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

Li Yitong finished work early today, which is rare for her.

Around 4 PM, the director called it a wrap.

When she returned to the hotel, the first thing she did was remove her makeup, the second was to take a shower, and the third was to open her phone and order takeout.

Then she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, with only one thought in her mind—"Raging Wind" premieres tonight.

She plays Meng Yu, An Xin's childhood sweetheart.

Although she wasn't the main character, she put a lot of effort into this role.

Before filming began, she read the script several times and even talked to Lin Mo twice.

Lin Mo told her that Meng Yu was not a tool; she had her own destiny and was not an appendage of An Xin.

She remembered those words.

My phone vibrated.

Jin Chen sent me a message: "The premiere of 'Raging Waves' is tonight at 8 PM. Are you nervous?"

Li Yitong replied with a single word: "Nervous."

Jin Chen sent a laughing emoji: "It's not like this is your first time acting, what are you nervous about?"

Li Yitong said, "It's different. This film was directed by Director Lin."

Jin Chen replied with a single word.

Understand!

Soon, the takeout arrived. Li Yitong placed the lunchbox on the table but didn't eat it right away.

She took out her phone, thought for a moment, and made a video call to Jin Chen.

It rang twice, and Jin Chen answered.

On the other side of the screen, Jin Chen was also wearing pajamas, her hair loose, leaning against the headboard, with a cup of milk tea and a bag of potato chips next to her, looking even more relaxed than Li Yitong.

"Why are you lying down so early?" Li Yitong asked.

"No announcements today." Jin Chen took a sip of milk tea. "I haven't taken on any roles since 'All or Nothing.' My agent said I'm too tired and needs to take a break."

Li Yitong laughed: "Your manager seems to feel sorry for you."

Jin Chen laughed too, and the two of them laughed at the screen for a while. After laughing, Jin Chen asked, "Have you eaten?"

Li Yitong glanced at the boxed lunch on the table and said, "Not yet. I wasn't hungry just now, but I'm a little nervous and can't eat."

Jin Chen said, "Why are you so nervous? You don't need to look at yourself. You didn't even appear in the previous episodes."

Li Yitong said she wasn't nervous about herself, but about the film.

Jin Chen nodded, indicating that he understood this feeling.

Jin Chen shifted her position, leaning her phone against the headboard, and burrowed into the blankets, only her face showing: "Do you think Director Lin's show can be as popular as 'In the Name of the People'?"

Li Yitong thought for a moment and said, "I don't know, but I guess so?"

The two chatted for a while until it was time to leave.

The TV was on, and it was stuck on CCTV-8.

The screen is playing a video of a laundry detergent brand called "GG," and it's very noisy.

Li Yitong propped her phone up on the bedside table, pointing the camera towards the TV.

"It's about to start," Li Yitong said.

Jin Chen had also set up his phone on the other side of the screen.

Both of them fell silent.

At 8:00 sharp, the opening theme song of "Raging Storm" began to play.

Black background, red text, and low, somber music, like the rumble of thunder before a storm.

......

At 8 p.m. sharp, CCTV-8's "Raging Waves" aired on time.

At the same time, iQiyi's servers almost couldn't handle the load.

Within the first minute of its release, "Raging" garnered over three million views.

The barrage of comments flooded in like a torrent, so dense that it almost completely obscured the screen.

The platform's technical staff urgently expanded the capacity to prevent the server from crashing.

The style of the comments section was insane from the very beginning.

As soon as the opening credits appeared, a black background with red text and a barrage of comments filled the screen:

"Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes!"

"It's finally here after two months of waiting."

"Director Lin, I'm here."

"Checking in at CCTV-8."

The first scene takes place at the Old Factory Street Market.

The camera slowly zooms in from the alleyway entrance, showing the gray and white arcade buildings, mottled walls, and spider web-like electrical wires.

The comments section started flooded with messages again:

"This scene is so evocative."

"It's exactly the same place I lived when I was a child."

"Checking in at Jiangmen".

"Jiuchang Street yyds."

......

Hengdian.

Zhang Songwen sat on the sofa.

The TV was on, broadcasting CCTV-8. The volume wasn't loud, but he could hear it clearly. There were several cans of beer and a pile of snacks on the coffee table, but no one touched them.

Zhou Yiwei sat to his left, and Wang Jiachuan sat to his right.

Three people, college classmates, a perfect triangle.

Zhou Yiwei specifically asked the director for leave today, saying he had something to do tonight.

The director asked him what was going on, and he said it was his old friend's new show premiering. The director didn't ask any more questions and approved it.

Wang Jiachuan was also in Hengdian. He was filming a web series there. He didn't have many scenes, so he finished work early and came over after receiving a call from Zhou Yiwei.

None of the three spoke.

Zhang Songwen was nervous, and Zhou Yiwei and Wang Jiachuan both knew it, but neither of them said anything like "don't be nervous"—it was all just empty talk.

Sitting next to him is the best comfort.

At the start of the first episode, Zhang Songwen tightened his grip on the remote control.

Zhou Yiwei glanced at it but didn't say anything.

Looking at himself on the screen, Zhang Songwen felt both familiar and unfamiliar.

That person is him, yet not him.

He played Gao Qiqiang, but while he was acting, he felt that Gao Qiqiang wasn't just someone he was playing; it was someone who came to life on his own.

Zhou Yiwei leaned back on the sofa, engrossed in watching. He had known Zhang Songwen for twenty years, since the first day of university.

Back then, Zhang Songwen was thin and didn't talk much, but his eyes shone brightly.

After graduation, Zhang Songwen spent ten years playing minor roles, including eunuchs, security guards, and extras with only a few lines.

Some of his classmates became famous, some changed careers, but Zhang Songwen is still struggling in that industry.

He's finally made it through.

Zhou Yiwei thought this to himself, but didn't say it aloud.

After the first episode aired, it went to GG.

Zhang Songwen leaned back on the sofa and let out a long sigh. Zhou Yiwei picked up his phone, scrolled through it, and then handed it to Zhang Songwen: "Take a look."

The screen was filled with trending search terms.

Zhang Songwen didn't answer, but leaned over to take a look—#HeartacheForGaoQiqiang#.

His hand trembled slightly, not from nervousness, but from those three words.

The audience didn't dislike Gao Qiqiang; they felt sorry for him.

Zhang Songwen's nose suddenly felt a little sore, but he held it in.

Wang Jiachuan handed him a can of beer, which he took, unzipped, and took a sip.

Zhou Yiwei patted him on the shoulder: "The audience remembers you."

Zhang Songwen nodded without saying anything.