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

The office of Huang Lei was filled with the elegant aroma of tea, and Shen Mo sat opposite the desk.

Tian Xiwei sat quietly next to him, her hands obediently placed on her knees. Occasionally, she would steal a glance at Huang Lei, who was making tea, and then at Shen Mo before quickly lowering her eyes again.

Huang Lei skillfully scalded the cups and poured water, then pushed the two cups of tea in front of Shen Mo and Tian Xiwei.

Then he picked up a cup, blew on it to cool it down, and looked at Tian Xiwei with undisguised admiration in his eyes.

"This girl really gave me a huge surprise in the exam room just now."

He took a sip of tea and smiled at Shen Mo.

"You've done a great job raising him."

"She was born to be an actress; she has great talent and excellent acting skills."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Shen Mo smiled and turned his head to look at Tian Xiwei beside him.

Tian Xi noticed his gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head somewhat shyly, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.

"What segment did she perform that earned such high praise from Teacher Huang?"

Shen Mo looked at Huang Lei with a hint of curiosity.

Huang Lei put down his teacup, leaned back slightly, and looked at Tian Xiwei again.

He recalled the scene in the examination room and slowly began to speak.

From the initial trembling, empty touch, to that heart-wrenching cry of "Say something!", and then to a series of trembling questions...

As Huang Lei continued his narration, the relaxed smile on Shen Mo's face gradually froze.

When Shen Mo heard Huang Lei mimicking the three phrases "Was it useful?", his pupils suddenly contracted, and the fingers gripping the teacup tightened.

Huang Lei was unaware of Shen Mo's change and continued to be immersed in his memories.

"Oh, you know what? The most amazing part was what happened next. She broke free and said, 'You are very important to me; she is also very important to me.'"

"The state of mind when saying those words, the complex mix of love and hate, and the agonizing choice..."

"Clang!"

A slight knocking sound interrupted Huang Lei's words.

It was Shen Mo who accidentally bumped the teacup on the table.

Shen Mo slowly turned his head, his deep gaze landing on Tian Xiwei's face as if it were a physical object.

His eyes were filled with astonishment, scrutiny, and a hint of indescribable shock.

Tian Xiwei felt uneasy under his gaze. She blinked her big, innocent eyes, looked back at him with confusion, and asked weakly.

"Brother Mo... what's wrong?"

Shen Mo did not answer, but stared intently at her, as if trying to see the shadow of another soul through the young face before him.

Huang Lei simply assumed that Shen Mo was impressed by Tian Xiwei's outstanding performance and chuckled.

"I have to say, this little girl has completely transformed compared to when I took her to film 'A Little Reunion' two years ago."

"At that time, I could only say that I had a natural talent, but I didn't know how to act."

"But that scene just now..."

He shook his head, filled with endless emotion.

"I've been in this industry for so many years, and I've seen all sorts of actors."

"But someone like her, who can portray such complex and tangled emotions so realistically and so powerfully in an impromptu, unprepared, and uncontested setting."

"This is much better than many established actors; it's no longer just a matter of acting skills."

"She was born for this!"

Familiar scenes, familiar words...

It ruthlessly stirred up the depths of Shen Mo's memories.

That wasn't some fictional scripted scene.

That was the most intense argument he had with Li Yitong in his past life, after he and Tian Xiwei confirmed their relationship.

Those questioning tones, those trembling caresses, and that resolute departure.

It fits together perfectly with my past life!

Once again, the truth, in such a dramatic way, undeniably told him.

Indeed, there are fragments of memories belonging to "Old Tian" in Tian Xiwei's mind.

At this moment, countless waves surged in Shen Mo's heart.

After the initial shock came boundless joy, deep worry, and a touch of helplessness at the possibility of an old friend's return.

He looked at Tian Xiwei, who had a slightly shy smile on her face. She was clearly still the little Tian he had raised, who depended on and trusted him.

Perhaps she still considered what had just happened as a dream, but Shen Mo knew clearly that it was not a dream, but a shared memory.

One is the entanglement and regret of a past life, the other is the protection and responsibility of this life.

Two identities and two emotions intertwine within Tian Xiwei alone.

Shen Mo withdrew his gaze, picked up the steaming tea, took a sip, and used this action to temporarily suppress the myriad thoughts in his mind.

When he looked up again, his face had regained its composure, but there was a hint of deep, almost imperceptible, somberness in his eyes.

"Teacher Huang, you flatter me. She was just thinking about it randomly and got lucky."

He patted Tian Xiwei's shoulder lightly, with a hint of joking.

"Did you hear that? Teacher Huang is praising you. You must work even harder in the future, don't be arrogant, and don't let Teacher Huang down."

Tian Xi nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes! I will!"

Huang Lei burst into laughter.

"You, as the older brother, have quite high standards. But that's good; a rough gem needs careful polishing."

He changed the subject and started talking about serious business.

He changed the subject and started talking about serious business.

"By the way, you said you'd contact me after the exam?"

Shen Mo nodded and sat up straight.

"Yes, Teacher Huang."

"We at Inkmark have two project proposals coming up, and I think you might be interested in them."

"Since we've run into each other today, I'll take the liberty of talking to you about my intentions."

Huang Lei raised his hand and made a "please" gesture, showing an interested expression.

"Oh? Tell me about it."

"Our first project, tentatively titled 'Back to the Countryside,' is a slow-paced variety show."

Shen Mo smiled slightly and began his explanation.

"We have observed that as the pace of society becomes increasingly faster,..."

"Especially young people in cities, many are trapped in a cycle between the company and home. They are under great pressure and their desire for nature, a slower pace of life, and simple interpersonal relationships is becoming stronger and stronger."

Huang Lei nodded thoughtfully, signaling him to continue.

"So, we want to create a slow-paced variety show."

"The core concept is to find a suitable courtyard in the countryside and build a temporary family."

"This family has two patriarchs who are in charge of the household affairs and cooking; and two young children who are responsible for carrying out the specific labor tasks."

"The main content of the program is to record the real life of this family in this courtyard, where they are self-sufficient and entertain friends."

"We can plant some seasonal vegetables, catch fish in the pond, cook some meals, tidy up the yard, and entertain our guest guests."

"Of course, working in the fields is an experiential activity, and the difficulty will be controlled to a level that is fun but not unpleasant."

"It sounds like a very refreshing idea."

Huang Lei nodded and commented, "So, what you meant by coming to me was...?"

"We understand that you, Teacher Huang, are an exceptionally skilled cook."

Shen Mo smiled and said, "Therefore, we hope to invite you to be a patriarch of this family."

"Cooking and chatting with the guests."

"To make things more fun, the guest stars will add a bit of challenge for you; they'll call ahead to order the food."

"Of course, the ingredients needed to order food will have to be obtained by the children and guests through completing some simple farm work or tasks."

As Huang Lei listened, a smile gradually appeared on his face. He was clearly not opposed to the role of the culinary expert; on the contrary, he found it quite interesting.

"And what about the other parent? Have you chosen one yet?"

"The other guest is your old friend, Professor He Jiong."

Shen Mo spoke frankly.

"Teacher He's high emotional intelligence, affability, and ability to create a good atmosphere make him a perfect match as another parent. You can take care of cooking at home while he handles external affairs and hospitality, which complements each other perfectly."

Upon hearing this, Huang Lei raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Jiongjiong, his main focus is on Hunan TV, so it might be difficult to coordinate the recording of external programs."

Clearly, the show's planners had grasped Huang Lei's potential, and he began to think from the perspective of show production.

"We have taken that into consideration."

Shen Mo was clearly prepared.

"For this project, we plan to collaborate with Mango TV, which launched last year, to co-produce it, so that it can also be broadcast on Mango TV."

"The difficulty for Teacher He to participate in the recording will also be greatly reduced."

"We at Mohen will take the lead in program concept and production, while Mango will provide the platform and some resource support. I believe we can achieve a win-win situation."

"That's a very thorough approach."

Huang Lei nodded, acknowledging that this had indeed resolved one of the key obstacles, and then asked another question.

"What about the child? Have you decided yet?"

Shen Mo turned his head and looked at Tian Xiwei, who had been listening quietly beside him.

"Isn't there one right here?"

"Your 'daughter,' Xiaotian, is young, energetic, hardworking, and quite strong."

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiwei immediately smiled shyly.

"She has a sweet smile and a natural affinity and authenticity. She's not pretentious, which makes her very suitable for programs that require a natural presentation."

"Besides, you've spent some time with her, so you should know what kind of person she is."

Huang Lei picked up his teacup, smiled, and took a sip. "Xiao Tian is indeed quite good."

Then, Shen Mo added.

"As for the other child, we are considering using one of the company's newly signed artists, named Peng Yuchang."

"The young man is honest and straightforward; you can trust our judgment."

Huang Lei did not immediately express his opinion, but slowly sipped his tea, clearly digesting and weighing the proposal.

The office fell silent for a moment, with only the faint aroma of tea lingering in the air.

Tian Xi looked at Huang Lei with some nervousness, then at Shen Mo.

After a moment, Huang Lei put down his teacup, and his gaze toward Shen Mo held a newfound interest.

"Okay, have the project team send me a complete plan. I'll check my teaching and schedule, and if I can adjust my availability, I can give it a try."

"By the way, didn't you just say you had two projects you wanted to discuss? What's the other one? It's not another variety show, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo smiled again.

"The other one is indeed a variety show planner, but the style and setting are completely opposite to 'Longing'."

Huang Lei couldn't help but chuckle, pointing at Shen Mo with a teasing tone.

Huang Lei couldn't help but chuckle, pointing at Shen Mo with a teasing tone.

"Well, I'm a professor in the Acting Department of the Beijing Film Academy, and all I get from you, Boss Shen, are invitations to variety shows. You really think so little of my acting skills?"

Shen Mo laughed heartily, with a hint of slyness in his eyes.

"Look at what you're saying."

"Our company has a ton of scripts, but most of them are idol dramas geared towards young people. Your acting is superb, but would you be interested?"

Huang Lei smiled and waved his hand, "Alright, let's continue talking about your other variety show. I'll see what would interest me."

Shen Mo suppressed his smile and began to explain.

"We've tentatively named this show 'Extreme Challenge'."

"Each episode will focus on a real social issue or an ordinary profession that is easily overlooked."

"For example, taxi drivers, domestic service workers, municipal cleaners, and Spider-Man workers who work at heights, etc."

"However, a purely professional experience record might be a bit bland, so we gave it a shell of intense competition and high interaction."

Huang Lei leaned forward slightly, listening intently.

"In addition to the regular cast members, the show will also feature guest stars."

"In the first few segments of the show, the members will participate in games and tasks that test their intelligence, physical strength, or luck in various corners of the city, competing for limited resources or key clues."

"The outcome of the game directly determines the starting advantage or equipment difference of the members in the final professional challenge."

After describing the basic information, Shen Mo began to explain the highlights of the program.

"The appeal of this show lies not only in the challenges of the professions themselves, but also in the battle of wits and courage among the members in order to win."

"Alliance, betrayal, and even fighting against the production team."

"This intense clash might produce some unexpected laughs and dramatic tension."

"I believe that this process, full of variables and strategic maneuvering, will be very much to your liking."

Sure enough, a glint of light flashed in Huang Lei's eyes—a light of delight at seeing a prey.

He stroked his chin and pressed for an answer.

"It sounds like a very ambitious plan and a very ambitious strategy."

"Do you have a basic concept for your team yet?"

Shen Mo nodded.

"Regarding the regular members, we hope to invite teachers Sun Honglei, Huang Bo, and Wang Xun, and of course, you as well."

"You guys know each other well, you have a tacit understanding, and to put it bluntly, what we want are the unexpected solutions and approaches from you cunning old foxes."

"Of course, in order to increase intergenerational interaction and attract more attention, we also plan to add two more young members."

"Our company's Lu Han and Reba."

"Couldn't we also use them to bring some viewership and attention to the show?"

"Besides, it's not very interesting when it's all old foxes fighting. It'll be more interesting when a couple of young people get bullied by the old foxes."

"Dilraba's adorable naiveté and Lu Han's cleverness will be quite amusing when they face you old foxes."

Huang Lei seemed to be caught up in the scene Shen Mo described, and a wicked smile appeared on his lips.

"Sun Honglei is a bandit enough, Huang Bo is cunning enough, Wang Xun is seemingly simple but is actually wicked, and then there's me."

"Hey, with this lineup, we can create a huge mess without the production team having to design anything."

He looked at Shen Mo and gave him a playful smile.

Are you sure your show's director can control the situation?

"What if they lose control of the game later on and then come up with all sorts of rules to restrict us from playing?"

Shen Mo met his gaze with confidence and composure.

"Isn't the part of the show where the production team gets out of control also a highlight?"

"Moreover, we have excellent directors and screenwriters. You should have confidence that you might not even be able to outmaneuver the production team."

Huang Lei smiled and looked at Shen Mo for a few seconds before slowly nodding.

"That's interesting. Your provocation is quite effective. 'Go Fighting!', right? Okay, send me both of these proposals when you get back."

"I'll let Hong Lei and the others know when the time comes."

He paused, then said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "If it really works out, don't blame us for ruining your production team."

"If that's the case, then I'm quite looking forward to it."