The footage of Zhang Jinnan gaming was heavily fast-forwarded by the editors. A clock in the bottom right corner showed the time jumping from 9:48 to 11:58 in an instant. For those two hours, Zhang Jinnan hadn't left his seat once. To an outsider, it might have looked like he was working, but he was actually gaming, with the sounds of "kills" occasionally punctuating the silence.
The scene shifted to a corner of a sofa in the living room. Jiang Siyang knew the self-introduction segment had arrived.
Zhang Jinnan, now wearing an oversized hoodie, sat on the sofa and waved to the camera. "Hello everyone, I'm Zhang Jinnan."
The editors immediately spliced in some of his classic scenes from *The Best World*, *Brilliant Fire*, *Plum Blossom Bones*, *I Only Want You to Look at Me*, and *Equal Difference*. An introductory blurb appeared on the right side of the screen:
"Zhang Jinnan, top-tier Film King. Born August 25, 1987. Virgo. Started filming commercials at age seven. Entered the public eye in 2006 as the second male lead, Bai Qiaoshan, in *Reversal*. In 2009, his first film *The Best World* swept four awards, earning him the Baidan Award for Best Actor. Representative works include *Brilliant Fire* and *I Only Want You to Look at Me*. Possesses outstanding acting skills and can handle various roles. Known for his witty personality, he was voted the number one celebrity netizens 'most want to see on a variety show'..."
As per tradition, the production team asked Zhang Jinnan a few questions.
Staff: Q: How long have you been living alone?
Zhang Jinnan rested his crossed hands on his lap and replied, "Since university? I've lived alone since I started working."
Staff: Q: Do you only play games during your time off?
Zhang Jinnan chuckled. "There’s a misunderstanding here. I only played for so long because it was the day of the shoot. Usually, I like to go out for walks; I’m not actually that into gaming."
The screen cut back to his computer monitor, which displayed: [Game Over, Victory]. It seemed the match was finished. Just as everyone thought Zhang Jinnan was moving on to something else, he entered a lobby and spoke into his headset: "Su Zhiyang, you're finally here?"
As soon as he spoke, the bullet comments erupted in excitement.
Regardless of anything else, Su Zhiyang was a popular actor in his own right. Though his fame didn't quite reach Zhang Jinnan's heights, he had plenty of fans and recognition. More importantly, their close friendship was common knowledge, so the surge in comments was expected.
The editors placed a headshot of Su Zhiyang in the bottom left corner. Su Zhiyang’s voice came through: "Why are you online so early? I see you've been playing for two hours already."
Zhang Jinnan smiled, his hands finally leaving the keyboard and mouse as he relaxed into the chat. "Yeah, I was just waiting for you guys to get on, so I squeezed in a couple of rounds."
Su Zhiyang: "Alright, I'll pull Teacher Gu in."
"Sure."
A few seconds later, a sweet, feminine voice rang out: "Can you hear me?"
Zhang Jinnan pulled his chair forward and replied, "I hear you."
The editors added a headshot of Gu Yirou in the corner. Gu Yirou sounded relieved. "That's good. I switched to a new microphone today."
Jiang Siyang didn't find anything odd about Gu Yirou's voice, but the bullet comments were flooded with "Gu-ge, you're so girly," in numbers no less than when Zhang Jinnan first appeared.
Now he understood why Su Zhiyang had said that in the WeChat group.
"Alright, let's start," Zhang Jinnan said, clicking to start the game. The system automatically matched them with opponents.
The scene cut back to the sofa interview.
Staff: Q: Do you play games together often?
Zhang Jinnan replied, "Not that often. We play whenever our schedules align. We have a gaming group; if someone wants to play that day, they just drop a message. We group up if we can."
Jiang Siyang was actually surprised to realize he was in that very gaming group.
The next segment showed Zhang Jinnan's gameplay, interspersed with his banter with Su Zhiyang and Gu Yirou. Gu Yirou was quiet at first, but toward the end, he did most of the talking, his accent becoming increasingly uninhibited as the scene devolved into chaos.
Gu Yirou: "What are you two doing standing back there? You think we can win just by staring? Charge for me!"
Su Zhiyang: "Everything as Gu-ge says. Gu-ge is right."
Zhang Jinnan: "Su Zhiyang, your health is low. Stay back. I'll bait their ults first."
Su Zhiyang: "Right, right, Jinnan is right."
Gu Yirou: "I'm coming to heal you, don't move—"
Su Zhiyang: "Okay, okay, Gu-ge, I'm waiting for you..."
The footage then focused on the game itself. The editors had blurred out the names of the opposing players, as well as Su Zhiyang and Gu Yirou. Zhang Jinnan's name wasn't blurred because he had already shared his gaming records and account on Weibo.
In truth, even with the blurs, people could find Zhang Jinnan on the server rankings, so the censorship didn't matter much.
Jiang Siyang remembered that Zhang Jinnan had his settings set so that anyone could add him, but only friends could invite him to a group. Strangers couldn't pull him into a match.
After about a dozen seconds of gameplay, the bullet comments suddenly turned hostile.
Jiang Siyang was confused until he read a few comments and realized the situation: it seemed someone on the opposing team was cheating.
Zhang Jinnan seemed to notice as well. He frowned and whispered to the other two, "The other side seems to be using *that*."
"I think so too," Su Zhiyang said, seemingly unbothered. "It's fine. Even if they're cheating, we can still win with me here."
Gu Yirou: "I was wondering why they knew where I was no matter where I went. My health was dropping so fast."
Su Zhiyang: "Your health dropping isn't their fault. You're a healer; your health is supposed to be low."
Gu Yirou: "..."
The editors fast-forwarded the gameplay again. A caption in the corner read: [10 minutes later...]. As the screen faded to black, the game ended in victory for Zhang Jinnan's team. The bullet comments were filled with "Awesome," "666666," and "OHHHHHHH."
Zhang Jinnan let out a long sigh of relief, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.
"Still playing?" Su Zhiyang asked.
"No, it's mealtime," Zhang Jinnan replied.
"Alright, I'm logging off too," Gu Yirou said.
Zhang Jinnan exited the game, took off his headset, and turned off the monitor. He stood up, slid open the floor-to-ceiling window, and stepped onto the study's balcony, stretching as he looked into the distance.
Then, he walked out of the study. The camera followed him, finally revealing the full layout of the house that everyone had been waiting for.
The editors displayed every room they could capture in a grid—three rows, totaling twelve scenes.
Zhang Jinnan's home was a two-story detached villa with a flat roof. The upper exterior was black, while the lower was white. The camera entered through the main gate, passing through a short open-air corridor. To the left was the villa's garden, featuring flower beds and two pine trees. The first floor used floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors to form a wall, allowing one to step directly from the living room into the garden or see the living room clearly from outside.
The camera moved up two steps and pushed through the villa's security door into the interior.
Past the foyer, the left and right walls featured decorative shelving units holding several vases. However, there wasn't a single flower in them; they were clearly there just to keep the space from looking empty.
Turning left from the foyer led to the main hall. The ceiling lights were recessed, making the space feel vast. White porcelain tiles with water-ripple patterns covered the floor, with long gray tiles acting as dividers between different zones.
To the left was the living room.
Jiang Siyang finally understood why a balance scooter could be raced in here—the living room was truly massive.
Between the gray sofa and the large-screen TV sat an irregularly shaped white marble coffee table that looked futuristic and high-tech. A gray rug lay beneath it, and the garden was visible through the glass.
Opposite the living room was a bar-style kitchen. In addition to the bar seating, there was a dining table that could easily accommodate more than fifteen people. Black cabinets were arranged in a staggered, stylish pattern. The refrigerator was a double-door model; when opened, it revealed neatly organized vegetables, fruits, and several storage containers.
Aside from the living room and kitchen, the first floor also housed a bathroom with a large tub and double sinks, and a walk-in closet filled with shoes, watches, and suits. After filming these rooms, the camera stopped before a door that everyone assumed was a storage room. Instead, it opened to reveal a room full of exercise equipment.
Between the gym and the walk-in closet was a staircase leading to the second floor.
The second floor also had a living area, though it was simpler than the one downstairs. The sofa seemed to be there only to prevent the room from looking empty. Beyond that was the study filmed earlier. There were two bedrooms on this floor—one large and one small. Both had wooden floors, and the smaller bedroom featured its own balcony.
Surprisingly, the largest space on the second floor wasn't the study, but another walk-in closet. It occupied the space directly above the downstairs living room, featuring three rows of wardrobes and a full-length mirror.
After the closet tour, the visit to the villa concluded. Some private details were omitted, but the audience expressed total satisfaction.
Jiang Siyang, however, felt like something was missing from the villa.
Although the decor was beautiful and the amenities were enviable... Jiang Siyang thought for half a minute before it hit him.
It lacked the "flavor of life."
Aside from the garden, there wasn't a single green plant in the entire villa. Everything was a mix of black, white, and gray, with the occasional wood tone. Both inside and out, it was spotlessly clean, like a model home.
The screen cut to the interview segment.
Staff: Q: Why did you choose this house originally?
Zhang Jinnan replied, "I bought this house because I liked the balcony and the garden. Actually, it wasn't that expensive. Real estate prices weren't that high back then, and the price for this one was quite low. It was a great value."
As soon as he said that, the screen was filled with question marks.
Staff: Q: How does it feel living in such a large house alone?
"Actually, because of work, I might only live here for a month or two out of the year, or maybe just a week or two at a time. It felt lonely at first, but you get used to it," Zhang Jinnan smiled. "My house is relatively larger than others, so we sometimes hold gatherings here."
The editors thoughtfully included a few photos of parties at his home. Jiang Siyang had seen these photos on Zhang Jinnan's Weibo before; he had originally assumed they were taken at a hotel, not Zhang Jinnan's house.
The bullet comments shared his sentiment, with many expressing their surprise.
The program continued, showing Zhang Jinnan preparing lunch.
It was clear he cooked often. Whether washing or chopping vegetables, his movements were clean and efficient. After every step, he would wipe the counter with a cloth, leaving no stains behind.
Zhang Jinnan stir-fried a dish and reheated some leftover rice from the day before. Carrying the two bowls upstairs, he returned to his computer desk. He turned on the speakers and ate while watching a game commentary video and occasionally scrolling through Weibo.
The production team replayed the clip of him saying "I'm not that into gaming" three times.
After lunch, Zhang Jinnan went out to the local community supermarket to restock on toothbrushes and other daily necessities. Even though he wore a mask and a hat, the presence of a camera crew meant people recognized him. However, they mostly greeted him from a distance, and Zhang Jinnan would tip his hat and nod in response.
An older woman who seemed familiar with him asked directly, "Jinnan, out shopping?"
Zhang Jinnan replied with a smile, "Yes. What are you here for, ma'am?"
"Buying groceries. I got some fish and beef; my nephew is coming over," the woman said cheerfully.
Zhang Jinnan smiled back. "Your nephew is back? That's wonderful. The house will be lively again."
Staff: Q: Is that lady an acquaintance? Are you familiar with everyone in this neighborhood?
Zhang Jinnan nodded. "I wouldn't say 'everyone,' but I'm close with a few households. Sister Li has lived here for quite a few years. When I first moved in, the gas wasn't set up properly and I couldn't use it. She brought me some things. We started exchanging gifts during holidays and chatting, and over time, we became friends."
Jiang Siyang couldn't help but nod. "He really does have a great personality."
Zhang Jinnan returned home, put everything away, and then headed out again—this time for a longer trip. The scene cut to him driving.
A cheerful Japanese song played in the car. The editors added a caption at the bottom: "Where is he going?" A moment later, Zhang Jinnan parked in a lot and walked into a building.
The camera panned up to show a bowling alley.
After chatting with the manager for a bit, the manager led him to a lane. The two made a bet on who would pay for dinner and started a bowling match.
Zhang Jinnan looked like a seasoned player, scoring four strikes in a row. He eventually won the match with a strike in the final frame. Afterward, as agreed, the two went to an open-air food stall for dinner. While waiting for their food, they began to chat.
"Are you filming a TV drama next?" the manager asked.
Zhang Jinnan sat in the glow of the setting sun; outside the second-floor window, the sky looked as if it had been stained with red ink. He sat with his back straight, making his simple outfit look like it cost tens of thousands of yuan.
Zhang Jinnan pushed up his glasses and nodded. "Yeah. I'm filming it with one of the members from this variety show."
Hearing this, Jiang Siyang couldn't help but feel a surge of nerves. He hadn't expected Zhang Jinnan to mention him.
The manager raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you didn't know each other before?"
Zhang Jinnan shook his head. "No, we sort of knew each other. We met once, but after that, it was mostly chatting online."
"Oh? What's he like?" the manager asked.
"How should I put it..." Zhang Jinnan swirled the water in his glass. "He has a good personality. He's straightforward and polite—a good rookie actor. Oh, by the way..." Zhang Jinnan set down his glass and whispered to the manager, "I didn't tell him I was going on this show. He's definitely going to be shocked when he sees it. It'll be hilarious. Don't forget to take screenshots and make memes of him."
Jiang Siyang: "...?"
As if predicting his thoughts, the editors placed a small icon of his head in the corner with three large question marks next to it.
The manager nodded. "Got it, got it. I'll definitely watch."
Zhang Jinnan laughed. "Great. Successfully pitched it. That's one more view secured."
Then the food arrived. Accompanied by the sounds of their eating and conversation, the image faded from sharp to blurry, and Zhang Jinnan's day came to an end.
The screen went black for a brief moment, and the bullet comments began to scroll the exact same phrase in unison.
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Unable to be Arrogant [Entertainment Circle] | Chapter 68 | A Glimpse of Home | Novela.app | Novela.app
