Chapter 37: Even Gan Yan Yu Will Follow Lin Tian’s Steps
On the way to their destination.
Gan Yan Yu clenched her tiny fist with one hand while her other hand was drawing little stars on her thigh non-stop, and then pinching her own thigh afterward.
Lin Tian, who was watching beside her, was astounded by this scene.
“What’s all that about?”
“A-aah?”
Caught in the act, Gan Yan Yu’s face turned slightly red, and she withdrew her head awkwardly.
“When I get nervous, I draw five-pointed stars on my thigh.”
“Then what’s the pinching for?”
“Refreshing the canvas.”
“Six.”
It seems Gan Yan Yu has a strict system going on here.
I wonder if someone else could operate it properly.
To meet up with the Music Association president as requested by Gan Yan Yu, Lin Tian even sacrificed his beloved lunch break time and specially called for a car to go together with her today at noon.
“Are you really that nervous?” asked Lin Tian.
“It’s for you I’m nervous!”
“Nervous for me?”
“He’s a conductor who performed in the Royal Albert Hall! Do you know what that is?”
“The Royal Albert Hall in London, UK!”
Gan Yan Yu raised her index finger and said earnestly,
“Only world-class musicians have the privilege of performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London!”
“Oh.”
Although Lin Tian wasn’t familiar with these musical names, he got the gist of it.
Just like in the idol anime from that country where everyone yearns to perform at Tokyo Dome.
However, entertainment stuff surely can’t compare to world music; they aren’t on the same level.
“There are other prestigious places for musicians too, like the Musikverein in Vienna, Berlin Philharmonic in Berlin, Germany, and Carnegie Hall in New York, USA. These venues are considered the highest pinnacles of art for every musician. Performing there means you’re an incredibly talented musician!”
While saying these famous places, Gan Yan Yu had a look of longing in her eyes.
This must be part of her dream as a cellist.
“What about Grandpa Gan? Has he been to these places?”
“No…”
At this point, Gan Yan Yu’s gaze dimmed,
“Grandpa should’ve gone. But after being eliminated in the Kor Cup, he never performed again.”
“That’s quite a blow.”
Lin Tian found it hard to understand.
Though he knows nothing about the cello, he knew there were various competitions globally, and even for the cello, it wasn’t just the Kor Cup.
And by the time artists reach that level, competitions weren’t everything for them, right?
“Not exactly.”
Gan Yan Yu whispered softly, “That year, it shouldn’t have ended like that for Grandpa.”
“Why do you say so?”
“Some nasty stuff was done to him.”
Gan Yan Yu slightly agitated, whispered:
“During the entire competition period, Grandpa’s health was fine, but on the morning of the final round, he started vomiting uncontrollably after practice and only got to the hospital after the competition. They had to pump his stomach.”
The Chinese Cello Association appealed to the organizing committee, and even a panel from Vienna investigated but didn’t find anything.”
This was something Lin Tian hadn’t known.
He knew Gan Dadao had been eliminated from Kor Cup quarters but not about any such circumstances.
However, when he searched the news, he didn’t find any reports on it.
Looks like it was likely suppressed. After all, inconclusive investigations wouldn’t benefit public opinion.
No wonder Gan Dadao never played the cello again and opened a café instead.
His resolve was shattered.
Me? I’d give up too.
Years had passed since then, and the truth behind it sixteen years ago is lost to time.
But this became a driving reason for Gan Yan Yu to participate in the Kor Cup.
The teenage girl turned to the window and softly murmured:
“If there ever comes a day, I need to see Vienna myself. I want to know what Grandpa went through back then.”
Perhaps time had washed away the past, and participants, committees, or audiences might have forgotten.
But the one directly affected, his time was stuck in that moment sixteen years ago.
Looking at her grandfather, now a vegetative state unable to move, Gan Yan Yu couldn’t shake off her obsession with the Kor Cup.
Lin Tian began to understand the fervent dedication these musicians have to their art.
Simultaneously, he felt curious about this man named Wan Qi, an old artist.
The car stopped at an old residential area.
A young man answered the door when they knocked.
“Hello.”
Gan Yan Yu greeted politely, “We’re looking for Mr. Wan.”
“You must be Gan Yan Yu and Lin Tian. The old man has been waiting ages for you.”
The young man smiled, gesturing them in.
This house had a millennial vibe with gray-blue decor, old calendars on the wall, evoking dreamlike images.
As they stepped inside, Lin Tian saw an old white-haired man tidying things.
“Hey, Yan Yu’s here!” the man turned with a grin.
“Mr. Wan,” Gan Yan Yu bowed respectfully.
“Bah, I told you not to do this! We’ve known each other for so many years! I watched you grow up!”
Wan Qi seemed annoyed by the formalities, waving his hand vigorously.
What an energetic old fella, much like Gan Dadao.
They both shared an affinity for that.
“How’s your grandpa doing?”
“Meh, the same,” Gan Yan Yu said ironically.
Hearing this, the old man placed his book down and sat in a wooden rocking chair.
Heaving a heavy sigh:
“Hmph! This old coot, I keep telling him that sitting in that café all day will take away all his energy! Now you see him laying down?!”
“…”
Watching the atmosphere turn somber, Wan Qi lit up a large pipe.
“Let’s not talk about that—Yan Yu, let me introduce you to…”
Shifting his gaze to Lin Tian.
“This is Lin Tian.”
“Sir, nice to meet you.”
Probably catching the vibe from Gan Yan Yu, Lin Tian also made a polite bow.
“Aha! So you’re the one who wrote ‘Ode to Love’, right?!”
Wan Qi shot out of his seat with excitement, inspecting Lin Tian.
Unable to contain his admiration:
“Promise of the future, promise of the future indeed!”
“Come on in, guys!”
Waving them forward, the older gentleman led them into a room.
Turning on the light, a piano stood still in the center of the room.
“Youngster, come see!”
Wan Qi beckoned Lin Tian over, guiding him to touch the piano.
“Tell me how it feels. If it pleases you, feel free to take it!”
“Take it?”
Lin Tian was stunned.
“This piano has been with me for thirty years. I really hate to let it go, but Yan Yu’s been asking for it forever. Ha ha… this is the first time she’s approached me for something like this. How can I let her down?”
Wan Qi laughed heartily.
Lin Tian turned to Gan Yan Yu in surprise.
The young girl quickly averting her gaze, said in earnest, albeit lightly,
“It’s about time we share responsibilities. You’ve always been worrying about getting a piano, haven’t you?”
(Finish Chapter
