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

The plane landed smoothly at the capital airport.

After leaving the airport, the three went straight to the residence of Tian Xiwei's cousin, Zhang Yue.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries and thanks, the familiar pink suitcase was securely placed in the trunk.

The car started again, this time heading towards Zaojun Temple.

Like a newcomer, Tian Xiwei stepped into the entrance hall with a mixture of curiosity and excitement, her big eyes quickly surveying the space she would soon be staying in.

Shen Mo silently pushed the somewhat bulky suitcase into the center of the living room.

Li Yitong closed the door, looked at the little girl beside her, and glanced at the only two bedrooms. A slightly apologetic and gentle smile appeared on her face.

She walked to Tian Xiwei's side, gently put her arm around her shoulder, and spoke softly.

"Xiao Tian, ​​look, we only have two rooms here. So for the next few days, you might have to squeeze in with me, okay?"

She paused, observing the girl's expression, her tone reassuring.

"Of course, if you feel uncomfortable with it, we'll think of another way..."

Before she could finish speaking, Tian Xiwei shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum.

Instead of showing any embarrassment, a bright smile instantly bloomed on his face, as if he had heard some incredibly good news.

She immediately stretched out her arms and hugged Li Yitong's arm affectionately, almost hanging on her, her voice sweet and soft, full of anticipation.

"I'm not wronged at all! Not at all! I'm overjoyed!"

"Sister Tongtong, I love being close to you! We can even whisper secrets to each other at night!"

Seeing her excited expression, Li Yitong's worries vanished instantly.

She couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to affectionately pinch Tian Xiwei's nose.

"Okay, then hurry up and pack your belongings, wash up and change into your pajamas."

"Yay! That's great!"

Tian Xi cheered, released Li Yitong, and energetically pulled her suitcase over, eager to push it into Li Yitong's bedroom.

The small apartment, now filled with a lively figure, doesn't feel cramped at all; instead, it's brimming with life and warmth.

As night deepened, the apartment was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

After washing up, the two, wearing the same style of pajamas but different styles, lay side by side on Li Yitong's bed, their hair still damp.

Tian Xi turned her little head slightly, looking left and right, her big eyes darting around. She looked at Li Yitong, who was lying there playing on her phone, and suddenly felt like playing.

She quietly got up, and with lightning speed, climbed onto Li Yitong's back, wrapped her arms around her neck, and pouted to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Um?"

Feeling the weight behind her and the warmth of her right cheek, Li Yitong was taken aback by this sudden "attack".

Turning my head, I saw Tian Xiwei covering her mouth and chuckling, her big eyes full of mischievousness.

"Well, Xiao Tian, ​​you dare to ambush me?"

Li Yitong immediately glared at him, put down her phone, and tried to turn over as if to retaliate.

Tian Xi let out a soft scream, then rolled over to the other side of the bed with a laugh, covering her head with the blanket, her muffled voice coming from behind.

"Sister Tongtong, I was wrong! Have mercy!"

Li Yitong was not about to give up, so she pounced over and tickled her ticklish spot through the blanket.

"Now you know to beg for mercy? Too late!"

"Ah! Hahaha... Sister Tongtong... no... it tickles..."

Tian Xiwei twisted into a ball under the covers, laughing and begging for mercy, tears welling up in her eyes.

She struggled to break free, her hair disheveled, her little face flushed from playing and sulking.

Although she was panting heavily, her eyes shone brightly with an indomitable spirit. Tian Xiwei reached out and tickled Li Yitong's side again.

Li Yitong is extremely ticklish, and when she was touched, she immediately burst into laughter, dodging and grabbing Tian Xiwei's restless hand.

"Hey! You, you little rascal..."

The two of them immediately started laughing and wrestling on the bed, kicking the pillow to the corner and rolling the blanket into a ball.

Taking advantage of her agility, like a slippery little fish, Tian Xiwei escaped from Li Yitong's "clutches" several times, only to come back with a grin and tease her again.

Li Yitong, taking advantage of her size and strength, finally managed to trap the little rascal in her arms, hugging her from behind and gently resting her chin on the top of Tian Xiwei's head.

"Are you still going to cause trouble?"

Li Yitong's breathing was still a little unsteady, but her voice, tinged with laughter, rang in Tian Xiwei's ear.

Tian Xiwei was trapped in her warm embrace, unable to move.

She turned her head slightly, her cheek almost touching Li Yitong's.

He could clearly feel Li Yitong's warm breath brushing against his skin, bringing a ticklish sensation.

The two were so close that they could count each other's slightly trembling eyelashes.

"No, I'm not making a fuss anymore..."

Tian Xi spoke softly, her voice slightly breathless from the earlier laughter and the close proximity.

She nestled obediently in Li Yitong's arms, no longer moving around.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of shampoo and a sweet tranquility.

Li Yitong also calmed down, feeling the girl's gentle support in her arms and her gradually calming heartbeat.

This unreserved intimacy, as if carrying the imprint of a past life, is so natural that it softens one's heart.

She gently tightened her arms, holding onto the warmth more firmly.

"Alright, stop making a scene."

Li Yitong's voice softened, becoming slightly hoarse with a hint of doting affection.

"We have to get up early tomorrow, so it's time for bed, Xiaotian."

"Um."

Tian Xiwei obediently responded, but remained nestled in her arms without moving.

After a while, Li Yitong gently released her and reached out to turn off the bedside lamp.

The room was plunged into darkness, with only their breathing clearly audible.

Following the ingrained patterns in my mind, just like the countless nights we spent together in past lives.

Tian Xiwei skillfully and naturally turned to the side, pulled Li Yitong's arm into her arms, and hugged her tightly.

Like a little animal seeking security, it unconsciously rubbed its cheek against the soft fabric of the pajamas.

After a moment of silence, Tian Xiwei's soft voice, tinged with barely perceptible tension and immense curiosity, quietly broke through.

"Sister Kiritong..."

She paused, as if making up her mind.

"Are you... Mo's girlfriend?"

The problem came directly and unexpectedly.

Li Yitong opened her eyes in the darkness and could feel the girl in her arms tense up instantly and hold her breath.

She remained silent for a few seconds. Facing Tian Xiwei, she couldn't, and didn't want to, answer this question with a lie.

Not yet.

She answered softly, her voice sounding exceptionally clear and calm in the darkness.

These three words were like a pardon, and Tian Xi's tense body relaxed almost immediately.

Despite her best efforts to restrain herself, she did not make a sound.

But Li Yitong could clearly feel that the arm that was holding her had loosened slightly.

He could even faintly sense the barely suppressed joy emanating from the small body beside him.

In the darkness, you could almost see the corners of her mouth uncontrollably turning up.

After a few seconds of silence, Tian Xiwei's voice rang out again, this time with a more inquisitive tone and with greater caution.

"So... Sister Tongtong, do you like Brother Mo?"

This question is more direct than the previous one.

She felt her heart skip a beat in the darkness.

She did not answer immediately.

Like it?

The answer to this question may have been self-evident the moment she was reborn and saw him under the ginkgo tree.

The bond across two lifetimes, the daily companionship, the tacit understanding between them—the dependence, trust, tenderness, and possessiveness have long since woven together into an impenetrable net.

but……

Could she tell this to the fourteen-year-old girl in her arms, who also harbored a budding affection for Shen Mo and regarded her as a close older sister?

Li Yitong took a very light breath in the darkness, without breaking free from Tian Xiwei's embrace.

Instead, he used his free hand to gently pat Tian Xiwei's arm that was holding her.

His tone carried an enigmatic calmness, subtly avoiding a direct answer.

"Why are you asking so many questions, you little kid? Go to sleep!"

To Tian Xiwei, her avoidance sounded more like a tacit agreement.

This added a sense of crisis to the girl's newly rising excitement.

"Oh……"

But the phrase "not yet" was a huge encouragement and gave her a lot of room for imagination, compared to a direct admission.

She snuggled closer to Li Yitong contentedly, tightening her arms around her and muttering softly.

"Goodnight, Tongtong..."

Goodnight, Xiaotian.

Li Yitong responded softly, tightening her grip on Tian Xiwei's arm slightly. In the darkness, her gaze was complex and distant.