### Chapter 396: How About a Bet?
At the moment Lin Tian posed this question, Gao Zhen Yang didn’t say a word—his expression was as serious as a cat watching a laser pointer.
In truth, when it came to the answer to this question, there was no need to even look Gao Zhen Yang in the eye. Lin Tian had already made up his mind.
If we’re talking about having it all—dreams and love, it’s certainly possible.
But, there was a little matter of priority.
It boiled down to the choice made by Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu—love could wait.
Dream-chasing, however, was something that could never be paused!
So, in their eyes, dreams definitely took precedence over love.
In this moment, Lin Tian finally remembered!
The original intention they had agreed upon was always like this.
Back then, Lin Tian thought he and Gan Yan Yu had set such an agreement because, in the face of dreams, romance was utterly negligible. Seriously, you could start that anytime!
He had already mentally prepared for that.
Now, to dwell on this issue seemed like Lin Tian was getting a bit too tangled up in his own thoughts.
But, Lin Tian still didn’t want to believe he was going off the deep end.
“Actually, I talked to Teacher Gan last night. I think our performance should be smooth sailing,” he said.
“Then let’s give it a shot,” Gao Zhen Yang replied.
His words weren’t meant to sound ominous; he was just asking seriously, “I don’t know how you and Teacher Gan Yan Yu are pulling it off, but I still don’t believe you can nail ‘Ode to Love’ before resolving this issue.”
“So, I still suggest you and Teacher Gan consider switching pieces since there are only a few days left before the competition.”
Lin Tian fell silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and stood up, “Got it, Teacher Gao.”
“Thanks for bringing this to my attention,” Lin Tian said.
Even though he needed some time to process Gao Zhen Yang’s words, the fact that Gao Zhen Yang rushed to find him the moment he landed in Bai Jing was more than enough for Lin Tian to feel grateful!
“Of course, my words are just for reference. After all, you two are the ones competing. How you choose is entirely up to you and Teacher Gan Yan Yu,” Gao Zhen Yang added and paused before continuing, “I’ll come to watch your final match in a few days.”
“Sure,” Lin Tian nodded, about to leave the table.
At that moment, He Zhi Chen returned.
Seeing Lin Tian getting up, He Zhi Chen exclaimed, “You just ordered food and you’re leaving?”
“Not eating,” Lin Tian replied, “I need to go find Teacher Gan.”
“Not in a hurry, are you, Lin Tian? I ordered so much—at least enough for four people!”
He Zhi Chen’s expression showed a bit of regret; when it came to food, he was always invested.
“Forget it, He Bro, let Lin Tian go,” Gao Zhen Yang chimed in. “He should have more important things to deal with right now.”
As he spoke, Gao Zhen Yang threw an arm around He Zhi Chen’s neck and added with a laugh, “We two haven’t had a proper catch-up yet!”
“Well, you have to eat everything with me then!”
“No problem!” Gao Zhen Yang said cheerfully.
Lin Tian gave a grateful look to both of them before turning and dashing out of the restaurant.
Watching Lin Tian’s departing figure, Gao Zhen Yang let go and couldn’t help but sigh, “Lin Tian really has it tough. After all, he’s just a 19-year-old young man. At this age, guys haven’t even begun to grasp the complexities of relationships before having to throw their whole heart and soul into their careers. It’s completely normal for him to be stressed when things get tough.”
“Thankfully, Teacher Gan Yan Yu has always been quite sensible. That’s probably how they’ve managed to keep their feelings intact under such pressure for so long,” He Zhi Chen added.
Hearing this, Gao Zhen Yang looked up curiously at He Zhi Chen, “He Bro, who do you think is the more rational one in their relationship?”
“What do you mean?”
“Who do you think has been the rational one in keeping them on good terms?”
Gao Zhen Yang asked.
As someone who had spent the longest time with them, He Zhi Chen, playing the “family elder” role, was certainly the most qualified to answer.
“Teacher Gan Yan Yu.”
Without hesitation, He Zhi Chen responded.
“Oh?” Gao Zhen Yang raised an eyebrow in skepticism.
Generally, in relationships, you’d expect the guy to be the rational one, right? Plus, a talent like Lin Tian surely seemed more mature and rational than the average guy.
“Is it because Lin Tian’s reaction to ‘Ode to Love’ has been so intense lately?” Gao Zhen Yang probed.
“Nope,” He Zhi Chen shook his head, “Even before this piece, I believed that Teacher Gan Yan Yu was the more rational one.”
“Why?”
“You might not know, but I do.” He Zhi Chen explained, “Even though Teacher Gan Yan Yu seems clueless about love, she has always been very clear-headed. Whether it’s their agreement to marry after winning the championship or the rules they created during this time to avoid crossing boundaries, all of these were set up under her guidance.”
“Lin Tian told you that?”
“Yeah,” He Zhi Chen continued, “While it was done with Lin Tian’s support, at the end of the day, it was Teacher Gan Yan Yu who made those choices. So, even if she looks clueless, she has a clear understanding of feelings. This determination is what moved Lin Tian, leading to where they are now.”
“What a person with ambition!” Gao Zhen Yang remarked.
At the age of eighteen or nineteen, brimming with youth, resisting the urge to express affection for someone they liked, and enduring loneliness is incredibly difficult.
Especially for a girl.
“But, He Teacher, I want to bet with you,” Gao Zhen Yang suddenly grinned mischievously.
“A bet?”
“I believe Lin Tian, though sometimes emotionally volatile, is actually the more rational one in the relationship. And Teacher Gan Yan Yu’s calmness right now is merely because she hasn’t fully grasped their feelings.”
Gao Zhen Yang continued, “If someday something happens that could alter their life paths, Teacher Gan Yan Yu will be the one who impulsively acts without thinking.”
“Are you so sure?” He Zhi Chen narrowed his eyes, showing a hint of disdain.
In He Zhi Chen’s memory, that kind of impulsive image was far from Teacher Gan Yan Yu’s character.
“That description fits Lin Tian a lot better!”
In contrast, Lin Tian was the one who made bold decisions in key moments that somehow led to miraculous reversals!
“That’s because they haven’t faced anything challenging enough yet,” Gao Zhen Yang reasoned. “What you view as a ‘crisis’ is still something Lin Tian can handle calmly.”
“As their manager, you think you know them better than I do?” He Zhi Chen questioned.
“That’s just intuition!” Gao Zhen Yang smiled. “It’s the instinct of a musician.”
“…”
“Wait, I still need to calculate this!”
After thinking for a while, He Zhi Chen couldn’t accept it.
He quickly opened his tablet, “I have all the data on Lin Tian and Teacher Gan Yan Yu’s competitions, as well as all the major decisions they’ve made.”
He Zhi Chen, known for his meticulousness, was determined not to back down!
He didn’t believe Gao Zhen Yang could possibly know more than him!
However, midway through flipping through the data, Gao Zhen Yang’s hand suddenly blocked his view.
“Forget it, I’m not looking,” Gao Zhen Yang scoffed, “Some things aren’t something that can be calculated with data—just say whether you’re betting or not!”
“Oh, so this is how you want to play, huh?” He Zhi Chen adjusted his glasses, chuckling helplessly, “Bet it is!”
“Then what’s at stake?”
“If you lose, you have to come with us to the Vienna Cole Cup competition and play coach for Lin Tian and Teacher Gan Yan Yu.”
Gao Zhen Yang’s eyes widened, protesting against He Zhi Chen’s scheme, “I’m supposed to do free labor for you? What, I won’t even attend class?”
“Figure it out yourself!” He Zhi Chen laughed smugly.
“Alright, then if you lose, you have to give me the spot as a witness at Lin Tian and Teacher Gan Yu’s wedding.”
“??”
At this, He Zhi Chen practically couldn’t hold back, his eyes widening as he stared at Gao Zhen Yang, “How did you know I’ve been eyeing that spot for so long?! I was planning to bring it up with Lin Tian!”
“Doesn’t matter, just tell him that spot is for me.”
“Wow, are you serious? I’ve been looking forward to this for so long, and you just want to swoop in and take it?”
For a long time, He Zhi Chen, the chief manager, had been keeping this under wraps.
Having played the “elder” for a while now, he was always keeping an interested eye on the little lovebirds’ relationship.
The moment he would relish the most would be attending Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu’s wedding as a witness.
If that day really came, He Zhi Chen felt his life would be complete!
He had been planning just when to find an opportunity to discuss this with Lin Tian.
After all, Lin Tian had no family, no relatives, no colleagues, and no bosses.
Wasn’t he the obvious top pick?
Now, this little happiness that had been hiding away inside the usually serious He Zhi Chen was unearthed by Gao Zhen Yang!
He even suspected that Gao Zhen Yang was intentionally digging for this tidbit!
Just to set up a trap and reveal this little treasure of joy.
“Let’s make this bet exciting; otherwise, what’s the point?” Gao Zhen Yang chuckled.
“I’m risking a month of free coaching here!”
“Alright—bet it is!”
Not wanting to back down, He Zhi Chen also put his chips on the table.
He firmly believed that the meticulous judgments he crafted from data were way more reliable than Gao Zhen Yang’s so-called “intuition”!
“Let’s wait and see,” Gao Zhen Yang laughed.
The first conversation between these two long-lost friends turned out to be such a nonsensical “bet.”
Perhaps they couldn’t even imagine when they would find out the result of this wager.
“Ding dong—”
Lin Tian rang the doorbell to Gan Yan Yu’s place.
After a moment, the girl wearing white pajamas opened the door.
Seeing Lin Tian dressed neatly, Gan Yan Yu rubbed her sleepy eyes in surprise, “Are you heading out?”
“I’ve already been out and back.”
“Ah?”
“Put on some clothes, we’re starting the rehearsal now.”
“So rushed? You haven’t had breakfast, right?”
“Let’s just get a practice in!”
At this point, Lin Tian wasn’t concerned about formalities.
He was eager to validate his suspicions and prove whether he was right or not.
“Where are we going?”
“To my room,” Lin Tian said, “We need to rehearse, right?”
“Okay…”
A hint of disappointment flickered across Gan Yan Yu’s face.
Didn’t they agree last night that it would be in her room?
“Just wait for me a moment.”
With that, Gan Yan Yu closed the door.
After a bit, Lin Tian, who had already set up the equipment at his place, heard a knock on the door.
Opening it, he saw Gan Yan Yu again, now dressed elegantly in a snow-white long dress.
After washing her face, the girl looked much more refreshed.
“Let’s go.”
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu took their places at their respective practice spots.
With no unnecessary chit-chat.
3, 2, 1—countdown over.
Lin Tian started playing the piano.
Before long, Gan Yan Yu joined in with her cello.
The gentle melody resonated in the morning apartment.
“…”
Very good!
At the outset, Lin Tian quickly sensed the shift in Gan Yan Yu’s tone.
Their efforts from yesterday were clearly not in vain!
The girl’s cello now sounded deeper and softer than yesterday, immediately filling Lin Tian with a sense of calm.
This reflected Gan Yan Yu’s heartfelt intent.
Differing from Lin Tian’s more cautious and tender feelings.
Seeing the joyful expression on Lin Tian’s face.
Gan Yan Yu, in the midst of playing, also felt a surge of confidence.
She played bolder, channeling the feeling she discovered last night.
Like this,
Let everything out, Gan Yan Yu thought.
If they do, they’ll absolutely deliver the best stage performance!
They WILL win the championship in this finals!!
“…”
Thinking about how happy it made her, when she turned to share her feelings with Lin Tian.
Her expression froze.
—Before her, Lin Tian was frowning deeply.
His face wore a particularly profound expression.
“Indeed… He wasn’t wrong; we’re still just a bit off,” Lin Tian let go of the piano keys and murmured.
“What’s lacking?” Gan Yan Yu queried urgently.
“At what point do we fall short?”
Simultaneously, as she put down her bow, Gan Yan Yu anxiously asked.
“…”
Watching Gan Yan Yu’s earnest and innocent face.
Lin Tian hesitated, ultimately unable to say the words out loud.
—Because our love is too suppressed.
So, no matter how hard we refine “Ode to Love” to perfection,
We could only make the superficial aspects flawless.
They would never be able to deliver the best performance of “Ode to Love” on the finals stage.
“Maybe I was asking too much,” Lin Tian sighed, “Perhaps it would be better if we switched pieces.”
Lin Tian thought about it and surprisingly felt a bit relieved.
Just as Gao Zhen Yang had said.
He and Gan Yan Yu weren’t wrong; their love could stand the test of time.
It was just that they encountered “Ode to Love” at the wrong time and place.
From the start, Gan Yan Yu didn’t want to play this piece; it was Lin Tian who insisted.
“No!”
At that moment, Gan Yan Yu fixed her gaze on Lin Tian, a bit miffed, “I only want this one!!”
(End of Chapter)
