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

As filming of "My Sunshine" progressed, those eloquent lines became more than just words on a script for Dilraba Dilmurat.

They were like nails, each word precisely driven into her heart.

If you still have feelings for them, then take the initiative.

To her, this was also a test of her own cowardly heart.

Her feelings for Shen Mo went far beyond just "having feelings for him."

But it was an increasingly surging admiration and longing that almost overwhelmed reason.

Can it be done proactively?

Does she dare? Does she deserve it?

If you still have feelings for them, you should take the initiative.

Because they might not be running behind you forever.

Yes, someone like Shen Mo is always moving forward, and he will never lack followers and admirers.

Tong Jie, Xiao Tian'er, and Bai Mengyan each occupy a unique place in his life in their own way.

What about yourself?

Must I forever remain that little fan who only dares to look up from the corner, waiting for him to occasionally cast a glance?

If you continue to be so arrogant, you'll regret it later.

pride?

She has no reason to be proud.

In his presence, all her pride turned into timidity and self-consciousness.

Regret?

The word terrified her.

If we don't seize something now, will we really regret it when we look back someday?

The most fatal blow was Shen Mo's own words, He Yichen's soul declaration.

If that one person has ever existed in this world, everyone else will be a compromise, and I am unwilling to compromise.

When Shen Mo spoke those words with that deep, firm gaze, tinged with a hint of obsessive pain, Dilraba felt a chill run down her spine.

Who was that person in his life who "refused to settle"?

Is that Sister Tong?

still is……

Am I willing to settle?

Is he my "I won't settle" type?

If you are destined to be my husband, then why shouldn't I exercise my rights sooner?

She practiced saying Zhao Mosheng's words over and over again.

Each time, it requires immense courage and the full expression of genuine emotion.

And each time he finished speaking, looking at Shen Mo who was so close to him, the sense of disorientation between the play and reality became even stronger.

She so desperately hopes that she, off-screen, can also have the courage and right to approach such a person.

Looking at the script in her hand, which was covered in annotations, her gaze went unfocused.

What kept echoing in my mind was no longer just the lines, but a mixture of Shen Mo's figure and his eyes.

And her own heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.

Filming became a bittersweet indulgence.

She is finding it increasingly difficult to completely detach herself from the role of Zhao Mosheng.

After work, even a simple act of kindness from Shen Mo, a glass of warm water, or a word of advice on acting would make her heart skip a beat.

She began to subconsciously imitate some of Zhao Mosheng's traits, that foolish courage, and that reckless persistence.

In her daily conversations with Shen Mo, she mustered a bit more courage than usual.

Occasionally, she would make a friendly joke, or try to keep her eyes from darting away when he looked at her.

When Jin Daxi teases her, she no longer just bashfully denies it; sometimes she blushes and tacitly agrees.

I even secretly hoped that there was even a tiny chance that those jokes might come true.

She knew she was probably playing with fire, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

But she couldn't control herself.

Those lines had already taken root in her heart, intertwining with her reason.

Shen Mo is both the one who sows the seeds and the sunlight she longs to cling to.

The surveillance camera showed the complicated and passionate love story between He Yichen and Zhao Mosheng.

Outside the monitor, there was her endless, unrequited love.

She sheds her own tears in other people's stories, and constructs her unspoken desires in other people's lines.

The closer the filming got to the end, the stronger this sense of immersion became.

It felt like a beautiful dream was about to end.

She wanted to hold onto everything in her dream, even if it was just a fleeting warmth.

The filming of "My Sunshine" has entered its second half, and the pace is becoming increasingly intense.

However, Dilraba received a phone call from her hometown, which instantly plunged her into a cold abyss.

Her dearest grandmother suddenly fell seriously ill and was hospitalized; her condition was not optimistic.

Her first thought was: I want to go back!

But as soon as this thought popped into my head, it was immediately suppressed by the practical concerns that followed.

She is the female lead, and her role is present throughout the entire series.

Once she takes leave, the entire production almost comes to a standstill.

Moreover, she knew that Shen Mo managed such a large company, and it was already difficult for him to find the time to film. The entire crew was working efficiently to accommodate his schedule and was rushing to finish the project.

How could she possibly bring herself to say it?

How could I let myself slow down everyone's progress and waste Shen Mo's precious time?

I can't say it, I can't ask for leave.

She completed the filming as usual on the day she learned the news.

The moment the director yelled "That's a wrap," the smile that belonged to Zhao Mosheng on her face quickly faded, leaving only an undisguised weariness and emptiness.

She politely said goodbye to the staff, but her steps were faster than usual, and she almost fled back to her hotel room.

The door clicked shut, shutting out all the noise from the outside world.

She sat on the carpet with her back against the sofa and dialed her mother's video call as quickly as possible.

When she saw that familiar person lying on the hospital bed with their eyes closed, her straight back instantly slumped.

After hanging up the phone and tossing it aside, she curled up her legs and buried her face deeply in her knees.

In the silence, his shoulders trembled slightly uncontrollably, and suppressed sobs escaped from his tightly clenched lips.

In my mind, Grandma sat under the grape trellis, her face beaming with smiles, her wrinkles smoothing out as she called to her in her newly learned Mandarin, still heavily accented.

"Little Ba—"

Her tears finally broke free, rolling down in large drops and soaking the carpet.

After washing up, she lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep until late at night.

Images of my grandmother taking me shopping, knitting clothes for me, and teaching me to dance keep flashing through my mind.

Tears streamed down her face again, and she buried her face deeply in the pillow.

The only sounds in the room were her suppressed breathing and the distant sound of traffic outside the window.

The next day's shoot was bright and sunny, but the sunlight just couldn't penetrate Dilraba's heart.

She stood in her designated spot, listening to the director's instructions and nodding earnestly, but her eyes kept drifting to the phone in her assistant Jia Yue's hand not far away.

"Alright, all departments, get ready! Actors, take your positions!"

She took a deep breath and forced herself to concentrate.

The camera pointed at her, and the playful smile that belonged to Zhao Mosheng reappeared on her face.

As soon as director Liu Junjie yelled "Cut," Dilraba ran to Jia Yue's side, grabbed her phone, and slipped into a quiet corner where props were piled up.

When the call connected, her voice betrayed her urgency.

"Mom, how is Grandma? What did the doctor say today?... "

The news coming through the receiver was not optimistic. Her brows furrowed more and more, and her nails dug unconsciously into her palms.

After hanging up the phone, she leaned against the cold prop box, tilted her head back, blinked, and forced back the bitterness that welled up inside her.

When she returned to the camera, it took her several seconds to recapture Zhao Mosheng's gaze.

Behind the monitor not far away, Shen Mo's gaze swept across the film set and landed on the girl whose face was noticeably paler than before.

Seeing her fist clench and unclench unconsciously, and the momentary blankness on her face when she looked at the script.

This is the fourth time today that she has avoided crowds to make phone calls.

However, he didn't say anything, but his brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze lingered on her for a couple more seconds.

On the evening of the third day, as filming was nearing its end, there was still one major scene left.

It is a scene where Zhao Mosheng is alone in the stairwell, looking heartbroken, after an argument between He Yichen and Zhao Mosheng.

This requires extremely strong emotional appeal and subtle nuances, but Dilraba's current state has already hit rock bottom.

During her break just now, she received a call from her family that brought her extremely bad news.

The condition did not improve; in fact, it began to worsen.

The news suddenly filled her mind, leaving no room for any other thoughts.

"A!"

The camera zooms in, focusing on her profile as she leans against the wall.

According to the script, she should slowly squat down, bury her face in her arms, and shrug her shoulders slightly to show extreme sadness and loneliness.

However, when she tried to evoke emotions, the scripted scenario didn't come to mind.

Instead, it was the hospital's pale ceiling, the weak faces with tubes inserted, and my own helplessness thousands of miles away.

Her eyes were empty and unfocused, her body stiff and motionless, devoid of any emotion.

The trembling that should have been natural didn't appear, and even breathing sounded hollow.

"Cut!"

Liu Junjie's voice rang out, his tone clearly showing anger and restraint.

"Reba, you're not in a good mood, you're too dry."

"What I want is heartbreak, the trembling of collapse, not bewilderment, not blank stares."

"Let's adjust and try again."

Dilraba quickly came to her senses and bowed in apology.

"I'm sorry, director, I'm so sorry."

She could feel the gazes from those around her, filled with sighs, confusion, and helplessness.

This wasn't her first mistake in the past two days; she'd been wasting too much time.

These gazes, like fine needles, stung her cheeks, making them burn and her heart tighten.

The second time, she tried to cry, but she had almost cried herself dry in the past two days. Now she wanted to cry but couldn't, and her expression was distorted and looked strange.

The third time, she had just gotten into character when she lost focus again and misspoke her lines.

On the fourth attempt, amidst the director's increasingly somber expression and the near-frozen silence of the entire set, she barely managed to complete the required movements, but anyone could see the forced and hollow nature of her performance.

"Okay...that's enough."

"Okay...that's enough."

Liu Junjie finally sighed, waved his hand, and stopped watching the monitor playback.

That's all for today.

"Dilraba, go back and get some rest, and get back into shape."

"Tomorrow... I hope to see a different you."

"Thank you, director. I'm sorry everyone..."

Dilraba's voice was barely audible, almost drowned out by the noise of the equipment being packed up.

She lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with anyone, and quickly walked to her rest area, haphazardly stuffing her things into her bag.

I got into the van back to the hotel, and the doors closed.

She was in the back seat, and even her last bit of strength was drained away.

She slowly curled up, hugged her knees, buried her face in her arms, and could no longer hold back, muttering condemnations in a voice only she could hear.

"Dilraba, you're so useless..."

"I can't act well..."

"Grandma is sick and can't go back..."

"It will only cause trouble for everyone..."

"It's delaying the schedule...it's taking up Brother Mo's time..."

"I'm such a burden..."

Tears silently streamed down her face, soaking her sleeves.

Just then, the car door was gently pulled open, and a familiar figure entered and sat down beside her.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Mo's voice rang out in the small space.

Dilraba froze, hurriedly wiped her face with her sleeve, buried her head even lower, and spoke in a muffled voice.

"No...it's nothing. Brother Mo, why did you come up here?"

"You haven't been feeling well for several days."

Shen Mo's voice was calm, with a hint of concern.

Tell me, what happened?

"I'm really fine... I'm just a little tired."

She persisted, not wanting to become the one who needed extra care.

Silence spread through the carriage, and the driver and his assistant in the front seat subconsciously held their breath.

After a while, Shen Mo suddenly changed his tone.

With a gentle and soothing tone, a soft sigh escaped.

"Dilraba, will you believe me?"

These words were like a key, unlocking the defenses she had been so desperately trying to maintain.

The emotions that had been suppressed for three days, a mixture of worry, fear, self-blame, and loneliness, erupted like a flood bursting its banks.

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked at him. When she met his concerned gaze, her last line of defense completely collapsed.

She threw herself into his arms without a care, like a lost child who had finally found someone to rely on, and burst into tears, letting out all the pent-up emotions and pain of the past few days.

"Waaah... Grandma, Grandma's in the hospital..."

"The doctor said... said he might not last much longer..."

"Everyone has gone home..."

"I was the only one who didn't go back!"

"I don't want to hold everyone back..."

"I don't want to take up your time..."

"If I take leave... the filming will be halted..."

"The company will have to bear huge additional costs..."

Even if I take leave... I don't know how long I'll have to take it...

She was incoherent, sobbing uncontrollably, clutching the fabric of his shirt tightly as if it were her only lifeline.

Shen Mo caught her steadily the moment she lunged at him.

He subconsciously put his arm around her trembling shoulders, paused for a moment, and then gently patted her back with his other hand, letting her tears soak his shirt.

Dilraba, who had been feeling anxious and uneasy these past few days, finally felt a sense of warmth and peace in his arms and with his comforting presence.

"Okay, stop crying."

His voice rang out above her head, deep and firm.

"Leave it to me."

He loosened his grip on her slightly, gently wiping away the tears streaming down her face, looking into her red, swollen eyes filled with helplessness.

"Believe me."

These few simple words, like a warm current, instantly touched Dilraba's softest heart.

She stared at him blankly, forgetting even to cry, only hot tears continued to flow.

Shen Mo pursed his lips and nodded slightly to her, then turned to the front and gave crisp and efficient instructions to the driver and assistant.

"Jiayue, book three tickets for the fastest flight to Northern Xinjiang now, and the two of you will go back with her."

"Go to the hotel now and help her pack her necessary luggage. Let's leave immediately."

"When you get there, take good care of her. Contact me anytime if anything happens. I'll handle anything I can't solve."

After giving his instructions, he once again cupped Dilraba's tear-streaked face in his hands and looked at her intently.

"Listen, now, right now, go back and be with your grandma."

"I'll handle all the issues with the production crew."

He paused, his tone softening, carrying a hint of heaviness.

"Go back and spend some quality time with your elders, so you won't regret it later."

"There will always be opportunities for work, but your family can't wait. Do you understand?"

Dilraba nodded vigorously, her throat choked with emotion, unable to speak, and could only bite her lip tightly as she looked at him.

Shen Mo ruffled her hair and gestured to his assistant.

"You should set off now."

Watching the car carrying Dilraba merge into the nighttime traffic, Shen Mo stood there for a moment, then turned and walked towards the director's location.

"Director Liu, Reba has an urgent matter at home and must go back for a few days immediately."

"Starting tomorrow, let's adjust the filming schedule. Postpone all of her unfilmed scenes and focus on filming the scenes of other people."

Director Liu Junjie looked troubled.

"President Shen, I understand. Dilraba's condition is not right; something must have happened."

Shen Mo interrupted him, "I will bear all the additional costs incurred as a result. Just do as I say."

His attitude was so clear and resolute that there was clearly no room for negotiation.

Liu Junjie had no choice but to nod.

"Okay, we'll do as Mr. Shen says. I'll call a meeting right away to arrange adjustments to the notice."