Chapter 144: Opposites Attract

"Hello to all the audience here and our friends in the live broadcast room! The two of us are back again. I am your old friend He Liang, alongside my longtime partner Qin Yue."

As the curtains parted, He Liang stood wearing a dark green coral fleece suit. His clear and bright voice instantly elicited cheers from the audience.

"Teacher He, ever since the last competition ended, I've been sitting here waiting for ages, practically unable to contain my excitement for this round," Qin Yue said, sporting a new short-hair look paired with a burgundy mini-dress, looking charming and cute.

"I think not only you, but all the audience members have been waiting with bated breath. So, without further ado, let's take a look at today's performance theme."

He Liang and Qin Yue turned around, and the large screen instantly projected four striking characters: Opposites Attract.

"Wow, Teacher He, it looks like today's performances will feature collaborative stages!" Qin Yue announced excitedly.

"These four words carry profound meaning. I imagine today's stage will spark countless brilliant moments. Let's look forward to it together. Now, please welcome our first group of contestants. Their performance theme is *Moonlight Sonata*, enjoy!"

With that, He Liang and Qin Yue exited together.

According to the draw at the end of the previous episode, the first to take the stage tonight was Ye Lingyun. Following a wave of cheers from the audience, the stage instantly dimmed.

Gradually, the gentle sound of flowing water and the increasingly clear splashing of oars seemed to transport people to a vast, crystal-clear lake.

The stage suddenly lit up, a bright and silvery full moon hanging in mid-air, casting its reflection upon the translucent, pristine lake surface.

The gentle, lingering notes of a piano drifted in, spreading softly like pools of moonlight spilling across the ground. A woman in a silver, floor-length gown wearing a silver-white mask came into view, playing with intense focus and dedication.

"So beautiful!"
"I'm drifting away, completely captivated..."

From time to time, the audience below whispered in admiration.

Suddenly, the piano music stopped abruptly, and the stage plunged into darkness once more. Only the sounds of a hail of bullets and roaring artillery fire could be heard.

When the stage lights came on again, the masked man was holding the fainted woman in his arms, looking heartbroken and desolate.

The woman had originally been a remarkably talented pianist, only to lose her hearing under the ravaging effects of war.

Next came the emotional duet between the protagonist and heroine. The classic operatic vocals swept in, instantly pushing the plot to a climax.

The male lead continuously encouraged the heroine to touch the piano once again. Finally, she mustered the courage to try once more. Although her hearing could never be restored, that familiar tactile sensation and her passion for music remained intact. The two ultimately delivered a flawless four-hand piano duet, drawing a perfect conclusion to the performance while etching that profound, shared beauty into everyone's hearts.

"Quite good. The artistic conception and creativity are tightly integrated," Lin Zhiwei affirmed. Ye Lingyun did not have extensive piano-playing experience, so her performance this time was actually quite stable. The costume and plot design were also exceptionally aesthetic, carrying a distinct poetic mood.

"Phew, it's finally over. I was about to fall out," Nan Yu yawned. Opera and things of that sort were honestly rather boring to him.

The second contestant to take the stage was Chen Yu, who still brought her original piece, *Turning Left, Turning Right*. With its casual urban-themed vocals, the song softly narrated the bits and pieces of effort made by a couple striving together in a metropolis. In the end, though the protagonist and heroine went their separate ways—one turning left and the other turning right—they both found the lives they yearned for.

Praise poured in endlessly online, and a couple of comments even began to playfully tease Ye Lingyun's performance:

"Dayu's new work hits right in the feels! It reminds me of the days when I first came to S City to make a living!"
"Wuwuwu, my ex-boyfriend and I broke up right in the midst of those busy, trivial arguments..."
"Doesn't anyone else think Movie Queen Ye's performances are always so noble and grandiose, yet lacking a touch of worldly warmth?"
"Agree with the comment above... Want to timidly say that although it's beautiful, it almost put me to sleep."

The third contestant to appear was Chu Chuo. Just as everyone was holding their breath in anticipation of whether Chu Chuo would deliver an intensely emotional performance, a young man in a school uniform walked out spinning a basketball. His uniform jacket was unzipped, showcasing dazzling ear studs and a pure white half-mask.

Wasn't this the quintessential campus heartthrob?

"Oh? Interesting," Lin Zhiwei crossed her arms with an excited look on her face.
"What's so interesting about this? Isn't it just another campus story?" Nan Yu curled his lip.

The screams at the scene were almost deafening. This arrogant and handsome demeanor was unmistakably Chu Chuo.

Although the story of youth and campus was a bit cliché, Chu Chuo's powerful aura instantly ignited everyone's inner romantic fantasies. Who could claim they never wished to return to their school days and have a romantic encounter with a campus idol?

From the very beginning, Chu Chuo combined a basketball court one-on-one showdown with a self-composed rap, unleashing his full charm. The male lead's very first sight of the girl was when she, petite and sweet, walked past the basketball court and their eyes met. Just that single glance made him fall for her.

Just as everyone was mentally groaning at the cliché, the scene shifted to reveal the girl's other side—as a band's lead vocalist. The seemingly shy and introverted girl turned out to be a female rapper, rocking a smokey eye makeup look and going head-to-head with her opponent with overwhelming presence.

Unexpectedly, the final showdown came down to the male and female leads. Exchanging a smile, they displayed an uncanny synergy, defying expectations to complete a stunning rap battle.

"Chuo-chuo is so handsome!!!"
"My idol, my idol!!"

Following closely after, Liu Niwen—who had delivered a remarkable transformation in the previous round—went all out once again, challenging herself with a high-difficulty pole dance in a sexy, daring Moulin Rouge style.

Amidst the song and dance, inside the dazzling and decadent Moulin Rouge, a sexy masked siren swayed her graceful figure, capturing the mesmerized gazes of countless guests. Yet, deep inside, she yearned desperately for a faithful, unwavering love—until she crossed paths with the male lead who had come to apply for a job.

The tall, muscular male lead and the heroine fell in love at first sight. The brisk rhythm of the tap dance perfectly matched their instant mutual attraction, their alternating footsteps light and melodious, leaving onlookers utterly dazzled.

The audience below clapped along to the melody, some whistling in response, and the atmosphere at the venue was ignited time and time again.

Lin Zhiwei poked Nan Yu, who was staring dumbfounded beside her, knowing full well that he couldn't take his eyes off a pretty woman with a good figure. "Well? Dumbfounded, aren't you?"

Nan Yu shook his head and said dismissively, "Psh, none of them hold a candle to the fairy Mi'er!"
"As if you needed to say that," Lin Zhiwei glared at him.