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

Lin Mo returned to his office and made his first call to Lao Zhao.

I answered it after it rang twice.

"Director Lin!" There was a lot of background noise on Old Zhao's end, sounding like he was on a film set. "You wanted to see me?"

"Old Zhao, how's filming for 'Dying to Survive' going?"

"Almost there! Director Wen said we'll wrap up filming in another week! Then it'll be time for post-production editing—" Old Zhao paused mid-sentence, his voice becoming wary, "Director Lin, did you need me for something?"

Lin Mo chuckled. "Yes, I have something to discuss. I'm starting a new project, a movie about politics and law, a joint production of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Supreme People's Court, and the Ministry of Public Security. Are you coming?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Then Old Zhao's voice boomed in: "Come on, come on! Of course! A three-way alliance? Director Lin, you've really gone all out this time!"

"The script has just been written and is in the preparation stage. Come over once you finish filming on your end."

"Alright! I'll fly to Yanjing as soon as I'm done here!" Old Zhao's voice was full of excitement. It sounded like someone was calling him in the background. He covered the phone and shouted back, "Coming, coming!" Then he turned back, "Director Lin, I have to go now. I'll call you back later!"

When Lao Zhao hung up the phone, his hands were shaking.

It wasn't fear, it was excitement.

He stood in a corner of the set of "Dying to Survive," clutching his phone, Lin Mo's words still echoing in his ears—"A joint production by three companies, are you coming?"

The three are the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Supreme People's Court, and the Ministry of Public Security.

Old Zhao has been in the industry for over twenty years and has worked with no fewer than fifty film crews. He considers it a feat if a film can be credited to a ministerial-level organization, let alone a collaboration of three organizations—he's never even heard of such a thing.

Old Zhao snapped out of his daze, chuckled, put his phone in his pocket, and strode towards the director's booth.

Fumino was squatting in front of the monitor, where a clip that had just been filmed was playing back on the screen.

"Director Wen!" Old Zhao walked to his side, his voice rising involuntarily.

Wen Muye looked up at him and asked, "Brother Zhao, what's got you so excited? Did you find some money?"

"It's better than finding money." Old Zhao squatted down, lowering his voice but making sure every word was clear. "Director Lin is starting a new movie."

Fumino nearly dropped the walkie-talkie: "What?"

"The film is a joint production of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Supreme People's Court, and the Ministry of Public Security, and it deals with the theme of legitimate self-defense."

Wen Muye was stunned for a full three seconds.

Then he stood up, threw the walkie-talkie onto a chair, and his voice trembled: "Three companies teaming up! Director Lin is going all out this time?"

"I just got a call from Director Lin, asking if I'd be coming over now that filming's wrapped." Old Zhao patted his chest, his face crinkling into a wide grin. "I said, of course I'll go!"

Xu Zheng, who was touching up his makeup nearby, turned his head and asked, "Old Zhao, what's this about a three-way alliance?"

Old Zhao repeated Lin Mo's words again.

After listening, Xu Zheng stopped blowing the small fan in his hand, paused for a second, and then said, "Director Lin has taken a bigger step than anyone else."

Wang Chuanjun also came over. His face was still covered in his sick makeup, looking sallow, but his eyes were bright: "Self-defense? Is it related to that news story? The supermarket case?"

"Which supermarket?" Xu Zheng asked.

"That's trending on social media, the Yongcheng case. The husband killed someone to protect his wife and is now in jail." Wang Chuanjun pulled out his phone and scrolled through it. "The whole internet is debating whether his actions constituted legitimate self-defense. Is Director Lin planning to make a film about this?"

Old Zhao shook his head: "Director Lin didn't say which specific case he was filming, but since it's about self-defense, it's definitely going in that direction."

......

The next morning, Lin Mo placed a list on Xiao Chen's desk in the publicity department.

Xiao Chen picked it up and saw that it listed more than a dozen names, with suggested roles marked next to them.

"Director Lin, this is...?"

"Contact the cast of the new film one by one. Tell them it's a joint production of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Supreme People's Court, and the Ministry of Public Security, and I'm the director. Ask them if they'd take the role."

Xiao Chen's eyes widened: "A three-way alliance? Director Lin, are you going all out this time?"

"Stop talking nonsense and start fighting."

Xiao Chen picked up the list and glanced at it; the more he looked, the bigger his eyes became.

Lei Jiayin – plays Han Ming.

Ma Li – plays Li Maojuan.

Gao Ye – plays Lü Lingling.

......

There are also several supporting actors, all of whom are well-known and talented actors in the industry.

"Director Lin, this lineup..." Xiao Chen swallowed hard, "Isn't it a bit too extravagant?"

"As long as the role is suitable, let's fight."

Xiao Chen picked up the landline and dialed the first number—Lei Jiayin's agent.

Lin Mo returned to his office, made himself a cup of tea, and leaned back in his chair to wait.

Less than half an hour later, Xiao Chen knocked on the door and came in, looking a little dazed.

"How is it?"

"Director Lin has agreed to everything."

"Let's go one by one."

Xiao Chen opened his notebook: "Lei Jiayin—his agent, upon hearing that it was a joint production by three companies and that the director was Lin Mo, said that Lei Jiayin's schedule was originally full, but it could be adjusted. He said Lei Jiayin's exact words were—'For Director Lin's film, I don't need to read the script, I'll just accept it directly.'"

Lin Mo took a sip of tea.

"Ma Li—continued. She said that as a comedian, she had always wanted to find an opportunity to act in serious dramas, and she couldn't wait to do so."

"Gao Ye—her agent answered the phone the fastest, saying that Gao Ye had said when filming 'The Storm' that she would take any role in Director Lin's next film, no matter what it was, and that she especially liked the role of prosecutor Lü Lingling."

After speaking, Xiao Chen closed his notebook.

"So I accepted them all," Lin Mo said.

"Not a single one hesitated." Xiao Chen put the notebook on the table and couldn't help but exclaim, "Director Lin, I've worked in the publicity department for three years and I've never seen a director hire actors so smoothly. Other film crews would spend at least half a month trying to find someone, but you got it all done in just one morning."

Lin Mo didn't reply, but picked up the list and looked at it again.

"Director Lin, what's the next step?" Xiao Chen asked.

"Notify Lao Zhao to fly over from Shanghai. He's familiar with coordinating the venue, equipment, and schedule. Then send an official letter to the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Public Security to let them know that preparations have begun here."

"Okay." Xiao Chen turned to leave.

"etc."

Xiao Chen turned around.

"We also sent an official letter to the Yongcheng City Procuratorate, stating that the Supreme People's Procuratorate Film and Television Center is preparing to shoot a film on the theme of legitimate self-defense, and requesting them to provide necessary assistance."

Xiao Chen paused for a moment, then nodded, closed the door, and left.

......

Old Zhao arrived in Yanjing on the third day and took a taxi directly to the Supreme People's Procuratorate. On the way, he sent Lin Mo a message: "Director Lin, I've landed. The team has been assembled. We'll meet this afternoon."

Lin Mo replied instantly: "The meeting room has been reserved for you."

At 2 p.m., the small conference room of the Publicity Department of the Supreme People's Procuratorate was full of people.

Photographer Lao Sun was the first to arrive, carrying a camera in. As soon as he opened the door, he put the equipment in the corner.

Liu, the lighting expert, followed behind, carrying two cups of milk tea. He drank one himself and handed the other to Lao Sun.

Old Sun took it and drank a sip: "This is way too sweet."

Da Liu patted Lao Sun on the shoulder and chuckled.

When the artist, Lao Zhou, walked in, he had a roll of renderings tucked under his arm. He spread out more than a dozen on the table—the courthouse corridor, the procuratorate's meeting room, and the police station's duty room were all hand-drawn, with densely packed details.

He pushed up his glasses and looked around: "Old Zhao, this time we're going to build a few courtroom sets."

Props assistant Xiao Wang followed behind Lao Zhou, carrying a bag of samples—handcuffs, case files, and gavels—which he dumped onto the table. He picked up a gavel, weighed it in his hand, and said, "This is real; I borrowed it from the court."

The production assistant, Xiao Liu, looked at the pile of name tags, somewhat bewildered. He looked up and asked, "Brother Zhao, what style does Director Lin require this time?"

Old Zhao sat in the middle, with a storyboard spread out in front of him—drawn by Lin Mo, of course. He glanced at it, then looked up at everyone: "Director Lin said that this time we won't do anything fancy, it'll be steady, like a documentary."

Old Sun nodded: "Then we'll carry it all on our shoulders, without using tracks."

Old Zhou turned to the next page of the renderings: "The courthouse set doesn't need to be too new, a little old, to give it a down-to-earth feel."

While drinking his milk tea, Lau gestured: "I'll dim the lights a bit, mainly warm colors, and only use cool colors in the courtroom."

After listening to everyone's questions, Lao Zhao picked up his phone and sent a message to Lin Mo: "Director Lin, the team is all here. We'll start filming on time next week, no problem."

Lin Mo replied with a single word: "Okay."