Esports world champion, debuted as the center of a talent show

The Mi Lan group's synchronized movements, combined with the upbeat melody, exuded youthful energy.

The surprise brought by this style reversal was particularly appreciated by the audience.

As the song ended, thunderous applause erupted once again, along with shouts of Mi Lan and his teammates' names.

[I knew the second guild would get better and better as it went on; its popularity is no accident...]

[What a contrast to Mi Lan! Mi Lan's fans are so tight-lipped; I hadn't seen any indication online that Mi Lan's style was like this this time. It's a complete surprise.]

[He exudes youthful energy and vitality, practically overflowing the screen!]

[I was stunned. Is this really the Mi Lan I remember? But she really pulls off this style perfectly; it doesn't look out of place at all.]

The performance received high praise from the mentors. Su Gaoming seemed to be less interested in this style, only offering a few brief comments before quickly moving on.

But this actually made Mi Lan breathe a sigh of relief. No matter what, it was much better than being criticized mercilessly in public.

As they walked off the stage under the guidance of the staff and returned to the backstage waiting area, Mi Lan's gaze met Jiang Zhiyu's.

Mi Lan, sporting a fresh makeup look, grinned and silently mouthed: Surprised?

He completely forgot that Jiang Zhiyu and his group had already seen the entire stage during yesterday's rehearsal.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't expose this little bit of pride, but nodded vigorously with a serious expression, and mouthed back: "Very surprised."

Just then, a staff member approached and whispered, "Get ready, it's your group's turn to go on stage soon."

As the time for Jiang Zhiyu's team to appear drew closer, the excitement of the audience grew stronger, and the live stream chat was flooded with messages.

I've finally waited for you; I'm so glad I didn't give up.

Is Jiang Zhiyu about to take the stage?

I'm so looking forward to Jiang Zhiyu's group's full stage performance! The concept is amazing, they're just one step away from becoming a legend in the final performance!

[Wait, I've been waiting for this performance for what feels like a lifetime.]

Before the official stage began, the big screen played the team members' pre-competition interviews as scheduled.

The first person to appear on the big screen was Yu Jin.

The voice-over asks, "How do you understand your stage? Do you have any special insights?"

Yu Jin didn't think for long. He glanced at a certain direction outside the screen, then turned back and said softly, "I think what Zhiyu said to comfort me before really fits the theme of our stage. He told me at the time, 'Imperfect me is me, and perfect me is me. If you accept yourself, you will find that there are not so many things that are impossible in this world.' I really like this sentence, and I'm sharing it with you."

As the last note fades, the screen goes black and cuts to another person: Jiang Zhiyu, who, despite his bare face, still manages to hold his own against the camera with his perfect skin and delicate features.

The voice-over asks, "The keyword you drew was 'day and night.' Could you share how you derived the complete stage concept from this word?"

Jiang Zhiyu didn't hesitate much: "Day and night are opposites, yet together they make up a complete day. The mask of daytime and the true self of nighttime are also like that; they seem contradictory, yet they piece together a complete and authentic self."

The next question from the voice-over was more direct: "You proposed the core concept for this stage performance, and you also set the theme for the team, proposing 'The True Self.' Have you ever had moments when you couldn't reconcile with yourself?"

"At all times."

Jiang Zhiyu paused, swallowed the word "no," and then slowly spoke in silence, his tone calm and honest: "I used to think that people should hide their negative emotions, and always be dignified, always calm, and always strong. But after performing on this stage, I am more certain that being true to oneself is not about fighting against oneself, but about making peace with oneself."

"True growth lies in daring to admit your ambitions, accepting your darkness, and embracing your imperfections. I hope that everyone who watches this performance can openly accept all of themselves."

The interview footage was covered with a soft light and slowly faded out, returning to the main stage of the performance.

[What a touching interview... What a powerful confession... What a profound interpretation... Jiang Zhiyu is amazing...]

"Accepting yourself"—Wow, that's a complete sublimation.

[I initially thought "daytime mask, nighttime true self" was already a very profound concept, but I never imagined there was an even deeper layer waiting for me! I'm simply awestruck; Jiang Jiang's conceptual genius is truly remarkable.]

That's well said. Accepting and embracing yourself is the first step to growth.

All the lights went out, plunging the main stage of the performance into darkness.

A beam of light pierced through the deep darkness and landed precisely in the center of the stage.

Jiang Zhiyu and the others stood neatly in the light, each wearing a matte white half-mask covering the upper half of their face. Everyone raised one hand, their palms lightly covering the mask, their fingertips lightly touching the edge.

Although they couldn't see the whole picture, fans still recognized their idols at a glance.

The entire venue erupted in deafening shouts, with the calls for Jiang Zhiyu's name being the loudest and most surging.

Jiang Zhiyu stood on the stage, his gaze sweeping around as he watched the vast expanse of blue support lights in the darkness slowly illuminate, the twinkling lights converging into a sea, gently supporting the boy on the stage.

The prelude slowly unfolds, and faint white mist floats on the large screen in the background. A faint mist also gradually emerges from the fog generator at the edge, lightly covering the stage surface.

The very first line is a chorus of eight people, their different voices blending together to create a dreamlike beauty.

"A mask in the daytime, a fabricated illusion."

"Conceal your sharpness and temper your nature, follow the ways of the world and be gentle and kind."

Everyone simultaneously and slowly lowered their hands from their masks, their movements perfectly synchronized, even in speed and angle.

The venue was bathed in uniform cool-toned lighting, which clearly outlined everyone's features without any shadows or blind spots, just like life under the discipline of worldly rules during the day, with nowhere to hide selfishness and flaws.

"Hide your obsessions and suppress your reluctance."

To conform to every worldly rule.

As the music progressed, they gradually tightened their bodies, adopting a slightly curled-up posture.

The group lowered their heads slightly, their eyes and brows hidden behind pure white masks.

"Among the crowd, I dare not show weakness."

A smile masking all anxiety.

All eight people looked up simultaneously, their masks facing forward, their postures open and perfect. Their hands pressed slightly against their chests, their limbs subtly tense, as if in restraint or a sense of control.

"Lock ambition into a silent shell."

Play a role that the public likes and that you're good at.

Everyone simultaneously stood with their hands hanging down and their backs straight.