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

Upon hearing this, Aru opened her mouth, but was choked and unable to speak.

Ma Li was laughing so hard she squatted down on the ground.

Old Zhao stood up from behind the monitor. He had been sitting next to Lin Mo the whole time, holding a walkie-talkie, without saying a word. Now he walked to the middle of the field and picked up the megaphone.

"Everyone—listen to me!"

The film set fell silent.

"Article 20—It's finished!"

He put the megaphone on the table and started clapping.

The applause went from one person to two, and from two to everyone.

Old Sun carried the camera around and filmed everyone – Lei Jiayin had his arm around Ma Li's shoulder, Zhao Liying and Gao Ye held hands, Fan Wei stood in the middle holding a thermos and smiling, Aruna made a peace sign in the corner, and Zhang Yi and Xu Yajun stood side by side clapping.

Lin Mo was standing in front of the monitor when Lao Zhao pulled him into the middle of the crowd.

"Director Lin, you deserve to be in the center!"

"I'm a director—"

"The director is the real star!"

Lin Mo was pulled to the center of the crowd. Fan Wei was on his left, Zhao Liying was on his right, Lei Jiayin and Ma Li were squatting in front, and Gao Ye and Aruna were squeezed on both sides.

Old Sun set up his equipment, adjusted the timer, and ran back to the crowd.

"Three, two, one—"

Click.

The image freezes.

After taking the group photo, Lao Zhao immediately started making arrangements: "The wrap party is tonight! Director Lin is treating, anyone who doesn't go will be missing out!"

The set erupted in cheers.

Chief Prosecutor Zhang Guoqing walked over, shook Lin Mo's hand, and said solemnly, "Director Lin, this scene is finished, but the work of Article 20 has only just begun. Once this film is released, millions of people will have a renewed understanding of the concept of legitimate self-defense. I've worked at the grassroots level for almost thirty years, and what troubles me most is that ordinary people don't believe in the law. They don't believe it not because the law is bad, but because they don't know how the law works. Your film is about showing them that process."

Lin Mo said, "Prosecutor Zhang, the people sitting in the audience during that hearing were your prosecutors—not extras. The fact that they were sitting there speaks volumes."

Zhang Guoqing paused for a moment, then squeezed Lin Mo's hand tightly before letting go.

At 7 p.m., at the largest hot pot restaurant in Langfang.

There were five tables in the private room. The main table was occupied by the main actors, including Fan Wei, Lei Jiayin, Ma Li, Zhao Liying, Gao Ye, Zhang Yi, Xu Yajun, and Aruna. The tables next to them were occupied by the old crew of photographers, lighting technicians, prop masters, and stagehands. The table furthest inside was occupied by the people brought by Lao Zhao.

The hot pot was steaming, and the red oil in the copper pot was bubbling and churning.

Lei Jiayin was the first to stand up, holding a beer glass.

"Director Lin," he cleared his throat, "I'd like to propose a toast to you."

Everyone quieted down.

"To be honest with you—when I took on this role, I was quite nervous." Lei Jiayin paused. "The character Han Ming isn't a hero; his words don't carry weight. He has superiors above him and those directly involved below him. He's caught in the middle, and I didn't know how to portray him at first. Then you said something to me—"

He looked at Lin Mo: "You said that Han Ming doesn't need to be passionate and eloquent. He only needs to say one sentence every time someone asks him to back down—'No retreat,' just those two words."

Lei Jiayin raised his cup high: "Director Lin, thank you for letting me play Han Ming."

Lin Mo stood up, picked up his glass, and clinked it against his.

The two drank it all in one gulp.

Ma Li then stood up and said, "Director Lin! I also want to toast you!"

"Before I worked with you, everyone said I was a comedian and couldn't act in serious dramas. You told me that comedians are ruthless when they act in serious dramas because comedians know what the other side of laughter is."

She downed it in one gulp, then added, "Director Lin, I'll remember your words for the rest of my life."

Zhao Liying was the third to stand up.

She held the cup and remained silent for several seconds before speaking.

"Director Lin, when I accepted this role, my agent told me—you're playing a mute girl with no lines at all, the audience will forget you." She paused, "I said, forget Zhao Liying, remember Hao Xiuping—that's what I want."

Her voice was soft, but every word was clear: "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Lin Mo looked at her, picked up his cup, and clinked it against hers.

At a nearby table, Old Sun, holding a wine glass, shouted, "Director Lin! We photographers and lighting technicians aren't good with words, but we can say one thing—working with you is a pleasure!"

Big Liu shouted, "That's great!"

Old Zhou raised his glass: "That was great!"

The prop master shouted the loudest: "That was awesome!"

The sounds of cooking echoed throughout the hot pot restaurant.

Lin Mo stood up, holding his cup, and turned around in front of the entire room.

"Everyone," he said.

The entire room fell silent.

"I'm not a very talkative person. I don't talk much when I'm filming, and I talk even less when I'm eating." He paused for a moment, "But there's one thing I have to say—without you guys, I couldn't have filmed anything by myself."

He raised his glass: "This glass is for you all."

Everyone stood up and clinked glasses.

The steam from the hot pot rose up, and the lights made everyone's faces glow red.

Old Zhao walked between the tables with a wine glass in his hand, drinking with everyone until his face turned as red as hot pot broth.

Aruna kept her promise—she paid for five extra plates of fatty beef for the whole group, and Xiao Liu, the stagehand, was so happy he almost knocked over his dipping sauce dish.

Ma Li was using a slotted spoon to scoop meat out for everyone when Lei Jiayin protested from the side, saying that she was taking all the good meat away.

Fan Wei sat in the main seat and picked up a piece of tripe for Zhao Liying next to him. He said that actresses should maintain their figure, but his hands didn't stop.

Old Zhao, having drunk too much, staggered to his feet, picked up his wine glass, and walked over to Lin Mo.

"Director Lin," he said, reeking of alcohol, "I'm especially happy today—not because filming is finished, but because—" he hiccuped, "because this is the fourth installment."

Lin Mo patted him on the shoulder: "There will be more to come."

After finishing his drink, Lin Mo leaned back in his chair and looked at everyone in the room.

Fan Wei and Xu Yajun were chatting, both speaking in hushed tones, but with smiles on their lips.

Xu Yajun nodded occasionally and chuckled occasionally—he was much more relaxed than he usually is on set.

Zhang Yi sat in the corner with a cup of tea in front of him.

He didn't talk much, but his expression was relaxed.

Lei Jiayin and Ma Li were still bickering.

Zhao Liying sat by the window, looking down at her phone—it seemed like she was reading a script, or maybe scrolling through her WeChat Moments, all quietly.