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

The next morning, Bai Lu planned to go back.

She's already very grateful to have spent a day with me; it would be impolite for her to stay any longer.

Lunch was made by Li's mother: dumplings with chive and egg filling. She said it was "dumplings before getting on the train, noodles after getting off," for good luck.

Bai Lu ate ten. Li's mother watched her eat, her eyes narrowing into slits with laughter. "This child is so easy to raise."

Bai Lu, with dumplings stuffed in her mouth, mumbled a reply and then gave a big smile.

After lunch, Li Yitong pulled Shen Mo aside and said, "Why don't you go see her off?"

"I feel bad for not letting you all spend some time alone after coming all this way."

Li Yitong's crescent-shaped eyes held no hint of probing.

Shen Mo didn't say much, just nodded, gave her a hug, then picked up his coat and walked to the door.

Bai Lu was already standing at the door, carrying a heavy bag of local specialties that Li's mother had insisted on giving her: pancakes, donkey-hide gelatin, and red dates.

"Let's go." Shen Mo took the bag from her hand.

Bai Lu glanced back at Li Yitong standing in the corridor. Li Yitong waved to her, and Bai Lu nodded before turning around and following Shen Mo.

Inside the car, Wang Zheng sat in the driver's seat, glanced at the two people in the back seat in the rearview mirror, silently started the car, and then pressed a button to raise the gearshift.

The front and back rows were completely separated, and the back row became a closed space.

The city outside the car window slowly receded, and the winter sun shone through the glass, casting a warm yellow light on the seats.

Bai Lu and Shen Mo were less than a fist's width apart. As the car turned at an intersection, the inertia caused her body to tilt slightly. She took advantage of the momentum and leaned directly into Shen Mo's arms.

Shen Mo reached out and steadily protected her. Bai Lu raised her head from his arms and looked up at him. From this angle, she could see his chin, his Adam's apple, the curve of his nose, the shadow cast by his eyelashes on his cheekbones, and the faint smile on Shen Mo's lips.

Bai Lu reached out and cupped Shen Mo's face in her hands. With a little effort, she propped herself up and kissed him.

Shen Mo could feel that her lips were cool and dry, typical of winter, but once they touched, the coolness was quickly warmed up, becoming warm and soft.

Bai Lu kissed him earnestly, with all her love and passion.

Shen Mo moved his hand from her back to the back of her head, his fingers running through her hair, gently pressing it, both as a response and as a comfort.

They kissed for a long time, so long that the car had already passed three intersections before Bai Lu finally let go.

But she still didn't leave his embrace; she simply buried her face in his chest, her forehead against his collarbone, breathing heavily.

"Happy New Year, Brother Mo."

"I don't want to leave."

Bai Lu's fingers gripped the lapel of his coat tightly. Shen Mo didn't speak, but his fingers slowly ran through her hair.

"Scared, weren't you?!"

She suddenly looked up, a bright smile on her face. "I was just kidding."

Shen Mo smiled faintly and reached out to gently scratch her nose.

He could tell whether she was joking or not; Bai Lu was just using a joke to express her true feelings, afraid of putting herself in a difficult position.

Shen Mo held her even tighter, his gaze softening as if he wanted to envelop her completely.

Bai Lu stared at him for two seconds, her bright smile slowly faded, and then the corners of her mouth slowly curved up, revealing a genuine smile on her face.

She leaned in again and gently pecked him on the corner of his mouth, then snuggled back into his arms and buried her face in Shen Mo's chest.

"Call me anytime if you miss me, I'm online 24/7."

"Really?"

"real!"

"What if Sister Tong sees this?"

"I put it on speakerphone and asked her to listen in too."

Bai Lu chuckled. "Never mind then, I'll wait for you to contact me, Brother Mo. Otherwise, I'm afraid the timing of my call will be wrong, and Sister Tong will tear me apart when she gets back."

The car entered the highway, and the scenery outside the window changed from buildings to fields.

Bai Lu leaned against Shen Mo's chest, closed her eyes, and her breathing gradually became even and long.

She wasn't asleep, but she didn't want to open her eyes either.

Opening your eyes means facing the reality that you'll have to get off the bus soon, while closing your eyes allows you to pretend that the road has no end.

Shen Mo looked down at her. Sunlight fell on her eyelashes, shimmering with a pale golden light. Her lips were still slightly red, and there was a thin layer of pink on her cheeks. He didn't know if it was because the emotions from the kiss hadn't completely faded, or if the enclosed space made her feel stuffy.

He reached out and brushed the stray hairs from her face behind her ear, his fingertips touching her earlobe. Her ear twitched slightly and then instantly turned red.

"Brother Mo, next time... can I come again?"

"at any time."

Bai Lu's lips curved into a smile, her heart filled with sweetness, as if it were filled with a jar of honey.

The car slowly slowed down and stopped in the airport parking lot. Bai Lu sat up from Shen Mo's arms, tidied her hair and collar, and wiped her eyes with a tissue.

Then she quietly turned to look at Shen Mo, and the two gazed at each other for a long time. This time, Shen Mo took the initiative to lean in and kiss her deeply.

"I should go." Bai Lu pushed him away.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

Suddenly, Wang Zheng in the front row knocked on the barrier, and then it slowly lowered.

Shen Mo looked at him in confusion, and Wang Zheng gave a rare, stiff smile.

"Mr. Shen, Mr. Li asked me to tell you something when I get to the airport."

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

"She said she's also booked your plane ticket, so why don't you go all the way and send Miss Bai directly back to Changzhou?"

Bai Lu's eyes widened instantly, and an uncontrollable joy appeared on her face. Shen Mo, on the other hand, looked bewildered. Seeing Bai Lu's expression, he reached out and patted her head. "Wait a moment, I'll make a call."

As soon as the call connected, Li Yitong spoke up before Shen Mo could even say anything.

"Apart from filming, we're almost always together. I'll give you a few days off during the Lunar New Year. Please take Mengyan home safely on your way."

Shen Mo chuckled speechlessly. Is it really possible to go that conveniently?

However, Li Yitong ignored his laughter and continued, "It would be even better if you could persuade Tian'er to come back in the next few days!"

"Don't worry at home, I told your aunt and uncle that you went to visit an important client during the New Year."

After saying that, she hung up the phone before Shen Mo could say a word.

Shen Mo looked at the phone screen where the call had ended, shook his head, and looked at Bai Lu, "Looks like I'll have to give you a ride home on my way."

"Yeah!" Bai Lu jumped up from her seat and pounced on Shen Mo, clinging tightly to his neck with both hands.

"Long live Sister Tong! Love you, Brother Mo!"

After Bai Lu got out of the car, she seemed to change her tune completely, going from being clingy in the car to being openly intimate.

She held onto Shen Mo's arm the whole time, but fortunately, both of them were fully disguised. In a crowded place like the airport, this kind of attire actually became the best camouflage.

Wang Zheng was half a step ahead, holding three ID cards and three boarding passes in his hand.

He was already very experienced at this kind of thing: checking in, checking luggage, going through security, and incidentally blocking Shen Mo and his companion's way to prevent anyone from recognizing them from the front.

Bai Lu didn't let go of Shen Mo's arm the whole time, which amused Shen Mo so much that the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Shen Mo didn't dodge; he simply adjusted his position to make her more comfortable leaning against him.

During the more than one-hour flight, Bai Lu barely spoke, but she didn't fall asleep either.

She rested her head on Shen Mo's shoulder, her hair brushing against his neck. Occasionally, she would look up at his profile before lowering her head again, a small but irrepressible smile playing on her lips.

When the plane landed in Changzhou, it was still early.

Winters in Changzhou are much warmer than in Jinan, with a gentle, humid air that is typical of the South, unlike the dry, biting winds of Jinan.

The moment Bai Lu stepped out of the plane, she took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly, "I'm back."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a sense of relaxation and excitement.

Wang Zheng had already rented a car in advance, a black SUV, which was parked at the far end of the parking lot. He got into the driver's seat, started the car, and raised the partition.

As soon as Bai Lu got in the car, she took off her mask and sunglasses, revealing her face, which had been covered the whole way and was slightly flushed.

She turned her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Shen Mo, the corners of her mouth curving into an astonishing smile.

"With your mouth wide open like that, are you trying to eat me?!"

Shen Mo reached out and pinched her cheek, teasing her with a smile.

"You're on my turf now, Brother Mo! You have to listen to me! I can eat whatever I want."

As she spoke, she plopped down on Shen Mo's lap, looking directly at him with her eyes full of stars.

Shen Mo patted her bottom, "Take it easy, your brother Zheng is still up ahead!"

Then he pulled her into his arms, both of them resting their chins on each other's shoulders, quietly embracing and feeling the warmth of the embrace.

"Mengyan," Shen Mo suddenly spoke up, "how about I buy some gifts and visit you at your home?"

"No!" Bai Lu exclaimed anxiously, "I'm not ready yet!"

Moreover, she couldn't tell her family about her relationship with Shen Mo, since they weren't officially a couple.

So it's better not to meet.

"You dislike your brother Mo that much, huh?" Shen Mo said, feigning teasing.

He realized that it wouldn't be appropriate to visit them so rashly, but he still had to solve this problem, otherwise they would be in a difficult position.

"No way!" Bai Lu released Shen Mo's embrace, pouting as she looked at him. "My home is very small, I don't have much to offer you. I don't want Brother Mo to see me like this."

"How about I help you buy a big house in Changzhou?"

Bai Lu shook her head. "No, I want to buy it myself! I've earned so much money this year!"

Shen Mo glanced at her, smiled slightly, and said, "Alright!"

Bai Lu noticed Shen Mo's disappointment. After all, she had repeatedly rejected the suggestions this man had given her. Feeling guilty, she lowered her head and rested her head on Shen Mo's chest.

"Brother Mo, I don't care about those external things. All I want is you. All I need is for you to have me."

Shen Mo chuckled and gently stroked her head. "Okay, today I'll leave all of my 100-odd pounds to you. Just tell me how you want me to do things, and I'll cooperate completely."

Bai Lu paused for a moment, looked up, suddenly smiled, and then nodded vigorously.

Bai Lu gave Wang Zheng an address and told her to drive slowly around the area, as she wanted to share her past with Shen Mo.

"Brother Mo, look, that river." She pointed out the car window.

"When I was a child, I used to fly kites by this river. Once, the kite string broke, and I chased it for a whole street, but I still couldn't catch it. I sat on the ground and cried, and my mother, who came looking for me, took me home."

"Over there," Bai Lu pointed to the other side.

"That's where I used to go to elementary school. There was an old lady selling sticky rice at the school gate. I would buy it every day after school, with pickled vegetables and green beans. It was so delicious. Later, the old lady stopped selling it, and I never ate sticky rice that was so delicious again."

As the car drove through an intersection, Bai Lu suddenly jumped up from her seat in excitement.

"Brother Mo, Brother Mo, look at that alleyway! When I was a kid, a little dog chased me in that alley. It chased me for two whole blocks. I was almost out of breath when it was still chasing me. Ever since then, every time I walk through that alley, I'm terrified that a dog will come out and bite me."

As Shen Mo listened, the smile on his lips grew wider and wider.

"You have quite a few stories from your childhood."

"Of course." Bai Lu raised her chin slightly, with a hint of pride.

"I grew up around here, and every street has my story."

The car drove slowly through the city, and Bai Lu, like a dutiful tour guide, would give a brief explanation at each place they passed.

This is where she first fell while learning to ride a bicycle; that's the convenience store where she and her classmates secretly bought spicy snacks; this is the park over there where she once got lost during the Spring Festival lantern festival; and that's the movie theater over there where she watched her first movie.

As she spoke, her voice gradually softened.

Bai Lu gradually calmed down, leaned on Shen Mo's shoulder, and watched the familiar street scenes outside the window recede frame by frame.

"Brother Mo, thank you for bringing me back."

Shen Mo didn't say anything, but simply reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

Bai Lu closed her eyes, and the smile on her lips never faded.

Sunlight streamed through the car window, warming the two of them. It felt like the city was welcoming her home and the people she brought back in its own way.

The car stopped at the entrance of an old alley. The alley was narrow, and it was difficult for two cars to pass side by side. On both sides were old-fashioned residential buildings with peeling paint in some places, revealing the gray-white cement underneath.

But downstairs, there was a row of bougainvillea, which were in full bloom. The purplish-red flowers were blooming vigorously, making the whole alley come alive.

Bai Lu sat in the car, looking at the old banyan tree at the alley entrance for several seconds.

"This is it."

Her voice was soft, carrying the relief of arriving home, but also the reluctance of parting.

Shen Mo followed her gaze and saw that the banyan tree had lush foliage and a stone table under it where several old men were playing chess.

It's just an ordinary alley, but this is where Bai Lu grew up.

"Brother Mo." Bai Lu turned her head. The little mouth looked at him and said, "I've arrived."

Shen Mo nodded, hugged her little head, and gently kissed her forehead. "Go on!"

Bai Lu took a deep breath, as if she wanted to store all the feelings of this moment into her memory.

She looked up, a bittersweet smile on her face. "Brother Mo, if I regretted it now and allowed you to come to my house with me, would you go?"

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. "Let's go!"

He was about to push the door open and leave when Bai Lu quickly reached out and stopped him, saying, "No, no, no, I was just joking."

As she spoke, she patted Shen Mo lightly, but the force was barely more than a tickle.

"Okay, I'm leaving. Don't get out of the car. If the neighbors see me, I won't be able to explain it to them when I get home."

Shen Mo smiled and nodded, then reached out and ruffled her hair.

Bai Lu frowned and pouted, but didn't stop him. With her hair all messy, she pushed open the door and went downstairs. She was afraid that the longer she stayed, the more reluctant she would be to leave.

She stood outside the car door, bent down, and looked at Shen Mo inside the car. "Brother Mo, Happy New Year."

Shen Mo reached out and gently squeezed her hand. "Happy New Year. Send me a message when you get home."

"Okay." Bai Lu closed the car door and turned to walk into the alley.

She took a few steps, stopped, and looked back. The car was still parked there, and Shen Mo was still sitting inside, looking at her through the car window.

Bai Lu smiled again, waved to him, then turned around, quickened her pace, and finally disappeared into the depths of the alley.

Wang Zheng glanced at Shen Mo in the rearview mirror, then started the car and slowly drove out of the alley, merging into the traffic on the main road.

Shen Mo's phone vibrated; it was a message from Bai Lu, containing a photo.

She stood at her front door, with an old-fashioned security door behind her. A "福" (good fortune) character was pasted upside down on the door. She made a peace sign at the camera, her smile was bright, and her eyes shone like two stars.

The caption read: "I'm home."

Shen Mo looked at the photo, and a slow smile curved his lips: [Okay.]

After sending it, he felt it was too short and added: "[Remember to eat.]"

Bai Lu replied instantly with an emoji of a puppy carrying a bone: 【Okay!】

Shen Mo locked the screen, put the phone in his pocket, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

Outside the window, the roadside food stalls have already started setting up, and the air is filled with the aroma of barbecue and seafood porridge, which blend together to create a comforting, lively atmosphere.

Shen Mo's phone vibrated again, and he took it out to look at it.

It wasn't Bai Lu, it was Li Yitong: [Delivered?]

Shen Mo opened his eyes, glanced at the screen, and typed: 【Delivered.】

Li Yitong replied instantly with a smiley face, then added: 【Didn't you go to her house?】

Shen Mo: [No, next time.]

Li Yitong sent a "You're smart to know what's good for you" emoji, followed by a voice message.

Shen Mo clicked on the caller ID, and Li Yitong's voice came through the receiver, tinged with a teasing smile: "When are you going to Chongqing?"

Shen Mo thought for a moment: "Tomorrow, it's too late today. Let's just wander around here."

Li Yitong: [Repost what? Repost the place where Bai Mengyan grew up?]

Shen Mo's lips curved slightly, and he didn't deny it: "Mm."

Li Yitong was silent for a few seconds, then sent a message: 【Have fun.】

Shen Mo looked at those four words and smiled slightly: "I'll bring you along next time; I'll go ahead and check it out for you this time."

On the other end of the phone, Li Yitong looked at the message, gave a haughty snort, turned off her phone without replying, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

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