Unable to be Arrogant [Entertainment Circle] | Chapter 78 | A Matter of Acceptance | Novela.app

Chapter 79 - A Matter of Acceptance "So, do you have any CPs you ship?" Yuan Yuan asked, leaning in with a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. Jiang Siyang blinked, a look of genuine confusion crossing his handsome features. "Ship?" Zhang Jin'an, ever the translator for his younger colleague’s lack of internet fluency, chimed in. "It’s fandom lingo. It means a pairing you particularly like or support romantically." "Exactly," Yuan Yuan nodded vigorously, her ponytail bouncing. "Oh," Jiang Siyang murmured, a small smile of realization forming. He shook his head slowly. "No, I don't think I do." Zhang Jin'an leaned forward, looking past Jiang Siyang to address the actress. "What about you, Yuan Yuan? Do you have one?" "Of course! Why else would I bring it up?" she whispered, her voice dropping to a secretive tone as if sharing state secrets. "A few of the girls in my group and I are obsessed with the same one." "Who?" Jiang Siyang asked, his curiosity piqued by her intensity. "Fuhua—from *Sherlock*. I was rewatching it yesterday. Every time I see them together, I just can't help but feel they’re the real deal—" She suddenly slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening. "Wait, did I just expose myself? Is my professional image ruined?" The two men reacted quite differently to her outburst. Zhang Jin'an remained perfectly composed, his expression one of mild amusement. "It’s fine. Everyone has their personal interests. Even Teacher Gu is a huge fan of *nisù*." Jiang Siyang, meanwhile, looked back and forth between them, his expression a total blank. This was clearly a leap too far into the unknown for him. "Teacher Gu Yirou?" Yuan Yuan gasped, her jaw nearly dropping. "She actually does *nisù*?" "She’s a veteran 'mud-sculptor,'" Zhang Jin'an said with a dismissive wave of his hand, as if it were common knowledge. "...Wait, what on earth does 'mud-sculpting' mean?" Li Qiang interrupted, breaking Zhang Jin'an’s trip down memory lane. "It’s *nisù*, or 'inverse attraction.' It’s a term specifically used for male celebrities," Zhang Jin'an explained, his tone patient. "You know how fans often describe an idol as 'su' when they’re being charming or manly? *Nisù* is the opposite. It’s when female fans treat the idol like a 'damsel' or even gender-bend them into a female persona in their minds." Zhang Jin'an’s explanation was so fluent and detailed that Li Qiang couldn't help but look at him with newfound respect. "I haven't seen you in a few days, Jin'an, and your knowledge of fandom culture has leveled up significantly." Zhang Jin'an chuckled softly. "When Yuan Yuan was talking about all that, I noticed Siyang didn't look uncomfortable or annoyed. He just looked... like a student listening to a lecture, trying his best to take notes." "I can see the picture now," Li Qiang remarked, imagining the scene. "Big Brother, tell the truth—how much have you been lurking in the fan circles?" Yuan Yuan had joked at the time. Zhang Jin'an had only smiled. "You learn a lot just by spending time online." "But honestly, I expected Big Brother to be cool with it—everyone knows you’ve supported LGBT rights for a long time," Yuan Yuan said, turning her smile back to Jiang Siyang. "But I’m surprised you aren't repulsed by what we’re talking about, Siyang." Jiang Siyang tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "Repulsed? Why would I be repulsed by that?" Yuan Yuan sighed, her expression turning a bit more serious. "Because a lot of stars will play along with a 'showmance' or a crack ship for the sake of business, but in reality, they’re actually quite homophobic." "Then why do they agree to the ship in the first place?" Jiang Siyang asked. "Because ships generate heat. They bring in traffic, and they make money from the *fujoshi* fans," Yuan Yuan explained with a hint of bitterness. "But some people are strange. They can accept 'queerbaiting' or *danmei* novels—those are stories about male-male romance—but they can't accept the actual LGBT community in real life. Or they only accept it if the people are handsome, but not if they're ordinary people. It’s confusing and honestly a bit heartbreaking." Zhang Jin'an hadn't said a word then, his gaze fixed on Jiang Siyang’s every movement. It had been a beautiful day—cool, with the autumn sun casting a gentle, non-intrusive glow over the Hangzhou streets. Jiang Siyang sat between them, his left hand resting on the bench, only a few centimeters away from Zhang Jin'an’s right. He was wearing a crisp white shirt, his hair styled up to reveal a clean, intelligent brow. Jiang Siyang thought for a moment before answering. "...I’ve read a bit about the LGBT community. In recent history, they haven't had much support. Some people even call them 'incorrect,' and there are plenty of parents who try to 'correct' their children. Personally, I feel that as long as they aren't hurting anyone, it’s fine. Everyone has different preferences, after all." He paused, then added a simple analogy. "You can't say they’re wrong just because you don't like it. It’s like how I don't like ginger, but I wouldn't choose to make it go extinct. Because I know there are people who do like it." "Tell me, isn't he just the most endearing person? Using food as a metaphor," Zhang Jin'an said to Li Qiang now, a genuine warmth spreading across his face. "Qiang-ge, do you have any idea how happy I felt when he said that?" Li Qiang nodded. The expression on Zhang Jin'an’s face made it impossible not to know. "I get it, I get it. We can basically round that up to him saying he’s okay with being with you," Li Qiang teased, humoring him like one would a child. "So, what happened next?" "Then the topic ended. Oh, but I remembered that there’s a 'Rainbow Marathon' in Hangzhou every November. I’d seen it once before when I was in town. Do you remember that, Qiang-ge?" "Oh, I know the one. Twenty-thirteen, right?" Li Qiang recalled instantly. The participants had been volunteers, their faces and arms painted with vibrant rainbows. They had run in groups, holding up rainbow banners that fluttered brilliantly in the wind. It had been such a grand, spirited event that it was hard to forget. Zhang Jin'an nodded. "Right. So, before we started filming the next scene, I asked Siyang if he’d be interested in going to watch it with me if he had the time. He said yes." Li Qiang’s eyes widened, and he broke into a broad grin, slapping Zhang Jin'an on the back. "Not bad, Zhang Jin'an! Here I was worrying about you for nothing." He chuckled, giving him a few more hearty pats. "At this rate, I reckon you two will be together by the time *Hidden Shadows* wraps." Zhang Jin'an rubbed his shoulder, laughing. "I hope so. But for now, let's take it one step at a time." "Yeah, can't rush these things," Li Qiang agreed. Zhang Jin'an checked his watch. "That’s all for now. It’s about time; I’m going back to talk to Siyang for a bit." "Go on," Li Qiang waved him off, standing still as he watched Zhang Jin'an walk back toward the set. Talking about it had unearthed a flood of buried memories. Li Qiang found himself thinking more about that Rainbow Marathon years ago. He had forgotten the exact route, only remembering that it started at the Huanglong Sports Center, passed through the Bai Causeway, and looped back. He and Zhang Jin'an had watched from a restaurant along the path. Zhang Jin'an had come prepared, knowing the event was happening, which was why he’d chosen that specific spot. Li Qiang, however, hadn't realized what was going on until the runners began streaming past below the window. Even as a bystander with no prior connection to the cause, he had been profoundly moved by the scene. He remembered asking Zhang Jin'an then, amidst his surprise, why all these people were gathered together. Zhang Jin'an had looked down at the sea of colors and replied: "For freedom, for peace, for love. For a right that every single person deserves to have." *Thinking back, it’s no surprise Zhang Jin'an has the attitude he does today,* Li Qiang thought. He pulled out his phone, dialed Xiao Zhou, and began walking toward the dressing rooms. "Hey, Xiao Zhou? I sent the updated schedule to your email..." *** "Are you ready to run through the scene once?" Zhang Jin'an set his script aside and looked at Jiang Siyang. His voice softened instinctively as he spoke. "Are you clear on the lines?" Jiang Siyang nodded at him. "I think I’m ready." Zhang Jin'an felt himself sinking deeper into his infatuation. He was utterly captivated by Jiang Siyang’s eyes. In those depths, he felt he could see the majesty of mountains and rivers, the shimmering play of light on water, and the ethereal mist of moonlight. And in them, he could see his own reflection. *His eyes hold the stars and the sea.* It was the most common praise fans heaped upon their idols. But to Zhang Jin'an, these eyes held far more than celestial bodies and vast oceans; they seemed to encompass every beautiful thing the world had to offer. *Is there room in there for one more thing?* Zhang Jin'an asked silently. *Room for a love... from me, for you?* "Good," Zhang Jin'an said aloud, his voice steady. "Let's begin."