Chapter Fifteen: The Queen of Cross-Dressing Takes the Stage

Recently, Jiang Yun has been making frequent appearances on trending searches, which has left him quite troubled—even afraid to step outside. Wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, Jiang Yun arrived at the set of "You’re the Most Talented." Today was the finals, and Jiang Yun had come early to the studio.

Entering the lounge, Jiang Yun was met by an assistant. "Mr. Jiang, today is the finals of 'You’re the Most Talented.' I’m here to explain the rules."

"There are four contestants in the finals. They’ll compete in pairs, and the winners will vie for the championship."

"Do you have any questions, Mr. Jiang?"

"None, thank you," Jiang Yun replied.

"I almost forgot to mention—Mr. Jiang, contestants can invite guest performers for the finals. Have you invited anyone?"

Jiang Yun frowned. Guest performers? Why was he only being told this now? To receive such a rule so close to the competition—if anyone claimed there wasn’t some hidden agenda at play, Jiang Yun would never believe it.

"I haven’t offended anyone, have I?" Jiang Yun muttered inwardly.

Backstage, in another lounge, Zhou Ziqian and Zhou Yong were talking.

"Ziqian, I purposely informed Jiang Yun about the guest performer rule at the last minute. That’s all I can do—the rest is up to you," Zhou Yong said.

Zhou Ziqian replied, "Don’t worry, Dad. I’ve invited Diva Wang Fei as my guest performer. I’m sure I can win the championship and make my debut!"

"Good, that puts my mind at ease," Zhou Yong said.

In Wang Fei’s lounge, Wang Fei sat before a mirror while her makeup artist worked on her style.

Her personal makeup artist asked, "Fei, with your status, why would you guest perform for a trainee?"

"It’s nothing. Have you heard of Jiang Yun? The one causing a stir online recently—he’s competing in this talent show. He’s gifted, and I want to see how I fare against him."

At the front of the studio, a male and female host walked onto the stage.

"Hello, everyone, and welcome to tonight’s 'You’re the Most Talented.' Tonight is the grand finale," the male host announced.

"That’s right! After eleven episodes together, 'You’re the Most Talented' will conclude tonight," the female host said with heartfelt emotion.

"Tonight, we’ll witness the fiercest battle for the championship."

"Tonight is the night of champions!"

"Who will claim the crown? Let’s wait and see!"

"Let’s welcome the prince of love songs—Jiang Yun!"

Spotlights shone on Jiang Yun, who waved to the camera and stepped onto the stage.

"He, bold and dashing in men’s attire, enchanting and graceful in women’s dress, returns as the champion from the revival round! Let’s welcome—"

"The Queen of Cross-dressing, Zhang Yang!"

The spotlight focused on the entrance, and a man, exquisite and charming, appeared. Zhang Yang looked every bit the queen.

"Wow!"

Zhang Yang’s popularity soared—applause thundered, far louder than Jiang Yun’s entrance.

"His dance is sharp and mesmerizing, his ordinary figure performing extraordinary moves. Let’s welcome—"

"Grassroots Dance King, Liu Dongli!"

Spotlights hit the entrance as Liu Dongli walked in, carrying a worn burlap sack.

"Welcome, Liu Dongli!"

"And lastly—"

"Li Meng, stop keeping us in suspense! Just say it!" the male host urged.

"Vile, it’s not that I don’t want to say it. This contestant’s popularity is just too high. It’s your turn!" The two hosts played off each other as Li Meng handed the cue card to Vile.

Vile glanced at it and feigned a gasp.

"Let’s welcome the rap prodigy—"

Jiang Yun looked on, curious—who could be the last to appear?

"Let’s welcome the rap prodigy—Zhou Ziqian!"

"Whoo—"

The audience let out a sigh.

The hosts looked a bit awkward, but their professional training kicked in—they adapted smoothly.

As their expertise was needed, Vile and Li Meng quickly found a solution.

"Hey, Vile, who do you think our rap prodigy has invited as a guest performer?"

"Li Meng, I can’t reveal that—we’ll just wait for Ziqian’s performance. Then we’ll know."

"True. But I can tell everyone, it’s a heavyweight. An absolute surprise!" Li Meng teased.

Thanks to Vile and Li Meng’s skillful pivot, the audience quickly forgot about their earlier disappointment.

"Now, let’s draw lots," Li Meng announced.

Vile smiled, "Let’s invite the talented lady, Feifei."

Feifei walked onto the stage carrying a cube-shaped box.

"Now, please draw your lots," Feifei said, holding out the box.

Jiang Yun went first, drawing number 1.

Zhang Yang also drew number 1; Liu Dongli drew number 2.

Zhou Ziqian approached Feifei and, unsurprisingly, drew number 2.

The pairs were settled: Zhang Yang versus Jiang Yun, Zhou Ziqian versus Liu Dongli.

Jiang Yun was speechless—he’d faced Zhang Yang in the challenger round, and now Zhang Yang was his opponent again.

"Now, let’s invite the first pair for their duel."

"Zhang Yang will perform first. The other three contestants, please step offstage."

Backstage, Zhang Yang painted a Peking Opera face.

He drew almond-shaped eyes, the corners extended dramatically.

Dressed in opera robes, Zhang Yang looked every bit the part.

The music began, and Zhang Yang’s male voice opened the performance. The audience was immediately captivated: "That year’s snowflakes drifted down, plum blossoms bloomed on the branches."

"By Huaqing Pool that year, so much sorrow was left behind. Don’t speak of right or wrong, feelings are never clear— I only wish to dream with you once more, to be drunk again."

"Love and hate exist in a fleeting moment..." Zhang Yang swept his flowing sleeves, his operatic voice sending the audience into a frenzy.

"Raise a glass to the moon, love as vast as the sky. Love and hate, both boundless—when will you love me?"

Zhang Yang held an orchid gesture, striking a drunken pose.

Suddenly, a powerful male voice joined in.

"Golden sparrow hairpins and jade combs, gifts you gave me."

"Wow!"

The audience gasped, exclaiming in excitement.

"Wow! It’s Master Li Gang!"

"Unbelievable—Zhang Yang actually invited Master Li Gang as a guest performer!"

"I’m in love—I vote for Zhang Yang!"

"Right, right, we’ll vote for Zhang Yang."

"I adore Zhang Yang’s cross-dressing performance."

Li Gang, with his short hair and white traditional robes, looked striking.

"Dance of the Rainbow Feather Dress, I’ve sung and danced for you through countless lifetimes. Jianmen Pass is your deep longing for me. Beneath Mawei Hill, for true love, my soul ends for beauty."

As the chorus arrived, Li Gang and Zhang Yang sang together.

"Love and hate exist in a fleeting moment, raise a glass to the moon, love as vast as the sky. Love and hate, both boundless—when will you love me? Chrysanthemum terrace reflects the bright moon, who knows my heart is cold? Drunk in the arms of the king, dreaming of the Tang Dynasty’s love—"

When the song ended, the audience remained immersed, longing for more.

Thunderous applause erupted.

Hosts Li Meng and Vile walked onto the stage.

Vile said, "Everyone, did you expect this? Our Queen of Cross-dressing, Zhang Yang, invited Master Li Gang as a guest performer!"

Li Meng smiled, "Now, let’s have our three judges score Zhang Yang."

The three judges, two men and a woman, did not press the buzzer—silently enjoying Zhang Yang’s performance.

The female judge in the middle raised a sign reading "10": "Ten!"

The judge on the left also showed a "10," and the judge on the right did the same.

Li Meng feigned astonishment, "Wow, all three judges gave a perfect ten!"

"Now, let’s invite the audience to vote!"