Chapter 376: It’s pretty good; nobody has a dad.
“Should you still need my training, Senpai, just call me,” I’ll be there.”
“Just that in all likelihood, it will be back to the old situation! Going there would only burden everyone.”
“See ya then!”
This was the last thing Bai Junze said to Lin Tian.
After that, they parted ways at the restaurant.
On his way back to the apartment, Lin Tian couldn’t stop pondering over everything.
He had a talent for playing music that rivaled any other.
But he wrapped himself up so tight that he couldn’t connect musically with anyone.
Was this all because of Bai Junze’s family?
Lin Tian took a deep breath.
Ever since listening to Bai Junze’s story, Lin Tian couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
Because Lin Tian himself was deeply affected by his own family. He couldn’t judge things from a rational standpoint and was very able to empathize with Bai Junze’s situation.
He knew too well how much personality flaws rooted in family problems could influence someone.
Just like Lin Tian himself.
For a long time, due to his early experiences, he was quite cold-hearted.
He was always looking on at others’ misfortunes as entertainment, not out of low EQ but simply not caring.
Until he met Gan Yan Yu and fell in love with music.
Only then did he slowly begin understanding others, even though he still puts their shared dreams first when making decisions.
“What now?”
“Should we give up on Bai Junze?”
At this point, it was necessary to face reality no matter how unwillingly.
Lin Tian considered the situation again.
If it were about general musical issues, Lin Tian might have been able to help.
But this was about the influence of their original families.
Lin Tian really didn’t know what to do.
In his past life, Lin Tian learned the hard way that family issues aren’t something you can fix or help with.
You had to run away.
Bai Junze wasn’t an essential element anyway; Relying on him, Lin Tian believed he could organize a concert alone.
But now, giving up on him meant overcoming this obstacle.
Could they truly pull off such a complex task as blending “pop and classical” music?
This weighed heavily on Lin Tian.
Time was running short; only fourteen days remained until the final match.
Achieving this by the final match seemed unlikely.
Lin Tian thought about it while riding the elevator back.
By the time he reached his floor, he saw Gan Yan Yu sitting at the door.
“Lin Tian.”
Gan Yan Yu spoke.
“What are you doing?”
“Waiting for you.”
The young woman stood up, dusted her bum.
“Why don’t you come inside? You know the password, right?” Sometimes, Lin Tian found it hard to follow Gan Yan Yu’s train of thought.
“Did you talk with Bai Junze?”
Gan Yan Yu didn’t answer directly, instead asked another question.
“We did.”
“Isn’t it ideal?”
“He says he can still perform, but he might hinder us.”
“That makes sense.”
Gan Yan Yu stared at her shoes, hesitated a moment, then suddenly looked up,
“You know what, Lin Tian, watch this.”
She pulled out her phone, scrolled through the album, and put it in front of Lin Tian.
The photos showed a busy walking street’s intersection. Since Lin Tian was unfamiliar with Bajing, he couldn’t identify the location.
Yet the buildings looked artistic, like a spot selling creative goods, with many young students busking and quite a buzz with fashion-styled college girls taking photos.
“Where is this?”
“Yuzi Square, next to Tian Yin University City, quite lively, crowded most weekends.”
Gan Yan Yu smiled.
“When I passed by earlier, I thought, if we held an outdoor concert here, playing our piece with Ma Wei An and company, it would probably look spectacular!”
“An outdoor concert?”
Lin Tian hadn’t envisioned that route.
“Yeah,” Gan Yan Yu said, “With Ma Wei An’s influence and ours, a bit more promotion should draw a lot of people.”
“Clearly, it’d be exciting offline.”
Lin Tian couldn’t help laughing.
Their online fans were already clashing daily—summoning them for a concert now sounded like something out of real-life fighting video games.
“So, considering the goal is to end the strife, isn’t it better to hold a live concert?” Gan Yan Yu said seriously.
“I believe that once people see us perform together, they’ll be charmed!”
“. Truly magical thinking.”
No matter how you looked at it, Gan Yan Yu’s suggestion seemed overly optimistic.
But…
That’s why Lin Tian liked her.
“Surely, this needs permission?” Lin Tian said.
Holding a concert on a bustling street definitely wasn’t that simple. Approvals and applications would be a hassle.
“Just leave it to Hao Zhichen.”
“Isn’t he omnipotent?”
“Indeed,” Lin Tian chuckled.
At that moment, a familiar interface appeared.
[Hidden Task—Activated]
[Goal: Perform outdoors with two pop musicians.]
[Requirement: 36,000 points of ‘excitement’]
[Deadline: 14 days]
[Reward: Random buff (???)]
[Later…]
Seeing this rare task, Lin Tian was stunned for a moment.
Only after a few seconds did he react.
A hidden task?
Expectedly, since the concert after, Lin Tian had almost covered every possible emotion.
To have a new task goal seemed unlikely.
Was it perhaps this cooperation with Ma Wei An that triggered the system’s hidden function?
It needed two people:
Then, no matter what, Bai Junze couldn’t be given up on.
“.”
“Lin Tian!”
“Huh?”
Lin Tian snapped back, and Gan Yan Yu stared at him reproachfully.
“What?”
“I’m talking to you, and you’re zoning out?”
“Nope, I’m listening.”
Lin Tian instinctively said.
Although Gan Yan Yu’s expression changed, her eyes revealed an unusual look. She stared at Lin Tian.
An unprecedented look of disdain surfaced in her eyes—a sort of disdain that seemed to pierce deep into the male psyche.
“Ganyan Yu, what’s your take on this?” Lin Tian was a little frustrated.
But Gan Yan Yu remained nonchalant,
“Not really.”
Pure sincerity radiated as she said,
“Are we decided?”
“Sure.”
“Also…”
Lin Tian hesitated.
Today’s talk with Bai Junze had been on his mind.
Deciding to tell Gan Yan Yu, they entered the room.
Sitting on the sofa, Gan Yan Yu listened attentively.
“Gan yan Yu, I’ve a question.”
“Yes?”
“Bai Junze, he’s distrustful due to his father’s actions and has become the person he is today.”
“Yes.”
“Well, is his lack of trust linked to his father or his long-time wandering?”
Lin Tian asked a seemingly unrelated question, which happened to be the one he couldn’t understand.
The source of Bai Junze’s insecurity baffled him.
Wandering surely explained it somewhat but still didn’t fully clarify it.
Why relate this to his father’s breaking his cello? Wasn’t it because he’d seen his father as a role model once?
So, what kind of emotions did Bai Junze harbor toward his father at last?
Lin Tian felt.
Only by understanding this could Bai Junze’s music issue be addressed.
“.”
Gan Yan Yu contemplated.
Eventually, the girl spoke,
“I’m not sure what being around his father feels like.”
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Lin Tian felt choked up.
Wow, indeed!
There wasn’t a dad present in the entire apartment.
They were analyzing others’ family situations!
In a roundabout way,
it’s pretty good; nobody has a dad.
Gan Yan Yu had only recently started reconnecting with her dad, thus providing no substantial reference.
As for Lin Tian, he vividly remembered his estranged dad, but their interactions were scarce during childhood.
“But I think,” Gan Yan Yu paused, saying,
“Every person’s music carries a message they wish to convey.”
“For instance, mine and Lin Tian’s convey our classical dreams.”
“Nanaly’s conveys joy and freedom.”
“Bai Junze’s… also conveys a message.”
Lin Tian paused.
His memories of Bai Junze’s performances were striking.
He always played with flair and confidence, giving a sense of freedom.
Perhaps Bai Junze aimed to convey that kind of spirit.
But somehow,
every time Lin Tian listened, he sensed an effort, an exaggerated performance as if tailored for a particular audience.
Behind the mask, what was Bai Junze trying to say?
“.”
“I’ll think about it.”
With late hour approaching, Lin Tian told Gan Yan Yu,
“You should rest.”
Sharing the issue had made him feel relieved with Gan Yan Yu.
Getting insights from her was valuable.
Dirty work like this Lin Tian wouldn’t let her handle; it would only complicate matters.
“. Not going yet?”
Surprised, Lin Tian realized Gan Yan Yu wasn’t listening.
He looked up at her.
Clutching her lips, the girl seemed deep in thought.
“Fine,”
Lin Tian placed a hand on her shoulder,
“You’ve contributed plenty with the outdoor concert idea.”
“Okay,”
Gan Yan Yu finally spoke, “Don’t tire yourself out.”
“If Bai Junze becomes a hindrance, we’ll replace him.”
“.
Lin Tian was taken aback. He couldn’t believe those words came from Gan Yan Yu.
“Alright.”
After sending her off, Lin Tian continued thinking.
The day after tomorrow, he would summon Bai Junze for a training session.
Solving this was necessary by then.
Taking a pen, Lin Tian drew a relationship chart,
Writing Bai Junze, his father, Lin Tian, and his father, and Gan Yan Yu, and her father.
If these three figures were all disconnected from their fathers,
Lin Tian felt pure hate,
Without any impurities, merely hoping they would perish.
Gan Yan Yu’s relationship with her father was,
Civility, politeness, and discomfort. Although she knew her father had wronged her, she harbored no ill feelings toward him.
In other words, it was indifference.
And so, their relationships with their fathers reflected their characters.
What about Bai Junze,
Regarding the father who expelled him from home and initiated his eight-year odyssey?
Perhaps, his feelings were more intricate.
Elsewhere,
Lying in bed, Gan Yan Yu cradled a plush toy,
Pressing its head to hers and taking a deep breath.
Lifting it, she gazed into its eyes,
“Dumb Lin Tian.”
“Don’t always carry the weight alone.”
“Are we not partners?”
She murmured.
In the dark, she sat up, picking up her phone.
Navigating the contacts,
She found Hao Zhichen’s:
[Hao Zhichen teacher.]
[Bai Junze comes from Hanjiang, right?]
