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

Chapter 94 On-set Kindergarten

In mid-May, the weather in the capital city had already taken on the heat of early summer.

Filming for "My Love from the Star" is in full swing, and Shen Mo makes a phone call to Yang Tianzhen.

"Go to the school and ask for leave for the company's trainees, then bring them all over to me."

Yang Tianzhen was a little surprised, but instantly understood Shen Mo's thoughts.

It would be a waste not to give these young actors a cameo role in a 5000 million yuan big-budget production produced by the company itself.

"All of them? You might need to be a little more lenient with their acting skills —"

"It's alright, practice is the best lesson."

Shen Mo interrupted her, his tone calm and unquestionable, carrying the efficiency-first mentality typical of capitalists.

"Only after experiencing a real battlefield do you know where to fire the bullets you practice in training."

Yang Tianzhen nodded decisively.

"Understood. I'll coordinate with the school and training instructors immediately, and we can bring the person over as early as tomorrow."

So, the next day, a youthful and bright, yet slightly awkward and reserved, scene appeared on the set of "My Love from the Star".

Two groups of teenagers, a boy and a girl, stood there, their faces full of curiosity but also a little afraid, as if they were afraid of breaking something.

Li Yitong had just finished filming a scene and stepped off the set when she saw this group of trainees standing there in various poses.

She was taken aback for a moment, then her gaze met Shen Mo's not far away, and she immediately understood his intention.

She couldn't help but wrinkle her nose and mutter a snort to herself.

"Is this place going to turn into a kindergarten?"

Despite her thoughts, as one of the producers and a senior figure in the industry, she still walked over with a professional, radiant smile.

"You're all here? Don't be nervous, it's mainly to let you get a feel for the atmosphere. If there's a chance, we'll arrange for you to have a small cameo role."

Her tone was friendly, but her gaze lingered on Tian Xiwei for a moment longer than expected.

Shen Mo also walked over. He first scanned the group in a businesslike manner, his tone calm and professional.

"The opportunity has been given to you; how much you learn is up to you."

"Follow the rules on set, observe more, listen more, and speak less."

His cold and aloof aura instantly silenced everyone.

However, when his gaze swept over Tian Xiwei, who was secretly watching him and immediately lowered her head after being caught, it was a moment of realization.

His lips twitched almost imperceptibly as he added a sentence, his tone softening.

"Of course, if you encounter anything you don't understand, you can ask the teachers here, or—ask us."

His subtle change in attitude did not escape Li Yitong's notice.

She maintained a smile on her face, but couldn't help but complain inwardly.

"Hmph, you're only gentle with your own people, huh?"

After the speech, Shen Mo asked Bai Mengyan, his assistant, to take the trainees on a tour of the film set and teach them the rules.

Bai Mengyan immediately straightened her back, her face showing excitement at the "important responsibility on her shoulders".

He tried to put on a serious expression and waved to the other four girls.

"Come on! Stay close to me, don't touch anything, and don't make any noise!"

His appearance was rather endearing, like a fox borrowing the tiger's power.

Meng Ziyi secretly made a face behind her back, and Wang Churan nudged her lightly with her elbow.

The group followed Bai Mengyan, like a flock of ducklings just leaving their nest, moving about curiously and cautiously.

Tian Xiwei, however, seemed to have her feet firmly planted on the ground, slowly moving her feet and subtly placing herself at the very back of everyone else.

The moment Bai Mengyan and the others turned a corner of the set and disappeared.

Tian Xiwei immediately turned around, ran all the way, creating a breeze, and accurately arrived at Shen Mo's side, who was about to walk towards the monitor.

"Brother Mo!"

A crisp sound, filled with undisguised joy, rang in Shen Mo's ears.

Shen Mo paused and looked down.

Tian Xi tilted her head slightly, her fair face flushed with a faint blush from running.

A pair of bright eyes were wide open, like they held a pool of clear spring water, staring straight at him.

Because I ran so fast, I was still slightly out of breath.

The iconic dimple on her right cheek was clearly visible, brimming with unreserved joy.

Seeing her like this, the calm and serious demeanor that belonged to "President Shen" on Shen Mo's face vanished instantly, like frost melting in the sunlight.

Instead, an irrepressible, gentle smile radiated from the depths of her eyes.

"What's wrong, Xiaotian? Why didn't you go to study with the group? You snuck back here instead?"

He spoke, his tone revealing a indulgence and low murmur that he himself was unaware of, tinged with a hint of mockery.

Tian Xi wrinkled her small nose slightly, but instead of being scared away, she took another half step forward, almost touching his arm.

She stood with her hands behind her back, leaned slightly forward, and had a hint of smugness and coquettishness on her face.

"I'm not going to follow them around like an idiot! Mengyan hasn't even gotten to know all the event staff yet!"

She blinked, her tone sly.

"Brother Mo, I'll go with you. I promise I'll behave and won't cause you any trouble!"

Looking at her quirky and mischievous appearance, Shen Mo felt as if a feather had gently brushed against his heart, causing a soft ripple.

He couldn't help but chuckle, and with a very natural movement, he gently tapped her forehead with his knuckles, the force very light and affectionate.

"You're so clever," he chuckled.

"Alright, then you follow me, watch carefully, and learn well. If I catch you slacking off—"

He deliberately dragged out his words, making them sound threatening, but his eyes were still smiling.

"I promise I won't!"

Tian Xiwei immediately straightened her back, making a firm promise, and her dimples deepened.

She knew that Shen Mo was tacitly acknowledging her "privilege".

Satisfied, she followed Shen Mo with light steps, obediently squatting down next to the monitor, her hands supporting her chin.

Bai Mengyan saw all of this clearly from around the corner not far away.

She bit her lip, but ultimately didn't come back; she simply turned away silently.

She rubbed her nose vigorously, took a deep breath, and put on her usual carefree expression again.

They quickly caught up with Meng Ziyi and Wang Churan, who were asking a lighting technician a lot of questions.

"Hey! You two, stop asking useless questions and disturbing the teacher's work!"

She tried to make her voice sound as energetic as usual, even with a touch of the authority of an older sister.

At this moment, Tian Xiwei, who was squatting near the monitor, felt as if she were in a small, independent, and warm bubble.

She rested her chin on her hands, her gaze seemingly focused on Li Yitong's movements on the field.

But out of the corner of his eye, his gaze was drawn as if by a magnet to the tall, imposing figure not far away.

Shen Mo was sitting side by side with the director behind the monitor, discussing the next scene.

The lines of his profile were particularly clear in the dim lighting on set, his jaw was taut, and he exuded a professional and aloof aura that kept strangers at bay.

Looking at him like this, Tian Xiwei felt as if he were a completely different person from the "Brother Mo" who had just given her a gentle smile and lightly tapped her forehead.

This stark contrast made her heart feel as if it were soaking in warm sugar water, bubbling sweetly.

She couldn't help but subtly curve the corners of her mouth into a smile, revealing a small dimple on her right cheek.

During the halftime break, Shen Mo seemed to finally notice the excessively intense self-light that had been clinging to him.

He turned his head and accurately spotted the girl crouching in the corner like a little mushroom.

When Tian Xi saw him looking over, instead of dodging, she immediately flashed a dazzling smile, her eyes curving into crescents, with a hint of smugness in them.

A barely perceptible smile flashed in Shen Mo's eyes, so fleeting that it was impossible to catch.

He didn't walk over; he simply nodded slightly to her.

He then looked away and refocused on his discussion with the director, regaining his calm and composed demeanor.

But this tiny, almost tacit interaction was enough to make Tian Xiwei overjoyed.

She felt electrified, even when she looked at Li Yitong, who was shining brightly in the center of the arena.

The slight timidity in my heart seemed to have been diluted considerably.

She recalled the stories Li Yitong had told her about Shen Mo's student days when she took her to visit the Beijing Film Academy—stories she had never been a part of.

But now, she can stand so close to him and see his focused expression while he works, a sight no one else can witness.

To possess even a fleeting moment of his tenderness, so different from anyone else's—

"I won't give up easily!"

She silently cheered herself up, subconsciously touching the chocolate in her pocket, deciding to take advantage of the rest to replenish her energy.

Meanwhile, Shen Mo, who seemed to be completely focused on his work, couldn't help but glance at that corner of his eye while looking down at the script.

Watching Tian Xiwei secretly nibble on chocolate like a little hamster, thinking that no one had noticed.

He held the edge of the script with his fingers, gently stroking it.

Bringing her to the film set might not just be for her to learn.

Seeing her so vibrant and full of life seemed to bring him a rare sense of relaxation.

But as soon as the thought arose, he rationally suppressed it and slowly moved his gaze to Li Yitong, who was shining brightly in the center of the arena.