The weather in Hangzhou was truly pleasant. It hadn't rained for the past two days, and white clouds drifted lazily across the sky. Zhang Jin’an walked just as leisurely, a cup of soy milk in his hand.
It was only about a five-minute walk from the hotel to the set, and this particular area was sparsely populated. This made him feel quite at ease, as he didn't even need to cover his face when heading out.
It was currently eight in the morning, and Zhang Jin’an’s scenes weren't scheduled to start until ten. The reason he rose so early was simply a habit he had whenever he was filming. It was much like how a student could never wake up on school days but would naturally wake at six on the weekends.
Zhang Jin’an grandly dubbed this "the laws of nature."
"The hell with your 'laws of nature,' you just woke up because of the coffee," Li Qiang grumbled through the earpiece. "Where are you now? At the set?"
Zhang Jin’an was in a great mood; even Li Qiang’s nagging sounded melodious to his ears. "Yeah, just entered the neighborhood."
From a distance, he could see the production tents set up in the center of the residential area. Quite a few people were already there.
"Go on, then what?" Li Qiang asked.
"What do you mean, 'then what'?" Zhang Jin’an replied.
Li Qiang let out a frustrated sigh. "Didn't you just say Xiao Yang brought you dinner last night? What happened after? What did he ask you to do?"
"Nothing. We just chatted for a bit after eating and then he went back. He didn't ask me for anything, didn't even ask about the script. He even took the trash with him. He really just came over to deliver food."
"That’s a bit embarrassing. You should thank him properly," Li Qiang said. "The fact that you don't eat when you're stressed is something Xiao Zhou and I should have been looking out for."
Zhang Jin’an nodded. "I thought so too, but he told me..."
He intentionally paused mid-sentence to take a sip of soy milk.
"Don't stop there," Li Qiang urged, sounding impatient as expected. "What did he say?"
Only then did Zhang Jin’an continue at a leisurely pace. "He said that I was the one who gave him this opportunity to be on screen. Without it, no one would have even seen him... Anyway, his point was—as long as it's within his power, he’ll help me with anything, and I don't need to thank him."
Those were the words Jiang Siyang had said before leaving.
Human memory isn't perfectly accurate, and he couldn't replicate Jiang Siyang’s gentle tone, so he could only do his best to reconstruct the sentiment. A few words might have been different, but the meaning was roughly the same.
Li Qiang nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. "He’s quite grateful. But honestly, you only gave him an audition. Getting into the cast was all based on his own merit."
Zhang Jin’an took another sip of soy milk. "Yeah. I told him it was just a small favor, but he’s still very appreciative. I bet he’ll still remember this years from now."
"It makes sense, though. Their company focuses on boy and girl groups; they aren't very invested in actors. All the good resources go to the more famous ones. The rest, like Siyang who are neither here nor there, either get nothing or are given generic, trashy scripts." Li Qiang clicked his tongue. "Siyang is lucky he met Xiao Liu."
"Yeah, Sister Liu is very responsible toward her artists," Zhang Jin’an agreed.
Li Qiang continued, "Exactly. Xiao Liu fought for a long time to get Siyang those commercial gigs and variety show spots, but those are only two fixed schedules. If Siyang hadn't taken this script, he’d be facing a gap in his schedule starting in September, or he’d have to go act in some melodramatic campus drama approved by the company. So, it makes sense why he’s so grateful to you."
Zhang Jin’an expressed his understanding. "Big companies only care about 'traffic.' Whoever has the most popularity gets the resources. Siyang doesn't have much money, so it’s impossible for him to buy his way into a production."
It wasn't just Jiang Siyang’s company; Zhang Jin’an’s company was the same. In fact, most entertainment agencies operated this way—they looked after whoever was famous. It sounded cold, but that was the only way to manage things. After all, a company had more than one artist.
"Right, that’s exactly it," Li Qiang asked again. "Didn't he rehearse a scene with you yesterday? How was it?"
"Personally, I think it was remarkable. With his acting skills, he shouldn't be hidden so deep; he could definitely go up a level." Zhang Jin’an smiled, thinking about the production trending on social media. "But I think after this script is finished, plenty of shows will be looking for him."
Before he knew it, Zhang Jin’an had reached the set. Many people greeted him.
"Jin’an, you’re here so early?"
Zhang Jin’an smiled and raised the cup in his hand. "Just having breakfast."
Hearing the noise, Li Qiang asked, "You're there?"
"I'm here," Zhang Jin’an said.
"Alright, hanging up then."
"Bye."
Zhang Jin’an walked over to the monitors, chatted with the Vice Director for a few moments, and sat down beside him. The view here was excellent; he could see the actors' full bodies on the screen. The actors were currently gathered around Director Tang, listening to him block the scene.
Perhaps it was because Jiang Siyang was simply too eye-catching, but as Zhang Jin’an’s gaze swept over the group, it immediately settled on him. Jiang Siyang was focused on his script. Since he was taller than everyone else, he leaned forward slightly while listening. He was wearing a loose denim jacket, and for the sake of the plot, he had some hair extensions added, tied into a short ponytail.
A different look, a different vibe.
The Vice Director had known Zhang Jin’an for years, so he spoke quite bluntly. "Hey, since you're here, why don't you go up and give them some guidance?"
Zhang Jin’an swirled his cup. "We'll see. Director Tang explains things more clearly than I do. Let him run through it once first. If they want to ask me anything, they'll have to wait until I finish my soy milk."
The Vice Director glanced at him. "You're not going to take an hour to drink that, are you?"
"If I want to, I probably could," Zhang Jin’an said with a laugh.
"You brat..." The Vice Director chuckled a few times. "By the way, I think your scene today is with Xiao Ge?"
"Yeah," Zhang Jin’an nodded. "The afternoon is with Siyang."
"I recall you and Siyang don't have many scenes together," the Vice Director added.
Jiang Siyang kept his eyes down on the script, but Zhang Jin’an found the sight quite interesting.
Zhang Jin’an replied, "That's right. The next one isn't until three days from now."
The Vice Director smiled. "How do you know that so clearly?"
"I asked him yesterday."
"Oh?" The Vice Director was puzzled at first, then remembered something and nodded knowingly. "Oh right, at late-night snacks yesterday, he didn't stay long before leaving to bring you food."
"Mm." Zhang Jin’an kept his eyes fixed on the monitor. "Are the three of them in this scene together?"
The Vice Director nodded. "Yes, it's the part where Chen Yijun gets into trouble."
"Oh..." Zhang Jin’an knew this part. His character would be lying in the hospital following this sequence, but that was still a few days away.
Director Tang, apparently feeling that words weren't enough, began using his body to show them their positions. "I'll say it one more time. Siyang, Xiao Ge, you two start chatting from over there, and then..." He walked forward a few steps. "Walk to this spot. Xiao Yuan, then you come out. Three shots: one front-facing for the two of you, one profile for the three of you, and one front-facing for Xiao Yuan. We need to film this scene twice, got it?"
The three of them nodded repeatedly. "Yes, understood."
Seeing this, Zhang Jin’an shook his head. "Director Tang’s guidance is really exceptionally clear. His expression is just a bit stern, but I like that vibe. He has authority; you can't help but listen to what he says."
The Vice Director laughed. "Don't talk about him. You're much the same when you give guidance—just as serious."
"Really? I think I'm quite amiable." Zhang Jin’an truly didn't know; in his memory, he had rarely been serious with others.
"Did you forget? When Jiang Mengxin first met you, she said you were like their new homeroom teacher," the Vice Director said.
With the Vice Director mentioning it, Zhang Jin’an remembered it was true. Jiang Mengxin had confessed that at the wrap party once everyone was well-acquainted.
Zhang Jin’an said candidly, "It might just be subconscious. But honestly, I have a pretty good temper. Have you ever seen me lose it?"
"That's true. Even during that time with..." The Vice Director’s brow furrowed, as if he had encountered something filthy, and he spat in disgust. "Even then, you didn't get angry. You endured until the end and then let out a big one. Thinking back on it now, it’s still so satisfying—"
Zhang Jin’an smiled and said nothing, continuing to watch the monitor.
The three of them ran through the scene once while reciting their lines, with Director Tang watching from the side.
The moment Jiang Siyang put down his script, he entered character. His face immediately became expressionless as he exchanged lines with Ge Qianxu, walking straight toward the camera along the path Director Tang had just pointed out.
Zhang Jin’an stopped looking at the monitor and watched their rehearsal directly.
When Jiang Siyang looked toward the camera, Zhang Jin’an felt as though their eyes met for a few seconds. The kid must have noticed him.
At the thought that the fleeting smile on Jiang Siyang’s face was meant for him, Zhang Jin’an’s mood became inexplicably good.
"It's a bit strange, huh," the Vice Director whispered, staring at the monitor as he evaluated the rehearsal.
Zhang Jin’an looked away but didn't hide his grin, nodding with a smile. "A little."
"This is actually the fifth rehearsal, but they still haven't quite grasped that 'point,'" the Vice Director hissed. "But that point... it's hard to put into words."
Zhang Jin’an nodded. "I get it. Some points can only be understood through intuition; they can't be explained clearly in a short time."
Only then did the Vice Director notice Zhang Jin’an’s expression, which was different from before. "What's with you? Why are you smiling so happily?"
"Nothing, I just thought of something that makes me happy," Zhang Jin’an replied casually, though the corners of his mouth remained turned up.
"Did you find some money?" the Vice Director pried.
"Money is just an external possession," Zhang Jin’an said.
The Vice Director was amused. "So, based on what you're saying, this is an 'internal possession'?"
"I suppose so," Zhang Jin’an didn't intend to elaborate, only adding, "A kid gave it to me."
The Vice Director couldn't get anything more out of him no matter how much he asked, so he gave up, and the two continued watching the rehearsal.
Jiang Siyang and Ge Qianxu finished their lines, and then it was Yuan Yuan’s turn.
Just as Director Tang had instructed, Yuan Yuan ran into the frame from off-screen. The camera cut to her face as she began her lines. The segment ended once the three of them left the frame together.
Only then did Director Tang speak again, waving the three of them back. "Better than before, but the feeling... it's still not quite right. How about this—don't rush. Take a break first. The more nervous you are, the harder it is to act. Since Zhang Jin’an is here, be humble and go ask him for advice."
The three said in unison, "Yes."
Then, the group dispersed.
Ge Qianxu and Yuan Yuan went to touch up their makeup, Tang Shang went to talk to the long-shot camera crew, and Jiang Siyang walked toward Zhang Jin’an with his script.
Watching him draw closer, Zhang Jin’an’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. He subconsciously sat up straight. Before Jiang Siyang could even speak, Zhang Jin’an picked up his soy milk, looked up at him, and asked, "Thirsty?"
Standing against the light, Jiang Siyang was clearly a bit stunned, but he still nodded and took the cup. "A little."
"Sesame soy milk. It's quite good," Zhang Jin’an said with a smile.
Jiang Siyang didn't drink directly from the rim; he opened the lid and took a sip.
It was indeed good—the sesame flavor was rich, yet the taste of the soy milk remained.
Jiang Siyang replaced the lid and asked curiously, "It's delicious. Where did you buy it?"
"On the way here. Next time we have a morning scene together, I'll take you there." Seeing Jiang Siyang about to return the cup, Zhang Jin’an asked, "Did you eat breakfast?"
"I did." Jiang Siyang took another sip before handing it back to Zhang Jin’an.
Only then did Zhang Jin’an take the cup, cradling it in his hands as he patted the empty chair beside him. "Sit here."
"Why did you get up so early, Brother?" Jiang Siyang asked after sitting down.
"The laws of nature," Zhang Jin’an lazily repeated the phrase he had used with Li Qiang.
Jiang Siyang, however, nodded. "You mean you wake up at the time you usually go to work, so even when you're resting, you wake up naturally, right?"
Zhang Jin’an had expected Jiang Siyang to ask what he meant, just as Li Qiang had. He hadn't expected him to understand immediately. This was somewhat beyond Zhang Jin’an’s expectations.
Zhang Jin’an couldn't help but laugh. He patted Jiang Siyang’s shoulder and said appreciatively, "Siyang, I bet you got a perfect score on reading comprehension during the college entrance exams."
***
