Just as Zhang Jin’an had expected, after they bought a hat from Velove and stepped out, it took them less than half an hour to traverse the mall from the first floor to the eighth.
That is, of course, if a leisurely stroll counted as shopping.
Upon reaching the eighth floor, Zhang Jin’an and Jiang Siyang each bought a cup of milk tea. Although the shop was crowded, no one recognized them; at most, people spared a glance because of their height.
This was hardly surprising.
Setting aside Jiang Siyang—who was bundled up so thoroughly that anyone who could recognize him would need superhuman vision—Zhang Jin’an was even less likely to be spotted. Even if he had shared his outfit with the public before, few would notice it now. Aside from the hat, his ensemble was the kind you’d see on several guys in a single day; in fact, during their walk, Zhang Jin’an had already run into someone wearing the exact same shirt. Moreover, no one expected Zhang Jin’an to be here, wandering a mall so openly without security, so everyone simply treated them as ordinary passersby.
Zhang Jin’an was very satisfied with this. This was exactly why he had chosen these clothes—they were unassuming.
Zhang Jin’an leaned back against the railing, sipping his milk tea with his head down, the ice cubes crunching loudly as he chewed them.
Jiang Siyang stood beside him, hands resting on the railing as he looked down at the trees and the pool on the ground floor. From this height, only the greenery was fully visible; the pool was half-hidden, surrounded by a crowd of people sitting along its edge.
Jiang Siyang’s milk tea was almost gone, leaving only the pearls at the bottom. He stared at his cup and suddenly said, "I’m actually quite surprised."
Zhang Jin’an swallowed the crushed ice. "About what?"
Jiang Siyang looked up. "I thought you were like what they say online—that you don't like shopping."
"The internet isn't wrong. I don't like shopping. I’d much rather stay at home than go out," Zhang Jin’an admitted.
Jiang Siyang was stunned. "Huh? Then why did you drag me out to walk around?"
Seeing the confusion written all over Jiang Siyang’s face, Zhang Jin’an chuckled. "No particular reason. It’s rare to be out alone; it would be a waste of time not to look around."
This was, of course, a lie. If it weren't to make up for ruining Jiang Siyang’s mood earlier, why would he ever wander a mall? Were video games not fun? Was his sofa not comfortable? Wouldn't it have been better to spend this time playing on his phone in the lounge?
However, Jiang Siyang simply nodded and said quite earnestly, "True. Usually, there are so many people around. It’s rare to be able to move about alone like this."
Suppressing a smile, Zhang Jin’an replied, "Yeah, you’re right."
Zhang Jin’an took a few more sips until the tea was gone, leaving only ice. Finding it too cold to continue, he walked over to a trash can by the elevators and tossed the cup in.
Adjusting his mask, Zhang Jin’an said to Jiang Siyang, "Let’s head back."
"Okay." Jiang Siyang walked over, sucked up the last few pearls, and threw his plastic cup away.
The two of them stepped onto the escalator, one after the other.
Zhang Jin’an stood sideways, looking at the empty ascending escalator beside them. "Do you often do events like this one today?"
"Yes," Jiang Siyang nodded.
"Arranged by the company? Or do you request them yourself?" Zhang Jin’an asked.
"Both," Jiang Siyang answered. "Since I signed with the company, there have been a few every year."
"That must be exhausting," Zhang Jin’an remarked.
"It’s for a living. During the gaps between projects, it’s better than doing nothing," Jiang Siyang replied.
Zhang Jin’an tilted his head back to look at Jiang Siyang, who was standing one step higher. "Are you short on money?"
Jiang Siyang’s eyes crinkled at the corners. Because of the mask, his voice was muffled, but Zhang Jin’an could hear a soft chuckle. "Who isn't short on money?"
Zhang Jin’an understood. He had been desperate for money when he first debuted, too, taking on every role he could, even short ones. He had wished he could split himself in two just to film more projects simultaneously.
Zhang Jin’an asked again, "But if you need money, wouldn't variety shows be better? A variety show takes the same amount of time, but the pay is much higher than this."
"I do take variety show gigs. I’m actually a fixed guest on one," Jiang Siyang said.
Zhang Jin’an was a bit surprised. "Oh? A fixed guest? That’s impressive."
As they spoke, they reached the seventh floor. They walked a few steps to the next escalator, and this time Zhang Jin’an stood in front of Jiang Siyang.
Jiang Siyang looked a bit embarrassed, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "It’s not that impressive. Our show is online—a web variety show. It’s an original production by a small company, nothing worth mentioning."
Zhang Jin’an grew curious. "What’s it called? Let me hear it."
"Friday Morning," Jiang Siyang answered.
"What kind of show is it?" Zhang Jin’an asked.
"...It’s sort of an outdoor reality show. Since it’s a web show, everyone is a bit more relaxed than on TV. The rules change every time; sometimes it’s in a studio, sometimes we go outdoors," Jiang Siyang replied.
Zhang Jin’an nodded thoughtfully.
Jiang Siyang’s eyes immediately lit up. "Do you know it?"
Zhang Jin’an blurted out, "No."
Jiang Siyang: "..."
Zhang Jin’an quickly tried to comfort him. "Don't take it to heart. I don't watch variety shows, so it’s normal that I don't know it. Besides, it’s harder for online shows to go viral than TV ones."
"Yeah, the ratings were very low at the start, but they’ve improved a bit now." Jiang Siyang took a breath. "What about you, Ge? You must have a lot of variety shows looking for you."
Zhang Jin’an: "Yeah, there are. There was one yesterday, called 'Play' something... I forgot. I wasn't paying much attention since I didn't want to do any."
"Was it... *Play Games Together*?" Jiang Siyang asked cautiously.
"Right, I think that was it..." Zhang Jin’an couldn't quite remember, but he had a vague recollection of Li Qiang mentioning it. "I think it’s a show that bought its format rights."
"That’s the one. They bought the rights to a foreign show." Jiang Siyang sounded a bit envious and a bit pained on his behalf. "Ge, that show is incredibly popular. It’s a pity you didn't take it."
The escalator reached the end again. This time Zhang Jin’an walked behind, standing one step higher than Jiang Siyang.
"There’s no such thing as a pity. I want the first variety show I participate in to be a domestic original. After that, whether it’s a licensed format or something else doesn't matter," Zhang Jin’an said, staring into Jiang Siyang’s large, attentive eyes. "Because I prefer things that have their own heart, things that are unique."
Jiang Siyang nodded thoughtfully. "True. But it’s so hard to find original variety shows these days. They either get cancelled halfway, or the ratings are bad. Then there are the ones about traditional Chinese culture—those are great, but they’re very formal and don't have the same reach as entertainment-focused ones. Oh, right. What kind of variety show do you like, Ge?"
"Me?" Zhang Jin’an thought for a moment, resting a hand on Jiang Siyang’s shoulder. "A show where I don't have to leave the house. Like that Korean show, *I Live Alone*, where they just record a day in your life. Resting while making money—how great is that?"
"I didn't expect you to know *I Live Alone*," Jiang Siyang said, looking surprised. "I thought you didn't know any of them."
"I don't watch them much, but I still keep up with things," Zhang Jin’an laughed. "What kind of person do you take me for? Have I retired? Do I just ignore everything?"
"I was joking," Jiang Siyang laughed too.
"Hah."
Being teased by his junior didn't annoy Zhang Jin’an; instead, it made him quite happy. The fact that Jiang Siyang could joke around meant their relationship had thawed considerably. This was a good thing.
Zhang Jin’an really wanted Tuan Yuan to see this and then hurry up and write about it.
As they chatted, they arrived at the staff entrance on the fifth floor.
Zhang Jin’an checked his watch. "You go back first. I’m going down to the first floor to watch."
Jiang Siyang nodded immediately. "Okay. See you later, Ge."
"See you." With that, Zhang Jin’an left.
***
When he saw Jiang Siyang again, one was on stage and the other was in the crowd.
The host was very punctual. As soon as it hit two o'clock, the boy band left the stage, and Jiang Siyang walked on. Zhang Jin’an joined the audience in applauding.
Even though Jiang Siyang was wearing the same clothes as this morning, Zhang Jin’an still heard a sigh of admiration from behind him, mingled with the applause: "Jiang Siyang looks absolutely stunning in that outfit."
"You’re here!" the host said, walking over to Jiang Siyang and using a playful remark as an opening.
Jiang Siyang’s expression was much more natural and cheerful than it had been in the morning. He lightly tapped the microphone and smiled at the host. "Yes, I’m back. Good afternoon, everyone."
Not just the audience below, but the live stream comments responded immediately:
— *Gege is here, so I’m here!*
— *Finally!! I’m ready!*
— *Ahhh, good afternoon Yang-Yang!*
— *Yang-Yang, Mama loves you, sob sob sob.*
To be honest, Zhang Jin’an was curious about what Jiang Siyang’s segment would entail.
The previous two boy bands were singers, after all; their activities involved singing, dancing, and interacting with the audience. But what would an actor perform? It couldn't possibly be a demonstration of acting skills, could it?
"Siyang has done many events and collaborated with me many times. We’re old friends, so let’s skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point," the host paused.
Zhang Jin’an raised an eyebrow. It looked like they were going to stir things up.
Sure enough, after glancing at the script, the host set it down on the table and said to Jiang Siyang, "Siyang, this is the mall’s anniversary, and as you can see, quite a few people have come just for you. Let’s change the program a bit this time. How about we don't follow the script?"
"Huh?" Jiang Siyang was momentarily dazed, but he reacted quickly and nodded. "Sure."
"Then it’s settled," the host said, placing a hand on Jiang Siyang’s shoulder and facing the audience. "We’ll pick two people from the audience, and you’ll have to do whatever they ask. Friends in the comments can also make suggestions; we’ll see if any get picked."
The audience erupted into a commotion, shouting things like "Sing!" and "Dance!" Fans outside the railing were green with envy, able only to sigh.
Zhang Jin’an heard the two girls behind him. One of them giggled and said, "If I get picked, I’ll make him take his clothes off."
The other girl giggled too. "You’re so thirsty, hahaha! But I second that."
Zhang Jin’an: "..."
They weren't the only ones with wild ideas. Zhang Jin’an heard someone nearby shout, "Act cute!"
Zhang Jin’an: "?"
After ten seconds, the host raised a hand to signal everyone to stop, and the crowd slowly quieted down.
The host said, "Everyone is very enthusiastic! Here’s the plan: every seat has a number. Let’s have Jiang Siyang pick two numbers between 1 and 100. Whoever is picked comes up."
Jiang Siyang immediately called out two numbers: "15 and 87."
The host was surprised. "So fast? Do those two numbers have any special meaning?"
Jiang Siyang: "I had a cup of milk tea today. It was 15 yuan."
Host: "And 87..."
Jiang Siyang: "Number 87."
Host: "...Alright."
Zhang Jin’an was stunned. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the receipt from the milk tea he had just bought. He smoothed it out—it really was number 0087.
He was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Jiang Siyang to remember; he himself had forgotten long ago.
"Then would numbers 15 and 87 please stand up..." Two people slowly stood up from the crowd. The host squinted to see. "Great, please come up on stage."
Number 15 was in Zhang Jin’an’s row—a middle-aged woman with a head of trendy, red permed curls. Number 87 was a young girl who looked about the same age as Zhang Shuyu. She had a phone hanging around her neck and a grin so wide it didn't fade even after she reached the stage. She looked ecstatic.
The two of them stepped onto the stage one after the other, standing between the host and Jiang Siyang.
"Alright, may I ask where you’re from, Big Sister?" the host asked the older woman first.
"Beijing," she replied, not shy at all. Her round face showed two dimples as she turned to Jiang Siyang and smiled. "My daughter likes you very much."
Jiang Siyang immediately thanked her. "Thank you, thank you."
Host: "Is your daughter here today?"
"She is, but she couldn't get a ticket. She’s over there, the one in the gray clothes," the woman pointed toward the distant railing. The camera immediately panned to that area.
Outside the railing stood several young people who looked like students. They were all pointing at a girl in their midst. The girl was covering her face with one hand and waving the other frantically—presumably the woman’s daughter.
The woman continued her exposé to Jiang Siyang: "You have no idea. Whenever you appear in a drama, she rushes to the TV and starts shouting 'Gege!' She’s so fast."
Jiang Siyang: "Pfft..."
The scene descended into chaos after she spoke. Not just Zhang Jin’an, but everyone in the audience was laughing. The girl’s friends were laughing so hard they were slapping her on the back.
— *That’s me, that’s literally me.*
— *Public execution, gahahaha hhhh.*
— *Hahaha, so funny, I’m dying.*
— *Poor girl, her own mother did her dirty hhhh.*
— *LMAO me too, my mom asks me every day what I’m giggling at hhh.*
"Alright, alright," the host was also laughing uncontrollably but managed to restrain himself. Once it quieted down, he introduced the next person. "And this young lady, where are you from?"
The girl held the microphone and gave a shy smile. "I’m not from here, but I go to university here."
"I saw you holding a banner earlier, but I didn't see it clearly. Can you tell us who you’re here for?"
"For..." The girl didn't finish her sentence, but she tilted her head toward Jiang Siyang. Her meaning was clear; everyone understood.
The host immediately said, "Then you’re luckier than that other girl, being able to come directly onto the stage."
The girl nodded. "I was thinking that if I got picked, I had something I wanted to say to Siyang."
The host nodded. "Oh? What is it? Let’s hear it."
Jiang Siyang took a step forward, and the girl did the same. She turned to face him, took a deep breath, and blurted it all out in one go: "Siyang, please, I beg you, post more on Weibo! Do you know your VIP membership is about to expire?"
Damn. A bilingual version of the same sentiment.
Zhang Jin’an had been able to hold it in when the older woman was talking, but now he couldn't. He lowered his head and laughed out loud.
It was too damn funny.
— *Hahahahahahahahahahaha damn.*
— *LMAO this girl is so brave!! She said what we’re all thinking hhhh.*
— *Help, why is every interaction with our fandom so hilarious?*
— *I laughed so hard I set off the voice-activated lights on the 18th floor.*
— *Damn, this girl is a true fan, she knows the struggle! Gege, post on Weibo!*
Once the commotion died down, the host asked, "Siyang, is this true? Do you admit it?"
"I admit it," Jiang Siyang said into the microphone, his voice gentle. "I was wrong. I’ll post on Weibo as soon as I get back."
"Alright, everyone take screenshots as evidence! One Weibo post is scheduled for tonight," the host said to the screen before turning back to the girl. "Are you satisfied with that answer?"
"Satisfied," the girl added, "Ideally, no less than 200 words."
— *Jiang Siyang: My life is hard.*
— *Other people get confessions of love; he gets a deadline hhhh.*
— *LMAO 200 words hhhh he’ll be lucky to manage 20.*
— *Siyang: Just kill me.*
Jiang Siyang made a final struggle: "Is 50 words okay? I can't write that much..."
The girl clearly softened, but before she could speak, the host cut in decisively: "No bargaining! 200 words it is. Post it when you get back, and renew that VIP membership."
"Fine..." Jiang Siyang said weakly.
Zhang Jin’an remembered clearly that Jiang Siyang’s longest Weibo post hadn't even exceeded 30 words. This requirement was indeed a death sentence for him.
Zhang Jin’an clicked his tongue. If only they’d given that requirement to him; he could churn out 200 words for the fans in a heartbeat.
The matter passed. The host let the two of them make their requests. The older woman asked for a song. The girl, being a fan, asked Jiang Siyang to say the most famous line of his character, Zhou Li, from *Flying Flowers*. The fans in the comments were driven mad with envy, the screen filling with "Ahhh"s.
Afterward, the woman and the girl each shared a hug with Jiang Siyang, took a photo, and left the stage satisfied.
Before they left, the host asked the older woman, "Sister, you’ve seen Jiang Siyang in person today. How do you feel?"
"Well, I feel like my daughter’s taste takes after mine. Not bad at all," she said.
This drew a round of applause, and the ladies outside the railing were all chuckling.
Once they were gone, the host said to Jiang Siyang, "Those two were very interesting and kind; they didn't make things difficult for you at all. So, Siyang, time to sing. What song will you be performing?"
"I don't know many songs, and I’m not a great singer. I’ll sing Conor Maynard’s 'Crash,'" Jiang Siyang said, sounding a bit shy as he pulled out his phone. "Let me find the lyrics."
Zhang Jin’an had never heard Jiang Siyang sing, but he remembered Tuan Yuan had written about it.
While the audio was being adjusted on stage, Zhang Jin’an immediately searched for Tuan Yuan’s work. This passage had left a deep impression on him, so he found it quickly.
Tuan Yuan had placed the scene of "Jiang Siyang" singing back before he was famous, when he was still a low-tier actor.
This part was entirely from Tuan Yuan’s imagination; in reality, Jiang Siyang had never performed on a pedestrian bridge.
But Tuan Yuan had also admitted that her description of the singing was based on the way Jiang Siyang actually sang.
The reason this passage stuck with Zhang Jin’an was that it was the only time Tuan Yuan hadn't used the name "Jiang Siyang," yet the entire section was clearly about him.
[The youth took off his hat and stood steadily at the very front, his hand resting on the microphone on its stand. The band prepared behind him.
Facing the microphone, the youth whispered three numbers: "Three."]
"Three."
Zhang Jin’an looked at the text, not raising his head, yet he heard it clearly.
A gentle, murmuring male voice came through the microphone, slowly counting down to sync with the start of the backing track.
["Two."]
"Two."
["One."]
"One."
The moment the accompaniment began, the male voice started to sing along.
[The youth’s voice rose over the music on the bridge. The early winter night was a different temperature from the morning, leaving people’s hands and feet cold, yet his singing remained warm.
The streetlights became his spotlight; the entire bridge was their stage. Nothing in the world had changed, save for the addition of a voice that raced alongside the cars on the highway, brushed past the hurried pedestrians, circled the streetlights that made the city seem so prosperous, and wove through the skyscrapers.]
"Would you mind if I still loved you, Would you mind if things don't last..."
Zhang Jin’an slowly raised his head.
It wasn't night; it was noon. A bright, sunny noon. The sky was azure without a hint of gloom, and white clouds were visible. Behind the screen was a shopping mall, not a bridge. It was clearly different. And yet, Zhang Jin’an could feel the scene Tuan Yuan had written.
Jiang Siyang’s voice was a bit different from what Zhang Jin’an had imagined. It was pitched lower, with a slightly raspy texture.
Perhaps because he was an actor, Zhang Jin’an was very sensitive to tone. The song itself was soothing and slow, and the way Jiang Siyang sang it made Zhang Jin’an feel as if he were sitting by a window, softly humming.
"And I really really wanna love you, And I'm really really only yours."
As he sang, Jiang Siyang smiled faintly.
[The youth lowered his eyes; he always smiled when he reached the climax of a song.
His was a gentle smile, the kind of smile from one’s youth that is most heart-stirring.]
"...Would you mind if I still loved you
Would you mind if things don't last
Would you mind if I hold onto
You so that I won't crash."
[The song ended.]
After he finished, the venue was silent for a few seconds.
[A few seconds later, when the youth raised his head, a circle of people had gathered, all applauding for him.]
Then, a burst of applause erupted.
[The youth returned the gesture with a smile.]
Jiang Siyang simply smiled.
[His gaze pierced through the gaps between the heads of the passersby to look at the giant screen on the building beside the bright moon. He had chosen this spot because he had calculated that at this time every day, the screen would switch to that person’s advertisement.]
As Zhang Jin’an applauded with everyone else, he noticed the person standing on stage under the blue sky looking at him. It was a gaze like a student craving a teacher’s evaluation.
Zhang Jin’an smiled back, expressing his praise. The person saw it, and his smile grew noticeably brighter.
[The youth would never have imagined that what was now merely his own unrequited devotion...]
Zhang Jin’an would never have imagined that his current praise for Jiang Siyang...
[...would one day turn into reality. That person would, under the watchful eyes of the public, walk toward him with heroic grace, sing this song to him, his voice saturated with deep affection.]
...would slowly change in the future. He would, under the watchful eyes of the public, walk toward Jiang Siyang without reservation, sing to him, his voice saturated with deep affection.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 星期五的早晨 | Friday Morning | The name of the web variety show Jiang Siyang is a fixed guest on. |
| 飞花落 | Flying Flowers | The name of the drama Jiang Siyang starred in. |
| 昼离 | Zhou Li | The name of Jiang Siyang's character in "Flying Flowers." |
| 团圆 | Tuan Yuan | The pen name of Zhang Jin'an's sister, who writes fanfiction about him and Jiang Siyang. |
| Play Games Together | Play Games Together | A popular variety show mentioned in the text. |
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Unable to be Arrogant [Entertainment Circle] | Chapter 17 | A Song in the Sunlight | Novela.app | Novela.app
