The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 32

That single cry of “Brother” was as light as a stray wisp of wind.

Xie Zhuoyu was frozen to the spot. His gaze remained fixed deathly upon the face before him, and his constricted pupils were overflowing with disbelief.

Lin Zhiyu felt that the emotional cues from his counterpart were finally in place. Relieved, he loosened his movements slightly. He circled Xie Zhuoyu step by step, his pace so elegant it seemed detached from the mortal world, yet his tone grew increasingly eerie and soft. “So, Ayu still remembers his brother’s face.”

Xie Zhuoyu instinctively took a step back, but Lin Zhiyu’s silk ribbon suddenly jerked, pulling him forward so sharply he nearly crashed into the other’s chest. He reacted instantly, attempting to struggle, only to have his shoulders pinned down by a pair of ice-cold hands.

Lin Zhiyu leaned in close to his ear, his voice carrying an indescribable, haunting allure. “Ayu, do you not think this is Heaven’s mercy? It allows us two brothers to reunite in a place like this.”

Xie Zhuoyu grit his teeth, a flash of pain crossing his eyes as he suppressed his emotions and shouted, “You are not him! My elder brother, Xie Yunce, died long ago protecting the people of Yinshan City! You are not worthy of using his face. Change it back this instant!”

Lin Zhiyu seemed amused by this righteous outburst. He raised a hand and gently stroked his own cheek. Fingers stained with balsam juice traced over the ritualistic scripts and bloodstains on his face, and his tone suddenly shifted into a deliberate, mournful sorrow. “Yes, Ayu, I am already dead. But I am so unwilling. The one hundred and eighty-three lives of the Xie family, mine, Mother’s, Father’s, for what did they all die? Has Ayu truly forgotten?”

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhuoyu’s face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled, moving as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

Lin Zhiyu caught this flicker of weakness, and his smile grew more distorted. He suddenly spun away gracefully, his hem sweeping the floor. The silk ribbons wrapped around Xie Zhuoyu’s body swung through the empty temple, creating a hollow, ethereal sound.

“Ayu,” his voice drifted through the silent night, light as a feather. “Are you really going to kill me? I finally managed to see you again. Do you not want to know the truth? About the Xie Estate, about Changqing Town, and about you?”

The bells jingled and chimed like a mother’s gentle lullaby. Xie Zhuoyu lowered his eyes and remained unresponsive, appearing as though he had already plummeted into the depths of his memories under the Nightmare Ghost’s induction.

“Ayu, Ayu, the fire is so hot. I feel pain too.”

However, just as the words left his lips, the surrounding silence was suddenly torn apart by a flash of a blade. The dilapidated idol in the Mountain God Temple instantly exploded.

“Xie Zhuoyu! Open your damn eyes and look closely! If you dare mistake some random stray for Xie Yunce, he will be so angry at your stupidity that he will not even find peace in the afterlife!”

Yun Qi’s voice transmission rushed into his ears, and Xie Zhuoyu snapped awake. The long sword on the ground felt the summons and flew back into his hand like a meteor. The spiritual energy detonated the ribbons binding him, scattering tiny bells all over the temple.

When he looked up again, his gaze was like an icy blade directed straight at the red figure ahead. Without another word, he spun around and pressed the long sword against Lin Zhiyu’s neck.

Lin Zhiyu, confused as to how he had escaped the trance, let a flicker of bewilderment cross his face. However, he quickly regained his composure, looking down at the tip of the sword and curling his lips into a smirk.

“Ayu, what are you still protecting? Is it the Xie family? Yinshan City? The Central Plains? It is all just a joke.”

Xie Zhuoyu clenched his teeth so hard the veins on his forehead bulged. He tried to retort, but found his throat seemingly locked by something, rendering him unable to make a sound.

“The sky high flames and the bodies carried out one by one from the ruins. The Xie family’s thousand year legacy turned to dust in the end.”

It was a lie. He was not his brother.

Xie Zhuoyu closed his eyes. In his mind, the memory of his last meeting with Xie Yunce fifty years ago surfaced. If Xie Yunce’s soul could enter reincarnation, what kind of family would he be born into? He hoped his brother would not encounter a troublesome younger brother like him again.

Lin Zhiyu suddenly laughed softly, and the sound fluttered through the empty temple like an ominous bell toll. “Then kill me, Ayu. I have had enough of the pain. It will not hurt anymore.”

Moonlight spilled over Lin Zhiyu’s face, making the vivid red bloodstains look even more glamorous and eerie.

“You think I will not?”

Xie Zhuoyu snapped his eyes open and suddenly attacked! He swung his sword down at Lin Zhiyu. However, as the blade barely grazed his shoulder, Lin Zhiyu’s figure blurred, and the ribbons lunged at Xie Zhuoyu like blood red serpents.

With a thunderous crash, Xie Zhuoyu was knocked back several steps, but the sword flew back into his grip. Gasping for air, he pointed the cold sword tip at Lin Zhiyu once more, and the hesitation was gone from his eyes.

“To use my brother’s name to insult the Xie family, die!”

The camera froze on the clash between Xie Zhuoyu’s sword and Lin Zhiyu’s cold smirk. Then, Zhao Jinyu’s voice rang out.

“Cut! We are good!”

The set lights suddenly flared up, and the murderous atmosphere vanished instantly. Lin Zhiyu slumped over like a snapped string. He pulled off the mask hanging from the side of his head and could not help but complain, “Director Zhao, next time there is an emotional scene for a man in drag, please find someone else. I feel like I just swallowed ten male ducks.”

“Did you not act it quite well?” Zhao Jinyu looked at Jiang Yubai nearby and teased, “I saw Jiang Yubai about to surrender several times.”

Jiang Yubai pursed his lips, his toe grinding a small pebble on the ground. He gave a stiff explanation. “Those few calls of Ayu were indeed full of genuine emotion. I almost got fooled too.”

Lin Zhiyu turned to glance at him. His gaze brushed past Jiang Yubai’s earlobe, and he instinctively asked, “Are you cold?”

Jiang Yubai was puzzled. His eyes flickered as he looked at Lin Zhiyu, seemingly unsure where to rest his gaze.

“Your ears are frozen red,” Lin Zhiyu remarked casually.

Jiang Yubai froze, instinctively raising a hand to touch his burning earlobe. After a long silence, he took the excuse Lin Zhiyu had given him. “It is a bit cold.”

Lin Zhiyu did not seem to care about the explanation, simply saying, “Keep yourself warm,” before turning to head into the lounge. Jiang Yubai stared at his retreating back. Several ribbons hung from Lin Zhiyu’s slender waist, swaying gently with his movements while the bells at the ends let out crisp rings. Lin Zhiyu had narrow shoulders and a thin waist. In such an outfit, he looked perfectly natural from behind, and from the front.

He hurriedly shook off those inappropriate thoughts. A second later, Chen Chen’s excited shout came from the lounge. “Brother Lin! I just took so much behind the scenes footage! It is incredible! We definitely have to post it on Weibo for promotion. Once this look gets out, you are guaranteed to hit the hot search!”

Lin Zhiyu’s scalp tingled. “Please let me see it before you post. I am not exactly keen on being hunted down and called a glamorous bitch by Jiang Yubai’s fans or whoever else.”

“Do not worry!” Chen Chen patted his chest in a promise. “That is absolutely impossible!”

Looking at Chen Chen’s unreliable expression, Lin Zhiyu did not really want to believe him. However, he had just sat down and taken a sip of water when he heard Ye Nanyi’s voice from outside the door.

“Teacher Lin, we were just thinking.”

In the evening, Lin Zhiyu’s anti-fans habitually built a discussion thread about the Blue Bird television drama.

“Let us discuss. Will this rat dropping, Lin Zhiyu, ruin this delicious pot of Blue Bird porridge?”

“I feel like Lin Zhiyu’s recent comeback has been making a lot of noise. He did that live stream declaring he would reject Mu Yunji, started posting pretty photos on Weibo, and somehow borrowed high fashion for his red carpet appearance. Honestly, my friends have all been talking about him lately. It almost feels like he is destined to be a big star.”

“Where did this fan pretending to be a hater come from? Get out.”

The user attached several old images of Lin Zhiyu slapping supporting actors in a previous drama.

“But I think Lin Zhiyu must have found a powerful benefactor. It is pretty impressive that he managed to kick Wen Lu out of the cast. Even though Lin Zhiyu is as dumb as a pig, his face is genuinely beautiful. I would rather look at his face than Wen Lu’s fat headed goose look. At least it is easy on the eyes.”

“Wait, have Lin Zhiyu’s fans evolved to this level? This is a hate thread! Who wants to hear you praise him? I do not care. With Lin Zhiyu in it, this drama is bound to flop. I will not watch a single second!”

“Inside scoop. A friend working on set said the crew does not trust Lin Zhiyu’s acting, so the screenwriter cut Xie Yunce’s scenes to the absolute minimum! Hopefully, they will release a version without him, or my skin will crawl.”

“So how did he actually get this role? Can anyone say? Is it really a transaction like Wen Lu said?”

“Giving such a crucial role to a resource hire is insane. Blue Bird’s failure is well founded.”

“Lol, Ye Nanyi is probably heartbroken over the character but cannot change the actor due to capital pressure. So she can only secretly cut his scenes. How tragic.”

“True. Ye Nanyi probably wants to kill him. I remember when Blue Bird finished its serialization, she posted a long essay on Weibo about how she conceived Xie Yunce’s story. She even wrote many side stories and still updates them occasionally.”

“Where are they filming now? I just saw a blurry leak of the Nightmare Ghost on Weibo, but I remember Jiang Yubai’s schedule said Changqing Town.”

“Wow, those costumes and makeup are incredible! The quality looks amazing. I have to say the crew really spent money on this. If it were not for Lin Zhiyu, I could not imagine how good the final product would be! Lin Zhiyu, I hate you.”

“I cannot see the face, but they look so beautiful. Who is playing the Nightmare Ghost? Why have we not heard anything?”

“Boycott resource hires! Boycott Lin Zhiyu! Wasting the makeup, wasting the script, and wasting the character. If this drama does not flop, I will live stream myself eating a keyboard.”

“I heard the crew finds him annoying. He arrives exactly on time and leaves exactly on time while acting bossy. It is irritating. A dog cannot change its habit of eating filth, and this Fish cannot stop making trouble!”

“Um, I am not a fan, but is it possible that Ye Nanyi and Zhao Jinyu are actually quite satisfied with him? Otherwise, with their personalities, would they have put up with him for this long?”

“Get out, fan pretending to be a hater! This is a hate thread!”

“I shared a post from Blue Bird Scout. Maybe you should just see for yourselves. I do not think Zhao Jinyu and Ye Nanyi are being forced.”

The Weibo post had been made a few minutes ago and contained only one video. It was filmed by a staff member, with the sound of people stifling laughter in the background.

The video started with Lin Zhiyu in full Nightmare Ghost regalia, looking indifferent. He was casually carrying the fanged mask while holding up the hem of his bright red stage costume, walking as fast as the wind. He looked like a vengeful spirit rushing into the mountains. Behind him, screenwriter Ye Nanyi was sprinting with a script in her hand, trying to catch up. The scene was hilariously chaotic.

“Teacher Lin! Just one more scene! Just one! Do you not think it is a waste for such a beautiful look to die so soon?”

Lin Zhiyu replied, “If she does not die, I am going to die!”

The video continued. In the shaky footage, Lin Zhiyu could be seen speeding up. His hem was moving so fast it was a blur, and his sleeves were flying as if he were being chased by a monster. The camera shook as the person filming laughed. “Teacher Lin, why are you running? The screenwriter is only 1.6 meters tall. She cannot catch you!”

Lin Zhiyu turned back with a chilly look. “She cannot catch me, but her script can fly!”

Ye Nanyi, clutching her script, was clearly undeterred. “Teacher Lin, really, just the last scene! Did you not also feel like the events at the Xie Estate fifty years ago were not explained clearly enough?”

Lin Zhiyu skidded to a halt and turned to look at her, his face a picture of exhaustion. “This is not a plot issue.”

Ye Nanyi blinked. “Then what kind of issue is it?”

Lin Zhiyu answered, “It is a Labor Law and workers’ rights issue!”

Just as Ye Nanyi was about to continue her persuasion, the camera panned. Zhao Jinyu’s voice joined the fray. “Wasting talent is wasting life! Lin Zhiyu, you need to have some artistic pursuit!”

The camera zoomed in. Director Zhao was sitting by the monitor with her legs crossed. Her passionate tone sounded like she was calling for a revolution. Lin Zhiyu slowly lifted his eyelids, and his tone was lifeless. “Director Zhao, my artistic pursuit is to go home after work and lie down to sleep.”

This sentence seemed to flip a switch in Zhao Jinyu. She slapped the table and stood up while laughing. “At your age and at this stage, how can you possibly sleep!”

Before she finished, Ye Nanyi had already closed in silently. Taking advantage of Lin Zhiyu’s daze, she grabbed his sleeve and shoved a thick stack of scripts into his arms with lightning speed. “Just take one look, Teacher Lin. If you look, you will definitely want to act it!”

Lin Zhiyu instinctively backed up two steps, waving his hands frantically. “No, no, no! I have already worked overtime for you guys for so long! Any more will definitely cost extra!”

The video ended there, and the comment section exploded.

“What a gorgeous male ghost! Scout, how many more treasures are you hiding? Give them all to me!”

“The screenwriter seems to really love Lin Zhiyu. She is begging him to act. I suddenly feel like he actually got into the cast on merit this time.”

“So that Nightmare Ghost outfit really was Lin Zhiyu? He is so pretty. You guys really know how to play with cross dressing.”

“Lol, all those people saying Lin Zhiyu was being ostracized and hated by the crew, come out! See how hard you are being proved wrong.”

The anti-fans who had followed the link from the hate thread were fuming. Someone immediately commented, “People keep bragging about how Zhao Jinyu has high standards and seeks perfection, but now we see she is just average. Lowering herself for a bit of petty profit and even filming videos to whitewash Lin Zhiyu. I bet Blue Bird will turn out to be a pile of rubbish. It is destined to flop.”

At that moment, the official Blue Bird account posted a new update. It contained nine high definition stills that showed the production’s favoritism. In the center photo, Lin Zhiyu was dressed in the red costume with silver bells and silk ribbons wrapped around his slender waist. His face was pale like a ghost, but his eyes held a mischievous smile. Under the bloodstains and incantations, he looked soul snatching. He stood in the moonlight of the ruined temple, and blood slowly dripped from his fingertips.

Immediately after, Zhao Jinyu replied to that hater’s comment.

“Then just you wait.”