bowing her head in gratitude, Bai Lu stood in front of the microphone, so excited that she was incoherent.

"Oh my god! I really... never expected this!"

"Thank you Weibo! Thank you to the Running Man production team, thank you Brother Chao, Brother He, and all the other brothers and sisters in front of and behind the camera for taking care of me!"

She waved vigorously in the direction of the Running Man members below the stage, then took a deep breath.

Her gaze swept across the audience and settled on Shen Mo, her voice trembling slightly.

"Thank you... thank you to my company, Mohen Media, for giving me such a great opportunity and platform."

"And also... thank you to all my viewers who have supported me. You all made me realize that being my most authentic self can be loved by so many people!"

"I will keep running hard!"

Unlike Li Lin, she didn't specifically thank anyone, but her overflowing gratitude was clear to everyone.

Baby, who also won an award, stood behind and watched as almost the entire audience chanted Bai Lu's name. She couldn't help but feel a pang of envy, even jealousy.

As a loyal fan of the Korean version of Running Man, she has always loved it and even wanted to participate in it.

When she learned that Blueberry TV was going to produce a domestic version of Running Man, she immediately sent a collaboration application and even asked her boyfriend Huang Xiaoming to use his connections to get her a spot.

Unfortunately, Blueberry TV didn't give Huang Xiaoming any face at all, only replying that the female MC had already been decided and that she was welcome to be a guest.

I initially thought that the people the production team found might not be entertaining enough, or they might be too reserved and drag down the show's quality. In that case, I would step in and request a replacement for the second season.

Who would have thought that this ordinary-looking girl, who wasn't as good-looking as herself, would contribute the most to the show's entertainment value? You could even say that without her performance, the ratings would have dropped by half.

She was truly envious of the scene of cheering from the entire audience and being surrounded by celebrities!

In the online live stream, the chat was flooded with comments, so dense that you could hardly see anyone else's name.

Bai Mengyan! A well-deserved goddess of audience appeal!

[Running Man fans are ecstatic! Bai Lu deserves it!]

She's so genuine and adorable, not pretentious at all!

[Inkmark has been winning non-stop this year, racking up awards left and right.]

[Baek Mengyan has milky skin! Naturally beautiful!]

[Stop shouting upstairs, Lulu's so embarrassed! Hahaha!]

[The actress Lu Bao is Bai Lu! The variety show Lu Bao is Bai Mengyan! It's so great to have two experiences when pursuing someone!]

[As a complete bystander, I think she's more down-to-earth than Baby and Zhao Liying, who were on the same stage. My impression of her has improved.]

The other celebrities present, especially those artists who have produced many works but have hardly won any personal honors at major ceremonies, could hardly hide their envy and even jealousy at this moment.

Although Bai Lu's previous works, "A Little Reunion" and "Twenty Your Life On," were quite successful, she could only be considered a second-tier artist at best, and there are quite a few artists like that in the industry.

However, Bai Lu, who was on stage, was propelled to the peak of popularity with just one variety show, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a first-tier artist.

It's worth noting that the second season of Running Man is currently airing, and every Friday night when it airs, Running Man dominates the trending topics on Weibo.

Most of them came from this little girl on stage.

They envy or even are jealous, but they dare not say that they could do it too. After all, there have been many celebrity guests on Running Man over the many seasons, but almost none of them have truly become breakout stars.

It has to be said that Bai Lu is born to do this job.

Of course, Li Qin and Bai Lu's success also showed them a shortcut to success.

Signing with Mohen means being assigned to participate in hit projects, and then resources, popularity, and awards follow.

Mohen has clearly become a star-making machine in the entertainment industry.

There's always a story waiting for you to uncover.