Chapter 141: "I'm Done Pretending, I'm Laying It All Out"

"Are we performing first?"

When it came time for the draw, Zhang Yuan stepped forward and pulled the number one, meaning she would be the first to take the stage. This was the third episode, and it was the first time she had drawn the lead spot.

Upon seeing Zhang Yuan pull the number one, several singers in the lounge felt a sudden surge of nervousness, fearing that if she started off too strong, she would completely overshadow them.

Zhang Yuan, however, felt no anxiety at all. This performance wouldn't be a solo effort; Zhou Ran was joining her on stage. The mere thought of having him by her side instantly put her at ease, leaving her completely stress-free.

When the lounge monitors revealed that Zhou Ran and Zhang Yuan were to perform together, the other contestants' eyes widened in disbelief. They were baffled: "Zhou Ran, weren't you just here as a guest? Why are you suddenly performing? Are you just dropping the act and laying your cards on the table? How are we supposed to compete with this?"

The singers instantly felt that the first-place spot was already destined for Zhang Yuan. She was hard enough to deal with on her own, but with Zhou Ran helping her, it felt as though they were being forced to compete against a legendary final boss. "What's the point of fighting for the championship? Forget it, we aren't going to suffer through this!"

Wang Chong had known in advance that Zhou Ran would be performing with Zhang Yuan. He hadn't rejected their request because the show's rules didn't forbid music partners from performing together. In fact, Wang Chong was thrilled to see them collaborate; he would have been happy if they performed together every single time.

This would guarantee a massive boost in the show's traffic. After all, the cost of having Zhou Ran just appear on the show versus having him actually perform was vastly different. Getting him to perform for the price of a simple guest appearance was a huge win for Wang Chong—he would gladly take that deal ten thousand times over.

As the show officially began, Zhou Ran and Zhang Yuan stepped onto the stage, greeted by waves of screaming from the audience.

"Zhou Ran! Oh my god, you look so handsome!"
"Is this the surprise? This performance is worth every penny!"
"Zhou Ran! Zhou Ran! Zhou Ran!"
"I love you so much, Zhou Ran!"
"What is going on with you two? Why are you wearing matching outfits? Wuu wuu wuu!"

The guests in the audience were pleasantly surprised by Zhou Ran’s unexpected appearance. The production team hadn't leaked the news, and most had assumed they would only be watching Zhang Yuan. The prospect of seeing Zhou Ran perform live was a shock.

"Why are you dressed like that? Seriously, it's just a performance, was it necessary to wear couple outfits? If I didn't know better, I’d think you two were making an official announcement!"
"Zhou Ran is mine! Nobody is allowed to take him! This is so annoying!"

In the audience, Zhang Xiaofeng stared at the stage, gritting her teeth as she watched Zhou Ran and Zhang Yuan arrive in their matching white and pink outfits.

The sweetness factor was off the charts. Just the sight of their coordinated attire had many of the guests in the audience stunned.

"What is happening? What is with the couple outfits?"
"Is this an official announcement? My goodness!"
"My dear Ran-zi, please don't leave me! I can't bear it!"
"They went all out on the budget for this performance, didn't they?"

They wore these outfits specifically to match the song they were performing, cranking the sweetness to the maximum, as if they were afraid the audience wouldn't be "diabetic" enough by the end of the song.

As they took their places, the backing track began to play. The light, breezy opening melody immediately set the tone for the entire piece.

[Yo, yo, yo, Zhang Yuan, baby!]

Zhou Ran interacted with Zhang Yuan right as the music started. They stood on opposite sides, locking eyes. When Zhang Yuan met his gaze with a sweet, radiant smile, many in the audience felt their hearts skip a beat. Was this what falling in love felt like?

As Zhou Ran sang the first line, Zhang Yuan began to dance gracefully to the rhythm, followed by the backup dancers. The choreography was simple enough that they had mastered it in about a day, so it posed no difficulty for them.

"Is Zhang Yuan turning this stage into her own concert? My god, the atmosphere is incredible!"
"She’s so sweet. I've never seen her like this before. It's truly amazing—I would watch this performance ten thousand times!"

The guests were stunned by the contrast. The literary goddess they once knew had such a sweet, vibrant side, and it paired perfectly with the dance. But the best was yet to come.

Zhou Ran continued to hum along with the music before transitioning into the rap section, maintaining a relaxed and effortless vibe.

[The piano I play is all for you,
I've played it so long, but it still feels romantic.
When I play, I can hear you singing,
It feels like you're right here,
Talking with me.
All day long, I can't stop thinking,
You're all that I think of,
You're all that I want.
Being with you always makes me so happy,
No matter what happens, I will always love you.]

"Ahhh! Zhou Ran is mine, don't you dare snatch him away! Damn it, ahhh!"

Zhang Xiaofeng was furious watching the performance. It was just a show—why did they have to be so serious about it?

As Zhou Ran sang, Zhang Yuan looked at him with a gaze overflowing with affection. When he turned back to look at her, their eyes met, and the sweetness exploded.

In that moment, the audience truly felt as if the two were a real couple. They were completely immersed in the song "Love You," feeling their own hormones reawakening.