The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles-Chapter 44: I Just Got My Life Extended, and the Counselor’s Telling Me to Get Back and Graduate!

Old Liu.

A simple and unadorned name that could make every acting student at Beijing Film Academy tremble with fear.

He was Liu Guodong, the dean of the acting department for senior students.

Jiang Ci stared at this contact name on his phone screen, his entire body freezing up.

Over the past few months, he had either been earning Heartbreak Value or on his way to earn Heartbreak Value.

The system, life countdown, Su Qingying, Gu Huai, Qiao Xinran... these people constituted his entire life.

He had almost forgotten that he still had another identity.

Beijing Film Academy, acting department, graduating senior.

【Old Liu: Jiang Ci, are you there?】

The familiar opening line.

Jiang Ci took a deep breath, then typed a few words with his fingers, adding a grinning emoji.

【Jiang Ci: Hello, Teacher Liu. (jpg)】

The message was sent, and the reply came almost instantly.

【Old Liu: Don't act all casual with me. Do you even know how many days you've actually spent at school this semester?】

【Old Liu: I don't care what you're doing outside, whether you've joined some film crew or not, but you must get your ass back here for the graduation play! This concerns your graduation certificate and degree, understand?】

Jiang Ci read word by word, his expression gradually turning strange.

Graduation play?

Oh, right.

There was such a thing.

As the most important graduation assessment for acting students, everyone had to participate.

The school would divide into several plays, students would sign up themselves, teachers would screen them, then there would be over a month of intensive rehearsals, culminating in public performances.

This grade would be directly counted into the final graduation evaluation.

Jiang Ci's brain worked rapidly.

He had indeed asked Old Liu for a long leave earlier to work as an extra to earn living expenses.

Later, when he joined the "Three Lifetimes Tribulation" crew, he practically vanished from the face of the earth.

Old Liu didn't know about all the messy things that had happened to him.

In his eyes, Jiang Ci was just a "problem student" who would neglect his graduation for some petty cash.

Jiang Ci scratched his head.

He looked at the 【103 days】 of remaining life on his system panel,

then looked at the "ultimatum" sent by Old Liu,

an extremely absurd feeling welling up inside him.

【Old Liu: Next Monday, all senior students return to campus for the mobilization meeting, where plays and groupings will be announced. If you dare not show up, bear the consequences yourself.】

Another message popped up, devoid of any emotion.

Jiang Ci let out a long sigh.

He had to go back, no question about it.

He still needed to get his graduation certificate.

Otherwise, his mother would definitely break his legs.

Besides, with over a hundred days of life left, it was enough for him to squander... no, enough for him to calmly handle school matters.

He put away his phone and sat up from the bed.

The top priority was to ask for leave from the film crew.

...

The next day.

Jiang Ci found the director who was directing the set arrangement.

"Director, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

The moment the director saw Jiang Ci, he immediately came over with a beaming smile, his attitude as warm as if he were seeing his own son.

"Xiao Jiang, what's up? Just say it! Whatever you propose is no problem at all!"

Over the past few months, Jiang Ci's performance had completely won him over.

Not only did he act his own parts flawlessly, but he had also miraculously turned Qiao Xinran, that mere pretty face, into a skilled actress.

Now the filming progress of "Three Lifetimes Tribulation" was nearly half a month ahead of the original schedule, all thanks to Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci organized his words and said softly using his usual "tragic drama fanatic" persona: "The school... has some graduation matters that need handling. I might need to ask for leave for a period of time."

"Graduation?"

The director was stunned for a moment, then slapped his thigh.

"Oh my! Look at my memory! I forgot you're still a student!"

He looked Jiang Ci up and down, his eyes filled with amazement.

A student who hadn't even graduated yet, yet his acting skills had already reached this level.

The director instantly made a decision, waving his hand grandly.

"No problem!"

"How long do you need? Is one month enough?"

His attitude was so straightforward that all the prepared explanations Jiang Ci had ready were left unsaid.

"Don't need a full month, probably... around twenty days." Jiang Ci estimated.

"Twenty days?" The director frowned. "That's too short! Thesis defense, graduation ceremony, all sorts of messy things! Here's what, I'll give you one month off! Go back to school and handle things properly!"

Jiang Ci: "..."

The director's enthusiasm was somewhat overwhelming.

"Director, I really don't need that long. My scenes are almost wrapped up anyway, I don't want to delay the crew's progress."

"Hey! What kind of talk is that!"

The director patted his chest loudly.

"Your scenes aren't urgent! I'll schedule them for last! After you come back from school, we'll film your final scenes! Perfect timing—you can bring back the fresh feelings and insights from rehearsing at school, might even spark some new inspiration!"

The director grew more excited as he spoke.

"It's settled then! You go back first, I'll have the assistant director move your scenes later. I guarantee it won't interfere with your graduation!"

Jiang Ci looked at the director's face that practically screamed "you're my daddy" and silently nodded.

"...Thank you, Director."

Things went surprisingly smoothly.

After settling matters with the crew, Jiang Ci had Sun Zhou book a return flight to Beijing that very afternoon.

Before leaving, Gu Huai specifically came to find him.

"Going back to school?"

Gu Huai looked at him, a trace of inquiry in his eyes.

"Yeah." Jiang Ci nodded.

"That's good too." Gu Huai was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "It's good to take a break. You've immersed yourself too deeply in the role. Going back to school to see classmates might make you feel better."

He still firmly believed that Jiang Ci was a madman who sacrificed his own mental health for acting.

Jiang Ci twitched the corner of his mouth but didn't explain.

Let him misunderstand, it was fine this way.

...

The plane landed.

The familiar city atmosphere washed over him.

Jiang Ci took a taxi directly to the place he hadn't seen for months.

Beijing Film Academy.

The taxi stopped at the magnificent school gate.

Jiang Ci stood under the gilded characters reading "Beijing Film Academy," pulling a small suitcase, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.

It was afternoon, and the campus was bustling with people.

Young faces radiated the glow of youth intertwined with dreams.

Some students walked in small groups carrying books, discussing the cinematography techniques of certain film masters.

Couples held hands on the tree-lined paths, chatting and laughing quietly.

From the rehearsal rooms further away, faint sounds of vocal exercises and body training commands could be heard.

The air here was vibrant and passionate.

It was a completely different world from the film set filled with social politics and tangled interests where he had been staying.

Jiang Ci took a deep breath and walked through the school gate, pulling his suitcase.

He lowered his hat brim, not wanting to attract any attention.

However, he could still hear the students passing by whispering about something.

"Hey, have you heard? Those leaked photos from 'Three Lifetimes Tribulation'—Jiang Ci's performance as Chu Wuchen is absolutely amazing!"

"More than amazing! That line 'I'm waiting for someone to come home' was beyond incredible."

"Is he really from our school? Which department? So impressive!"

"Senior in the acting department! Same year as us! I heard he used to be really low-key, didn't expect him to be such a hidden master!"

Jiang Ci silently walked past them, his heart completely calm.

He crossed the sports field, heading toward the dormitory building.

Just then, a large crowd had gathered around the bulletin board not far away.

Students crowded there, pointing at a red poster that had just been put up, excitedly discussing.

Jiang Ci's gaze passed through the crowd and landed on that poster.

At the very top of the poster was printed a striking line of text.

【Beijing Film Academy Class of 20XX, Graduation Play Performance List and Group Assignments】