The moment Li Qiang stepped through the door, he sensed something was off. Seeing Zhang Jin’an sitting in silence while Xiao Zhou ate nothing but plain white rice, Li Qiang’s heart skipped a beat. He turned to Xiao Zhou and asked, “What’s wrong? Did you steal his chicken leg?”
Xiao Zhou choked twice, a piece of sweet and sour pork tenderloin still in his mouth. He raised both hands in surrender. “I’m innocent! I didn’t do a thing. Siyang just sent over a song, and he’s been like this ever since he finished listening to it.”
Li Qiang fell silent for a few seconds before breaking into a smile. “Oh, then I know exactly what this patient’s symptoms are.”
Xiao Zhou’s eyes lit up. “Dr. Li, please, tell us your diagnosis!”
“I can’t. A patient’s condition cannot be disclosed to the public,” Li Qiang said as he sat down next to Zhang Jin’an. “Jin’an, filming wraps in three days. What are your plans? Going straight back or what?”
Zhang Jin’an felt the heat in his face finally receding, though the top of his head felt strangely chilly. He wiped his face and looked up. “Is there a wrap party here?”
Xiao Zhou joined the conversation from his perch on the coffee table. “I chatted with the staff; it doesn’t seem like there is one.”
“Then I’ll go back…” Zhang Jin’an suddenly remembered Jiang Siyang saying he would return. He immediately shook his head and corrected himself. “Oh, wait, no.”
“What’s wrong?” Li Qiang asked.
“Siyang said he’d come over once he wraps,” Zhang Jin’an said, his nose itching. He gave it a quick sniff.
Li Qiang noticed the gesture immediately and pulled out a few tissues for him. “What’s this? Did you catch a cold? Are you actually becoming a patient? …Wait, why is there a draft?”
Li Qiang looked up to find the source of the breeze and realized the air conditioner was blasting cold air directly above them.
“Gosh, no wonder I felt a chill sitting here. Who turned on the AC in this weather? And set it to twenty-one degrees?” Li Qiang picked up the remote from the sofa and shut it off.
“Crap,” Xiao Zhou pressed his hands together in a gesture of apology. “My bad, my fault. It felt a bit stuffy outside, so I turned it on.”
“It’s not his fault,” Zhang Jin’an waved it off, taking another tissue. “The weather’s been fluctuating lately; it’s easy to catch something. My nose was already stuffed yesterday.”
Li Qiang let out a huff. “It’s not his fault, but you’ve been sitting here for ages and didn’t even notice. You used to say you didn’t believe falling in love lowers your IQ, but you’ve clearly fallen for it now. Believe it yet?”
Zhang Jin’an looked at Li Qiang and shook his head. “That was just an oversight.”
“Give me a break,” Li Qiang said, dismissing the explanation. “Do I have to call you out on why you were sitting there with your head down just now? And Xiao Zhou, just because I haven’t mentioned you doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Weren’t you two minutes late again this morning?”
Xiao Zhou hadn’t expected the topic to shift to him and was caught off guard. “I—I… it wasn’t two minutes. I arrived, then I just went to pee.”
“And what about last week?” Li Qiang pressed.
Seeing this, Zhang Jin’an thought: *Oh boy, here we go.*
Because Zhang Jin’an was quite self-disciplined and Xiao Zhou was reliable, Li Qiang usually didn’t bother with trivial matters unless it was something major. But once he started, he would dig up old accounts from months ago and lecture them for ten minutes straight, oblivious to anyone else.
“…And one morning two months ago, during that interview, you said something wrong, Jin’an. Didn’t I tell you about it? But you went and said the exact same thing in the next segment…”
“Great, he’s already back to two months ago,” Zhang Jin’an muttered under his breath.
Li Qiang was facing Zhang Jin’an and couldn’t see what Xiao Zhou was doing beside him. Zhang Jin’an saw Xiao Zhou mouth the word “Help,” point at Li Qiang, and then throw his hands up in despair.
Zhang Jin’an shrugged; there was nothing he could do.
“And then there was that time you…” Li Qiang continued his relentless flow.
Zhang Jin’an felt his phone vibrate. Shielding it with his hand, he looked down.
It was a WeChat message from Xiao Zhou.
Zhang Jin’an immediately looked up at Xiao Zhou, who had closed his eyes, looking like a deep thinker.
[Xiao Zhou]: *Help! Didn’t Brother Qiang say he wouldn’t nag about these small things anymore?*
[Zhang Jin’an]: *He said he wouldn’t go out of his way to nag, not that he wouldn’t nag at all.*
[Xiao Zhou]: *[Blood-vomiting emoji] I’m doomed. My food is getting cold.*
[Zhang Jin’an]: *Almost there.*
Zhang Jin’an put his phone down and picked up his lunch box from the coffee table.
“Yes, Brother Qiang is always right,” Zhang Jin’an said, using his chopsticks to pick up the largest piece of sweet and sour pork. “Brother Qiang, are you hungry? Want a bite?”
Xiao Zhou nodded frantically, picking up a piece of cabbage and thrusting it toward Li Qiang’s mouth. “Exactly! Brother Qiang, you must be hungry. Quick, have a bite!”
Li Qiang shook his head, trying to push them away. “I’m not hungry. I haven’t finished yet. Half a year ago, didn’t you also—”
With lightning speed, Zhang Jin’an stuffed the meat directly into Li Qiang’s mouth. Li Qiang’s eyes widened as he stared dead at Zhang Jin’an, making muffled noises as he tried to speak.
One didn’t need to hear him to know he was likely spewing profanities that would have been censored.
Zhang Jin’an acted as if he neither saw nor heard a thing. He pulled out a napkin, wiped Li Qiang’s mouth, and asked considerately, “How is it, Brother Qiang? Isn’t the sweet and sour pork from this place delicious?”
Xiao Zhou added, “And the cabbage too.”
Li Qiang chewed vigorously and finally managed to swallow the meat. He opened his mouth to say four words: “You two are—” but Zhang Jin’an started clapping, cutting him off.
Zhang Jin’an: “As expected of Brother Qiang! Well said!”
Xiao Zhou joined in the applause: “Bravo!”
Li Qiang: “……”
The fire rising in Li Qiang’s throat was forcibly extinguished. He could only clutch his chest, turning his suppressed words into a series of coughs. “Cough, cough—my chest feels tight. I’m going for a walk.” He stood up.
Zhang Jin’an and Xiao Zhou immediately stood up as well.
Zhang Jin’an: “Take care, Brother Qiang.”
Xiao Zhou: “Come back and play again soon~”
Li Qiang glared at them from the doorway before walking out without looking back.
Once the door closed, Zhang Jin’an and Xiao Zhou shared a high-five and returned to their seats to finish their meal in silent understanding.
After eating for a while, Zhang Jin’an heard Xiao Zhou ask, “But Boss, I still have one question.”
“What?” Zhang Jin’an didn’t stop eating.
“Why did Siyang suddenly send you that video?” Xiao Zhou asked.
Zhang Jin’an paused for only half a second, smiled, and then took another mouthful of rice.
He understood perfectly why Jiang Siyang had suddenly wanted to film that video.
They were the same.
After finishing a busy day, he would see something—perhaps a teacup with leftover tea, a line in the news, or maybe just the white ceiling, the silent room, or even the lunch box in his hand… looking at these mundane things, he would suddenly miss Jiang Siyang intensely.
“It’s just like why you want to sleep. It’s only human nature,” Zhang Jin’an said.
“‘Only human nature,’ huh…” Xiao Zhou sighed and fell silent.
***
The event was short, ending at 3:00 PM. However, the mall’s general manager came backstage afterward and stopped them, so Jiang Siyang had to stay behind.
It was Jiang Siyang’s first time meeting the general manager, but Liu Wenping seemed to have met him several times. She stepped forward to greet him. “Manager He, long time no see.”
The general manager looked to be in his fifties. His hair was a bit thin but jet black, and his manner of speaking was distinctly different from the people accompanying him.
“Oh, Little Liu? It really has been a long time,” Manager He said with a smile, patting Liu Wenping’s hand.
“Siyang, this is He Lida, Manager He,” Liu Wenping introduced.
“Hello, Manager He,” Jiang Siyang shook hands with him.
Liu Wenping added from the side, “Manager He and his family are incredibly generous. They love treating people to dinner. Every time I come here, he treats me, to the point where I’m almost afraid to show up for fear of being called a free-loader.”
Manager He laughed. “It’s not that much money, what are you afraid of? When my wife heard you were coming, she booked a restaurant in advance. She wants to have a good chat with you.”
“Well, everyone here is my witness—I’m being forced to free-load this time!” Liu Wenping joked, making everyone laugh.
Jiang Siyang had always admired Liu Wenping from the bottom of his heart. Her PR skills were truly impressive; she didn't say much, but her words were concise and perfectly pitched, making everyone feel comfortable.
Liu Wenping nudged Jiang Siyang’s arm. “Siyang, let me tell you, Manager He has probably seen more celebrities than you have. Didn’t… who was it? Oh, Gu Yirou also came here before?”
Seeing how happy Liu Wenping was to meet an old acquaintance, Jiang Siyang didn't intend to interrupt and simply looked at Manager He.
Manager He nodded. “Yes, she was here. She came once in September.”
Liu Wenping said, “I remember your wife is a big fan of hers, right?”
“Yes, yes. She really likes Gu Yirou as an actress. And Zhang Jin’an—she watches every single episode of their dramas,” Manager He said. He then glanced at Jiang Siyang and lowered his voice. “Is it okay for me to mention other stars?”
Jiang Siyang shook his head. “It’s fine. I like those two actors very much as well.”
“It’s no problem at all. They’re all friends, they’re close,” Liu Wenping added. “By the way, Manager He, why didn’t Yuanwen come today? Didn’t he usually tag along before?”
“Oh, his cousin arrived today, so I sent him to the airport to pick her up. That’s why he’s not here, but he should be joining us for dinner later.”
Liu Wenping clapped her hands and laughed. “Listen to that, everyone—he went straight to dinner. He didn’t even give us a chance to hesitate; he settled it in one sentence.” Liu Wenping sighed but smiled. “Well, it looks like I’ll have to ‘accept the favor and act humble’ again.”
Her words drew laughter from the others. After discussing some business matters and agreeing on the restaurant’s address, they went their separate ways.
Once Manager He’s group had left, Liu Wenping instructed Xie Jie to get the car. Jiang Siyang then asked, “Sister Liu, how do you know them?”
“In the talent management industry, you have to navigate different circles. I’ve worked for many years, and Manager He’s enterprise is so large, it’s only natural to cross paths,” Liu Wenping said. “Manager He’s son is named He Yuanwen. He’s about four years older than you. You two should have things to talk about, and he… well, you’ll see when the time comes.”
Liu Wenping didn’t finish her sentence, leaving Jiang Siyang curious. But since he would find out soon enough, he didn’t press further.
When they arrived at the private room in the restaurant, Jiang Siyang saw He Yuanwen, who had been talking to his father, stand up to greet them.
If Liu Wenping hadn’t told him He Yuanwen was in business, anyone would have thought he was a male model. He had what Xie Jie often called a "world-weary face," but He Yuanwen’s aura wasn't actually cynical. When he smiled, his single-lidded eyes would crinkle into two curved slits. His gold-rimmed glasses were attached to a long chain that draped over his shoulder.
“Sister Liu,” He Yuanwen smiled and shook Liu Wenping’s hand.
“I haven’t seen you in months; you’ve grown taller,” Liu Wenping said with a smile.
He Yuanwen chuckled. “How can I still be growing at this age?” He looked at Jiang Siyang. “And this is?”
“Jiang Siyang. Hello,” Jiang Siyang extended his hand.
He Yuanwen also reached out. “Hello. He Yuanwen.”
He Yuanwen led Liu Wenping and Jiang Siyang to their seats. Jiang Siyang happened to be sitting right next to him. The atmosphere of the dinner was quite relaxed. Liu Wenping and Manager He chatted happily, while Jiang Siyang and He Yuanwen also exchanged a few words. He Yuanwen seemed steady and composed, yet he enjoyed extreme sports like racing, rock climbing, and diving, which surprised Jiang Siyang.
After the meal, He Yuanwen suggested exchanging contact information for future chats. Jiang Siyang naturally agreed. He opened WeChat to add him as a friend and took the opportunity to check the message Zhang Jin’an had sent.
[Zhang Jin’an]: *It sounds beautiful. When will Teacher Jiang teach me? This disciple wants to sing a duet with Teacher Jiang.*
Jiang Siyang couldn’t help but smile and replied with a "Sure."
After dinner, everyone headed to the underground garage. Liu Wenping and Manager He walked ahead, chatting, while Jiang Siyang and He Yuanwen followed behind.
To get to the garage from the restaurant, they had to go around the back. Outside the main entrance was the road, where cars zipped through the night, heading toward distant destinations.
“Jiang Siyang, I wanted to ask you something,” He Yuanwen said.
“What is it?” Jiang Siyang looked at him.
For some reason, Jiang Siyang felt that He Yuanwen’s expression wasn't as relaxed as before.
He Yuanwen took a deep breath and looked at Jiang Siyang nervously. “Are Gu Yirou and Zhang Jin’an together?”
Jiang Siyang was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected He Yuanwen to ask that. “No, they aren't. Where did you hear that?”
“A journalist friend of mine told me, but he only heard it as a rumor; he’s not an entertainment reporter. Plus, after *Equal Difference* was released, I kept seeing news about the two of them… so I thought it was true,” He Yuanwen said, clearly relieved. “It’s good that it’s false.”
Since its release, *Equal Difference* had been very well-received. As the leads, Zhang Jin’an and Gu Yirou naturally attracted a lot of attention, and some marketing accounts often linked them together. Audiences who knew the truth understood it was just for publicity, but those who didn't might think they were actually a couple.
“So, you know about *Equal Difference* too?” Jiang Siyang asked. “I thought you’d be very busy.”
He Yuanwen nodded. “It is indeed a good film. It might win some big awards this year. However, Gu Yirou won Best Actress last year, so the chances of her winning it again this year are slim. She’ll likely only get Best Supporting Actress.”
Hearing this, Jiang Siyang couldn't help but say, “I didn’t expect you to know so much.”
He Yuanwen paused slightly. “That journalist told me everything. He knows a lot.”
“For someone outside the industry to know a journalist, it shows you’ve got quite the influence,” Jiang Siyang joked.
He Yuanwen laughed. “You’re overestimating me. It’s nothing special, just an old classmate. On the other hand, you guys must know a journalist or two, right?”
“That’s a skill only people who have been in the industry for a long time possess. I don’t know anyone,” Jiang Siyang said truthfully.
He Yuanwen nodded in understanding.
“It’s quite hard to become famous in your line of work,” He Yuanwen remarked.
“True. Acting skills, talent, the script, and the current tastes of the audience—you need all of them. Some people act their whole lives and remain unknown, while others become stars after just one role,” Jiang Siyang said.
“Jiang Siyang, why did you want to act?” He Yuanwen asked.
“Because of a coincidence, and…” Jiang Siyang thought of Zhang Jin’an and couldn't help but smile. He told He Yuanwen, “There’s someone I want to become.”
“Someone once told me she only acted for the money and had no other thoughts,” He Yuanwen looked up at the sky, a smile on his face as he spoke. “But tell me, if it were just for money, would someone work hard to that extent?”
“She is…?” Jiang Siyang asked.
He Yuanwen only said, “She’s someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.”
It seemed he didn't intend to reveal her name.
Jiang Siyang wasn't particularly curious. He just thought He Yuanwen was a decent person—someone who didn't immediately assume a rumor was true but asked others first and made a judgment only after knowing the facts.
Methodical and logical; no wonder he was in business.
They said their goodbyes in front of their respective cars.
Liu Wenping got into the driver’s seat and asked Jiang Siyang, “How was your chat with him?”
“Quite pleasant. I didn’t expect him to have seen *The Hunt for Red October* as well,” Jiang Siyang said as he buckled his seatbelt.
“……”
Liu Wenping waited for a while, but when Jiang Siyang didn't say anything else, she couldn't help but ask, “And?”
Jiang Siyang was puzzled. “And? And what?”
Liu Wenping tried to lead him on. “Didn’t he ask you anything?”
Jiang Siyang looked at her. “Ask what?”
“For example, asking about things in the entertainment industry…” Liu Wenping said.
Jiang Siyang nodded. “He did.”
If she meant that thing about *Equal Difference*.
Liu Wenping nodded. “Right, right. Then did you notice that he—”
Jiang Siyang: “He also watched *Equal Difference*.”
Liu Wenping: “He’s pursuing Gu Yirou.”
Jiang Siyang: “?”
Liu Wenping: “?”
The two stared at each other.
Liu Wenping: “You didn’t notice?”
Jiang Siyang shook his head, though he did recall the last thing He Yuanwen had said to him.
“So ‘she’ was Teacher Gu,” Jiang Siyang murmured.
Liu Wenping asked again, “Then what on earth did you two talk about?”
“Books, diving, sports teams,” Jiang Siyang said honestly.
“He didn’t ask you about Gu Yirou?” Liu Wenping asked, bewildered.
“He did, but he asked about the male and female leads of *Equal Difference*,” Jiang Siyang said.
Liu Wenping stared straight at Jiang Siyang for over ten seconds before finally patting his shoulder. “You… you’re still too young. He made it so obvious, and you still didn’t catch on.”
The car reached the gate, and Liu Wenping scanned the parking ticket.
Watching her, Jiang Siyang asked, “Then Sister Liu, how did you know about it?”
Liu Wenping looked ahead and replied, “Oh, he told me directly.”
Jiang Siyang: “……”
“What is it?” Liu Wenping glanced at him.
“…Nothing,” Jiang Siyang said.
The car drove on for a while. Jiang Siyang looked out the window and let out a soft, light chuckle.
***
