At 2:00 PM on October 1st, the typhoon arrived right on schedule.
Because of the impending storm and the fact that the current scenes required outdoor filming, the crew ended the shoot early, allowing everyone to return to the hotel ahead of time.
As soon as Zhang Jin’an returned to his room, he shut the windows and doors tight. He didn't turn on the television, opting instead to light only a single bedside lamp.
The sky outside was impossibly dark. The saturation of every building seemed to have dropped several notches, giving off a distinct end-of-the-world vibe.
This typhoon brought rain with it. It started as a light drizzle, pitter-pattering against the pavement and watering the trees, but it soon escalated into a steady rain. Finally, it transformed into an unstoppable torrential downpour. One only had to look at the trees by the roadside, their branches whipped into distorted shapes by the wind, to grasp the sheer power of the typhoon.
Zhang Jin’an drew the curtains, locking everything outside and leaving only the "pitter-patter" of the furious rain lashing against the windowpanes.
The sound of rain always possessed a hypnotic magic. Zhang Jin’an sat in an armchair reading his script, and listening to the rhythm of the rain, he actually felt a bit drowsy. He simply pulled over another chair to use as a footrest, draped a coat over himself, and closed his eyes for a short nap.
The crew had been quite busy over the last two days due to the typhoon schedule, leaving little free time, so he hadn't been able to chat much with Jiang Siyang. Thinking about it brought a small sense of regret.
However, they had exchanged many messages over these two days, so it wasn't too bad.
As Zhang Jin’an’s thoughts drifted, he actually fell asleep. When he finally stirred and woke in a haze, the rain outside had stopped, though the wind was still howling. He squinted at his phone; it was nearly three o'clock. He had slept for almost an hour.
Zhang Jin’an opened WeChat to check for new messages, looking first at Jiang Siyang, who was pinned to the top. Jiang Siyang had sent a message half an hour ago, reminding him to keep his doors and windows shut.
Zhang Jin’an felt a wave of intense regret. He regretted not staying awake for just another half hour, having missed the message entirely.
Even though he was late, Zhang Jin’an still replied: "Just woke up. Everything is shut tight."
The other party immediately sent back an "OK" hand gesture.
Zhang Jin’an’s mood brightened instantly. With a curl of his lips, he finally moved on to check his other messages.
The game group chat had over 99 new messages. Zhang Jin’an scrolled up to look. It was mostly Su Zhiyang lamenting how fierce the typhoon was on his end, Qian Shan looking for teammates to play games, and Gu Yirou complaining about a TV show. Everyone was talking over each other; it was a wonder they managed to hit 99+ messages at all.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: Isn't this adaptation way too weird?
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: That’s not how it was written in the original book at all.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: I reckon the typhoon will pass in about half an hour.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: I’m going to faint.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: Who’s gaming?
[Chengdu’s Strongest King, Qian Shan]: Me.
[Chengdu’s Strongest King, Qian Shan]: You coming?
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: Who else?
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: Me, I’m waiting for my food.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: Let’s run a dungeon.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: Invite me.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: Waiting for one more.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: Wait a sec then.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: Siyang, you going? @Shanghai Stock Director, Jiang Siyang
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: [OK emoji]
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: I waited so long only for them to tell me they don't end up together??
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: I’m stunned. I’m done watching.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: First time I’ve seen Brother Gu react so strongly.
Since most of the group members were actors, their reviews of shows usually bypassed the acting itself and went straight to the plot.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: To put it simply, Brother Gu’s "White Moonlight" has been ruined.
[Chengdu’s Strongest King, Qian Shan]: I think the female lead was his White Moonlight or something, and then she didn't end up with the male lead?
Just as Zhang Jin’an was about to reply, he saw Gu Yirou fire off two messages in quick succession, looking very agitated.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: Wrong! It’s the female lead of the TV show.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: Not the female lead of the original book.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: Oh, you mean that "Chief Appraiser" show you mentioned the week before last?
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: Yeah.
The reason Zhang Jin’an remembered was that when Gu Yirou shared the show, he had posted the title three times, saying he had waited a long time for it.
Putting himself in those shoes, if *Hidden Shadows* were to be butchered by an adaptation, Zhang Jin’an would be just as disappointed.
[Chengdu’s Strongest King, Qian Shan]: Now I’m curious.
[Chengdu’s Strongest King, Qian Shan]: How did they change it?
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: In the original, the female lead is a powerhouse—deadly smart, clean and efficient. We all called her CEO Yuan.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: The TV show turned her into an unreasonable shrew. Without a man, she has no career. Out of the six episodes aired so far, she’s cried for two of them, and it’s always because her partner doesn't want her anymore.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: The show turned her from a proponent of singlehood into a widow who can't find a man. I’m done.
"..." After reading Gu Yirou’s summary, Zhang Jin’an felt this was the first time he’d encountered an adaptation so mangled; it was impressive in its own twisted way.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: This...
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: That’s not just a small difference.
[Chengdu’s Strongest King, Qian Shan]: I’m speechless. Are you sure it’s not just two different works with the same name?
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: It says right there in the credits: "Adapted from Chief Appraiser."
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: Now a lot of people are cursing CEO Yuan.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: I’m so angry I’m quitting.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: If any of you ever act in an adaptation and it gets changed into some flowery mess...
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: I’ll pin your shame in this group for a whole day.
[Chengdu’s Strongest King, Qian Shan]: Brother Gu is right.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: I’ll listen to whatever Brother Gu says.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: Brother Gu is right.
[Shanghai Stock Director, Jiang Siyang]: What’s happening?
[Shanghai Stock Director, Jiang Siyang]: Ah.
[Shanghai Stock Director, Jiang Siyang]: Brother Gu is right.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: You’re here.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: Coming for a game?
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: I think *Hidden Shadows* should be fine, since Zhang Jin’an is there.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: Don't worry, it’s very faithful to the original.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: [Zhang Jin’an Escapes a Disaster.jpg]
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: Sometimes I really feel like if you don't know how to adapt a show, then don't. Why insist on changing something that was written perfectly well in the first place?
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: When will they realize that if you change even a little bit of a story, it’s no longer that story?
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: Once a work is commercialized, the stuff inside isn't just a story anymore. It’s all about making money. So they just change things to whatever is popular right now.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: *Sigh*, that’s the truth of it.
[Shenyang’s Number One, Gu Yirou]: I’m going to watch something else. Bye.
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: Bye, Brother Gu.
[Shanghai Stock Director, Jiang Siyang]: I’m online.
[Little South Mountain Tour Guide, Zhang Jin’an]: [OK gesture emoji]
[Wenzhou Leather Factory Landlord, Su Zhiyang]: Coming.
[Chengdu’s Strongest King, Qian Shan]: OK, OK.
[Shanghai Stock Director, Jiang Siyang]: Bye.
After that, the four of them started the game. Zhang Jin’an, Su Zhiyang, and Qian Shan were all veteran players; their mechanics went without saying. In comparison, Jiang Siyang was more than just a little weak. Even though he played an archer who stayed in the backline, he died more often than those fighting on the front lines.
[Teammate "Midnight" has died.]
Zhang Jin’an glanced at the game notification that popped up and continued clearing minions. "Siyang, you’re really a noob, hahaha," Su Zhiyang mocked over voice chat. "You’ve already died three times."
"I can't help it, I’m surrounded on both sides," Jiang Siyang retorted over the mic.
"Stop making excuses, I saw you outlining the enemies with your shots," Su Zhiyang laughed.
Zhang Jin’an didn't say a word, simply listening to their banter while his hands never stopped pressing the attack buttons.
"Where are you guys?" Qian Shan asked.
"Behind the mountain, there are three bears," Jiang Siyang replied.
"Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine," Su Zhiyang said. "My blue buff, I’m coming."
Zhang Jin’an let out a small laugh and finally turned on his mic. "Su Zhiyang, did you develop a stutter?"
"Damn you," Su Zhiyang laughed loudly.
Just then, the game chimed again with a new notification.
[Teammate "Midnight" has died.]
Zhang Jin’an didn't take it to heart, first gathering some herbs and then crouching to the side to recover health.
Su Zhiyang, however, said with a laugh, "Well, Siyang, you’ve certainly provided the entertainment. Less than twenty minutes in and you’ve died four times."
Jiang Siyang admitted, "I just don't know how to play."
"It’s not his fault," Zhang Jin’an spoke into the mic. "We don't have a healer here, so he can't recover health."
"Oh? I didn't expect you to actually help him make excuses," Qian Shan questioned. "Didn't you always tell Su Zhiyang that there are no excuses in e-sports, and if you die, it’s because you’re a noob?"
"Yeah, before when I said we didn't have a healer, you said it was because I was a noob," Su Zhiyang chimed in.
Could the two of them even be compared?
"It’s different," Zhang Jin’an replied, casually killing a bear.
"How is it different?" Qian Shan asked.
Knowing Jiang Siyang was listening, Zhang Jin’an intentionally raised his voice slightly. "Siyang is just starting out."
"Then what about Su Zhiyang?" Qian Shan asked again.
Zhang Jin’an replied, "He’s just genuinely bad."
"Hahahaha, this double standard is something else! Hahahaha, Su Zhiyang, did you hear that? Hahaha, you’re just bad—" Qian Shan was dying of laughter.
Zhang Jin’an found the laughter too noisy and muted the team voice chat. Ten seconds later, Su Zhiyang responded to the matter in the chat box.
[Teammate—Yi Jian Mei: ?]
[Teammate—Yi Jian Mei: If you’re going to put it like that, I’m done. I’m quitting the game.]
Zhang Jin’an spared it a glance, crossed a bridge, and found a treasure chest. Only after he had emptied its contents did a new message appear in the chat.
[Teammate—Yi Jian Mei: ?]
[Teammate—Yi Jian Mei: Where is everyone? It’s been two minutes, why hasn't anyone stopped me?]
[Teammate—Yi Jian Mei: Siyang, even you aren't going to stop me?]
[Teammate—Midnight: If one person leaves, the game shouldn't be interrupted, right?]
[Teammate—Jin: It won't.]
[Teammate—Midnight: That’s good then.]
[Teammate—Midnight: I found an ore cave. Who wants it?]
[Teammate—Lao Xiu: I’m coming.]
[Teammate—Yi Jian Mei: ?]
[Teammate—Yi Jian Mei: You guys are dead after this game.]
Zhang Jin’an laughed and ran over to find Jiang Siyang, giving him all the items he had just obtained. Jiang Siyang sent a [Thank You] emote.
All emotes in this game were performed by the characters. Zhang Jin’an watched as the archer in front of him cupped his hands in a gesture of gratitude.
Zhang Jin’an smiled and continued with the dungeon quest.
Five or six minutes later, as the game screen transitioned into the ending animation, the hideous beast collapsed before them. Their four characters high-fived and sang in celebration; the game was finally over.
Zhang Jin’an watched his experience bar steadily rise. After telling the group he was logging off, he finally put down his phone.
He stood up from the armchair and pulled open the curtains.
The sky outside was still dark, but the rain had visibly lessened. The trees on the road were no longer swaying, and the wind had vanished. It looked like the typhoon was nearly over.
Gazing outside, Zhang Jin’an couldn't help but wonder: what was Jiang Siyang doing right now? Reading a script, looking at his phone? Or was he looking at the same patch of sky?
Counting it out, a month had already passed since his birthday. When would this unrequited love of his finally reach its end?
Just as Zhang Jin’an was thinking this, his phone began to ring. He picked it up.
It was a call from Jiang Siyang.
Zhang Jin’an’s heart skipped a beat. Without a second thought, he answered.
His voice subconsciously softened a few degrees. "What is it?"
"Nothing important. I was just curious what you were doing right now, so I called," the voice on the other end replied.
Zhang Jin’an was stunned by the answer.
It turned out they weren't just looking at the same sky; they were thinking about the same thing.
In weather like this, thinking of such things—did it mean his place in Jiang Siyang’s heart was vastly different from anyone else’s?
The thought made Zhang Jin’an significantly happier.
"The sun will be out in a bit," Jiang Siyang said. "I think the weather will be great tomorrow, and the air will be fresh."
"Yeah, the typhoon washed away all the grime," Zhang Jin’an said.
"Because of the typhoon, today’s shoot was pushed to tomorrow. You’ll have to run between two locations tomorrow. It’ll be hard on you," Jiang Siyang said.
Tomorrow’s schedule involved filming at two locations simultaneously: an outdoor set and a green screen studio. Zhang Jin’an had scenes in both. He would be at the outdoor set in the morning and would have to rush to the green screen studio in the afternoon once he finished.
The timing was quite tight.
"I’ll try to get there early so we can run our lines. Tomorrow’s scene is a bit of a 'famous moment,' so it’s quite important," Zhang Jin’an said.
"Okay, sounds good," Jiang Siyang replied.
Zhang Jin’an suddenly remembered something. "You only have a few more scenes before you wrap."
"Yeah," Jiang Siyang added, "but don't worry, I’ll definitely be there when you wrap your filming."
Zhang Jin’an smiled. "That’s a promise then. If you don't show up, you’ll be a liar."
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?" Jiang Siyang said. "Every word I say to you is the truth."
Zhang Jin’an smiled with satisfaction. "Good. It’s a deal then."
The two chatted for a while longer before ending the call.
"See you tomorrow then," Zhang Jin’an said.
"See you tomorrow."
After hearing the reply, Zhang Jin’an hung up.
It was only then that he noticed the sky had cracked open with streaks of light. Countless rays pierced through, spilling over the world along with the remaining rain.
The typhoon had passed.
***
