Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Tang Shang showed them the recorded footage. Everyone was quite satisfied. "Alright, that's a wrap for this segment," Tang Shang said, checking the time on his phone before shouting to the crew behind him. "We’re moving to the next location. It’ll be a tough one today; we’ll probably finish around one or two in the morning. Let's aim to finish early tomorrow so everyone can get some rest."
Just as Tang Shang finished speaking, a booming baritone echoed from not far away: "Got it—!"
"..."
The scene fell silent for a moment. Two seconds later, everyone burst into laughter. Even as they moved to the next location, they were still buzzing about it.
"Who was that? That was hilarious!"
"Funniest moment of the year, hands down. We should’ve recorded that."
"A shame I’d already turned my camera off. It really was funny..."
Several people passed by Zhang Jin'an. The night roads were sparse of pedestrians, but their area was filled with the sounds of chatter and laughter.
The stylist brought Zhang Jin'an a new coat. He cooperated, shedding his current layer to put on a long, knee-length trench coat. While the stylist adjusted his buttons, Zhang Jin'an found himself glancing toward Jiang Siyang more times than he could count. It wasn't that he lacked self-control; he simply couldn't look away.
This upcoming car chase scene took place when Cui Chi, working his part-time job as a model, received a call from Chen Yijun. In the emergency, he’d cleared it with the store manager and hopped into the car still wearing his photoshoot attire.
*【Chen Yijun froze for a moment. Who... was this? From a distance, he saw Cui Chi dressed in a white knight’s outfit, descending the steps with rapid strides.*
*The outfit made Cui Chi’s legs look incredibly long. Coupled with the dim glow of the streetlights, Chen Yijun truly had the illusion that the man was "all legs from the neck down."*
*When Cui Chi reached the window, Chen Yijun noticed that his shoulders were embroidered with flowers in gold thread. Fine golden chains—whether real gold or merely gilded iron—dangled from them.*
*Amidst his shock, Chen Yijun asked, "Are you... coming back from a circus performance?"*
*"What circus? I was just doing a shoot," Cui Chi said, opening the door and sliding into the passenger seat. "Besides, is this the time for that?"】*
This was the passage in the novel describing Cui Chi.
Now, Zhang Jin'an was the one feeling a bit dazed.
Jiang Siyang stood under a streetlight not far away. Because the outfit was somewhat intricate and the small details needed to be checked, someone nearby was holding a light for the stylist.
The suit had been custom-made to Jiang Siyang’s measurements; he was the only one who could wear it, so it fit perfectly.
The beauty of this "perfect fit" was that nothing was superfluous. It didn't make Jiang Siyang look a fraction wider; it clung to his frame from his wrists to his waist, and from his waist down to the white suit trousers that ended at his ankles. Everything was exactly right. When the stylist buckled the belt around Jiang Siyang’s waist, the ensemble was finally complete.
That belt was the finishing touch, outlining Jiang Siyang’s superb physique. He had classic "right-angle" shoulders—broad and squared—tapering down to a narrow waist, with long legs complemented by mid-calf boots.
It was truly as the book described: he looked like he was all legs from the neck down.
Zhang Jin'an suddenly recalled a passage he’d seen on Weibo in a "praise your idol" comment thread:
*"There is a type of person who doesn't need to do anything at all. Simply standing still, they draw everyone's gaze. The only things time leaves upon them are the pristine moonlight and the nebula closest to the solar system. No one can escape."*
"And no one wants to," Zhang Jin'an murmured softly.
Once the stylist left, Zhang Jin'an intended to go to Jiang Siyang, but to his surprise, Jiang Siyang walked toward him instead. So, he stayed put.
Or more accurately, he couldn't move.
Zhang Jin'an felt the heart in his chest beating faster and faster as Jiang Siyang approached.
Each step Jiang Siyang took wasn't landing on the ground; it was treading directly on his heart.
To ensure all his previous endurance didn't go to waste, Zhang Jin'an took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain steady.
Jiang Siyang reached him and said with a smile, "I didn't expect everyone to be in such good spirits. I just heard them talking about that guy earlier. I thought everyone would be a bit grumpy after working until the early hours for several days straight."
"This crew has followed Director Tang many times; they’re all old acquaintances. Director Tang is serious about filming and reviews segments repeatedly, so everyone understands," Zhang Jin'an glanced at the dozen or so people gathered by the cars nearby. "Though Director Tang is stern during filming, he treats the crew well. Back when we were filming *Plum Blossom Bones*, we did night shoots for several days in a row, and afterward, he gave everyone a three-day break."
"That’s quite generous. It sounds like something Director Tang would do," Jiang Siyang said.
"Yeah."
People tend to become quiet when they have a guilty conscience, and Zhang Jin'an was no exception.
After his brief affirmation, he fell silent. His left hand hung naturally at his side while his right hand gripped a corner of his coat. He looked absentmindedly at the sliding tracks being set up two meters away.
The autumn night breeze was different from summer's; it made the leaves rustle, occasionally shaking loose a few yellow-green leaves.
This awkward silence wasn't a solution. Just as Zhang Jin'an was thinking of what to say next, he felt a hand brush his shoulder.
Zhang Jin'an immediately let go of his coat. Just as he was about to turn his head, he heard the person beside him say, "Wait a second, Ge."
Zhang Jin'an went still, watching as Jiang Siyang held a green leaf before his eyes.
Zhang Jin'an blinked, looking at Jiang Siyang. Jiang Siyang’s face was full of warmth. "This fresh leaf just fell onto your hair."
"..." Zhang Jin'an reached out and took the leaf from Jiang Siyang’s hand. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, managing only a "Thank you."
Another few seconds of silence followed.
Then, Zhang Jin'an heard Jiang Siyang ask, "Ge, did something happen?"
Zhang Jin'an’s heart tightened. He looked straight at Jiang Siyang. "What do you mean? Why do you ask?"
"It’s nothing specific, you just feel a bit different than before," Jiang Siyang added. "If I’m overthinking it, just take it as a joke. Don't worry about it too much."
Zhang Jin'an stared intently into Jiang Siyang’s eyes. "Is it that obvious?"
Jiang Siyang shook his head. "Not really."
"Then how did you tell?"
"How did I tell... just from certain expressions and your tone, I suppose. But don't worry, if it’s someone who doesn't usually talk to you much, it would be very hard for them to notice," Jiang Siyang said.
Zhang Jin'an didn't answer.
Such a short sentence, yet it was so characteristic of Jiang Siyang.
Even when he noticed someone had something on their mind, his first instinct wasn't to say "Tell me and I'll help you solve it," but rather to comfort them by saying "Don't worry about others noticing."
How could there be such a person? Every word, every gesture made Zhang Jin'an like him more.
Just then, music drifted over from nearby. Zhang Jin'an didn't look for the source; he could tell from the sound that someone had started playing music to liven up the atmosphere, skipping through songs every few seconds.
The music didn't disrupt the rhythm of their conversation at all. Jiang Siyang continued, "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. After all, personal worries are meant to be private. It was a bit rude of me to bring it up so directly."
Zhang Jin'an shook his head. "How is that rude? You didn't force me to speak."
He hadn't felt much when he’d heard this song in the past, but ever since his secret crush began, just looking at the lyrics made his heart flutter.
"Stop skipping! It’s getting annoying! Just play this one!" Zhang Jin'an heard someone shout in the distance.
"Fine, fine..."
*—You are the rainbow at dawn*
Zhang Jin'an looked at the night sky that seemed to rest upon the treetops. Lowering his voice slightly, he called out, "Siyang."
"Yeah?"
He had heard him.
*—The radiant afternoon sky*
"If one day I did something that surprised you very much, how would you react?" Zhang Jin'an asked calmly.
"Like what?" Jiang Siyang replied.
*Like me saying I like you; like me telling you I love you; like me wanting to hold you; like me wanting to sing a song for you.*
"There is no 'like what' for this," Zhang Jin'an replied.
*—The rosy clouds of dusk, waiting for the night to surge*
Jiang Siyang thought for about two seconds. "...Then I’d probably be very happy."
Zhang Jin'an was stunned. "Why? I haven't said if it’s a good thing or a bad thing yet."
*—You are the lingering evening breeze, the sleepless clear murmur*
"For something that you’ve considered someone else's feelings for so long, I think even if it ends up being a 'bad' thing, it couldn't be that bad."
Jiang Siyang’s voice was like droplets of water falling into a well—two soft splashes that shattered the perfectly still reflection of the moon.
Zhang Jin'an was dazed for a moment, then he smiled. "That’s good to hear."
*—You are gentleness itself, the dream I desire*
*"The mountain silk falls into your hands"*
*"The warmth of the fields knows no end"*
*"It’s as if time has been cursed by someone"*
*"To render the colors of your eyes"*
*"Are they clear, bright, and joyful?"*
*"Or perhaps damp, stubborn, and unwilling?"*
*"Yet they remain iridescent, soft, and brilliant"*
*"In the night and in my dreams, they are all mine"*
*"Let the uneasy, the darkest, the departing"*
*"Scent the blooming flowers, the ebbing tide, the scattering clouds"*
*"Indescribable, no need to describe, it must be me"*
*"The lost traces of sky, clouds, trees, and flowers"*
*"A piece, a cloud, a tree, a petal is enough to be moved"*
*"The mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas need wait no longer"*
*"They all become your eyes"*
*"Are they clear, bright, and joyful?"*
*"Or perhaps damp, stubborn, and unwilling?"*
*"Yet they remain iridescent, soft, and brilliant"*
*"In the night and in my dreams, they are all mine"*
*"Let the uneasy, the darkest, the departing"*
*"Scent the blooming flowers, the ebbing tide, the scattering clouds"*
*"Indescribable, no need to describe, it must be me"*
*"You are the rainbow at dawn"*
*"The radiant afternoon sky"*
*"The rosy clouds of dusk, waiting for the night to surge"*
*"You are the lingering evening breeze, the sleepless clear murmur"*
*"You are..."*
*"Gentleness itself, the dream I desire"*
***
