Chapter 182: What Do You Think of Nanaly?
“Private goods. What does that mean?”
Gan Yan Yu’s little mouth dropped open in curiosity.
“Exactly! It means this piece is rich in content!”
Lin Tian interrupted immediately, feeling a bit guilty.
“After all, it’s my first piece written for Teacher Gan.”
He really felt like he was playing with fire using “Ode to Love.”
An expert performer could definitely pick up on Lin Tian’s guiding actions on the piano during the piece.
But then Nanaly brought up private goods.
That meant, with her extensive experience in emotions, she likely heard something much deeper.
For instance—
Feelings.
“But when I said private goods, I didn’t mean the piece; I meant your performance just now.”
Nanaly narrowed her eyes into slits, clearly scheming something clever.
Then, in true detective fashion, she fixed Lin Tian with a probing gaze and said,
“Lin Tian, were you just giving Gan Yan Yu…”
“Yep! I added some advanced techniques into it,” Lin Tian interrupted seriously. “So our duet could be more in sync and stable.”
“…”
Nanaly stared at Lin Tian for a solid three seconds.
Then her pupils dilated.
“Oh~”
Her lips curled into a smirk.
“…”
All hope was lost.
Seeing that expression made Lin Tian certain.
This girl definitely knew everything!
What kind of ultimate romance brain was she?!
She managed to catch him red-handed in just the time it took to play one piece?!
Nanaly jumped down from the counter, her Lolita dress fluttering, waving her little bear-printed skirt around like she was at a concert.
“Lin Tian, why don’t you just say certain things face to face? Hiding behind a piano isn’t very manly, you know!”
With her hands behind her back, Nanaly said with a teasing smile.
“Isn’t it perfectly normal for musicians to communicate through music?” Lin Tian argued back.
“But if the other person doesn’t understand it, isn’t it better to just say it straight out?”
“If they don’t understand, it means the timing isn’t right yet.”
“That’s not true; sometimes, all it takes is one prompt to break through!”
“That’s so boring.”
“Excuse!”
“…”
Gan Yan Yu stared blankly at the two of them.
Why were they talking in a language she couldn’t grasp at all?
Could it be—
“Lin Tian, is it about ‘emotions’?”
Gan Yan Yu tugged at Lin Tian’s sleeve, looking up with wide eyes, clearly excited.
“Eh?”
Lin Tian froze for a moment.
“Right!”
Nanaly smiled in agreement, “Look at you, catching on!”
“Nanaly, do you also understand this ‘emotion’? Do you know what it’s called?”
Gan Yan Yu seemed quite pleased, like she had just found a kindred spirit in music.
“When Lin Tian performed for me before, I couldn’t pick it up at all. I kept thinking about it and pressed Lin Tian to tell me…”
The young woman’s curiosity was ablaze,
“I thought it must be some special feeling between partners, like only those with partners could experience. Nanaly, have you ever had a partner?”
“I don’t have a partner, but… I think I recognize that kind of emotion.”
When Nanaly said this, her eyes kept darting towards Lin Tian.
Her smile even held a hint of provocation.
—Oh no!
Lin Tian felt like the sky was falling.
This girl had to be plotting revenge for their first meeting!
He had tossed her, table and all, and tricked her into cleaning up!
If Nanaly spilled the beans to Gan Yan Yu right here, Lin Tian’s confession plan would be in ruins!
All the hard work he did to bluff his way through at the barbecue place would go up in smoke, and the quality of their performance might take a nosedive!
The whole point of using this performance method was to allow Gan Yan Yu to unconsciously accept his gentle guidance.
If she knew this feeling was actually love, the “unconscious” and “subtle” aspects of it would be shattered, jeopardizing the performance!
Forget about messing up his confession plan—he might not have enough time to adjust, and they’d lose effectiveness in the competition!
“…”
Watching the increasingly intriguing expression on Nanaly’s mixed-race face,
Lin Tian sensed danger.
He regretted inviting this troublemaker to practice.
His mind was racing with visions of this noble from the sun never setting empire awakening and using it to blackmail him, making sure to make him suffer as payback for their initial embarrassment…
“What do you think this emotion is?”
Gan Yan Yu asked Nanaly.
Seeing Nanaly’s teasing expression, it was clear she couldn’t wait to spill.
Gan Yan Yu needed to experience the “self-discovery” process, and insights from another cellist were a perfect reference, so of course, she had to ask.
“Teacher Gan!”
Lin Tian quickly tried to interrupt.
But it was too late!
Nanaly spoke up,
“I think this is the purest bond of camaraderie between partners!!”
She declared loudly.
Her voice echoed throughout the café.
“…”
“Eh?”
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu both voiced their immediate reactions in unison.
Camaraderie?!
Lin Tian was dumbfounded, staring at Nanaly.
But while Gan Yan Yu was distracted, Nanaly stuck her tongue out at Lin Tian and made a funny face.
No way!
Me spilling the beans to Gan Yan Yu here about your not-so-secret confession?
Do you think I’m a fool?
Why should I play the matchmaker for you two?!
What do you take me for?!
“…”
Nanaly wore a face of disgust.
She shot Lin Tian a fierce glare.
She just had to tell Gan Yan Yu that this was as pure as it gets—camaraderie!
So Gan Yan Yu wouldn’t think about any messy stuff, focusing solely on her cello, the competition, and… her only rival!
Nothing else allowed!
“…”
Watching the mixed emotions on Nanaly’s irritated face,
Lin Tian had a flash of realization.
Well done, Nanaly!
He felt touched; he always saw Nanaly as just a brat with a flawed personality, but now suddenly, she seemed… not so bad!
“…”
As he watched the two in front of him show a whirlwind of four different expressions and eight various gazes… Gan Yan Yu was completely bewildered.
“Camaraderie…?”
Gan Yan Yu murmured.
That doesn’t really sound right.
“Nanaly, are you sure…”
“Aiya, don’t think about that! Keep going!”
Nanaly waved her hand.
“Yeah, let’s play that second round quickly!” Lin Tian chimed in.
The two of them quickly reached a consensus—
That is, to promptly skip this entire topic.
The young woman stared blankly at the duo.
Despite her head filled with question marks, Gan Yan Yu had no choice but to drop it and returned to her position.
(End of Chapter)
