[{"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-358":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},1297656,1723,"Chapter 358: Full Funding from Tian Guang, The Film Emperor Joins","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-358",358,"\u003Cp>Chapter 358: Full Funding from Tian Guang, The Film Emperor Joins\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elevator doors slid open without a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pine-scented chill slipped into his collar, making him shiver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the corridor there were no flashy posters, only glass display cases set into the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each case held a weighty trophy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden Rooster, Hundred Flowers, Huabiao awards, even a Cannes Palme d'Or nomination certificate,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all glittered under the spotlights, dazzling enough to take your breath away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Gu Huai’s domain, the closest thing the Chinese film world had to an altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhiyuan hunched his shoulders, instinctively rising onto his toes—an awkward, pitiful posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasional staff carrying files paused when they saw them, then instantly returned to their professional blank expressions, treating them as air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan kept her back perfectly straight; her high heels made no sound on the carpet, but her clenched fists betrayed her tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Jiang Ci was at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hands were shoved in his hoodie pockets, like he was wandering his own backyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even stopped now and then to peer into a glass case, studying the trophy bases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pure gold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He actually tapped the glass with his finger, producing a soft “toc, toc” sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lan stopped in front of a heavy double wooden door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t knock; she just pushed it open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A floor-to-ceiling window took up the entire wall. Noon sunlight poured in, making the whole room bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light was so strong that it could only reveal a silhouette shrouded in a halo, seated on a single armchair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person held a stack of papers, the pages curled at the edges, clearly thumbed through countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the script for King of Extras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai didn’t lift his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was so quiet you could hear your heartbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Plop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The script was carelessly tossed onto the marble coffee table. It slid a short distance and stopped in front of Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai finally moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose from the pool of light, his silhouette sharp against the backlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked to face the three of them, his gaze passing over Lin Wan and landing on Gu Zhiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhiyuan’s legs went weak; he nearly couldn’t stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From a commercial perspective,” Gu Huai enunciated each word, “this is a trash project.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhiyuan felt his heart seize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An anti-market subject, a washed-up director, actors trying to change tack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every phrase from Gu Huai tightened Gu Zhiyuan’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai halted, turned,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and this time he didn’t look at Gu Zhiyuan. He fixed his stare on Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his previously indifferent eyes, there was suddenly a spark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A kind of near-frenzy, the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From an artistic standpoint, this is the most painfully affecting comedy script I’ve seen this year!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai strode back to the coffee table, jabbing a finger hard on the script cover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scene eighteen!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need to flip through; the line flew out of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The protagonist Chen San holds his breath in muddy water for three minutes just for a two-second shot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the director calls cut, no one helps him out; he crawls out himself, his face caked in mud. His first reaction isn’t to wipe his face,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“but to show the camera a big set of white teeth, grinning utterly carefree!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Gu Huai recounted, his pace sped up, his voice trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That part made me laugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But after the laugh, my spine went cold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He abruptly looked up, staring at Jiang Ci, closing the distance by a step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is not comedy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is throwing a person’s dignity on the ground, stomping it to pieces, and forcing you to smile and say ‘well deserved’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a ruthlessly high-class texture—laughter with tears!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had always assumed Gu Huai was some unearthly Film Emperor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but she hadn’t expected him to understand the lives of lower-class people so intimately, nor to dissect her script so astutely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai ignored everyone else; in his world right now, there was only Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Ci.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke the name like an elder appraising a junior, but with a strict, probing tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know what playing this role will mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed at the trophies on the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re standing here. You have box office, reputation, countless fans who go wild over a single tear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are the god of the Broken Feeling. When you stand there, you are the epitome of tragic-beauty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai’s presence filled the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you play Chen San.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You will have to make yourself ugly, crawl on the ground, give the camera the most ingratiating smile!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You will shatter your outer shell with your own hands!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fans who only want you as a beautiful, strong, tragic figure will scatter. You will fall from the altar and be mocked across the internet as ‘playing a clown’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai paused, leaning forward, his face less than ten centimeters from Jiang Ci’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to find hesitation or fear on Jiang Ci’s expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For a role that is eighty percent likely to flop, destroying all of that—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it worth it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you ready?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question hit like thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhiyuan bowed his head, unable to look at Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan pinched at the hem of her clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she supported Jiang Ci, what Gu Huai said was the harshest reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes in the room were on Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Ci made no big move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached out, grabbed a mint candy from the fruit plate on the coffee table,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>slowly unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crunch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brittle sound of the candy being bitten echoed crisply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci lifted his head and met Gu Huai’s oppressive gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a relaxed, casual smile, the kind that carried a hint of weary composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gu-ge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci mumbled through chewing, his words slurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When we were on the set of Three Lifetimes Tribulation, you got to know me. It’s not like we’re strangers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The altar is too high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed at the skyscrapers outside the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s windy up there and kind of cold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had pictured Jiang Ci saying he’d do it for art, for a breakthrough, for a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never expected this reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci took his hand out of his pocket and made a vague sweeping motion in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to play Chen San.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He rolls in the mud, he gets cursed at, he gets stepped on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he can still smile, he can be happy over a boxed lunch for half a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci looked at Gu Huai and said earnestly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He lives warm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to come down and warm up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for whether fans will leave…” Jiang Ci shrugged, “Anyone who truly likes me probably hopes I don’t freeze to death, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his words fell,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai’s expression froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at this young man a few years his junior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That clarity, that near ‘give-up’ attitude that nonetheless hit the heart—so candid it was almost rebellious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had stood at the top for too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always chased extreme art, the kind of tragic beauty that made people gaze up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Ci told him that being worshipped was exhausting; it might be nicer to sit down and eat a boxed lunch together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhiyuan was dumbstruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at Jiang Ci and felt this young man suddenly unfamiliar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Altar too cold?” That was human talk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only someone who had truly reached the summit, yet scoffed at staying there, could say such “madness”!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha… ha ha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai’s booming laughter shattered the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shoulders shook with mirth; at one point he even raised a hand to prop his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good! What a wonderful complaint about the cold!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a glorious plan to come down and warm up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and strode to the broad redwood desk, grabbing the internal phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers pressed a number with force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Gu Huai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Notify legal and finance, get them up here immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Draft the contract.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked back at Lin Wan and Gu Zhiyuan, his face alight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This project—Tian Guang is funding it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fully funded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhiyuan felt as if a pie from the sky had hit him over the head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fully funded? Tian Guang full funding?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant not only would the money be solved, but distribution, cinema chains, screening slots—all the problems causing him hair loss—would be resolved!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai put down the phone and returned to the coffee table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fervor toward Jiang Ci had only increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have one condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan tensed immediately. “What condition? If it involves Jiang Ci’s agency contract or—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai waved her off, interrupting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Jiang Ci and extended one finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m in for this film.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Jiang Ci froze, almost choking on his candy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Triple Crown Film Emperor, Gu Huai, wanted to act in King of Extras?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Gu, there aren’t any roles in this script that suit you…” Gu Zhiyuan stammered, “The supporting male two is fat, the third male is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who said I want to play the lead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai snorted lightly, opened the script, and flipped to the last page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll play that superstar who comes on stage at the end to present the award to Chen San, but mumbles Chen San’s name wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cameo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he’d portray an arrogant, hypocritical, high-and-mighty superstar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using his real persona to mock the very “real persona” of that circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was… utterly insane!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai watched the three of them gape and felt elated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Director Gu, do you doubt my acting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no no! How dare we! Absolutely not!” Gu Zhiyuan shook his head, “If you can come, that would be… like our ancestor’s grave steaming with good fortune!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai turned to Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Ci, you’re right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s pretty cold up there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He unbuttoned his suit, exhaled, visibly more relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to come down and snag a boxed lunch too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci looked at him, swallowed the candy remnants, and grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Gu-ge, the crew boxed lunches don’t come with chicken drumsticks. You have to pay for those yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged a look, and the atmosphere immediately loosened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like two lunatics in a ward finally signaling each other successfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhiyuan stood aside, watching these two top men of the Chinese film world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One had never fallen from the altar, the true god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One actively jumped off the altar, a madman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, the two of them were going to team up in his pile of garbage and hopefully make something blossom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly felt his five years of bad luck might have just been saving up luck for this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Tian Guang Entertainment, the Hongqi L5 still waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan held the investment contract that still smelled of ink and felt unreal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was… done?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No tug-of-war, no performance-based bets, not even a rewritten script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All because of a conversation between two men about “cold and warmth”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Ci.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan sat in the car and glanced at the rear seat where the man had already put on an eye mask, ready to nap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really meant it at the time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” Jiang Ci’s voice was muffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The altar is too cold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci pushed his eye mask up and revealed a pair of clear, innocent eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wan-jie, you’ve never been up to Tian Guang’s top floor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I had goosebumps just now. Go up next time and feel it yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan was about to roll her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci suddenly added, his voice softening as if talking to himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, always playing those tragedies does get a little cold inside. Every so often playing a jerk who rolls in mud but can still laugh—should be… pretty warm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled the eye mask back down, settled into a comfortable position, and flopped down completely. “Going to sleep. Otherwise when we start shooting I’ll have no strength to fight for boxed lunch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Wan watched him and finally smiled helplessly. This bastard always managed to say the truest things at the most unexpected moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On Tian Guang Entertainment’s top floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the car drive away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Lan stood behind him, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Gu, are you really optimistic about this project? The risk is huge; it’s pure gambling, and that role… it ruins one’s image.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai watched the tiny stream of cars outside and tapped the glass with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Lan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve sat in that place for too long. Everyone smiles at me; everyone applauds me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I can’t act the kind of pain in that position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and looked at the copy of King of Extras on the coffee table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Jiang Ci—he has something I envy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s not afraid of getting dirty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai’s gaze drifted back to the distance as he smiled meaningfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This film may well lose terribly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if it wins…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped, leaving the rest unsaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it won, it would be an earthquake in Chinese cinema.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clear my schedule for next month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huai turned and walked toward the lounge, his posture still upright but with a little less loneliness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going to the set to get a boxed lunch.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2248,"2026-06-05T18:00:08.557Z",1,"novelbin.me","b978c5a5c6fa8cd6d4358bfe2c57c42c9a9ad72bb178ce52a0c370a20aea40f8","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-359","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-357",366,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-cover.jpg"]