The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles-Chapter 160: Unorthodox Path? The Right Path is the One That Can Extend Life!

The accusation from Xiao Ran's agent instantly ignited Lin Wan's fury.

She took a step forward, instinctively shielding Jiang Ci behind her.

Her stance showed she was prepared to protect her own person here, even at the cost of tearing up all pretense of civility.

She could tolerate commercial competition, but she absolutely could not tolerate the other side using this method to insult an actor's understanding of a character.

However, the battle manifesto she had prepared in her mind had not yet had a chance to be spoken.

Hou Hsiao-hsien finally made his first clear move.

He raised his hand.

Towards that distraught, grimacing agent of Xiao Ran, he made a "please be quiet" gesture.

Xiao Ran's agent's roar came to an abrupt halt.

Hou Hsiao-hsien's gaze calmly fell upon him.

"My film set does not need anyone other than the actors to define the characters."

These words held no reprimand.

Yet they carried more weight than any harsh vocabulary.

The color drained completely from Xiao Ran's agent's face in that instant.

He realized he had overstepped.

He had thoroughly provoked this director who held absolute authority within the industry.

Hou Hsiao-hsien did not look at him again.

His gaze turned back to Jiang Ci.

A trace of clear emotion finally appeared on that impassive, ancient-well-like face.

It was an approving look, the kind one gives when finding a kindred spirit, a worthy opponent.

He smiled.

"The role of Shen Qingyuan."

"Needs a 'psychopath' to play it."

Boom!

A tidal wave surged in the heart of every person present.

Xiao Ran's body swayed violently.

The confidence, the composure on his face, and the awkwardness that had just surfaced due to his agent's loss of composure, all shattered.

Lost?

He had actually lost?

His analysis of the character's humanity, his portrayal of the inner pain, every detail was practically perfect.

That was a textbook-level answer.

He couldn't understand.

His agent standing beside him was utterly despondent.

That face was even paler than when he had been warned by Hou Hsiao-hsien just moments ago.

Everything was finished.

Not only had he messed up this audition, but he had also offended Hou Hsiao-hsien.

Even more terrifying, he had personally pushed this role right into the hands of their rival.

He could even foresee that he and Xiao Ran would become the biggest joke of today's situation.

As for Lin Wan.

Her tense body finally relaxed.

Looking at Jiang Ci's still calm back in front of her.

She knew it!

The person she had chosen was a unique genius!

An outcome within expectations.

This was Jiang Ci.

Amidst the starkly different reactions of the several people.

Hou Hsiao-hsien picked up that black script.

Then, under Xiao Ran's almost-shattering gaze, he personally handed it to Jiang Ci.

"Take the script back and study it well."

"Shen Qingyuan is yours."

Xiao Ran's body trembled again.

That script he had dreamed of, that he thought was surely within his grasp, now drifted so lightly into another person's hands.

He looked at Hou Hsiao-hsien in disbelief, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.

Question? Refusal to accept? Or pleading?

But in the end, not a single word came out.

Under Hou Hsiao-hsien's calm yet absolute gaze, any words seemed pale and powerless.

Jiang Ci took the script.

In his hands, it felt slightly heavy.

Carrying the unique texture of paper.

Hou Hsiao-hsien did not spare another glance for Xiao Ran, who stood rooted to the spot.

He just added one more sentence to Jiang Ci.

"However, the filming start date is to be determined."

"The preparation work for this film will be very long, several months, half a year, or even longer. Wait for my notification."

Half a year?

Lin Wan's heart lifted slightly.

From what she knew, Jiang Ci's scenes in *The Legend of Han and Chu* would be wrapped up in at most another month or so!

For an actor on the rise, a gap period of over half a year was enough for any kind of change to occur.

Jiang Ci, however, didn't care in the slightest.

His mind had already rapidly pulled up the system panel.

The Heartbreak Value harvested after the release of *Palace Conspiracy*.

The long-tail effect brought by the continued online fermentation of the General Gu character after its broadcast.

And the massive amount of Heartbreak Value harvested on set a few days ago while filming the 'The Farewell My Concubine' scene.

【Life Balance: 1110 days】

【Heartbreak Value Balance: 3673 points】

Over three years of life reserves.

Never mind half a year, even waiting a full year, he could afford it completely.

He even felt this timing was just right.

It would allow him to calmly finish filming *The Legend of Han and Chu*, then take on one or two "short, simple, fast" tragic roles.

He could harvest a wave of Heartbreak Value and pile his life balance up to an even safer number.

"No problem."

Jiang Ci nodded, agreeing crisply and decisively.

Ignoring the stunned and rigid master-servant pair of Xiao Ran, Hou Hsiao-hsien said to Jiang Ci and Lin Wan:

"My assistant will see you out."

"Screenwriter Lin, we'll communicate about the script details later."

These words completely declared the end of this "audition."

And pronounced the "death sentence" on Xiao Ran.

That middle-aged assistant who had remained silent all along walked over at the opportune moment.

He made a "please" gesture towards Lin Wan and Jiang Ci.

Lin Wan gave Hou Hsiao-hsien a solemn nod.

Then, pulling Jiang Ci along, she turned and left.

From beginning to end, she did not look at Xiao Ran again.

For the defeated, disregard is the greatest contempt.

The two of them walked past Xiao Ran.

Right at the moment Jiang Ci brushed past him.

Xiao Ran finally couldn't hold back.

He looked at Jiang Ci.

Using a voice suppressed with extreme anger and humiliation, he squeezed a sentence out from between his teeth.

"Your style of acting is a crooked, unorthodox path."

The voice was very low.

Yet filled with venom.

Jiang Ci's footsteps did not pause in the slightest.

He couldn't even be bothered to give a sideways glance in reaction.

A crooked, unorthodox path?

If it can extend life, then it's the proper path.

Besides, he had always only stood from the perspective of the script's character to understand the character's motives, what kind of crooked path was that?

...

That heavy wooden door slowly closed behind them.

On the other side.

Xiao Ran's agent finally retrieved a sliver of his wits from that soul-scattered state.

Supporting the dispirited Xiao Ran, he practically staggered out of the garden.

They got into that all-black entourage van.

"Bang!"

The car door closed.

The look of terror and despair on the agent's face was instantly replaced by a cold, venomous resentment.

He picked up his phone.

Dialed a number.

The call was quickly connected.

Speaking into the phone, he used a completely different tone, one carrying a trace of fawning obsequiousness.

"Hello, Manager Liu? Yes, it's me."

"Director Hou's side... we lost."

"Probably, Director Hou himself also gave consideration to Lin Wan being the screenwriter's status, that's why we failed!"

Xiao Ran's agent was still trying to save face, not wanting his loss to look so ugly.

The person on the other end of the phone seemed to say something.

The agent kept agreeing, his posture extremely humble.

"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right."

"However..."

His tone shifted. A flash of ruthlessness passed through his eyes, which were bloodshot from jealousy and resentment.

"I do have a method."

"To make that guy surnamed Jiang, even if he gets the role, never be able to join the crew."