Chapter Forty-Seven: Drama and Villain

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“Sweeping the Black Waves?” Lin Xing was taken aback. “I’ve heard of it. A lot of marketing accounts have been posting about it. After all, it’s a serious drama.”

“That’s right. Even though the production isn’t huge, the quality is top-notch, so a lot of people are keeping an eye on it.” Feng Gang smiled. “And the entire cast is made up of seasoned actors, all of whom are eager to elevate their craft. That’s why I wanted to ask if you’d be interested.”

Lin Xing knew that Feng Gang wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest.

“Sweeping the Black Waves” was adapted from the first book of Liao Qingshan’s crime trilogy, “Storm over Jinghai,” directed by Zu Ming. And the chief scriptwriter was none other than Liao Qingshan himself.

It was, in every sense, a coveted opportunity.

A serious, mainstream drama, and with the combination of Zu Ming and Liao Qingshan, the quality was almost guaranteed.

But projects like this typically excluded popular idol actors on principle.

Except for a handful of fans who unrealistically believed their favorites were a perfect fit, most people understood that if a traffic-star tried to join in, it would be a complete mismatch.

Not to mention idol actors—even take Fu Shu as an example. He used to be one of the four leading young actors, and his acting was certainly strong, even approaching veteran status. Yet, when he joined Zu Ming’s “The Road to Power” two years ago, he wasn’t just overshadowed by the leads—even supporting actors like Cai Ying, Liu Bo, and Lei Yunfei outperformed him, one after another.

It was truly a case of being outclassed on every level.

That was when many finally realized what it meant to see actors battling it out on screen, and what it felt like to be utterly outshined.

So, serious dramas and idol dramas are worlds apart. Serious dramas never cater to a tiny fan market—they’re aimed at the broader audience.

For that reason, mainstream dramas almost never look to cast idol actors.

Other shows might use a formula of pairing popular idols with veteran actors—letting the former bring in viewers and the latter guarantee quality.

But in serious dramas, such things are rare.

They simply don’t need the traffic.

On the contrary, many idol actors want to ride the coattails of such productions, but that usually only happens when they self-invest and use their influence to land the lead role, with veteran actors merely supporting them.

But you can’t call those “serious dramas.”

A true serious drama is a project like the ones Zu Ming directs.

And with scripts like this, there’s simply no place for a traffic-star, no matter how hard you try to squeeze them in.

After all, actors and idol entertainers are two entirely different tracks.

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So when he heard Feng Gang’s suggestion, Lin Xing gave a wry smile. “Director Feng, this isn’t about whether I want to do it. It’s about whether I’m worthy.”

He didn’t believe for a second that a little popularity from “Du Fei’s Blaze” was enough to make him special.

For a script like “Sweeping the Black Waves,” Lin Xing didn’t even need to consider it—they wouldn’t consider him.

“You don’t need to worry about that. I still have some sway with Zu Ming.” Feng Gang was straightforward. “I can guarantee you an audition, but I won’t promise you’ll get the part.”

He paused, then asked, “So, do you want to give it a try?”

“Yes, thank you, Director Feng.” Lin Xing spoke gratefully. “No matter what happens, I appreciate it.”

“No need to thank me. If I’d really turned things around, I could have gotten you a role outright…” Feng Gang waved a hand. “Since that’s how it is, I’ll call Zu Ming now to arrange an audition. I’ve read the script, and I suggest you try out for the role of Zhou Bo.”

“Zhou Bo?” Lin Xing repeated.

“Yes, Zhou Bo is a villain, but he has plenty of scenes in ‘Sweeping the Black Waves.’” Feng Gang said, “Sometimes villains are actually easier to play than heroes. If you don’t handle a positive character well, they can come off as sanctimonious, but a villain has a growth arc and a more fleshed-out personality. If you read the original novel, you’d see how three-dimensional Zhou Bo is. Also…”

There was something Feng Gang didn’t say aloud: the lead roles for “Sweeping the Black Waves” had long been decided, and he believed Lin Xing would know that if he’d been following the drama.

Which meant the remaining parts were supporting roles. The second lead hero wouldn’t shine as much as the villain.

If Feng Gang hadn’t seen Lin Xing’s performance in “Waiting Only for You,” he wouldn’t have recommended him for this.

First, Lin Xing had genuine acting ability—that was most important. Second, his old friend was an expert at coaching actors.

A director isn’t just about directing—they act too.

The saying, “A director who can’t act isn’t a good director,” isn’t a joke—it’s the truth.

Why do actors’ performances vary so wildly from one project to another? Because the director is different.

Feng Gang felt that if Lin Xing was serious about pursuing acting, joining the team of “Sweeping the Black Waves” would be a tremendous opportunity.

Of course, all Feng Gang could do was make the introduction.

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Whether Lin Xing could actually succeed would ultimately depend on him.

After confirming Lin Xing’s interest, Feng Gang immediately called Zu Ming.

“Come on, Old Feng, are you kidding me?” Zu Ming was in a meeting with his crew when he picked up the call, sounding exasperated. “You know what kind of project this is. You want to throw a traffic-star into the mix? That’s ridiculous.”

Feng Gang laughed. “Old Zu, Lin Xing is different. He can actually act. In—”

“Old Feng.” Zu Ming cut him off. “You said this last night. But his performance in ‘Waiting Only for You’ wasn’t anything special—what, you call that good acting? Besides, Old Feng, my main cast is already set, and there’s no suitable role for Lin Xing. Next time, I promise I’ll save him a part.”

“Yeah, right! Who doesn’t know you, Zu Ming? All promises, never delivered.” Feng Gang replied, annoyed. “Just hear me out, will you? I’m not saying you have to use Lin Xing. You said yourself some roles are still being auditioned—what about Zhou Bo? Can’t you at least let Lin Xing try out for that role? Just give him a chance.”

“Hm? Zhou Bo?” Zu Ming was surprised. “Lin Xing is willing to play a villain?”

Feng Gang chuckled. “Zu Ming, I told you Lin Xing isn’t like other traffic-stars. You’ll see when you meet him. Just do me this favor, all right?”

“Fine. Three days from now, let him come for the audition. That’s the day we’re testing for Zhou Bo. I’ll have my assistant send you the time and place…” Zu Ming realized he couldn’t say no after Feng Gang insisted. Finally, he added, “But Old Feng, if Lin Xing’s performance is mediocre, I really can’t use him. Don’t lose your temper with me then.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. That’s settled, then.” Feng Gang said and hung up.

On the other end, Zu Ming shook his head and laughed to himself.

Lin Xing auditioning for Zhou Bo? The very thought was surreal.

…