Unable to be Arrogant [Entertainment Circle] | Chapter 38 | Sunset and Shared Hues | Novela.app

After a brief silence, a long sigh echoed through the phone, Zhang Jin’an clearly having been persuaded. "Fine, I’m coming over." "Really?!" Jiang Siyang stood up abruptly, looking as excited as if he had already secured the ending, startling the cameraman nearby. "But you have to promise me first: if I’m not there by 4:55, you give the card to them." "Okay, I promise," Jiang Siyang vowed. While waiting, a steady stream of passersby chatted with Jiang Siyang. Some recognized him and said hello, while some older ladies took him for a student filming a video, asking which school he attended and if he was in a relationship. Amidst the small talk, time slipped away. In the blink of an eye, it was 16:50. Just as Jiang Siyang was about to call, he heard a commotion in the distance. He stood up and walked to the edge of the slope, only to see Zhang Jin’an—dressed in a school uniform and carrying two plastic bags—being swarmed by several people as he made his way up. "I’m here," Zhang Jin’an said as he reached Jiang Siyang, and the crowd finally began to drift away. Jiang Siyang noticed Zhang Jin’an’s hands. "Brother, why are you carrying so many things?" "I bought them. Oh, right." Zhang Jin’an pulled a long skewer wrapped in paper from one of the bags and handed it to Jiang Siyang. Jiang Siyang pulled out one of the long sticks. Looking at it in surprise, Jiang Siyang asked, "Meat skewers?" Zhang Jin’an nodded. "Didn't you want to eat these earlier? I brought some for you. They’re a bit cold now, but they should still taste good. I hope you don't mind." Jiang Siyang froze. He only then remembered that he had indeed mentioned them earlier, but at the time, he was just curious about the flavor and had said it in passing. He had forgotten, yet Zhang Jin’an had remembered... Jiang Siyang shook his head vigorously. "How could I mind! Thank you, Brother." He quickly took a bite. They were indeed a bit cold, but it didn't matter; the taste was still excellent. "Go hand in the card first, before we forget," Zhang Jin’an said. Jiang Siyang nodded and put the skewer back into the paper bag. After walking just a few steps, he turned back, wanting to say something to Zhang Jin’an, who was still standing there. "Brother, you—" Knowing what Jiang Siyang was worried about, Zhang Jin’an took out his own card and waved it at him. "I didn't lie to you." "Oh." Jiang Siyang stopped again just a step away from the NPC, turning sideways to ask, "How did you get that one?" Zhang Jin’an didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Jiang Siyang’s habit of looking back every three steps. Finally unable to help himself, he stepped forward, placed both hands against Jiang Siyang’s face, and physically turned his head toward the NPC. "We'll talk about mine later. Give her your card first." "Oh, I almost forgot." Jiang Siyang finally held the card in both hands and presented it to the NPC. "Sorry for the trouble." The NPC took the card, flipped it over to check, and then nodded with a smile at both Jiang Siyang and Zhang Jin’an. "Congratulations on reaching the ending: *Sunset clouds and a lone duck fly together.*" "*Autumn waters and the vast sky share a single hue?*" Jiang Siyang completed the couplet without a second thought. As the NPC spoke, she took two tickets and an additional card from her pocket and handed them to Jiang Siyang. "Here are two admission tickets. You two may choose to go up, or choose not to." "We’re already here." Zhang Jin’an was the first to pluck a ticket from the pile. Waving it, he glanced at Jiang Siyang. "Of course we’re going up." "Yeah," Jiang Siyang nodded, taking the tickets and the card. "You can leave your things with me. You can pick them up after you come back down the mountain," the NPC offered. "Alright, thanks," Zhang Jin’an said, handing the two bags to the NPC. Once Jiang Siyang finished the skewers, the two of them headed toward the entrance. The path up Little South Mountain consisted of tiered steps with handrails on the outermost layer. the steps were quite spacious, wide enough for four people to walk abreast. Though Jiang Siyang was listening to the surroundings, his attention wasn't on the path. He watched Zhang Jin’an’s profile, finally asking after Zhang Jin’an paused, "Brother, why did you buy so many things?" "Hmm..." Zhang Jin’an pursed his lips and gave Jiang Siyang a smile. "To clear the level. You’ll find out the specifics when you watch the show." "..." Jiang Siyang felt a mix of speechlessness and amusement, unable to stop himself from looking down and laughing. Zhang Jin’an was also amused, and the two of them walked several paces together, laughing. As they continued their ascent, the distant vista of Little South City slowly unfolded before Jiang Siyang’s eyes. He could see where he had come from—the boulevard lined with trees, the small river, the pavilion... and then Yushu Street. Jiang Siyang couldn't help but say, "I have to thank you, Brother, for letting me see such beautiful scenery." "Why thank me? Didn't you invite me here?" Zhang Jin’an teased. "Not just for this place," Jiang Siyang said. Zhang Jin’an clearly understood what Jiang Siyang meant, his eyes crinkling into a smile. It was a sentiment that perhaps no one else besides the two of them would ever truly grasp. "Is that so?" Zhang Jin’an said. "It’s beautiful, isn't it?" "Yes, very beautiful," Jiang Siyang said. "I’ve traveled to many places and seen many sights. I can't quite say why, but I feel like this place is different from those others. It’s more beautiful." "That’s high praise indeed," Zhang Jin’an said with a laugh. After walking for about twenty more minutes, the two finally reached the summit. The top of Little South Mountain was vast, with long paths to explore. The further in they went, the fewer people there were. The pavilion at the summit was already empty, allowing the two of them to stay there for a while. Because the pavilion was closest to the edge of the peak, the safety measures were the most comprehensive, featuring both railings and glass partitions to prevent anyone from falling. Jiang Siyang rested his hand lightly on the railing. Just as Zhang Jin’an had described, it felt as though one could tread upon the clouds and mist. From this direction, they could see the deep blue sea in the distance, while beside them lay the panoramic view of Little South City. As the sun moved toward the west, the glow of the sunset began to descend slowly, making every second feel incredibly prolonged. "This trip today has really made me think of the past quite often." Jiang Siyang turned his head to look at Zhang Jin’an beside him. Facing the sea, Zhang Jin’an seemed lost in memory as he spoke slowly. "I used to come here all the time to play, hiking up and down. There wasn't really anything to 'do'—it was just scenery—but I loved coming up here. It felt like if I came up once, I’d sleep more soundly." "It’s a pity I wasn't born here and didn't know you then, Brother. I can't see the scenery as it was back then," Jiang Siyang remarked. Hearing this, Zhang Jin’an couldn't help but smile. He had intended to turn and tease the younger man about his obsession with time, but at that moment, nature conspired to create perfection. Not only did a cool breeze blow through, but it brought with it the golden hour of the setting sun. The youth before him wore a smile that was natural, clean, and refreshing as he looked at the view, without a hint of affectation or falsehood. The warm, brilliant sunlight fell upon his hair, his stray locks lifted gently by the breeze, and the collar of his school uniform fluttered slightly. Zhang Jin’an was momentarily stunned, forgetting what he had intended to say. For a fleeting second, he felt as though he had returned to those days when he hadn't even changed out of his school uniform before teaming up with a few classmates to climb the mountain. His classmates would tell jokes—some funny, some not—and after a quick look around, they would start a race to see who could get down the mountain fastest. Only he would stand there alone, gazing at the scenery that matched that famous poem—*“Sunset clouds and a lone duck fly together; autumn waters and the vast sky share a single hue.”* He could watch for dozens of minutes, standing there until everyone else had left, only realizing he hadn't gone down yet when he finally got home. Back then, Little South Mountain had more greenery than it did now, and these glass partitions hadn't been installed. Everything was in its original state. Zhang Jin’an suddenly thought: if he had known Jiang Siyang back then, if they had been classmates, they would undoubtedly have become friends. And Jiang Siyang would certainly have been the person willing to wait and watch the scenery with him. "The scenery back then must have been even more beautiful than it is now, right?" Jiang Siyang’s voice pulled Zhang Jin’an back from his thoughts. Just then, Zhang Jin’an’s eyes met Jiang Siyang’s. What kind of feeling was this? It made Zhang Jin’an feel that the sunset, the lone duck, the "autumn waters," and the vast sky were all less captivating than the elegant youth before his eyes. He finally understood a little of what Tuanyuan meant by that line: *"Meeting you is like meeting my past life's time."* Zhang Jin’an looked into those eyes, shook his head gently, and replied, "It’s very beautiful now, too." Zhang Jin’an was suddenly quite grateful to his past self for going out so often. Looking at the scenery was actually quite nice.