Chapter 370: Too Stable of a Gender-Neutral Relationship Makes People Worry
—
Changing his clothes and fixing up his hair, Lin Tian walked out of the apartment.
If you must know,
Lin Tian rarely paid attention to his appearance aside from competitions, but today he took extra time to make sure his hair looked neat.
With no clue what Mao Wei Ang wanted to talk about, Lin Tian was going in with a victor’s attitude.
Of course, I should dress up!
Lin Tian waited in the lobby on the first floor and soon saw Gan Yan Yu come down.
The girl wore a casual yet stylish tight-fitting pair of jeans and a white short-sleeve shirt. As she stepped out of the elevator, her every move caught Lin Tian’s eye, especially the fit of her pants.
“Hey! Isn’t this our recently advanced finalist to the Dragon Zither Cup, Teacher Gan Yan Yu!”
As soon as he saw her, Lin Tian teased from afar.
In the empty lobby, the young girl blushed and quickened her pace to approach Lin Tian.
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“Right, that’s exactly it!”
Lin Tian tapped his chin thoughtfully.
“You are the first cellos player in 16 years to use classical music to advance to the finals in a competition dominated by pop music’s king, Mao Wei Ang!”
“Stop saying that!”
Gan Yan Yu quickly lifted her hand to cover his face, becoming even more embarrassed.
Her fingers spread slightly, revealing one of his eyes again.
After a few seconds of eye contact, she withdrew her hand as though she had adjusted her emotions, knowing how to deal with Lin Tian.
“That wouldn’t have been possible without your best assists!”
Gan Yan Yu whispered.
“Right! Exactly!”
Lin Tian nodded with a smile.
“Be confident; you’ve earned every compliment.”
He realized they needed more playful banter on a regular basis.
“What were you looking at just now?”
“Um… nothing,” replied Lin Tian, puzzled.
“Exactly. You stared at me while I came out of the elevator. This pair of trousers… Is there something wrong? Or am I better suited in a skirt?”
“No.”
Lin Tian shook his head firmly.
“They’re perfect.”
Skirts were more for ambiance.
No pants could compete with the charm of a well-fitted pair of jeans.
But Gan Yan Yu’s aesthetic sometimes conflicted with Lin Tian’s.
Lin Tian was purely visually motivated; he understood that no one else did.
A b*tt-hugging pair of jeans looked fantastic, yet only a few appreciated its subtle allure.
This was way better than any fancy black or white stockings.
Just like an obedient student wearing a J.K. outfit, who has secretly worn see-through underwear underneath— it was the blend of formality with a hint of something hidden inside that intrigued him.
“Then why were you staring?”
Gan Yan Yu tilted her head in confusion.
“This outfit isn’t dressed-up,” she said.
“It’s fine. I was just checking on your weight.”
“98 pounds!”
“Almost a hundred?!”
Lin Tian examined her surprised.
It was unimaginable how a once petite angel had grown so much since gaining a little weight.
“I think I’m a bit overweight.”
She stuck her hand inside her shirt, fidgeting with her small stomach, showing some concern.
“I’ve got some meat on my stomach.”
“You’re still slim despite being 98 pounds.”
Lin Tian was amazed; compared to the previous Gan Yan Yu, that figure was lighter.
An average 5’5 person at that weight would be quite lean and categorized as “underweight.”
“There is actually some muscle,” she insisted, grabbing Lin Tian’s hand.
He pinched her belly.
Sure enough, there was some softness, even more than expected.
“Not to worry, we might just need a checkup?”
“Geez, what’s wrong?”
Gan Yan Yu noticed Lin Tian’s serious look and asked.
“Wondering if a duet can result in anything.”
“Dunce, having soft bellies isn’t unusual for girls!”
Gan Yan Yu blushed and covered Lin Tian’s mouth with her hands.
“You knew about that?”
“Your teasing is getting out of hand.”
He joked.
She thought Lin Tian was becoming bolder over time, which he wasn’t—he merely let his thoughts flow.
Back then, Lin Tian would just think such things without voicing them aloud. Now, he did.
“So close to crossing the line,” Gan Yan Yu scolded, trying to maintain formality.
“It started with you touching my arm.”
Lin Tian countered, referencing her unexpected gesture earlier.
He didn’t expect her reaction to silence him, leading to a long three-second pause where nothing was said. Then, he brought the topic back to normal conversation.
“In any case, within a hundred pounds, you shouldn’t worry. Those under seventy pounds might be unhealthy. But now, you’re fine.”
“Okay.”
Finally, the two exited the building and got into a taxi.
On their way, Lin Tian thought Gan Yan Yu’s nonchalant expression remained unchanged despite the earlier interaction. That mirrored their current dynamics. Despite occasional bold jokes and touches, nothing had progressed.
This stability worried Lin Tian.
What if their relationship couldn’t smoothly transition even after winning the Cole Cup?
He found comfort in the idea that keeping focus on the competition was good for now.
—
The two arrived at Comet Entertainment in Baijing, a company with considerable clout in Tian Chao’s entertainment industry.
Even though Lin Tian never followed stars, a quick search showed he recognized names linked to the agency.
At the building, they were greeted by overprotective security and led inside where they went up to the 13th floor. Staff introduced the prestigious production team and mentioned Mao Wei Ang—the “ace” behind many A-list artists.
Inside the office, Lin Tian finally saw Mao Wei Ang.
“Teachers Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu!”
Mao Wei Ang, who seemed friendly and relaxed, stood up smiling.
“Welcome.”
“Hello,” Lin Tian said, surprised by the warm reception.
This was the closest Lin Tian had been to Mao Wei Ang, who had appeared on stage before in a performance.
Seeing him in person, Lin Tian was taken aback by how much thinner and frail he looked compared to the screen. Yet, despite his gaunt appearance, his sharp eyes indicated strong character.
“Please have a seat.”
Mao Wei Ang invited them to sit on the couch nearby where a broker seemed to provide tea.
“I’m grateful you both could make it,” he said, a sincere expression spreading across his face.
His voice was softer than expected, gentle and comfortable. But there was a sense of mystery; something about him made him seem harmless until he performed, exuding magnetic presence.
Lin Tian, however, felt cautious.
This was someone called the king of pop music, whose support online caused a huge stir.
“During the recent online controversy, have you been following the story?” Mao Wei Ang asked.
“Of course.”
“Let me sincerely apologize for involving both of you in the unrest.”
“Why do you apologize?” Gan Yan Yu asked, confused.
“The chaos was partly due to my fans; I should have controlled it,” Mao Wei Ang sighed.
Lin Tian understood what he meant but felt the apology was misplaced—they were part of the problem themselves.
