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

Another Spring Festival has arrived.

In the old city of Jinan, the sound of firecrackers began to ring intermittently from dusk, like a rehearsal without a director.

When Shen Mo and Li Yitong arrived home, their parents had already been busy in the kitchen for half a day.

Mr. Shen was chopping filling, and Mrs. Li was frying lotus root. The oil sizzled and the aroma wafted from the kitchen, through the corridor, and into every room.

As soon as Shen Mo entered the door, his mother pulled him aside and looked him up and down. "You've lost weight."

He turned to look at Li Yitong again and said, "You've lost weight too."

Li Yitong smiled and hugged Shen's mother's arm, saying, "Auntie, you always say that. Every time we come back, we've gained three pounds."

Mrs. Shen was so amused by her that she couldn't stop smiling. She said "good, good, good" three times in a row, and then turned around and went back to the kitchen to continue her work.

The New Year's Eve dinner table was laden with food, and we enjoyed it immensely. However, some topics were still unavoidable.

After a few rounds of drinks, Mrs. Shen put down her chopsticks, glanced at Mrs. Li, and the two exchanged a knowing look.

"Xiao Mo."

Shen's mother's voice wasn't loud, but Shen Mo could recognize the serious tone in her voice, even with his eyes closed, from the time he'd heard it since he was a child.

He paused for a moment as he picked up some food.

"You two have been together for several years now, haven't you?"

Shen Mo put down his chopsticks, hummed in agreement, and said nothing more.

Li's mother picked up the conversation, her tone more direct than Shen's mother's.

"Your mom and I have discussed it, and you're both 25 now, and will be 26 after the New Year. Isn't it time you two got married? You're not children anymore, what are you dragging your feet on?"

Shen Mo's Adam's apple bobbed, and he picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

Li Yitong put down her chopsticks, picked up a tissue to wipe her mouth, and looked up, her crescent-shaped eyes curving upwards.

"Mom, Aunt Shen, why are you in such a hurry? We're not in a hurry at all."

Li's mother glared at her: "Aren't you worried? How old are you?"

"No matter how old she is, she's still your daughter."

Li Yitong's tone carried a perfectly timed hint of coquettishness, "Besides, aren't we doing just fine? Getting married is still living life, and we're living life now, so what's the difference?"

Shen's mother opened her mouth as if to say something, but Li Yitong had already stood up, walked to her side with a wine glass in hand, put her arm around her shoulder, and gently touched her glass to hers.

"Aunt Shen, don't worry, I won't run away. Even if your son runs away, I won't run away either. I'll just stay at your house."

Shen's mother laughed, and patted her hand lightly, saying, "You silly child, you always know how to say nice things."

Li Yitong blinked. "Then just listen to the nice stuff. The nice stuff is enough."

The four elders were rendered speechless by her actions, and the conversation shifted from urging marriage back to everyday matters, including the rising price of pork at the market and the program list for the Spring Festival Gala.

Finally, the conversation turned to the neighbor's son bringing his girlfriend home this year...

Shen Mo glanced helplessly at Li Yitong. When Li Yitong met his gaze, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Shen Mo hurriedly pulled Li Yitong downstairs to set off fireworks.

Winter in Jinan is bitterly cold, but this year there was no snow. The ground was dry, and the streetlights cast sparse patches of light through the bare branches.

Shen Mo walked ahead carrying the fireworks, with Li Yitong following behind. Their shadows stretched long under the streetlights, sometimes overlapping and then separating.

People were already gathered in the open space outside the residential area. Several children were running around with handheld fireworks, sparks drawing golden arcs in the night.

Shen Mo found a corner, squatted down, arranged the fireworks, lit them, the fuse hissed as it burned, and then with a "whoosh," it shot into the night sky.

"Bang--!"

Golden sparks exploded overhead, like a blooming chrysanthemum, its petals stretching out in all directions, before slowly falling and disappearing into the night.

Then came the second, the third, the fourth, one after another, bursting open and bathing the entire open space in warm light.

Li Yitong tilted her head back, the light from the fireworks reflecting on her face, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

Her crescent-shaped eyes curved, and a satisfied smile played on her lips. She leaned closer to Shen Mo, resting her shoulder against his arm, and then slowly rested her head on his arm.

"very nice."

Her voice was so soft that it was almost drowned out by the sound of the fireworks exploding.

Shen Mo didn't say anything, but reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. Her hands naturally wrapped around his waist.

Fireworks continued to explode overhead, one after another, golden, red, blue, and purple, turning the night sky into an ever-changing oil painting.

Beside the open space, a little girl of five or six years old squatted on the ground, covering her ears, but staring intently at the sky, calling out, "Mommy, look, look!" Her mother squatted down next to her, smiling as she covered her ears tightly.

As the last firework faded into the sky, Shen Mo and Li Yitong did not immediately return. Instead, they walked slowly along the path in the neighborhood, their shoes making a soft, rustling sound as they stepped on the dry, cold ground.

"You just now..." Shen Mo began, then paused, "at the dinner table, thank you."

Li Yitong glanced at him sideways, a slight smile playing on her lips. "What are you thanking me for? Why are you being so polite with me?"

"Besides, I was doing it for myself. If Mom and the others kept talking, I'd get tired of hearing it."

Shen Mo knew she was trying to help him out of a difficult situation, so he didn't expose her and just gently squeezed her shoulder.

After walking for a while, Li Yitong slowed down and looked down at the tips of her shoes.

"Actually, I'm not in a hurry at all."

Shen Mo paused for a moment, and Li Yitong continued speaking.

"In our past life, although we weren't together during the Lunar New Year, our two families still celebrated it together."

"Your uncle and aunt ask you to bring Tian'er back to meet them every year, urging you to settle down as soon as possible."

Shen Mo's fingers tightened slightly.

"Although my parents don't say it, I can tell they're quite disappointed in me. How should I put it? When it comes to relationships, I'm pretty disappointing."

Li Yitong's tone was calm, tinged with a sense of reminiscence.

"But they never complained to me. Every year during the Lunar New Year, they were always smiling, helping their uncles and aunts with preparations and trying to persuade them."

She paused, took a deep breath, and looked up with a smile.

"At that time, I was sitting on the side, listening to these words, feeling both envious and sad. I felt like an outsider, sitting in my own home, watching other people's excitement."

Shen Mo stopped and turned to face Li Yitong.

The streetlights shone from behind her, casting a warm yellow glow on her silhouette.

"What's wrong?"

"Were you moved? Did you feel guilty?"

Li Yitong shrugged, looked up at Shen Mo, her face showing no sign of grievance or resentment, but instead revealing a big, smiling eye.

"So you know why I'm not in a hurry at all?"

"Because I would never have dared to imagine this scene in my past life."

"During the Chinese New Year, when the two families ate together, they urged us to get married, specifically you and me. I was so happy."

Her voice trembled slightly, but her tone was extremely light.

"I've already made a profit."

Shen Mo looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

Li Yitong reached out and gently patted his chest.

"Don't feel pressured. I don't interfere in your affairs, not because I'm magnanimous, but because I know you're aware of the situation."

She paused, and the smile on her lips deepened a little.

"Besides, I'm sticking with you for life. Whether you're married or not, you're mine. You can't run away."

After saying that, she laughed first, her crescent-shaped eyes curving into two rainbows, her eyebrows and eyes squeezing together with laughter.

Shen Mo looked at her, his eyes welling up with tears. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

Li Yitong buried her face in his chest and said in a muffled voice, "Why are you hugging me so tightly? I'm not going to run away."

However, she still reached out and hugged Shen Mo's chest, clasping her hands tightly behind his back.

Shen Mo didn't speak, but simply rested his chin on the top of her head and closed his eyes.

In the distance, fireworks exploded again.

Under the streetlights, the shadows of the two people overlapped, making it impossible to tell who was whose.

The night wind blew in from the alley entrance, carrying the smell of gunpowder and the dryness unique to winter. Li Yitong shrank her neck and buried her face further into Shen Mo's chest.

"Let's go back. We need to get up early tomorrow to visit relatives and friends for the New Year."

Shen Mo released her, took her hand and intertwined their fingers, and the two turned and walked back towards home.

Just after the New Year's Eve countdown ended in the early hours of the morning, Bai Lu sent a text message to Li Yitong's phone.

[Sister Tong, may I come to your house to wish you a Happy New Year?]

This was followed by a string of pitiful, coquettish emojis, ranging from aggrieved to crying to clinging to someone's leg, four or five in a row.

Li Yitong glanced down at her phone, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved into a smile.

The image of that snowy night from years ago flashed through her mind. She and Shen Mo were taking a walk near the school when Bai Lu secretly followed behind them. If it hadn't been for Bai Lu's provocation, she and Shen Mo didn't know how much longer they would have dragged things out before getting together.

Thinking of this, Li Yitong couldn't help but smile and typed two words on the screen.

【OK!】

"Yeah! Nice!"

Bai Lu, on the other end of the phone, was kneeling on the bed, holding her phone up in front of her, the screen illuminating her face, which was beaming with joy.

She jumped up and down twice, the mattress bouncing so much that the water glass on the bedside table shook.

Then he lay down and buried his face in the pillow, chuckling softly. He then turned over and stared at the ceiling with bright eyes.

The next morning, before dawn, Bai Lu went out.

There weren't many people at the airport; on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, most people were still in bed.

Bai Lu sat in the waiting area, holding a hot Americano in her hand. It was so bitter that she frowned slightly because she needed to be clear-headed, energetic, and look radiant when she got off the plane.

When the plane landed, the sky over Jinan was hazy and gray.

A cold wind rushed towards her face, filling Bai Lu's collar. She shrank her neck and took a deep breath.

Jinan, the city where she suffered a crushing defeat and fled in disgrace.

Jinan, the city where she suffered a crushing defeat and fled in disgrace.

Bai Lu knocked on Li Yitong's door, and Li Yitong's mother opened it. Bai Lu went in under the pretense of wishing Li Yitong a Happy New Year.

After arranging for her to sit on the sofa, Li's mother rushed straight into Li Yitong's room.

"Li Xue! Aren't you getting up yet?! Your friends have all come to wish you a Happy New Year!"

"Huh?! A New Year's greeting? Who is it! So early in the morning!"

The bedroom door opened, revealing Li Yitong's still sleepy face. She was wrapped in a large cotton-padded pajama, her hair was a mess, and there were red marks on her face from the pillow.

She squinted at Bai Lu, who looked travel-worn but full of interest, on the sofa, paused for two seconds, and couldn't help but laugh speechlessly.

"You're here so early!"

Bai Lu stood up, and the smile on her lips almost slipped away the moment she saw Li Yitong's expression.

"Sister Tong, it's ten o'clock." Bai Lu's voice wasn't particularly strong.

"Ten o'clock?"

Li Yitong glanced at the clock on the living room wall; sure enough, it was past ten o'clock. She scratched her hair, making it even messier. "I thought it was only eight o'clock..."

Li's mother's voice came from behind, full of energy.

"Look at them, all dressed up and looking beautiful as they come to wish us a Happy New Year. And look at yourself, what kind of person are you!"

Before she could finish speaking, Li's mother had already walked up behind her and slapped Li Yitong on the back. It wasn't hard, but the sound was loud.

Li Yitong staggered forward half a step after being slapped, pouted, snorted angrily, and glared at her mother.

But Li's mother didn't even look at her. She was already smiling and welcoming Bai Lu, taking the gift box that Bai Lu had been carrying. "You're here, why did you bring anything?"

"Please sit wherever you like."

Li's mother pulled Bai Lu to sit down on the sofa again. Bai Lu secretly glanced at Li Yitong, who was rolling her eyes at her, but the corners of her mouth were turned up.

Li's mother pressed Bai Lu down on the sofa and turned to get some candy and melon seeds.

Li Yitong shook her head as she watched this scene, then turned to wash up.

Fifteen minutes had passed by the time she finished washing up and changing her clothes.

She wore a cream-colored sweater with a camel-colored coat over it, and her hair was tied in a low ponytail. She looked more than ten times more energetic than before.

She walked to the sofa, snatched Bai Lu from her mother's hands, and pulled her up from the sofa.

"Mom, we're going out."

Before Li's mother could say anything, the two had already reached the door.

The moment the door closed, Li's mother's voice came from inside: "Come home early for dinner tonight!"

"I understand—" Li Yitong's voice trailed off, the last syllable fading into the corridor.

Outside the door, Bai Lu carefully took Li Yitong's arm and said, "Sister Tong, Happy New Year."

Her voice was a little tense, "I..."

Li Yitong patted her arm. "Alright, I know why you're here."

"I'm so happy that people come to wish me a Happy New Year."

Bai Lu was stunned for a moment, but Li Yitong continued speaking.

"Besides, if it's just the two of us, Mo-ge, we can't really go out and have fun."

"It's perfect with you here. With three of us, we don't have to worry about what people will say even if we get photographed. It's just a gathering of friends, it's perfectly normal."

A glint flashed in Bai Lu's eyes, a mixture of embarrassment and relief.

Li Yitong pulled her to the next room and pressed the doorbell.

Shen Mo stood at the door, wearing a dark gray sweater with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and holding a cup of tea in his hand.

His eyes widened the moment he saw Li Yitong holding Bai Lu's arm.

"Happy New Year, Brother Mo!" Bai Lu's voice was half a tone higher than before, filled with barely suppressed joy.

Shen Mo glanced at Li Yitong, and Li Yitong raised an eyebrow at him.

"Happy New Year." Shen Mo stepped aside to let him in. "Would you like to come in and sit down?"

"I'm not sitting anymore, I'm not sitting anymore."

Li Yitong waved her hand and looked at Shen Mo, "Pack your things, let's go see the temple fair."

"Take our Dream Research Institute to experience the Spring Festival temple fair at the No. 1 Spring Under Heaven."

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