A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2374 - 1594: Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s Doubts (Feels Like I’m About to Hibernate)
In the story, Duanmu Huai, who plays the White Ghost, and Hei Chuan Chi Yin, who plays Saya, are characters that have more interactions. In the manga, the White Ghost is Saya’s younger sister, but Saya is genuinely introverted and gentle, embodying the typical Dahe Fuzi image.
In contrast, the White Ghost only appears lively and innocent but is actually quite insane.
Because manga and stage plays are different, with the latter needing to convey the entire story in just a few hours, the scriptwriter has also modified the relationship plot between the two.
"That is to say... at the opening stage, Saya needs to show great hesitation about starting a war, while the White Ghost should show a belligerent side."
Pointing at the script, the director addressed Duanmu Huai and Hei Chuan Chi Yin.
"Saya needs to struggle intensely to show her aversion to war... ’Is fighting the only way left?’, while the White Ghost should respond, ’Sister, don’t worry, just leave everything to me...’
At this point, the director looked at Duanmu Huai.
"Of course, the focus of this scene is on the White Ghost, using that madness of the White Ghost to highlight Saya’s gentleness... In the manga, shadows or lighting effects can achieve this, but in a live performance... well, it depends on your acting skills."
In the manga, this scene shows Saya sitting limply on the ground, murmuring to herself. Then the White Ghost appears beside her, reaching out to gently caress Saya’s face while using her aura to highlight their similar yet completely different temperaments.
"I understand... Xiao Ai, shall we give it a try?"
Hei Chuan Chi Yin stared at the script, then closed her eyes to think for a moment before looking at Duanmu Huai. Duanmu Huai flipped through the script, then nodded.
"Hmm... I suppose it can be performed; I’ll give it a shot."
"Well then... start."
With the director’s command, Hei Chuan Chi Yin sat limply on the ground, looking down at the floor.
"Must we really fight? Is fighting the only way left?"
As she spoke, Hei Chuan Chi Yin wrapped her arms around herself, trembling slightly. At this moment, Duanmu Huai walked over to Hei Chuan Chi Yin, crouched down, and looked at her.
"Sister, don’t worry..."
As she spoke, Duanmu Huai reached out, gently caressing Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s face, forcing her to look into her eyes.
"Just leave everything to me... I will thoroughly wipe out those who disturb Shibuya!"
Although Duanmu Huai’s voice was lively and cheerful, it made one’s hair stand on end, as if she was speaking without any emotion. Hei Chuan Chi Yin just stared blankly at Duanmu Huai, not knowing what to say.
"Yes, that’s it."
The director’s voice resounded.
"Next, as the stage rotates, we’ll enter the scene where the protagonist heads to Shibuya..."
As he spoke, the director turned to give guidance to others, and at this point, Hei Chuan Chi Yin and Duanmu Huai got up.
"Phew... good job, Xiao Ai."
"You too."
"By the way, Xiao Ai, your acting just now was really convincing."
As she spoke, Hei Chuan Chi Yin cautiously glanced at Duanmu Huai. The reason she paused earlier was partly due to the character’s performance and partly because of Duanmu Huai’s gaze. That gaze, clearly directed at her yet seemingly not seeing her at all, stunned Hei Chuan Chi Yin. At that moment, she seemed to truly understand why Saya would show such unease to her sister.
"Hmm, because someone I know is just like that, so it’s relatively easy to imitate."
Duanmu Huai looked at the script and pouted.
"You mean like the White Ghost?"
"That’s right, just from the appearance, you’d think she’s just lively. But when she goes mad, it’s seamless."
Duanmu Huai was referring to no one else but Mianmu Zuoniao.
Effortlessly transitioning between joy and madness, smilingly greeting you one moment and drawing a knife to slash the next.
A kind of twisted character who launches powerful attacks without warning.
And even while slashing you, she would be laughing jubilantly.
"Sounds like an interesting person; could you introduce me?"
"I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t think it’s possible."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Because she’s not in this world."
"Ah..."
Hearing Duanmu Huai’s response, Hei Chuan Chi Yin was taken aback and hurriedly lowered her head.
"I’m sorry..."
"Uh... it’s fine."
Seeing Hei Chuan Chi Yin looking apologetic, Duanmu Huai paused for a moment, then decided... never mind, not to mention it anymore.
Let’s just leave it at that.
"Forget it, let’s switch topics. Chi Yin, what do you think pleasure is?"
Duanmu Huai didn’t want to waste time on such inexplicable matters, so he decisively changed the topic.
"Pleasure?"
Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s inquiry, Hei Chuan Chi Yin paused for a moment.
"Do you mean making the audience feel delighted? I think so, performing diligently to make the audience feel joyful about my performance, that’s how I feel satisfied."
"Do you really enjoy acting?"
"Of course, I could talk about acting endlessly, after all, stage actors are all passionate about acting."
"Kana is like that too."
Upon hearing Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s response, Duanmu Huai glanced toward Arima Kaname, who was not far away acting with Jichuan Dahui. Contrary to her usual sharp tongue, Arima Kaname was waving her hands energetically, almost overflowing with vitality.
"Xiao Ai, isn’t that the case for you?"
"I’m not particularly fond of acting. Or rather, I find it somewhat interesting, but I’m not the type to be fully immersed."
"Why? I think being fully devoted to a performance is a wonderful thing."
"I think it would be tragic......"
Duanmu Huai looked at the script.
"Because if you’re too immersed, wouldn’t it blur the boundary between yourself and the role? You might even forget who you are and lose your real self..."
Duanmu Huai knew people like this, there was one among the champions of the Obsessive Sin, he belonged to this type of performing star, having shot many films and plays. But because he played too many roles, he ended up splitting his personality, and Duanmu Huai recalled that task.
Initially, the NPC hoped they could find that BOSS’s true self and awaken it. However, players discovered in the end that this Divine Chosen Champion had no "true self" at all. The images he presented to players were all part of his roles, including the NPC who assigned tasks and the shop owner encountered along the way, all played by him.
In other words, everyone the player encountered in this mission was the BOSS himself.
As for the real self, it had long disappeared from him.
Even during the BOSS battle, he would mimic the player’s roles, leaving players unable to distinguish friend from foe, making the fight extremely painful.
Later, this task was rated by players as one of the top ten most painful instances.
Not only was the mission itself like a horror movie, but fighting the BOSS in the final battle was painful too. Sometimes you see your companion running low on health, you add health—bam, it was the BOSS disguised, and it immediately restored the BOSS’s health completely.
You feel like flipping tables.
This mission made Duanmu Huai suffer back then, it truly was PTSD-inducing. So in this world, he only accepted roles slightly similar to his personality, refusing to portray anything else. He didn’t want to end up like that Divine Chosen Champion becoming a completely self-lost schizophrenia patient.
Imagine a Divine Chosen Champion of the Obsessive Sin, portraying an NPC grandfather giving you tasks one moment, and turning into a pure village girl lying in your arms the next, and also managing to portray a pole-dancing performer or a stray dog stealing food......
When schizophrenia reached such a degree, there’s no cure—better to kill.
Somehow, he felt he slightly understood Xiao Ai.
Watching Duanmu Huai deep in thought, Hei Chuan Chi Yin blinked. As a talented actress, Hei Chuan Chi Yin had long noticed that when Duanmu Huai performed, regardless of the role, she felt Duanmu Huai never fully immersed—almost like controlling the protagonist in an RPG game.
Whether the protagonist cried was their business, the player was just an emotionless controlling machine. Duanmu Huai was like that too; although his performances were powerful, Hei Chuan Chi Yin could feel that deep down, Duanmu Huai was cold and unfeeling. It was almost as if he fully separated himself from his roles. Generally, few actors separate themselves to such a degree; after all, even acting is just a method of exerting presence.
Since Duanmu Huai could exert presence, he didn’t need to worry much about acting skills.
However..........even if worried about role confusion, would anyone typically separate themselves to this extent?
Moreover..........
At this point, Hei Chuan Chi Yin looked toward Duanmu Huai again, but this time what she saw was no longer the petite, white-haired, red-eyed girl but a tall, imposing man. Though his features were unclear, Hei Chuan Chi Yin could sense he exuded the same aura as Xiao Ai.
Meanwhile, she heard water sounds beneath her feet again. Hei Chuan Chi Yin looked down and saw the smooth, mirror-like water surface reappearing, and then from underneath, a tentacle slowly emerged, reaching toward Hei Chuan Chi Yin.
Looking at this tentacle, Hei Chuan Chi Yin seemed hypnotized. She reached out her right hand, attempting to touch the tentacle........
As Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s fingers contacted the tentacle, suddenly it darted forward, tightly wrapping around Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s wrist. At the same time, Hei Chuan Chi Yin horrifiedly saw cracks appearing on the tentacle’s surface, and numerous eyes squeezed out, staring fixedly at her!
"---------------!"
"Huh? What’s wrong, Chi Yin?"
At this moment, Duanmu Huai’s voice sounded, and the bizarre illusion before Hei Chuan Chi Yin disappeared, replaced by Duanmu Huai, who was curiously watching her.
"Ah, it’s nothing, I was just dazing off."
"Alright, keep an eye out; the practice for the second act is about to start."
"Okay, got it.....sorry, I need to use the restroom."
After saying this, Hei Chuan Chi Yin left the rehearsal room, jogging to the restroom. Then she carefully pulled up her sleeve.
She saw on her fair, slender wrist a bright red mark, as if it was wrapped by something, clearly visible.
Could it be......not just a hallucination?
