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

In mid-July, Lin Mo flew to Shanghai.

Old Zhao picked him up at the airport, grinning from ear to ear as soon as they met, reaching out to take Lin Mo's backpack: "Director Lin—no, Chief Lin! Congratulations!"

Lin Mo handed him the bag: "Old Zhao, you can just call me Director Lin."

"No way, you've been promoted." Old Zhao chuckled, carrying his bag as he walked ahead. "The car's parked outside. The film set is forty minutes from here. Director Wen heard you were coming, so yesterday he postponed all of today's scenes by an hour, saying he wanted you to see the footage first."

Lin Mo got into the car, and Lao Zhao started the engine, talking non-stop: "Teacher Xu Zheng heard that you were promoted to deputy director and said that he must congratulate you in person today. Wang Chuanjun also said that such a big thing as Director Lin's promotion must be said in person."

"It's nothing serious, just a normal transfer." Lin Mo leaned back in his seat.

"How can that not be a big deal!" Old Zhao glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Deputy section chief! Director Lin, you're only twenty-eight!"

When the car drove into the Shanghai Film and Television Base, it was very hot.

In July, Shanghai gets even hotter than Beijing, with the air thick with moisture, making it feel like a sauna.

The film set was built on an old street.

The shop signs are all distressed, and the little GG logos on the walls, the trash cans by the roadside, and the plastic curtains hanging at the shop entrances—every detail looks like it was moved directly from an urban village in a third-tier city.

When Lin Mo got out of the car, the first person he saw was Han Jianu.

She was squatting next to the monitor, holding a folder in her hands. Her hair was casually tied in a ponytail, and her face was a little red from the sun. When she saw Lin Mo, she closed the folder and stood up: "Director Lin! You've arrived!"

He strode over, his face beaming with barely concealed excitement: "Director Lin, congratulations on your promotion to deputy director! I told my dad, and he said he wasn't surprised—he said with your abilities, a promotion was just a matter of time."

"Mr. Han, you're very kind." Lin Mo nodded. "How's the film's progress?"

"Successfully! Cheng Yong's storyline is almost finished. The remaining key scenes are with Lü Shouyi and Huang Mao. Director Wen is in the studio; I'll take you there."

Han Jianu led Lin Mo inside, saying as they walked, "By the way, Director Lin, my dad said he'd like to invite you to dinner soon, not to talk about this film—but about the future. He said your temporary assignment is over and you've returned to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, so there are some things we can discuss openly now."

"Okay, I'll call him later."

As they spoke, they walked into the photography studio.

An indoor scene is being filmed in the studio, and the props team is re-setting the lighting.

Fumino stood in front of the monitor, holding a storyboard book in his hand, gesturing to the cinematographer about something.

"Director Wen, Director Lin is here," Han Jianu called out.

Wen Muye turned around and saw Lin Mo. The expression on his face was like that of a student seeing their teacher come to observe a class—both happy and nervous.

"Director Lin!" He strode over, grasped Lin Mo's hand firmly, and said, "Congratulations on your promotion to deputy director! I saw the announcement on the official website!"

"Thanks." Lin Mo patted him on the shoulder. "How was your patting?"

"It's alright—no, it's pretty good." Wen Muye scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "It's just that the pressure is immense. Director Lin, you don't know, I now go through all the footage I shot that day in my mind every night before I go to sleep. If I find anything wrong, I quickly reshoot it the next day."

"High pressure is a good thing," Lin Mo said. "Old Zhao gave me the materials from a few days ago, let me take a look."

"Alright!" Old Zhao replied from the side and turned to find the media disk.

Wen Muye stood there, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke up: "Director Lin, I have a question I'd like to ask you."

"explain."

"The scene where Cheng Yong pays out of his own pocket to buy medicine for the patient will be filmed tomorrow. In the script, Cheng Yong doesn't have many lines for this scene, but I always feel that just relying on facial expressions isn't enough—he needs some movement."

Lin Mo thought for a moment and replied, "Actions are acceptable, but they can't be too big. Cheng Yong is someone who has been beaten down by life. He's not used to expressing himself, and he does everything secretly—including doing good deeds."

Wen Muye paused for a moment, then nodded vigorously.

Lin Mo added, "When you ask him to put the money on the table, make sure it's arranged neatly. He's not just putting money down—he's giving away the last bit of dignity he has left in his life."

Wen Muye took out his phone and typed quickly.

Just then, a voice drifted over from the shed entrance.

"Who's here? Director Lin—no, Chief Lin!"

Xu Zheng strode in.

He was wearing a wrinkled old shirt with the collar open and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a fine layer of sweat on his forehead.

This outfit belongs to Cheng Yong—he hasn't removed his makeup yet, and he came directly from the next booth.

He walked over, extended his hand, and shook hands with Lin Mo with a strong grip.

Lin Mo smiled and said, "Brother Zheng, don't embarrass me."

"It's not shameful." Xu Zheng waved his hand, pulled up a small stool and sat down, wiping his sweat with a towel that appeared out of nowhere. "Let me tell you, I've been in this industry for over twenty years and have met many directors. Talented people are usually out of touch with reality, and those who are down-to-earth are usually not talented. You have both—and you're even within the system."

He paused, his tone shifting from joking to serious: "That's why I truly admire you."

At this moment, Wang Chuanjun came out of the shed.

He was wearing a dark gray old-fashioned jacket, and his face was made up with sickly makeup—his skin was sallow and his eyes were sunken.

The character Lü Shouyi is a patient, and Wang Chuanjun lost more than ten kilograms beforehand to portray the illness.

Now, standing there, he's so thin he could be blown away by the wind.

He saw Lin Mo, stopped, and nodded slightly: "Director Lin."

"Chuanjun, you've worked hard." Lin Mo looked at him. "You're in great shape."

Wang Chuanjun didn't respond immediately. He sat down on the stool next to Lin Mo and said, "Thank you, thank you for filming this story."

Lin Mo looked at Wang Chuanjun and remembered that he played Manager Lu in "All or Nothing," a villain with a refined appearance but a chilling exterior.

Now he plays Lü Shouyi in "Dying to Survive," and he has lost a lot of weight, with a sickly yet clear look in his eyes.

"You chose the right role yourself," Lin Mo said.

"You gave me the role."

"I was just offering advice; whether you accept it or not is up to you."

At this moment, Zhang Yi suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He was wearing a police uniform—his rank insignia was higher than An Xin's.

Holding two cups of coffee, she handed one to Lin Mo.

"Director Lin," he said.

"Teacher Zhang Yi." Lin Mo took the coffee and took a sip.

Zhang Yi smiled and said, "Congratulations on your promotion."

Lin Mo nodded.

Zhang Yi spoke up again: "The role of Cao Bin is very difficult; he has to stand on the side of the law."

Lin Mo looked at him: "A role that you find difficult is a good role."

The other actors also gathered around and greeted Lin Mo.

At this moment, Old Zhao moved a small stool to the side and sat down, holding a palm-leaf fan in his hand and waving it: "I'm not saying you actors are too talkative, Director Lin just arrived and hasn't even sat down to rest yet."

Han Jianu laughed out loud. Xu Zheng pointed at Lao Zhao and said, "Lao Zhao, you're just jealous that we can talk." Lao Zhao chuckled and didn't respond.

Wen Muye took the opportunity to come over and show Lin Mo some footage he had shot yesterday on the monitor.

Lin Mo watched a few shots and nodded: "You gave too much time for this scene, go faster."

Wen Muye took out his phone and made another note.

In the evening, after finishing work, Lao Zhao drove Lin Mo back to the hotel.

The car drove along the Huangpu River, and occasionally the horns of cargo ships on the river would sound.

"Director Lin," Old Zhao suddenly spoke up, "Do you think this film will be a success?"

Lin Mo leaned against the car window: "Of course it can work."

Why?

"I told you before that Fumino is capable of great things, and this film is proof of that."

Old Zhao glanced at him in the rearview mirror and grinned.