[{"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-96":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},1297910,1723,"Chapter 96: The Gates of Evergreen Will Always Be Open to You","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-96",96,"\u003Cp>Everyone was still basking in the massive shock sparked by Peng Shaofeng’s line, “He’s playing a monarch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mutual admiration between heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recognition from one strong person to another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This should have been a moment to go down in history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Ci’s remark landed like a firecracker — loud and out of place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Take a photo?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Shaofeng’s outstretched hand froze in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The frankness and relief that had been on his face instantly congealed, leaving only bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered if he had heard things wrong because he took off his armor too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a top-tier audition that affects five hundred million investment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a fan meet-and-greet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does he think this is? A life-sized cardboard cutout!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Zhou stood in a corner and, slowly, put his hands over his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had shown a little courtesy, said “You’re welcome,” this would have passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Borrowing the armor for a photo? And then post it to social media?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Song’s satisfied smile also froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pinched his chin and looked at the young man in the center, who wore a face of genuine sincerity and seemed to really just want to take a souvenir photo with the prop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly he wondered if this was what young people called “humor” these days?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only one in the whole room who probably wasn’t affected was the veteran actor Liu Hanyu, who had just been helped to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Jiang Ci, then at Peng Shaofeng, and in his cloudy eyes there was actually a flash of contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed... not impossible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That suit of armor was indeed handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahahahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hearty, unrestrained burst of laughter shattered the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It came from Peng Shaofeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughed as he pointed at Jiang Ci, breathless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You... you son of a— hahahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Shaofeng’s agent was completely dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaofeng, what are you laughing at! He’s humiliating you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Shaofeng didn’t care at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward and slapped Jiang Ci’s shoulder hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force made Jiang Ci stagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting! I accept this fellow as a friend!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Shaofeng’s eyes shone astonishingly bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen too many fake courtesies, too many artists who were one way in front of people and another behind their backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never seen someone like Jiang Ci, who laid out his desires and thoughts so candidly, almost foolishly blunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He admired strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He admired genuine strength even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Shaofeng’s agent watched this and began to suspect his own sanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audition ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result was unsurprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of everyone, Wei Song formally announced that the role of Xiang Yu in The Legend of Han and Chu would be played by Jiang Ci.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The producer from Evergreen Entertainment turned an extremely ugly shade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could he say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His top star, Evergreen’s “crown prince,” had publicly conceded and even called someone brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he caused a scene now, it wouldn’t be fighting for the film’s interests anymore, it would be slapping Peng Shaofeng in the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only swallow his anger, gather his team, and slink away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the soundstage, the atmosphere finally relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Song looked at Jiang Ci with growing satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Ci, come to the company the day after tomorrow to sign the contract. You’ve got a heavy role, so you need to enter production early for posture and equestrian training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right, Director Wei.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci nodded, mentally calculating that this KPI was now half secured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Yu Ji connection...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, one step at a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bid farewell with Sun Zhou and left the soundstage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had just walked into a quiet hallway when a voice came from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Ci.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Peng Shaofeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d changed back into the casual clothes he came in and had followed alone, without any assistants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Feng.” Jiang Ci stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Zhou stood to the side, palms sweating with nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Shaofeng came up to the two of them. Tall and imposing, he nonetheless wore a calm demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interested in coming to Evergreen Entertainment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He got straight to the point, no beating around the bush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your talent shouldn’t be confined by a small temple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Zhou’s brain exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell! Poaching right in front of us!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand reflexively went into his pocket to grab his phone, ready to report back to boss Lin Wan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s Evergreen Entertainment! The real flagship company in the industry!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resources, connections, production capability — all top-tier!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frantically shot pleading looks at Jiang Ci: Bro! Big bro! Hold firm! Don’t accept!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ci felt nothing inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Go to you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How would my broken-heart KPI be measured then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Will you reliably supply me tragic roles to play?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head, wearing his trademark sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for the offer, Brother Feng, but my current company is fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought a moment and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The boss is beautiful and kind, and the colleagues are... very united.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Jiang Ci’s reply, Sun Zhou finally withdrew his hand from his pocket and put away his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Shaofeng was stunned by the clean, decisive refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had assumed no newcomer could turn down Evergreen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studied Jiang Ci deeply, hoping to read something on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all he saw was calmness and seriousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The road is long.” Peng Shaofeng didn’t try to persuade further. “The gates of Evergreen are always open to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that he turned and strode away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the casting conference room, smoke curled through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Song, the head screenwriter, and several core producers sat around, all with grim looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biggest problem — Xiang Yu — had been solved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But an even more urgent problem had appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would play Liu Bang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Song rubbed his temples in annoyance and threw a list of candidate actors onto the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These people, none of them will do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head screenwriter sighed, “Old Wei, your standards are too high. The names on this list are either long-established powerhouses or award-winning mid-career actors. Why can’t any of them play Liu Bang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why can’t they?” Wei Song stood and paced the room, “They could before! But they can’t now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped and faced everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know my original plan. If Peng Shaofeng played Xiang Yu, I would have Jiang Ci play Liu Bang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Peng Shaofeng’s raw strength against Jiang Ci’s resilience — one outward, one inward — would create an amazing confrontation. It would be a nearly even chess match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A producer nodded, “That idea is great.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But now?” Wei Song’s voice rose, “Now Jiang Ci is playing Xiang Yu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Song grew increasingly agitated, “Jiang Ci’s performance elevates the dimensions of the Xiang Yu role by a full layer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Facing this kind of ‘Xiang Yu,’ which of the actors on your list could possibly hold their own?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dare say any actor using conventional methods would be crushed in the first scene!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the audience would not watch ‘The Chu-Han Contention,’ they’d watch ‘The Overlord Training a Puppy’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people in the meeting room were drenched in cold sweat at Wei Song’s picture of that scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They finally understood his dilemma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This perfect Xiang Yu from Jiang Ci made all the routine Liu Bang candidates look dull, even invalid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a troublesome problem born of good fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then... then what do we do?” the head screenwriter was stumped, “You can’t have Xiang Yu perform a one-man show, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a timid voice piped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It came from a young investment representative sent by Huaxing Pictures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cautiously suggested, “Director Wei, how about... we tone down Xiang Yu’s scenes a bit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make him more grounded, less... less inhumanly domineering. Then it’ll be easier to match him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he finished than—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Song slammed his palm on the conference table so hard that the teacup jumped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you say?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared daggers at the young investment rep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I worked so hard to find a rough gem who could bring Xiang Yu to life, and you want me to chip him down to fit mediocre people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I tell you, impossible! When I make a film, I never let actors kidnap a role!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1382,"2026-06-05T18:00:08.556Z",1,"novelbin.me","875f0cc316c9a933df46b064be3a1b807864d878be0ef5b52fa1ebc9d187528c","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-97","the-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-chapter-95",366,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-more-tragic-i-act-the-stronger-i-get-my-fans-cover.jpg"]