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

Chapter 97 Li Yitong: She is my calamity

"CUT! Filming wrapped!"

When director Liu Junjie's roar echoed throughout the entire set through the loudspeakers, the air was initially deathly silent, then erupted into a deafening cheer.

The applause erupted like a volcanic eruption.

"My Love from the Star" is the first TV series produced by Mohen Capital.

This sincere work, imbued with Shen Mo's ambition and Li Yitong's acting dreams, has finally been completed after countless days and nights of meticulous work.

It is not only the first bombshell dropped by Mohen on the entertainment landscape, but also a miniature star-making factory.

With her accurate portrayal of the character "Tan Yan", Dilraba has already shown the potential to become a top star in the future.

The "Five Beauties of Ink Trace" made a stunning appearance in the guest role, allowing the young and inexperienced actresses to be exposed to the public eye for the first time through this drama.

Furthermore, cameo appearances by Yang Mi, Liu Shishi, and business tycoons further enhanced the show's appeal and quality.

However, this is the center of all the noise.

Undoubtedly, it was Jiang Jinyue—Li Yitong—who was in the center of the camera's view and hadn't even had time to remove her makeup yet.

She stood in the center of the crowd, surrounded by cheers and blessings, her face beaming with her signature bright crescent smile.

She repeatedly bowed and thanked every staff member who came forward.

She seemed completely at ease, cheerful and enthusiastic, making her the perfect leading lady and producer.

But only Shen Mo knew how wildly her heart was beating inside her chest.

It was a mixture of immense sense of accomplishment and the exhaustion of being relieved of a heavy burden.

And the indescribable, taut string, finally loosening slightly—a complex mix of emotions.

This is the first time in this world that she has truly stood on her own and taken the lead in a major production.

From script polishing and actor selection to crew coordination and her own performance, she poured her heart and soul into every aspect.

Even with her past life's experience, it was almost suffocating her; otherwise, why would she be trying to recruit people to play cameo roles everywhere?

The pressure was immense, and she could only rely on a "pretending to be strong" spirit to face all the doubts and difficulties with a smile.

Until, amidst the throng of people, she met those deep, calm eyes.

Shen Mo didn't squeeze over immediately; he just stood a little distance away, leaning against the monitor, quietly watching her.

There was no exaggerated smile on his face, but his eyes showed clear appreciation and understanding.

And the certainty of "I knew you could do it".

The moment their eyes met, Li Yitong's smile froze, and the corners of her mouth trembled slightly.

The strong shell she had been maintaining, however, cracked in front of the person who understood her hardships best.

She pushed through the crowd and almost stumbled to him.

The surrounding sounds seemed to disappear instantly.

She tilted her head back, as if to say something, her lips moving a few times.

But he found his throat blocked by a surge of hot air, rendering all his eloquence in front of the camera useless.

In the end, all the words he wanted to say were reduced to a soft, choked cry.

"Shen Mo————"

The next second, to everyone's astonishment, she pressed her forehead heavily against his shoulder and gripped his suit jacket tightly with both hands.

She didn't cry out loud, but her whole body was trembling slightly and uncontrollably.

It was a tremor that had been suppressed for too long and was finally released.

Shen Mo paused noticeably for a moment, and then, under everyone's gaze, without any hesitation, he reached out and firmly embraced her.

A hand gently patted her back, as if comforting a child who had suffered a great injustice.

With his other hand, he firmly supported her shoulder, balancing all her weight.

He didn't say "Don't cry," nor did he say "You're great."

He simply lowered his head and spoke in a low, clear voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Yukiko, you did it."

This simple sentence acted like a key, instantly unlocking the floodgates of Li Yitong's emotions.

Scalding tears finally broke through his defenses, silently soaking the fabric on his shoulders.

This is not sadness, but a mix of emotions after the dust has settled.

All the hard work and perseverance I've endured day and night in this life have found their support at this moment.

There was a moment of silence, followed by even more enthusiastic and understanding applause.

Dilraba looked at the two embracing, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and silently turned her face away.

Tian Xiwei's smile faded slightly, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on the champagne glass in her hand.

But in the next second, she tried to raise an even sweeter smile, though the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Bai Mengyan's eyes immediately reddened, she sniffed hard, and mumbled something.

"So touching!"

The atmosphere at the wrap party was lively.

Shen Mo, as the boss, gave a brief speech, affirming everyone's efforts. His gaze met Li Yitong's, who was sitting at the main table, several times, conveying an unspoken understanding.

Li Yitong has regained her usual bright and lively demeanor, holding a wine glass as she socializes with others, her witty remarks eliciting constant laughter from the audience.

Only in the occasional glance he casts at Shen Mo does a trace of tenderness and dependence remain in his eyes after the secret has been revealed.

As the banquet drew to a close, Tian Xiwei seized the opportunity and approached Li Yitong with a small piece of cake.

"Sister Xue."

Her voice was sweet, and her eyes were bright.

"Congratulations on wrapping up filming! You worked so hard! You were amazing!"

She handed over the cake, her face filled with unwavering adoration.

Starting from the alley next to the school, it seemed that their fate had been changed.

She had wondered before why Sister Xue, like Brother Mo, was so kind to her.

It's a feeling distinctly different from other trainee friends—a mix of pity, indulgence, and guilt.

She clearly experienced many kinds of feelings, for reasons she couldn't explain, but it was a kind of selfless kindness.

Later, she simply shook her head and threw away all her worries and anxieties.

If you can't figure it out, then stop thinking about it. They love themselves, and you love them too, that's enough!

"Thank you, Xiaotian. You also worked hard. Your cameo was excellent."

She paused, her tone gentle and indulgent.

"The road ahead is long. Follow Brother Mo and the company, and walk it well."

Tian Xi nodded vigorously, her smile bright: "Yes! I will!"

That smile was pure and ardent, like an unobstructed ray of sunlight shining directly into Li Yitong's complex heart.

She could clearly sense that Tian Xiwei's closeness and dependence on her were real, as was her passion for Shen Mo.

These two realities intertwined, making her throat tighten slightly.

She watched as Tian Xiwei turned around like a happy little butterfly, then flew towards Bai Mengyan and Meng Ziyi, who were secretly eating desserts not far away. The three girls instantly burst into laughter, full of carefree youthful energy.

Li Yitong looked down at the exquisite cream cake in her hand, and the flawless smile on her lips slowly faded, turning into a barely perceptible bitterness.

She picked up the small fork next to her, gently scooped up a little cream, and put it in her mouth.

The sweet taste melts on the tip of the tongue, but inexplicably carries a slightly astringent feeling, stuck in the throat.

"Maybe she's my nemesis?" she thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile.

But more than anything, she felt a sense of responsibility and pity that even she herself couldn't quite figure out.

She should have been the one next to Shen Mo.

It was he himself who led this person, who should have been completely unrelated, onto this road covered with Shen Mo's traces.

All of this stems from her, the cheater who knows the "future," forcibly altering the "past."

Not far away, Shen Mo subtly shifted his gaze away from Li Yitong's slightly forlorn profile.

He tilted his head back and drank the rest of the wine in his glass in one gulp.

He could see the complexity in Li Yitong's heart at that moment, and he could also see the pure and unadulterated sincerity in Tian Xiwei.

These two women are, in one, his soulmate and his beloved, with whom he shares a deep connection and fights side by side.

Another is the "responsibility" that he cannot ignore and must properly handle, and — an entanglement that even he himself has not yet fully defined.

The excitement of the wrap party gradually subsided, and the staff began to clean up the mess.

The actors and guests said their goodbyes and left one after another.

Shen Mo put down his wine glass and walked towards Li Yitong, who was still sitting in the same spot, staring blankly at the cake.

His figure blocked the somewhat dazzling light from the crystal chandelier in front of her.

Li Yitong raised her head, her eyes still slightly red.

"Tired?"

Shen Mo's voice was deep, with a hint of gentleness that was barely perceptible.

Li Yitong didn't answer, but simply pushed the cake forward, her tone carrying a rare hint of capriciousness.

"Too sweet, it's cloying."

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow as she took the cake, which she had only taken a small bite of, and casually placed it on the table next to her.

"Then don't eat it."

He spoke succinctly, then extended his hand to her.

"Let's go, it's time to go back."

"Your first big-budget production has wrapped up smoothly. You can finally put down your producer's responsibilities starting tonight."

His hands were broad and thick, with distinct knuckles, exuding a calming power.

Li Yitong looked at the hand extended in front of her, then looked up at him.

The subtle ripples in her heart caused by Tian Xiwei slowly subsided in his calm eyes.

She took a deep breath, and that familiar crescent-shaped smile returned to her face. She placed her slightly cool hand in his palm and used it to stand up.

"Let's go, Little Mozi, let's return to the palace!"

She deliberately raised her chin, her tone light, as if the vulnerability she had just felt had never happened.

The two walked out side by side, leaving the noise of the banquet and the remaining lights behind them.

As Li Yitong passed by Tian Xiwei and the others who were still playing around, her gaze swept over Tian Xiwei's sweet smile, then she casually looked away and tightened her grip on Shen Mo's arm.

Tian Xiwei was being tickled by Bai Mengyan and laughing so hard she was shaking. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the two figures walking away hand in hand, and her laughter froze for a moment.

But she was quickly drawn back to Meng Ziyi's antics and rejoined her sisters' playful antics.