Unable to be Arrogant [Entertainment Circle] | Chapter 103 | A Perfect Match | Novela.app

Jiang Siyang was naturally delighted by the answer. His eyes crinkled into crescents as he smiled. Li Qiang chimed in teasingly, "The acting was indeed good—especially the part where you two were locking lips." Li Qiang said this specifically to see Jiang Siyang’s reaction. He expected the younger man to stammer out a flustered explanation, but to his surprise, Jiang Siyang fell into a brief moment of contemplation. "Ah, that part," Jiang Siyang said. "I actually felt like I didn't perform it that well. My pitch was a bit too high in a few places, but Director Tang thought it was fine, so we moved on." Li Qiang: "...?" Just as Li Qiang was about to speak, Zhang Jin’an beat him to it. Zhang Jin’an nodded in agreement. "True. Especially the line you spoke right after the kiss; your voice was a bit high. You could tweak that, but everything else was quite good." "It was that obvious, huh?" Jiang Siyang tapped his chin with a finger, recalling an even earlier scene. "And that first scene today—I feel like I could practice some of those movements more. I’m still a bit rusty; that leg sweep was a little crooked." Zhang Jin’an had watched that scene. Some of Jiang Siyang’s movements had indeed lacked precision. "I saw it on the monitor," Zhang Jin’an said. "Director Tang intentionally pulled the camera in close for a tight shot. Those minor flaws won't be an issue." Jiang Siyang visibly relaxed. "That’s good, then. That’s good." Once they finished their technical discussion, they finally remembered Li Qiang and turned to look at him in unison. Li Qiang looked at Zhang Jin’an, then at Jiang Siyang, remaining silent for a long time. Zhang Jin’an let out a short laugh. Confused, Jiang Siyang asked Zhang Jin’an curiously, "What’s wrong with Brother Qiang?" Zhang Jin’an hooked an arm around Jiang Siyang’s shoulder and said with utter confidence, "I’m guessing he failed at stirring up trouble and now he’s speechless." Li Qiang gave them both a thumbs-up, effectively confirming Zhang Jin’an’s suspicion. "You two... are a perfect match." Zhang Jin’an accepted the comment with thick-skinned grace. He placed a hand over his heart and performed a mock-gentlemanly bow. "Thank you for the blessing." Jiang Siyang burst out laughing. "What, you get it now?" Li Qiang asked. Jiang Siyang shook his head while laughing. "I don't, but it’s funny to watch." "On a more serious note," Zhang Jin’an said, twirling a lock of Jiang Siyang’s hair around his finger while looking at the younger man's profile. "Are we eating boxed lunches here later, or going out?" Jiang Siyang thought for a moment. "I actually really want noodles." "Alright, I'll go let Director Tang know in a bit," Zhang Jin’an said, letting go of his hair. "Brother Qiang, are you coming? That noodle shop is delicious," Jiang Siyang invited. "Have you eaten there before?" Zhang Jin’an asked. Jiang Siyang replied, "No, I'm just guessing." Zhang Jin’an laughed, muttering, "Classic Siyang." Li Qiang shook his head and waved his hands, rejecting the offer thoroughly. "I’m not going. I have no desire to be a third wheel. You guys... you guys should go find Xiao Zhou. Yeah, find him. Hasn't he had some big stroke of luck lately? He’s been offering to treat everyone he sees. Maybe you can even score a free meal off him." "What happened with Xiao Zhou?" Jiang Siyang asked. "The old houses in his hometown are being demolished for redevelopment, so... you know how it goes," Li Qiang explained. Jiang Siyang understood. "That really is good news. Congratulations to him." "I heard it’s around a million or so. Enough to buy your house," Li Qiang said, tilting his chin toward Zhang Jin’an. "That probably wouldn't cover it," Zhang Jin’an answered honestly. "I bought that house a while ago before prices skyrocketed. Now it’s probably worth tens of millions." "True. That eight-million-yuan house from back then would probably be worth eighty million now," Li Qiang said. He placed both hands on Jiang Siyang’s shoulders and patted them heavily, speaking with mock gravity. "So, Siyang, seriously—buy property as early as you can." "That makes a lot of sense, but there's one big problem," Jiang Siyang replied. Li Qiang tilted his head. "What?" Jiang Siyang said earnestly, "I don't have enough money." Li Qiang: "..." Li Qiang swallowed hard and pointed at Zhang Jin’an. "Borrow it from your partner." "I want to save up and buy it myself," Jiang Siyang countered. Zhang Jin’an added, "Exactly. Our Siyang is an upright young man of the modern era—down-to-earth. Don't go corrupting him." Li Qiang nodded perfunctorily. "Right, right... and what’s your real reason?" Zhang Jin’an: "I don't have any money either." Li Qiang wasn't surprised at all. "I knew it. Money can't stay in your hands for even ten days. You really should learn how to save from Siyang." Li Qiang shot Jiang Siyang a look, hoping to use this opportunity to get him to rein in Zhang Jin’an’s reckless spending habits. However, Jiang Siyang was clearly not on the same page. Jiang Siyang replied, "But if you see something you like, there's nothing wrong with buying it. As long as it's not a bootleg, it's a way of supporting the creator." "You! You..." Li Qiang clutched the fabric over his chest, his thick brows furrowing as his mouth slumped. "...I should have guessed you two were in cahoots. My heart aches." After glancing at Li Qiang’s features, which were twisted like a fried dough twist, Zhang Jin’an remarked, "Brother Qiang, that doesn't look like heartache. It looks like constipation." Li Qiang’s expression instantly snapped back to normal as he spat at Zhang Jin’an. "Pah! You're the one who's constipated." Zhang Jin’an was highly amused, and Jiang Siyang laughed along with him. After the three of them chatted for a bit longer, Xiao Zhou came over. As soon as Zhang Jin’an saw him, he brought up dinner, and Xiao Zhou agreed without a second thought. By seven o'clock, the three of them arrived at the noodle shop Jiang Siyang had mentioned. The shop was very close to the set and wasn't in the city center, so aside from the three of them, there were only two other customers. Just as their three bowls of noodles were served, those two customers left. After Zhang Jin’an and Xiao Zhou finished their noodles, they slumped back in their chairs to rest, watching Jiang Siyang pick up his bowl to drink the last of the broth. Xiao Zhou couldn't help but let out a sound of admiration. "Impressive. You even ordered an extra portion of noodles and finished the whole thing? I'm jealous. You eat like that and don't gain a pound." Zhang Jin’an pulled out a tissue and handed it to Jiang Siyang. "You want to try it? Just exercise as much as you eat." The moment he heard the word 'exercise,' Xiao Zhou shook his head vigorously. "Never mind. I'll stick to one bowl." Jiang Siyang gave a small smile, wiped his mouth, crumpled the tissue into a ball, and tossed it into the trash can. "Xiao Zhou, how's the situation with your family's house going?" Zhang Jin’an asked. "It is what it is. Demolition starts around next month. *Sigh*—" Xiao Zhou patted his clean sleeves as if brushing off non-existent dust, his posture radiating affectation. "I really didn't expect it. I dream about getting rich overnight every single day, and it actually happened." "Feels good, doesn't it?" Zhang Jin’an asked with a smile. "Of course it does! Let me tell you, once I get the money," Xiao Zhou patted his chest, "it's my treat. I'm taking you guys out for a massive meal." Jiang Siyang immediately cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Thank you, Boss Zhou." "Boss Zhou is so generous," Zhang Jin’an followed suit. Xiao Zhou gave a grand wave of his hand, looking incredibly suave. "Small stuff, small stuff. Don't even mention the next time—this one's on me too. I'll go pay." As he spoke, he pressed one hand down on Jiang Siyang’s shoulder while waving the other at Zhang Jin’an. "You both stay seated. Don't move, don't move! I'll get angry if you move." Jiang Siyang: "I'm not moving." Xiao Zhou snapped back, "Tsk—why aren't you moving?!" Jiang Siyang: "...?"