His comfort

Qin Yuan took the stage in a simple white T-shirt. His styling was even less elaborate than on the first day, giving him a casual, understated look.

[Ahhhh, Qin Yuan's going to play guitar!]

[I thought Qin Yuan would play piano like he did in the movie. Turns out he plays guitar too.]

[How does best actor Qin look this handsome in just a white T-shirt?]

When he wasn't acting, Qin Yuan was famous for his icy expression, but his choice of music today was unusually gentle. He played a lyrical piece, and even his expression softened considerably.

The guitar mingled with the sunset and sea breeze, immersing everyone in the clear, soothing atmosphere.

Lin Xu gazed intently at the man plucking the strings onstage. Music could speak, and through it, he could glimpse the sensitive heart beneath Qin Yuan's cold exterior.

He felt that coming on this dating show might really have been the right choice.

When the piece ended, no one called out teasingly this time. Everyone applauded from the heart.

Director Yang also looked at Qin Yuan with satisfaction. This was the first time the great best actor Qin had taken their dating show so seriously.

After watching the first three guests' performances, each impressive in its own way, Jiang Yumiao was so nervous that he was trembling.

He couldn't help it. He'd had this problem since childhood. Before something nerve-racking, he sometimes became so anxious that his whole body shook. Perhaps because he used up all his nerves beforehand, he wasn't nervous during the actual event, but once he recovered afterward, his face would suddenly turn bright red.

While Qin Yuan was performing, he had started trembling involuntarily. Luckily, the movements were slight and his clothes were loose, so no one could tell.

Once everyone had finished voting for Qin Yuan, Director Yang turned toward Jiang Yumiao. "Our fourth performer is our very own Teacher Xiao Jiang, Jiang Yumiao. Let's welcome Teacher Xiao Jiang to the stage!"

Jiang Yumiao rose stiffly and forced a smile, holding himself ramrod straight as he walked toward the stage.

[Yuyu's visibly nervous. So cute, hahaha!]

[He's not an entertainer, after all. Of course performing in front of so many people would make him uncomfortable.]

[I wonder what Huhu's going to perform.]

[Don't tell me Jiang Yumiao's doing stand-up?]

[Huh? Yuyu's so bad with words. No way, hahahaha!]

Jiang Yumiao stood in front of the microphone stand while a staff member adjusted its height for him.

Standing onstage felt strange. He could feel everyone's eyes on him, and he could clearly see every expression and movement in the audience.

It didn't matter what the others thought of him or how they belittled him, as long as Ning Chunchi was listening.

As long as Ning Chunchi liked it...

Jiang Yumiao closed his eyes. Seeing this, the sound technician started the backing track.

The dreamlike intro ended, and Jiang Yumiao's voice rang out.

It was a song about longing.

The omega's voice was clear and cool, flowing through everyone's ears and into their hearts like a bubbling spring. There were no showy high notes, no carefully choreographed movements, no polished interactions with the audience or cameras. All he had to offer was his overflowing sincerity.

Jiang Yumiao simply stood quietly in the middle of the stage, his eyes closed most of the time. Yet somehow, everyone could feel that he was sharing his longing with someone.

"If I never wake, this ending will change."

As he reached the final two lines of the chorus, Jiang Yumiao finally opened his eyes and sang toward a certain spot in the audience:

"I would rather fall into a sea of dreams."

The backing track ended, and the audience fell silent for a moment, as though Jiang Yumiao had drawn them into an ocean of longing they couldn't escape.

[...]

[Waaah, I actually cried listening to this.]

[The lyrics hurt a little.]

[This song really feels like a tragic ending, like someone who can't hold on to the person he loves and can only meet him in dreams.]

[I keep feeling like Yuyu's using the song to express his feelings.]

Even Lin Xu's eyes had reddened. He had always been sensitive to music, and the emotion in Jiang Yumiao's singing shook him deeply. He couldn't help wondering just how much Jiang loved President Ning...

Yu He should have cheered to liven things up, but after listening to the song, he felt a strange tightness in his chest. He couldn't bring himself to shout and could only applaud softly.

His applause brought everyone back to their senses, and they began clapping too.

Only then did Jiang Yumiao let out a long breath. He had worried that his song wasn't upbeat enough and might spoil the party's atmosphere. Seeing everyone respond so warmly, he finally relaxed completely, broke into a smile, and returned to his seat.

With reddened eyes, Lin Xu told him, "Jiang, you sang so well. You were just as good as a professional singer."

Jiang Yumiao felt his face warming. "Thanks, Lin. I was just singing casually. I wasn't nearly as good as you said!"

Lin Xu pouted briefly, then said earnestly, "How could singing with that much emotion be casual? Jiang, you should have more confidence. You really sang beautifully! I almost cried."

Yu He and Leng Haiyue chimed in beside him.

Jiang Yumiao's cheeks flushed, and a warm smile spread across his face as he sincerely thanked everyone.

Now that he was offstage, he had reached the point where his face turned bright red after his nerves subsided. Jiang Yumiao didn't dare look at the second male lead. He simply recalled the moment his eyes had met Ning Chunchi's while he was singing.

Just as the lyrics said, he would give everything he had, whatever the cost, to ensure that Ning Chunchi had a happy ending.

He would never forget the look in Ning Chunchi's eyes. Those eyes, usually as distant as a deep pool, had burned with a heat that seemed capable of consuming everything when their gazes met. That look told Jiang Yumiao that Ning Chunchi had understood the song.

An Zhiwan and Leng Haiyue performed next.

To everyone's surprise, An Zhiwan could play the flute. He had clearly practiced for several years and played quite competently.

Leng Haiyue was even more surprising. It turned out that the drum kit in the practice room had been prepared for him.

The normally proper beta now wielded his drumsticks with wild abandon, instantly igniting the atmosphere. Only then did everyone remember that Leng Haiyue had directed music videos for countless top boy and girl idol groups. Someone who reached the pinnacle of that profession couldn't possibly be rigidly conventional. Deep down, he had to be bold, daring, and forward-thinking.

Director Yang couldn't have been more pleased. Every one of these guests had hidden talents that would never have surfaced without a little ingenuity.

When Ning Chunchi's turn came, he stood in the middle of the stage with his violin resting on his shoulder, the contours of his profile refined and elegant.

The piece he played was "Golden Hour."

Jiang Yumiao had always loved this song, but he hadn't expected Ning Chunchi to choose it. In the original novel, Ning Chunchi had played Schubert's "The Erlking," which was completely different in style.

The climax of "Golden Hour" felt like sunlight breaking through the clouds, opening up a whole new world.

Ning Chunchi's exquisite performance made that image even more vivid, as though the first rays of sunlight were struggling through clouds of sorrow and unease before finally breaking free and spilling across the earth. The hardships had passed, leaving only love and happiness for the rest of their lives.

Ning Chunchi was wholly absorbed in playing the violin and didn't look at anyone in the audience.

Jiang Yumiao wasn't looking at Ning Chunchi either. He listened with his eyes closed, feeling as though he were that ray of sunlight struggling to reach the earth, while the earth had already spread its arms and opened its embrace, ready at any moment to welcome him.

It was as though Ning Chunchi were using this song to soothe his insecure, bewildered heart. Jiang Yumiao suddenly felt the sting of tears.

Director Yang said helplessly to the staff member beside him who handled the show's coordination, "President Ning changed his piece at the last minute. There shouldn't be any licensing issues, right?"

The staff member shrugged. "It's fine, Director. It's in our licensed music library."

Director Yang sighed in relief. "Good, then." He sat at the very back, where he had an unobstructed view of all the guests, both onstage and in the audience.

He glanced at Jiang Yumiao, who was listening with his eyes closed, then shifted his gaze to Ning Chunchi onstage.

The staff member beside him sighed in wonder. "Just how afraid is President Ning of Teacher Xiao Jiang being upset? After hearing Teacher Xiao Jiang sing, he changed the piece he'd practiced all afternoon, just like that."

Director Yang snorted. "This is nothing. Ning Chunchi's a madman."

He silently added to himself, A madman hopelessly in love. Terrifying.