Through threats, inducements, coaxing, and trickery, Qi Hong got Jiang Nan’an to accept the filming of “Burning Eternity.” After signing the contract and connecting all the various affairs, by the time the show officially began shooting, it was early autumn.
The filming location wasn’t in Shanghai, but in Linyun City further south.
“Burning Eternity” was a growth-oriented reality show, supposedly based on the closed training model of youth training camps. The early stage focused on training and regular point matches. After the training period, teams would be formally divided to begin elimination rounds, allowing guests to fully experience the growth and transformation of real professional esports players. After rounds of cruel eliminations, the final remaining team would stand on the competition stage, showered in their own confetti rain, lifting the champion trophy of “Burning Eternity” Season 1.
The show would be filmed in Linyun for several months. Qi Hong had work in Shanghai and couldn’t keep an eye on Jiang Nan’an the whole time, so only Xiao Sun accompanied him to the filming location.
Jiang Nan’an didn’t like dealing with people and never liked having too many people around him, so Xiao Sun had always served as both his life assistant and work assistant, accompanying him all over the country year-round, understanding his little habits and quirks even better than Jiang Nan’an himself. With him there, Qi Hong felt at ease.
On the first day of official filming, the show’s vehicle was waiting downstairs at the hotel early in the morning. The Follow PD responsible for coordinating with Jiang Nan’an was a young woman.
After hearing her brief explanation of today’s filming process, Jiang Nan’an clipped the microphone to his collar and glanced at the GoPro mounted between the front seats as he got in the car:
“Is this live?”
Qi Hong had told him about Burning Eternity’s broadcast format, and he knew the show would have live segments in addition to regular recording.
“No,” Little Li adjusted the GoPro’s angle:
“We’re like a closed training camp, right? The live broadcast parts mainly show the contestants’ daily lives during training. If it airs, it’ll be tomorrow. Right now, it’s just regular recording.”
As she spoke, Little Li secretly glanced up to observe Jiang Nan’an.
The young man before her was indeed extremely handsome, standing out even in the entertainment industry full of good-looking people. His hair was slightly long, and perhaps because of his naturally fair skin, his hair wasn’t pure black but had a cool chestnut tone. His features were more three-dimensional than they appeared on TV. Perfect bone structure, delicate eyes and brows, especially his phoenix eyes-clear and pure, with the outer corners slightly downturned. Combined with the tear mole under his left eye and the small mole beside his nose bridge, he exuded a special quality-cool, melancholic, and artistic.
Little Li was momentarily entranced until Jiang Nan’an looked up and met her gaze, causing her to awkwardly avert her eyes.
“Um… could Teacher Jiang briefly introduce himself?”
They were already officially recording, and before reaching the studio, the FPD would chat with the artist about some small questions to enrich the post-editing content.
Little Li watched Jiang Nan’an nervously, then saw him nod gently:
“Hello, I’m Jiang Nan’an.”
“?” This elementary school-like self-introduction momentarily blanked Little Li’s expression.
Perhaps noticing her confusion, Jiang Nan’an hesitantly added:
“I’m an actor.”
“Uh, I know…” Little Li’s voice trailed off, feeling an urge to cover her face.
What were they even talking about?
She quickly changed to another topic:
“We all know Teacher Jiang has acted in related TV dramas before, so have you played the Blazing Holy Grail game in your private time?”
“Yes.”
“Which position do you usually play?”
“Mid lane.”
“May I ask about your main hero?”
“Main…?”
“Ah, your favorite hero character.”
“Siren, I guess.”
…
“Does Teacher Jiang have any expectations for the upcoming recording life?”
“…” Jiang Nan’an hesitated on this question.
What should he expect? To be eliminated early so he could go home and read books in peace?
Jiang Nan’an had been lazily leaning back in his seat, about to open his mouth and give some serious but nonsensical answer, when he remembered what Qi Hong had said before he left-
“Just think of this as playing games in a different place, okay? I know for this kind of show that films for months, constantly restraining yourself will definitely be tiring, but there’s no way around it, right? We have to think about your future, don’t we? Go for it! Zhuge Wenyun is beckoning to you!”
Jiang Nan’an silently sighed, sat up a little straighter, and when he spoke again, his response was very official:
“I look forward to standing on the competition stage, just like a real esports player.”
The production team’s questions weren’t difficult, and Jiang Nan’an’s answers were all clear and concise. By the time this segment was over, the car had almost reached the filming location.
Little Li breathed a sigh of relief.
She hadn’t worked with Jiang Nan’an before, but she’d heard all the recent gossip, with various reports claiming Jiang Nan’an had a terrible personality and was the most difficult artist to work with. Although she knew internet rumors couldn’t be trusted, she still felt somewhat nervous. Before coming today, she had fully prepared for a difficult artist who wouldn’t cooperate, expecting to face a tough battle. But little Teacher Jiang was actually quite easy to get along with!
Little Li clenched her fist in her mind.
Internet rumors really can’t be trusted!
The filming location for “Burning Eternity” was at a film and television base in Linyun. After segments like the red carpet signing, Little Li led Jiang Nan’an into a small room.
There were two small tables in the room. One held a large plastic storage box filled with smartphones, while the other had five keyword cards.
Jiang Nan’an glanced at the storage box and asked, “Do we have to hand in our phones?”
The PD hadn’t expected him to proactively mention the procedure and quickly nodded:
“Yes, from the moment you signed your name outside the door, you officially became an esports trainee. The first thing after starting your new identity and new life is to say goodbye to your phone.”
Jiang Nan’an nodded, took out his phone from his pocket without any reluctance, and placed it in the storage box:
“What’s next?”
“?” Probably not expecting this reaction, the staff exchanged bewildered glances.
For broadcast effect, they hadn’t informed the guests about this segment in advance. Jiang Nan’an wasn’t the first to arrive today. The guests before him had either for variety show effect or genuine emotion gone through a long psychological struggle saying goodbye to their phones, calling family, friends, and agents to check in. For young people today, phones are as essential as food and drink. Who would hand theirs over so cleanly and proactively?
But surprise aside, they still had to follow the procedure.
The PD cleared his throat:
“Please choose one of the five keyword cards on the other table.”
Jiang Nan’an nodded and lowered his eyes to examine the cards.
Seeing him so calm, the PD couldn’t help but ask: “Aren’t you curious what they’re for?”
“…” Jiang Nan’an gave him a complex look:
“Will you assign roommates based on this?”
Choosing a keyword is either about picking something for yourself or blocking others, but it’s always related to team formation. But in what scenario would an esports training camp reality show require team formation? The contestants have just entered the camp, and the production team certainly wouldn’t have people picking teammates for matches right away, so the only possibility left is roommates, right?
Sure enough, the PD fell silent.
He nodded: “Go ahead and choose.”
Jiang Nan’an returned his gaze to the cards.
There weren’t many cards, and the keywords weren’t very specific. They were “e-Heart e-Mind,” “Emotions First,” “Looks Carrier,” “Canyon Overlord,” and “Harmonious with i.”
Jiang Nan’an glanced at them and without thinking picked up “Harmonious with i,” turning the card to show the PD and camera.
The PD asked as usual: “Why did you choose this keyword?”
“…” Jiang Nan’an looked at him, then at the card in his hand, and answered honestly:
“The other four look very lively.”
He put the card back expressionlessly and explained seriously:
“But I prefer quiet and steady.”
After a pause, he looked back at the PD, his face showing no expression, but his eyes carrying a hint of pleading:
“…Please.”
—
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
![After losing all his wealth, the ancestor rose from his coffin [BL]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Your-paragraph-text-1.png "After losing all his wealth, the ancestor rose from his coffin [BL]")
