Yuan Yuan clapped her hands. "But why did she come looking for you in eleventh grade? Did she have a change of heart?"
Jiang Siyang shook his head. "I don't know."
"My guess is that Siyang was still a bit chubby in middle school, but by eleventh grade, he’d become a handsome guy. That’s why she came back," Zhang Jin’an suggested.
Yuan Yuan slapped her forehead. "Oh, right! I forgot you used to be heavier before you lost weight. That makes total sense now."
In truth, Jiang Siyang was quite grateful to that girl. It was because of her that he discovered the benefits of studying, which led to his excellent academic performance later on.
"Alright, alright, that’s enough reminiscing. Let’s get back to business." Tang Shang clapped his hands, steering everyone back on track.
Zhang Jin’an offered a few suggestions for improvement. Jiang Siyang and Yuan Yuan tried the scene twice more; although there was progress, Tang Shang felt it could still be better.
Finally, Tang Shang hit upon an idea and turned to Zhang Jin’an. "Jin’an, why don't you try performing this segment? Let them watch. Seeing a demonstration might help them grasp the feeling."
Yuan Yuan was the first to agree. "Great idea!"
"Who should play opposite him?" Tang Shang looked at Yuan Yuan, then at Jiang Siyang. "How about Siyang? You can watch from the front and pay close attention to Jin’an’s expressions."
Jiang Siyang was naturally willing and nodded. "Okay."
"Let’s start directly from the confession," Zhang Jin’an said, holding the script.
"Sure," Jiang Siyang agreed.
Zhang Jin’an glanced at the lines for a moment, then set the script down and looked at Jiang Siyang. "Lijing, I have something I want to say to you."
Jiang Siyang knew the scene had begun. He listened intently to every inflection in Zhang Jin’an’s voice, etching them into his memory.
He looked into Zhang Jin’an’s eyes and replied, "What is it? Tell me."
"I..." Zhang Jin’an lowered his gaze, stole a quick look at the script, and then looked up again.
Those eyes were looking at him—really looking at him—with no one else in their sight. Jiang Siyang’s heart began to stir.
"I want to tell you... what I said to you that day was the truth," Zhang Jin’an said.
"Which part?"
Jiang Siyang’s heart rate involuntarily quickened. He knew the next line was coming.
"I said..."
Zhang Jin’an let his hand drop, no longer looking at the script.
"I love you."
*Thump-thump, thump-thump-thump-thump...*
Jiang Siyang felt as if his heart were about to explode.
He knew these were lines. He knew this was acting. But how could he not be moved when such a person said such words?
The setting sun seemed to have arrived just for this sentence. The amber light spilled over half of Zhang Jin’an’s body, imbuing him with a tenderness beyond words. Jiang Siyang found it impossible to look away.
Jiang Siyang delivered the next line: "Wh... what?"
"Though it might seem sudden, I’ve actually hesitated for a long time. These past few days, I’ve often asked myself what kind of feelings I truly harbor for you," Zhang Jin’an replied.
Jiang Siyang hadn't expected Zhang Jin’an to have memorized that entire monologue in just a few minutes. He stood there with his hands behind his back, watching him.
Zhang Jin’an’s voice was low and resonant. His breathing and tone shifted with the lines, appearing both profound and sincere.
"I tossed and turned, I denied myself, and finally, I found the answer." Zhang Jin’an paused. "I like you."
Zhang Jin’an’s acting and emotional delivery were so perfect that Jiang Siyang almost believed he was truly confessing.
He nearly blurted out, "Me too."
Jiang Siyang clenched his right hand at his side, forcing his emotions to stay on track and reminding himself that this was just a performance.
"But we... we’re different," Jiang Siyang replied.
"I know what you’re worried about. Our identities, our positions, even our beliefs are different. I understand that. I know there are many irresistible forces in this world, but I am willing..." Zhang Jin’an closed his eyes.
He no longer knew how much of his own emotion was being mixed into these lines.
Every word here was something he wanted to say to Jiang Siyang.
He loved him.
Zhang Jin’an opened his eyes. He repeated every subsequent line in his heart as he spoke.
"I am willing to give up my identity, to run toward your side, and to betray my own beliefs."
*So I am willing to give up my identity, to run toward your side, and to betray my own beliefs.*
"I want to love you."
*I want to love you.*
"I love you."
*I love you.*
"I love you."
*I love you.*
Zhang Jin’an carefully took Jiang Siyang’s hand. In that moment, his eyes held only Jiang Siyang; he saw no one else.
Whether it was the messy hair styled for the character or the short-sleeved shirt that was unseasonable for the weather—all these unpolished details, as long as they belonged to Jiang Siyang, he took them all in. Not to mention Jiang Siyang’s handsome face and his eyes, which looked as if they held the moon within them.
He looked at him like that, as if he could keep looking for a hundred years.
"I love you, Lijing."
*I love you, Siyang.*
The lines were supposed to end there, but Zhang Jin’an said it one more time: "I love you." This time, it wasn't a line. It was his truth.
*I love you.*
*I want to say 'I love you' boldly. Not as a performance under the spotlight, but on some street corner, in front of everyone, telling you that I love you.*
*I love you.*
The scene was over. Just as Zhang Jin’an was about to let go of his hand, he heard the other man say softly, "I love you, too."
Zhang Jin’an froze. His heart began to thrum violently.
The sky had finally begun to dim, and the streetlights flickered on one by one, illuminating the pedestrian street once more.
In his grasp was a soft palm. Every inch of that skin belonged to this person. Even though the hand was slightly cool, why did it feel so scorching hot, leaving him restless and unsettled?
"You..." Zhang Jin’an was about to speak when Tang Shang interrupted him.
"Brilliant acting!" Tang Shang clapped incessantly, his face beaming with delight. He was clearly very satisfied.
Zhang Jin’an released his grip. Only then did he realize his palm was sweaty.
Tang Shang patted Jiang Siyang on the shoulder. "Nice improv there at the end, Siyang."
Jiang Siyang waved it off. "It’s because Jin’an-ge’s acting is so good. He really pulled me into the moment."
"That last line was good too," Zhang Jin’an said with a smile.
Jiang Siyang looked at Zhang Jin’an and smiled slightly without saying more.
With a template to follow, the rest became much easier. The final filmed result was indeed excellent.
"I love you."
"I love you."
"I love you... Ding Lijing." As Jiang Siyang’s final word fell, there was a few seconds of silence before Tang Shang shouted, "Cut! Excellent! That was great! Let’s move to the next scene!"
Hearing the word "cut," Jiang Siyang breathed a sigh of relief. The set immediately became lively as people began chatting in small groups. He didn't listen to what anyone was saying; he looked around, trying to find Zhang Jin’an, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Are you looking for Big Brother?"
Jiang Siyang turned around to see Yuan Yuan.
She was holding a half-finished bottle of mineral water, her long hair tied up. She had been wearing only a thin dress earlier, but now a long-sleeved jacket was draped over her shoulders.
"Yeah. Have you seen him?" Jiang Siyang asked quickly.
"I just saw him leave," Yuan Yuan said. "Do you need him for something?"
Jiang Siyang paused, then shook his head. "No, nothing."
He simply wanted to ask Zhang Jin’an if, among those six "I love yous," even just one—just one—had been sincere.
Because his "I love you, too" had been the truth.
