[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans":3,"chapter-the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-158":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1297772,1723,"Chapter 158: Film Is a Relic of Time","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-158",158,"\u003Cp>The middle-aged man who led the way did not speak extra words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely stepped aside and opened that heavy wooden door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A world made entirely of film reels and old posters unfolded silently before Jiang Ci and Lin Wan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan was stunned by the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was nothing like the studio she had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rumors had not lied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place felt more like a solemn “film graveyard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assistant did not follow them in, and the door slowly closed behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A peculiar scent lingered in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tall shelves reached up to the ceiling, densely lined with countless iron film cans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each can had a yellowed handwritten label stuck to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were categorized and archived with meticulous care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan’s expression unconsciously hardened a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From not far away came deliberately lowered voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran stood in front of a row of French film reels, talking with a thin middle-aged man in a gray cloth robe about something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quoted authorities, moving from Godard to Truffaut, his words full of deep insight into art cinema,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and the boundless reverence of a young actor for the elder masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That man was undoubtedly Hou Hsiao-hsien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Xiao Ran, he showed no excitement or enthusiasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He listened quietly, nodding occasionally,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>most of the time silently rubbing the cold film can with his fingertip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Jiang Ci and Lin Wan entered did he calmly lift his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Xiao Ran’s words abruptly stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Hsiao-hsien’s look passed over Lin Wan and landed directly on Jiang Ci’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For more than ten seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an examination without emotion, pure observation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan’s heart instantly tightened in her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci showed no reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not even look at the legendary director right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His attention was completely absorbed by the stacked film cans around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rows upon rows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like tombstones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought surfaced clearly in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Hsiao-hsien finally withdrew his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed completely unconcerned by the slightly awkward standoff at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly interrupted Xiao Ran, who was about to speak again, and pointed at an old, dust-covered projector beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine was an ancient model, quietly lying in the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually asked Xiao Ran, “You said you like Godard. Then what do you think film is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question was abrupt, yet fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran visibly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he smiled with comprehension and confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A question he had rehearsed countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He straightened, composed, and cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Film is the truth of 24 frames per second.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave an almost perfect textbook answer, a quotation attributed to Godard himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is an art between reality and illusion, recording reality while transcending reality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It captures life’s moments with light and shadow, then weaves those moments into eternal stories, letting us, in darkness, glimpse other possible lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His response was impeccable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precise wording, clear logic, full of philosophical reflection on the art form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a well-prepared honor student, able to provide the standard answer to any question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his agent’s face showed undisguised pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan’s breath caught slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was too perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So flawless that she, a top screenwriter in the industry, could find no fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that very perfection became an enormous pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She instinctively looked at Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched confident Xiao Ran with neither jealousy nor nervousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few plainly stated phrases ran through his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standard answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Page one of the textbook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correct, and dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Hsiao-hsien listened to Xiao Ran’s reply without comment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face betrayed no expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet that silence carried more weight than any denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head and, in the same even tone, asked Jiang Ci the same question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, everyone’s attention focused on Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran and his agent looked on as if waiting for drama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan’s palms were already damp with fine sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci did not look at Hou Hsiao-hsien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around slowly, scanning those film cans arranged like tombstones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scanning the stories that had been silent in the dark for who knew how many years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he said something that made several people, including Lin Wan, flinch inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Film is a relic of time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran’s agent almost lost control and was about to laugh aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A relic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of answer was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlucky, ominous, full of negative energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To call film a relic in front of a director who pursued art and eternity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must be crazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan’s heart sank to the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had known it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci’s mind would always veer toward the most outlandish direction at the crucial moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the predicted displeasure and rebuke did not come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, a genuine ripple appeared in Hou Hsiao-hsien’s otherwise calm eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not get angry; rather, with interest, he quietly repeated the word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci nodded calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A relic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed to the rows of cold iron cans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They record time that has already passed, preserving feelings that are no longer fresh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actors inside live through births and deaths, exhausting their heart and strength, then they die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roles inside are watched again and again, and thus gain immortality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were devoid of emotion, stated like the most objective facts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Viewers, by watching them, mourn lives that are not their own, experience joys and sorrows that have long ended.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, it is a relic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci paused, then added the final line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also a tombstone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finished speaking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the confidence drained from Xiao Ran’s face, replaced by utter bewilderment and a sense of absurdity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His agent stood with mouth agape, unable to utter a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan froze completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Jiang Ci’s excessively calm face and suddenly understood something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Jiang Ci’s world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A world constructed with Bad Ending Aesthetics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that world, even a dream-making art like film was, at its core, a grand mourning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Hou Hsiao-hsien stared steadily at Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slight ripple in those eyes, which seemed able to see through everything, was slowly growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the overly young actor as if looking at a long-lost kindred spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran tried to break the strange atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a light laugh, which sounded slightly forced in the silent space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher Jiang’s perspective is truly unique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He regained control of the conversation, looking directly at Hou Hsiao-hsien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But personally, I believe the core of film is always creation, the act of creating something out of nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is giving life to characters, not mourning death.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1115,"2026-06-05T18:00:08.557Z",1,"novelbin.me","d63b9eaa3e1bdaa1335f0998927968070bc2ac8c3a19e3df8de2a1988ec22e1a","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-159","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-157",366,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-cover.jpg"]