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

Chapter 98 Dilraba's Birthday and Promise

The day after filming wrapped, the crew and trainees returned to the capital one after another, like the receding tide, exhausted and excited.

The once bustling film and television base suddenly fell silent, leaving only Shen Mo and Li Yitong to help the director team finish up their work, as well as Bai Mengyan, the assistant who had volunteered to stay.

As a student at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Dilraba didn't need to go to Beijing; she returned directly to the school to cancel her leave.

Suddenly being pulled away from the high-intensity, high-density life on set, the immense sense of emptiness and loss almost overwhelmed her.

She stayed alone in her temporary rented apartment in Minhang, staring blankly at the drizzling rain outside the window.

That evening, in Shen Mo's room at the hotel.

"Xiaobai, you said tomorrow is Dilraba's birthday?" Shen Mo put down his phone and looked at Li Yitong and Bai Mengyan across from him.

"Yeah! Tomorrow is June 3rd, Mo-ge, I want to give Baba a surprise!"

Bai Mengyan's face couldn't hide her excitement and eagerness.

"She's been so distracted these past few days, let's celebrate her birthday and have a good time!"

Li Yitong sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding a grape in her hand, nodded, and her crescent-shaped eyes flashed with a thoughtful light.

"She's probably still immersed in Tan Yan's scenes, and suddenly leaving the crew might be a bit disorienting."

Having worked on more than twenty film crews, she has deep feelings about this.

Shen Mo nodded and looked at Bai Mengyan, "How do you plan to celebrate for her?"

Bai Mengyan's eyes darted around, her cleverness written all over her face.

"Brother Mo, Sister Tongtong, this is what I think."

"Dilraba probably isn't in the mood to go to crowded places right now, so let's not make it too formal, or it will put a burden on her."

"Didn't she rent an apartment in Minhang? If you don't mind the trouble, we can offer to come to her home!"

She became more and more excited as she spoke, gesturing wildly with her hands and feet.

"I'll pester her first thing tomorrow morning and say—I just want her to go sightseeing in Shanghai with me. I'll figure out a way to trick her into going out!"

"I know her house code. Mo-ge and Tong-tong-jie, you two can go and decorate the place. Buy a cake, get some balloons and ribbons, nothing too complicated, just something cozy!"

"Message me when you're ready, and I'll bring her back."

After she finished speaking, she looked expectantly at Shen Mo and Li Yitong, like a puppy waiting for praise.

Li Yitong put down the grapes and clapped her hands.

"Xiaobai's idea is good. It's not complicated, and we can do it tomorrow."

"Moreover, spending her birthday in familiar surroundings made her more relaxed than being outside."

"What's more!" she said, looking at Shen Mo with a hint of teasing.

"Our superstar Shen now has to be fully disguised and sneak around when he goes out, otherwise if the paparazzi catch him, there might be news about him having a secret rendezvous with one of his female artists."

Shen Mo ignored her teasing and nodded with a slight smile in confirmation.

"Okay, let's do it that way."

He turned his gaze to Bai Mengyan, a hint of consideration in his eyes: "Bai, you need to act naturally, you can't arouse her suspicion. Otherwise, the surprise will be ruined."

"Mission accomplished!"

Bai Mengyan puffed out her chest, brimming with confidence, "I'm her best friend, we became friends after a misunderstanding! Leave it to me!"

The following day at noon, the drizzle continued in Shanghai.

Bai Mengyan, full of energy, knocked on Dilraba's door.

"Dilraba! Help!"

She had a head of messy hair that was wet with raindrops and a mournful face.

"I think I left the bracelet that Tongtong gave me at your place yesterday! Please help me find it!"

Dilraba's eyes were a little blank as she looked at Bai Mengyan's anxious expression, then she realized what was happening and chuckled.

"Someone like you is working as Brother Mo's assistant?"

Although they said that, their bodies still honestly helped with the search.

Of course, it's impossible to find.

Bai Mengyan hung her head dejectedly, her shoulders slumped, looking utterly listless.

"Sigh, I guess I'll have to apologize to Sister Tongtong."

"Could it have fallen on the way back yesterday?" Seeing her like this, Dilraba couldn't bear to scold her anymore.

"Oh, right!"

When she felt sleepy, someone offered her a pillow, and Bai Mengyan quickly went along with it.

"Reba, you know this area well, why don't you come with me and we can retrace the route we took yesterday?"

"By the way, I'm a little hungry—can you recommend a good local Shanghainese dish for us to try?"

"I'm treating you, as compensation for putting in all this trouble for me!"

She blinked her eyes and used all her charm, both acting cute and being unreasonable.

Dilraba was only stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside, and since she really had nothing to do at the moment, she was half-pulled and half-draggled by Bai Mengyan and went out with an umbrella.

Around 1 p.m., Shen Mo and Li Yitong, using the password developed by Bai Meng, quietly opened Dilireba's door.

The room was a bit simple, with a few well-maintained green plants on the windowsill and several scripts covered with performance notes on the sofa.

The air seemed to still carry a faint, slightly sweet fragrance from its owner.

Instead of using extravagant ribbons and balloons, the two used warm white string lights to circle the living room window and hung a few simple colorful pom-poms.

A clean beige tablecloth was laid on the table, and a potted cactus was placed on it.

Bai Mengyan said that Dilraba clearly stated that she likes cacti and dislikes brightly colored flowers that wither easily.

The custom-made fruit cake was then carefully placed in the refrigerator.

On the other side, Bai Mengyan used all her skills and successfully stalled for time until after four o'clock in the afternoon.

After receiving Li Yitong's signal, Bai Mengyan finally "gave up" on finding the bracelet.

"Never mind, it's probably really impossible to find it—Reba, come with me to your house to get the things I left there, and then it'll be about time to head back to the hotel."

When she got to her front door, Bai Mengyan silently took a half step back. When Dilireba opened the door, the warm light in the room and a soft "bang" startled her, leaving her little head spinning.

Happy Birthday, Dilraba!

Dilraba stood frozen at the doorway, staring at the meticulously decorated little house, the smiling faces of Shen Mo and Li Yitong, and Bai Mengyan's mischievous grin.

She instinctively covered her mouth, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"Is today my birthday?"

Only then did she belatedly remember the date, her voice choked with disbelief.

"Of course! Come in!"

Bai Mengyan pushed her into the house.

At this moment, Shen Mo took the cake out of the refrigerator, lit the candles, and slowly walked over.

The warm candlelight illuminated Dilraba's tear-streaked face, yet it shone exceptionally brightly.

With Bai Mengyan deliberately singing off-key, the simple birthday song echoed throughout the small house.

After blowing out the candles, Bai Mengyan handed her three gift boxes.

There was a small greeting card on it, with Li Yitong's neat handwriting on it.

To Dilraba: Filming wrapped up isn't the end, it's the beginning of a better chapter. May you always walk a flowery path!

Inside the smaller box was an exquisitely designed silver feather necklace.

"This—" Dilraba held the necklace, at a loss for words.

"I saw it circled in the magazine on your sofa."

Li Yitong smiled and spoke gently.

"This is a wrap-up gift, and also a birthday gift. I wish Dilraba a bright future in the entertainment industry, and that she can always stay as light and free as a feather."

Dilraba's tears welled up in her eyes again. She nodded vigorously and gripped the necklace tightly.

Opening the slightly larger box revealed a pet carrier inside, where a small turtle was looking around.

Without needing any prompting, Dilraba instantly turned her head to look at Bai Mengyan, her eyes filled with shock.

Giving her a Dilraba turtle in front of Shen Mo and Li Yitong was a direct and blatant act of mockery.

Fortunately, the meaning behind the turtle was known only to the two of them.

Bai Mengyan ignored Dilraba's gaze, chuckled, and reached out to help her open the last box.

There was only one photo inside, a picture of Dilraba and Shen Mo on set.

On the back is a line that reads: "A promise, always kept."

Shen Mo smiled slightly and explained.

"Time was too tight, so I didn't prepare any other gifts. I can only give you a small promise."

"If you need my help with TV series or movies in the future, or if you need any help from me, you can ask me anytime."

"Of course, I can't pluck the stars from the sky."

Looking at the card, Dilraba's tears finally broke free.

She held the three gifts to her chest, a heavy warmth and happiness enveloping her completely.

"Thank you—thank you all—"

She choked up, barely able to speak a complete sentence, only able to repeat her thanks over and over again.

In this small house in Minhang, there was no noisy party, but it was like a warm light that completely dispelled the gloom in Dilraba's heart.

Looking at the three people around her, she felt the warmth of "home" for the first time in this temporary residence.

Outside the window, the rain had stopped sometime earlier, and a clear sunset glow appeared on the horizon.

Just like her mood, the sun came out after the rain.