Why Am I So Beautiful?

* Highlight: The characters are not based on real people, so please don't read anything into them or mention any real-life celebrities in the comments. Thanks for your support =3=

Jiaojiao is the last princess of the merfolk. Hunted by humans, she falls into the hands of human traffickers.

She spends several days in a rundown shack with a few children who have been kidnapped. With nowhere left to turn, she sets herself and the traffickers on fire, burning everything to ashes until not even a trace remains.

When she opens her eyes again, she sees a snake-faced person with a high nose, big eyes, and a pointed chin squatting in front of her, looking absolutely thrilled to have found a treasure.

"Hey, beautiful, interested in joining our company as a pretty face?"

*

In 2022, the talent show Starlight Trainees premiered. After the first round of auditions, fans flooded the official account of a struggling entertainment company with a barrage of excited comments:

"Where did this tiny company dig up such a treasure of a girl? She's gorgeous, has a great figure, and is hilarious. This year's results are looking up. Sweetheart, go for it!"

"Career fans, assemble! This little company has spent years promoting nobody and finally found one gem. Give her some good resources already! I want to see this pretty girl in a historical drama!"

But once the initial excitement wore off, people gradually realized that this stunning girl who'd gone viral for her looks... might be a beautiful wreck who couldn't sing or dance at all?

"She's tone-deaf and has no coordination, and she still isn't working hard? Did you come here just to be a pretty face?"

Faced with all the doubts and the flood of negative comments, Jiaojiao opened the top comment and calmly replied:

"That's right. That's what my manager said."

Her manager, sitting beside her and scrolling on his phone: "?"

*

The night before the finals, an audio clip of a rehearsal featuring a live, unaccompanied vocal performance shot up the trending charts. After comparing it with the other contestants, everyone was astonished to discover that it was Jiaojiao, the beautiful wreck! With a voice this richly blessed by heaven, shouldn't she be a shoo-in for the top spot?

But then she did something no one could have predicted.

She withdrew from the competition and gave up all idol-related activities, setting her heart on becoming a serious singer.

A gossip forum published an exposé overnight, claiming Jiaojiao had quit being an idol because idols weren't allowed to date, and that she had her eye on a certain actor with the surname S.

Comments under the post: "We're taking Jiaojiao away. No shipping, let her shine on her own. We won't speculate unless it's officially announced. Come listen to the beautiful girl's new song instead."

Jiaojiao herself: "Go ahead and ship us."

*

While Starlight Trainees was still airing, one episode invited five guest performers, including the award-winning actor Song Nanxing, a talented singer and dancer with outstanding acting skills who had won numerous awards in his five years since debut.

Before rehearsal began, Jiaojiao was cornered in the dressing room by Actor Song. He leaned against the door, refusing to let her leave, and stared straight at her.

"Have you ever heard of mermaids?"

"M-my fans' nickname?"

At her answer, Song Nanxing's gaze dimmed. He leaned against the wall, looking utterly heartbroken.

"Sis, you really don't remember me."

*

Rumor had it that after debuting, Jiaojiao became increasingly arrogant. Every month, there were a few set days when nobody could get her to show up, no matter who asked.

Staring at the trending topic dragging her, Jiaojiao angrily flicked her tail as pearls pattered down from her eyes, each one large and perfectly round.

"How am I supposed to go? Swim there?"

Song Nanxing took the pile of pearls from her and sighed. "You little crybaby, if you keep crying, our family will get rich selling pearls."

[As everyone knows, the merfolk are blessed with more than just beauty. They are also born with enchanting voices.]

*Older woman-younger man romance, with an age gap of several hundred to a thousand years

*Beautiful, useless crybaby x all-rounder younger guy who can sing and dance

Theme: May you never stop striving to move forward.