[{"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-256":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},1297920,1723,"Chapter 256: Tearing This Happiness to Shreds Would Be Beautiful","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-256",256,"\u003Cp>The pace of the film crew was terrifyingly fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bone-chilling cold brought by Chen Mo's scene had not yet fully dissipated,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very next day, the atmosphere of the entire film set underwent a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree reversal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crew entered the intensive shooting phase of the \"sugar-coated bullets.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Hsiao-hsien wanted to compress all the sweet scenes between Shen Qingyuan and Gu Wanbai from the early part of the story and film them all today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The set replicated the old Shanghai Paramount Ballroom, opulent, decadent, and intoxicatingly luxurious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A huge crystal chandelier cast a honey-like warm light over the scene. Background actors dressed in exquisite suits and colorful cheongsams,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding wine glasses, they weaved through the edges of the dance floor paved with crimson carpet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the air, the scents of perfume, cigars, and fine wine were stirred together into a heady, intoxicating mix.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hair wax combed his black hair neatly, revealing a smooth, full forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face, usually lacking much color, under such attire, actually shed its usual aloofness,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exuding an air of a young nobleman who was naive to the ways of the world, even somewhat innocent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood in a corner of the dance floor, quietly adjusting his cufflinks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away, He Xiaoping had also finished her styling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lake-blue velvet cheongsam tightly hugged her graceful, well-proportioned figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her neat short hair was meticulously styled, revealing a section of her long, fair neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood amidst the noisy crowd, watching the background actors playing high officials and nobles clinking glasses and toasting around her,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile fitting the era's context hung on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that smile did not reach her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gu Wanbai she portrayed, even while immersed in the honey of love, had never forgotten the stormy, precarious state of the nation outside the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the monitor, Hou Hsiao-hsien confirmed all camera angles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Action!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the command, the ballroom music became melodious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He passed through the laughing, chatting crowd, every step falling on the beat, walking straight to He Xiaoping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He performed a flawless gentleman's bow before her, the light in his eyes so tender it could drown a person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xiaoping, playing Gu Wanbai, instantly flushed with a maidenly shyness,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, that shyness was covered by a layer of feigned strength and reserve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Shen, it's too noisy here. I think I should be going back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci completely ignored the distance in her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned in slightly, close to her ear, and whispered in a breathy voice only she could hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miss, if my love troubles you, I shall speak no more; if my silence displeases you, I shall be silent no more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xiaoping's body stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the script, there was only a vague line: \"Shen Qingyuan says a few sweet nothings to Gu Wanbai.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Jiang Ci's improvisation with this line blocked all her reserved avenues of retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could react, Jiang Ci had already straightened up and extended his hand towards her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A standard invitation to dance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of the entire room, she had no choice but to place her slightly cool fingertips on his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second, the two of them glided onto the dance floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tango music suddenly rang out, powerful and aggressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci's dance steps were elegant, his arms strong, guiding He Xiaoping through every spin and pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captured by the camera, the look he gave her was one of complete tenderness and infatuation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci pulled her into his embrace. Following a powerful pause in the music, he led her through a swift and beautiful spin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as He Xiaoping's back was to him, facing the camera, in that instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci's face, in a blind spot the camera couldn't capture, all warmth instantly vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lines of his facial muscles tightened. That laziness and innocence belonging to a young nobleman were completely gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his face was an extremely alert, inhuman calmness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head turned slightly, his gaze quickly sweeping over several \"guests\" at the edge of the dance floor who were drinking and conversing, looking suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was not the reaction of a wealthy young master immersed in love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the instinct of a top-tier agent surveying the environment and assessing threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the next beat, he spun her back again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When He Xiaoping faced him once more, that tender, affectionate expression had reappeared, flawless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The icy coldness of that previous moment seemed just an illusion caused by the dizzying spin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But He Xiaoping's heart was utterly thrown into disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci's movements were too perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This body holding her was dry, powerful, every movement carrying a strong, unsettling sense of control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This absolute perfection made her shiver with dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The music stopped abruptly at its highest crescendo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dance steps halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding background actors immediately erupted into enthusiastic applause and cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci did not let go of He Xiaoping's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led her to the center of the dance floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, in a situation no one, including He Xiaoping, had anticipated, he released her hand and knelt on one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a black velvet jewelry box from the inner pocket of his tailcoat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The box opened with a crisp *snap*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A diamond ring, shimmering with dazzling brilliance under the crystal chandelier, stung everyone's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cheers around them reached their peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marry him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miss Gu, marry him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xiaoping, playing Gu Wanbai, was completely overwhelmed by this sudden happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She covered her mouth, tears rolling down without warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the climax of the script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the pinnacle moment of their love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Jiang Ci's mind, the pale blue system panel automatically appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That familiar, warm, flowing sense of energy began to spread through his limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the source of the Heartbreak Value was not the woman before him, weeping with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[From Cinematographer Wang Na, Heartbreak Value +10]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[From lighting technician Li Na, Heartbreak Value +10]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[From set assistant Little Liu, Heartbreak Value +20]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Line after line of fine notifications continued incessantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the crew members present knew the bloody, brutal outcome that lay behind this grand proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew how happy the beautiful couple before them were now, and how sharp the future blade would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This foreseeable tragic contrast made every witness to this scene taste the heart-piercing, bone-chilling bitterness in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cut!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Hou Hsiao-hsien's voice rang out from behind the monitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said one word into the walkie-talkie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pass.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roaring cheers immediately stopped. The background actors quickly dispersed to prepare for the next scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xiaoping instantly reined in her emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her head and looked at Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried to find on his face even the slightest remnant of the tender, affectionate Shen Qingyuan from moments before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci stood up before her, briskly brushing off nonexistent dust from his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tenderness on his face had vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had changed back into the aloof, calm actor Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci walked over behind Hou Hsiao-hsien and stared at the playback on the monitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the screen was a close-up of him tenderly placing the ring on Gu Wanbai's finger, and Gu Wanbai moved to tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The image was beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci quietly watched the entire playback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke softly, his voice devoid of any emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This kind of happiness is too dazzling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It should have a pretty good effect when it gets torn apart later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1249,"2026-06-05T18:00:08.557Z",1,"novelbin.me","b388efbc1cfb32b894245dc7c6331c264ecec29e0ede485c43b8cd8b87ddc27a","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-257","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-255",366,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-cover.jpg"]