The two of them descended the mountain and took a car back to the designated meeting point. By the time they arrived, everyone else was already there.
In particular, seeing Jing Shangshu and Chen Yi again after only half a day made Zhang Jin’an feel as though a whole year had passed.
“Where did you guys go?” Zhang Jin’an asked Chen Yi.
“To find out what happened to us,” Chen Yi and Jing Shangshu waved their hands in unison toward the center camera, “please watch the broadcast!”
Jiang Siyang looked at Zhang Jin’an: *Those words sound so familiar.*
Zhang Jin’an pretended not to notice the gaze and looked away.
Jiu Chang noticed something different about Zhang Jin’an and asked, “Hey, Big Brother, why did you buy so many things?”
Zhang Jin’an saw that the timing was right, so he pulled several boxes out of his bags and said to the group, “I bought these today as gifts for everyone.” With that, he began distributing the boxes.
Jiang Siyang looked at his and saw the label: Nanshan Tea.
“This is a specialty tea from Little South Mountain. It’s quite fragrant; you should all take some back to try,” Zhang Jin’an explained.
Chen Yi, a tea lover, couldn't put the box down. “How much did the Little South Mountain tourism board pay you? Our show can’t lose to them. If the production team doesn’t give Big Brother a good prize later, I’m going to have a word with them.”
“The production team should just make a special edit later. I’ve already thought of the name: *The Production Team is Being Threatened Every Day*,” Jiu Chang quipped.
Everyone burst into laughter. After they finished laughing, they thanked Zhang Jin’an one after another. A few people asked again why he had bought so many things, but Zhang Jin’an simply replied with a smile: “Please watch the broadcast.”
“Someone tell me loudly, what is the essence of humanity?” Pan Ming asked.
“A human parrot,” Jing Shangshu replied.
“A pigeon,” Jiu Chang added.
“And ‘Zhen Xiang’,” Chen Yi said.
Jiang Siyang was also curious about why Zhang Jin’an had bought so much. He was definitely going to watch the show; he wanted to know more than anyone what Zhang Jin’an’s so-called hypothesis was and how the final ending had come about.
After Zhang Jin’an finished handing out the tea, the two plastic bags were empty. Once he tucked the bags together and handed them to a staff member to be disposed of, PD Jiang began to speak.
“Alright, everyone is back. I will now distribute the prizes for each ending. Please give me your cards in order,” PD Jiang said.
Zhang Jin’an laughed. “Good thing there are prizes. I thought looking at the scenery was the prize.”
“You guys actually saw the scenery?” Jiu Chang cried out. “Do you know how I got through that jump rope challenge? I felt like I was back in middle school doing a physical fitness test!”
“How tragic,” Jiang Siyang said pityingly.
Then, everyone took turns giving their cards to PD Jiang and received their prizes. Although everyone had reached different endings, the prizes were all based on local specialties. Since Little South Mountain was known for its seafood, Jiu Chang’s prize was a crab claw plush pillow. Pan Ming got a model ship that he had to assemble himself, which kept Jiu Chang gloating for a long time. Finally, Jiang Siyang received a computer keyboard.
Jiang Siyang looked at the gift, unsure of what expression to make. “...”
“Pfft, hahaha! Siyang, I bet you’ll never use that keyboard. In a few years, it’ll still look brand new,” Jiu Chang laughed, holding his own gift out to Jiang Siyang. “How about you trade with me? I’ll give you this big pillow.”
“Do you think he’s stupid?” Jing Shangshu said.
“Siyang, trade with me instead,” Zhang Jin’an, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
Everyone turned to look at him. Jiang Siyang also looked up at the box Zhang Jin’an was holding. Zhang Jin’an had received a camera.
Jiang Siyang’s eyes couldn't help but light up as he stared straight at Zhang Jin’an. “Is that okay?”
“Of course. I’m not much of a photographer; this camera would be wasted on me,” Zhang Jin’an said.
Though he called it a trade, Zhang Jin’an didn't actually want Jiang Siyang’s keyboard—he had just replaced his own last month. He simply wanted to give the camera to Jiang Siyang. He felt that the camera would only reach its full potential in Siyang’s hands; he wanted to see the photos Jiang Siyang would take.
“That’s right, Big Brother got a camera. A trade between you two is perfect. Doesn't Siyang love taking photos?” Jiu Chang added from the side. “This camera is the latest model, too. It’s quite expensive—probably worth more than that keyboard.”
*Oh no,* Zhang Jin’an thought. He looked at Jiang Siyang, and sure enough, the younger man began to hesitate.
Zhang Jin’an immediately shot a look at Jiu Chang, narrowing his eyes to signal him to stop talking. If this kid knew the camera was more expensive than the keyboard, his personality would never allow him to go through with the trade.
But how could Jiu Chang possibly read Zhang Jin’an’s mind? Instead, he thought he had gotten a fact wrong and scratched his head. “I remember correctly, right? Isn't that keyboard only about three thousand? I wanted to buy this camera last time, but it was fifty-six hundred...”
*It’s over.*
Zhang Jin’an looked at Jiang Siyang’s shocked expression and sighed inwardly.
Sure enough, he heard Jiang Siyang say with absolute conviction, “Then I won’t trade. I’ll just keep the keyboard.”
Zhang Jin’an couldn't force the matter. He could only say regretfully, “Alright then.”
“To wrap up the show, let’s have Big Brother share his thoughts on participating,” Pan Ming said as a conclusion, asking the guest as per tradition.
“I’m very happy to have participated in this program. This show is much friendlier than I imagined; the production team didn't use any overly devious tricks, and the mini-games were very interesting,” Zhang Jin’an said, giving the production team a meaningful smile that made everyone laugh. “Everyone is very fun. After just half a day, I feel like an old member of the cast. It’s very warm, and I feel like I’ve made many new friends. I also want to thank the production team for bringing me back to Little South Mountain. The concept of visiting a guest’s hometown is truly heartwarming and relaxing. I had a great time today.”
After Zhang Jin’an finished speaking, everyone applauded.
“We’re also very happy that Big Brother could join us,” Chen Yi said. “We really never expected you to come.”
“Right, right,” Jing Shangshu nodded.
“Ugh, here he goes again, the soulless nodding machine,” Jiu Chang shouted, drawing another round of laughter.
“Alright, that’s all for today’s *Friday Morning*!” Pan Ming clapped his hands, and everyone bowed together toward the camera. “Thank you for watching, see you next week!”
As Pan Ming finished, a drone slowly ascended into the sky. Zhang Jin’an knew about this drone; every episode ended with a final shot of the drone capturing the entire city.
So this was what it felt like to be at the recording site.
As the drone drifted further away, PD Jiang struck the clapperboard. “Reality show *Friday Morning*, Episode 100. Location: Little South Mountain. Guest: Zhang Jin’an. Recording finished.”
PD Jiang clapped his hands, and the crew began shutting down the cameras. Now, the recording was truly over.
“Alright, that’s the end of the recording for the hundredth episode of *Friday Morning*. Thank you everyone for your hard work!” After PD Jiang spoke, everyone began to move about freely. Several cast members helped the crew carry equipment as they usually did. Once everything was packed, everyone headed to their respective cars to return to the hotel for dinner.
In the parking lot, while waiting for his manager to pick him up, Jiang Siyang asked Zhang Jin’an, who was standing beside him, “Oh right, is your hotel the same as ours?”
“It’s the same, though I think I’m on the floor above you.” Zhang Jin’an checked his watch. “Is Sister Liu picking you up? Why isn't she here yet?”
Jiang Siyang shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s not familiar with this area and got a bit lost. If Strong-ge arrives, you should go ahead.”
Speak of the devil—a black car pulled up right in front of them. The passenger window rolled down slowly, and Li Qiang waved at them. “I’m here, I’m here! Hey, Siyang, long time no see.” With that, Li Qiang got out of the car.
“Strong-ge, long time no see,” Jiang Siyang stepped forward and shook Li Qiang’s hand.
Li Qiang smiled and patted Jiang Siyang’s shoulder. “Were you surprised to see Zhang Jin’an?”
“Yeah, no one expected it,” Jiang Siyang said.
“Did he bully you? This guy is full of schemes; don’t play with him too much,” Li Qiang whispered mysteriously to Jiang Siyang.
“The person in question is standing right here,” Zhang Jin’an pushed the two of them apart. “Strong-ge, did you run into Sister Liu?”
“Oh, Liu Wenping? Yeah, I did... Oh right, I discussed it with her. Since we’re going to the same place anyway, I told her I’d just pick both of you up. She’s not coming,” Li Qiang said to Jiang Siyang. “Siyang, just come with us.”
“Ah, then I’ll be troubling you.”
“It’s no trouble for me; I’m not the one driving anyway,” Li Qiang laughed, pointing to the driver. “Let’s go.”
The group got into the car and headed toward the hotel. Inside the car, Jiang Siyang noticed a thermos. On such a hot day, seeing a thermos was unusual, so he asked, “Whose thermos is this?”
“Mine,” Li Qiang replied from the passenger seat. “It’s got wolfberries and ginseng steeping inside.”
“Strong-ge, you really look after your health,” Jiang Siyang said.
Li Qiang sighed. “Sigh... after all, I’m getting old...”
Jiang Siyang asked in confusion, “Huh? Who said you’re old?”
Zhang Jin’an, who had been looking out the window, immediately tapped the back of Jiang Siyang’s hand upon hearing this. Jiang Siyang leaned in, and Zhang Jin’an whispered in his ear, “Don’t mind him. Strong-ge has been having these symptoms for a few days now. Just tell him he looks young and you’re good.”
“Oh...” Jiang Siyang nodded and said to Li Qiang, “Strong-ge, you’re very young. You look like a boy in his teens.”
“Teens is a bit much,” Zhang Jin’an interjected.
“Then in your twenties,” Jiang Siyang said.
“Siyang, how old are you again?”
“He’s twenty-five,” Zhang Jin’an answered for him.
“Twenty-five?” Li Qiang sighed, tilting his head back as he reminisced. “Ah, I remember when I was twenty-five. I actually looked quite similar to Siyang—elegant as a jade tree, suave and unconventional...”
Jiang Siyang: “??”
Zhang Jin’an: “...You’ll get used to it.”
***
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Unable to be Arrogant [Entertainment Circle] | Chapter 39 | The Camera and the Keyboard | Novela.app | Novela.app
