The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 31

“You mean I am supposed to play both the main storyline’s Shen Xiuming and his subordinate, the nightmare ghost Fusheng?”

Ye Nanyi sat down unceremoniously next to Lin Zhiyu and gave him a meaningful smile as she handed the script to him.

Lin Zhiyu took the script while his hands were still feeling cold. When he flipped to the first page, several striking words caught his eye: Adjustment Plan for Suyu City.

“Wasn’t Shen Xiuming already assigned to Lin Zhaoyan?” Lin Zhiyu swallowed hard as his gaze shifted downward inch by inch. “Why the sudden change?”

“Director Lin was only stepping in temporarily to save the day because he was worried about delaying Teacher Xie’s schedule. However, his appearance fee is simply too expensive. Since Shen Xiuming is the primary boss of the Suyu City arc, we honestly would not be able to afford him if we proceeded.” Ye Nanyi observed his reaction and smiled increasingly gently, like a cat up to no good. “However, both Jinyu and I believe that at this point, Shen Xiuming has already become obsessed with imitating Xie Yunce. He has to mimic Xie Yunce while not straying from his original character. The performance difficulty is actually very high. Currently, there are very few actors available whose acting meets the requirements, so it is better to just let the original take over. Teacher Lin, please do us a favor.”

Lin Zhiyu’s scalp tingled, and his subconscious instinct was to refuse. The feeling of finally being close to finishing work only to be suddenly assigned more was something he did not want to experience again.

“Maybe not.” Lin Zhiyu closed the script with trembling hands. His smile looked worse than a sob. “I remember the nightmare ghost has quite a lot of scenes in Suyu City. I do not really want to work overtime.”

Ye Nanyi said, “There are not many. The nightmare ghost only has three scenes. Jinyu has already trimmed the dialogue because the focus of the shoot remains on Xie Zhuoyu.”

Lin Zhiyu gritted his teeth and flipped the script open. After a quick scan, he found that all three scenes were high difficulty emotional ones. Xie Zhuoyu and Yun Qi followed the Soul-Passing Formation from Changqing Town to Suyu, fell into the nightmare ghost’s trap, and became entangled with Fusheng, who wore the skin mask of Xie Yunce.

Lin Zhiyu’s mind instantly exploded.

“No, no, no, this is too difficult. You should find someone else.” Lin Zhiyu waved his hands frantically.

Seeing this, Ye Nanyi pouted and lowered her head dejectedly. “But Teacher Lin, The Blue Bird is like my own child. Before, we did not have the choice, but now that we finally do, I hope to do my absolute best to present this story. I really cannot think of any other actor besides you. Please, just help us out.”

As she spoke, she pitifully rubbed her eyes and sniffled. She said indistinctly, “And do you not think the interaction between Xie Zhuoyu and Fusheng is particularly interesting? Especially that tension, the entanglement of passion and eroticism, and the clash between good and evil. Plus, given your performance in Changqing Town, I bet this scene will definitely become an iconic moment once it is filmed!”

But this nightmare ghost is a woman!

Why on earth would he act out erotic entanglement or clashes of good and evil with Jiang Yubai? He would be drowned in the spit of Jiang’s fans once it aired.

“Please, Teacher Lin.”

Lin Zhiyu was someone who could be swayed by persuasion but never by force. He was most afraid of women pulling this kind of act in front of him. Stunned into silence by Ye Nanyi’s performance, he turned to Chen Chen for help, but the latter immediately turned his back to indicate he was powerless.

“Fine, I will do it.” Lin Zhiyu sighed and finally spoke as if resigning to fate. “But that is going to cost extra.”

Ye Nanyi’s expression changed instantly, and the light of hope flickered in her eyes. “No problem! I will contact the team to negotiate with your staff right now. Jinyu said if you are willing to play the part, we can even increase the pay a bit more.”

Why did you not say such an important thing earlier? He had missed the chance to haggle.

Lin Zhiyu asked helplessly, “When is this scene being filmed?”

Ye Nanyi checked her watch and said cheerfully, “Tonight.”

Lin Zhiyu nearly sprayed out his ginger tea. “Even the donkeys in a production brigade are not worked this hard!”

“It will not be like that. Director Zhao specifically instructed for you to get a good rest so you will have energy tonight.” Ye Nanyi saw the stiff expression on his face and added, “Tonight’s filming location is nearby. The lighting and sets there are very atmospheric. Teacher Jiang will head over early to familiarize himself with the scene. You can come a bit later, Teacher Lin. There is no rush.”

Lin Zhiyu felt like he was falling apart. However, a few minutes later, when he opened the script, his eyes immediately caught the description of the nightmare ghost Fusheng’s entrance.

She is dressed in Nuo opera attire with an enchanting face, a blood-red mark on her brow, and vibrant red at the corners of her eyes. Leaning under a dilapidated lantern, she gives the Xie Zhuoyu before her a soul-stirring smile.

Lin Zhiyu fell apart even further.

As night fell, the filming location was set up as an abandoned mountain temple surrounded by ruins and overgrown vines. Mist swirled through the dark woods, and moonlight cast mottled shadows through the swaying leaves. This made the entire scene appear even more eerie and unpredictable.

In Xie Zhuoyu’s memories, although they failed the first battle against the River God, they unexpectedly discovered a formation in a deserted waterside pavilion. This formation continuously gathered spiritual energy from a hundred-mile radius and transferred it to an unknown location.

After investigating the town, the trio discovered a similar formation beneath a shrine in the center of Changqing Town. It was this very formation that funneled all the spiritual and earthly energy of the town into the formation at the waterside pavilion outside.

The person who set the formation was a traveling Taoist priest. Ten years ago, Changqing Town was suddenly plagued by a Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts. No one could sleep, and the parade lasted for a month. Countless Taoists and monks were invited, but none could suppress it. This continued until that wandering Taoist used three nine-year-old boys as sacrifices to set up the so-called Soul-Passing Formation.

The so-called River God in the waterside pavilion was precisely the incarnation of the resentment of those three boys who died unjustly.

Xie Yunce had once tracked the final destination of the diverted spiritual energy, and all clues pointed to the Shen family in Suyu. However, before he had the chance to investigate the Shen family, he died within the Ailing Array.

Fifty years later, under the orchestration of his four remaining friends, this old matter was brought up again. Xie Zhuoyu personally set out on the road to Suyu only to run into the nightmare ghost sent by Shen Xiuming to lie in ambush on the mountain path leading into the city.

Standing in front of the mirror in the dressing room, Lin Zhiyu looked down at his outfit. A Nuo opera mask covered half his face. The fangs and exaggerated patterns on the mask made his eyes look particularly captivating. His long, half-loose hair was pinned up with a hairpin while a few strands intentionally fell over his forehead to add a touch of lazy charm.

He wore a bright red robe with wide sleeves. Small bells and silk ribbons hung from his waist and jingled softly as he moved. The tailoring was both fitting and bold. The slightly open collar revealed a glimpse of his delicate collarbone, upon which dark runes were drawn.

Nuo opera was originally a dance to exorcise ghosts and ward off plagues. For Fusheng, a nightmare ghost, to wear this outfit was an act of provocation.

“Perfect!” Ye Nanyi’s eyes widened as she watched from the side. “This look is incredible. If I were Xie Zhuoyu, I would have to drop to my knees just looking at you!”

“I do not know if Xie Zhuoyu will kneel,” Lin Zhiyu said dejectedly, “but I will kneel for you and Director Zhao first.”

The large lights around the set flickered on. Lin Zhiyu walked outside the temple and straightened his clothes. The camera began to roll, and Zhao Jinyu’s command to film fell.

Lin Zhiyu quickly entered character and walked slowly into the dilapidated mountain temple. The crisp sound of the bells mingled with the whistling wind that sounded like a child’s sob, resembling a bizarre incantation. His movements were elegant to the point of being ethereal. His long sleeves fluttered with the chilling wind, and the mask on his face looked strikingly vivid in the dim light.

Xie Zhuoyu was currently standing in the center of the temple holding a long sword and scanning the surroundings warily. Dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, his handsome face looked exceptionally sharp under the cold light. His brow betrayed unmistakable anger and impatience.

Since entering these mountains, he had become separated from Yun Qi. No matter what he tried, he could not find any sign of her. He felt as if he were caught in a ghost wall trap, wandering around this temple and unable to find a way out.

“Young Master Xie.” Even though he knew the production team would find a voice actor later, Lin Zhiyu deliberately lowered his voice and called out softly. There was a faint hint of a smile in his tone. Despite his voice not being naturally suited for it, there was a strangely seductive quality that invited one to sink into it.

Xie Zhuoyu looked toward the source of the sound, and what met his eyes was a vision of extreme red. He froze for a moment. The surprise in his eyes forcibly suppressed a flash of untimely admiration. Finally, he regained his composure.

“Who are you?”

“It seems the young master did not hope to see me.” Lin Zhiyu raised a hand to brush aside a stray lock of hair. His voice was tinged with teasing. “Could it be that you were expecting another beauty?”

“How dare a demon speak of beauties? Why do you not look in a mirror first?” Xie Zhuoyu sneered, yet the long sword in his hand did not relax for a second.

Lin Zhiyu walked in slowly with steps like blooming lotuses. As his red skirt swayed, the subtle jingling of the bells tugged at the heartstrings. He circled Xie Zhuoyu and spoke in a low and soft voice. “Why is Young Master Xie so tense? Fusheng has been ordered to come here for only one thing.”

Xie Zhuoyu’s expression remained unchanged. “What is it you want to know?”

Lin Zhiyu suddenly stopped. He reached out and rested his hand lightly on the sword. His fingertips slid ambiguously along the blade as if stroking the flesh of a lover. “A fine sword. It is worthy of being forged by the once-famed Xie Yunce.”

Xie Zhuoyu’s eyes darkened. With a flick of his wrist, he instantly repelled the nightmare ghost several yards away. His sword was unsheathed with the tip pointing directly at Lin Zhiyu. “Cut the nonsense. What exactly are you trying to do?”

Lin Zhiyu’s long sleeves danced lightly as he brushed away Xie Zhuoyu’s blade. He tilted his head with a faint smile. “Why be so angry, Ayu?”

He changed the form of address. The name Ayu sounded as if it had been rolled over his tongue countless times, carrying a sense of lingering tenderness.

“I simply want to hear the truth about the fire at the Xie Estate all those years ago.” Lin Zhiyu smiled and approached Xie Zhuoyu step by step. “The Ailing Array exchanged one person’s life for an entire city. How did you escape from it? How did the genius of a generation, Xie Yunce, actually fall?”

“What are you saying?”

Before he could finish, the silk ribbon in Lin Zhiyu’s sleeve suddenly flew out like a spiritual snake and bound Xie Zhuoyu’s wrist! Xie Zhuoyu’s expression shifted. Before he could swing his sword, his body was abruptly halted.

“Ayu, every one of the one hundred and eighty-three people in the Xie Estate died. So, how did you survive?” Lin Zhiyu murmured softly. The seductive eyes behind the mask flickered with a hint of cunning. He then leaned close to Xie Zhuoyu’s ear and exhaled softly. “Ayu carries the mandate of heaven, and you are inextricably linked to the catastrophe of the Central Plains. It is just a pity I do not have such luck to stay by your side. Otherwise, we could have faced this tribulation together.”

With that, Lin Zhiyu slowly lifted his mask.

In that instant, the face hidden beneath the mask was fully exposed to the cold moonlight. The gentle silhouette of the brother from his memories merged with the bizarre and enchanting blood-colored sacrificial texts. It caused Xie Zhuoyu to freeze in a moment of stunned realization.

“Brother.”

The sword hit the ground and let out a sharp clang.