Chapter 33: Only Music Truly Matters
A solo instrumental video isn’t exactly a hit magnet on short-form platforms.
It’s even less likely for a niche instrument like the cello.
Unless you’re one of those flashy outfits doing live streams and taking requests.
Ask any TikTokers; they know what’s up.
Don’t let those high-five, million-love videos fool you.
The first shot of your career that hits a thousand likes is an anomaly.
And if it gets over ten thousand, consider yourself the next internet munchkin.
Lin Tian managed to bag 23k in this cold buffet scenario. Not bad at all!
This wasn’t an accident. Lin Tian knew exactly what he was doing!
Even if he didn’t play much TikTok himself, he had a pretty good hunch about what makes a video go viral.
However, Lin Tian had already done his homework a few days ago.
You remember that video of him playing in the restaurant?
A dozen plus likes. Lin Tian had thought his “Wedding in Dreams” would be the real star.
But nope! It turned out people were more interested in “the cute boy high school student moonlighting as a pianist in a restaurant.”
That little revelation taught Lin Tian something.
An impeccable performance is a bonus but not crucial.
What’s truly essential? The spicy story the video can spin.
With this insight, Lin Tian took a massive shortcut.
He got Gan Yan Yu to immediately change into her high school uniform, positioned her perfectly under the spotlight, and captured her from the best angle possible.
That’s how he created the “young female student playing an instrument” buzz.
A juicy plot with top-notch music? Impossible not to blow up!
Comments proved it:
“d*mn! Has no one noticed he’s killing it with these tags?!”
“If my bow could dance like this on the strings, I’d be famous too!”
“He’s legit! Not kidding about the labels!”
Can you imagine a high school girl playing such beautiful cello? No one can resist!
Especially when everyone saw “Cat” as the performer, their brains went into overdrive.
“Cat sauce… Haha Cat sauce…”
“She’s just a high schooler and she’s already incredible! Cat has to be this goddess!”
“Any sister who plays cello like that must be a beauty.”
Of course, dissenters existed.
Like “Is she blind or just ignorant?” who laid down a barrage in the comments:
“Not to burst anyone’s bubble, but y’all think a school uniform means you’re still a student? Here we are on TikTok where clicks are king.
“I play in a band, and this chick’s cello skills are near pro-level. Who says she’s a student? Not a fortyish lady, I doubt it. Even if she is, she’s probably a plain Jane hiding behind this act.”
No matter how fiery the debate got,
Lin knew their first sh**t was a success!
Upon returning home tonight, Lin called Gan Yan Yu, inviting her over.
This news should make her ecstatic!
Lin was prepared to brag: “See? Told you high school uniforms work!”
With hundreds of thousands of plays, think of it, over ten thousand people heard the young woman’s soulful cello!
Isn’t that what she’s been striving for? More people to appreciate her music?
Lin couldn’t fathom Gan’s reaction.
“Mmm.”
As Gan sat on Lin’s couch and skimmed her phone, Lin expected a huge wave of excitement.
“Not bad,” she murmured, handing the phone back.
Stunned, Lin blinked.
“Just that?”
“Huh?”
“No feedback?”
“What more should there be?”
To play along, Gan twirled a tress of hair, pondered dramatically, then asserted:
“Thousand plays, tons of likes, impressive. Next time, we’ll break records!”
Lin frowned, puzzled.
No way, this felt wrong.
Although Gan remained calm most times, when she was elated, her smile and twinkling eyes were unmistakable.
Something’s not right? You don’t seem totally stoked.
“I don’t think I quite liked everything,” Gan confessed.
“Really now?”
“It’s just… strange.”
“Strange how?”
“This “Praise of Love,” you wrote, Lin. It was stellar, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Even if my performance wasn’t perfect, it was almost complete, no?”
“It was flawless.”
“So what makes it so strange? Nobody seems to talk about the music, like they just clicked because of us.”
Gan whispered, “Yet your music is so wonderful. Why can’t they appreciate it?”
Lin fell silent. He listened clearly.
Gan had committed herself earnestly to the sh**t, played wholeheartedly with Lin.
It wasn’t for “view counts,” only so more souls could hear them.
Now, despite the views, it’s hard to say anyone really loved their music.
Only her?
“It’s fine. At least someone’s watching,” Gan offered.
Her heart was conflicted.
She read those admiring remarks, praises, admiration for looks…
Not even a ripple stirred.
None of it concerned her.
Looks were a superficial quality, often highlighted, yet so unimportant.
Gan despised this.
Seemed the best thing about her was always her façade.
She cared only for music.
“It’s okay. We’ll do better next shot!”
Lin patted her shoulder, comforting her.
Then, he pivoted,
“There’s still folks who get us. Like look—”
Handing over his phone, he showed her:
An inbox note from ‘Water Addict Yanyan’:
“I’m simple, clueless about music. Yet, your tune made me feel true love!
Moon and Cat, thank you. Though I’ve never met you, you’ve truly changed my life.
Starting tomorrow, a new chapter begins for me!”
Stunned, Gan’s luminous eyes trembled.
Dark clouds lifted.
“See?”
Lin tucked the phone away, grinning smugly.
(And thus ends Chapter 33.)
