The More Tragic I Act, the Stronger I Get — My Fans Beg Me to Stop Killing Off My Roles-Chapter 50: Madman vs. Iceberg — Their First Clash!

Xia Meng stepped forward.

She looked at the script, all its contents now etched in her mind.

"I believe the core of Ming Ming's character is 'isolation'," she said.

Her voice wasn't loud, but exceptionally clear, precisely analyzing the character.

"Her family background makes her distrustful of emotions, so she builds high walls with coldness and distance. This is a form of self-protection."

"All her behavioral logic is based on this core. She yearns for love, but fears it. So when faced with Ma Lu's extreme, unreasonable passion, her first reaction isn't being moved, but vigilance and rejection."

She paused briefly, then continued: "Her psychological arc is the process from 'isolation' to 'breaking defenses' to 'sacrifice'."

"In the early stages, all her body language should maintain distance. In line delivery, we need to strip away all unnecessary emotional coloring, using an objective tone to highlight her inner conflict."

Her analysis was precise, calm, and flawless.

The rehearsal hall fell completely silent.

Several observing students nearby showed expressions of awe on their faces.

Is this what a top student looks like?

After listening, Liu Guodong neither approved nor disapproved, simply nodding.

Then his gaze turned to Jiang Ci.

"Jiang Ci, what about you?"

Everyone's attention instantly focused on Jiang Ci.

Faced with Xia Meng's textbook-perfect analysis, how would he respond?

Jiang Ci didn't speak immediately.

He remained silent for a moment, the rehearsal hall so quiet you could hear breathing.

Then he spoke.

"He's not crazy."

The moment those words left his mouth, Xia Meng's body showed an extremely subtle stiffness.

His voice carried the same storytelling quality as the single syllable he'd uttered in the dorm yesterday.

Jiang Ci slowly articulated his understanding of Ma Lu.

"He just wants to crash against everything hard and cold, to create cracks for the light to shine through."

"Even if he ends up shattered himself."

Just two short sentences.

No complex theories, no professional terminology.

Yet they slammed hard into everyone present.

If Xia Meng's analysis was the character's skeleton, then Jiang Ci's two sentences were the character's soul.

Liu Guodong, who had been leaning back in his chair, silently sat up straight.

He looked at Jiang Ci, a trace of barely concealed appreciation flashing in his always scrutinizing eyes.

Xia Meng stood in place, completely still.

This feeling was exactly the same as what she'd experienced in the hallway yesterday.

"Good."

Liu Guodong broke the silence, giving Jiang Ci a deep look before clapping his hands.

"Let's begin. First scene, starting with Ma Lu and Toothbrush's monologue. Read through once."

Rehearsal officially began.

The observing students consciously sat in the corner, afraid to disturb the upcoming clash of titans.

Jiang Ci opened the script.

And spoke Ma Lu's first line.

"Dusk is when my vision is worst during the day. At a glance, the streets are filled with beautiful women, buildings and streets transform into unusual shapes, like in a movie..."

When his magnetic, emotion-filled voice echoed through the empty rehearsal hall.

Everyone froze.

In the corner, a girl instinctively covered her mouth.

Another boy's pen clattered to the floor.

This voice...

This voice was intoxicating!

It seemed to carry its own reverb and background music.

Ma Lu's neurotic image, muttering to himself on dusk-lit streets, instantly came to life!

Liu Guodong completely straightened up.

He stared at Jiang Ci in shock, as if meeting this student for the first time.

This line delivery skill...

This vocal control...

This couldn't be explained by simple talent! What had this kid experienced during his months of leave?

This skill was stronger than many young teachers in the department!

And the person feeling it most intensely was Xia Meng, standing closest to Jiang Ci.

Her inner turmoil was the greatest.

Her proud technical skills seemed so pale, so... soulless in the face of Jiang Ci's naturally reverberant, narrative-filled voice.

The monologue ended.

Jiang Ci closed the script.

The rehearsal hall remained dead silent.

Until Liu Guodong coughed heavily, pulling everyone back to reality.

"Continue!"

Rehearsal continued.

But when they reached scenes requiring coordinated physical movements, problems immediately surfaced.

It was the scene where Ma Lu first sees Ming Ming and becomes deeply captivated by her.

According to stage blocking, Jiang Ci should stop three steps away from Xia Meng, gazing at her with an obsessed expression.

But when Jiang Ci's emotions surged, he completely forgot about stage blocking.

He uncontrollably took two steps forward, directly invading Xia Meng's personal space.

His movements were filled with an uncontrollable "wild" energy.

Xia Meng's body instantly tensed, instinctively stepping back, disrupting their originally designed composition.

She endured it.

Second time.

Ma Lu introduces various toothbrushes from his collection to Ming Ming, showing a kind of innocence.

Jiang Ci's emotions surged again.

He grabbed a prop toothbrush, excitedly thrusting it toward Xia Meng, his arm movement so large it almost poked her face.

His emotions were genuine, but this action destroyed the beauty and order of the stage picture.

Xia Meng's eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

She endured it again.

Third time.

Ma Lu tries to stop Ming Ming from leaving.

"Don't go!"

Jiang Ci's emotions completely erupted as he grabbed Xia Meng's wrist.

He used a bit too much force.

Xia Meng finally stopped.

She didn't struggle, just quietly lowered her head to look at her captured wrist.

Then she raised her head, expressionlessly looking at Jiang Ci.

"Your emotions are destroying the stage's sense of order."

Her voice remained icy, carrying no accusatory tone.

Conflict had erupted.

"That's Ma Lu's genuine reaction," Jiang Ci insisted without letting go. "In that moment, he would lose control."

"That's the actor losing control," Xia Meng corrected him. "Stage performance isn't performance art; it requires precise repetition. If you rely on improvisation every time, we can't rehearse our play properly."

Both held their ground.

One insisted on method acting's authenticity, the other stood firm on technical precision's accuracy.

Rehearsal reached an impasse.

The observing students in the corner didn't dare breathe loudly.

Liu Guodong sat in his chair, not calling for a stop, instead watching them with keen interest.

This was exactly what he wanted.

He wanted this ice and this fire to collide on their own.

During the standoff, Jiang Ci suddenly smiled.

He released Xia Meng's wrist.

Looking into her slightly widened confused eyes, he said something no one expected.

"Fine, I'll listen to you."

"Let's do it again. This time, I'll follow your rhythm."