188. Stop Pretending, Lin Tian, Hand It Over!
Chapter 188 – Stop Pretending, Lin Tian, Hand It Over!
Nanaly’s performance ended.
With thunderous applause from the audience.
That arrow of a gaze from the judges’ panel—
Struck right between Lin Tian’s eyebrows.
”Teacher Gan.”
Lin Tian spoke up,
”It’s our turn now.”
”Mm.”
Gan Yan Yu murmured softly.
”Wondering how to slap that old fogey?”
”Mm.”
”Teacher Gan, you—”
Lin Tian turned around only to see the young woman smile at him,
”Don’t worry, I won’t be affected.”
”Really?”
Now it was Lin Tian who lacked confidence.
Talk about being unaffected,
Back in the day, raising a fan sign used to make him tremble uncontrollably on stage.
Now, she’s about to face her former idol and the harsh criticism at last year’s event.
Forget Gan Yan Yu,
Thinking back to last time,
Even Lin Tian found himself slightly affected.
Not because he was too scared to respond properly.
He just—
He thought he could have put it better.
d*mn, he should have cursed him like #^&#* at that moment!!
The more Lin Tian thought, the angrier he got.
Not being able to pull off a decent argument would really upset him for a long time!
Even someone as adept as Lin Tian couldn’t escape this.
However,
In these past 12 days of training,
Lin Tian focused solely on his practice,
Without giving much thought to Gan Yan Yu’s mental state.
In the past, preparing her mindset even came before actual playing.
But with the stage ahead, Lin Tian finally had to care.
”I’m fine, you saw me play last time, nothing went wrong,” Gan Yan Yu said.
”True.”
Still, Lin Tian couldn’t help but ask,
”So, what did you figure out to do it?”
”Well?”
”Have you said it before? Say it again, then.”
”Nope.”
Gan Yan Yu blinked,
”Guess.”
”. Not this kind of pre-match mind games.”
Wouldn’t have thought this little miss could scheme so hard?
”If you want to know, after you finish playing, take me for some pudding. I’ll tell you where to get some—just near Liberation Road,” Gan Yan Yu said with a mischievous grin, putting her hands behind her back as if planning something wicked.
”Sure, but don’t eat too much, we still have a celebration dinner tonight,” Lin Tian responded, lost in thought.
”Three cups, two mango flavor, one strawberry flavor.”
”No way, one cup,” Lin Tian sternly replied.
”Come on, two cups; one of each flavor,” she argued.
”Just one cup.”
”That’s mean.”
”.”
”Uh, excuse me, teachers, can we go up already…?” Just then, a staff member waved a hand in front of them.
Embarrassingly stating,
Lin Tian turned around to find everyone in the resting room staring, eyes wide, confused.
”. ”
”Let’s go.”
Lin Tian grabbed Gan Yan Yu by the arm and they hurried out the door.
”Unbelievable… still chatting as if it’s leisure time!”
Mao Junfeng couldn’t help but say.
“Couples are always like that.”
Yun Qiu Qiu whispered from the corner, eyes still glued to her phone.
”What?! Couples? They’re only 18!”
Mao Junfeng, single at 32, slammed his fists on the table,
Despairingly,
”Why can’t I find such beautiful female accompanists!”
”The next one is Gan Yan Yu.”
He Shu Mo looked down at his list, a slight smile on his lips.
He didn’t actually need to check.
By the start of the competition, the judges already knew which spot Gan Yan Yu occupied and who followed her.
Last time, everyone who heard her for the first time was impressed.
This player wasn’t just dangerous, but unlike any other.
Others could be praised for their emotional expression,
But with her—her playing felt more like an experience, a journey. She brought everyone along with her.
No wonder Master Tuo Ba was angry enough to criticize her in public.
He Shu Mo adjusted his glasses and glanced at Tuo Ba Jianhui, who sat two seats over.
After Nanaly stepped down, Tuo Ba Jianhui remained silent, calmly sipping his tea.
An hour into the competition,
He had barely spoken since mentioning Na Ly’s background,
Just like the last time.
Silent the whole morning until after Gan Yan Yu’s performance—whatever.
He Shu Mo’s eyes moved back to the stage.
Regardless, this performance is going to shake things up.
”Hey hey! Look, they’re up!”
From the audience,
The sight of the young man and woman stepping onto the stage caused a stir.
”Sheesh, are they really Moonlight Brother and Cat? Their pieces are always from Moonlight and Cat!”
”What’s that all about?”
”You mean you haven’t heard? Last month’s video of Moonlight and Cat was filmed at Clear River, so everyone suspects it’s them!”
”Actually, they seem to fit the part so well—besides, they’re just too gorgeous for my imagination. But everything else matches.”
”.”
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu took their seats.
Facing the blinding lights,
Lin Tian looked down at the judges’ seat and locked eyes with Tuoba Jianhui.
Seeing Lin Tian’s gaze, Tuoba Jianhui stared right back, his stern face emotionless.
Probably not thrilled, seeing what he said earlier.
Lin Tian chuckled to himself.
He then turned to look at Yao Han, seated to Tuoba Jianhui’s right, also looking back.
Lin Tian had never quite understood Yao Han’s motives for helping him,
Risking exposure from Tuoba Jianhui,
For what? Just to see “the best stage ever”?
He’s got to be out of his mind.
As if reading Lin Tian’s thoughts, Gan Yan Yu turned and gave him a glance.
They locked eyes.
Time to start!
First, Lin Tian’s piano solo filled the hall.
Soft and gentle, like a stream flowing through the room,
It seemed to wash away all troubles, calming every listener’s heart.
”The pianist named Lin Tian is impressive,” a judge remarked.
”Yeah, I didn’t notice last time—Gan Yan Yu’s accompaniment is so high-level,” another judge nodded.
Yao Han meanwhile was lying relaxed in his chair, eyes closed, fully immersed.
Is this it? No way…
Come on, Lin Tian, show us what you’ve really got!
”.”
At that moment,
Gan Yan Yu picked up the bow.
And with the cello’s entrance, the music soared into a frenzy.
”~”
Yao Han jolted upright in his chair.
Eyes widened, he quickly patted He Shu Mo on the shoulder,
”Wait! What piece is this?!”
He Shu Mo flipped through the materials,
Adjusting his glasses,
”Oh, they submitted a change yesterday night. The new piece is called… ‘Canon in D Major.'”
(To be continued)
