Chapter 110: This Is Truly Balancing the Scales—Leading the Way (Dedicated to Brother Bin qiz and Dongming WangZH)

Following the conclusion of the drama *Sweeping the Black Waves*, the series became a major topic of discussion not only among netizens on Weibo but also across major media outlets.

Entertainment news outlets had been reporting on it since the live stream the previous day, with platforms like Sina, Penguin Entertainment, and Sogou Entertainment all scrambling for coverage, primarily to capitalize on the surge in traffic.

However, the approach of official state media was entirely different. Since the production of *Sweeping the Black Waves* had been guided by government departments, it had successfully fulfilled its political mission. Following its finale, the online discourse shifted toward serious topics like "Why normalized crackdowns on organized crime are necessary," "Why we must look back on anti-crime efforts," and "Why such efforts must be persistent and recurring."

As a result, the drama didn't need to chase trends; it could openly and legitimately command the traffic. From 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, discussions about the show dominated the trending lists. Official accounts even weighed in, arguing that for a character like Zhou Bo, only the death penalty served as a sufficient deterrent, using the drama to illustrate why the death penalty remains essential.

Audiences held diverse views: some found the show chillingly realistic, others praised its positive energy, and some felt it had sanitized certain aspects. With a thousand viewers came a thousand interpretations. Often, the success of a show hinges on its secondary content and the discussions it generates. A show that receives only unanimous praise or unanimous criticism rarely becomes a hit.

Lin Xing, however, didn't pay much mind to the online buzz; he was simply too busy. He had gone to bed early the night before, skipping the finale of *Sweeping the Black Waves*, and was on set early the next morning. Since they had scheduled a morning shoot, filming began at 6:00 AM to ensure authenticity. He only caught a glimpse of the online situation during a break around 8:00 AM.

It was exactly as he had expected. When a hit show concludes, all the actors get to enjoy a share of the "dividend"—the surge in popularity. This was normal. Moreover, the finale didn't mean their work was over. There was still the celebratory banquet and the necessary post-show promotions—a standard routine in the industry that both actors and producers were happy to cooperate with. For actors, a hit show brings them back into the public eye, allowing even minor supporting roles to gain traction. For the production team, maintaining the show's heat is a priority.

When Lin Xing received a call from Bai Yan, he laughed and said, "Brother Bai, what are you saying? It’s all for the promotion of *Sweeping the Black Waves*."

"You’re a stand-up guy," Bai Yan replied with a bitter smile. "I won't say any more. The live stream starts at 7:00 PM tonight. I’ll have them add you to the group chat shortly..."

Lin Xing no longer needed live streams to maintain his popularity, but other actors from the show did. With the finale airing on satellite TV that night, and lead actors like Ren Yi, Wang Fei, and Song Wen unavailable, the production team was relying on Lin Xing to carry the stream. Without him, the viewership would likely be lackluster, which would be embarrassing.

Lin Xing accepted it as part of his post-production duties. He knew that many stars, once they became successful, would grow arrogant and refuse to do such thankless tasks. But Lin Xing wasn't like that. Shortly after hanging up, he was added to the group chat for that night’s stream.

Unlike the previous day, there was no host; it was just the actors chatting among themselves. As soon as Lin Xing joined, everyone sent welcoming stickers. Cao Xiang updated him on the schedule: the stream would start at 7:00 PM, and because it was the night of the TV finale, they hoped to keep the conversation going for a while.

Lin Xing replied, "I'll try to get on at 7:00, but I can't guarantee it because of my filming schedule. I might not be able to stay long as I have night shoots, but if you guys are still live when I wrap, I’ll join back in."

The other actors were incredibly gracious, expressing their gratitude for his time despite his busy schedule. Half a year ago, if Lin Xing had used filming as an excuse to avoid a stream, he might have been mocked, but now, the dynamic had shifted completely. Everyone respected his work ethic.

The group consisted of about ten actors, most of whom were talented but lacked the traffic to secure steady work. For them, being seen by the industry was crucial. Cao Xiang, for instance, had only landed his role in *Sweeping the Black Waves* through a recommendation from his classmate Ren Yi. At his age, seeing his peers succeed made him anxious to seize every opportunity.

After finishing his discussion in the group chat, Lin Xing went to speak with his current director, Liu Zhou.

"Understood, no problem. I’ll give you the night off," Liu Zhou said. Liu was more than happy to accommodate Lin Xing, who had been working hard, even volunteering as an acting coach and helping the lighting and prop departments, all without any ego. Liu had initially wondered if Lin Xing was just putting on a show for future publicity, but he had since realized that Lin Xing was the real deal. He was a professional who brought both traffic and talent, and Liu was more than happy to grant him leave.

Lin Xing replied, "Director Liu, it's really not necessary. I checked the schedule; my scenes don't start until 8:00 PM, so I can wrap up by 7:20 and join the stream from the break area. There's no need to waste the time."

"You don't have to force it, Ah Xing. We can move today's scenes to tomorrow," Liu insisted.

"No, really, it’s not a problem," Lin Xing replied firmly.

***

At 7:25 PM, Lin Xing finished his scene and headed to the makeup room. Meanwhile, the live stream had already begun with Cao Xiang, Song Shu Yuan, Xu Rong, Wu Jun, and Mo Hu chatting about their experiences on set. When fans in the comments began complaining about Lin Xing's absence, the viewership was clearly flagging.

Once Lin Xing joined, the energy in the chat exploded. "Sorry, sorry, everyone! I just finished filming and came as fast as I could," he said apologetically.

The chat filled with fans expressing their support and commenting on how handsome he looked. The number of viewers more than doubled within minutes. Lin Xing expertly navigated the conversation, even taking a moment to promote the National Anti-Fraud Center app, demonstrating his sense of responsibility as a public figure.

He then shifted the focus to the other actors, asking them to share stories from the set. He was happy to play the supporting role in this conversation, allowing his colleagues to shine.

At 7:40 PM, Lin Xing apologized again, "I have to get back to makeup for my 8:00 PM shoot, so I’ll have to step away. I’ll try to join again later if you’re still live."

As expected, the viewership dipped slightly after he left, but the remaining actors continued to engage with the audience until 9:30 PM. Just as they were wrapping up, Lin Xing suddenly popped back into the stream.

"I’m back," he said, his face partially obscured by the darkness. "I’ve finished my night shoot and am on my way back to the hotel on a Dima electric scooter."

He fixed his phone to the handlebars, reminding everyone, "I'm doing this for the stream, but I won't be talking much as I need to focus on riding safely."

As he rode, he casually mentioned the comfort of the new Dima model, turning the segment into an effortless brand promotion. The chat went wild, praising his ability to "balance the water"—promoting his new project *Portrait of a Killer*, the anti-fraud campaign, and the scooter, all while being genuinely authentic.

The following days saw *Sweeping the Black Waves* maintain its momentum. By the time Jiang Li, a young actor who had been working on the set, wrapped his filming, he was overcome with emotion.

"Congratulations on wrapping!" the staff cheered, handing him flowers.

Jiang Li turned to Lin Xing, tears in his eyes. "Thank you, Lin Laoshi. I wouldn't have been on this set without your recommendation."

Lin Xing patted his shoulder. "Don't thank me. You earned this with your own performance. Keep working hard, and more opportunities will come."

Lin Xing knew that in the entertainment industry, talent is abundant, but opportunities are rare. He was glad to be in a position where he could help others find theirs. As Jiang Li’s journey on the show came to an end, Lin Xing’s own path continued to unfold, with new projects waiting on the horizon.