### Chapter 134: What If He Gets Stolen Away?
[2024 “Star Cup” Cello Competition Results Announcement]
Dear contestants, esteemed judges, and beloved audience friends:
The 2024 “Star Cup” cello competition has concluded successfully, and we thank all contestants for their wonderful performances.
After professional assessment and discussion by the judges, we are pleased to announce the results:
Champion: Bai Xi – “Golden Dance”
Runner-up: Gan Yan Yu – “Cello Concerto in E Minor”
Third place: Zhu Ya – “Elvin: Grand C Major Theme”
—
Lin Tian still hadn’t finished reading the rest.
Gan Yan Yu was already on her feet.
“What are you off to do?” he asked.
“Getting water.”
Gan Yan Yu opened the fridge and pulled out a can of beer.
Is that water?
“Pop!”
The girl cracked open the can, her slender frame leaning against the cold tiled wall.
She tilted her head back and started drinking alone.
“I think it’s the judges’ fault. No matter how you slice it, Bai Xi’s performance couldn’t match yours,” Lin Tian sat on the couch, analyzing seriously.
“Hmm.”
“Gao Zhen Yang’s taste is definitely on point; he thinks your performance was better than Bai Xi’s. You definitely deserved a better placement than second!”
“Hmm.”
“Hey, it is what it is; being the runner-up is still awesome. I’d bet the judges for the Parrot Zither Cup will be even more professional than those for the Star Cup.”
“Lin Tian.”
“Ah?”
Gan Yan Yu looked into Lin Tian’s eyes, a gentle smile creeping onto her face.
“Do I really look like someone who can’t handle setbacks?”
“. Sort of.”
“Honestly, I expected this result. Just being able to perform your piece successfully on stage, without flubbing, is enough for me.”
Gan Yan Yu continued, “After all, Teacher Bai Xi is really impressive. Currently, no young cellist in Qingjiang can go toe-to-toe with her. If she were to play the classical piece you wrote, Lin Tian, she’d certainly nail it.”
“Wait, Teacher Gan,” Lin Tian stammered, unsure how she got onto this tangent.
“Alright, we’ve got the art exam in a week. Let’s pull together,” Gan Yan Yu said, opening Lin Tian’s front door.
“Bang!”
She closed it behind her.
Looks like she’s really affected, Lin Tian mused.
Indeed, Gan Yan Yu had put so much effort into this competition, and to end up here with such results…
No matter how good your mindset is, or how optimistic you can be, it’s still hard to accept.
The runner-up spot was definitely unexpected.
How could Gan Yan Yu have not won?
That was something neither he, nor Gao Zhen Yang, had predicted.
Thinking back to what Gan Yan Yu had whispered to him at the restaurant, she must have had a premonition back then.
Lin Tian had originally planned to confess something at the Parrot Zither Cup.
With Gan Yan Yu in her current state, he figured it wasn’t the best time to bring it up.
He decided to give her some space.
It would be tough to handle such a blow all at once.
Just a little bit of time would do.
Later that evening.
Gan Yan Yu came over for dinner, bringing along her study materials.
With the Star Cup behind them, they had to start gearing up for the art exam seriously.
Even though Gan Yan Yu was extraordinarily talented, she couldn’t just wing it. Just like Lin Tian, who, no matter how good his test scores were, would still flip through a couple of pages the night before a mock exam.
After dinner, Lin Tian received a call from Gao Zhen Yang.
“Sorry, Lin Tian, I’ve been swamped today and just remembered to call!”
“Honestly, I couldn’t believe the Star Cup results! Second place? What a bummer! Come on, cheer up a bit with Gan Yan Yu! The Parrot Zither Cup at the end of the month is where it’s really at.”
Lin Tian responded with “mm-hmm” as he hung up the call.
Turning around, he found Gan Yan Yu sitting on the couch, engrossed in a music theory textbook she had purchased earlier.
Her expression was serious and utterly absorbed, as if she hadn’t even noticed Lin Tian’s call.
Lin Tian decided to check Weibo.
With the announcement of the Star Cup results, various music media from Qingjiang went wild, and the comments from netizens poured in.
【Ah! I knew it! Bai Xi won! Her “Golden Dance” was absolutely stunning!】
【Honestly, I think Gan Yan Yu’s “Cello Concerto in E Minor” was even better. How could this happen?】
【There’s definitely a bit of a gap compared to Bai Xi, but she’s only 18! Scoring second is still pretty impressive!】
Most comments revolved around Gan Yan Yu and Bai Xi.
The comments were mostly friendly.
But there were some not-so-friendly ones:
【What a farce! Such a huge hype, and she only got second?】
【To be honest, Gan Yan Yu’s fans are the most overzealous I’ve seen online. They hyped her up so much, and now it all feels hollow!】
【…】
“Lin Tian.”
Gan Yan Yu’s sudden call broke Lin Tian’s concentration, pulling him back.
“Uh?”
“Do you want to duet?”
“Now?”
Lin Tian glanced at the study papers on the table, meticulously prepared for his upcoming project.
“Honestly, the instrumental side is fine. Let’s focus on reinforcing the basics of music theory for now.”
“Oh.”
“And besides, duets probably won’t help much for the art exam, right?”
“Fine.”
Gan Yan Yu nodded, saying no more.
After some more reading, she stood up.
“I’m heading home to rest.”
“So early?”
“I’m tired today.”
“Okay.”
“Mm.”
Gan Yan Yu left.
Lin Tian stared at the closed door, a confused expression on his face.
So… is she affected, or not?
If she was down, shouldn’t it show differently?
This is all so strange!
As Gan Yan Yu stepped out of Lin Tian’s house, she didn’t go home but headed downstairs, took out her keys, and opened the café door.
She switched on the lights and stared at the big white carpet on the floor.
Spreading her arms, she lay down.
Then, she rolled around like a wild child.
“Ugh…”
“Darn it! Stupid Yan Yu!!”
“How could this happen! How could this happen!!”
“Yan Yu, you pathetic loser!!!”
Gan Yan Yu clutched her head, rolling back and forth on the carpet.
Her glittering eyes brimmed with frustration and indignation.
All she could think about was that day at the competition.
Bai Xi, right in front of her, with eyes that seemed to ensnare souls, asking Lin Tian if he wanted to hear her solo.
Completely ignoring her presence.
At that moment, Lin Tian had said, “Not interested.”
But now,
She had lost, she had truly lost.
She lost to Bai Xi.
What if Lin Tian… goes to find Bai Xi?
After all, Bai Xi was stunningly beautiful, her cello skills were top-notch, and she could handle any style, classical music included, with finesse.
No matter how you looked at it, Lin Tian had every reason to agree to Bai Xi’s request to listen to her play!
There was a good chance he might get stolen away as well!
Gan Yan Yu thought about how she and Lin Tian were just partners, and not a couple.
TV dramas always portray that only husbands stay loyal and never stray, but partners? They might not stick around!
Gan Yan Yu curled up like a squirrel, clutching her head, continuing to roll around.
”Ding-dong——”
Just then, the café doorbell rang unexpectedly.
Gan Yan Yu quickly sat up.
Feeling guilty, she suspected it was Lin Tian.
But wait, that’s the front door.
Who would come here so late?
Could it be Bai Xi?
Gan Yan Yu stood up and walked over.
As she approached, the figure outside the glass door slowly became clear.
It was a golden-haired silhouette.
“…”
“Hmph! Gan Yan Yu, I heard you lost the Star Cup! Ha! What a disappointment! Other than me, Nanaly, it seems there’s someone else who can beat you!”
As the door opened, Nanaly barged in, chattering away.
Gan Yan Yu’s face darkened, and she was about to slam the door shut again.
“…Wait, wait, wait!”
Nanaly quickly stretched out her hand, blocking the door.
“Listen, Gan Yan Yu! I’m here to tell you, no matter how badly you lost in the Star Cup, don’t let it get you down! Rest well, eat on time, and come to the Parrot Zither Cup all pumped up! The battle for first and second place can only be between the two of us!!”
(End of Chapter)
