Chapter 111: It’s Him—Shall We Climb the Mountain? (Please Vote and Subscribe)

The twenty or so scripts Lin Xing had just reviewed were mostly limited to only ten episodes, some even just three, yet they all went to great lengths to dangle enticing prospects before him. There were even offers for him to be the male lead, with promises that once he accepted the lead role, everything else would be negotiable.

But the more they pushed, the less likely Lin Xing was to agree.

Though he had been drunk the previous night, Lin Xing had not forgotten the words of Ren Yi, Wang Fei, Song Wen, and others. In the world of acting, stagnation means regression. More importantly, reputation is a mysterious force. One day, the audience may hail you as a star; the next, they might vilify you to the depths. This truth applies not only to actors but also to singers. Many divas once lauded for their authenticity have suddenly been dragged through the mud, sometimes over a single song.

Of course, there is a fundamental difference between actors and singers. For Lin Xing, if he were to be criticized, it wouldn’t be because of past scandals but because he starred in bad films. He believed he deserved at least one chance. Some actors can get away with one poor film; audiences understand. But consistently making bad movies would inevitably erode his appeal. And right now, Lin Xing was far from having a fan base that would carry him through anything. He simply hadn't built enough goodwill. How much audience favor could he really gain from starring in just one or two remarkable works?

At this stage, if Lin Xing dared to accept a bad film, the audience would abandon him in an instant. He had to cherish his reputation, especially now. Praise from industry insiders, the media, even on Weibo—he took those with a grain of salt. To take it too seriously would only hasten his fall from grace.

Thus, Lin Xing merely skimmed through those so-called “anti-crime” bulk scripts and quickly set them aside. It was this particular web drama script that caught his attention, if only because of its title: "The Wicked Child." The name intrigued him.

He flipped through the pages and found the entire twelve-episode script was already complete. The story centered on three children who, while visiting a tourist site, accidentally recorded their substitute teacher committing a crime, triggering a chain of events. What truly piqued Lin Xing’s interest was the boldness of the theme.

Many adults see children as simple and innocent, never imagining how wicked they can truly be. In reality, many children bully others at school with such cruelty that it’s almost unbearable to recount, yet this is the world we live in.

Lin Xing was invited to play a math teacher in this drama. The character was complex—dark and shadowy—someone who might initially seem honest. He had uprooted his life to be with his wife, essentially becoming a live-in son-in-law. In his eyes, they were meant to spend their lives together, yet his wife wanted a divorce. This was something he couldn’t accept. He believed that if he eliminated his in-laws, his wife would have no one else but him.

Besides him, the other main character was one of the children, a boy who seemed to be gradually sinking into an abyss—or perhaps he had been there all along.

Lin Xing read through all twelve episodes, completely immersed. If it hadn’t been for Xiao Nan reminding him it was time for lunch, he would have read it again, as he sensed many metaphorical layers within the details.

“Let’s go to the company,” Lin Xing said, dialing Dao Jie’s number as he spoke to Xiao Nan.

“Okay,” Xiao Nan replied, puzzled by his sudden decision but following him promptly.

“Dao Jie, are you at the company now?” Lin Xing asked.

Dao Jie nodded gently. “Yes, I’m here. What’s up? Is it about the online situation? Don’t worry; their tactics have become increasingly despicable. We don’t need to respond—they’re just clowns now.”

“No, Dao Jie, that’s not what I mean. Wait for me; we’ll talk face to face,” Lin Xing said before hanging up.

Dao Jie was left bewildered. What was going on? Why was Lin Xing in such a hurry to see her?

When Lin Xing arrived at the company and explained, Dao Jie was stunned.

“Wait, A Xing, you’re saying you want to take on ‘The Wicked Child’?” Dao Jie stared at him in disbelief. “Are you serious? Is this a joke?”

Lin Xing smiled. “Dao Jie, do you think I’d be rushing here to joke with you?”

“But have you read the script?” Dao Jie pressed. “Though it seems you’re the lead, the three children are really the main protagonists. And your character’s image… it’s a bit complicated.”

“I know, but I like the script,” Lin Xing said. “You can talk to the producers first. I still have to return to the ‘Portrait of a Murderer’ crew. When I’m back, I’ll discuss it with them in detail.”

Dao Jie tried to persuade him. “A Xing, whether the script is good or not, taking this role will be at least a 270-degree turn in your career, if not a full 360.”

Lin Xing chuckled. “Contact the producers first. I know what I’m doing.”

“Alright then,” Dao Jie conceded, seeing his determination.

She knew Lin Xing well—if he was ready, there was no stopping him. But she still felt this script was unsuitable. Lin Xing had already become somewhat typecast as a villain thanks to his role in Zhou Bo’s project. Taking on this role could cement that image, which would be detrimental to his future opportunities.

Moreover, although ‘Portrait of a Murderer’ was a crime thriller, Dao Jie knew it couldn’t compare to ‘Sweeping Black Waves.’ The cast alone was several tiers below. She hadn’t expected ‘Portrait of a Murderer’ to be a massive hit, but she had hoped it might slightly shift Lin Xing’s image. Instead, before she could find a script to continue reshaping his persona, Lin Xing seemed intent on reverting it.

“Alright, Dao Jie, that’s settled,” Lin Xing glanced at the time. “Let’s go. You probably haven’t eaten yet. I’ll treat you today.”

At the dinner table, Dao Jie tried once more to dissuade him, but the look in Lin Xing’s eyes extinguished her resolve. She decided to investigate the script and the production team later.

After all, Dao Jie had never heard of the writer, and the script didn’t even mention a director. Usually, when a script is handed over, the production team is well underway. How could there be no director listed?

Since Lin Xing liked the script, she would let him pursue it but promised to keep a close watch. Over the years, many scripts had been traps—promising gold but ending in disaster. This was all too common in the entertainment industry.

Several actors had been deceived by scripts, only to be thoroughly let down during filming.

“By the way, one more thing,” Lin Xing said to Xiao Nan as they parted ways. “Give my signed photos to Dao Jie; have her find a way to get them to the fans. Also…” He paused. “Tell Dao Jie to remind the fans not to wait for me late at night anymore. It’s not good for anyone.”

“Got it,” Dao Jie nodded.

That afternoon, Lin Xing headed to the imperial city airport.

“Everyone, please don’t crowd,” Lin Xing suddenly called out to some fans at the airport. “Don’t disturb others. I’ve prepared signed photos for you all.”

He pulled out the photos from his bag.

“Line up, one per person.”

Lin Xing organized the fans into a neat line. These were photos he had signed beforehand, knowing fans might show up. He had always been generous with autographs, signing whenever he could.

“That’s enough—one each. Please don’t get too excited or noisy; don’t disturb the passersby. Everyone, please leave now.”

He gestured gently for them to disperse.

This exchange—from fans eager to surround him, to Lin Xing producing the photos, to calmly managing the queue—took little time and caused no real disruption.

Only after Lin Xing boarded his plane did bystanders begin to react.

“Wait, was that Lin Xing just now?”

“Really? That’s Lin Xing? He seems different from what people say online.”

“Wasn’t he supposed to have snapped at fans today?”

“You’re mistaken. He wasn’t snapping at fans; he just didn’t want them waiting for him late at night. Plus, he even signed photos for some of them.”

“Yeah, but I really didn’t expect he’d come prepared with so many signed photos.”

Passersby chatted among themselves, while some fans explained his behavior. Almost immediately after Lin Xing boarded, a new topic trended on Weibo: #LinXingGivesAutographsAtAirport#.

On the plane, Lin Xing continued to pore over “The Wicked Child” script. His character, before eliminating his in-laws, wrestled with inner turmoil—not fear of murder, but a desperate hope for a chance. When he learned there was none, he resolved to climb the mountain—then kill. His seemingly flawless plan was uncovered by three children. The teacher’s wickedness ironically became a cautionary tale.

…

(End of chapter)