Chapter 147 Extra (VIII) Tan Zaozao
Tan Zaozao has appeared in numerous films, playing countless roles: a charming dancer, a heroic swordsman, a loving mother, and a girl deeply in love.
Every character is different, just like every person's life is different.
When Tan Zaozao first entered the entertainment industry, she suffered an accident. While filming a horseback riding scene, she accidentally fell from her horse. She was severely injured and nearly lost her life. A close friend who visited her in the hospital scolded her, asking if she was desperate for her life by not even using a body double for such a dangerous performance.
Tan Zaozao smiled and replied, "My life isn't that valuable." Back then, Tan Zaozao was still young and fearless of death. She thought she would always be that way, until one day, when she appeared on a talk show. When Tan Zaozao emerged from her dressing room, she discovered that the corridor that should have led to the stage had been replaced by twelve identical iron doors, each one radiating a chilling indifference.
Seeing this scene, the smile on Tan Zaozao's face froze. Her first reaction was that this was a spoof program prepared by the production team, so she forced herself to suppress her inner uneasiness until... she opened one of the doors.
After the door was opened, she appeared in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by a desolate cemetery and a tall, gloomy castle standing in front of her.
Tan Zaozao walked slowly along the road. In the open space in front of the castle, she saw several people standing together, discussing something in a low voice. These people looked unfamiliar. After seeing her, they only glanced at her for a moment and then looked away.
"Excuse me, where is this place?" asked Tan Zaozao.
No one answered her question.
"Is this a show?" A strong sense of foreboding struck Tan Zaozao. She asked cautiously, but someone in the crowd showed a mocking expression. That person said, "A show? Have you ever seen such a realistic show?"
Tan Zaozao was speechless.
Although she held onto a glimmer of hope, hoping this was just a realistic prank, that hope was ruthlessly shattered the moment she saw the first dead person. The person had died horribly, wounds all over his body, his blood sucked out, a deader than dead.
Tan Zaozao looked at the corpse and stood there in a daze. For the first time, she clearly realized that this was not a prank or a real game. She would really die here.
Tan Zaozao's first door wasn't too difficult, and she was lucky enough to make it out alive. When she returned to the world, she nearly collapsed, startling the assistant next to her.
"Zao Zao, are you okay?" the assistant asked worriedly.
"Where were you at that time?!" Tan Zaozao asked angrily, "Why didn't you help me?"
The assistant looked at her blankly. "What...where? Haven't you been sitting here all the time?"
Tan Zaozao was stunned. She asked, "I've been sitting here all this time?"
"Yes," the assistant replied, "you've been sitting here in a daze..."
Tan Zaozao was stunned for a moment, vaguely understanding something, but before she could figure it out, the assistant urged her to go on stage and start the interview.
Tan Zaozao was absent-minded on the stage, answering the host's questions incoherently. The host was puzzled by this and was about to ask another question when he heard a cry of fear from the audience. Before the host could react, he heard the sound of shattering glass overhead. He looked up and saw a dark shadow pressing down on him.
Tan Zaozao was sitting next to the host, watching the huge chandelier above her head fall heavily and crash right in front of her.
The host who was talking to her with a smile just now instantly turned into a broken corpse. Tan Zaozao stood there blankly, looking extremely dazed.
It was a miracle that Tan Zaozao survived the accident. God knows she was sitting next to the host at the time, and the heavy lamp fell almost brushing her skin, but did not hurt her at all.
Because of this incident, Tan Zaozao was severely traumatized and forced to rest for a while.
During this time, she finally understood what the door was.
It was torture, but also a new life.
Without the door, she would have died long ago, but even with the door, she might not be able to survive.
Through a friend, Tan Zaozao met Ruan Nanzhu and learned that there was such a group of people chosen by the sect.
"Do you just want to join the sect or gain experience with it?" Ruan Nanzhu asked Tan Zaozao.
Tan Zaozao asked: "Is there any difference..."
Ruan Nanzhu said: "The difference is that in one case you don't have to think about anything, just follow me, and in the other case, you have to rely on yourself."
Tan Zaozao said decisively: "I choose the first one."
"But Obsidian won't open doors after the fifth one," Ruan Nanzhu said. "If you choose the first one, you might have an easy life at first, but you won't be safe later on."
Tan Zaozao forced a smile: "But I'm really scared."
Ruan Nanzhu remained silent, which was considered as agreeing to Tan Zaozao's request.
Tan Zaozao was just an ordinary girl, afraid of the dark and ghosts. In Obsidian, she was the one most similar to Cheng Qianli. But this similarity also meant that they were not suitable for the sect.
Tan Zaozao made her choice. She knew her final outcome and had doubts during the process, but in the end, she never changed.
After the five doors, Obsidian stopped taking any work, and Tan Zaozao's journey also came to an end.
"Zao Zao, how about I take you in?" Lin Qiushi was a good man. His eyes showed his concern for Tan Zaozao, but Tan Zaozao smiled and rejected him.
Deep down, she'd once felt a tinge of jealousy towards Lin Qiushi, jealous of Ruan Nanzhu's preferential treatment of him. But as the jealousy faded, Tan Zaozao found she understood Ruan Nanzhu deeply. Lin Qiushi was truly wonderful: intelligent, brave, and kind, a glittering gem. Anyone would be drawn to his qualities, not just Ruan Nanzhu, but even herself.
If I were Ruan Nanzhu, I would probably make the same choice.
Tan Zaozao thought wistfully, who doesn't want a strong and brave partner?
She eventually chose another organization that promised to get her out of the sixth gate, but failed.
This was also within Tan Zaozao's expectations. The only thing that exceeded her expectations was that she died on her favorite stage.
Tan Zaozao had hoped for a peaceful death, but she found herself unable to do so. In the terrifying world beyond the door, she was pulled into endless darkness by a pair of hands. When she emerged, she was greeted by a magnificent stage, glaring lights, and the click of cameras. Everything was being watched and recorded.
Realizing that death was approaching, Tan Zaozao couldn't help but let out a miserable scream - she regretted it, she didn't want to die yet, and there were still many things she wanted to do.
She was unwilling...
But it was too late.
The final path has already been determined at the time of the initial choice.
The familiar sound of shattering glass echoed overhead. Tan Zaozao looked up, seeing the dazzling lights and countless broken glass falling towards her. The chandelier, like a crown, crashed heavily onto her, shattering her body.
Before darkness fell, Tan Zaozao heard the screams of fear from the audience, and she even saw one or two panicked faces. Tan Zaozao lay on the ground with a faint smile on her face. She felt the darkness invading her vision, and the eternal tranquility was actually somewhat sweet.
She fell into a sleep that would never be disturbed.
(End of the book)
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