Chapter 114: Recreating the Scene, Everything Is Possible (Bonus Chapter, Requesting Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions)

There is a clear distinction between web series and television dramas. This gap lies in the cast and the production value. Ren Yi felt puzzled when Lin Xing chose to act in "Portrait of a Crime," and now that "Sweeping the Black Wave" has earned Lin Xing industry recognition, he couldn't understand why he was still taking on web series.

"Which web series?" Zheng Zhou asked, curiosity piqued.

Lin Xing smiled. "It's just a script for now; they haven't even started pre-production. It came from Panda Video, and I just thought the script was decent."

"As the male lead?" Zheng Zhou suddenly asked.

Lin Xing replied, "Yes, theoretically, I suppose I am the male lead."

"That's fine, then," Zheng Zhou said with a smile. "Ren Yi, web series production is becoming increasingly sophisticated. While they might have been inferior to TV dramas in the past, there isn't much difference now. It’s normal for Xing to choose a web series where he can carry the lead."

Clearly, Zheng Zhou believed Lin Xing was being too impulsive. Being the lead in "Portrait of a Crime" was one thing, but now accepting another lead role from Panda Video for a project of unknown quality? If that wasn't impatience, what was? With the reputation he had built from "Sweeping the Black Wave" and his acting skills being acknowledged by the industry, Zheng Zhou felt that if Lin Xing just waited a bit, he could have easily landed a lead role in a mainstream TV drama. Why the rush? Zheng Zhou had seen too many young actors lose their way as soon as they tasted success, resorting to short-sighted tactics. He had hoped Lin Xing would be different, but it seemed he was just like the rest.

The people present were all industry veterans; once Lin Xing had made his decision, no one tried to talk him out of it. Two hours later, the dinner gathering came to an end.

"Xing, listen to me. Be very, very careful when choosing projects. You’ve finally gained some popularity—don't squander it," Ren Yi advised before leaving. "I told you before: billing doesn't matter. What truly matters is the energy of your character. Like Du Fei in 'Only Waiting for You'—even though your screen time was limited, it was a highlight..."

Lin Xing understood that these were words from the heart. This was what a true friend was. Then there was Zheng Zhou, who was more of a "dinner friend"—each simply taking what they needed from the relationship. Guan Peng also wanted to offer some advice, feeling that Lin Xing had been so steady before—why the sudden sense of urgency?

"Brother Guan, don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Lin Xing chuckled. "I won't gamble with the reputation I've worked so hard to build."

"That's good then." Guan Peng felt relieved, truly fearing that Lin Xing would make a poor move out of an obsession with top billing. After all, very few web series actually become hits; only television dramas could reliably bring long-term dividends to an actor, as "Only Waiting for You" and "Sweeping the Black Wave" had for Lin Xing, or "Student Parents" had for Guan Peng.

"Everyone is pessimistic," Lin Xing thought to himself on the way back, shaking his head slightly. He knew the industry looked down on web series, much like how film actors once looked down on TV actors. But look what happened? Film actors eventually descended to act in TV dramas, and most of them ended up showing their true colors. Who was really more noble than the other?

The same applied to web series. The industry was currently in a period of rapid development, with quality steadily improving and crude, low-budget productions being phased out. Lin Xing believed that in a year or two, web series would produce their own masterpieces.

Back home, Lin Xing checked the online discussions. As expected, the buzz surrounding "Portrait of a Crime" had died down significantly. Aside from paid trending topics, most people seemed entirely uninterested. "Let's see how they promote it when the time comes," Lin Xing sighed. It was indeed difficult for small-budget web series to gain traction.

Panda Video wanted to break into the suspense market, but their cost control was extremely strict—which was why they had purged their entire previous content department. Their new head of content, Deng Ying, believed in winning through quality. A script was king. He recognized that most failed dramas fell due to poor writing. Furthermore, Deng Ying planned to carve out a dedicated "Suspense Theater" channel, something other platforms had yet to do. To ensure high quality while keeping costs down, he decided to shorten the episode count.

Twelve episodes. That was the length for "Bad Child," a script Deng Ying had spent significant time selecting. He believed it perfectly aligned with his vision. With the script secured, he needed actors with both acting prowess and star power. He sent the script to most suitable actors, but bypassed the talentless "traffic" stars entirely, even if they were willing to pay to be cast. However, attracting actors who had both reputation and talent to a web series was not easy; top-tier actors rarely considered them, and Panda Video couldn't afford them anyway.

Deng Ying was confident in the script, so he decided to cast a wide net, hoping to draw actors in and then communicate the vision. When he learned that Lin Xing was interested, he was delighted and spoke with Lin Xing's agent, Dao Jie. But he felt the agent didn't trust him, or perhaps thought he was just selling pipe dreams.

Especially when Deng Ying mentioned that the director of "Bad Child" would be Lan Lei, Dao Jie treated him like a complete fraud.

"I am serious," Deng Ying told her. "Although Lan Lei has no experience, he is very skilled at suspense, and I believe..."

"That's enough, Mr. Deng. I believe in your sincerity, but I still need to go back and discuss it with Mr. Lin." That was what Dao Jie said before leaving. Then, several days of silence followed.

Deng Ying thought Lin Xing had given up, so he was surprised when Lin Xing proactively asked for a meeting today.

"Mr. Deng, do you really think Lin Xing will act in this?" Lan Lei asked, sounding skeptical.

"I'm not sure," Deng Ying shook his head slightly. "But we must show our sincerity. Most importantly, we need to show Lin Xing that our script is truly capable..."

Lan Lei actually lacked confidence. "Bad Child" was a great script, and he was thrilled to have the chance to direct it, having spent several sleepless nights with excitement. Also present was the screenwriter, Ting Hai. Ting Hai was a newcomer who had submitted the first three episodes to Panda Video's open call and was selected, subsequently writing the remaining nine. When he learned that Lin Xing might participate, he was stunned. *Is this a joke?* Even if Lin Xing wasn't a top-tier star, his performance in the serious drama "Sweeping the Black Wave" had been stellar, and even Zuo Ming had praised him. Why would someone like him take such a role? Especially one that was so dark and could potentially impact his image?

"Ting Hai, you should focus on explaining the script to Lin Xing later," Deng Ying instructed. "I'm telling you, whether or not we can get him depends on today."

Half an hour later, Lin Xing arrived at Panda Video, accompanied by Dao Jie. Along the way, Dao Jie had been relentless in her advice. She felt Lin Xing didn't need to make this trip in person. She knew that a good script didn't guarantee a good final product; the director, production team, and editors were what determined the quality.

"Xing, once you see them, you'll understand why I said what I said," Dao Jie remarked as they arrived, stopping her advice. It was time to present a united front.

"Mr. Lin, hello. I am Deng Ying, head of the content department at Panda Video..." Deng Ying sighed inwardly upon seeing Lin Xing. *He really is handsome.* He wondered if someone so good-looking was actually right for the part. "Mr. Lin, let me introduce you to Ting Hai, the original screenwriter of 'Bad Child,' and our director, Lan Lei..."

"Hello, Mr. Lin," Ting Hai and Lan Lei said nervously.

"Mr. Deng, let's get straight to the point," Lin Xing said without pleasantries. "I'm quite interested in the script and I'm willing to play the math teacher. So, I have a few questions."

"Of course, please go ahead," Deng Ying said quickly.

"Is it confirmed that there are only 12 episodes?" Lin Xing asked. "I've read the current script; the characters and plot are quite good. Will there be any changes to the later parts?"

"No, our goal is to create a masterpiece," Deng Ying replied with a smile. "To do that, we can't have too many episodes. We only solicited short-form scripts from the start." He paused. "However, Mr. Lin, if you join, we can discuss certain plot points during filming. If you have any suggestions—if you feel your character shouldn't be bald, or if you think it's too tragic and want a romantic subplot, then..."

"No need," Lin Xing interrupted. "Mr. Deng, my previous project was 'Portrait of a Crime,' also a web series. Do you know the producer, Ma Wen?"

Deng Ying blinked. "I don't, but I can certainly get to know him if you think it's necessary."

Lin Xing couldn't help but laugh. *Producers really are masters of flexibility.* He clarified his stance: "You misunderstood me. I told Ma Wen before filming 'Portrait of a Crime' that I would not ask for extra scenes, because adding them—especially a romance—would ruin the original structure. If you add a romance for this math teacher, wouldn't you agree that it would be melodramatic?"

"Mr. Lin is right," Ting Hai chimed in. "Some dramas nowadays rely entirely on romantic subplots to move the story, as if every profession is just an excuse to date, cheat, or fight with mistresses..."

*Good man,* Lin Xing thought. Ting Hai clearly watched his fair share of dramas. His critique was spot on.

"Yes, Ting Hai is right," Lin Xing nodded. "So, I won't ask to change the scenes, but I hope you don't change the script easily. Minor tweaks are fine, but no major overhauls." He had said the exact same thing while filming "Portrait of a Crime."

"Mr. Lin, just call me Ting Hai. I wouldn't dare call myself a teacher in front of you," Ting Hai said, flattered. He had previously thought Lin Xing was just a lucky, pretty face, but his performance in "Sweeping the Black Wave" had been a revelation. As a huge fan of Zuo Ming, hearing Zuo Ming praise Lin Xing meant the world. *If the guy is that handsome and that talented, it's just not fair,* Ting Hai mused.

"Haha, in my eyes, you wrote 'Bad Child,' a realistic suspense script, so you deserve to be called teacher," Lin Xing said kindly. He then turned to Deng Ying. "Mr. Deng, what is the current status of the production? Have the actors been finalized?"

"Mr. Lin, we've finalized the three children. I auditioned thousands of kids and child actors from the industry to find the right ones, and they are currently training with a coach," Deng Ying explained. "The female lead is mostly set, but the male roles are still open."

"I see," Lin Xing stood up. "In that case, let's proceed as soon as possible. Remember to notify me when preparations are complete."

"Ah? Mr. Lin, this is..."

"Pleasure working with you!" Lin Xing extended his hand.

Deng Ying was stunned for three seconds, then beamed. "Pleasure working with you!"

"Mr. Lin, can I take a photo with you?" Ting Hai asked timidly.

"No problem," Lin Xing agreed. Lan Lei did the same, and Deng Ying suggested they all take one together.

Afterward, Dao Jie took over the contract signing. "I knew it—I knew everything I said would be in vain," she said with a sigh. "But Xing, do you really have confidence in this rough-and-tumble team?"

"We have to give it a try," Lin Xing smiled. "You never know how a project will turn out until it's finished. As an actor, you have to take risks. If you only play it safe, you might not fail, but you'll never achieve a breakout success."

Dao Jie knew he was right. Most runaway hits were projects no one paid attention to initially.

As Dao Jie went to sign the papers, Lin Xing asked Deng Ying, "Mr. Deng, have you cast the role of Ding Heping yet?"

Deng Ying shook his head. "Not yet. Do you have a suggestion?"

"If not, when are your auditions? I have someone in mind. I believe he can capture the depth of Ding Heping," Lin Xing said. "I'm not trying to interfere with your casting; I just want to secure an opportunity for him. Whether he gets the part or not is entirely up to your audition process."

"No need, Mr. Lin, if you recommend him, it's definitely fine," Deng Ying waved his hand. "Just have him contact me, and we'll sign him."

Lin Xing was speechless. *That is entirely unnecessary.* If he pushed someone through today and Deng Ying agreed, what would happen tomorrow? It would descend into chaos. "Mr. Deng, I want us to work together to make this a high-quality series, which is why I came to talk to you in person. I hope everyone takes it seriously." When Lin Xing mentioned trying to avoid "backdoor" deals, Deng Ying looked a bit awkward. "Mr. Lin, rest assured, acting ability is my first priority."

Deng Ying didn't dwell on the back-door issue. In his view, it was normal in the industry. He had heard of Lin Xing's capabilities through the grapevine—that's how the industry worked; news traveled fast, and film sets were rarely places of secrets.

"But we should still hold an audition," Lin Xing insisted. He didn't like seeking special treatment. Just as Feng Gang had once given him a chance, he was now doing the same for a friend. That was all.

One hour later, Lin Xing and Dao Jie left Panda Video.

"Xing, should we take on another project?" Dao Jie asked. "I support your pivot, but shouldn't we pick up an idol drama too?"

"I was just about to tell you..." Lin Xing recounted the discussion from the previous night's gathering with Zheng Zhou. "You handle the rest with them. I'll only record two episodes; I won't do more. I'm not suited for variety shows right now."

"Fine," Dao Jie sighed. "I guess the idol drama is off the table then. And once 'Bad Child' airs, I think we can say goodbye to idol dramas for good."