You Gongsheng started playing again. Right there, on the competition stage.
From the beginning until now, episode five of 'Your Lie in April' has been composed almost entirely of alternating scenes: musical performances, flashbacks, and inner monologues.
Yet despite its slow pace and emotional weight, the ratings hadn't dropped at all.
Even viewers like Yu Yan—who had found the earlier scenes painful to watch—didn't change the channel.
"I want to play—for you."
In You Gongsheng's mind, Gong Yuanxun's smiling face resurfaced.
She was sitting in the audience. Even though he'd already been disqualified from the competition due to his earlier stoppage, that disastrous performance couldn't be his ending—not when Gong Yuanxun was watching.
He wasn't playing to impress the judges anymore.
He was playing for her—to honor her support and expectations.
The sound of the piano changed.
As long as he remembered the moments he'd shared with Gong Yuanxun, the crushing pressure in his heart melted away.
The melody he couldn't hear—he now heard clearly.
The music he couldn't play—he now plays with ease.
On-screen, You Gongsheng's world was no longer muted and distorted.
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
While his fingers danced across the keys, his heart poured out sincere gratitude—for Gong Yuanxun, the girl who had encouraged him, supported him, pushed him, and comforted him back into playing the piano.
The music turned soft—like the gentle warmth of early spring sunlight.
Yu Yan's eyes were red with tears.
In the fan group she'd joined, the chat had exploded.
"This drama—how is it THIS good at making people cry?!"
"If this isn't love, what is?!"
"You Gongsheng, Gong Yuanxun—please just get married already."
"Wait, only six episodes left?! Can we at least see them get together and have kids?!"
"Why don't I have a Gong Yuanxun in my life supporting me like that? 😭"
"Crying. Even Jin Hui and Xiang Wu—ugh, my heart. The moment Gongsheng started messing up earlier, you could see the light fade from their eyes."
"Of course! He was the shining star of their entire youth—and then he started bombing his performance. That's soul-crushing!"
"Jing Yu's musical direction is insane. Same sheet music, but the way each character plays it makes the whole thing feel completely different."
"No words. The music and story in this drama are both masterpieces."
Back at Jinhui TV's ratings office, the live ratings for 'Your Lie in April' had just hit 1.88%—and were still climbing.
Chu You leaned in close, eyes locked on the screen, barely breathing.
Across Da Zhou, countless viewers were watching the show with misty eyes and warm hearts. The music, the story—it all struck so deeply.
"He's finally back."
"In my heart… You exist."
"You exist, You Gongsheng."
At that very moment, both You Gongsheng and Gong Yuanxun seemed to share the same thought.
"Wait a second… is this a confession? Is he confessing to her through this competition performance?" Yu Yan exhaled shakily.
The music ended, but its echoes lingered in her heart.
"If I can be recognized… by just one person, that's enough."
The performance was over. Standing on stage, You Gongsheng looked directly at Gong Yuanxun in the audience.
With a look of peace and fulfillment on his face—played by Jing Yu himself—and a brilliant smile blooming on Yu Youqing's beautiful features, the two looked perfectly matched in that moment.
"Come on, man! Don't just stand there being poetic—go confess already!"
"Just shout it out! Say you love her!"
The episode ended as their eyes met.
The ending theme began to play.
Yu Yan sat back, stunned.
"Wait… It's over?"
"Just like that?!"
The fan group chat went wild.
"This screenwriter is evil. You end it HERE?!"
"I've put up with you long enough, Jing Yu! You seriously couldn't give us a confession?!"
"But what about Jin Hui?! She likes Gongsheng, too, right?"
"Nooo, I want Jin Hui and Gongsheng together too… but Gong Yuanxun is SO cute."
"See y'all next week."
"Why does it feel like the pacing is soooo slow… Episode 5 and still no official relationship?!"
Yu Yan exited the group chat and took a deep breath.
She'd never done something like this before—but now?
She opened all her social media accounts and began drafting posts to recommend the show to everyone she knew.
This drama is just too good to stay unknown. I can't stand it anymore. People NEED to see this.
Lan Province. Lan City. Jinhui TV Headquarters.
Chu You's gaze was frozen on the final stat for 'Your Lie in April' episode five:
Peak rating: 2.02%
"This… this is insane."
Jinhui TV had just broken its all-time viewership record.
"So… 'Your Lie in April' broke the station's record, right?" Chu You asked, still dazed.
This was the show he'd practically written off before it even aired. And now, in just over a month, it had reached this height entirely on the strength of its content.
"Jing Liang… you bastard. This is the 'disappointing' son you kept complaining about?" Chu You muttered, thinking of his old screenwriting partner.
"Wait—Jing Liang said that to you, too?" Old Li, the analyst, asked in surprise.
"He said it to everyone! If even his own father didn't believe in him, how the hell was I supposed to?" Chu You sighed bitterly.
How could he have let Jiang Shiqing screw with Jing Yu's contract like that?
If a guy has no backing, no talent, and no father to speak up for him, how's he supposed to survive in this industry? Better to leave early than waste his youth chasing a doomed career.
In a way, he'd thought he was doing Jing Yu a favor.
But then came that "emergency fill-in" drama—and who could've guessed Jing Yu was actually a diamond in the rough?
"By the way, what was 'Your Lie in April's average rating for episode five?" Chu You asked quickly.
The 2.02% peak had shocked him, but the average would determine whether they won the funding.
"1.86%," Old Li replied.
"The episode started a bit low, but it climbed steadily and quickly," he added.
"1.86%…" Chu You exhaled deeply.
That meant Dangerous Girlfriend needed at least 1.76% to stay in the lead.
If it scored lower, 'Your Lie in April' would win the 10-million-yuan promotional budget.
'Your Lie in April' had delivered its answer. Now, it was Dangerous Girlfriend's turn.
That night, Jiang Shiqing, Xu You, and the rest of the Dangerous Girlfriend team were sleepless.
The results of 'Your Lie in April's fifth episode had shaken them.
Just days ago, Jiang Shiqing had ranted about how unfair the station's condition was, claiming they were underestimating him.
Now?
He knew the truth: There was no way their fifth episode could match 1.86%.
He was furious—sleepless with rage.
They might lose the promotional funds.
And if 'Your Lie in April' got them?
It would soar.
Right now, Dangerous Girlfriend still holds a lead in average ratings.
But if 'Your Lie in April' got a marketing boost… who knew what would happen?
If the unthinkable happened, and Dangerous Girlfriend dropped to second place—and worse, lost to a show written by Jing Yu—
Jiang Shiqing wouldn't be able to live that down.
Saturday morning, the Dangerous Girlfriend team launched an all-out push on social media.
Cast and crew reached out through every channel to rally fans.
Especially Xu Xiangwen.
Determined not to lose, she posted five separate updates that day, urging her followers to watch episode five the following night.
Across Lan Province, the entire TV industry watched the situation unfold like a soap opera.
Everyone was in full gossip mode, waiting to see what would happen.
And finally—
Sunday night arrived.
It was time for Dangerous Girlfriend's episode five to air.