After becoming rich overnight, I handed over the system.

Chapter 447 Metamorphosis

When Lin Xiu joined in with his singing, Cheng Yu'an held his breath:

"I was once a perfect doll, until you saw the light through the crack, teaching me that clumsy truth is more precious than elegant falsehood..."

The lyrics were shockingly straightforward; Cheng Yu'an couldn't believe that the always cold and aloof Lin Xiu had written them.

As the last note faded, a warm silence fell over the training room.

"This is..." Cheng Yu'an's voice trembled slightly.

"Here you go." Lin Xiu didn't look at him. "The piece for the final round."

Cheng Yu'an's eyes widened: "You're going to sing this in the finals?"

“Mm.” Lin Xiu finally turned his head, his eyes showing a tenderness Cheng Yu’an had never seen before. “No matter the outcome, I want everyone to know... what this journey meant to me.”

Under the moonlight, Cheng Yu'an saw a faint glimmer in the corner of Lin Xiu's eyes.

He reached out his hand without thinking, but stopped halfway, and finally just gently placed it on the piano key, playing a single note.

“I’ve prepared ‘Metamorphosis,’” Cheng Yu’an said. “It’s the one you helped me revise last time.”

Lin Xiu nodded: "It suits you very well."

The two sat side by side at the piano, occasionally playing a few notes, but mostly remaining silent.

This silence is no longer uncomfortable; instead, it is filled with unspoken understanding.

"After tomorrow..." Cheng Yu'an finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for so long, "What will happen to us?"

Lin Xiu pondered for a moment: "You know that President Fang wants to sign us as a group."

"But is that what you want?" Cheng Yu'an looked him straight in the eye. "You've always dreamed of debuting as a solo artist."

Lin Xiu's fingers hovered over the piano keys: "Dreams can change."

He looked at Cheng Yu'an, "Just like you taught me, the stage isn't just for proving anything."

Outside the window, the east was already tinged with the pale light of dawn.

Lin Xiu suddenly stood up: "One last competition?"

"What?"

"The final." Lin Xiu extended his hand. "Let's all give it our all and leave no regrets."

Cheng Yu'an grasped that hand, feeling the warmth and strength of the other's palm: "No regrets."

The final was even more spectacular than I had imagined.

The venue, which can hold 5,000 people, was packed to capacity, with the cheers of the fans almost lifting the roof off.

Backstage, Cheng Yu'an saw himself in the makeup mirror—his eye makeup was heavier than usual, and his performance outfit was a shiny silver-black, making him look radiant.

"Five minutes to get ready!" the staff member shouted.

Cheng Yu'an took a deep breath and looked at Lin Xiu, who was warming up not far away.

Today, Lin Xiu has changed his usual cold and aloof style, wearing a simple white suit, with soft hair hanging down in front of his forehead, making him look almost fragile.

"Keep it up." Lin Xiu whispered as he passed by, his fingers lightly brushing against his wrist.

Cheng Yu'an's performance was third.

When the previous trainee finished and the lights went out, his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.

"Next up, please welcome trainee Cheng Yu'an with 'Metamorphosis'!"

As the music began, Cheng Yu'an stood in the center of the stage, a spotlight shining on him.

The intro is a piano melody he recorded himself, simple yet full of emotion.

When the first high note was played perfectly, he saw Su Rui's gratified smile on the judges' panel.

This song tells the story of a clumsy boy who transforms into a butterfly. The choreography progresses from simple to complex, symbolizing the process of growth.

During the chorus, Cheng Yu'an performed a somersault that he had practiced hundreds of times—a highlight move that Lin Xiu had suggested adding.

"I am no longer a caged beast in my cocoon; though my wings are tender, they yearn for the sky. Every wound from my fall is a shining medal..."

As the song drew to a close, Cheng Yu'an's gaze unconsciously searched for that figure backstage.

In his final ending pose, he reached out as if to touch something unseen, his eyes gentle yet resolute.

Thunderous applause erupted, and several judges stood up.

PD Xu picked up the microphone: "Cheng Yu'an, this is the charm of an idol! From being in Class C in the initial evaluation to your current stage presence, you've shown us what true transformation is!"

Cheng Yu'an bowed in gratitude, sweat dripping down his chin.

As he stepped off the stage, he encountered Lin Xiu, who was about to take the stage, in the passageway.

The two brushed past each other, and Lin Xiu said very softly, "Beautiful."

Lin Xiu's appearance triggered the wildest screams in the entire venue.

When the white figure appeared in the center of the stage, Cheng Yu'an, sitting in the contestant's seat, unconsciously straightened his back.

There was no elaborate choreography, no dazzling high notes; Lin Xiu simply sat down at the piano and began to play the song that Cheng Yu'an had already heard once.

But this time, the lyrics are more direct:

"You saw the cracks beneath my perfect mask, you held my trembling that I'd never shown to anyone. If idols must be flawless, I'd rather be a real mortal..."

On the big screen, Lin Xiu's expression was so raw, and the light shining in his eyes moved everyone.

During the chorus, he suddenly stood up, walked to the edge of the stage, and looked directly at Cheng Yu'an in the contestant's seat:

"This is a song dedicated to you, as simple as the sound of rain on the day we first met. Thank you for teaching me that only my true self deserves to be loved..."

The entire venue fell silent, then erupted in deafening applause and screams.

Cheng Yu'an felt her cheeks getting wet and realized that she was already in tears.

He also recalled their first meeting and everything that followed.

Even Zhou Yi, who is usually very strict, was wiping his eyes on the judges' panel.

After the performance, Lin Xiu bowed, slightly out of breath.

The judges were speechless for a moment, and finally Su Rui picked up the microphone: "Lin Xiu, I have never seen you like this before... nor have I ever seen such a moving stage."

At this heartwarming moment, the large screen suddenly flickered and switched to a video—in which Lin Xiuzheng was arguing fiercely with someone: "I will no longer cooperate with your disgusting marketing! What fake couple, what script, to hell with it all!"

The video ended abruptly, but it was enough to cause a stir.

The audience was abuzz with discussion, while the judges exchanged bewildered glances.

The host frantically tried to control the situation, and Cheng Yu'an saw Lin Xiu's face turn pale instantly—it was a clip that had been maliciously edited by his former company.

One of the judges, renowned music producer Chen Xun, frowned and asked, "Lin Xiu, what's going on? What does the 'fake couple' mentioned in the video mean...?"

The scene was deathly silent.

Cheng Yu'an saw the production crew members frantically gesturing, clearly hoping that Lin Xiu would deny it or brush it off.

Lin Xiu stood under the spotlight, isolated and helpless, his lips trembling slightly.

Cheng Yu'an suddenly stood up.

"Cheng Yu'an, the contestant?" The host looked at him in surprise as he walked onto the stage.

Ignoring the staff's attempts to stop him, Cheng Yu'an walked to Lin Xiu's side and took the microphone from the host: "I can explain."