Chapter 123: Setting the Narrative, Actors Off-Screen, Treatment

Lin Xing was not someone who held grudges.

Moreover, he was a public figure.

In Lin Xing's view, audiences had every right to critique. If any viewer happened to dislike a certain drama or a specific character, they were entirely free to voice their criticisms.

Criticism was not cyberbullying.

Some athletes and celebrities cried cyberbullying at the slightest hint of disapproval, which Lin Xing found utterly shameless.

If your performance was terrible, why shouldn't ordinary people be allowed to point it out?

However, "Old Wang Reviews Movies" was a different story entirely.

Was his critique neutral and objective?

Not at all.

It was pure, deliberate feigning of ignorance, playing with semantics under the guise of neutrality and objectivity.

Why had this same "Old Wang Reviews Movies" remained completely silent during the peak broadcast of "Hunting the Dark"?

Even when another prominent social media influencer, Old Zhong, repeatedly tagged him, Old Wang refused to make a peep.

Was it not because "Hunting the Dark" was airing at that time, and netizens were deeply immersed in the show? Back then, the prevailing public sentiment was essentially: "You can bash Lin Xing, but how dare you claim Lin Xing has no acting skills."

Because of that atmosphere, Old Wang hadn't dared to show his face.

Fast forward to the present, March 15th, more than two months since "Hunting the Dark" concluded its run. The online buzz had died down considerably, even though many people were still discussing it or creating secondary derivative content.

Compared to the premiere period, however, the hype was vastly diminished.

This "Old Wang Reviews Movies" was quite clever. He chose the lowest-risk strategy, dropping his critique two months after Lin Xing's show had finished airing, and at a time when Lin Xing had no new dramas on the screen.

What he hadn't anticipated, however, was that within mere minutes of publishing his Weibo post, the official Weibo account for "Profiling the Killer" released its premiere date announcement.

April 1st, broadcasting right on schedule.

This amounted to free publicity for "Profiling the Killer."

Didn't you claim Lin Xing's good acting was merely the benefit of riding the coattails of the character Zhou Bo?

Didn't you claim that many contemporary dramas nowadays always revolve around scumbags and mistresses?

Didn't you claim that crime-investigation dramas had become utterly boring?

Very well.

"Profiling the Killer" decided to purchase a trending topic for "Old Wang Reviews Movies," while also creating a dream collaboration with him.

"Everyone is welcome to check out 'Profiling the Killer' on April 1st, see how Lin Xing performs in this series, and decide for yourselves whether this crime drama is different from the usual tropes."

"Even though I think Old Wang makes some fair points, I'm still going to tune in on April 1st."

"I have no problem with Old Wang criticizing traffic-driven stars, but he was completely wrong about Lin Xing before, and he never even apologized."

"I honestly can't tell whether Old Wang hates traffic stars or just holds a personal grudge against Lin Xing."

"Lol, personally I doubt Lin Xing will show any major changes in this web series."

……

"I'll put my words right here: I personally believe 'Profiling the Killer' is going to be good. I trust Lin Xing."

"As a fan of Lin Xing, you can say I'm biased, but I believe in him."

"Are people still trusting this old fraud? Let me ask you this, did he ever apologize for his previous remarks??"

"Hahaha, Old Wang, this isn't the days when you could gang up on someone and beat them down without consequence, is it?"

……

Suddenly, the heat and traffic surrounding "Old Wang Reviews Movies"'s latest Weibo post skyrocketed.

In truth, Old Wang wanted to curse the moment he published that complaint video.

Damn it.

Were they playing scripts with him?

The exact moment he finished posting his critique video, they announced the premiere date for a new drama?!

Of course, Old Wang wasn't genuinely worried. Deep down, he refused to believe Lin Xing could deliver another performance as convincing as Zhou Bo in "Hunting the Dark."

Stop dreaming; a truly classic, excellent drama was a rare stroke of luck that could not be forced.

To look no further, what about Wang Fei and Song Wen from "Hunting the Dark"? How many years had it been since they last acted in a good drama after starring in that classic piece?

If not for "Hunting the Dark" this time, they probably would have been forgotten long ago.

Back in the day, weren't they far more popular than Lin Xing?

Yet what did that matter?

Audiences were notoriously fickle. Unless you could sustain your popularity through continuous works, you would eventually fade into obscurity—it was common for a celebrity to soar high on one hit only to plummet into irrelevance with the very next project.

In the entire entertainment industry, Old Wang had never seen an artist who could remain permanently relevant.

Well, aside from the legendary Heavenly Kings, everyone else inevitably faded away after a brief period of fame.

Then came total oblivion by the audience.

Lin Xing would certainly be no exception.

Lightning doesn't strike three times.

He might have lucked out by playing a special role in "Just to Wait for You," and he might have won recognition through the supporting role of Zhou Bo in "Hunting the Dark," but could he become popular again entirely relying on a web series?

Are you kidding me?

Does he really think he's the absolute protagonist in real life?

Because of this mindset, Old Wang genuinely didn't take "Profiling the Killer" seriously—until his Weibo post went viral and became inextricably linked to the drama.

Since Old Wang frequently built his career on riding trending topics and tearing down popular stars, it was time to sacrifice him to the gods of publicity.

The effect didn't need to be massive; it just needed a solid foundation.

Lin Xing had discussed this matter with Ma Wen.

For any drama, you had to ignite the audience's desire for discussion; even harsh criticism was infinitely better than being completely ignored.

Just like the previous promotional campaigns where, aside from Lin Xing forwarding posts, virtually no one cared whether "Profiling the Killer" was good or bad.

But things were different now.

As a major influencer whose livelihood depended on tearing down films and television shows, "Old Wang Reviews Movies" had first criticized the various cliché tropes of domestic dramas, and then launched a targeted attack on Lin Xing.

Normally, this wouldn't have been a big deal.

However, Lin Xing's new drama "Profiling the Killer" was about to premiere, locked in for an April 1st release.

Old Wang, wasn't your favorite tactic digging up old dirt on popular actors, taking out-of-context screenshots, and setting up straw men to attack them?

Well, now it was your turn.

Other entertainment influencers eagerly dug up screenshots of Old Wang's pre-broadcast commentary on "Hunting the Dark," tagged him, and mocked: "Planning to step into the exact same trap a second time??"

The influencer circle was fiercely competitive.

Everyone was fighting for a slice of the pie to make a living, which often meant that if someone else hogged all the traffic, you starved.

Besides, if an established figure like Old Wang fell, several smaller players could feast on his remains.

Thus, once the hype gained momentum, numerous creators eagerly jumped into the fray.

Internal competition among these big accounts was just as brutal.

Everyone dreamed of eliminating their rivals.

Once the narrative momentum was rolling, "Profiling the Killer" didn't need to do anything further; genuine casual viewers would naturally start debating the show.

And that was more than enough.

For Lin Xing, Old Wang wasn't important.

As long as he was useful, that was all that mattered.

After a night of online fermentation, although "Profiling the Killer" was still somewhat lacking in organic presence, it had at least made a splashing debut in the public eye today.

That was sufficient.

Old Wang, on the other hand, found himself caught in a dilemma.

He had built his reputation on being a sharp-tongued critic, an online persona he could not afford to drop. Once an influencer's persona collapsed, no one would ever listen to their spiel again.

Old Wang had originally planned to wait until the dust of "Hunting the Dark" completely settled before stepping out.

What he hadn't expected was that over the years of playing the critic, he had offended quite a few people. As long as you were riding high, naturally no one dared to provoke you.

The moment you stumbled into a pit, however, a massive crowd would rush over to hurl stones at you.

Celebrities often lost themselves after achieving sudden fame, and the same held true for internet film critics of humble origins like Old Wang. Believing they held the secret code to web traffic, imagining they could flip hands to summon clouds and rain, and treating their fans as easily manipulated tools, it was only a matter of time before they crashed and burned.

Unable to back down now, Old Wang hastily published a new Weibo post: "I admit that I had some misjudgments regarding Lin Xing initially, as I hadn't expected his acting skills to be above average. But that's where it ends. I have no personal issues with him, and I certainly don't believe he will pull off anything remarkable in 'Profiling the Killer'."

Heh.

This post elicited a light chuckle from Lin Xing.

Perfect.

Old Wang had just provided him with two rounds of free promotion in a single day.

He trusted Ma Wen knew exactly how to handle the next steps.

The following day, Lin Xing boarded a plane to Tan Province to participate in the recording of the variety show "Tonight's Drama."

"Brother Xing, there are a total of three production crews participating in 'Tonight's Drama' this time: 'The Correct Way to Independence,' 'It's Hard to Be a Good Man,' and our own crew for 'Profiling the Killer'..."

On the plane, Xiao Nan briefed Lin Xing: "It must have been a deliberate arrangement by the production team. All three crews are working on contemporary urban dramas this time. Moreover, 'The Correct Way to Independence' features dual female leads, we have dual male leads, while 'It's Hard to Be a Good Man' is led by a female protagonist..."

Listening to Xiao Nan, Lin Xing smiled. "Looking at it that way, it certainly isn't a coincidence."

Xiao Nan nodded gently. "Exactly. After all, the selection of which crews to invite is entirely up to their production team."

That was the harsh reality.

Compared to powerful variety show programs, drama production crews were always in a weaker position. If you wanted to appear on their shows, you had to wait in line, await notifications, and even submit to whatever pairing arrangements they designed.

"The Correct Way to Independence' is bringing quite a few artists. Aside from Zhao Yining and Xu Tong, there's also Han Long, Lin Yu, and Ah Hai—totaling five people. As for 'It's Hard to Be a Good Man,' they're sending their two main leads, Wei Ying and Hu He..."

"Recording officially starts tomorrow at 12:00 PM, but this afternoon we need to go meet with their production team. The main purpose is to go over tomorrow's rules, get familiar with everyone, and run through a rehearsal for stage positions."

"We arrive at 4:00 PM. I'm not sure about the other crews, but I doubt we'll be scheduled at the same time."

……

On the flight, Xiao Nan succinctly outlined the itinerary.

Upon landing at the airport, staff members were already waiting to handle the reception and arrangements.

"Hello, Teacher Lin. This is the script for our current episode. Please take a look at it first. If there's anything unclear or that you don't understand, feel free to let us know anytime. We'll be holding a briefing meeting at 4:00 PM this afternoon..."

The staff member responsible for Lin Xing's accommodation handed him the script while they were still in the car.

Guests appearing on "Tonight's Drama" generally received zero performance fees—being invited on the show was already a privilege—though the production team covered meals, lodging, and round-trip airfare.

The hotel was located not far from the broadcasting building of "Tonight's Drama," making logistics relatively convenient.

After checking into the hotel and getting settled, the staff members took their leave.

"Right, I've arrived."

Half an hour later, Lin Xing received a call from Zhou Wei.

Zhou Wei had been filming a cameo role nearby in Tan Province, so he had timed his travel to coincide with Lin Xing's arrival.

"Alright, Ah Xing. I'm not far from that hotel. I'll head over as soon as I wrap up this scene. I definitely won't be late for 4:00 PM, I can make it by 2:00 PM at the latest."

After finishing the call, Zhou Wei returned to his shooting.

Apart from Zhou Wei, Ning Rong had arrived at 1:30 PM.

She hadn't joined any major production crew yet this year since no suitable roles had come her way, so she simply took up variety show appearances. Top-tier shows were out of her reach, but she frequently recorded smaller, lesser-known programs just to earn travel expenses and a modest appearance fee.

"Brother Xing..."

After settling into her hotel room, Ning Rong came over to Lin Xing's room and asked with a smile, "Are you about to head into your next crew's production??"

"Yes, after finishing this variety show, I'll be heading to Hong Kong."

Lin Xing nodded gently. "What about you? What have you been busy with lately?"

Ning Rong said with a touch of embarrassment, "I naturally can't compare to you, Brother Xing. I don't have any acting projects right now, so I've simply been recording a few minor variety shows like 'Tonight is Not Off' and 'Stars Come Knocking'."

"I see."

Though Lin Xing had never heard of them, he replied encouragingly, "As long as you have work coming in, that's a good thing."

Ning Rong was slightly taken aback. She had expected Lin Xing to offer words of perseverance or encourage her to hold on, but remembering that Lin Xing had once walked a similar path, she smiled and said, "You're right, having work is already a blessing."

Neither of them had eaten lunch, so they decided to head to the hotel restaurant. On their way, they ran into Zhao Yining and Xu Tong, though the two actresses were tightly surrounded by their entourages and didn't even notice Lin Xing.

Ning Rong sighed softly. "Brother Xing, there are so few people like you who don't put on airs."

That was the absolute truth.

While filming "Profiling the Killer," she had assumed that Lin Xing, who was soaring in popularity at the time, would at least spend his breaks inside a luxury motorhome, or at the very least maintain a strict distance from the rest of the cast.

Instead, Lin Xing showed zero pretension and frequently lent a helping hand around the set.

"It's understandable, considering how high their popularity is right now. What if something unexpected happens?"

Lin Xing said nonchalantly.

Ning Rong blinked, then nodded lightly. "True."

Never speak ill of others behind their backs—Ning Rong realized she still needed a lot of practice in this industry.

Shortly after they finished eating, Zhou Wei arrived.

The three of them were participating in "Tonight's Drama" together, though the focus of the episode would clearly revolve around Lin Xing.

"Ah Xing, 'Tonight's Drama' is mostly based on interactive segments, but it's clear they're going to center things around Zhao Yining's crew..."

As Zhou Wei spoke, a hint of sarcasm crept into his voice. "That woman has always loved hogging the spotlight."

Ning Rong felt her mental discipline was improving; listening to Zhou Wei, he wasn't just talking behind someone's back, he was practically swearing.

"Have you worked together before?"

Lin Xing asked, somewhat surprised by Zhou Wei's tone.

"Almost."

Mentioning the incident made Zhou Wei's blood boil. "I was originally scheduled to cast in Zhao Yining's previous drama, 'Youth Without Regrets.' But during filming, Zhao Yining kept stumbling over her lines because she couldn't catch my rhythm. After messing up twice, she actually threw a tantrum and blamed me for not being familiar with the script..."

At this, Zhou Wei dropped a curse word. "She was the one reading her lines off cue-cards held by her assistant right in front of the camera, yet she had the nerve to claim I didn't know my lines!"

Naturally, Zhou Wei was promptly fired from the production.

His role in that drama had actually been quite substantial, with plenty of standout moments.

Yet because Zhao Yining deemed him "unfamiliar with the script," he was shown the door.

Though three years had passed, Zhou Wei still grew furious thinking about it.

"Brother Zhou, you definitely need to keep your temper in check during the recording," Ning Rong quickly advised. "Please make sure not to lose your composure."

"Do I look like a complete idiot to you?"

Zhou Wei looked at Ning Rong with amusement. "I'm just venting to you guys. When the actual recording starts, why would I get angry? We finally got a chance to come on 'Tonight's Drama' to promote 'Profiling the Killer.' I'm just warning Ah Xing to keep his distance from Zhao Yining during the show. That girl has a massive ego, a petty mindset, and has never cared about industry etiquette."

Lin Xing nodded calmly. "I understand."

Actors often presented one side of themselves to the public while revealing their true colors behind closed doors.

While Zhao Yining's public persona was high emotional intelligence and gentle temperament, Zhou Wei described her behavior as resembling a spoiled neighborhood bully.

Fortunately, they wouldn't have to worry about running into Zhao Yining just yet.

At 4:00 PM, when Lin Xing, Zhou Wei, and Ning Rong arrived at the recording studio, "The Correct Way to Independence" crew was nowhere to be seen.

"Ah Xing, I honestly didn't expect us to cross paths again so soon."

Seeing Lin Xing, Mimi hurried over. "I originally wanted to pick you up at the airport, but I was simply too swamped. I had to participate in the recording of 'Set Off Immediately' and only arrived at the station by noon. Otherwise, I definitely would have come to fetch you."

"Sister Mimi, you're being far too polite," Lin Xing replied promptly.

"What politeness? As the host here, it's only right for me to look after you. Here's what we'll do—let's get together for a meal tonight so I can properly welcome you..."

As Mimi spoke, she pulled Lin Xing over to introduce him to the others present.

Not stopping there, Mimi even introduced Lin Xing to the chief director, Liang Hui: "Director Hui, make sure to give Ah Xing plenty of screen time later on."

Liang Hui laughed. "No problem at all. How could I refuse an arrangement made by Sister Mimi?"

No one present could hide their astonishment.

Given Lin Xing's current industry standing, they felt he didn't possess the clout to warrant such a grand introduction from Mimi.

Judging by how previous guests were treated—even major draws like Zhao Yining and Xu Tong only received standard polite networking from Mimi—this treatment was unprecedented.

Why Lin Xing?

Everyone was baffled.

However, no one voiced their confusion or discussed it openly.

After all, business came first.

"The games are usually standard formats, but it all depends on which ones you're comfortable participating in, Ah Xing."

Director Liang pointed at a few options and said, "These specific games have higher physical difficulty, so you might want to skip them. While nothing usually goes wrong, we don't like putting our guests through harsh treatment the way other networks do."

Lin Xing smiled. "Thank you, Director Liang, but there's no need for special treatment. I'll follow the script completely; those games won't be a problem for me at all."

……

……