The audience directly blocked Niangao's bullet comments: [We're enjoying the sight of a handsome guy, why the hell are you spamming 6?!]

Niangao didn't forget their original mission: [Send my husband to debut in the C position!]

Audience: [Damn it, your idol should send you off to your funeral in the C position!]

The saying 'one's principles follow their facial features' was probably a perfect description of this. It wasn't that there hadn't been dramas where the second male lead was more handsome than the first, but Xi Nian's case was the most overwhelming, forcefully turning a few insignificant scenes into something unforgettable.

His eyes held a story.

Coupled with his outstanding looks and superb acting, the audience could imagine a grand drama of love, hate, passion, and revenge in minutes.

The plot was set up so that He Xiaoyun doted on Ruo Yin after forcibly taking her into his residence, but Ruo Yin's heart always belonged to the male lead, Ye Qiming, leaving her melancholic. Before long, the male lead achieved success and fame, directly leading troops to attack Wucheng and rescue Ruo Yin.

It was a very simple scene, leaving almost no room for actors to showcase their skills. Therefore, Xi Nian could only seize upon the details and add scenes for himself. This was also a way of scene-stealing, but as long as it didn't affect the main storyline, it was all based on one's own ability, and the director would turn a blind eye.

On the screen, Ruo Yin sat before a mirror in a purple cheongsam, her eyes empty and dead. The fox fur shawl on her shoulders added a touch of gentleness, but she no longer had her former vivacity, her heart clearly worn down to dead ashes.

Xi Nian returned from a banquet and saw this scene the moment he entered.

The script only wrote that He Xiaoyun believed Ruo Yin was still thinking about Ye Qiming. Fueled by alcohol and burning with rage, he pushed her onto the bed, intending to assault her. Just then, Ye Qiming led his troops into the warlord's mansion and shot He Xiaoyun dead from behind with a single shot.

As for how to act out the middle part, it was all up to the actor's own interpretation.

In the old years of the Republic, a heavy snow was falling. While the common people outside froze to death on the streets, the warlord's mansion was still filled with song and dance. Xi Nian was still in his dark blue military uniform, a thin layer of snow resting on the cape over his shoulders. He didn't enter immediately, but instead leaned lazily against the doorway, watching for a long while before finally walking toward the woman at the mirror.

His gaze was fixed on her, carrying an imperceptible scrutiny.

His black boots landed on the floor with a dull thud, his usual bandit-like manner, yet the gleaming metal medals on his uniform added a touch of nobility.

Hearing the sound, Ruo Yin's back stiffened. Xi Nian casually unfastened his cape, tossed it onto the bed, and undid the top two buttons of his collar, revealing a glimpse of his sturdy physique. He placed one foot on the embroidered stool beside her, the dark gun barrel lifting the woman's fair chin as he asked expressionlessly, "What, still thinking about your old flame?"

The audience watching this felt a powerful wave of CP chemistry. Was this the legendary love born from forceful seizure? They all knelt before the female supporting character: [Please, just give in to him, wuwuwu]

Ruo Yin opened her eyes and looked at him stubbornly. "I just can't forget Ye Qiming. You can kill me."

Niangao was so angry their teeth hurt: [The 'Send Husband to Debut in C Position' plan is temporarily on hold. First, let's crowdfund to send this woman to an ophthalmologist!!!]

Suddenly, the sound of a stool being kicked over echoed from the screen, along with the clatter of teacups falling to the floor. A maidservant heard the commotion and wanted to enter, but was stopped by Xi Nian's sharp shout: "Get out!"

The moment he looked up, a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes, as cold and sharp as a knife.

Xi Nian was deep in character. He grabbed Ruo Yin's hand and threw her onto the bed. A visible darkness surged in his eyes, a strand of black hair falling across his forehead. His voice was ice-cold, "Do you really think I can't bear to kill you?"

With the gun in his hand, without looking back, he fired three shots—bang, bang, bang—at the door as if to vent his anger. Pinning Ruo Yin down, he pinched her chin and reminded her, word by word, "Ye Qiming is already dead. You better open your damn eyes and see clearly who your man is."

Ruo Yin closed her eyes in pain. "No..."

Enraged, Xi Nian pressed the gun barrel against her forehead again. His face was expressionless, his index finger twitching, squeezing the trigger and then releasing it, squeezing and releasing, before he finally threw the gun to the floor with a backhand motion.

In the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it...

According to the original plot, the male lead should have burst in with his men at this moment. And Zha Pengfei did indeed burst in. Seeing Xi Nian pinning Ruo Yin down, he followed the script and shot him directly in the back.

With a bang, the audience felt their hearts break. Xi Nian's final scene was just those few short seconds of his death throes.

He was shot in the back, blood soaking through his clothes, his expression stunned.

As Zha Pengfei stepped forward to pull Ruo Yin up from the bed and lead her away, Xi Nian struggled to get up. He moved his hand, seemingly wanting to grab her, but only managed to clutch the pearl ring on the woman's hand. In the end, his grip failed, and it clattered to the floor.

He Xiaoyun was a very one-dimensional villain. Neither the original novel nor the script gave him much description. His role seemed to exist purely to deal a blow to the male lead, motivating him to strive harder, and then to be killed off once his purpose was served.

Xi Nian filled out this character's role, enriching the originally one-dimensional persona without affecting the main plot. His every move was part of the act, his gaze never leaving Ruo Yin. So much so that when netizens shipped the CP and rewatched the show, they discovered numerous details that held up to scrutiny, making them feel as if this warlord was actually in love with Ruo Yin.

[Wuwuwu, I hit the pause button when the male lead fired his gun, what do I do, I don't dare to watch anymore]

[I came here to ship the male and female leads, why am I suddenly shipping a villain? Oh my god, the look in He Xiaoyun's eyes when he looked at Ruo Yin before he died felt so deeply affectionate for some reason]

[I used to think Zha Pengfei's acting was pretty good, but now in comparison, it suddenly seems a bit lackluster. With Xi Nian's acting skills, he could definitely carry a major male-lead drama. What was Shanxing thinking, stuffing him in a minor role like this?]

[Wuwuwu my handsome He, wuwuwu, I'm being tormented by the 8000-word mini-theater I've imagined in my head]

Just as netizens were feeling regretful or amazed, sad or heartbroken, a group of unknown people suddenly appeared in the bullet comments. They were neither fans of the book nor the drama. They just suddenly spammed the screen with bullet comments the moment Xi Nian's character was killed off:

[6666666666]

Can you imagine a scene where you're crying your heart out for a heart-wrenching supporting character, but the bullet comments are filled with a stream of '6's? The audience was furious. Where did these clowns come from? Someone kick them out and report them, dammit!

Lu Xingzhe was also following the drama, laughing nonstop as he watched. Xi Nian was making coffee and saw his shoulders shaking from behind. He casually asked, "Watching a comedy?"

Lu Xingzhe shook his head, covering his face with his hands and peeking at him through his fingers. "Wolf Smoke."

Xi Nian took a sip of coffee. "How was my acting?"

Lu Xingzhe: "It was great. When you died, they were all shouting 666."

Xi Nian: "..."

Before the show aired, fans had been indignant about him taking on a minor role. Every so often, they would go to Shanxing's official Weibo to curse them out a bit, feeling that his talent was being wasted. Meanwhile, regular netizens didn't have a high opinion of idol stars, believing that if Xi Nian had really played the male lead, the entire show would have been ruined.

But as the plot of Wolf Smoke progressed and He Xiaoyun was killed off, the audience still couldn't stop fawning over him. Wuwuwu, how can he be so handsome, so cool, so much like a bandit, it makes us want to be kidnapped by you!

Many netizens were drawn by his reputation to watch the show, only to find the screen filled with '666' in the bullet comments. In short, Niangao had finally succeeded in sending their idol to the C position through a series of wild maneuvers. In just a few days, he topped the Weibo trending topics.

#XiNianHeXiaoyun#

This character was a fleeting but stunning sight. In the dead of a winter night, with heavy snow falling, Xi Nian, in his military attire, leaned against a door and looked up, the boundless, surging night behind him. It's unknown how many people fell for him, successfully breaking out into the mainstream with his handsome stills.

[My handsome He's unparalleled beauty!! I'm suffocating]

[The most '6' death for a cannon fodder character in history]

[Puhahaha, the comment above is killing me. Other people shout '555' when watching dramas, but his fans shout '666'. One fan is as bad as ten anti-fans.]

[I used to think his only good quality was being handsome and that he could only survive on variety shows, but his acting is so solid. Wuwuwu, what a treasure boy!]

At the same time, Xia Mingxue also called to express her regards. "I saw your new drama. You acted really well. Maybe the company's upper management was wrong before. You might be more suited for the path of film and television."

Her tone was filled with emotion. She felt that Zhongxia had struck gold. With Xi Nian's qualifications, he would achieve great things whether he took the idol route or the talent-based route.

Xia Mingxue's call came at an inopportune moment. Xi Nian covered Lu Xingzhe's mouth, evened out his breathing, and then said in a hoarse voice, "When do the auditions for Director Chong's Assassination start?"

Lu Xingzhe lay beneath him, his clothes in disarray. He deliberately hooked a leg around Xi Nian's lean waist and slowly rubbed the area over his tailbone, smiling and winking at him.

Xi Nian leaned down and kissed Lu Xingzhe's eyes, signaling for him to be good.

Xia Mingxue was completely unaware of the situation on the other end of the line. "I also called to tell you this news. The audition for Assassination starts at eight o'clock next Saturday morning. I'll have an assistant drive over to pick you up. Remember to be prepared."

After a pause, she added, "I heard Best Actor Yan Du will also be there."

Xi Nian didn't seem to care much. "Okay."

After hanging up, he released the hand covering Lu Xingzhe's mouth, then hooked the other's chin for a deep, tangled kiss, continuing what they had left unfinished, desperately plundering the last bit of air.

Lu Xingzhe was kissed until he was breathless. He turned his head, his breathing chaotic, and then hugged Xi Nian tightly, kissing his neck while whispering his name, "Xi Nian... Xi Nian..."

A fondness that could not be hidden.

Xi Nian brushed aside the sweat-dampened hair on his forehead. As their lips and teeth met, he let out a muffled hum, but his actions uncontrollably carried a hint of ruthlessness, as if he wanted to dismantle the man before him, skin from bone, and press him inch by inch into his own flesh and blood.

Xi Nian had never realized that the possessiveness in his eyes was actually no different from Lu Xingzhe's.

Stimulated, the corners of Lu Xingzhe's eyes turned red, tears welling as he trembled too much to speak.

It was better that he couldn't speak anyway. The moment he opened his mouth, it would be 'you fucking...'.

Xi Nian wrapped him in some clothes and carried him princess-style into the bathroom.

The new assistant Xia Mingxue had assigned to Xi Nian was a girl with a round face, a bun hairstyle, and black-framed glasses. Her real name was Tian Cheng. On the day of the audition, she drove over early in the morning, her smile sweet. "Brother Xi, you can just call me Chengzi. From now on, just leave anything you need to me. I'll definitely handle it properly for you. Sister Xia already told me to take you to the film set for the audition. Director Chong is very strict, so we absolutely can't be late."

Xi Nian nodded his thanks. After getting in the car, he sat in the back, reading the script the whole time. Lu Xingzhe, not wanting to disturb him, sat in the front passenger seat.

Chengzi was sweet in both personality and words. While driving, she chatted quietly with Lu Xingzhe, starting to build a rapport. "Brother Xiao Xing, you're the most handsome assistant I've ever seen."

Lu Xingzhe was watching Xi Nian's condition in the rearview mirror and replied somewhat absent-mindedly, "Is that so?"

Chengzi said, "Of course, I'm also a fan of Xi Nian. I've been a fan since the Star Games."

Lu Xingzhe's eyebrow twitched slightly. "For real?"

This girl clearly seemed pretty normal.

Chengzi was eager to prove herself. "Of course it's true! When Brother Xi played He Xiaoyun, I even spammed 666 for him!"

"..."

Lu Xingzhe decided to take back what he'd just thought. This girl wasn't quite normal either.

There were many actors who had their eyes on the movie Assassination, but there were basically no popular idols, mostly just discerning veteran actors. As a new face, Xi Nian inevitably seemed a bit out of place among them.

Director Chong was holding auditions inside a room. The door was closed, so no one could see the situation inside. There was a lounge for the actors to wait in, but most people weren't sitting inside, choosing instead to stand in the hallway and wait for news.

Chong Wenxin was famous. It had been almost three years since his last directorial work. A good script was a rare find. Even Xi Nian could see the value behind this film, and others weren't blind either, so it was fine to humble themselves and wait a bit.

Everyone was poring over their scripts. No one took the initiative to chat and build connections.

Xi Nian sat down on a bench in the hallway. He stopped looking at the script he already knew by heart, his fingertips tapping lightly as if he were pondering something.

Lu Xingzhe subtly scanned the surroundings and found that he knew most of the artists who had come to audition. He got up and left for a while, and it was unclear where he went, only returning after a good while.

He sat down next to Xi Nian and, avoiding the eyes and ears of others, said in a low voice, "Besides Yan Du, there are two other people auditioning for the male lead. The rest are all here for the second male lead."

Assassination was a typical assassin drama. The male lead, Duan Haiyang, was a police officer who engaged in a life-and-death struggle with assassins to protect an important witness for the police. The process was full of contradictions and sharp conflicts. The second male lead was nominally Duan Haiyang's good brother, but was actually an undercover agent for a criminal organization. The screen time was split 50-50.

It was unknown if it was because Yan Du wanted to audition for the male lead, and others felt they had no hope, so they all turned their attention to the second male lead.

Lu Xingzhe asked Xi Nian, "Which role do you want to audition for?"

Xi Nian said, "The male lead, I guess. I'll play whichever one I get."

As usual, he liked to weigh the pros and cons first. He simply felt that the value behind this script was good. After all, it had won many major awards in his past life, so playing either role wouldn't be a loss.

Lu Xingzhe offered his daily dose of flattery: "You'll definitely get the male lead role."

Xi Nian wasn't so certain. After all, Yan Du's Best Actor title was earned through genuine hard work. He rolled up the script in his hand and deliberately asked, "What if I don't get it?"

What if he doesn't get it?

Hearing this, Lu Xingzhe fell into deep thought. He was already silently trying to recall if Yan Du had any scandals in his past. A small one wouldn't do; it had to be the kind that would put his reputation in jeopardy, forcing the director to recast.

Xi Nian knew Lu Xingzhe too well. One look at his expression and he could guess what the other was plotting. Almost subconsciously, he grabbed his hand—

The action was completely thoughtless, born purely from instinct, carrying a prohibitive meaning that even its owner was unaware of.

Xi Nian froze for a second before realizing what he was doing. He looked at Lu Xingzhe, only to find that the latter was also looking at him, his face full of confusion.

Lu Xingzhe thought he was unwell. "What's wrong?"

"..."

Xi Nian paused before saying, "It's nothing."

He hadn't yet let go of Lu Xingzhe's hand. Their skin touched, a warm sensation hidden beneath the hem of his clothes, where no one could see.

Xi Nian clasped Lu Xingzhe's fingers, his grip slowly tightening. It was unclear if he was speaking to him or to himself, "...I was just teasing you. It's okay if I don't get it. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

There would be plenty of opportunities in the future. He had already made it this far, why risk losing everything?

Lu Xingzhe was like a child, always ignorant of the line between good and evil. Xi Nian was supposed to teach him, not follow the old path from his past life and recklessly drag him into a deeper mire. Once he fell, if no one pulled him back, it would be a cliff-like plunge.

It was as if he had held back Lu Xingzhe, and also held back his own wavering thoughts.

Lu Xingzhe was always very obedient to him. Hearing his words, he dismissed the idea and lowered his head, secretly hooking his pinky around Xi Nian's. "Okay."

Finally, someone came out. Director Chong's assistant opened the door and asked, "Is there anyone else who wants to audition for the male lead?"

Yan Du and the other two had already gone in, but for some reason, they hadn't come out. Hearing the question, Xi Nian stood up from his seat and said to Lu Xingzhe, "Sit here and wait for me."

Lu Xingzhe smiled, winked at him, and secretly made an OK sign.

Only then did Xi Nian go in.

The audition room was simple. A pile of miscellaneous props was stacked in a corner. Director Chong sat behind a large square table. He was around fifty, with a stubbly beard, a beer belly, and wore an old man's hat. His graying hair was long enough to be tied back. At a glance, he looked like a strange, ill-tempered old man.

Director Chong glanced at Xi Nian. "You're also here to audition for the male lead?"

Xi Nian saw Yan Du and the others sitting on a long bench against the wall. He withdrew his gaze and nodded. "Yes, I'm fine with anything."

Director Chong had probably never heard such an answer before. He looked up at him, his rough features making him look a bit fierce. "What do you mean, 'fine with anything'?"

Xi Nian's attitude was straightforward. "I'll play whichever role I get."

He had played roles like the male lead and second male lead in his past life, so he wasn't particularly moved by them. To him, there wasn't much of a difference, because what made this drama appealing was its main plot. The character archetypes weren't that special, so playing either one was more or less the same.

Perhaps because he had lived an extra life, Xi Nian's temperament seemed much more somber than his peers.

Director Chong stared at him for a long while, then suddenly asked his assistant to bring him a character profile. "Sit over there and take a look at this first. You'll try this scene in a bit."

Unless they were confirmed for a role, the scripts most actors received were incomplete. This was the case for Xi Nian, who only had a general introduction to the male lead and second male lead. He flipped through the character profile Director Chong handed him and found that it was for a supporting character, an assassin.

Since the drama was called Assassination, it was inevitable that there would be assassin roles. The male lead Duan Haiyang's mission was to protect a police witness, while Assassin 19's mission was to assassinate that witness. He didn't have much screen time, but he was a crucial character for driving the plot.

The assassin had no name, only the codename 19. He had been raised by a criminal organization as a killing machine since childhood, devoid of any emotion. He had completely detached himself from the human category, like a mad dog.

Xi Nian originally thought Director Chong would have him audition for a fight scene against the protagonist, but it turned out to be just killing someone.

While assassinating the witness, 19 was pursued by the police. Injured, he hid in a messy residential building. He pushed open the door and killed the alcoholic homeowner, only to discover a girl with disheveled clothes tied to the bed.

A girl who had been abused by her stepfather, who was dazed and simple-minded.

19 had an ingrained assassin's mindset. He should have killed everyone in the house, but for some reason, he didn't. He ate the food in the refrigerator, dressed the girl, and stayed on the floor for one night.

Xi Nian continued to flip through the pages and found that the two later developed feelings for each other. Assassin 19 fled with the girl, but she was seriously injured along the way.

So 19 killed her.

The scene Director Chong wanted Xi Nian to perform was actually not easy to handle. It could even be said to be harder to act than the protagonist's role.

Xi Nian sat on the side for a long time before Director Chong finally called him. "Are you done with the script? Come over and do a scene with the actress."

Director Chong had already found an actress for the girl's role a few days ago. She was a skilled but not very famous talent-based actress named Yang Jin. She was also present at the audition today, with long black hair and a delicate, round face that made her look very young.

Xi Nian had no choice but to put down the script and go act with her.

The set was simple, with no props. Yang Jin just lay down on the floor, clutching her stomach and feigning a serious injury. Within a few breaths, her face had already turned pale, her breathing ragged, and her eyes welled up with tears. She was a true talent.

Everyone on the crew was watching them, including the other artists who came to audition.

Xi Nian didn't move. He looked at the dying girl on the floor, imagining himself as that assassin.

Devoid of any human emotion, not knowing how to love someone.

A vicious, mad dog walking on the edge of life and death.

Xi Nian's eyes gradually became dark and lifeless, betraying no emotional fluctuations. Under everyone's gaze, he finally moved. He knelt on one knee beside Yang Jin, his eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings, as if they were in a dangerous night, with pursuers who could appear at any moment.

Director Chong stared at them, waiting to see what would happen next.

The script specified that 19 had been shot in both legs during his escape. Xi Nian expressionlessly picked up Yang Jin, staggered two steps, and then they both fell to the ground. Yang Jin sobbed and hiccuped but made no sound. She pounded on Xi Nian a couple of times, pushing him away. "Run... run..."

Xi Nian looked at her, not moving, as if he didn't understand. He continued to try and pull her up, desperately wanting to take her with him.

Yang Jin could no longer speak. She lay on the ground and pointed to her stomach, mouthing, "It hurts..."

Tears fell from her eyes. "It hurts so much..."

Hearing this, a trace of confusion appeared in Xi Nian's eyes. Then, as if he finally understood something, he stumbled and crawled to her side. He cradled Yang Jin's upper body in his arms and checked her injuries, only to find that she couldn't be saved.

He didn't understand what sadness was. He only knew that Yang Jin was in great pain. So, he hesitated, then reached out and clutched her throat. The area around his eyes turned faintly red, but there were no tears.

Xi Nian looked at Yang Jin, as if seeking her consent. Yang Jin looked back at him without any resistance.

Xi Nian didn't use force at first. After a long moment, he slowly tightened his grip. He kept his eyes fixed on Yang Jin, watching as the light in the eyes of the person in his arms gradually dimmed. He remained in the same position, unmoving.

The girl was dead, but her hand was still clutching the corner of his jacket.

Xi Nian looked down, paused for a long while, then took off his own jacket and put it on the girl, just like the first time they had met.

Director Chong was finally satisfied. "Cut!"

Someone next to them had been completely engrossed. Hearing the call, they finally snapped back to reality. Xi Nian got up from the floor and patted the dust off his clothes. Yang Jin also got up, unable to resist coughing a few times while holding her neck. "You acted really well, but... cough... you were a bit too forceful when you were choking me."

Xi Nian said, "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention just now."

Director Chong seemed very satisfied with the scene. He pinched the scoring sheet in his hand and asked Xi Nian, "I think you're more suitable for this role. What do you think, want to give it a try?"

Finding a suitable actor for a role was actually very difficult. There were plenty of people who could play Duan Haiyang, but not necessarily many who could play the assassin. Considering the drama as a whole, Director Chong hoped Xi Nian would accept this role.

Xi Nian felt pretty shitty for being put on the spot like this. He didn't answer immediately. "I'll go back and think about it."

At this moment, Director Chong became extremely easygoing. "Alright."

There were still others waiting to audition, so Xi Nian didn't stay long. He washed his hands and went out. Lu Xingzhe was waiting outside. Seeing him come out, he walked up and asked, "Did the audition go well?"

Xi Nian said, "I guess it did."

Chengzi popped her head out from behind them at some point. Hearing his words, she said in pleasant surprise, "You really passed? Brother Xi, you're too awesome!"