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

The plane landed in Chongqing two and a half hours later. Wang Zheng then drove for another two hours. By the time Shen Mo and Bai Lu arrived at Tian Xiwei's hometown, it was already six o'clock in the afternoon.

In winter, it gets dark early, and the streetlights in the small town are already on.

Bai Lu leaned against the car window, looking out at the old-fashioned residential buildings of varying heights and the narrow alleys, her eyes sparkling.

"Brother Mo, how come you know this place so well?"

"I've been here before."

Shen Mo looked out the window. Of course he had been here before, more than once. He could find the way to Tian Xiwei's house with his eyes closed.

"Oh," Bai Lu replied, without asking any further questions.

She thought Shen Mo was referring to the time when he recruited Tian Xiwei, and couldn't help but recall the scene when Shen Mo picked her up in Seoul.

By comparison, Brother Mo isn't treating himself too badly.

After all, he couldn't find himself at home, so he even flew to Seoul.

Thinking of this, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, and her heart felt filled with something warm.

As lunchtime approached, there weren't many pedestrians left on the streets of the small town.

The car was parked on the road diagonally opposite Tian Xiwei's house.

"Are we going straight there?" Bai Lu's fingers unconsciously tightened around the seatbelt.

Shen Mo nodded and opened the car door. Bai Lu took a deep breath and got out of the car.

Winter in Chongqing is much colder than in Changzhou. It's damp and chilly, and the wind seeps into your bones. She shrank her neck and wrapped her coat tighter around herself.

Just then, the door across the street opened.

A familiar figure walked out, accompanied by a little girl who was about half a year old.

Tian Xiwei was wearing a milky white down jacket, her hair was casually tied back, and she had no makeup on, but her almond-shaped eyes were still surprisingly bright.

The little girl next to her was wrapped in a pink cotton-padded jacket and had two cute ponytails.

The family ran out of soy sauce for cooking, so her mother asked Tian Xiwei to go out and buy some. Her younger sister, Tian Ruowei, followed her out, saying she was just keeping her company. Tian Xiwei knew that she actually wanted Tian Ruowei to buy her some snacks.

However, as soon as she stepped out of the gate, Tian Ruowei looked across the street. It was just too conspicuous. There was only this car parked for about a hundred meters in front and behind the road. Moreover, this kind of business van was too out of place in this small town.

Tian Xiwei frowned slightly, then the corners of her mouth slowly curved up.

Sure enough it was him.

She knew that Shen Mo was not the kind of person who would give up easily. How could he not come during such a good opportunity as the New Year?

Although she said she didn't want him to interfere, subconsciously she was always waiting.

Now that he was actually standing on the other side of the road, Tian Xiwei felt a surge of indescribable emotions.

She hadn't planned to forgive him yet, but seeing Shen Mo's appearance, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

But wait! Who's that person next to me?

Bai Mengyan?! What's she doing here?!

Tian Xiwei's smile froze instantly, and her almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly.

Shen Mo, that bastard!

Tian Ruowei noticed that her sister had stopped in place, and followed her gaze.

Her face lit up instantly, her eyes widened, and her mouth opened into an "O" shape.

The next second, she slapped away Tian Xiwei's hand and pounced over like a cannonball.

Shen Mo instinctively opened his arms to welcome him.

After all, in her previous life, Tian Ruowei liked her brother-in-law the most. He would buy her whatever she wanted. When her sister beat her up, Shen Mo would protect her and occasionally get angry with her sister. The two of them worked together seamlessly.

however--

Tian Ruowei walked right past Shen Mo without even glancing at him.

She hugged Bai Lu tightly, hanging herself on Bai Lu's body, pressing her face against Bai Lu's waist and rubbing against her several times.

Bai Lu was so startled by this sudden enthusiasm that she opened her mouth and froze on the spot. Looking at Shen Mo's outstretched arms, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Ahhh! Sister Bai Lu! Right, right! You're Sister Bai Lu!"

Tian Ruowei raised her head, her eyes shining like two stars, and her little mouth chattered on and on.

"I love you the most! I watch every episode of Running Man!"

"I asked my sister to take me to see you, but she refused!"

"You don't even know me! You wouldn't want to see me."

"You actually came to see her yourself!"

"You're so much better than Tian Xiwei!"

Bai Lu squatted down and looked Tian Ruowei in the eye.

Do you know me?

"Of course I know you! You're Bai Lu!"

"The best one on Running Man! My favorite celebrity!"

As Tian Ruowei spoke, she turned around and glared at Tian Xiwei, "My sister used to send me photos of you two together all the time, constantly provoking me."

Shen Mo awkwardly withdrew his outstretched arms and touched his forehead.

How embarrassing...

That's normal, though.

This is the first time Tian Ruowei has met me in this life, how could she possibly be familiar with me?

Memories of "my brother-in-law is the best" and "my brother-in-law bought it for me" from my past life have not yet formed in this life.

He has no presence in Tian Ruowei's eyes now.

"Tian Ruowei! You come back here!!!"

Across the street, upon hearing Tian Ruowei's remarks, Tian Xiwei blushed and shouted loudly.

The sound echoed through the streets at dusk, startling the orange cat next to it, which jumped off its electric scooter and disappeared in a flash.

Tian Ruowei immediately turned around and hid behind Bai Lu, peeking out half her head and sticking her tongue out at Tian Xiwei in a provocative manner.

"Sister Bai Lu, if my sister beats me up later, you have to protect me!"

Bai Lu smiled and patted her head, causing her little ponytail to tremble.

"Your name is Tian Ruowei? That's a beautiful name."

"Yeah! That's right! It sounds much better than my sister's Tian Xiwei. Her name is really hard to write, and it's not as cute as mine at all!"

Tian Ruowei spoke with conviction.

Bai Lu was amused by her and laughed out loud, but still deliberately sighed.

"However, I can't beat your sister. If I try to protect you, she'll beat me up too."

"Huh?!" Tian Ruowei wrinkled her delicate nose, her little face scrunched up. "Isn't there anyone who can subdue this tigress?"

Bai Lu thought about it seriously and shook her head.

"There's no other way. If she hits you, we'll run away together!"

"Okay! Run!" Tian Ruowei grabbed Bai Lu's hand, and the two looked at each other and laughed at the same time.

Tian Xi stomped her foot and strode over, exuding a murderous aura. "Tian Ruowei! Are you looking for death?!"

"Aiya! Sister Bailu, run!"

Tian Ruowei pulled Bai Lu away and ran off into the distance, their silvery laughter echoing endlessly.

Bai Lu was pulled along for a few steps, then turned back to look at Tian Xiwei and winked at her.

Tian Xi was slightly stunned. She ran a couple of steps and then stopped, standing in the middle of the road with her hands on her hips. She gave a heavy snort to the two figures running further and further away in the distance.

She turned her head and glared fiercely at Shen Mo.

Shen Mo stood there, his hands in his pockets, looking extremely innocent.

Tian Xiwei looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Isn't it embarrassing? Catching it with open arms? That brat Tian Ruowei doesn't even know you!"

Shen Mo shrugged, walked to her side, and looked at the two figures that had run dozens of meters away. Tian Ruowei's ponytail bobbed up and down, and Bai Lu's coat hem was blown by the wind, creating a harmonious and beautiful scene.

However, the two of them ran a bit crookedly, just like two frolicking rabbits.

"Sooner or later, she will still love her brother-in-law the most." Shen Mo nodded, his tone certain.

Tian Xi lifted her foot slightly and smacked Shen Mo's shin. "Whose brother-in-law are you?"

"Hiss—" Shen Mo was kicked and hopped twice on one leg.

Tian Xi gave a mischievous smile, then turned and left.

"Where are you going!" Shen Mo bounced around a couple of times and quickly chased after him.

"Just passing by!" Tian Xi said without turning her head.

"Wait for me!"

Shen Mo caught up with her and walked side by side under the dim streetlights. The distance between them was neither too far nor too close, just enough for their arms to occasionally touch.

Bai Lu led Tian Ruowei ahead, turned a corner, and disappeared into the alleyway.

The town was quiet in the evening, with the occasional electric scooter passing by, its headlights casting long streaks of light on the wet ground.

After walking for a while, Tian Xiwei suddenly spoke, "What are you doing here?"

"pay a New Year call."

Tian Xi glanced at him sideways, then turned back, her gaze fixed ahead. "What's she doing here?"

"I've come to wish you a Happy New Year." Shen Mo's reply was exactly the same.

Tian Xiwei paused for two seconds, then her lips twitched slightly. "You came empty-handed?"

Shen Mo paused for a moment, then smiled, "Then I'll go buy cigarettes, alcohol, and fruit now."

Tian Xi stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and rolled her eyes.

"screw you."

"Buy it when you meet your mother-in-law, I don't need it!"

Shen Mo touched his nose, smiled, and was about to say something when Tian Xiwei turned around and continued walking forward, her ponytail swinging behind her head, almost hitting his face.

He quickly followed, saying, "Then I'll buy the soy sauce!"

When the two arrived at the convenience store, the scene before them almost made Tian Xiwei faint.

Tian Ruowei was carrying a huge pile of snacks in her arms: potato chips, shrimp crackers, chocolate, jelly, and lollipops, stacked high, with her chin resting on the top bag of marshmallows.

Not satisfied yet, she pointed her little finger to the top shelf and directed Bai Lu to get it for her.

"Sister Bai Lu, um, um!"

"That panda head cookie!"

"Yes, yes, that's it!"

"And that Oreo next to it!"

Bai Lu smiled and helped her take them off one by one, stuffing them into her arms. Tian Ruowei's arms were already almost full, but she couldn't bear to put down a bag, so she held on, her little face turning red.

"Tian Ruowei! Do you have a death wish?! You still want to buy it?!"

Tian Xi stomped her foot, her voice booming through the convenience store, "When we get back, Mom will tear you apart."

Tian Ruowei turned her head away guiltily, stuck out her tongue, but still held onto the bags tightly, not putting them down.

"Hmph! Bai Lu bought it for me! Does Mom think she can hit Bai Lu?!"

She spoke with such conviction, her eyes darting around.

Bai Lu stepped forward and took Tian Xiwei's arm, speaking with a smile.

"Let her buy it. Your sister and I hit it off immediately, so consider it a gift from me to her."

Tian Xiwei looked at Bai Lu's smiling, harmless face, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved up, with a hint of mischief in the curve.

"Hey, isn't this a big star? What are you doing here at my house?!"

The tone and the wording were exactly the same as when Bai Lu said "Isn't this President Tian?" backstage at the premiere that day, even the rising intonation at the end was perfectly replicated.

Bai Lu chuckled, seemingly oblivious to what she'd heard, and leaned closer to Tian Xiwei, pinching her cheek and gently rubbing it.

"Oh dear, our Tian'er has lost so much weight these past few months. She's not as chubby and comfortable to pinch as she used to be."

Tian Xiwei frowned as she was pinched, but she did not dodge.

She lost weight, and the lines of her cheeks became more defined. When she had a cold expression, she did have a bit of a fierce, wicked look, but she was ultimately not a malicious person.

Seeing Bai Lu's smiling face, most of her awkwardness melted away.

She gave a soft snort, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.

After all, the bond forged over several years in this life—living in the same apartment and practicing in the same studio—was still fresh in his mind.

She is Old Tian'er, and she is also Little Tian'er.

Those days of snuggling on the sofa together watching TV shows, ordering takeout together, and complaining together are not easily erased.

Seeing that Tian Xiwei's attitude had softened, Bai Lu immediately pressed her advantage, bringing her face close and rubbing her cheek affectionately against Tian Xiwei's.

"Tian'er~ Tian'er~"

She called out in a soft, sweet voice, so sweet it could melt your heart.

Tian Xiwei got goosebumps from being rubbed against her and reached out to push her face away.

"Alright, alright, you've smeared foundation on my face! Aren't you embarrassed?!"

Bai Lu stepped back with a smile, but her hand was still linked with her arm, and she didn't let go.

On the other side, Shen Mo had already bought the soy sauce and, holding Tian Ruowei's little hand, started walking back.

Tian Ruowei was carrying a large bag in her left hand, filled with snacks that Bai Lu had bought for her. Shen Mo wanted to help, but she wouldn't let him.

Even so, Tian Ruowei's little mouth kept chattering away like a machine gun.

Are you Shen Mo?

"Yeah, isn't he handsome?"

"Wow! Are you my sister's boss?"

"That's not the case now, but I can still take you to see celebrities."

"Really? I can look at whoever I want?" Tian Ruowei tilted her head up, her eyes sparkling.

Shen Mo looked down at her, a smile playing on his lips.

"Who do you want to see? Li Xian? Liu Haoran? Zhu Yilong? Zhang Ruoyun?"

Tian Ruowei shook her head, her little ponytail swaying back and forth.

"No, I prefer older sisters who are sweet and soft!"

"I like Li Yitong! I also like Meng Ziyi! I also like Dilraba Dilmurat! I also like Wang Churan! And I also like Liu Haocun!"

After hearing this, Shen Mo couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for her.

Good grief, all the people who like your sister are your rivals. If you don't get beaten up, who will?

But he didn't say it aloud; he just smiled and nodded.

"Okay, come find me sometime and I'll take you to see it."

"Really?" Tian Ruowei's eyes instantly lit up like two light bulbs.

"Really, pinky promise."

Shen Mo extended his little finger, and Tian Ruowei earnestly made a pinky promise with him, muttering, "Pinky promise, never to change for a hundred years!"

After making the pinky promise, she shook her head in satisfaction, then suddenly remembered something and looked up at Shen Mo.

Are you my sister's boyfriend?

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