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

After dinner, the dishes were cleaned up, and Shen Mo stood up and picked up the coat draped over the back of the chair.

"Auntie, Uncle, it's getting late, I have to go now. Thank you for your hospitality."

Mother Tian quickly got up from the sofa, still clutching the rag she used to wipe the table, and said in a sincere tone, "You're leaving already? Please stay a little longer."

"No, we won't disturb your rest, Uncle and Aunt."

Father Tian nodded, did not linger, and turned to look at Tian Xiwei, who was curled up on the sofa.

"Weiwei, go see Xiao Shen off."

Tian Xiwei was peeling a segment of orange when she heard this, her fingers paused, and she looked up to meet her father's gaze.

She didn't refuse. She put down the oranges, stood up, picked up the down jacket from the coat rack by the door, and put it on.

"Let's go."

Pushing open the door, a cold wind rushed in, carrying the damp chill unique to Chongqing that seeped straight into her neck. She instinctively shrank her neck and then stepped outside.

Shen Mo followed behind her. When he went out, he glanced back at Bai Lu. Bai Lu was being pulled by Tian Ruowei to look at a photo album. The little girl was pointing at the photos and chattering away. Bai Lu responded with a smile and gave him an OK sign.

Shen Mo nodded slightly, turned around and followed Tian Xiwei.

The lights in the yard weren't on; only the light from the neighbor's window cast a soft, warm yellow glow on the ground. The fragrance of the wintersweet tree in the corner was particularly clear in the cold air.

Tian Xiwei walked in front, and Shen Mo followed half a step behind her. Neither of them spoke, and the only sound was the sound of their shoes stepping on the cement ground.

As they reached the courtyard gate, Shen Mo said, "I'll leave you here."

Tian Xi stopped slightly, turned around, put her hands in her down jacket pockets, tucked her chin into her collar, and only revealed her bright eyes.

"You came all this way just to see me, and now you're kicking me out?"

Shen Mo stood in front of her, looking at her mischievous eyes, and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.

"Then walk with me a little longer."

Tian Xi turned around slightly and took a few more steps forward, her voice drifting over from ahead.

"Come with me. I know better than you which small hotel around here is good."

Shen Mo nodded and followed behind her.

The sound of their footsteps echoed in the quiet alley, one after the other, their rhythms gradually synchronizing.

Not far behind them, a black minivan was slowly hoisted up, its lights off, like a silent and loyal big dog.

"Did you ask Yang Mi to contact me?"

After walking for a while, Tian Xiwei suddenly spoke, without turning around, her voice low.

Shen Mo didn't stop walking. "What are you talking about?"

Tian Xi paused for a moment, glanced at him, and then continued walking forward.

"Do you take me for a fool, Shen Mo?"

Her voice rose a little, "Yang Mi should be preparing to sign the performance-based agreement right now!"

"They inexplicably refused to sign, wanting to leave Jiaxing with their people and join my little-known company."

"You dare say you didn't interfere?"

Shen Mo watched her retreating figure with a calm gaze, carrying a hint of composure that he hadn't intended to deny being seen through.

"Isn't this great? Although she filmed a lot of bad dramas in her past life, it was all to fulfill the bet. She had enough viewership and popularity. Now that she's not pursuing the bet and has joined Chenxi, don't you just have another ATM?"

Tian Xi pursed her lips slightly, her steps did not stop, but there was something inexplicable in her voice.

"President Shen is really amazing! A top-tier actress like Yang Mi can come to me just by asking her."

"You've truly become the queen of the entertainment industry now."

Shen Mo's lips curved slightly, and he quickened his pace to walk alongside her.

"Wouldn't it be better if our CEO Tian were the queen?"

Tian Xiwei's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she subconsciously uttered a single syllable, crisp and decisive, without any hesitation.

"roll!"

She paused, then added, her tone a little more serious than before.

"If you interfere in my affairs again, I'll kidnap Li Yitong too."

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow and flashed a bright smile, even with a touch of childish smugness.

"Just because you kidnapped her, does that mean I'm allowed to interfere? Li Xue would probably be more than willing to go with you then."

Tian Xiwei's ear tips glowed a faint pink under the streetlights. She bit her lip, turned her face back, and glared at him, but the fierceness in that glare was much weaker than the kick she had given him when they first met that evening.

"I don't know what's so great about you. Is Li Yitong blind? She's been in love with a scumbag like you for decades."

Shen Mo didn't reply. His gaze fell on her bare neck. The collar of her down jacket was open, and the cold wind was blowing straight in. She shrank her neck, but she still couldn't block out the chill.

He reached out and untied the scarf from his neck, wrapped it around her neck once, and then carefully tucked both ends into the collar of his down jacket, covering half of her face.

Tian Xiwei froze for a moment, neither looking away nor speaking, but simply looking up at him.

The scarf still carried his body heat, warm and cozy, and had a faint scent of perfume that, mixed with the cold winter night air, created a very pleasant aroma.

As Shen Mo helped her adjust her scarf, he spoke in a calm and unhurried tone.

"If Yang Mi comes over, you can offer her shares, but don't exceed 20%. When you first start negotiating, it's best to start with 5% or 10% and gradually increase the price."

"Your confidence comes from Li Yitong's 2 million yuan in funding, Mohen's two scripts, and Mohen, whom she cares about most, as her backer."

"So don't let her think she can get her hands on you too easily, or she'll end up suppressing you as her master."

Tian Xiwei's eyelashes trembled, and her lips moved, but she did not interrupt him.

"You want to be a producer on these films, which is indeed a great opportunity. If you need, I can find an experienced producer to assist you and help you get started faster."

He straightened the hem of the scarf and withdrew his fingers from her neckline.

"Once the movie is finished, we'll use the Inkmark Fund to help you with capital operations."

"Sometimes a movie can recoup its costs before it's even released; don't think like an actor."

"If you want to experience being a boss, then open your mind and give it a try."

The light from the streetlamp fell on her face, and there was something indescribable in her almond-shaped eyes.

"Xu Yiruo and Gong Yuhan are both troublemakers. Although you are quite familiar with them, they may not necessarily respect you."

"Especially Gong Yuhan, he set up his own casting company behind the scenes, hoping to ride on Mohen's coattails and make a living from supporting roles and extras in various projects."

Shen Mo's tone became serious, even a little solemn.

"Once he discovers your weakness and lack of management, he may turn against you and undermine your authority. Even my previous power over them may not be effective."

He paused, looking into Tian Xiwei's eyes.

"If there are any problems, tell me in time, don't keep them to yourself."

Tian Xi pursed her lips and remained silent.

"You should re-screen the legal and financial staff at Chenxi. The ones you found might not be suitable for the film and television industry, especially the contracts with the production teams, which have quite a few problems."

Tian Xiwei stood there, head slightly raised, listening to his rambling, her eyes filled with complex emotions as she looked at him.

There was so much in those eyes—anger, frustration, and helplessness.

She felt embarrassed and aggrieved when she thought she was doing a good job and didn't want him to interfere, but he exposed her. She also had a stubbornness that prevented her from admitting it even after being exposed.

"You know my company's situation very well. Shen Mo, just how many people did you send in? Chenxi is practically a sieve in your eyes."

Her voice was muffled, coming from behind her scarf, and trembled slightly.

Shen Mo was about to speak when Tian Xiwei interrupted him.

"I told you, don't interfere in my affairs."

The words were spoken firmly, but the voice was soft, and the fingers unconsciously tightened around the scarf around the neck.

Although Shen Mo understood the situation very well, Tian Xiwei's last act of stubbornness was to prevent him from interfering.

Shen Mo smiled and said, "Okay!"

Tian Xi lowered her head slightly, looking at the two overlapping shadows on the ground. After a few seconds, she raised her head, slightly lifting her chin, and abruptly changed the subject.

"Bai Lu, did you send her?"

"She came of her own accord."

"Come and fight me?"

Shen Mo's lips curved slightly.

"She can't beat you in a fight, and she can't win an argument with you either."

Tian Xiwei's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You mean I'm a Tyrannosaurus Rex?"

Shen Mo looked into her eyes, his gaze gentle.

But I like you just the way you are.

Tian Xiwei was silent for a few seconds, and the corners of her mouth under the scarf couldn't help but curve slightly, but she quickly withdrew them and straightened her face again.

"What did you say to my parents? Their attitude was off."

She stared at Shen Mo, the moonlight falling on his face, softening his features.

Shen Mo looked into her eyes. "I told them not to worry, they can entrust you to me without worry."

Tian Xi rolled her eyes. "Tch! Just spouting nonsense."

"Just telling the truth."

"When did you become so eloquent?"

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it's because I've been spending too much time with sweet girls? You've influenced me."

Tian Xiwei's ear tips turned a little redder. "This sweet girl isn't me, is she? Li Yitong's smile is much sweeter than mine."

After saying that, she turned around and continued walking forward, her steps a little faster than before, as if she were running away from something.

Shen Mo quickly caught up and stood beside her.

"Are you jealous of Li Xue?"

Tian Xiwei suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and glared at Shen Mo with wide eyes, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Eat your big head, you idiot!"

She pointed to a hotel not far away, "That's the one. You can walk there yourself. I'm going back!"

After saying that, she turned and left without hesitation, her steps heavy and fast, the hem of her down jacket swaying in the wind.

Shen Mo didn't chase after her. He stood there, watching her figure grow smaller and smaller until Tian Xiwei walked into her yard and the iron gate slammed shut with a clang. Only then did he turn his gaze away.

【Happy New Year.】

He took out his phone and sent the message to Tian Xiwei.

Tian Xiwei had just reached her front door and placed her hand on the doorknob when her phone vibrated in her pocket.

She paused for a moment, then her lips slowly curved into a smile, revealing shallow dimples. She then typed four words and sent them out.

【Happy New Year.】

Shen Mo looked at the four short words, smiled slightly, pursed his lips, turned around and walked towards the small hotel. The streetlights cast a long shadow of him, leaving a blurry outline on the wet ground.

After sending the message, Tian Xi turned around, walked back to the courtyard gate, and poked her head out.

Under the streetlights, the figure had already walked away, leaving only a blurry outline. She watched the figure grow smaller and smaller until it finally turned into the hotel she had pointed out.

She then withdrew her gaze, took a deep breath, turned around, pushed open the door, and stepped into the warm yellow light.

"You're back? Have you made all the arrangements?"

Tian's mother peeked out from the bedroom, her gaze lingering for a moment on the scarf around Tian Xiwei's neck.

"Yes, it's at Uncle Li's little hotel around the corner. Don't worry, he's a grown man, you don't need to worry about him."

"After all, he's your boss. He's come all the way here to wish you a Happy New Year, so it's always good to show some respect."

"The former boss!" Tian Xiwei's voice rose a little.

"Alright, alright—" Mother Tian drawled out, no longer arguing with her.

In the living room, Tian Ruowei was already nestled in Bai Lu's arms and dozing off, her little face buried in the blanket, with half a half-eaten orange still clutched in her hand.

Bai Lu had one arm around her and was looking at her phone with the other. When she heard Tian Xiwei come in, she looked up and smiled at her.

Tian's mother walked over, bent down, and took Tian Ruowei from Bai Lu's arms. "Give Ruowei to me, I'll carry her inside to sleep."

Bai Lu stood up, stretched, and loosened her shoulders. She looked at Tian Xiwei, her gaze falling on the scarf around her neck, and smiled.

"Auntie, I'll sleep with Tian'er tonight, so I won't squeeze in Ruowei."

Tian Xi pouted slightly, her tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"It's not crowded with that little girl, it's crowded with me!"

Bai Lu walked over, put her arm around her, rested her chin on her shoulder, and spoke in a soft, sweet voice.

"Hey! Haven't we, my girlfriends, not slept together in ages? Can't I sleep with you?"

As she spoke, she brought her nose close to the blue scarf around Tian Xiwei's neck and took a deep breath.

"However—" She looked up and smiled at Tian Xiwei, "If you really think it's too crowded, I can stay in a hotel."

Tian Xiwei turned her head and glared at her fiercely, "Squeeze! I'll squeeze you to death!"

Bai Lu chuckled and rubbed her face against hers a few times, like a spoiled cat.

"I knew Tian'er was the best."

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

"Alright, alright, go wash up. The toothpaste is on the sink, I'll go get you a new toothbrush."

Bai Lu responded and skipped towards the bathroom.

Tian Xiwei stood in the living room, watching her back, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved slightly.

She looked down at the scarf around her neck; it was blue, wool, and carried the faint scent of that person's perfume.

She reached out, lightly touched the edge of the scarf with her fingertips, then withdrew her hand, took a deep breath, and walked towards the bathroom.

The bathroom light was on, the faucet was running, and the laughter of two people drifted out, mingling with the sound of firecrackers outside the window, carrying far into the winter night.

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