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

As dusk fell, the lanterns were gently pushed by the evening breeze.

The aroma of New Year's Eve dinner filled the air in the restaurant.

The braised pork belly gleamed with a glossy, dark brown color, the freshly cooked carp was coated in piping hot broth, and the lotus root soup steamed with white mist...

Li Yitong took off her apron, carried in the last dish, and gave Shen Mo a "done" gesture.

He pulled out a chair for her, his tone carrying a familiar teasing tone.

"Chef Li, thank you for your hard work."

Don't give me that.

She laughed, brushed the flour off her sleeve, and sat down beside him.

The two mothers sat on either side, busy serving food to the two women.

The fathers, holding their wine cups, looked at each other and smiled.

The background music was the cheerful music of the Spring Festival Gala and the occasional sound of firecrackers outside the window.

After a while, Li Yitong, with a fish ball in her mouth, looked at Shen Mo with bright eyes.

"Eat quickly, the fireworks have started going off outside."

He put down his bowl, picked up his coat, and said, "Let's go, we'll go too."

Downstairs in the courtyard, the snow was ankle-deep. The two of them each carried a box of fireworks to the center of the courtyard.

The wind blew through her scarf, lifting a few strands of hair, and he naturally reached out to gather them up for her.

My fingertips touched her cold cheeks; her skin was icy, yet her smile was warm and gentle.

"Step back a bit."

Shen Mo bent down and lit the fuse, sparks bursting forth instantly.

"Bang—!"

The first golden firework burst open in the night sky, illuminating her delighted crescent-shaped eyes.

Then, a clear blue expanse spread across the night sky, layer upon layer like rippling water.

Li Yitong stared blankly, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face, her eyes reflecting the entire blue sea of ​​light.

The moment the second firework went off, she suddenly turned around and bumped into Shen Mo's arms.

"Shen Mo!"

Her voice was soft, yet it pierced the night with clarity.

"They're blue! You really bought blue fireworks!"

He was jolted slightly by the impact. The girl in his arms was wrapped in a thick scarf, her whole being exuding the chill of snow and a joyful smile.

He couldn't help but chuckle as he looked down at her.

Do you like it?

"Um!"

She nodded vigorously, her eyes brighter than fireworks in the night sky.

"So beautiful..."

The moment the blue flames burst in her pupils, he forgot the cold and instinctively pulled her closer.

Upstairs by the window, four figures stood side by side.

Li's mother smiled and sighed, "These two children..."

The smile lines at the corners of Shen's mother's eyes deepened: "You held me well."

The two fathers raised their glasses in tacit agreement, and Mr. Shen sighed softly, his tone of satisfaction: "This year has been perfect."

In the snow where light and shadow intertwined, he held her firmly in his arms, and she looked up, her face beaming with a smile.

The last firework burst into countless silver fragments across the night sky, the light and shadows gradually dimmed, and the courtyard returned to tranquility.

Li Yitong leaned against Shen Mo's chest, the afterimage of blue fireworks still flickering in the corner of her eye.

He patted her shoulder gently, his voice low and tender.

Are you cold?

"Hmm, a little."

Her voice leaked from under the wool scarf, carrying a soft nasal tone.

Shen Mo smiled and reached out to tighten her scarf again.

"Let's go back inside, your hands are all red from the cold."

"What about the fireworks? There's still a box left."

"We'll release it tomorrow."

"it is good."

She nodded obediently, letting him lead her towards the building, leaving two parallel footprints in the snow beneath her feet.

The warmth from the indoor heating was overwhelming. As soon as Li Yitong entered, she breathed on her hands and rubbed them together, her nose turning red from the cold.

Shen Mo took off his coat, tossed it onto the sofa, and turned to go to the kitchen to get a cup of hot water.

"Give."

She took it and sipped a large mouthful, then frowned as she was burned.

"Why are you always in such a hurry?" He couldn't help but chuckle.

"I'm used to it."

She licked her lips, her voice slightly pouty and coquettish.

Shen Mo looked at her, his gaze softening.

She held the cup to her chest, warming her hands, the red from her fingertips glistening faintly through the glass.

She looked up at him.

"I love so much."

Shen Mo leaned against the dining table, his expression as calm as ever.

"I'm glad you like it. I went to several stores to buy those blue fireworks."

"I wasn't talking about fireworks."

She corrected him softly.

He paused for a moment, then chuckled knowingly.

"Then what are you saying?"

Li Yitong didn't answer, but just looked down at the rippling water in the glass.

The rising steam blurred her eyelashes, as if they were covered with a thin mist.

The wind outside rattled the window twice, and Shen Mo went over and closed the window tightly.

He glanced back at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Shall we go to the rooftop to watch the moon together later?"

"OK."

The restaurant was warmly lit, and two mothers were clearing away dishes, their laughter drifting intermittently from the kitchen.

Li's mother wiped the dining table, her tone gentle yet slightly teasing.

"Look at those two kids..."

Mother Shen took over the conversation, her eyes crinkling with a deep smile.

"How wonderful."

"It reminds me of our youth."

Li's mother sighed softly, "We were so poor back then that we couldn't even afford to set off a string of firecrackers."

"But that kind of festive atmosphere is rarely seen nowadays."

Mother Shen smiled and shook her head.

She paused, then added.

"Tongtong is a sensible and well-mannered child."

"Although Xiao Mo has a cold demeanor, he is actually very soft-hearted."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Li's mother suddenly said softly, "You know, it would be nice if that were the case."

Shen's mother asked, "What?"

"If only the two kids could stay together forever."

Shen's mother didn't reply immediately, but simply lowered her head and put the plate into the sink.

"That depends on them."

She smiled slightly.

"They have to walk their own path. All we can do is not get in their way."

Li Yitong's soft laughter drifted from the living room, like the tinkling of bells in the breeze.

The two mothers exchanged a glance, and Shen's mother sighed softly.

"This is wonderful, this New Year."

As night fell, the sound of firecrackers in the courtyard became sparse and intermittent, with a few muffled thuds occasionally heard in the distance.

Li Yitong, wrapped in a thick sweater, leaned against the rooftop with a cup of hot milk in her hand.

The streetlights in the distance shone brightly in the darkness, casting a soft, warm yellow glow on the snow.

The door hinges clicked softly as Shen Mo pushed open the door to the rooftop stairwell and entered. She was looking up into the distance.

"You're here?" She turned her head, a gentle smile curving her eyes.

"Can't you sleep?" He stood beside her.

She handed him the cup, saying, "Be careful, it's hot."

He took it and sipped it lightly. "It's sweet."

"I added honey." She tilted her head to look at him. "Don't you dislike sweets?"

"It's nice to make an exception once in a while." He chuckled, a glint of light shimmering in his eyes.

The rooftop was so quiet that you could hear each other's soft breathing.

"I remember you didn't like setting off fireworks when you were little," she suddenly asked.

Shen Mo hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let them go. But we didn't let them go after that."

Why?

"Too noisy."

"But that's the spirit of the New Year," she said, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling.

He turned his head and saw her serious expression.

"I like fireworks, I like blue. But I feel..."

Her voice was soft, "No matter how beautiful the fireworks are, they can't compare to watching them with someone you love."

Shen Mo's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he looked into the distance.

"Li Yitong," he suddenly called out to her.

"Um?"

"If..." He paused, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing the tranquility.

"Even if I'm not by your side one year, you must still have a good New Year."

She paused slightly, but neither asked further nor smiled.

She simply reached out and took the half-cold cup from his hand.

"Then remember to come back soon."

She paused for a moment, then said, "You dare to abandon me? Just you wait!"

Shen Mo turned his head and stared at her, not looking away for a long time.

He raised his hand and gently placed it on the top of her head, his fingertips lingering in her hair for a moment.

"it is good."