The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles-Chapter 33: This acting is so greasy, even a dog would find it offensive!

The next day, the "Three Lifetimes Tribulation" crew officially began filming.

Jiang Ci woke up very early.

The assistant and entourage van that Lin Wan had promised were already waiting punctually downstairs at the hotel.

The assistant was a young man his own age named Sun Zhou, wearing black-framed glasses and radiating a clever, sharp energy.

As soon as he saw Jiang Ci, he immediately called out respectfully "Brother Ci," then efficiently took the luggage and opened the car door.

Jiang Ci sat inside the spacious entourage van, smelling the faint scent of leather inside, and felt a bit dazed.

"Brother Ci, your breakfast, soy milk and freshly baked meat buns." Sun Zhou handed over an insulated bag.

When he arrived on set, Jiang Ci found his treatment had been upgraded another level.

Yesterday, he was just a newcomer who had received Su Qingying's like and gained some small online popularity.

Today, he had clearly become the most noticed presence on set aside from the male and female leads.

Many crew members, when they saw him, would proactively smile and greet him, calling him "Teacher Jiang."

The morning scenes were solo scenes for the male lead, Gu Huai.

They were filming the important scene where the Demon Lord "Ye Liao," whom he played, first commanded the demon realm and received obeisance before the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

Gu Huai wore a black robe with golden patterns, and merely by sitting on that throne, the entire set's atmospheric pressure changed.

He didn't have exaggerated expressions, didn't even lift his eyelids much, just calmly swept his gaze over the camera.

But with that one glance, everyone felt a soul-deep shudder.

It was a kind of indifference that viewed all things as worthless straw dogs.

The director behind the monitor didn't dare breathe heavily until Gu Huai's scene ended, then he picked up the walkie-talkie, his voice full of excitement: "Good! So amazing! One take!"

Sincere applause broke out across the set.

This was the acting skill of a true powerhouse.

In the afternoon, it was finally Jiang Ci's turn.

The first scene today was Chu Wuchen, after descending to the mortal world, teaching his newly accepted disciple Su Nian how to practice swordplay.

The script noted: [Afternoon, bamboo forest, dappled sunlight. Chu Wuchen's white clothes surpass snow, his expression cold and aloof, but when looking at his disciple, a trace of barely noticeable gentleness appears in the depths of his eyes. Su Nian is innocent and lively, frequently making mistakes while practicing swordplay, both in awe of and dependent on her master.]

Jiang Ci was very confident about this scene.

This kind of "restrained gentleness" and "deeply hidden affection," if acted properly, represented a top-tier "yearning but not obtaining," making harvesting Heartbreak Value no problem.

However, when he changed into that ethereal, flowing white outfit and walked to the filming location, he realized he had thought too simply.

Qiao Xinran, who played Su Nian, was already waiting there.

She wore a yellow disciple uniform, her hair styled in cute double buns, her small face made up pink and flushed, fluttering over like a butterfly.

"Brother Jiang Ci! You're here!"

Her voice was sickeningly sweet.

"You look so good in this white outfit, just like an immortal descending to earth!"

The [Player Identification Aura] in Jiang Ci's mind instantly sounded an alarm.

[Warning! Beginner Fisherwoman 'Qiao Xinran' is using the 'mindless flattery' tactic, attempting to close the distance. Please remain vigilant, Host!]

Jiang Ci didn't even lift his eyelids, just indifferently made a "Hmm" sound and walked straight toward the director.

Qiao Xinran, having thrown herself at empty air, froze her smile on her face, but immediately restored her sweet expression, moving closer to stand right next to Jiang Ci, putting on a well-behaved, listening posture.

The director held the script, explaining the scene to both of them.

"Jiang Ci, you need to act out the 'immortal' feeling, indifferent to everything, but only towards this disciple do you hold her in your heart. Your gentleness cannot be outwardly displayed; it must be hidden in your eyes, in the details."

Jiang Ci nodded.

The director then turned to Qiao Xinran: "Xinran, the Su Nian you play is innocent and lively, feeling worship and attachment towards her master, understand?"

"Understood, Director!" Qiao Xinran smiled, her eyes curving, and even secretly winked at Jiang Ci, as if saying "watch my performance later."

The ominous feeling in Jiang Ci's heart grew stronger.

The clapper loader slapped the board.

"Three Lifetimes Tribulation, Scene Three, Take One, Action!"

In the bamboo forest, the sunlight was just right.

Jiang Ci, playing Chu Wuchen, held a long sword, his posture upright, expression indifferent, gaze unfocused, merging with the surrounding world.

Qiao Xinran, playing Su Nian, clumsily brandished a wooden sword to the side.

"Master, is it like this?"

She lost her balance, the wooden sword in her hand flying out, and her whole body extremely deliberately plopped down onto the ground.

Then, she pouted, using a squeaky, affected voice that could crush flies to cry out: "Ouch! That hurts so much! Master, I can't get up~"

Jiang Ci: "..."

Director: "..."

All crew members: "..."

Miss, that's not how the script is written! This is a xianxia drama, not a sweet romance mini-series!

Jiang Ci forcibly maintained Chu Wuchen's icy expression, not moving a muscle.

Behind the monitor, the director's anger burst out through the walkie-talkie: "Cut! Qiao Xinran, what are you doing? The script asks you to fall, not to act coquettishly! Su Nian is a girl with backbone, not a giant baby lying on the ground!"

Qiao Xinran sat on the ground with a pitiful expression: "Director, I... I just wanted to show closeness with Master."

"Closeness isn't being greasy!" The director's voice rose another octave, "Again!"

Second take.

This time Qiao Xinran didn't dare add extra acting, honestly practicing swordplay, then "accidentally" losing her grip.

Jiang Ci seized the moment, his wrist turning over, the sword scabbard accurately hitting the wooden sword's hilt.

The wooden sword drew a beautiful arc in the air, steadily landing back in Qiao Xinran's hand.

The movement was smooth and effortless, full of immortal elegance.

The director nodded with satisfaction.

Next was Qiao Xinran's reaction.

She should have shown worship and gratitude.

Instead, Qiao Xinran hugged the sword, her eyes turning into heart shapes, hands clasped at her chest, screaming with a fangirl expression: "Master, you're so handsome!"

Jiang Ci almost choked on his breath.

On the system panel, the Heartbreak Value column showed the number "0" glaringly, completely unmoving.

The [Player Identification Aura] alarm instead grew louder.

[Warning! Target 'Qiao Xinran' is using the 'low-level fangirling' tactic, attempting to forcibly twist the master-disciple relationship into a romantic one.]

[Psychological Activity Analysis: Hmph, I don't believe he can keep a straight face when I'm this cute! Don't all men fall for this?] 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Jiang Ci's inner self was already roaring.

Fall for your big head ghost! Your acting is so greasy even dogs would reject it! I am Chu Wuchen right now! Chu Wuchen!!

"Cut!!!"

The walkie-talkie transmitted the director's broken voice: "Qiao Xinran! Who told you to say 'you're so handsome'? The lines! Have you read the lines?"

"I..." Qiao Xinran was scolded into a daze, "I just thought Brother Jiang Ci was really handsome just now, so I improvised..."

"What qualifications do you have to improvise? You can't even act out the most basic reverence and admiration, and you're talking to me about improvising?" The director's voice trembled, "Su Nian's feelings for Chu Wuchen are respect! And love! Not drooling fangirling at the sight of a handsome guy! Do you understand!"

Qiao Xinran's eyes reddened from the scolding, her agent quickly stepping up to smooth things over.

"Newcomer? She's filmed more dramas than Jiang Ci! How come Jiang Ci can get it in one take? Huh?" The director, enraged, pointed at Jiang Ci, then at her, completely without mercy.

The atmosphere on set dropped to freezing point.

Jiang Ci stood to the side, expressionless on the surface, but inwardly bleeding.

Brother, scold her all you want, but don't drag me into it!

I haven't harvested a single fucking Heartbreak Value, the life countdown is still running, I'm more anxious than you!

This scene was shot back and forth eight times.

Qiao Xinran finally restrained herself, barely performing according to the script.

But her eyes were hollow, completely soulless.

The director finally, with a dark face, squeezed out one word through gritted teeth: "Pass!"

Returning to the rest area, Jiang Ci felt completely drained.

Sun Zhou quickly handed him water: "Brother Ci, you don't look so good."

"It's fine."

Jiang Ci waved his hand; right now he just wanted peace and quiet.

He opened the system panel.

[Current Heartbreak Value: 545 points]

[Remaining Life: 63 days 11 hours 23 minutes]

One whole afternoon, Heartbreak Value: 0!

This Qiao Xinran was practically his natural enemy!

Acting with her, forget making the audience heartbroken, he himself was almost having a myocardial infarction!

He couldn't just wait for death.

Directly asking the director to replace her? Impossible; since coming to the crew, he had vaguely heard that Qiao Xinran had very strong backing.

Jiang Ci closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down.

The "Complete Guide to Scumbag Quotes and Techniques" in his mind automatically flipped open without wind, pages rustling.

Finally, one line of bold black text entered his consciousness.