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

The warmth of the coffee shop enveloped her, instantly dispelling the chill brought in from outside and slightly easing Bai Mengyan's tense nerves.

She followed closely behind Shen Mo, watching him calmly find a relatively quiet booth.

Shen Mo pushed the hot coffee in his hand in front of her again, and then sat down opposite her.

"Let's wipe it."

He handed her a pack of tissues, his voice calm, devoid of any inquiry or pity, simply a perfectly polite gesture.

Bai Mengyan then realized that her face was probably already a mess.

She thanked him softly, took the tissue, and carefully wiped away the tears and snow from her face.

The touch of her cool fingertips on her warm cheeks brought her back to her senses.

She secretly glanced at the man opposite her.

He is very tall; even when he is sitting, his upright posture is still noticeable.

He wore a dark coat of good quality, over a simple cashmere sweater, and had a handsome face.

His brows and eyes held a detached composure, exuding an extraordinary aura that contrasted sharply with the atmosphere of dreams and anxieties that filled the trainees in the group earlier.

He doesn't look like a talent scout, nor like a fan chasing stars; he looks more like a high-ranking person in a Korean drama.

"Um, I'm sorry about earlier!"

Bai Mengyan took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and apologized again, her voice still slightly hoarse from crying.

"I...I lost my composure."

Shen Mo nodded slightly, accepting her apology.

He looked at her calmly and cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"The SM auditions failed?"

These words were like a fine needle, gently piercing the fragile shell that Bai Mengyan had just built.

Her nose tingled, and she almost burst into tears again, but she forced herself to hold them back.

He just nodded vigorously, his fingers unconsciously twisting the tissue.

Why?

Shen Mo asked directly, but his tone was not aggressive.

"...They said my dance background wasn't good enough, and my voice wasn't good enough..."

"Although it has its own unique features, it doesn't fit their intended image as a girl group."

Bai Mengyan answered in a low voice, explaining the reason she had just heard in the judging room.

Every word felt like a shard of ice piercing my heart.

She prepared for this selection for so long and endured so much hardship.

Shen Mo listened quietly, without offering empty words of comfort such as "It's okay, try harder next time" or "They just have no taste."

He waited until she finished speaking before he spoke.

"So, you believe that SM's evaluation criteria will be the final judgment on your future career?"

Bai Mengyan was stunned. She looked up at him, somewhat bewildered.

Shen Mo picked up his iced Americano and gently shook it, the ice cubes making a soft clinking sound.

"The standards of one company cannot represent the entire market, much less determine the upper limit of an individual's potential."

"Especially in the entertainment industry, the barometer of aesthetics can be redefined."

His words were like a stone thrown into Bai Mengyan's lifeless heart lake, creating ripples.

She had never heard of such a statement before.

SM Entertainment, a star-making factory, has always been a sacred place in the eyes of those who dream of becoming idols.

Their approval is almost equivalent to a passport to success.

"But that's SM..."

She murmured, a hint of resentment and awe that she herself was unaware of.

"SM is very successful. It has created countless superstars, including Girls' Generation on the posters."

Shen Mo's gaze swept lightly over the slightly dilapidated building outside the window.

"But its success model is not unique."

"and."

He changed the subject, his gaze returning to Bai Mengyan's face with a cautious assessment.

"You have a very special temperament, a pure yet stubborn quality, and when you cry, it tells a story."

"This kind of quality might not be able to fully blossom in a girl group that's like an industrial assembly line; instead, it might be smoothed out."

His evaluation was so direct and professional that Bai Mengyan's heart began to race involuntarily.

Who is he?

Let me introduce myself.

Shen Mo seemed to see through her doubts. He leaned forward slightly, rested his elbows on the table, and crossed his hands, forming a posture that exuded a strong sense of control.

"My name is Shen Mo, and I come from Mohen Capital."

"I came to Seoul this time to handle some business cooperation."

Inkmark Capital?

Bai Mengyan wasn't very familiar with the name, but it sounded like a domestic company.

Shen Mo didn't give her much time to think and continued to drop even more bombshell information.

"I have just reached an agreement with SBS to acquire the exclusive domestic rights to 'Running Man'."

Running Man!

The name struck Bai Mengyan like a thunderclap.

This is currently the hottest variety show in Asia!

The companies that can purchase its copyrights are definitely not to be underestimated.

The way she looked at Shen Mo changed instantly, from initial gratitude and embarrassment to shock and a hint of barely perceptible awe.

Shen Mo took in her reaction and knew that he had laid enough groundwork.

He looked at her with sharp, direct eyes, as if he could see through her current disheveled state and perceive some kind of potential within her.

"Miss Bai Mengyan."

He called her name clearly and saw the girl's eyes widen slightly in surprise.

"I'm very interested in you."

"Not by SM's standards, but by my standards and the standards of Mohen's future plans."

He paused briefly, giving her time to process it, before posing the question that would change her destiny.

"How about we take a different route and come back to China with you?"

"Perhaps I can create one for you, unlike SM Entertainment or any existing girl group."

"A unique path to becoming a top star."

The snow was still falling outside the window, and the warm light in the coffee shop enveloped the two of them.

Bai Mengyan stared blankly at the mysterious and powerful man in front of her; his words seemed to possess a magical power.

Just when she had experienced failure and felt lost about her future, it brought her a possibility full of infinite possibilities.

Should she continue to face rejections from various companies in South Korea, chasing a slim chance at becoming a trainee, or...?

Should I grab the hand that suddenly reaches out in front of me?

Her heart pounded like a drum in the silent booth.

"Go back to China with you...?"

She repeated the sentence, her voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the background music in the coffee shop.

One second she was still trapped in the abyss of despair after being rejected by SM.

The next second, a media company executive who claimed to have bought the rights to "Running Man" extended an olive branch to her.

The turn of events was so sudden, it was almost surreal.

"That's right."

Shen Mo's tone remained unwavering, carrying an unquestionable certainty.

"Inkmark needs fresh blood, it needs artists with unique potential."

"I believe you have that potential."

He didn't paint a grand vision of the future, but his calm and direct approach was more persuasive than any grand promise.

Bai Mengyan's heart was pounding wildly in her chest.

She was just an ordinary girl with dreams who suffered setbacks in a foreign land.

Faced with such a sudden choice, I instinctively felt apprehensive.

"What...what do I need to do? I can't do anything..."

She subconsciously belittled herself; this was a consequence of failure.

Shen Mo interrupted her, his tone calm yet powerful.

"You don't need to know everything right now."

"The company has a professional team responsible for styling, vocals, dance, acting, and public relations."

"What you need is the courage to seize opportunities, as well as the determination to cooperate with the team and endure hardship."

He paused, looked at her, and said, "Of course, we need to sign a contract first."

contract……

These two words brought Bai Mengyan back to her senses somewhat.

She wasn't a child without social experience; she knew the importance of contracts.

"Could I take a look at the contract? Or, I need to discuss it with my family..."

She asked tentatively, her voice still timid, but her eyes now held a hint of caution.

A barely perceptible hint of admiration flashed in Shen Mo's eyes.

It's good that you can still maintain a sliver of rationality even when you're impulsive.

He took out his phone, fiddled with it for a bit, and then handed it to her.

"This is the basic artist contract template from Mohen Media. You can familiarize yourself with the framework first."

"The specific terms will be discussed with you in detail by a professional legal counsel after you return to China."

"As for your family."

He put his phone away.

"Of course, communication is necessary."

"You can contact them at any time. Inkmark is a legitimate company, and all procedures are legal and compliant."

His frankness and procedural formality further alleviated Bai Mengyan's unease.

She quickly glanced at the well-formatted, clearly defined contract template on her phone screen.

Although I don't quite understand the specific legal terminology, it doesn't at least feel like a scam.

The scales in my heart began to tip.

Stay in South Korea?

She could almost foresee a future filled with setbacks, depleted savings, and dwindling hopes.

Returning to China?

The man in front of her and the company behind him seemed to offer her a different path.

The temptation was too great for her, who had just experienced failure.

Take a gamble, or continue to sink?

She took a deep breath, the cold air of the Seoul winter night mixed with the aroma of coffee filling her lungs and clearing her confused mind.

She raised her head and looked at Shen Mo. In her eyes, which were still flushed, a resolute determination gradually gathered.

"Mr. Shen... Mr. Shen."

She tried using that form of address; her voice still trembled slightly, but it was much more stable.

"I...I'm willing to go back to China with you and join Inkmark."

She paused, as if to encourage herself, and then spoke forcefully.

"I will work hard and won't let you down!"

Shen Mo looked at the flame that had reignited in her eyes, a light that was a mixture of hope, determination, and even a hint of ambition.

He knew he had made the right move.

This girl is resilient and adaptable.

"very good."

Shen Mo's lips curved slightly, revealing a faint yet genuine smile.

"Well then, welcome to the team, Bai Mengyan."

He raised his hand to call the waiter and ordered another hot cocoa for Bai Mengyan.

"Have something sweet to replenish your energy. Where's your luggage? We might need to change our flight, or could you go back to your accommodation and unpack?"

Bai Mengyan then snapped out of her daze of the enormous decision and realized the trivialities of reality.

"I...I'm staying at a hostel in Hongdae. I don't have much luggage, just one suitcase."

"Hmm." Shen Mo glanced at his watch.

"There's still time. I'll go back with you to get your luggage, and then we'll go straight to the airport. We'll book the next flight back home."

His ability to act was so strong that Bai Mengyan was speechless.

Half an hour later, Bai Mengyan sat in the taxi arranged by Shen Mo, watching the Seoul street scenes rushing past the window.

The snowflakes were still falling, but her mood was completely different from a few hours earlier.

It was no longer despair and coldness, but rather a sense of tension and anticipation for the unknown future, as well as a feeling of relief as if grasping at a lifeline.

She secretly glanced at Shen Mo, who was resting with his eyes closed beside her.

His profile was sharp and elegant, giving off an invisible sense of pressure even when he was resting.

This man, like a sudden blizzard, forcefully entered her life.

He pulled her out of the mud and pointed her in a completely different direction.

What will the future hold?

she does not know.

But she knew that from the moment she nodded, the trajectory of her life had been completely changed.

The plane soared into the sky, piercing through the clouds above Seoul, with the city gradually shrinking in size and its lights shining brightly below.

Bai Mengyan leaned against the window, taking one last look at the land where she had once placed her dreams.

Goodbye, Seoul.

Goodbye, past failures.

She turned her head and looked at Shen Mo, who was flipping through documents beside her, and silently prayed to herself.

Hello, future.

Hello, Shen Mo.