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

Chapter 95 Meng Ziyi: I thought I was special!

Meng Ziyi noticed Tian Xiwei, who had just slowly retreated and slipped to Shen Mo's side.

She seemed to whisper something to Shen Mo, and Shen Mo turned his head and returned her a indulgent smile!

Although it was fleeting, Meng Ziyi saw it clearly!

At that moment, a strange, bittersweet feeling surged into Meng Ziyi's heart, causing her to unconsciously pout her rosy lips, her heart feeling like a jumbled mess of emotions.

I used to think I was special!

He even went to her house in person to invite her!

His sincerity and charm made it impossible for her and her parents to refuse him.

She thought this "honor" was unique.

However, even though I've been with the company for so long, this was the first time I'd ever met him, even though it was just a guest appearance today.

He never came to the practice room to see her, nor did he ever say a word of concern.

Even during the assembly and training session just now, when his gaze swept over her, it was no different from that of the others.

It was as if he didn't remember her at all—as if he had never even remembered her, the girl he had once visited!

"Scumbag!"

Meng Ziyi cried out silently in her heart, filled with grievance and a hint of anger at being ignored.

They flirt and then run away, they're irresponsible!

Once they've signed it, they just leave it aside and ignore it!

"But... he's so handsome!"

The anger had barely risen when his gaze fell upon Shen Mo's impeccable face and the calm, focused aura he exuded while working.

Her arrogance inexplicably diminished.

Another voice inside him began to weakly defend him.

Is he really that busy?

After all, managing such a large company, as well as making movies and investing, is a challenge.

It's understandable that he doesn't have time to visit his own trainee.

It's understandable, isn't it?

He definitely remembers himself!

Otherwise, why would they have specifically requested her for this cameo role?

Isn't this a form of silent concern?

But----

Why could he smile so naturally at Tian Xiwei?

Is it just because Tian Xiwei arrived earlier than me?

Or is it because there's some special relationship between them that they're unaware of?

Various thoughts were clashing wildly in her mind.

Should we let her, like Tian Xiwei, move closer on her own?

But she's a girl!

Shouldn't you be a little more reserved?

From childhood to adulthood, it was always others who took the initiative to approach her; she never needed to go to such lengths to attract a boy's attention.

Would it seem beneath me to actively approach them?

Will he look down on me?

She followed silently behind Bai Mengyan, her mind in turmoil, her eyes darting between the two figures with complex emotions.

In the end, the school beauty's pride and the girl's reserve temporarily prevailed.

She forcefully turned her head away, no longer looking in that direction, and pretended to be focused on Li Yitong's performance on stage.

However, her slightly puffed-out cheeks and the occasional small movement of grinding her toes on the ground revealed that she was far from being as calm as she appeared.

Hmph! It's just about getting close, isn't it?

Anyone can do that! But I'm not going to use such an obvious method!

She secretly resolved to give her best in her cameo performance.

Make him look at you in a new light!

This made him take notice of just how dazzling Meng Ziyi, whom he had personally signed, was!

It didn't even take two days before it was Meng Ziyi's turn to make a cameo appearance.

She was to play a socialite who, while dining at a high-end restaurant, accidentally witnessed the male lead's stunning charm.

The dialogue consists of only one exclamation of amazement and surprise: "Wow—"

Feeling well-prepared, Meng Ziyi took a deep breath, and, in her somewhat unfamiliar high heels, gracefully walked to her designated spot.

The director yelled "Action!" and all eyes turned to her.

She tried hard to recall the socialites in the movies she had seen, attempting to express the feeling of being shocked.

Suddenly, her beautiful eyes widened, her mouth opened into an exaggerated "O" shape, and her whole body leaned back deliberately, as if she had been hit by an invisible shockwave.

"Wow—oh—"

She dragged out her "wow" with a deliberately affected, theatrical tone.

Combined with her pretty face, which looked somewhat comical from exerting too much force, and the arm she unconsciously swung to maintain her balance—

"puff----"

One of the crew members couldn't help but burst out laughing. Although he quickly suppressed it, it was still very clear in the quiet filming environment.

Meng Ziyi herself also sensed something was wrong, and froze on the spot, her face instantly turning as red as a ripe tomato.

She didn't even dare to look in Shen Mo's direction, and just wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"CUT!"

The director's voice was tinged with helplessness.

Just then, a voice with a distinct smile came through the loudspeaker next to the monitor, clearly echoing throughout the set.

"Student Meng."

It was Shen Mo, holding a walkie-talkie in his hand, his tone unabashedly teasing.

"Your acting was quite vivid, but I've never seen a rich girl act so affected before."

With a "boom," Meng Ziyi felt all the blood rush to her face, and the tips of her ears turned red.

She turned her head sharply, glaring at the source of the sound with a mixture of shame and anger, only to meet Shen Mo's smiling, teasing eyes.

Scumbag!

How dare you laugh at me!

She was so angry she almost stomped her feet on the spot. Without thinking, she rolled her eyes at Shen Mo in a very unladylike way, her lips pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle.

That look clearly said: Mind your own business!

This incredibly vivid and completely heartfelt "Meng-style reaction" was a hundred times more natural and interesting than her previous deliberate performance.

The people around her didn't find it offensive to this pretty young girl who was clearly still a student; instead, a suppressed chuckle rippled through the room.

Shen Mo was slightly taken aback by her impolite glare, but then the smile in his eyes deepened.

He put down the walkie-talkie, stood up, and slowly walked to Meng Ziyi, who seemed to want to shrink away.

Its tall figure loomed over you, carrying a faint, clean scent of cedar.

Meng Ziyi could feel his approach, and her heart pounded uncontrollably, but she stubbornly turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

Are you angry?

His voice was lowered, so that only the two of them could hear it, with a rare, almost gentle patience.

Meng Ziyi remained silent, turning the back of her head towards him.

Shen Mo didn't seem to care and continued speaking to himself.

"In acting, especially with this kind of reaction, the most important thing isn't acting, but being genuine."

He paused for a moment, then said, "That glare you gave me just now, it was pretty real."

Meng Ziyi: "————"

Is this a compliment? It sounds so awkward!

"Come, look at me."

Shen Mo's voice carried an undeniable guiding force.

Meng Ziyi hesitated for a moment, then slowly turned her head and met his deep eyes.

At this moment, there was no more playfulness, only a professional and reassuring focus.

"Imagine it," Shen Mo guided her, his voice softening.

"You see someone you admire very much, even idolize, suddenly reveal a charming side of themselves that you've never seen before."

"At that moment, your heart will skip a beat, your eyes will freeze, and you will be momentarily stunned and incredulous."

"Instead of—" he mimicked her exaggerated wide-eyed, open-mouthed expression from earlier, "—that look of seeing a monster."

His analogy made Meng Ziyi want to glare at him again, but seeing his serious expression, she held back and subconsciously followed his description to imagine it.

"A slight, involuntary upturn of the corners of your mouth indicates surprise, not shock. A light in your eyes signifies appreciation, not fear."

As Shen Mo spoke, he subtly gestured with his finger to the corners of his mouth and eyes.

"Capture that moment of genuine feeling, amplify it, and let it flow naturally—that's enough."

His guidance was concise and precise, instantly enlightening Meng Ziyi.

She was only thinking about how to act surprised, but forgot to think about and feel why she should be surprised in that situation.

"Understood?"

Shen Mo looked at her thoughtful expression and asked.

Meng Ziyi pursed her lips, still a little awkward, but nodded nonetheless.

"Okay, let's do it one more time."

Shen Mo patted her shoulder lightly, but the movement felt like an electric current, making Meng Ziyi tremble slightly.

Don't overthink it, believe in yourself.

He turned and walked back behind the monitor.

Meng Ziyi watched his retreating figure and touched the shoulder that he had just patted.

My face was still a little hot, but the shame and annoyance in my heart had inexplicably dissipated, replaced by a strange feeling of encouragement.

She took a deep breath and stood back in her position.

The director yelled "Action!" again.

This time, Meng Ziyi didn't deliberately make any facial expressions.

She recalled Shen Mo's words, and the uncontrollable pounding of her heart when he approached her.

She looked in the designated direction, her eyes widening slightly before a stunning starlight was clearly reflected within.

An extremely faint yet undeniably real smile involuntarily curved the corners of his lips, tinged with disbelief.

Wow!

The voice was soft, yet it perfectly captured the feeling of being instantly struck by a heartbeat.

"CUT! Great! That's a pass!"

The director exclaimed with satisfaction.

Meng Ziyi breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously looked at Shen Mo.

He nodded slightly to her across the crowd, his two thumbs up to his chest, and a barely perceptible smile of approval on his lips.

At that moment, Meng Ziyi's little grievances and temper completely vanished.

Hmph, at least you still have some conscience!

She raised her chin haughtily, but when she turned to walk towards the rest area, her steps were noticeably lighter.