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

After the first episode of "Raging Storm" aired, the Weibo hot search list changed.

#My heart aches for Gao Qiqiang#—First.

#Rapidly Launching# - Part 2.

#Zhang Songwen's acting skills# - Fourth.

#Anxin's Dumplings# - Sixth.

#Director Lin Mo yyds#——Eighth.

The comments section was as lively as if it were Chinese New Year.

"After watching the first episode, I actually felt sorry for a future gangster boss. Am I morally corrupt?"

"You're not morally corrupt; you've seen why he became the way he is."

"Zhang Yi's eyes were absolutely brilliant in the scene where An Xin hands Gao Qiqiang dumplings."

"Director Lin really knows how to film people. Zhang Songwen has been acting for more than ten years, and this is the first time I have ever felt that he is so charming."

"When Gao Qiqiang was being bullied by Tang Xiaolong, I wanted to rush in and beat him up."

"The production quality of this drama is amazing."

"Anything directed by Director Lin is guaranteed to be a masterpiece. I'm tired of saying that."

"Wow, this is amazing in just the first episode!"

"Director Lin's film is about cracking down on organized crime, but what the audience sees is human nature."

When Director Han of the Supreme People's Procuratorate saw this trending topic, he was having tea at home.

His wife peeked out from the kitchen and asked him what he was laughing at. He said he wasn't laughing. His wife said, "Your lips are practically pointing to the sky." He replied, "Xiao Lin's new movie is a hit."

On the Ministry of Public Security side, Director Wang didn't check Weibo, but his secretary did.

His secretary sent him a screenshot of the trending topic, along with the caption: "Director Wang, the first episode of 'Raging Waves' has finished airing, and it's number one on the trending topics."

Director Wang replied with three words: "Understood."

The secretary sent another message: "Director Lin's film has received very good reviews."

at the same time.

The group chat for the "Raging Storm" production team already has over 99 messages.

He clicked on it and scrolled up.

Zhang Songwen posted a long message: "I watched it with Zhou Yiwei and Wang Jiachuan in Hengdian. After the first episode aired, Zhou Yiwei shoved his phone in my face and said it was trending at number one. I didn't dare to look, afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep if I did."

Long Li said, "Teacher Songwen, I just posted a Weibo post, and a lot of people have shared it."

Li Yitong chimed in, "I posted it too."

Zhang Yi then added a period.

Su Xiaoding: "What does the period mean, Teacher Zhang Yi?"

Zhang Yi replied: "Read."

The group chat erupted in laughter.

Zhang Zhijian also spoke up: "The pacing of the first episode was very good."

Wu Gang agreed, saying that Director Lin never relies on dialogue when filming; the visuals are enough.

Ni Dahong didn't say anything, but gave a thumbs up.

Lin Jiachuan chimed in, posting a kneeling, kowtowing emoji: "Tang Xiaolong is so hated, I'm afraid I'll get beaten up if I go out tomorrow."

Sun Yan added, "+1, I'm also afraid of getting beaten up."

Wu Gang said that the two of you were playing characters that people hated, and that being afraid of being beaten meant you were acting well.

Jia Bing suddenly asked, "@Lin Mo, Director Lin, when will Xu Jiang appear?"

Lin Mo replied, "Soon."

Jia Bing sent a hand-rubbing emoji.

The group chat was buzzing with excitement.

......

The next morning, as soon as Lin Mo arrived at the entrance of the Ministry of Public Security building, he sensed that something was wrong.

At this time of day, the entrance is usually deserted; you can just swipe your card to enter.

Today was different—several familiar colleagues stood at the door, not going in, as if they were waiting for someone.

Upon seeing him, they all turned their heads in unison.

"Director Lin is here!" someone shouted.

Before Lin Mo could react, several people surrounded him.

Xiao Zhang was leading the way.

"Director Lin! I watched 'The Storm' last night! I couldn't sleep after watching the first three episodes! Gao Qiqiang is so pitiful!"

A female colleague next to me chimed in, "Director Lin, I cried during the scene where An Xin hands Gao Qiqiang dumplings. I really cried, and I'm not exaggerating."

Surrounded by people, Lin Mo was both amused and exasperated: "Everyone, this has only just started, don't rush."

"We have to be in a hurry!" Xiao Zhang grabbed his arm. "Director Lin, can you give me a heads-up? Did Gao Qiqiang turn bad later on?"

Lin Mo looked at him: "What do you think? In a crime-fighting story, how can the protagonist not turn bad?"

Xiao Zhang's face fell: "I don't want him to go astray..."

The people around burst into laughter.

When the elevator reached the fifth floor and the doors opened, there were already several people standing in the corridor.

People from the Publicity Bureau, the Cyber ​​Security Bureau, and the Public Security Bureau all crowded at the entrance of the Publicity Bureau, chatting enthusiastically.

Everyone turned to look at Lin Mo as he stepped out of the elevator.

Sun Jianguo stood at the office door, holding a thermos in his hand, watching this scene with a smile. He called out to Lin Mo, "Xiao Lin, you're busier than a celebrity."

Lin Mo walked over with a wry smile. Sun Jianguo lowered his voice and said, "Director Wang just called and said the ratings for the first episode of 'Raging Waves' are out."

Lin Mo's heart tightened: "How much?"

Sun Jianguo held up two fingers: "2.1, the highest premiere rating for CCTV-8 in nearly three years."

Lin Mo was taken aback.

2.1, slightly lower than the premiere of "In the Name of the People," but that was on CCTV-1, while "The Storm" was on CCTV-8.

The eight sets of plates are not as big as the one set to begin with, and being able to open up to 2.1 is already the ceiling for the past three years.

Sun Jianguo patted him on the shoulder: "Director Wang said, keep it up."

Lin Mo nodded and was about to walk towards the office when his colleagues stopped him again.

People were asking about the plot, the actors, and what would happen next—everyone was talking at once.

Lin Mo was trapped in the corridor and unable to move.

He could only answer a few questions selectively: "Gao Qiqiang did change later, but you will understand why he changed. Zhang Yi's An Xin's hair will turn white later, you will know when you watch it. Zhang Songwen's acting is really good, but he is completely different from Gao Qiqiang. He is a very gentle person."

Someone asked, "Director Lin, what's your next film?"

Lin Mo was taken aback: "The first season of 'Raging Storm' has only just started airing, and you're already asking me about the next season?"

The man chuckled: "Just asking beforehand."

Lin Mo didn't answer, saying that she should work first, and it wouldn't be fun to watch spoilers later.

The crowd then dispersed.

Lin Mo squeezed through the crowd, entered the office, closed the door, and let out a long breath.

Lin Mo had been sitting in his office for less than five minutes when the internal phone on his desk rang.

"Xiao Lin, come up here." It was Director Wang's voice.

Lin Mo put down the phone, straightened his collar, and went upstairs.

Director Wang's office door was open, and he stood by the window with a cigarette between his fingers.

There were already two or three cigarette butts piled up in the ashtray on the windowsill, so it seemed he had been smoking for a while.

"Sit down." Director Wang turned around, pointed to the sofa, and sat down in the chair.

Lin Mo didn't sit down immediately; he stood there and waited.

Director Wang stubbed out his cigarette, leaned back in his chair, looked at Lin Mo, and after a few seconds of silence, asked, "Did Sun Jianguo tell you about the ratings for the first episode?"

Lin Mo nodded: "I said, 2.1."

Director Wang grunted in response, his tone neither warm nor cold: "This number is considered quite good on CCTV-8."

He paused, then said something that surprised Lin Mo, "But what I'm talking about isn't the ratings."

Lin Mo looked at him and waited.

"I received several phone calls this morning." Director Wang tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice. "There were calls from the propaganda department, from the political and legal system, and from higher up. They said all sorts of things. Some said the film was well made, some said the topic was well chosen, and some said you made the right choice as director."

He paused, looking at Lin Mo, "But none of that matters. The important thing is—the people are watching."

Lin Mo didn't reply.

"Did you watch the live comments last night?" Director Wang asked.

Lin Mo nodded: "I glanced at it a few times."

"I feel sorry for Gao Qiqiang." Director Wang said these four words very slowly. "The fact that ordinary people feel sorry for a future gangster boss shows what? It shows that they have seen through it all. They see that this person was not born bad, but was forced into that state. You once told me something—the stronger Gao Qiqiang is, the greater An Xin will be. Now I believe it."

Lin Mo felt a sense of relief.

Director Wang stood up, walked to the window, and stood with his back to Lin Mo for a while: "Xiao Lin, the play 'Raging Storm' is not just for ordinary people, but also for those who have been working on the front line of the fight against organized crime for more than ten years. They need to know that someone remembers what they did, and that the people remember."

He turned around, waved his hand, and said, "Alright, you can go ahead with your work."