Putting aside the anime's plot and content, Qin Ran personally loved the character and the song. However, for Yu Shuman, choosing this song was a particularly risky decision. By selecting this song, she was essentially forfeiting her chances of winning the championship.
The song was in Japanese, and it was from an anime—an unusual choice for a reality show competition finale. Most viewers wouldn't appreciate it; it was too niche. After Yu Shuman finished singing a cappella and opened her eyes to look at Qin Ran, her eyes sparkled like stars. She asked, "Junior, what do you think?"
"It sounds beautiful," Qin Ran replied, though her expression was serious. She asked Yu Shuman earnestly, "Are you sure you want to choose this song?" In just a few days, Yu Shuman had worked hard to sing a Japanese song this well.
Qin Ran didn't want her efforts to be in vain, so even though she was particularly fond of this song, she tried to persuade Yu Shuman to choose a different one. Yu Shuman understood what Qin Ran was hinting at but simply smiled. "Li Jie told me that as long as I'm happy, that's all that matters, so I chose this song."
She stepped forward, her feet silently gliding across the practice room floor, and bent slightly toward Qin Ran. Her curly hair cascaded down as she continued, "Because I want to make you happy too. Hearing me sing this song—does it make you happy?"
Yu Shuman's expression was serious, and Qin Ran, under her gaze, lowered her head, pursing her lips. She couldn't lie to herself or to Yu Shuman—hearing Yu Shuman sing this song made her ecstatic. When someone you love sings a song you love, who could resist feeling their heart flutter?
Qin Ran finally said, "Yes, it makes me happy."
"Then that's all that matters!"
In the end, Yu Shuman chose to stick with this song. On the afternoon of the final competition, she began getting ready. Her styling for the evening was relatively simple, even less elaborate than for her previous performances. The stylist slightly dyed her hair with a temporary color that would wash out later.
Instead of choosing the anime character's iconic pink hair, they opted for a deep blue and sprinkled her hair with glitter, making it shimmer under the lights. They also prepared a flower crown, more extravagant than the one in the original anime, with light blue and pink roses strung together with silver and adorned with jewels.
The crown was quite heavy, and since she was wearing her hair down, it wasn't as easy to secure as the previous tiaras. If she moved too much, it might tilt. Fortunately, her performance didn't require much movement—she just needed to stand and sing quietly.
Before putting on the flower crown, Yu Shuman needed to change into her performance dress. The dress was provided by 99 Entertainment, and the luxury brand VIP status that Qin Ran and Assistant Wu had previously secured proved useful. The custom-made gown was quickly shipped overseas to Yu Shuman.
The dress had been showcased on the runway before, and the designer came along to make adjustments for Yu Shuman. She felt a bit overwhelmed, worried about the expense her boss had incurred for her sake. Li Jie, however, reassured her with a slight smile, "Just do your best and get a good result. Besides, you're not the only one with a custom dress—many of our company's artists have them. This dress might be altered later for others to wear, so don't worry."
Li Jie didn't mention that the boss had gone to such lengths just to ensure she had a dress to wear, even benefiting other artists in the process.
The gown was indeed beautiful and somewhat resembled the anime character's outfit. It was a deep blue strapless gown with a trailing skirt. Once Yu Shuman put it on, her beauty was enhanced even further. With the flower crown added, if Qin Ran had seen her, she would have undoubtedly whipped out her phone to take pictures.
Once her styling was complete and she had changed into her dress, Yu Shuman sat in the dressing room, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She hadn't imagined that one day she would wear a million-yuan dress and an expensive flower crown, her face adorned with exquisite makeup. When she first heard that the dress cost over a million yuan, she was startled. She couldn't help but worry about what would happen if she accidentally damaged it.
Yu Shuman wasn't wealthy, which is why she had always dragged Qin Ran along for part-time jobs. Now that she had finally found a reliable company and started earning more money, the thought of ruining the dress and being forced back to square one terrified her.
Sitting in her chair, she didn't dare move, feeling incredibly anxious.
She didn't feel like she was wearing a beautiful outfit but rather holding an expensive antique, too scared to even lift her hands.
Li Jie checked on her twice, bringing some small bread rolls to keep her from getting too hungry. It wouldn't do to let her eat her fill—too much food could cause a spike in blood sugar, leading to drowsiness and a poor performance. But she couldn't starve her either, so a little snack was necessary.
It didn't take long for Li Jie to notice Yu Shuman's nervousness. Her demeanor was different from usual, even the way she ate the bread was awkward. Li Jie took a few glances and understood the reason. She sat down beside Yu Shuman, also holding a small bread roll, and suggested she take out her phone. If she got bored, she could play on her phone—there was no one around to see anyway.
Then, Li Jie casually brought up the topic of artists' clothing, mentioning several incidents where other artists had rented custom gowns and ended up having to pay full compensation for damages. Hearing this made Yu Shuman even more stiff, afraid of getting even a crumb on the dress.
The gown she wore wasn't just expensive; it was extraordinarily valuable because of the tiny diamonds embedded in the long train, all hand-sewn with great care. Not only was it heavy, but it was also costly. Additionally, silver threads were used to create patterns on the dress, and if the fabric snagged, it would be disastrous—it was real silk.
Li Jie then shifted the conversation, talking about how wealthy 99 Entertainment was and assuring Yu Shuman that the dress had been purchased, not rented. She reminded Yu Shuman of how protective the company was of its artists, something Yu Shuman had witnessed firsthand.
Yu Shuman nodded, and Li Jie continued, "So, don't worry. You've already committed yourself to the company. Even if you tear the dress, it's a family matter—no one will make you pay for it."
Hearing this, Yu Shuman finally relaxed a little. "Now, just eat a bit to settle your stomach. You wouldn't want your growling stomach to be picked up by the microphone on stage." Li Jie's comment made Yu Shuman laugh, easing her nerves considerably. She thanked Li Jie.
"No need to thank me. If you want to repay me, give it your all on stage." Li Jie reached out and gently lifted Yu Shuman's curls, meeting her gaze in the mirror. "You're beautiful, so beautiful it's impossible to ignore. All you need to do is make sure everyone sees that beauty. Manman, you know very well that we never aimed for the championship. Our only goal is to become famous and gain more fans."
Yu Shuman nodded, understanding that because the goal wasn't to win, she had the freedom to choose this song.
"And as I've told you many times before, on this stage, your only job is to have fun. Don't think about anything else. Are you happy right now?"
"Yes."
She was happy, and Li Jie added, "Then that's all that matters." She adjusted Yu Shuman's hair before letting go. Just handling her hair for a few moments had left Li Jie's hands covered in glitter—clearly, the stylist had gone all out to make Yu Shuman shine.
As Yu Shuman waited anxiously, time passed, and finally, the moment of the final competition arrived. She was prompted by the staff to head to the waiting area. Wearing her extravagant gown, she stood in the waiting zone, observing the contestants who had already performed, some in tears and others looking pale with nerves.
Yu Shuman's arrival drew a lot of attention—her dress alone caused many to look at her in awe. Many thought to themselves that 99 Entertainment, with its deep pockets, had truly outdone itself—her dress likely cost more than the others had spent all evening.
As her turn approached, she was led to the stage's lift. Soon, it would rise, and she would begin her performance. Once in position, the staff told her to stay still before quickly leaving.
Standing below the stage, she could hear the sounds from above, even catching glimpses of light through the gaps in the stage panels.
The host was conducting interviews, and the audience erupted in laughter. After a while, the people above cleared out, and the host's voice came through: "Next, let's welcome Yu Shuman! This contestant left a deep impression on many viewers with her innocent gaze during the third performance. I wonder what surprises she'll bring us this time. For the final, she's chosen a Japanese song, 'Diamond Cracks!'"
After the host left, the stage lights dimmed, and Yu Shuman felt the platform beneath her begin to rise. As she ascended onto the stage, she saw that the audience was much larger than before, and she spotted her own support banners among them.
She knew Qin Ran was out there.
Even though Yu Shuman couldn't distinguish which one was Qin Ran, she knew Qin Ran must be holding a banner, cheering her on.
This thought brought her peace. Music filled her earpiece, and she made her first move, raising her crossed hands in a prayerful gesture. Then, her voice carried through the earpiece, into the speakers, and out to everyone.
She didn't dance; she just stood quietly, singing under the soft lights.
This song, which Qin Ran loved, resonated deeply with her, especially the line:
"Because I met you, I can shine like a brilliant star…"
Yu Shuman spread her arms wide, fully immersed in the song. She had never felt so connected to a song before, nor had she ever imagined a song could so perfectly capture her situation. Just as the lyrics said, meeting Qin Ran had allowed her to become a radiant star.
Qin Ran: A miracle! The person I love is on stage cosplaying a character from my favorite anime and singing a song I love!
A miracle for an otaku!