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

Less than half an hour after Lin Mo posted that Weibo post, his phone started vibrating incessantly.

He was writing the script for the fourth episode of "The Storm," and his thoughts were just getting to the part where Gao Qiqiang first used An Xin's connections to bully others, and his phone kept vibrating so much that it kept disconnecting, so he had to put down the keyboard and pick it up to read.

The red number 49 in the upper right corner of the WeChat icon is still rising.

He clicked on the top one—the group chat for the Publicity Department of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Xiao Wang was the first to chime in, forwarding a screenshot of his Weibo post with the caption: "Brother Lin posted on Weibo! Crackdown on organized crime! Is there going to be something big?!"

He added three exclamation marks after the message, and you could feel his excitement even through the screen.

Xiao Liu caught up: "Brother Lin, say something! What are you filming?"

Old Li: "When Xiao Lin doesn't post on Weibo, it's nothing, but when he does, it's something big. The last time he posted on Weibo was when 'All In' was announcing its release date, and I guess this time it will be the same."

Xiao Zhou chimed in, "I guess it's a TV series, about cracking down on organized crime."

Xiao Wang disagreed: "I think it's a movie. Brother Lin makes movies quickly; he can finish one in a little over a month."

Xiao Zhou retorted, "What do you know? Can a topic like cracking down on organized crime be explained clearly in less than dozens of episodes?"

The two argued back and forth for several rounds until Lao Han popped up in the group chat with just one sentence, four words: "Stop guessing."

The group chat went silent instantly, then Lao Han sent another message, this time tagging Lin Mo: "Xiao Lin, you go about your business, these guys are just bored."

Lin Mo was amused by Lao Han's last sentence and typed a few words: "Director Han is right."

Scroll down, and you'll find the "In the Name of the People" group chat.

Lin Mo scrolled through the messages but didn't reply—not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't know what to say.

It's too early to say anything before filming has even started.

Scrolling further down, you can also see the "All or Nothing" group chat being flooded with it.

Jin Chen directly tagged Lin Mo: "Director Lin! Is your new movie about cracking down on organized crime? Can I be included? I want to play a policewoman!"

Zhang Yixing chimed in from below: "You're playing a policewoman? I'd believe you if you played a victim."

Jin Chen responded with an eye-rolling emoji and a bloodstained knife.

Teacher Yongmei also posted: "If Director Lin needs me, I'm available anytime. I have experience with police dramas on the theme of cracking down on organized crime."

Jin Chen replied from below: "Teacher Yongmei, you're too honest!"

Yongmei sent a smiling emoji.

......

The actor meet-and-greet was scheduled to be held in the conference room of the Publicity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.

Lin Mo arrived half an hour early, set up the script outline and character biographies, and checked the projector again.

Wu Gang was the first to arrive.

Wearing a dark gray jacket and with his hair neatly combed, he entered with the composure of a seasoned artist. His eyes lit up when he saw Lin Mo, and he strode over: "Director Lin! Long time no see!"

Lin Mo stood up and shook hands with him.

The two started chatting.

Wu Gang asked, "I watched 'All or Nothing,' and Wang Chuanjun's portrayal of Manager Lu was excellent. Will you cast him again for your next project?"

Lin Mo shook his head: "The role in this play is not suitable for him. We'll talk about it another time."

Wu Gang nodded and then asked, "What role did you write for me?"

Lin Mo kept everyone in suspense: "Guess."

Wu Gang thought for a moment: "Police?"

Lin Mo neither nodded nor shook his head.

Wu Gang laughed: "Director Lin, we're already so close, why are you keeping it a secret from me?"

Just then, the door opened again, and Zhang Zhijian walked in, wearing a dark blue coat, still with that old cadre demeanor. When he saw Lin Mo, he smiled and nodded: "Director Lin."

Lin Mo stood up and went to greet him: "Teacher Zhang, it's been a long time."

Zhang Zhijian shook hands with Lin Mo, then turned to see Wu Gang. The two exchanged a glance and smiled.

They have maintained contact since "In the Name of the People".

Wu Gang pointed at Zhang Zhijian and said to Lin Mo, "He's become addicted to playing Gao Yuliang. Last time we had dinner, he said he wanted to play another role like that."

The two exchanged a few words, and the atmosphere was very relaxed.

The third person to arrive was Li Yitong.

She was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was without makeup, looking like a college student. She bowed as she entered and said, "Hello, teachers, hello, Director Lin."

Lin Mo stood up and shook hands with her. She was a little nervous, and her palms were sweaty.

Lin Mo asked her to sit down, and she obediently sat down to the side, took out her notebook and pen, and looked like she was going to take notes.

Wu Gang glanced at her and said with a smile, "Little Li, don't be nervous, Director Lin doesn't eat people."

Li Yitong smiled sheepishly.

Then Ni Dahong came in.

Wearing a black coat, expressionless, he slowly walked in.

He's a bit intimidating when he's silent, but once he opens his mouth, his hoarse voice makes you feel very warm and friendly: "Director Lin."

Lin Mo went up to shake hands with him, and he nodded to Wu Gang and Zhang Zhijian as a greeting, then found a corner to sit down.

Zhang Yi and Zhang Songwen arrived last.

The two people came in one after the other. Zhang Yi was wearing a black jacket, had short hair, and looked very energetic.

Zhang Songwen was wearing a dark shirt and had slightly long hair, looking more casual than Zhang Yi.

Lin Mo stood up and shook hands with Zhang Yi first: "Teacher Zhang Yi, it's great to finally meet you."

Zhang Yi grasped his hand, her tone sincere: "Director Lin, I've been waiting for this film for a long time."

Lin Mo shook hands with him for two seconds, then let go and turned to Zhang Songwen.

He looked at Zhang Songwen, and the image of Gao Qiqiang from his previous life flashed through his mind.

This man has been acting for over a decade, spending ten of those years as an extra. Now, standing before him is Gao Qiqiang, the man he is looking for.

"Teacher Zhang Songwen." Lin Mo extended his hand.

Zhang Songwen grasped his hand firmly, his eyes shining brightly: "Director Lin, thank you for giving me this opportunity."

His voice trembled slightly. Lin Mo looked into his eyes and said, "The role of Gao Qiqiang can only be played by you."

Zhang Songwen's hand tightened slightly, but he didn't say anything and just nodded.

Everyone is here, so let's sit down.

Sun Jianguo closed the meeting room door and stepped aside.

Lin Mo stood up, walked to the projection screen, and turned on the projector.

A relationship diagram appeared on the screen, with dense lines connecting more than a dozen people.

"Dear teachers, to make a long story short, this play is called 'Raging Waves,' a crime-fighting drama spanning 16 years, from 2000 to 2016. It tells the story of how a fishmonger becomes a triad boss, and how a policeman pursues him for 21 years." Lin Mo pointed to two key figures on the relationship diagram. "Gao Qiqiang, played by Zhang Songwen, isn't a born villain; he's forced down by life, sliding down step by step. I want the audience to see that he's hateful, but also pathetic. An Xin, played by Zhang Yi, is passionate and idealistic, but reality repeatedly slaps him in the face. His comrades fall, his hair turns from black to white, but his eyes never change."

He switched to a slide that showed the names of other characters.

"Mr. Wu Gang, you play Xu Zhong, who is a special commissioner in the fight against organized crime." Wu Gang nodded without saying anything.

"Mr. Zhang Zhijian, you play Meng Dehai, the deputy mayor and director of the Public Security Bureau of Jinghai City."

Zhang Zhijian adjusted his glasses and nodded.

"Mr. Ni Dahong, you're playing Uncle Tai." Ni Dahong hummed in response, his voice not loud.

"Li Yitong, you play Meng Yu, An Xin's childhood sweetheart."

Li Yitong quickly wrote it down in her notebook.

Lin Mo then said some more about the character, ending with: "This drama isn't about telling the audience how terrible the underworld is, but about telling the audience that someone has always been shielding us from the darkness."

The meeting room fell silent. After a few seconds, Zhang Yi spoke up: "Director Lin, when will we be joining the crew?"

"Old Zhao will inform everyone of the specific time in a week."

......