We asked you to make an anti-corruption film, but you made one in the name of the people!

(Parallel worlds, with disordered timelines in film and television works, making it easier for the protagonist to plagiarize!)

Late autumn, 2016.

Yanjing, the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

In the publicity department office, Lin Mo lay slumped over the table, his head buzzing.

A flood of unfamiliar memories rushed in, leaving him completely bewildered.

"Have I...time-traveled?"

It took Lin Mo quite a while to recover.

The memories of his past life and the memories of this life were mixed together, leaving him somewhat confused.

In his previous life, he graduated from the Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy, a proper professional.

After graduation, I worked on film crews for a few years, as a script supervisor and assistant director. I also produced a few online movies on my own. Although I didn't become a big director, I could follow the filmmaking process with my eyes closed.

As a result, I had a heart attack while staying up all night editing videos.

When I opened my eyes again, I was here.

My body will still be called Lin Mo for the rest of my life.

He just graduated last year from an ordinary university with a degree in public administration. But he has a hobby—making videos.

During his four years of university, while others were playing games and dating, he carried a second-hand DSLR camera around taking pictures. He made more than a dozen short videos and micro-films, which he posted on Bilibili and Douyin, accumulating tens of thousands of followers.

One of the anti-corruption micro-videos, titled "The Choice," was even selected by the local procuratorate and used as promotional material.

Because of this incident, he unexpectedly got a job in the Publicity Department of the Supreme People's Procuratorate after graduation, becoming a junior staff member.

It's all fate, really.

"My previous job was making short videos, and I also make movies..." Lin Mo rubbed his temples. "This major is a good match for me."

He glanced around the office.

The office was in a typical government setting, with neatly arranged desks and a calligraphy banner reading "Fairness and Integrity" hanging on the wall. Two potted green plants sat on the windowsill, their leaves wilted, indicating they hadn't been watered for several days.

It was a little past three in the afternoon, and he was the only one in the office.

Other colleagues were either out in meetings or busy on other floors.

"Ring ring—"

The landline on the table suddenly rang.

Lin Mo answered the call instinctively.

"Kobayashi! Come to my office."

On the other end of the phone was Lao Han, the head of the publicity department, who sounded quite anxious.

"Yes, Director Han, I'll be right there."

Lin Mo hung up the phone, straightened his shirt collar, and got up to leave.

Meanwhile, he was recalling information about Lao Han in his mind.

Han Zhengming, in his early fifties, is the head of the publicity department and is usually quite amiable. During the initial interview, it was Old Han who noticed his filming experience and was impressed by his performance in the film "The Choice," which led to his hiring.

Walking down the corridor, Lin Mo knocked on the door of the director's office.

"Enter!"

Pushing open the door, I saw Old Han sitting behind his desk, a pile of documents spread out in front of him, his brow furrowed.

"Director Han, you wanted to see me?"

"sit."

Old Han pointed to the chair opposite him, and after Lin Mo sat down, he got straight to the point.

"Xiaolin, I've seen all the films you made in college."

Lin Mo was taken aback: "You've seen it?"

"I watched your film 'The Choice' last year when I recruited you. I also looked through those short films you posted online." Old Han took a sip of tea. "The technique is a bit rough, but the story is clear and the cinematography is decent."

Lin Mo didn't expect Lao Han to pay so much attention to him, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

Old Han continued, "Recently, there's been a directive from above to strengthen anti-corruption propaganda. You know, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is really making waves on Douyin (TikTok), posting one short video after another, getting millions of likes."

Lin Mo nodded.

He knew that the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's new media platform had always done a good job and frequently made it to the trending topics.

"We at the Supreme People's Procuratorate can't fall behind either." Old Han sighed. "The leadership of the procuratorate has instructed our publicity department to produce a promotional video on the theme of anti-corruption. It needs to be down-to-earth, have strong dissemination power, and be able to go viral online."

Old Han paused, then looked at Lin Mo: "We originally wanted to find an outside film and television company to do it, but the budget approved... is only 300,000."

"Three hundred thousand?" Lin Mo's lips twitched.

To make a decent promotional video, 300,000 yuan would only be enough to hire a third-rate team.

"That's why I thought of you." Old Han leaned back in his chair. "You're one of us, you understand things within the system, and you have filming experience. The institute's idea is that you can just put together one yourself, nothing too complicated. Just shoot a ten-minute anti-corruption short drama, or a series of short videos, and post it on Douyin or Bilibili. That'll be enough to get it done."

Lin Mo blinked: "Director Han, are you asking me to be both the screenwriter and the director?"

"What, is that not allowed?" Old Han glared at him. "Didn't you write and film those short films yourself?"

"It's doable..." Lin Mo scratched his head, "but with a budget of 300,000, making a hit film is a bit risky."

Old Han waved his hand: "The leaders of the procuratorate said they don't expect you to make a blockbuster, just a low-budget promotional video. As long as the message is conveyed, that's fine. The key is that the content must be positive and reflect the determination of our procuratorial organs to fight corruption."

Lin Mo nodded, but his mind started racing.

Low budget? Promotional video? Anti-corruption?

The combination of these words suddenly activated a memory in his mind.

There was a drama in my past life.

Anti-corruption theme.

It's daring, has a compelling story, and features a cast of veteran actors.

After its broadcast, it became a nationwide sensation, breaking viewership records and garnering hundreds of billions of views across the internet.

The name of that show is—

In the Name of the People.

Moreover, that drama happened to be produced by the Supreme People's Procuratorate Film and Television Center!

This show hasn't appeared in this world yet!

Lin Mo's eyes lit up immediately.

"Director Han," his voice was a little tense, "you just said there was no time limit?"

Old Han was taken aback: "Yeah, you can shoot it as long as you want. It's going to be distributed online anyway, no one will stop you. You can even make it as long as a movie."

"What kind of subject matter? As long as it's anti-corruption, it'll be fine?"

"Yes, just don't make it into a romance film."

Lin Mo took a deep breath.

Images from "In the Name of the People" have already started flashing through my mind.

Hou Liangping, Secretary Dakang, Qi Tongwei, Gao Yuliang, Zhao Dehan...

Every face, every line, every iconic scene seems etched into his mind.

In his past life, he was a directing major. He analyzed this masterpiece no less than ten times, and he knew the timing of every shot and the rhythm of every line of dialogue like the back of his hand.

"Director Han." Lin Mo raised his head, his eyes shining.

Old Han was taken aback by his gaze: "W-what?"

"I'll direct this film."

"Nonsense, I'm not going to bother you, I'm going to bother you." Old Han glared at him. "But don't mess this up, kid, or you'll embarrass the Supreme People's Procuratorate."

"Don't worry, it won't be smashed." Lin Mo stood up. "But I have one request."

"explain."

"300,000 isn't enough, we need to add more money."

Old Han's face darkened: "How much more?"

"Let me write down a budget first," Lin Mo chuckled. "By the way, Director Han, could you help me make some connections regarding the actors?"

"What actor? Tell me."

"Hou Yong, Zhang Fengyi, Wu Gang, Zhang Zhijian, Xu Yajun..."

As Old Han listened to the long list of names, his eyes widened.

"Are you out of your mind? You're making a promotional video and you need to hire so many veteran actors?"

"Director Han, didn't you say we need to make it a hit, to have widespread appeal?" Lin Mo said earnestly, "The audience already recognizes the talent of these actors!"

Old Han opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but swallowed it back.

After a long pause, he sighed and said, "Alright, you write the proposal first, and I'll submit it and give it a try."

"Alright!"

Lin Mo turned and left.

"Wait a minute!" Old Han called out to him, "What kind of film are you planning to make? Give me a hint first."

Lin Mo turned around, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Director Han, what's the name of this movie?"

"In the Name of the People".

Old Han was taken aback: "Under what pretext?"

"The people as in the people, the justice as in justice."

After Lin Mo finished speaking, he opened the door and went out.

Old Han sat in his chair, looking at the closed door, muttering, "That kid, I hope he doesn't cause any trouble..."