The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles-Chapter 229: "I sharpened this knife."

The next morning, everyone gathered in the courtyard, eating a simple breakfast.

This was their last day at the Mushroom House.

He Jiongjiong put down his chopsticks, cleared his throat, and drew everyone's attention.

"Everyone, before we leave, we have one final task."

He smiled gently.

"Leave a parting gift for the Mushroom House."

"The form is not limited; it can be an object, a sentence, or something else. As long as it represents the mark of your journey here, that's enough."

A parting gift.

As soon as this task was announced, the atmosphere instantly became somewhat sentimental and solemn.

Su Qingying hesitated almost not at all.

She silently returned to her room and came out holding a sketchbook and a box of drawing pens.

She didn't choose to sit in the lively center of the courtyard. Instead, she walked to the corner where she could see the distant mountains and sat down quietly.

She lowered her head, the drawing pen making a soft rustling sound on the paper.

She didn't draw the magnificent landscape here, nor a panoramic view of the Mushroom House.

The camera quietly zoomed in, giving her drawing paper a close-up.

It was the silhouette of a man. He was bending over, holding a small hoe, skillfully digging for something in the bamboo grove.

It was exactly how Jiang Ci looked when digging for bamboo shoots.

She quickly flipped the page and continued drawing.

The second scene was from that absurd night.

A man holding a ridiculously shaped water gun, his face serious as he aimed it forward.

The third scene.

A figure squatting in front of the stove, quietly watching the flickering flames in the firebox. The firelight illuminated his profile. That focus seemed isolated from the world, yet incredibly peaceful.

Three sketches, three moments.

In every scene, it was Jiang Ci.

The bullet comments in the live stream went crazy.

"This isn't a drawing of Jiang Ci; it's Jiang Ci through Su Qingying's eyes! I'm dying from this sweetness!"

"This damn earthly, homely vibe!"

After finishing the last stroke, Su Qingying closed the sketchbook and carefully wrote four characters on the cover.

"Earthly, Homely World."

On the other side, Luo Yu also took out his gift.

It was that notebook he always carried with him, already densely filled with notes.

He had no extra words. He simply flipped to the title page and picked up a fountain pen.

The pen tip glided across the paper.

He wrote a line of neat characters.

"For Those Who Come After: A Non-Standard Guide on How to Live Scientifically and Efficiently Complete KPIs at the Mushroom House."

After writing, he placed the notebook solemnly on the table.

Now, only Jiang Ci remained.

Everyone's gaze, including the audience in the live stream, was all focused on him.

What would this man, who never played by the rules, leave behind?

Facing everyone's stares, Jiang Ci only smiled mysteriously.

"My gift is being prepared."

After saying that, he offered no further explanation, turned around, and plunged headfirst into the kitchen.

"Ding ding dong dong..."

"Hua la la la..."

A series of strange sounds came from the kitchen.

Peng Yanchang curiously approached the door, wanting to see what was going on, but Jiang Ci closed the door from the inside.

"What's he doing? So mysterious?"

"He's not really going to make a farewell feast, is he?"

Everyone discussed animatedly, full of anticipation.

Just as everyone was starting to wonder if Jiang Ci was going to dismantle the kitchen, the door opened.

Jiang Ci walked out.

He was holding a clean wooden tray.

On the tray lay a knife.

A rusty, old kitchen knife, its blade full of nicks, looking like it was about to be scrapped.

It was precisely the dullest knife in the Mushroom House kitchen.

The entire scene was stunned.

The live stream also experienced a brief pause.

"???"

"This is his gift? A broken knife?"

"I'm starting to doubt my own aesthetic sense. Is this some kind of performance art again?"

"Giving a knife? Is this about severing ties with Teacher Huang?"

Just as the guests couldn't understand, Jiang Ci placed the tray in the center of the table.

He picked up that old knife and slowly turned it over in front of everyone.

The blade, originally covered in nicks and rust, had now been sharpened to an incredibly keen edge.

Even the rough wooden handle had been carefully sanded by him, becoming smooth and rounded.

Jiang Ci solemnly handed this "renewed" old knife to Huang Yulei.

He also attached a small note.

Huang Yulei took the knife and unfolded the note.

There was only one line of text.

"A good knife is the dignity of the kitchen. — Jiang Ci."

Huang Yulei looked at the knife in his hand, then at that line of text.

He didn't speak.

He simply extended a finger and lightly tested the sharp blade.

That tactile sensation was pure practicality, stirring a faint ripple in him, the man in charge of the kitchen.

He raised his head and looked at Jiang Ci.

After a long moment, he gave Jiang Ci's shoulder a heavy pat.

"Good lad!"

"This gift, I accept it!"

The moment of parting finally arrived.

All the members of the Mushroom House came out to see them off.

The atmosphere in the courtyard was no longer the initial politeness and awkwardness of their first meeting, but filled with genuine warmth and reluctance.

Huang Yulei gave Jiang Ci a firm hug.

"Come back often in the future. The position of kitchen second-in-command is reserved for you."

"Alright, Teacher Huang. I'm still thinking about your Crab-flavored Dish," Jiang Ci replied with a smile.

He Jiongjiong also walked over and patted Su Qingying's shoulder.

"Qingying, don't keep yourself so tightly wound up in the future. You look very nice when you smile." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Su Qingying was momentarily stunned, then gently nodded.

"Mhm."

The three of them boarded the car returning to the film crew.

The car slowly started, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Outside the car window were bright sunlight and the continuous stretch of green mountains and clear waters.

The atmosphere inside the car had also become exceptionally relaxed due to their time together these past few days.

Luo Yu leaned against the window, watching the scenery speeding past outside, lost in his thoughts.

And Su Qingying actually initiated a conversation.

She looked towards Jiang Ci, who was resting with his eyes closed.

"How did you make that sour long beans before?"

Jiang Ci opened his eyes, somewhat surprised she would ask this.

"My mom pickled them. Why, do you want to learn?"

"Mhm."

Su Qingying nodded, her attitude very serious. "Can you teach me?"

"Sure. When we get back, I'll ask my mom and then write down the steps for you..."

One was the top-tier female star hailed as the "Ice Queen Best Actress." The other was the rising "King of BE Aesthetics."

Two people who had tormented audiences to death on the big screen were now, inside an entourage van, earnestly discussing the method for making pickled vegetables.

In the afternoon, the entourage van smoothly drove into the filming base for "Longing Across Time."

It was completely different from the sun-drenched pastoral scenery of the Mushroom House.

Here, there were only cold equipment and staff hurrying by with serious expressions.

Su Qingying, who had been enthusiastically discussing the optimal pickling time for sour long beans all the way, gradually fell silent.