In early March, the air was still chilly.
In the old city of Beijing, Su Er took an elevator and quickly descended from the top floor, which overlooked the highest point of the city.
My eardrums swelled up slightly due to the change in air pressure, causing a slight pain.
She swallowed, and the discomfort in her ear lessened a bit, but the slightly shrill voice in her ear continued.
Lin Shuqin scolded him with a hint of exasperation, "Don't think you're so great just because you won an award and gained a few fans."
Within this small space, she clapped her hands so hard they shook the heavens, her palms turning red, yet she seemed oblivious, sparing no effort to wake the aloof girl before her.
"What is the entertainment industry lacking the most? Pretty faces, of course. You're not the only one who wants to become famous, and there are plenty of others who are more obedient than you."
Su Er leaned her head against the cold elevator wall, feeling a little dizzy. The smell of alcohol emanating from her made her features even more charming and alluring.
Su Er lowered her eyes and pulled the coat she was wearing tighter around her.
Just recently, an art film called "Under the Moon" was shortlisted for the Visual Arts section of an A-list international film festival, and it was the only Chinese film to be shortlisted this year.
Su Er plays the female lead, portraying a Tibetan girl from the grasslands.
Although it ultimately failed to win the Best Picture award, it achieved good results at other Category B film festivals.
The film was not released in mainland China, and it was also during a period of explosive growth in the entertainment industry.
Several online reports, which bestowed upon her a few distinctive titles such as "most promising new actress," did not bring much change to Su Er's life.
She was still just a small-time actress making a living on various film sets for a single role.
Just like now, she had just finished filming and hadn't even had time to change out of her cheongsam before Lin Shuqin dragged her to a dinner party after she put on a coat.
Along the way, Lin Shuqin advised her again and again, "You're neither lacking in looks nor acting skills. If you just have a nice drink with someone, you might just become the next big star."
Lin Shuqin noticed her charm when she was still a student. She had excellent bone structure, a beautiful face, and incredibly lively eyes.
The first time Lin Shuqin saw her, she had only one feeling: beautiful, a bright and elegant beauty.
She has managed many artists, and even in the entertainment industry where there is no shortage of beauties, she stands out.
Signing someone is a gamble, but Lin Shuqin had a rare premonition that this girl would become famous.
Therefore, Lin Shuqin signed Su Er as soon as she graduated.
The film "Under the Moon" was an audition opportunity that she had worked hard to secure for Su Er. Su Er lived up to expectations and portrayed a girl struggling between wildness and reality vividly on screen.
However, the more excited Lin Shuqin was when she received the nomination and the more she looked forward to Su Er's future popularity, the heavier the sense of disappointment that arose from the contradiction with her expectations became in the past few months.
A niche film briefly gained popularity, but its momentum was quickly overshadowed by the scandalous news surrounding a rising star.
Lin Shuqin couldn't help but sigh that Su Er lacked luck and needed a more influential work to expand her fame.
Tonight's dinner party includes Mr. Tang, an investor in the next film by renowned Chinese director Duan Wenxi. Lin Shuqin has read the script and thinks it's excellent, with a strong chance of winning one of the most prestigious awards in China.
The role of the second female lead is very suitable for Su Er, but there are already rumors in the industry that the role of the second female lead has been pre-selected.
Lin Shuqin originally didn't want Su Er to get involved in this mess, but Mr. Tang had seen the films Su Er had acted in and said, "Miss Su's acting skills are indeed quite good."
The authorities pressured her several times, reminding her that if they were making a film, the people on the big screen shouldn't be so reluctant to even show their faces.
Lin Shuqin had to coax and plead with him to come out of the film set, and they agreed to have this one meal together.
But as soon as Su Er entered, a group of people filled the room with smoke and alcohol, their eyes unabashedly fixed on her slender figure under her coat, the implication of which was self-evident.
Although Su Er has only filmed one complete drama, the drama academy has no shortage of the most unknown current events in the entertainment industry.
She wasn't some naive young girl; she knew that for now, she could only feign compliance and drink those glasses of strong liquor.
Even though Lin Shuqin skillfully smoothed things over and stopped them, Su Er was still unknowingly forced to drink quite a bit of alcohol.
Fortunately, Mr. Tang was accompanied by someone tonight, which gave Su Er a chance to find an excuse to escape.
Without the slightest hesitation, she pressed the elevator button and prepared to go home.
Lin Shuqin squeezed in the elevator the moment the doors closed and launched into a rapid-fire speech.
Su Er silently turned around, her forehead pressed against the elevator wall, looking completely unyielding.
She could only plead earnestly, "Little miss, I'm begging you, please just go upstairs and finish your meal with them..."
The elevator dinged and the doors slowly opened. A dark figure stepped in, but this did not ease the somewhat somber atmosphere inside the elevator.
Su Er glanced at the reflection and realized they hadn't reached the first floor yet.
She slowly exhaled, a burning, stinging pain in her stomach bringing with it an urge to vomit.
She suppressed her discomfort and gave a self-deprecating smile. "After this meal, shall I accompany that old man to his room upstairs for a nap?"
Lin Shuqin glanced at the man leaning against the side with his eyes closed, her expression somewhat unpleasant.
The words may be rough, but the principle is sound.
However, Lin Shuqin's professional ethics as an agent made her alert, and she took a step to block Su Er's view.
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