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

Chapter 96 Liu Haocun: Can I call you brother? [10,000 words, please subscribe and vote]

On May 20th, there seemed to be a sweet, ambiguous feeling in the air.

During a break from the busy filming, Shen Mo glanced at the date on her phone and suddenly remembered that it was Liu Haocun's birthday.

His current memory allows him to grasp almost all of these details, especially the trainees around him whom he considers "one of his own."

Li Yitong isn't on set today, otherwise this matter could have been completely handed over to her, but now I have to take charge myself.

He then beckoned to Bai Mengyan and whispered a few instructions to her.

Soon, Bai Mengyan secretly gathered Tian Xiwei, Meng Ziyi, and Wang Churan, the "Three Beauties of Ink Trace".

Tian Xiwei was tasked with using her innocent and sweet smile to "delay" the completely unaware Liu Haocun.

Bai Mengyan and Meng Ziyi, with their lively and outgoing personalities, are responsible for contacting and coordinating with familiar staff members in the production crew.

Wang Churan was assigned the most crucial yet simplest task: to press a power switch with the lighting technician at a designated time.

In the evening, the day's filming finally came to an end.

The staff began their routine of packing up the equipment, and the actors gradually prepared to remove their makeup and leave.

As usual, Liu Haocun softly thanked the senior teachers for their hard work and was about to follow the crowd back.

suddenly!

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Several high-powered headlights that had been turned off and were used for large-scale scene lighting around the film set suddenly turned on simultaneously without warning.

The blazing white beams of light, like spotlights on a stage, converged precisely, completely enveloping Liu Haocun, who was still somewhat bewildered as he stood there.

The sudden burst of bright light made her instinctively close her eyes and raise her hand to shield them.

Her slender figure appeared particularly thin and helpless under the bright light, her face filled with surprise and bewilderment, like a frightened fawn.

Amidst the silence and astonishment, Shen Mo slowly emerged from the shadows beside the monitor.

He was pushing a food cart that had been prepared at some point, decorated with exquisite butter flowers, and on it was a beautiful birthday cake.

With a rare, gentle, and clear smile on his face, his gaze fell on the bewildered girl in the center of the aperture.

He started, his voice not loud, but it carried clearly throughout the suddenly quiet film set.

"Happy birthday to you----"

This sound was like a starting gun.

The next second, Tian Xiwei, Bai Mengyan and the others, who were already prepared, immediately started singing along loudly, their faces beaming with the excitement of a successful prank and sincere blessings.

Immediately afterwards, the actors and staff who had been "busy" around them...

As if a play button had been pressed instantly, they all turned around, their faces showing kind and knowing smiles, and joined in the chorus.

"Happy birthday to you!"

The loud and warm singing voice instantly filled the entire studio, dispelling the fatigue of a long day's work.

The lighting technician even adjusted the light to make the converging beams of light soft and dreamlike.

Liu Haocun finally realized what had happened.

She lowered her hand from her eyes, and her eyes almost instantly welled up with tears.

Watching Shen Mo walk towards her step by step, seeing every smiling face around her filled with blessings, and the beautiful cake on the food cart—

Overwhelmed by immense surprise and emotion, she was completely overwhelmed.

Her habitually slightly hunched back straightened unconsciously, and her eyes, which always carried a hint of timidity and ingratiation, began to glisten with genuine tears.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found herself choked up and unable to make a sound. She could only nod forcefully, her hands clasped tightly in front of her chest.

Bai Mengyan sang the loudest, nudging Dilraba next to her with her elbow and making faces at her as she sang.

"Have you noticed that the boss is actually very meticulous?"

Dilraba nodded vigorously, looking at the delicate girl surrounded by warmth in the center of the halo, then at Shen Mo, who was pushing the cake and had a gentle smile, her eyes somewhat dazed.

The tune she was singing stuck in her throat, turning into a barely audible sigh, tinged with envy and a deeper emotion that she herself didn't understand.

Tian Xiwei stood at the front of the crowd, smiling sweetly with deep dimples. She was happy for Liu Haocun.

But most of their attention was fixed on the man pushing the cake, their eyes shining with an astonishing intensity.

Meng Ziyi had already taken out her phone and was secretly recording herself while singing along.

Even Wang Churan, who is usually a bit arrogant and aloof, couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly when he saw this scene.

They seemed to find this collective, heartwarming scene a bit silly and awkward, but the fingers that pressed the power switch inexplicably felt a sense of participation.

As the song ended, applause and cheers erupted.

Shen Mo pushed the food cart in front of Liu Haocun, his voice gentle.

"Haocun, happy birthday."

"At InkSign, everyone's growth and important moments deserve to be remembered and celebrated."

He spoke softly, but his words reached the ears of every trainee present clearly.

Tian Xi pursed her lips slightly. Bai Mengyan and Dilraba exchanged a glance, both seeing a certain determination in each other's eyes.

Liu Haocun finally couldn't hold back her tears, but this time she didn't subconsciously apologize or try to avoid them.

Instead, she raised her tearful eyes, met Shen Mo's gaze, and revealed a tearful yet incredibly genuine and radiant smile.

Her voice was still soft and sweet, but it had gained a bit more strength.

"Thank you—thank you, Mr. Shen—thank you everyone!"

At this moment, she was no longer the timid girl who was always cautious and tried to please everyone.

Rather, it is the one who is truly seen and cherished, the protagonist of the birthday celebration.

After Liu Haocun finished cutting the cake, he respectfully handed it to each of the staff members present.

The echoes of the loud birthday song seemed to still linger in the photo studio, the air filled with the sweet smell of cream and the warmth of everyone's celebration.

Liu Haocun, who had returned to the dining car, still had tear stains on his face, and his eyes and nose were red, like a little rabbit that had been wet by the rain.

She looked at Shen Mo, who was so close to her, and the gentle smile that hadn't completely faded from his face was like warm sunshine shining into her heart, which had been shrouded in gloom for many years.

An unprecedented courage, mixed with immense gratitude and dependence, surged through her chest.

She almost held her breath, tilting her head back, her wet, timid yet expectant eyes fixed on Shen Mo.

Her voice was softer and sweeter from the crying and the tension she was in, with a slight tremor.

"Mr. Shen—I—may I call you brother?"

This sentence acted like a miniature silencer, instantly absorbing all the noise within a two- or three-meter radius around her.

Bai Mengyan and Meng Ziyi, who had been chattering away around the cake, immediately fell silent, exchanging a "wow" look.

Bai Mengyan grinned and mouthed something to Meng Ziyi.

"She's really daring!"

Standing a little distance away, Tian Xiwei's sweet smile froze almost imperceptibly, and the fingers holding the birthday hat tightened slightly.

She subconsciously looked at Shen Mo, her gaze carrying a hint of nervousness that she herself was unaware of.

Even Wang Churan, who usually doesn't care about things, raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms with interest, and prepared to watch the show.

Dilraba's eyes widened slightly, a strange pang gripped her heart, and she subconsciously pursed her lips.

All eyes, whether open or hidden, were focused on Shen Mo.

Shen Mo was clearly taken aback by this sudden request.

The gentle smile on his face faded slightly, and his deep gaze fell on Liu Haocun's small face, which was filled with unease and longing. He did not answer immediately.

The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds, each second feeling like an eternity for Liu Haocun.

The light in her eyes dimmed little by little as Shen Mo remained silent, and her fingers, clasped together in front of her, turned white as if she were about to apologize for her abruptness.

Just as she was about to succumb to the silent pressure, Shen Mo finally moved. He sighed very softly, a sigh that carried an imperceptible caution towards something fragile.

He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance a little.

"Haocun." He called her by her first name, omitting her surname.

"You don't have to be so careful."

"I hope to see a confident, poised, and beautiful girl."

"If calling me 'brother' gives you confidence, then go ahead and call me that."

Liu Haocun's eyes instantly reddened again, and he threw himself into Shen Mo's arms, tears streaming down his face.

"Thank you, brother!"

He gently patted Liu Haocun's back, and she didn't reject his desire for closeness. However, when he turned his head, he saw the eager gazes of several girls around him.

Shen Mo smiled and said, "Go ahead and call me whatever you want."

"Brother Mo!" Dilraba and Bai Mengyan exclaimed in unison, then looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Brother Shen Mo!" Meng Ziyi still addressed Shen Mo as she had when they first met.

Tian Xi pouted speechlessly. It seemed that her "Brother Mo" had gained a few more people to share it with.

Wang Churan still raised her proud chin with aloofness, unable to bring herself to call him "brother".

After sobbing for a moment, Liu Haocun stood up, walked to Wang Churan's side, put his arm around her, and shyly buried his head in her shoulder.

A formulaic smile returned to Shen Mo's face as he clapped his hands. "That's enough for today. Go home and get some rest."