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

After leaving Meng Ziyi's house, Shen Mo flew to Seoul.

Running Man has become a hit across Asia in the past two years. If all goes as expected, Zhejiang TV will negotiate a partnership to purchase the rights next year.

Therefore, when this project appeared in Li Yitong's plan, Shen Mo began arranging to purchase the copyright.

This flight there is for the final confirmation and signing.

As I left SBS TV station, light snowflakes were falling from the sky over Seoul, casting a cool, ethereal glow over the fashionable city.

The copyright issue for "Running Man" has been basically finalized, with only the follow-up details to be finalized. This move is crucial in Li Yitong's overall plan.

Standing on the street, looking at the vast expanse of white before him, Shen Mo recalled the name in Yang Tianzhen's report that had "run away to South Korea to participate in the trainee selection."

Bai Lu (Bai Mengyan).

A thought clearly surfaced in my mind.

"Perhaps, we can pick up a top influencer here on the way back."

It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was something he did along the way. Before coming, he had already checked the specific dates for the SM auditions and specifically set the signing date for this day.

Without hesitation, he hailed a taxi and gave the name of SM Entertainment in Cheongdam-dong.

After getting off the bus, the scene before me seemed somewhat incongruous with SM's prestigious reputation.

A four-story building that looks quite old, with even slightly mottled exterior walls.

But the huge poster on the wall, spanning dozens of meters, reveals its heritage and glory; it is none other than Girls' Generation, the girl group that has swept across Asia.

A long, winding queue stretched out beneath the company's famous signboard at the main gate.

The young men and women were all outstanding in appearance and had beautiful figures. They stood in the cold wind, craning their necks and looking forward, their faces filled with longing and anxiety for their future careers.

These must be the trainee candidates from all over the world who dream of becoming idols.

Shen Mo did not approach, but silently crossed the street and pushed open the door of a coffee shop facing SM Entertainment.

He ordered an iced Americano, sat down by the window, and calmly gazed out the window.

Like a patient hunter.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the bitterness of coffee and the falling snowflakes.

About an hour later, in the crowd in front of the SM Entertainment building across the street.

A girl wearing a thin down jacket walked out with her head down and her steps a little unsteady.

She walked about twenty or thirty meters and suddenly stopped at the side of the street.

Suddenly, I looked up at the gray, snow-covered sky.

He let out a suppressed, tearful roar, as if trying to pour out all his grievances and resentment.

Immediately afterwards, as if all her strength had been drained, she slumped back a few steps.

Leaning against the cold wall, he slowly squatted down.

He buried his face deep in his knees, his thin shoulders trembling slightly in the cold wind.

A few minutes later, Bai Mengyan felt that the cold snowflakes falling on her head seemed to have decreased.

A shadow fell, blocking out some of the light and snow.

She looked up blankly, her eyes brimming with tears, and saw a tall, handsome man standing in front of her.

He held up a long-handled black umbrella in one hand, creating a small patch of snowless sky for her.

In his other hand, he held a paper cup of coffee that was steaming slightly.

The backdrop is a scene of snow falling heavily in Seoul during winter, a scene so beautiful it's almost unreal, like a meticulously crafted shot from a Korean drama.

But her red eyes were empty, filled only with the bitterness of defeat.

Shen Mo looked down at the girl who was crouching in the corner like an abandoned kitten.

He handed over the hot coffee, his voice sounding exceptionally clear and steady amidst the wind and snow.

"It's cold outside, have something hot to drink."

In a foreign land, on a snowy street, a clear and resonant expression of concern in one's mother tongue.

It shattered all of Bai Mengyan's facade of strength, instantly striking the softest spot in her heart.

An overwhelming sense of injustice surged forth like a flood bursting its banks, overwhelming reason.

She didn't even have time to think about who this strange man was or why he could speak Chinese.

Driven only by instinct, she suddenly stood up and, like a fledgling seeking shelter, buried herself in Shen Mo's arms.

She buried her tear-streaked face in the cool fabric of his coat and burst into tears.

Shen Mo was slightly stiffened by her sudden "attack," and a clear look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He truly hadn't expected the girl to be so... audacious.

But he didn't push her away in the end.

The hand holding the umbrella steadily sheltered her from the wind and snow.

The hand holding the coffee remained steady, without spilling a drop.

He simply stood there quietly, like a silent tree, providing her with a haven where she could temporarily rely on and freely vent her emotions.

The suppressed sobs lingered for several minutes on the quiet street corner before gradually turning into low sobs.

After venting her emotions and regaining her senses, Bai Mengyan belatedly realized what she had done.

She actually threw herself into the arms of a handsome stranger and burst into tears!

A wave of intense embarrassment instantly washed over her cheeks and ears, burning with an almost unbearable heat.

She froze in Shen Mo's arms, too afraid to move, and had no idea how to get up.

How should I deal with this handsome man whom I "molested"?

Shen Mo keenly sensed the stiffness of the body in his arms and the almost tangible awkwardness.

A hint of a smile flashed across his eyes as he deliberately spoke in a light, teasing tone, whispering in her ear.

"If you keep hugging me, I'll have to charge you."

These words carried a faint electric current, causing Bai Mengyan to leap out of his arms like a startled little animal!

She instinctively wanted to step back and create some distance, but she forgot that she had been leaning against the wall before she got up.

With that backward movement, her back slammed solidly against the cold wall with a dull thud, causing her to hiss softly in pain.

At this moment, her back was pressed against the wall, facing Shen Mo, less than half a meter away.

Shen Mo could clearly see her flushed cheeks, wet eyelashes, and her large, bewildered eyes that were filled with panic.

The wind and snow swirled in the narrow space between them, creating an awkward and delicate atmosphere.

Just as Bai Mengyan was so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

About five meters away, the door of a coffee shop was pushed open with a "ding-a-ling," and a couple walked out chatting and laughing, the wind chimes on the door ringing crisply.

The sound broke the silence between the two.

Shen Mo glanced up and gestured in that direction, his tone returning to its previous calmness, as if the little incident had never happened.

"It's cold outside, and the snow is getting heavier. How about we go sit in a coffee shop?"

He swirled the still-warm cup of coffee in his hand and extended a natural and polite invitation to her.

Bai Mengyan nodded almost immediately, her voice barely audible.

"...Okay, okay."