Huayu Entertainment: It was the young actress who took the initiative.

It was nearly midnight, but the veterans' barbecue was still bustling with activity.

A plastic tent stood by the roadside, incandescent light bulbs swaying precariously, and the smells of cumin and charcoal filled the night air.

When Chen Mo arrived, Bai Mengyan was sitting at a small table in the corner.

She wore a beige down jacket, had her hair in a bun, and wore light makeup.

When she saw Chen Mo walking over, her eyes lit up and she waved.

"here!"

Chen Mo pulled out a plastic chair and sat down.

You've lost weight.

Bai Mengyan rested her chin on her hand and sized up Chen Mo for a while, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

"Being a model is indeed tough."

"You're about the same, your dark circles are practically falling off the floor."

Chen Mo looked at her dark circles, which even makeup couldn't cover, and teased her. After saying that, he waved to the boss.

"Twenty meat skewers, two chicken wings, one serving each of chives and enoki mushrooms, and two bottles of beer."

"Okay!"

"So generous! Did you strike it rich?"

Bai Mengyan asked with some curiosity.

"I can still afford a barbecue."

Chen Mo picked up the teapot on the table and poured her some water.

"Tell me, what kind of acting opportunities did your boss give you?"

"There's a web series called 'Chaoge'."

Bai Mengyan took a sip of water, and her eyes lit up as she spoke.

"Based on the Investiture of the Gods, I auditioned for the third female lead, Deng Chanyu."

The role was decent, and the character was engaging, but the competition was too fierce.

Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat.

"Chaoge"... It seems she did act in this drama, but it doesn't seem to have aired in the end?

Are you confident?

"To be honest, not many."

Bai Mengyan smiled wryly, "I have very little acting experience; I've only taken a few training courses."

During my audition today, there was a row of people sitting opposite me, and my legs started shaking halfway through my lines.

Chen Mo looked at her quietly.

At that moment, he suddenly realized the difference between the girl in front of him and the Bailu of the future.

It's not about looks or physique, but an aura that has been honed through experience.

"You can definitely do it," he said confidently.

Bai Mengyan turned to look at him: "You trust me that much?"

"When you were a model, you always dared to stand up to clients who made unreasonable demands."

Chen Mo laughed, "This kind of temperament is perfect for playing a strong-willed woman like Deng Chanyu."

"Come on, I'm just brainless."

Bai Mengyan smiled, her eyes slightly moist, "But I like hearing that."

[Host detected communicating with celebrity Bai Mengyan]

[You have one chance to draw a keyword. Do you want to draw now?]

A blue light screen suddenly popped up, and Chen Mo felt a surge of joy.

It seems that the system's star standards are based on the situation in 2026.

"Extract," he murmured.

The light screen scrolled for a few seconds before stopping.

[Successful draw! Obtained basic affix: Expressive Eyes]

[Effect of this entry: Your eyes can convey emotions more accurately; joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness can all be naturally expressed through your gaze, making it suitable for performance scenarios that require subtle facial expressions.]

[Equip immediately?]

"equipment."

A subtle coolness washed over his eyes, and Chen Mo blinked unconsciously.

When he looked at Bai Mengyan again, he suddenly felt as if he could see her more clearly.

He could see the ambition beneath the weariness in her eyes, and the seriousness behind her jokes.

"What's wrong?"

Bai Mengyan felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. "Is there something on my face?"

"no."

Chen Mo looked away and smiled, "I just feel that you're bound to become famous in the future."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Bai Mengyan raised her glass.

"When I become famous, I'll treat you to a Michelin-starred restaurant; I won't eat at this roadside stall anymore."

"Then I'll wait."

The barbecue arrived, sizzling and steaming.

The two opened beer and clinked glasses.

After downing the cold beer, Chen Mo let out a comfortable burp.

"And you?"

Bai Mengyan, munching on a chicken wing, asked indistinctly,

"Still planning to pursue a career in modeling?"

"Let's see if there's an opportunity."

Chen Mo spoke vaguely, "You know this industry is all about youth."

"Why don't you try acting?"

Bai Mengyan's eyes lit up.

"My company is hiring recently. If you're interested, I can inquire for you?"

Chen Mo felt a warmth in his heart.

This girl hasn't even gotten herself into a stable position yet, and she's already thinking of giving me a hand.

"Thanks, but I have my own plans."

He said, "You should win over Deng Chanyu first."

"Alright."

Bai Mengyan didn't insist and opened another bottle of beer.

"But seriously, Chen Mo, it's a shame you're not an actor with that face."

"Last time we took those matching outfit photos, the photographer said you looked great in photos."

"That's because you're my partner."

Chen Mo said half-jokingly, "You did a good job leading them."

"Come on."

Bai Mengyan laughed and scolded, but her cheeks turned slightly red.

The two chatted over a meal, discussing everything from industry gossip to life ideals, from bizarre client stories to future plans.

After three bottles of beer were empty, Bai Mengyan started talking more.

"Sometimes I feel this industry is really boring."

She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze slightly unfocused.

"Everyone wears a mask, and every word they say has to be thought through three times in their minds."

I used to be a very straightforward person, but now... I hardly recognize myself anymore.

"That's how you have to be if you want to become famous."

Chen Mo spoke frankly, "The last thing the entertainment industry needs is authenticity."

"And what about you?"

Bai Mengyan suddenly stared at him, "You're also planning to wear a mask?"

Chen Mo remained silent for a few seconds.

A truck drove by on the side of the road, its headlights flashing across his face, one bright and one dim.

"I've already put it on."

He said his voice was very soft.

Bai Mengyan paused for a moment, then smiled, a smile tinged with bitterness:

"That's good, at least you're sober."

Unlike me, who hates this situation but desperately wants to become like it.

The two drank until 2 a.m.

Bai Mengyan was slightly tipsy and stood up:

"That's about it. I have to get up early for the company tomorrow."

"I send you."

Chen Mo got up to pay the bill.

"No need, I'll just call a car."

Bai Mengyan waved her hand, but her steps were a little unsteady.

Chen Mo held her arm:

"Come on, in this state, you might get kidnapped halfway through your journey."

The streets of Beijing were bitterly cold on a winter night.

The two stood by the roadside waiting for a car. Bai Mengyan was huddled in her down jacket, her nose red from the cold.

"Chen Mo".

She suddenly spoke, her voice very soft in the cold wind.

"Um?"

"if……"

She turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling under the streetlight.

"If I actually land this role and become famous, will we... still be the same as we are now?"

Chen Mo knew what she was asking.

The entertainment industry is a giant sieve; every step you take, a batch of people from the past are sifted out.

The friends you can eat street food with today might become "teachers" you need to book an appointment to see tomorrow.

"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" he asked.

"The truth."

"Highly unlikely."

Chen Mo put it bluntly, "You'll become busier and busier, meet more and more people, and have more and more things to worry about."

I'm still just a small-time model, so even if we still keep in touch, it'll probably just be exchanging WeChat messages during holidays.

Bai Mengyan fell silent.

After a long pause, she sniffed and asked, "What about the lie?"

"The lie is—"

Chen Mo laughed, "Once you become a big star, I'll ride on your coattails every day, release press releases saying I'm your first love, and give your team a real headache."

Bai Mengyan chuckled: "Can't you... have a little bit of a romantic side?"

"Romance can't put food on the table."

Chen Mo shrugged. "But hype is fine."

The car is coming.

Bai Mengyan opened the car door, but didn't get in immediately.

She turned around, looked at Chen Mo, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Chen Mo, I'll make a bet with you."

"What are we betting on?"

"I bet I'll become famous."

Bai Mengyan said each word carefully, "I bet I'll become famous enough to protect the people I care about, so I won't have to depend on anyone else anymore."

The night breeze ruffled her stray hairs, and her eyes sparkled.

"When I become famous, I'll come back and take care of you."

She smiled, a smile that was both playful and serious.

"So don't get snatched away by a rich woman too quickly, save me a spot."

Chen Mo paused for two seconds, then burst out laughing:

"Alright, then I'll wait for Boss Bai to come and favor me."

"It's a deal."

Bai Mengyan got into the car and rolled down the window: "Let's go, I'll text you when I get home."

"be safe."

The taillights disappeared at the street corner.

Chen Mo stood on the empty street and lit a cigarette.

Bai Mengyan's last words kept swirling in his mind.

It was half a joke, half a test, and maybe a tiny bit of it was genuine.

But how much is genuine talent worth in the entertainment industry?

He knew it in his heart, and Bai Mengyan knew it in her heart too.

So they said it as a joke, so that if anyone went back on their word later, they could easily say, "I was drunk and talking nonsense."

In the adult world, even sincerity needs to be coated with sugar.

I was halfway through smoking when my phone vibrated.

Bai Mengyan sent a WeChat message: "I've arrived. It's been a long time since I've had such a good time drinking."

Chen Mo replied, "You're welcome. Good luck, Deng Chanyu. If you win, I'll treat you to a big meal."

"You said it! I took a screenshot!"

It was followed by a smug kitten emoji.

Chen Mo smiled and put his phone back in his pocket.

He walked slowly home along the street, his mind going over the events of the past few days.

The audition opportunity for Donghua Dijun has been secured.

Bai Mengyan has also reconnected with him.

In addition to the terms provided by the system...

A storytelling voice is helpful for delivering lines.

【Eyes that convey emotion】This is perfect for a character like Donghua Dijun who needs subtle expressions.

As for [Brave Bull]...

Chen Mo's lips twitched. It seemed that this entry was not really useful except in certain specific situations.

The key now is to secure the role of Donghua Dijun, make an appearance in "Eternal Love," and get things started.

As for Bai Mengyan's mention of "being kept"...

Chen Mo smiled.

Of course, he wouldn't actually wait for her to come and support him.

What he wants is to stand in a high enough position, high enough that he no longer needs to be chosen by anyone, high enough that he can make the rules himself.

It was already 3 a.m. when I got back to my rented room.

Chen Mo took a shower, but couldn't fall asleep while lying in bed.

He opened his phone, found the audition clip sent by Yang Mi's assistant, and watched it again.

Emperor Donghua, dressed in purple robes and with white hair, is the ruler of heaven and earth. He appears ruthless but is actually deeply affectionate.

This kind of role can be brilliant if played well, but if played poorly, it just looks like a blank expression.

Chen Mo closed his eyes and began to mentally rehearse.

The effects of the phrase "expressive eyes" are gradually becoming apparent.

He can clearly convey the look in the eyes required for the role.

Indifference tinged with compassion, aloofness concealing concern.