[{"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-159":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},1297773,1723,"Chapter 159: Director Hou’s Test Question","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-159",159,"\u003Cp>Xiao Ran's words landed with resounding force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each term precisely struck the positive, enlightened side of artistic creation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This righteous and principled rebuttal not only made Jiang Ci's \"remains theory\" appear even more dark and grotesque by contrast,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but also pulled himself back onto the \"correct\" track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His agent beside him secretly breathed a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This round was finally turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Hou Hsiao-hsien completely ignored Xiao Ran's defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even give Xiao Ran an extra reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*The Lurker*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Hsiao-hsien didn't open it, just lightly tapped the cover with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he casually flipped the script to a certain page, spread it open, and placed it on the table in front of the several people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't ask the two to improvise a performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor did he pose any professional questions about camera work, blocking, or emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the open page was the summary of a scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The protagonist, Shen Qingyuan, to present his pledge of allegiance to the enemy, in the chaotic and dangerous Paramount Ballroom,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>in front of everyone, uses the most vicious language to humiliate and abandon his childhood sweetheart fiancée, Gu Wanbai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wants to personally crush her pure love into filthy mud scattered on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the room became incredibly heavy because of these words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Hsiao-hsien slowly spoke, asking the two a question that wasn't on the script at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After performing this scene.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When Shen Qingyuan returns home alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What will he do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the question was asked, an uncontrollable look of delight instantly appeared on Xiao Ran's agent's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This question was perfect for Xiao Ran's style!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an actor skilled in portraying delicate emotions,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>this kind of \"behind-the-scenes scene\" showcasing the character's inner pain and struggle was practically a freebie!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran almost immediately gave an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He would break down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He answered decisively, full of confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Immense pain and guilt would completely overwhelm him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He might smash everything in the room, smash those objects carrying the beautiful memories he shared with Gu Wanbai.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or, he would numb himself with alcohol, drink himself into a stupor, escaping this unbearable pain in a drunken haze.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran's voice was full of infectious emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to have already transformed into that lone lurker walking in the darkness, portraying that extreme grief vividly and completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then delivered his final, elevated point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is human nature.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is also the most authentic manifestation of humanity after a character sheds all pretense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A perfect answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the character's emotional logic to the deep excavation of human nature, it was impeccable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran's agent had already started applauding for him in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan's heart, however, sank bit by bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This answer was too standard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So standard that any professionally trained actor could give a similar response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was correct, full, yet it lacked only one thing... surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening, Hou Hsiao-hsien remained silent as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face, which revealed no joy or anger, gave no feedback whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just slowly turned his gaze towards Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci didn't look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci's gaze, from beginning to end, had been fixed on the cold text of that script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abandonment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crushing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He filtered out all the emotional identification belonging to readers and the audience, filtered out that sadness, heartache, regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went straight to the character's core mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lurking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaining trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Severing the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan could sense that Xiao Ran and his agent were waiting for Jiang Ci's answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting for him to give a clumsy, or repetitive, answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Xiao Ran's agent was almost losing patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He wouldn't break down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only five words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light, carrying no emotion whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran's confident posture instantly stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The look of \"victory is assured\" on his agent's face also froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not break down?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How is that possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the scene of personally pushing away the woman he loved most, watching her heart break before his eyes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the astonished gazes of the several people, Jiang Ci raised his head, calmly meeting Hou Hsiao-hsien's eyes directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were calm, almost cruel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first thing he would do when he gets home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is to carefully check every corner of the residence, confirming there are no listening devices he might have missed before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words made Xiao Ran completely stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Check... listening devices?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of thinking is that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci ignored the reactions of the others, continuing in his straightforward, narrative tone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>dissecting the man who had just committed an \"atrocious crime.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He would sit down, turn on the gramophone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Play that opera record he and Gu Wanbai listened to when they first met.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xiao Ran's agent slightly relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that's it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using music to reminisce about the lost love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using this method to express pain could indeed be considered a design choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Jiang Ci's next words completely shattered his meager imagination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He would listen to it from beginning to end, completely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci's pace wasn't fast, but each word was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not to reminisce about the love.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But like an agent, conducting a mission debrief.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He would meticulously, in his mind, recall all the expressions on Gu Wanbai's face tonight at the Paramount—shock, disbelief, pain, despair, and finally that bone-deep hatred.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He would use these expressions to evaluate whether his performance was successful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every detail would become the basis for his judgment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To ensure that this 'breakup' is real, irreversible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci's voice echoed among the several people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This debriefing process is extremely painful for Shen Qingyuan! But he must do it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shen Qingyuan is a man, but he also carries the great righteousness of his country and people on his shoulders!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is an agent confirming his mission completion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is his real task.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci finished speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The color visibly drained from Xiao Ran's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His proud \"authenticity of humanity,\" in the face of Jiang Ci's cold \"mission logic,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>appeared so childish, so fragile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan froze again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew Jiang Ci was a genius, but she never imagined Jiang Ci's talent had surpassed the category of \"portraying tragedy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was constructing an absolutely rational, goal-serving motive for every action of the character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the screenwriter of *The Lurker*, she was extremely convinced by Jiang Ci's reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp voice tore through the dead silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ran's agent could no longer hold back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed a finger, almost poking Jiang Ci's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Hou Hsiao-hsien, shouting almost uncontrollably:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Hou! Listen! Listen to what he's saying!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this the reaction a tragic hero should have?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is clearly a cold-blooded psychopath!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1121,"2026-06-05T18:00:08.557Z",1,"novelbin.me","44f7478df72a9e8795a89b9f47686fb475e8b647ade72ce805061401a2edbd43","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-160","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-158",366,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-cover.jpg"]