Jiang Ci was holding himself up on the floor.
A sore, aching sensation radiated from his core muscle groups.
Zhao Zhen's guidance was simple, crude, but effective.
After just twenty minutes, Jiang Ci felt like he was about to fall apart.
Just as his willpower was on the verge of collapse, the phone tossed aside suddenly vibrated with a "buzz," and the screen lit up.
This slight disturbance instantly shattered the focus he had painstakingly gathered.
His body went limp, and he collapsed heavily onto the yoga mat.
He picked up his phone, ready to see which clueless person was interrupting his path to immortal cultivation.
When he saw the sender's na on the screen, Jiang Ci was completely stunned.
[Su Qingying].
Those three characters made him almost think he was hallucinating from overexertion.
He shook his head, confirming he wasn't mistaken.
It was indeed her.
[Su Qingying: You're not with the *Three Lifetis Tribulation* crew anymore?]
Jiang Ci's brain short-circuited for a second.
How did she know?
The thought flashed through his mind, and he instantly understood. Gu Huai.
That top-tier celebrity and skilled actor was both the male lead and an investor in *Three Lifetis Tribulation*. The director would definitely have inford him about sothing like an actor taking leave to return to school.
Judging from their interaction when Su Qingying visited the set last ti, they were at least acquaintances.
It made perfect sense for her to learn about his movents from Gu Huai.
He wiped the sweat off his hand and replied.
[Jiang Ci: Hello, Teacher Su. I've returned to school. I'm a student at the Capital Film Academy, preparing for my graduation play.]
After sending the ssage, he expected to wait a long ti for a reply.
Unexpectedly, the reply ca instantly.
[Su Qingying: Graduation play? That's fine too.]
Just a few short words, exuding an air of detachnt.
Jiang Ci looked at them, unsure how to respond.
Just as he hesitated, another ssage arrived.
[Su Qingying: *Palace Conspiracy* has wrapped. I have no recent arrangents.]
Jiang Ci was completely baffled now.
*Palace Conspiracy* wrapped, no arrangents... why are you telling this?
Could it be... she wants to get a al together?
Didn't we already settle that al last ti?
He truly couldn't grasp the thought process of this award-winning actress. Out of politeness, he could only reply with three words.
[Jiang Ci: You've worked hard.]
This ti, he didn't use the *Scumbag Quote Techniques* skill. Last ti was purely because he didn't want their one-on-one interaction to be awkward for her.
But after sending it, he felt like a stereotypical, clueless straight guy who only knows how to say "drink more hot water."
On the other end of the phone, there was a full minute of silence.
Jiang Ci figured she was probably choked up by his aningless reply and wouldn't bother with him anymore.
Just as he was about to put down his phone and continue enduring Zhao Zhen's devilish training, another ssage from Su Qingying arrived.
This ti, the content made his entire body freeze.
[Su Qingying: When is your public performance? I'd like to attend.]
Boom!
Jiang Ci felt like his brain had been struck by lightning.
What the hell?
A top-tier award-winning actress, holding two major awards, the youngest Grand Slam winner in the country, wants to co watch the graduation performance of a student who hasn't even graduated yet?
Is that reasonable?
Is that scientific?
He couldn't think of a single reason to refuse, nor could he think of a single reason for her to co.
Was it because of that scene in *Palace Conspiracy* that made her lose control?
Or was it the nonsense about "human observation studies" he spouted during their al, making her think he was promising material?
The wild thoughts in his head continued.
He rembered Su Qingying's emotional fluctuation during their scene together in *Palace Conspiracy*, triggered by his performance.
She was an extre thod actor, one who imrsed herself deeply!
Once the tragic atmosphere of the play was fully established, once Ma Lu's obsession and madness infected her...
How much Heartbreak Value would that be?
Jiang Ci's breathing beca heavy.
This was no longer a simple case of being "overwheld by an unexpected favor."
This was discovering a vast, untapped blue ocean!
Jiang Ci felt the fatigue from his training vanish almost instantly.
Suppressing the wild joy and excitent in his heart, he tried to make his reply seem calm and normal.
[Jiang Ci: The end of this month, December 30th.]
[Su Qingying: Good.]
A single word, crisp and decisive.
Ending the chat, Jiang Ci tossed his phone aside and leapt up from the yoga mat.
He felt like he could punch a bull to death right now.
He roared at Zhao Zhen, who was still watching the show with a dumbfounded look.
"Continue! Increase the intensity!"
Zhao Zhen was startled by this sudden burst of excitent.
Looking at Jiang Ci's frighteningly bright eyes and his adrenaline-fueled state, he turned his head in panic towards Chen Mo on the upper bunk and whispered with bated breath.
"Oh no... did that Ice Queen Beauty stimulate Brother Ci so much that... he's gone crazy from training?"
Chen Mo pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a glint of wisdom.
He pondered for a mont and gave his analysis with an air of seriousness. "According to Freudian theory, this is a classic case of stress-induced ntal excitation. External pressure is converted into internal drive, seeking compensatory satisfaction on a spiritual level through extre physical exertion."
Zhao Zhen: "Speak human!"
Chen Mo: "He's gone mad."
Jiang Ci paid no attention to his roommates' whispering.
Only one thought occupied his mind.
He must stand firm technically, must thoroughly master the character of Ma Lu, must construct a tragic world on stage so real that even an award-winning actress would be swept away by it!
He got back down, arms taut, body held straight and rigid.
"Another set! This ti, hold for five minutes!"
Watching Jiang Ci resu his plank position, yet radiating a strange, intense excitent, Zhao Zhen silently swallowed hard, feeling the temperature in the dorm drop by several degrees.
Shanghai.
In a luxurious apartnt overlooking the night view of the entire Huangpu River.
Su Qingying put down her phone.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the city lights sparkled like a river of stars, but not a single one reflected in her eyes.
That scene replayed repeatedly in her mind.
On the set of *Palace Conspiracy*, on the monitor, the young general in tattered armor, in his final monts as life faded, the look in his eyes as he gazed at the sky.
That wasn't acted out.
At least, not entirely.
It was a raw, pure sense of brokenness that could pierce through the lens.
She had only occasionally witnessed this feeling in a very few, highly accomplished veteran artists, when they beca completely one with their roles.
Su Qingying didn't believe it was a coincidence, nor did she believe it was re luck.
To deliver a performance like that, there must be sothing behind it she didn't understand.
It wasn't simple talent, but a terrifying ability closer to "instinct."
She walked to the bar, poured a glass of water, and only when her fingertips touched the cold glass did her chaotic thoughts beco slightly clearer.
To her, Jiang Ci had beco... an "academic subject."
A sample full of unknowns and contradictions, worthy of her serious study, even dissection.
She put down the water glass and picked up another black work phone. The screen had no fancy wallpaper, just the most basic contacts.
Her finger slid across the screen, finally stopping on a contact labeled [Teacher Sun].
The call connected.
After a few busy tones, a warm, refined, slightly amused male voice ca from the other end.
"Qingying? What a rare guest! Did the sun rise from the west today? What made you think of calling this old fossil buried in ancient texts?"
Su Qingying skipped the pleasantries, getting straight to the point.
"Teacher Sun, I need a list."
The man on the other end of the line was her respected teacher from her alma mater, now one of the towering figures in the dostic theater world, the Vice Dean of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Sun Peiwen.
Sun Peiwen was clearly taken aback, the amusent in his tone fading, replaced by surprise.
"What list is so important that you're making such a formal request?"
Su Qingying's speaking pace didn't change at all as she calmly stated her request.
"All the publicly announced information for this year's graduation plays from the Capital Film Academy's Acting Departnt. Including the play titles and cast lists."
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