Let's Fall in Love

Mu Yunzhi was the last guest to perform.

By then, the sky had blazed fiery red. The setting sun was slowly meeting the horizon, soon to be swallowed by the sea and plunge the whole world into darkness.

Mu Yunzhi spoke into the microphone. "This piece is called 'Let's Fall in Love for the Night.'"

With that, he left the standing microphone and sat down behind the piano.

[That song title...]

[Little schemes everywhere, just as expected.]

[Who does Mu Yunzhi want to fall in love with?]

[Honestly, I still can't tell which O or B Mu has any obvious feelings for.]

[Me neither. He keeps it so well hidden!!]

[I have a bold theory...]

Unlike Lin Xu, who had sung while playing, Mu Yunzhi gave a purely instrumental piano performance.

The notes shifted from the lightness of a first meeting to the depth and passion of gradually falling in love, as though one soul were desperately yearning for another.

Look at me. Love me.

Through this deeply evocative piano piece, Mu Yunzhi laid his love bare before everyone, naked and heartfelt.

Even Director Yang, who had remained unruffled all evening, was stunned by what he heard, let alone the staff members casting their votes.

Watching the Alpha perform so passionately onstage, Jiang Yumiao thought of Mu Yunzhi in the original novel.

In the original novel, Mu Yunzhi had only revealed his feelings for Lin Xu in the middle to late stages, and even then, he had merely given him a rose and chosen him during the dating show's final confession segment. Before that, he had never clearly stated his intentions, treating every Beta and Omega with equal courtesy.

At this music party, the original novel's Mu Yunzhi had not chosen this piece, either.

Jiang Yumiao frowned in confusion. Had my arrival changed the original plot? But if Ning Chunchi changed his song to comfort me, what about Mu Yunzhi? Who exactly is he playing this piece for?

Everyone offstage was dying of curiosity. The moment Mu Yunzhi finished playing, eager applause broke out.

Seeing that it was getting late, Director Yang urged the staff to hurry up and vote.

All the LED strips around the venue lit up, while the yacht switched on the dazzling lights on every deck to welcome its guests from afar. Night had officially fallen over the island.

As soon as Director Yang received Mu Yunzhi's voting results, his eyebrows rose.

"The winner of tonight's performance vote is-" Director Yang paused for suspense.

Yu He was beside himself. "Stop torturing us, Director! Read it out already!"

He had voiced everyone's thoughts. In truth, they all had a vague idea of who had taken first place.

Director Yang shrugged. "All right, I'll give you what you want. The winner is-Mu Yunzhi!"

An Zhiwan clenched both fists and cried, "Yes!", cheering excitedly over his childhood friend's winning the right to invite someone to dinner. After all, in all their years of knowing each other, this was the first time he had seen Mu Yunzhi express his feelings so openly. He wondered who Mu had fallen for.

Whoever it was, An Zhiwan was ready to play wingman.

Mu Yunzhi's victory came as no surprise to anyone, since taking first place meant winning the right to invite someone to a candlelit dinner. His performance had been good to begin with, and curiosity could triumph over anything. Everyone was so desperate to know who Mu Yunzhi liked that they had voted for him in droves.

Director Yang smiled at Mu Yunzhi. "Now, you can invite the person in your heart to enjoy dinner on the second deck."

Mu Yunzhi did not move, remaining in his seat.

[? Why isn't Mu moving?!]

[I'm so anxious, so anxious!]

[He's moving! He's moving!]

The normally charming, carefree Alpha turned his head, looking solemnly at An Zhiwan beside him. His lips moved twice before he finally voiced the words he had buried in his heart for so long. "Zhiwan, would you have dinner with me?"

Everyone: "..."

[...]

[Holy shit!!! It's actually An Zhiwan!!!]

[I remember someone saying she wanted to ship AA!! She really spoke it into existence!]

[Aaaaaaaah!]

[An Zhiwan's expression is hilarious hahahahaha!]

[He was just cheering for Mu Yunzhi. Who knew Mu was working so hard for him? Hahaha!]

Jiang Yumiao covered his mouth, his eyes widening as he stared at the Alphas at the round table opposite him. An Zhiwan, the eye of tonight's storm, was utterly dumbstruck. I-I didn't mishear that, did I? Why is Mu inviting me? With all those sweet, soft Omegas around, he's coming to a tall, brawny Alpha like me!

An Zhiwan felt as though he were dreaming.

Mu Yunzhi pressed his lips together and gazed at An Zhiwan as though awaiting a verdict.

He no longer wanted to hide it. He no longer wanted to remain by An Zhiwan's side under the guise of a "brother" or a "friend," and he could no longer bear watching him exchange flirtatious looks with other Betas or Omegas. He wanted a place in An Zhiwan's life that would let him openly claim him as his own.

That was why, when choosing his performance at the very beginning, Mu Yunzhi had deliberately picked a song whose title alone made his intentions clear, using everyone's curiosity to win their votes. He had been determined to take first place at tonight's music party.

Mu Yunzhi's intense gaze forced An Zhiwan to recognize, with perfect clarity, that he was not dreaming. His Mu really had used that hard-earned invitation on him in front of thousands upon thousands of viewers.

Jiang Yumiao watched An Zhiwan scratch his head helplessly, his little chestnut curls sticking up. After a long while, he averted his eyes from Mu Yunzhi and gave a small nod.

Only then did Mu Yunzhi seem to come back to life, revealing his first smile of the evening.

Someone even boldly called out, "Wishing you two every happiness," making everyone burst into laughter.

At those words, Mu Yunzhi's smile grew even more radiant, while An Zhiwan remained dazed, as though sleepwalking.

The two of them stood under everyone's varied gazes, and the staff led them to the location of tonight's date.

Once they were far enough away, Yu He suddenly exhaled. "I was suffocating. That was so intense I almost forgot to breathe."

Jiang Yumiao felt the same way. He even wondered whether, in the original novel's dating show, Mu Yunzhi had only decided to enter the shura field because he saw An Zhiwan constantly pursuing Lin Xu.

The more Jiang Yumiao thought about it, the closer he felt he was to the truth...

He gave Lin Xu a complicated look. So the original novel's shura field wasn't all that solid after all. In the end, the main top, Qin Yuan, still seems the most reliable! Good thing I firmly supported the Main CP while following the updates and never shipped Lin Xu with anyone else.

My ship hasn't sunk. Thank goodness!

Like Yu He, Jiang Yumiao breathed a sigh of relief. This evening had been far too intense. He needed some time to process it.

Director Yang stood up, his face alight with excitement, and quickly told everyone that they would be eating here at the round tables shortly. Then he rushed off with a large group of staff to watch Mu Yunzhi and An Zhiwan's candlelit dinner for two.

The previously bustling deck was suddenly left with only the guests and a scattering of PDs and camera operators.

Everyone: "..."