The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles-Chapter 167: The Conqueror Returns to Meet His Fate!

After leaving the teahouse, Jiang Ci returned to Spark Media.

He told Lin Wan everything about Gu Huai and the script titled "Longing Across Time."

After listening, Lin Wan fell into a rare, prolonged silence.

She leaned back in her office chair, her fingertips tapping soundlessly on the desk.

After a long while, she finally spoke.

"Jiang Ci, you really are quite well-liked wherever you go, aren't you? To meet so many benefactors?"

From Su Qingying and Qin Feng, to Wei Song, and now Gu Huai.

These powerful figures, standing at the pinnacle of the circle, famous for being picky and aloof, have all, one after another, viewed him with special favor.

This kind of luck can no longer be explained by ordinary reasoning.

Facing his boss's teasing, Jiang Ci, with unusual seriousness, retorted.

"Sister Wan, aren't you my benefactor too?"

With that one sentence, he completely blocked everything else Lin Wan was about to say.

She waved her hand with feigned annoyance, but the smile she couldn't hide in her eyes betrayed her.

"Alright, enough flattery."

"I've read the synopsis of the script. The role of Ye Chen has an extremely high concentration of 'bad endings,' and its inherent value is substantial. You won't lose out by playing it."

At this point, Lin Wan's tone drew out slightly, and a hint of mischief entered her gaze.

"As for the kiss scene... consider it your sacrifice for art."

Jiang Ci: "..."

He decisively decided to skip over this dangerous topic.

Just two days later.

A piece of news arrived without warning, stirring up a massive wave across the entire entertainment industry.

[Gu Huai Joins Hands with Starry Sky Pictures to Invest a Whopping 500 Million, Creating the Fantasy Epic "Longing Across Time"!]

Every single word in this headline slammed heavily into the hearts of everyone in the industry.

Gu Huai.

The lowest-profile young Film Emperor, backed by Daylight Entertainment.

Starry Sky Pictures.

The industry leader, where every production is a masterpiece.

Five billion investment.

This figure directly set a new record for the production cost of fantasy genre projects this year.

And that male lead named "Ye Chen" instantly became the eye of the storm.

Sealed away for a thousand years by his beloved, unintentionally hurt again by her reincarnated self, struggling within the cycle of fate, though the ending is ultimately happy.

But in the process, that complex, broken, tragically fated character, paired with this top-tier production team, was an irresistible temptation for virtually every male actor.

Some industry media outlets directly declared.

The role of "Ye Chen" was "the pre-booked entry ticket for the next Film Emperor"!

For a time, the entire circle went completely mad.

Many popular young actors, top-tier idols, mobilized all the capital and connections behind them, doing everything possible, just to beg for a chance at an audition.

Even just showing their face would be enough to become a bragging right for the future.

Just as undercurrents surged among various factions, fighting tooth and nail.

Daylight Entertainment, behind Gu Huai, released a brief statement.

[The male lead for "Longing Across Time" has already been locked in with the sole preferred candidate. Thank you for your concern. The film is currently not accepting any form of public or private auditions.]

Once the statement was out, public opinion exploded completely.

No auditions?

Directly pre-cast?

What level of favoritism and trust was this!

The hashtag #DaylightEntertainmentMysteryMan directly landed at the top of the trending list, followed by a deep red "Explosive" tag.

The entire internet was wildly speculating about the identity of this "chosen one" being "kept a seat for" by the top-tier production team.

Various "shortlists" circulated online, ranging from established, powerful middle-generation actors to popular new-generation top idols, covering everyone.

Fans of each camp, to prove their idol was worthy of this role, photoshopped images, wrote ten-thousand-word analytical essays, and fought fiercely in the comment sections, turning the sky dark and the earth dim.

However, in all the bustling, noisy lists, Jiang Ci's name was nowhere to be found.

Who would connect an actor like him, still filming in "The Legend of Han and Chu" crew, with such an S+ grade top-tier project?

...

In the hotel room.

Sun Zhou held his phone, pacing excitedly back and forth in the room.

"Bro! Bro! Look at this, quick!"

"Xiao Ran's and Lu Yifeng's fans are fighting over the 'Ye Chen' role! They're both saying the other isn't worthy!"

"Holy crap! If they knew this role was already yours, wouldn't they faint on the spot from anger?"

Sun Zhou, while scrolling through the storm of online conflict, looked at the quiet figure sitting on the carpet, feeling like the world had become unreal and absurd.

Jiang Ci sat cross-legged, wearing noise-canceling headphones.

In front of him, a tablet was playing a low-resolution, grainy Czech black-and-white tragic film.

A man endured endless torment in a concentration camp, just to protect a little boy he didn't know, only to be mistakenly killed by his own people on the eve of liberation.

Jiang Ci watched the screen expressionlessly, occasionally pausing, picking up a pen, and quickly jotting notes in the notebook beside him.

"The presentation of tragedy from the saved person's perspective..."

"The sense of absurdity brought by meaningless sacrifice..."

He was completely immersed in his own world.

The raging storm outside was shut out.

Sun Zhou finally couldn't take it anymore. He rushed over in one stride.

"Bro! My ancestor! Could you give some reaction?!"

"The whole internet is fighting over you! You're the biggest mystery in the entertainment industry right now! And you're here watching a black-and-white silent film?!"

Jiang Ci's train of thought was interrupted. He looked up, somewhat displeased.

"Noisy."

Sun Zhou: "..."

Who the hell am I doing this for?!

Just as Sun Zhou was about to be driven crazy by his own artist, Jiang Ci's phone rang.

It was Lin Wan.

Jiang Ci answered the call.

Lin Wan's voice carried an unusual seriousness.

"Jiang Ci, you saw Gu Huai's statement, right?"

"Mm."

"He's using the reputation he's built over twenty years to shield you from all the open and hidden attacks."

"He's barred everyone coveting this role at the door, clearing the track for you."

"But this also means he's handed the power to judge you over to the entire audience online."

Lin Wan's words were clear and distinct.

"You must respond to this trust, which is akin to a huge gamble, with flawless performance."

"If you mess it up..."

Lin Wan didn't finish, but the weight of her unspoken words pressed down heavily.

Both you and he would become the laughingstock of the entire industry.

Listening to the call, Jiang Ci's face showed little change.

He merely responded softly with an "Mm."

"I understand."

Pressure?

What he felt was only anticipation for the upcoming shoot.

Another week passed in waiting.

The heat of speculation about the "mystery man" outside hadn't diminished in the slightest; instead, it intensified.

Right at this moment, Jiang Ci's private phone rang again.

He answered the call. A slightly hoarse yet powerful male voice came through.

It was Wei Song, the director of "The Legend of Han and Chu."

Wei Song's voice carried a tremor and a fervor.

"Jiang Ci, come back."

"Get ready to shoot—"

"Xiang Yu's suicide at the Wu River."

While packing Jiang Ci's luggage for the trip to the film and television city, Sun Zhou was filled with emotion.

A few months ago, when they first went to the "The Legend of Han and Chu" set, Jiang Ci was just a newly debuted actor who had only played supporting roles in two dramas.

But now, as they returned.

Jiang Ci was already the "founding father of surgical-style acting," not to mention also carrying the title of "Daylight Entertainment's mystery man, the male lead of a five-billion-yuan project."

"Bro, your status ranking is going to jump another big notch when we go back this time," Sun Zhou said, folding a jacket, his face full of excitement.

Jiang Ci ignored him.

His entire mind was already immersed in Xiang Yu's final moments.

The farewell to his concubine.

Chu songs from all sides.

Suicide at the Wu River.

The concentration of 'bad endings' in this scene was the peak of what he had encountered so far.

When Jiang Ci stepped back onto the familiar set of "The Legend of Han and Chu."

Dozens of gazes from the crew's lighting department, cinematographers, production assistants, props team...

All converged on him.

They were watching him.

Watching this "phenomenon" who appeared out of nowhere and stirred up storms across the entire industry.

Watching this "madman" about to perform the final tragic song of the Conqueror of Western Chu.

Jiang Ci seemed oblivious to everything around him.

He walked straight towards Director Wei Song.

However, just as he passed through the crowd, one particular gaze made it impossible for him to ignore.

In the most inconspicuous corner of the set.

A slender figure in plain, casual clothes stood quietly.

She wore a mask, her baseball cap pulled low.

Jiang Ci's footsteps paused for a moment.

He looked over.

As if sensing his gaze, the figure also raised her head.

She slowly removed her mask.

That clear, beautiful, and resolute face was revealed.

It was Zhao Yingfei.