The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles-Chapter 163: Heartbreak on All Channels

The atmosphere in Spark Media's conference room was electric.

"Sister Wan! We got through! Professor Liu from Beijing Film Academy, he absolutely hates how young actors these days perform without any thought behind it."

"As soon as I explained our theory to him, he got so excited he slammed the table and said he's going to write a critical essay tonight, pulling an all-nighter!"

"The design department has already produced the graphics! They made a comparison chart using those shots of General Gu and Ma Lu."

"Paired with the copy you provided—'He killed himself to let the character live forever'—the effect is explosive!"

"Several of our collaborating film critics have also started moving! They're saying this concept is fucking amazing!"

The Public Relations Director held his phone, his hand trembling slightly from excessive excitement.

"Sister Wan, that repost by 'Film Cynic' has completely muddied the waters!"

"Now loads of film school students are writing mini-essays under our topic, analyzing the details of Jiang Ci's performance!"

"The anti-fans and paid posters are still cursing, but their voices are already being diluted!"

"We... we might have actually turned a certain-death situation around!"

Lin Wan stood at the center of the conference room, the eye of this storm.

There was no wild joy on her face, only a calm that suggested everything was under control.

She knew this was only the first step.

Right at that moment, Lin Wan's personal phone rang abruptly.

The buzzing vibration instantly silenced the entire conference room.

The gazes of her subordinates converged uniformly on that phone.

Lin Wan picked up the phone.

The name flashing on the screen made her heart tighten violently.

Lang Feng Menswear, Director Wang.

A call from the client at this hour?

The color drained from the Public Relations Director's face.

It's over.

They must be calling to demand an explanation.

The brand spent a million in endorsement fees to hire a spokesperson, only for that spokesperson to immediately get saddled with a black trending topic about "psychopathic acting."

What client could tolerate that?

"Sister Wan..."

The Public Relations Director's voice even carried a tremble.

Lin Wan raised her hand, stopping him.

She walked to the window and swiped to answer.

"Director Wang."

Her voice betrayed no emotion whatsoever.

From the other end of the line came a crisp, laughing female voice.

"Director Lin, congratulations."

"You've fought a beautiful comeback battle."

These two sentences completely blocked all the explanations and PR talking points Lin Wan had prepared in her throat.

Congratulations?

She tried to gauge the other party's intent, maintaining her watertight composure.

"You flatter me, Director Wang. It was just a desperate move when pushed to the edge of a cliff."

Director Wang on the other end chuckled lightly.

"Director Lin is too modest."

"'Surgical-style acting,' that concept, is exceptionally well-articulated."

Director Wang's voice carried the penetrating sharpness and acuity unique to top female business leaders.

"It elevates an actor's personal trait from a vague 'feeling' to the height of a definable, discussable academic school."

"This maneuver holds more commercial value than any simple 'handsome' or 'cool'."

Lin Wan's heart settled completely back into place.

She understood.

This Director Wang wasn't just a businessperson.

She was a top-tier predator with a keener sense of smell than a hound.

From this seemingly destructive public opinion storm, she had sniffed out a unique business opportunity!

"Director Wang's vision has always been sharp." Lin Wan offered sincere praise.

"So."

Director Wang stopped beating around the bush and dropped a bombshell directly.

"I have decided to advance the launch of the 'Heartbreak Smile' series advertisement Mr. Jiang Ci shot for us, for a full-channel, multi-platform, saturation-level release."

"We also want to take it a step further!"

Lin Wan's breath hitched for a moment.

Advance the launch?

Saturation-level?

This...

As if guessing her shock, Director Wang continued in an indisputable tone.

"This Saturday, at 5 PM!"

Something seemed to explode in Lin Wan's mind.

Her original plan was a protracted war.

To slowly reverse public opinion using the new concept of "surgical-style acting," to clear Jiang Ci's name, and to pave the way for the start of filming for *The Lurker*.

She had never imagined.

The strongest reinforcement would charge in from the most unexpected angle, in the most domineering manner!

This was no longer just commercial recognition.

This was Director Wang, using the full credibility of "Lang Feng," to provide the highest-level endorsement for her "surgical-style acting" theory!

An abstract, floating academic concept was, in that moment, instantly and irrevocably bound to top-tier commercial value!

"Director Wang..." Lin Wan's voice carried a trace of fluctuation for the first time, "What you're doing carries too much risk."

"The public opinion hasn't completely reversed yet. Launching now could easily face boycotts from anti-fans, potentially harming the brand..."

"Risk?"

Director Wang laughed again on the other end of the line.

That laugh was full of the confidence and madness of an ambitious strategist.

"Director Lin, this isn't called 'risk'."

"This is called 'capturing mindshare'."

"Right now, the entire internet is discussing Jiang Ci, discussing his performance, discussing that broken yet sophisticated smile of his."

"What our 'Lang Feng' needs to do is to deeply bind Jiang Ci, that unique 'Heartbreak Smile' of his, with our brand!"

"I want everyone, the moment they see that smile, to think of our 'Lang Feng'!"

"I want all the struggling strivers in the dead of night to feel a powerful resonance of 'so you understand me' when they see our ad!"

Every word from Director Wang was like a heavy hammer striking a war drum, brimming with force.

"Director Lin, this is top-tier exposure that no amount of money can buy."

Hanging up the phone.

The conference room remained deathly quiet.

Everyone held their breath, watching their boss.

Lin Wan slowly turned around.

She looked out the window at the brilliant nightscape and finally revealed a thoroughly satisfying smile.

She knew.

The scales of this war had completely, and decisively, tipped in her favor.

...

At the same time.

In another luxurious private club in the capital.

A middle-aged man wearing a custom-tailored suit, with a sinister and ruthless face, was looking at the Weibo trending list on his tablet.

Xiao Ran's agent stood beside him, posture humble, reporting the latest developments.

"Manager Liu... Spark Media over there has gone insane."

"They... they aren't deleting posts, they aren't controlling comments. Instead, they fabricated some term called 'surgical-style acting,' packaging Jiang Ci up as some sort of founding figure..."

"Now... now the heat isn't dropping but rising instead. Lots of people are being led astray by their twisted logic..."

The man addressed as "Manager Liu" didn't speak.

He just scrolled through the screen, looking at that glaring #surgical-style acting# hashtag and the countless discussions beneath it.

Suddenly.

He raised his hand and slammed the tablet in his hand fiercely onto the ground!

*Bang!*

The expensive device shattered into pieces instantly.

"Useless!"

Manager Liu looked up, his gaze sinister and ruthless, shooting straight at Xiao Ran's agent.

"Spent a pile of money, bought a bunch of paid posters, and what's the result?"

"The result is you built a stage for your opponent and let him perform a masterpiece for the ages?!"

"Manager Liu, I... I didn't expect that crazy woman Lin Wan to play so far outside the rulebook..."

The agent was so scared his legs went weak.

Manager Liu slowly stood up, meticulously straightening his cuffs.

"Since conventional methods can't tarnish him."

"Then we'll play a different game."

"Go, investigate for me."

"Investigate every piece of dirt on Jiang Ci since his debut, investigate everyone around him!"

"I don't believe a young man in his early twenties can be that clean!"