The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles

"Action!"

With Director Wu's command, the film set instantly entered another dimension.

The world-destroying lightning and storm would be added through special effects in post-production.

At this moment, there was only a green screen and a massive industrial fan roaring wildly on set, making their robes flap violently.

Jiang Ci moved.

Without the slightest hesitation, he took a step forward, completely shielding the frail figure behind him beneath his own body.

The Chu Wuchen he portrayed had his back to Su Nian, facing that void-like "heavenly tribulation" alone.

That back was solitary, upright.

Qiao Xinran stood behind him, completely enveloped by that expanse of white robe.

The wind was too strong; she could barely stand steady.

According to the script, the Su Nian she portrayed should rush forward at this moment, grab Chu Wuchen's sleeve, and scream with all her might.

But she didn't.

She just stared blankly at that back, at that white expanse that shielded her from all wind and rain.

Then, she spoke.

Her voice wasn't loud, even half swallowed by the roaring fan, but through the microphone, it clearly reached everyone's headphones.

"Master, why are you treating me like this!"

No heart-wrenching accusations, only a kind of crushed, despairingly calm tranquility.

"Are you looking at another person through me!"

This line was directed at Chu Wuchen.

But even more so, at Jiang Ci.

Behind the monitor, Director Wu's body leaned forward abruptly.

Beside him, Gu Huai also instinctively held his breath.

Yes!

This was exactly the feeling!

A woman who had been treated as a substitute for nearly a century, whose love was built entirely on lies—at the final moment, she wouldn't be hysterical, only this kind of utterly hopeless calm!

Qiao Xinran's performance exceeded everyone's expectations.

Jiang Ci felt it.

He felt the genuine, scorching emotion contained in that gaze behind him.

Excellent.

The emotional buildup was perfectly in place.

It was time to increase the dosage and harvest the KPI.

Just as everyone thought he would silently face death according to the script, Jiang Ci made an impromptu yet utterly lethal move.

Slowly, he turned around.

On that face belonging to Chu Wuchen—cold, transcendent, and otherworldly—there was no pain, only a heartbreaking tenderness.

He raised his hand, as if wanting to touch her cheek.

But at the moment just before contact, he paused, ultimately only using his wide sleeve to gently brush past her cheek.

A touch through fabric, restrained to the extreme.

Then, he spoke.

"Yes."

One word.

Confirming all her suspicions and insecurities over the past century.

At this moment, Qiao Xinran and Su Nian in the drama overlapped emotionally.

Her body trembled violently.

She looked at him, tears instantly blurring her vision.

However, the man's next words delivered the most fatal blow.

"But now..."

He gazed at her as if she were the only person left between heaven and earth.

"I only want to look at you."

Admitting she was a substitute.

Then, at her moment of deepest despair, giving her a unique confession.

This kind of "scumbag"-style push-and-pull, the brief and illusory sweetness built upon tragedy, instantly shattered all of Qiao Xinran's psychological defenses.

Jealousy.

Ecstasy.

Resentment.

Various complex emotions exploded in her chest, causing her entire being to collapse.

With a loud "wah," she could no longer control herself, bursting into loud sobs.

And precisely at this moment.

In Jiang Ci's mind, the pleasant notification sound of KPI arrival rang out.

[Heartbreak Value from Qiao Xinran +120!]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained extended lifespan: 15 days!]

Jiang Ci was ecstatic inside.

Yet on his face, he maintained that impassive, sorrowful expression.

He had successfully used his performance to drive Qiao Xinran into a corner.

However, he underestimated the explosive power of a "reformed" female player after an emotional breakdown.

"No!"

Qiao Xinran suddenly let out a mournful, piercing scream.

She abruptly reached out, tightly grabbing Jiang Ci's sleeve with all her strength.

This action wasn't in the script!

Qiao Xinran's eyes were bloodshot, tears mixed with the exquisite makeup on her face, creating a complete mess.

She screamed at Jiang Ci, unleashing the feelings she had suppressed for two whole months.

"I don't want to be anyone's substitute anymore!"

"Chu Wuchen, look at me!"

"I am Su Nian! Not her!"

The entire film set fell dead silent.

Director Wu didn't call cut.

He stared intently at the monitor, his hands trembling slightly from excitement.

Insane!

Everyone's gone insane!

Jiang Ci was also a bit stunned by this outburst.

This wasn't in the script?

What's wrong with this girl? Is she also addicted to adding scenes?

But this thought lasted only a fraction of a second.

He immediately realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The more out of control and broken her emotions were, the higher the KPI conversion rate would be!

Jiang Ci's mind raced at lightning speed, his acting instincts already reacting ahead of conscious thought.

He wasn't thrown off by Qiao Xinran's outburst.

He was still Chu Wuchen.

Jiang Ci looked at the woman before him who seemed on the verge of madness, at the resentment and accusation in her eyes.

Slowly, he looked back at her with an even more sorrowful gaze.

As if saying: I understand all your pain, but I am powerless.

Finally, all the complex emotions condensed into three words.

Softly uttered from his thin lips.

"...I'm sorry."

These three words were more cruel than any explanation.

They completely crushed Qiao Xinran.

They also acted like a key, opening the floodgates of her heartbreak.

Her hand gripping his sleeve suddenly loosened.

As if all strength had been drained from her body, her screams turned into silent sobs, her body trembling violently.

[Heartbreak Value from Qiao Xinran +100!]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained extended lifespan: 7 days!]

In Jiang Ci's mind, the system notification sounded again.

Second harvest!

Jiang Ci felt a surge of wild joy inside, almost breaking Chu Wuchen's character.

He looked at Qiao Xinran, wanting to give her a thumbs-up.

Good comrade!

What a dedicated ATM!

The film set remained deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden, authentic performance, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

Until—

"Cut! That's a wrap! Perfect!"

Director Wu excitedly sprang up from behind the monitor.

"Perfect! This take was absolutely perfect!"

He knew he had captured it!

A textbook-level crying scene that could be recorded in the history of xianxia dramas!

The director's "cut" instantly pulled people from the drama back to reality.

The crew members snapped out of their daze and began stepping forward to tidy up.

Yet Qiao Xinran, who had just been sobbing uncontrollably, stopped crying the moment "cut" was called.

She roughly wiped her face with her sleeve and stood up from the ground.

She didn't go for touch-ups, nor did she acknowledge the water her assistant offered.

The first thing she did was walk straight to the director.

Then, she bowed deeply to Director Wu.

"Director, I'm sorry."

Her voice still trembled slightly, but her logic was clear, her attitude sincere.

"I lost control just now and affected the filming."