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

Two days later, another piece of news went viral: Yang Mi officially announced her departure from Jiaxing Media.

Yang Mi's Weibo post contained only one sentence: "A new beginning, grateful for the past, looking forward to the future."

The accompanying image is a photo of the logo of Chenxi Media.

Following this, the official account of Chenxi Media reposted the Weibo post with the caption: 【Welcome Yang Mi to the Chenxi family.】

Then came a string of names who left Jiaxing and joined Chenxi: Zhu Xudan, Zhang Bingbing, and Gao Weiguang.

Almost everyone in the entertainment industry is asking the same question: Why did Yang Mi leave Jiaxing?

Various speculations are flying around.

Some say it's because of unequal distribution of profits, some say it's because of differing philosophies, and some say it's because Yang Mi wants to transition into the capital market.

Some people say that Yang Mi has shares in Jiaxing but no rights, but Chenxi is willing to give her shares and rights.

The comments section is filled with a wide variety of styles.

"Going to Dawn? Yang Mi is cutting off her own path to survival!"

"It's just a shell company, with no works whatsoever. What would Yang Mi be doing there?"

"What kind of company is Chenxi Media? I've never heard of it."

"Tian Xiwei's newly established small company?"

"Why would Yang Mi go to the company of an 18-year-old girl? What's her motive?"

"Could it be that Shen Mo is behind this? Didn't Chenxi and Mohen's relationship fall apart?"

"Upstairs, you don't know whether things will fall apart or not. Who knows what's going on in the entertainment industry?"

The biggest criticism comes from the rumors of a "ban".

Some say that when Tian Xiwei left Mohen, she took the script and the artists with her. Shen Mo may not say it outright, but he must be unhappy inside. A small company like Chenxi will eventually be blacklisted by Mohen.

Isn't Yang Mi walking into a trap by joining Chenxi at this time?

"Is Yang Mi stupid? Chen Xi doesn't even have a decent work to her name, why would she go there? Does she think life in the entertainment industry is too comfortable?"

"Tian Xiwei is still a child herself, how can she run a company well? Don't be ridiculous."

"Yang Mi is ruining her future. Chen Xi herself was suppressed by Mo Hen. You went there because you felt Mo Hen wasn't putting pressure on you. Weren't you uncomfortable? Are you looking for trouble?"

"Waiting for Yang Mi to regret it."

However, some people hold different opinions.

"Have you forgotten that although Dawn is a new company, it has a well-developed script? If they film it well, it might not necessarily flop."

"Yang Mi isn't the impulsive type. She must have her reasons for daring to go to Chenxi."

"Maybe behind the dawn lies the ink stain? Think about it, think about it carefully."

"What are you talking about? Shen Mo and Tian Xiwei have always had a good relationship. Terminating the contract is not a complete break. You're overthinking it."

"Yang Mi left Jiaxing, it's not like her career collapsed. These comments almost made me think Chenxi was a den of smugglers."

Public opinion was in an uproar, but Yang Mi never came out to explain.

She was now sitting in the office of Chenxi Media, with Tian Xiwei sitting opposite her. After talking with her for a while, she realized that Tian Xiwei was not like a girl who had just turned 18.

Tian Xiwei's understanding of the entertainment industry, her attitude towards people, and her tone of voice are no different from those of someone who has been in the entertainment industry for many years.

This further convinced her that Dawn had potential and that her joining was a wise decision.

"Sister Mi, are you sure you want to choose this department?" Tian Xi looked up at Yang Mi.

Yang Mi leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and had a faint smile on her lips.

"My main focus is still on developing my career in the entertainment industry. It's good for me to hold the position of vice president in the company and oversee the training of new talents."

Tian Xi looked at her, stood up, and extended her hand.

"Then let's officially welcome Sister Honey to our Dawn team."

Yang Mi glanced at Tian Xiwei's palm, then reached out and shook it.

"Mr. Tian's hands are quite beautiful."

"Thank you, I'll take it as a compliment from Sister Honey."

Tian Xiwei's fake smile almost crumbled, and the corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily. Of course, she knew about her chubby little hands, which had always been the subject of teasing from fans in her previous life.

However, the fact that Yang Mi is now willing to joke around like this proves that she has begun to see herself as one of the people of Chenxi and is willing to make jokes, which is a good start.

Public opinion is still brewing, with wave after wave of doubts rising.

But neither Tian Xiwei nor Yang Mi responded; they were waiting for an opportunity.

Less than a week later, the opportunity arrived.

Chenxi Media and Mohen Media released a message almost simultaneously, with identical wording, as if they had planned it in advance. In fact, they had indeed planned it in advance.

[The film "July and Ansheng," co-produced by Chenxi Media and Mohen Media, has officially launched. Li Yitong plays July, and Tian Xiwei plays Ansheng.]

As soon as the news broke, public opinion shifted instantly.

All rumors about a "ban" or a "broken relationship" vanished instantly in the face of this news.

"A joint production? Didn't Ink Trace and Dawn have a falling out? This doesn't seem like it."

"Li Yitong has already come out to support Tian Xiwei, and you still say they don't have a good relationship?"

"Yang Mi joined Chenxi, and Chenxi immediately partnered with Mohen? The timing is too coincidental. Could Yang Mi have been sent to Chenxi by Shen Mo?"

"Hey upstairs, you have such a vivid imagination, you could write a novel."

The doubts still exist, but they are no longer the mainstream view.

More discussion focused on the "Soulmate" project itself.

"July and Ansheng" is adapted from Annie Baby's short story of the same name. It was published in 1998 and already had a large number of fans in an era before the Internet.

In 2011, the novel was adapted into a stage play and toured the country, receiving excellent reviews.

Now, this novel is going to be adapted into a movie.

After the announcement, the reactions of fans of the original work were polarized.

There is a general expectation for Li Yitong.

After all, Li Yitong has almost never made a mistake since her debut.

Jiang Jinyue in "My Love from the Star", Xiao Gu in "The Journey of Flower", and Huo Xiaolan in "Monster Hunt" – each of these roles has deeply resonated with audiences.

In addition, the prestige of the Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actress speaks for itself, and no one would question her.

But the situation is different for Tian Xiwei.

She just turned eighteen. Although she has appeared in works such as "A Little Reunion" and "Take My Brother Away", her roles are relatively limited, mostly portraying young girls who are close to her own personality.

July's character is complex; she appears obedient on the surface but is rebellious at heart, and her emotional journey spans a great distance from girlhood to adulthood.

The original fans' doubts came in droves, and their words were even sharper than the previous doubts about Yang Mi.

"Tian Xiwei as July? Is she capable? Has she played any profound roles before?"

"It's not that I look down on her, it's just that July's inner monologues are too much. Tian Xiwei is only eighteen years old, can she understand that kind of complex emotion?"

"Mohen, even if you haven't fallen out with Tian Xiwei, this isn't the way you should be promoting her, is it? The role of July is very important; aren't you afraid of ruining the original work by casting her?"

"I'm confident in Li Yitong playing An Sheng, but as for Tian Xiwei playing Qi Yue... I can only say I hope she can surprise me."

"A surprise? You're lucky if you're not shocked."

Of course, there were also those who spoke up for Tian Xiwei.

"Have you all forgotten that Tian Xiwei acted quite well in 'Take My Brother Away'? That drama had both laughter and tears, and she held her own."

"So what if she's eighteen? Some things aren't about age, they're about talent. Have you seen her performance at the Beijing Film Academy entrance exam? The teachers all said she was born for this."

"Questioning is fine, but isn't it too early to start criticizing now?"

Amid the vortex of public opinion, Tian Xiwei remained silent.

She sat in the office of Morning Light Media, with the script of "July and Ansheng" spread out in front of her. She had already turned to page thirty-seven, and the margins of the page were covered with notes. Some places were underlined in red, and some places were marked with question marks.

Chengcheng pushed open the door and came in, holding a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Mr. Tian, ​​what about those comments online..."

"Don't worry about it." Tian Xi didn't even raise her head, her fingers slowly tracing across the script.

"Focus your energy on the project; we'll deal with the rest when the movie is released."

Chengcheng opened her mouth, as if to say something—good books and good stories accompany you every day. But seeing Tian Xiwei's expression, she swallowed her words back.

She placed the coffee on the table, said softly, "Then I'll go out first," and left the office.

The moment the door closed, Tian Xiwei's fingers paused for a moment. She looked up and gazed out the window.

Two hundred meters away, the offices of Mohen Capital were filled with people.

She looked at it for a while, then looked away and continued reading the script.

The pen tip glides across the paper, making a soft rustling sound, like autumn leaves being swept up by the wind and then gently falling.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Li Yitong: "Did you see the comments online?"

Tian Xiwei: [I saw it.]

Li Yitong: [Are you angry?]

Tian Xiwei: [I'm not angry. What they said makes sense; I haven't actually proven myself.]

Li Yitong was silent for a few seconds, then sent a voice message.

"Then let's prove it to them!"

The two female leads for "July and Ansheng" have been confirmed, but the male lead has yet to be cast.

This IP, produced by Mohen and based on a novel with a large fan base, along with Li Yitong as the lead actress, has attracted almost all the attention in the industry.

After all, Li Yitong's first three works, "Silent Witness" which won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Supporting Actress, "Wolf Warrior" which grossed over 1 billion yuan, and "Monster Hunt" which grossed over 2 billion yuan, are all solid achievements.

She's a true box office magnet; the kind of actress who'll get theaters to screen her just because her name appears on a poster.

Although the male lead doesn't have many scenes, whoever plays him gets to stand in the spotlight.

In the first week after the announcement, the director's inbox was flooded with resumes.

As if by prior arrangement, each talent agency is pushing their star male artists to the forefront.

But those who truly know the inside story are all hesitant.

Li Xian sat on the sofa in the company's lounge, holding a script he had obtained through his connections at Mohen, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

"Maybe... we shouldn't vote."

Li Xian placed the script on the coffee table, leaned forward, crossed his hands on his knees, and spoke with a rare hesitation in his voice.

"Who in the industry doesn't know about the relationship between President Li and President Shen?"

"Tian Xiwei and President Shen, don't tell me you haven't heard what's been circulating inside the company."

"If I vote for them to be the male lead, I'm afraid my future career will be ruined."

The agent leaned back in his chair, looking at Li Xian. "What are you afraid of?"

"If he wanted to play the role, would anyone else have gotten it?"

"If he doesn't want to act, or can't act, then someone else has to act. If someone else becomes famous, it will be too late for you to regret it."

Li Xian's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to refute, but he swallowed the words back.

The agent leaned forward slightly. "And have you considered that the male lead in this film is essentially a supporting character? He has few scenes, but high exposure."

"Because everyone is going to see Li Yitong and Tian Xiwei, if the show does well, you can benefit from it."

"If your grades are bad, no one will think it's your fault. Do you understand that?"

Li Xian nodded.

"So, do you think President Shen hopes this show will do well or poorly?"

Li Xian was stunned for a moment.

The agent smiled. "Therefore, this film is bound to be a success."

"However, we don't know exactly how successful it will be."

Li Xian remained silent for a long time, then picked up the script and began to read it again. "Okay, let's submit it."

Meanwhile, in the office of Chenxi Media, Yang Mi looked at Zhang Bingbing, who had followed her there.

"The male lead in 'Soulmate,' he doesn't have many scenes, but the role is very important. I'll send you your resume; whether it works out or not, we'll see."

"But let me make this clear beforehand: if you end up in jail, remember to keep your distance from Li Yitong and Tian Xiwei."

Zhang Bingbing was taken aback. "Why?"

Yang Mi leaned back in her chair. He crossed his legs, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"I don't want you to disappear from the entertainment industry before this movie is even finished."

Zhang Bingbing's expression changed slightly.

"Is it that scary, Honey? Maybe we shouldn't invest. There are so many projects in the entertainment industry, is it really worth taking such a risk?"

Yang Mi looked at him and sighed, "What do you know?"

"Even if you can't act, just make yourself known to Shen Mo and Li Yitong, so they'll remember you as someone I brought here. That should get you a role later."

Zhang Bingbing fell silent. He looked at Yang Mi's back and suddenly felt that his worries were a bit unnecessary. Wasn't the reason he came along for her experience and resources?

"Thanks, Honey!"

Yang Mi turned around, leaned against the windowsill, crossed her arms over her chest, and smiled slightly.

"What are you thanking me for? Thank me when you're famous."

The atmosphere in Cai Yinong's office at Tangren Film and Television was somewhat subtle.

Hu Ge sat on the sofa, holding the script of "July and Ansheng" in his hand, flipping through it and then putting it down.

His expression changed from confusion to helplessness, and then from helplessness to a mixture of laughter and tears.

"K-sister, is it really that serious?"

"I'm fifteen years older than Tian Xiwei and eight years older than Li Yitong. You want me to play lovers with them?"

Cai Yinong blew on the foam in his teacup and took a sip.

"Age is not a problem. You are still young and handsome. There is no difference."

Hu Ge was taken aback by her words. "This male lead is clearly just a supporting character. He only has a few minutes of screen time in total. You want me to act in it?"

Cai Yinong looked at him, a slow smile curving his lips. "Are you someone who cares about screen time?"

Brother Hu was taken aback. "Don't I care?"

Cai Yinong smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about it."

"This industry values ​​reciprocity. Your last project, 'The Disguiser,' was given to you by Shen Mo. You know how successful it was."

Hu Ge remained silent. "The Disguiser" did indeed make him popular again, garnering critical acclaim, high viewership, and awards.

"With your status, you really don't need to play such a minor role."

Cai Yinong placed his hands on the table, and his tone changed from lecturing to analysis.

"However, if you act in it, on the one hand, it will raise their profile, and on the other hand, it will increase the chances of the film winning awards and achieving high box office returns."

She paused for a moment and looked into Brother Hu's eyes.

"Mohen will remember your kindness."

"When there's another project like 'The Disguiser' next, that's when we'll return the favor to you."

"Besides, the male lead doesn't have many scenes in this film, so it won't take up too much of your time."

Brother Hu leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, and remained silent for a long time.

"Alright," Brother Hu finally spoke, "Let's vote."

Cai Yinong smiled, picked up his teacup, and raised it towards Brother Hu.

"That's right."

Such conversations are repeated in one brokerage firm after another.

Yu Zheng's Huanyu Entertainment handed over Chen Xiao's resume. Chen Xiao's agent hesitated for a moment: "Mr. Yu, given our relationship with Mohen, is it really necessary to apply? Besides, Chen Xiao is currently filming 'Nothing Gold Can Stay,' and his schedule might not be available." Yu Zheng waved his hand: "We'll only know if it's a sure thing. And if we are selected, even if we have no connection with Mohen, we will become connected."

Jiang Lei of Huanrui called Qin Junjie over, and Qin Junjie said directly, "President Jiang, I want to act, and I'm not afraid of having a small role."

Some young actors also volunteered.

Liu Haoran sent a message directly to Li Yitong: "Sister Tong, I heard you're looking for a male lead? Do you think I have a chance?"

Deng Lun, Yang Yang, Jing Boran... the list is getting longer and longer.

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