Pan Ming, completely unaware of the truth, flashed a rare smile of genuine admiration. He followed up with another question, "So, now that you're actually on the show, how does it feel after these first few minutes?"
"Now that I'm here, I've realized it's even more high-energy and lively than it looks online," Zhang Jin’an said, glancing around. "Did someone actually guess it was me?"
"Yes, yes! That was me!" Jiu Chang held his answer board over his head and winked at Zhang Jin’an. "Big Brother, look at me! I’m the only one who got it right!"
Zhang Jin’an gave Jiu Chang a thumbs-up. "As expected of this show’s Logic Genius."
"Big Brother, don't listen to him!" Jing Shangshu shouted at Jiu Chang. "Jiu Chang, didn't you say you changed your answer in the second round? Wasn't that a mistake?"
Jiu Chang didn't care about that at all. He was over the moon at being recognized. "Listen to that! Big Brother called me a Logic Genius. Big Brother, have you watched the show? How did you know that nickname?"
"I caught up on about ten episodes. I watched the very first ones and the most recent ones," Zhang Jin’an replied.
"Oh—!" the group exclaimed in unison.
Jiang Siyang was also deeply surprised. Each episode was over eighty minutes long. For someone as busy as Zhang Jin’an, whose time was usually pieced together in fragments, being able to watch ten episodes showed incredible dedication. Who wouldn't be impressed by such sincerity?
Jiang Siyang couldn't help but admire Zhang Jin’an even more. As expected of Zhang Jin’an—he did thorough preparation for everything he took on. It was no wonder that in all his years in the entertainment industry, no one dared to question his professional competence.
*If I want to reach Zhang Jin’an’s level, I have so much more to learn,* Jiang Siyang thought, though he felt no impatience.
People often said that the more you interacted with an idol, the more disappointed you would become. This was because people initially placed their dreams at the highest peak of the clouds; when reality revealed that the dream wasn't actually above the clouds, no matter how high or far it still was, disappointment would follow. But Jiang Siyang felt he was exactly the opposite. He had placed Zhang Jin’an above the clouds, yet what he actually saw was a galaxy—a bed of stars, a brilliant cluster of celestial bodies within the universe. There was no disappointment at all; instead, there was only ever-growing wonder.
"You really went above and beyond," Pan Ming said, glancing at the script Director Jiang had just handed him. "I heard you didn't just watch the show, but you even took notes to get to know us? So, to what extent do you know us now?"
"For instance, Jiu Chang is a self-media science blogger, the Logic Genius here, and the youngest. Teacher Chen Yi is the gagman; he loves the beach but can't swim, and he likes to cue the production team about their limited budget. Teacher Pan Ming, you're the only professional host here, the King of Routines. I've met Jing Shangshu before at a film festival; he often competes with Jiu Chang for the title of 'IQ Representative' and is an emotionless nodding machine." Zhang Jin’an spoke calmly and fluently, without a single stumble.
In reality, Jiu Chang and Jing Shangshu were actually the worst at deduction among the group, but they were hilarious. Those nicknames were jokes coined by netizens; if he hadn't actually watched the show, he wouldn't have known them.
It was clear Zhang Jin’an had come prepared, rather than just reading off a script on-site.
Everyone naturally feels well-disposed toward someone who prepares diligently. The atmosphere turned excellent, and everyone listened to Zhang Jin’an with rapt attention.
"And what about our Siyang?" Jing Shangshu asked.
"Siyang? Siyang is an old acquaintance. We've chatted privately many times, but we rarely meet in person. Meeting here feels a bit like internet friends meeting in real life." Zhang Jin’an’s eyes crinkled slightly. "He's the second youngest, but he's the all-around ACE. Isn't that right?"
"Oh—officially certified all-around ACE!" Jiu Chang teased.
The information Zhang Jin’an had gathered was spot on. For example, because Siyang had a good personality and rarely got angry, everyone loved to tease him. Especially Jiu Chang; since he and Siyang were close in age, they often bickered like typical young people.
Sure enough, Jiang Siyang didn't get angry. Instead, he lowered his head bashfully. "Not really."
Zhang Jin’an had seen this expression before—at the commercial event that day, and in the pinned photos on the Tuan Yuan fan page.
Zhang Jin’an suddenly realized that this was a habit of Jiang Siyang’s—whenever he felt shy or embarrassed, he would avoid eye contact.
Zhang Jin’an felt once again that this trip was worth it. What could be more delightful than discovering these nuances before anyone else? He was the first.
"Isn't there a recurring question in every episode? The one that goes, 'Is there anything Jiang Siyang can't do?' I saw..." Zhang Jin’an started.
"Hey, Jin’an, while you're talking about this question, I reckon the show will add some post-production effects for you," Chen Yi said, pointing at the camera. "Jin’an, you can take your position now."
"Oh, okay." Zhang Jin’an immediately stood up straight, facing the camera directly in front of him. He held his hands like a host on a shopping channel—palms together, then slowly drawing them apart as if displaying a phone number. "I saw many netizens replying to this question, and among them, I saw one specific answer."
Everyone watched Zhang Jin’an and Chen Yi with great interest. Jiang Siyang tried to sneakily turn away, but Jing Shangshu caught him and physically turned him back around.
"Oh? What was the answer?" Chen Yi stood in the exact same pose as Zhang Jin’an, playing along.
"The answer was this," Zhang Jin’an paused for effect.
Chen Yi understood the cue and immediately asked, "Is there anything Jiang Siyang can't do?"
"He. Won't. Marry. You." Zhang Jin’an flashed a professional "business" smile and gave two thumbs up to the camera. Chen Yi did the same, sticking up both thumbs.
"Pfft—!" Not only the cast members but even the production crew burst into laughter.
Zhang Jin’an, however, dropped his hands immediately after finishing the bit and stood back in his original spot as if nothing had happened, looking as though their laughter had nothing to do with him. It was that very expression that did it.
Although Jiang Siyang was embarrassed, he couldn't help himself and lowered his head, laughing.
Zhang Jin’an noticed immediately. With a look of pleasant surprise, he walked over to Jiang Siyang’s side, threw an arm around his shoulder, and said to the camera, "Quick, film this! My bit was too successful, wasn't it? Even Siyang laughed."
Jiang Siyang looked up for a moment, only to find several cameras pointed at him as if they were trying to "snipe" him from every angle. He quickly lowered his head again.
This was originally just a very ordinary, noisy scene. In fact, after the episode aired, the "Zhang-Yang" ship tag was flooded with other screenshots, but not a single one of this specific moment. Yet, who could have guessed that years later, this exact frame would be clipped and go viral within the "Zhang-Yang" community? And across that image, a few words would be captioned: "Jiang Siyang can do everything—he'll even marry me."
***
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Unable to be Arrogant [Entertainment Circle] | Chapter 28 | He Won't Marry You | Novela.app | Novela.app
