Chapter 402: Is There Anything More Important Than Dreams? (Bonus Chapter)
Life isn’t exactly a box of chocolates; sometimes it’s more like a mystery grab bag of socks.
For most people, daily life drags on in a monotonous kind of normalcy—that is, until the media internet gives us a license to daydream.
Like right now, Lin Tian was scratching his head, and lo and behold, he spotted some bl**d.
He had a full thirty seconds to ponder this delightful conundrum: was this a bizarre dream, or was reality just giving him a nasty surprise?
But alas, thirty seconds later…
Even with his consciousness hazy, he finally managed to piece together one excruciating fact—
He had been hit by a car.
And it didn’t seem like it was just a gentle tap.
His head felt heavier by the minute.
What kind of joke was this?
Lin Tian wondered in disbelief.
Here he was, on the brink of the Dragon Zither Cup finals…
And a moron of a driver just had to swerve into him?
—Oh come on, you can’t be serious?!
“Ah!”
He bit down on his lip, lying flat on the ground while clutching his thigh, groaning in pain.
“d*mn it!”
Sweet mother of all that’s holy, that hurt like a kick from a mule!
Lin Tian’s nerves were bombarded by sharp pains from every joint. He couldn’t afford his mind to wander off; right now, he had one single focus:
Hang in there.
Just hang in there.
This little scratch? Totally nothing.
Sure, his head felt like it was filled with lead and his knee might as well be in pieces, but fortunately, his arms still worked—sort of. They wouldn’t mess with his cello game.
He absolutely could not collapse right here.
This was the finals, the most important showdown of their lives.
They were so freakishly close to their dreams!
Gan Yan Yu had waited so many years for this; it was everything she wished for, everything she and Lin Tian had tirelessly pursued over the past year.
They had invested so much for this moment.
Now, their dreams were practically within arm’s reach.
How could he possibly give up here?
No way, absolutely no way!
Lin Tian clutched his head and squinted at the oncoming cars, biting his lip hard enough to make a dentist raise an eyebrow.
Lin Tian, you must be so confused right now, huh?
Meanwhile, Gan Yan Yu sat all by her lonesome in a tranquil rest room.
She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling like it held the secrets of the universe.
After hearing that… well, you’d probably be just as puzzled.
That version of me you thought you knew? Yeah, she’s a bit different from what you’re seeing now.
Maybe you liked the Gan Yan Yu who was always open, the one who shared everything and never got caught up in internal debates.
But,
Sorry!
The old me might have been that way once.
But somewhere along the line, I stopped being the person you thought I was.
There are some things that just can’t be spoken aloud; I have to settle for using “Chibi Little Tian” as a stand-in.
These unspoken thoughts?
They’re not just out of fear of telling you.
“It’s that I just don’t have the courage to face it.”
Gan Yan Yu muttered, a hint of bitterness creeping into her smile.
She knew all too well what she should and shouldn’t do, what was okay to pursue now, and what was absolutely off-limits.
She had so much on her shoulders.
She had to make that dream a reality.
Nothing was more important than that dream.
But,
Whenever she sat beside Lin Tian, a comforting warmth enveloped her.
That feeling fueled her little desires to grow.
—Just a little closer.
Just a little closer, and it would be perfect.
Forget the rules.
Let’s pretend nothing ever happened and sneak in a little fun!
No one will be the wiser; it won’t affect anything.
Gan Yan Yu reassured herself.
And then? Just let the joy flow!
The nagging worries chased her, an insatiable desire.
Every time that thought flickered in Gan Yan Yu’s mind, another voice quickly shushed it away.
—How can you do this?
The dream is still unrealized; indulging now is crossing the line! Yan Yu, get your head in the game!
What’s worse?
What would Lin Tian think of you?
The Lin Tian who liked the single-minded, music-obsessed Little Gan, the one for whom nothing could derail her devotion to her dreams—
The mere thought of him knowing? Utterly repugnant.
He would be so disappointed.
He loves the rational, determined Gan Yan Yu, the one who is all about pushing forward, definitely not this confused little girl.
So sorry!
Lin Tian!
Please forgive these petty thoughts of mine.
Once upon a time, you pulled me from the abyss,
And now I’m on the road to a normal, healthy life.
You wouldn’t want to see the person you saved morph into this neurotic mess, would you?
Honestly, I just can’t help myself sometimes.
Gan Yan Yu clenched her little fist tightly.
Maybe it’s because of this unbearably conflicted self that Lin Tian feels her affection is… not “pure” enough.
Gan Yan Yu longed to pour all of this out to Lin Tian.
She needed him to understand…
The one wracked with doubts and inner turmoil during this time wasn’t just Lin Tian; Gan Yan Yu had been questioning herself relentlessly as well.
But that can wait until after the competition,
Right now? It doesn’t matter.
Last night, she and Lin Tian had finally opened up to each other.
They found their groove once again.
Without even discussing it, they both cast aside their distractions, focusing entirely on the competition ahead.
In the pursuit of their dreams, emotions can get tangled up in various knots.
Like Gan Yan Yu right now, still muddled over last night’s fiasco.
Yet, she believed that when they stepped onto that stage, in that pivotal moment,
All this mental clutter would vanish, and they would focus on their dreams!
“Contestant No. 10, Gan Yan Yu, you are up next; please prepare!”
As the staff flung open the rest room door, calling for Gan Yan Yu,
The girl snapped back to reality.
“Is it my turn?”
“Yes.”
The staff member frowned and added,
“Please head to the stage area immediately.”
With that, they left.
Gan Yan Yu glanced at her phone, noticing the message she sent Lin Tian half an hour ago still unanswered.
“What’s going on?”
Gan Yan Yu stood up, muttering.
An uneasy feeling settled in her stomach.
She flashed back to that fateful day on their initial stage performance with Lin Tian.
Back then, he was also late and never responded.
He wasn’t the type to goof off on important days like this.
Could he be mad about what happened last night?
Would he even show up?
A whirlwind of thoughts spiraled in Gan Yan Yu’s head, completely immobilizing her.
Just then, the same staff member returned, noticing Gan Yan Yu was still dazed and asked loudly,
“Is there a problem?”
“My partner hasn’t arrived yet,” Gan Yan Yu replied.
“.Huh??”
The staff member’s eyes widened with disbelief.
“Can you let contestant number 11 go on first?”
Gan Yan Yu said earnestly, then hurriedly added,
“I’ll communicate with her!”
“Do you think this is some sort of community get-together?!”
The staff shot back, clearly irritated.
“This is the Dragon Zither Cup! Contestant No. 10, you need to head to the waiting area NOW! Or you’ll be disqualified!”
“.”
The elegant performance concluded as the girl gracefully bowed.
Bai Xi stood on stage, holding her skirt, and bowed to the audience.
Cheers erupted throughout the hall.
“She’s so beautiful! I love Sister Bai Xi!”
“Her performance is like a dance! Each time is a delight; she’s just magic!”
“Wow, in the finals, Sister Bai Xi looks even more stunning than last time!”
“Though her expression might not rival Bai Junze’s, I like her stage presence the most; she’s the only performer who makes my eyes and ears dance!”
“.”
Audience members excitedly shared their thoughts, many still gazing at Bai Xi with a starry-eyed look.
Meanwhile, in the commentary booth, the two announcers were equally captivated.
Feng Ye crossed her arms and smiled,
“Every time I watch Teacher Bai Xi, I get lost in her charm. Honestly, though her music might not be the best, it’s definitely the most enchanting!”
“Absolutely! No wonder she’s from the same cello department as Gan Yan Yu and Nanaly!”
Zhu Ye agreed,
“Looks like anything from Qingjiang is top-tier!”
“Originally, I thought the championship battle wouldn’t involve Teacher Bai Xi, but now it seems… everything’s up in the air!”
As Bai Xi wrapped up her bow and stood,
Seeing the audience’s applause, a grin crept onto her lips.
Did you see that, Teacher Lin Tian?
Even without your help, I can produce such magical music.
Can you sense my allure now?
“.”
Bai Xi gracefully exited the stage.
Around the corner, she spotted a silhouette crouched against the wall.
“Gan Yan Yu?”
Bai Xi blinked, puzzled.
Suddenly, she felt an unusual tension radiating from the girl before her.
“What’s wrong?”
Bai Xi knelt down, finally noticing Gan Yan Yu’s expressionless face, seemingly devoid of sparkles in her eyes.
“You…”
Bai Xi’s mouth gaped in surprise but the words fizzled out.
Then she glanced around and realized something felt terribly off.
“Where’s Lin Tian? Where did he go?!”
“I don’t know,” Gan Yan Yu replied softly.
“Doesn’t he realize how important this competition is?”
Bai Xi exclaimed in disbelief.
“Have you called him?!”
“He’s on the phone with He Zhi Chen.”
“We need to get on stage now,” she said, brushing her hair back nervously.
“What are we going to do? What are we going to do??”
“Are you seriously planning to perform solo?”
Bai Xi knew better — this was not just a moment of figuring out a new partner.
The two of them were inseparable!
Without one of them, the performance was as good as toast!
“Gan Yan Yu, you’re up!”
At that moment, the host rushed over, urging Gan Yan Yu.
“She’s not ready! Let the next contestant go first!”
Bai Xi jumped in front of Gan Yan Yu, urgently protesting.
“That… that can’t be right.”
The host was clearly caught off guard.
“But Gan Yan Yu is right here! Why can’t she go on?”
“She—”
Bai Xi was ready to state her case when Gan Yan Yu already stood up.
To Bai Xi’s shock,
Gan Yan Yu silently marched toward the stage.
“Oooooooh, it’s finally time for our Gan Yan Yu to shine!”
Once on stage, Feng Ye-leaped in anticipation.
“Also, it’s been a long wait!” Zhu Ye added.
Under the watchful gazes of the audience, Gan Yan Yu reached the center stage.
Suddenly, some audience members began to notice something was amiss.
—They had waited for ages, yet the other anticipated figure had not appeared.
“Where’s Teacher Lin Tian?”
The duo, usually inseparable, was now mysteriously missing a component.
“Wha—what’s going on?”
In the back,
Contestant No. 11, Nanaly, couldn’t help but rise from her seat.
The announcers were also perplexed.
“Is it possible that Gan Yan Yu is planning to go solo?”
“No way, really? This is the finals!”
Feng Ye glanced at the program sheet, baffled.
“Today, Gan Yan Yu is set to perform the well-known duet ‘Ode to Love’ with Lin Tian.”
“Is she really going to attempt this on her own?” Zhu Ye gasped in horror.
But Gan Yan Yu, as she strode onto the stage, did not sit in her designated place—instead, she stood firmly in the middle.
She raised her gaze to the ceiling of the concert hall, frozen.
As the moment lingered, the spectators couldn’t stop chatting away, the noise rising like a tide.
“What’s going on? Just last time, I barely made it through; now I’m hit again?”
“What’s Gan Yan Yu doing? Is she trying to stall?”
“Did she and Teacher Lin Tian have a spat? Is she sulking?”
“So, what’s up with Teacher Lin Tian? This definitely doesn’t look like it was planned!”
Meanwhile, in the backstage office of the concert hall…
Watching the paralyzed Gan Yan Yu, Yao Han was practically bouncing off the walls.
He stomped on the glass window, his eyes glued to the stage,
“What’s happening? What’s going on??”
“Where’s Lin Tian? What’s Gan Yan Yu up to??”
“Get on with it, just hurry up and perform!”
Yao Han shouted, practically bursting at the seams.
“Calm down, Teacher Yao.”
He Shu Mo, beside him, wore an expression of resignation.
He knew full well how much anticipation Yao Han had for this grand finale.
For Yao Han, the emotions attached to this match were just as intense as Lin Tian’s and Gan Yan Yu’s.
Seeing the current scene, it was perfectly understandable that he was on the verge of a meltdown.
“Speaking of which, without Lin Tian, Gan Yan Yu seems to have completely lost her will to fight.”
He Shu Mo regarded the stage, his gaze colored with pity.
“How unfortunate.”
—Promise me, no matter what happens, trust me and don’t give up.
In a daze, a familiar voice echoed in Gan Yan Yu’s ears.
Her pupils suddenly flickered, and she jolted back to reality.
She scanned the room, taking in the fearful expressions on the audience’s faces.
What on earth am I doing?
Right—she was here to compete.
This was the Dragon Zither Cup finals!
The most crucial game in their journey towards realizing their dreams.
But Lin Tian was absent.
Should she give up?
That phrase from Lin Tian resounded in her mind once more.
Gan Yan Yu gritted her teeth.
No. Absolutely not!
This was the finals!
Their dreams were right there!
Nothing, absolutely nothing! Would ever eclipse the importance of achieving their dreams!!
I believe in Lin Tian! I know he’ll bring me to realize those dreams!
I must believe in Lin Tian!!
“.”
Gan Yan Yu sat down and grasped her bow.
“Gan Yan Yu is moving!”
Feng Ye exclaimed,
“Is it finally beginning?”
In the audience, Gao Zhen Yang stared blankly at the scene unfolding on stage.
At that moment, in the backstage corridor…
“Sir, that’s the passage to the stage; you can’t go there!”
“Sir!!”
The staff called out repeatedly, but the young man turned his head, giving her a quick glance.
Instantly, the staff member’s face turned white, frozen in shock.
On stage,
Gan Yan Yu took a deep breath.
It’s fine, Yan Yu.
It’s not like this is her first time performing!
Fight to the end.
This is their shared dream—no matter what, they have to fight to the end.
Gan Yan Yu raised her bow.
Suddenly!
“Thud—”
“Thud—”
The sound of dress shoes echoing on the wooden floor resonated like heartbeats.
Gan Yan Yu stiffly turned her head.
Her pupils widened in shock.
A Lin Tian, bl**d-soaked and limping, was limping towards her.
The crowd fell deathly silent.
Everyone stared, slack-jawed, at the scene before them, too stunned to utter a word.
Lin Tian said nothing; he only cast a steady gaze at Gan Yan Yu.
Then he approached the piano.
It’s all good.
With his hands resting on the piano, Lin Tian reassured himself,
This little injury?
Completing the performance was a piece of cake.
“.”
“What on earth happened?”
“How can he still play the piano?”
“My gosh, he’s hurt like that, is he really okay…?”
Many in the audience expressed their concern and sympathy.
Everyone was caught up in guessing the origin of Lin Tian’s injuries and worried about the performance about to take place.
“.”
Gan Yan Yu stared at Lin Tian, completely transfixed.
“Let’s get started.”
Lin Tian prompted firmly.
Once on stage,
Once their music began to flow,
He was confident.
He would definitely,
Definitely win that championship with Gan Yan Yu!
To defeat the so-called “fate” and realize their dreams!!
So—
“Let’s start!”
He would tackle all challenges that lay ahead.
He gazed steadfastly at Gan Yan Yu.
However,
Gan Yan Yu remained frozen, her bow reluctant to budge.
Her bow lingered in place, merely staring blankly at Lin Tian.
The pain etched across her face intensified.
“Did you forget what I told you?”
Lin Tian’s eyes locked onto Gan Yan Yu’s, his voice dropping to a soft whisper,
“Trust me, no matter what happens…”
Gan Yan Yu’s shoulders shook uncontrollably, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, but her hands remained stiff.
Lin Tian felt urgency rising within him; he raised his voice:
“Isn’t this our most important match?!”
Everything they went through brought them to this moment, all for their dreams!!
So just play already!!
“I can’t do it!”
Suddenly,
Tears erupted from the girl’s eyes.
“Bang—”
Her bow clattered to the floor.
In the astonished eyes of all the audience and judges—
Gan Yan Yu stood up and declared to the crowd:
“Contestant No. 10, Gan Yan Yu… forfeits the match!”
(End of Chapter)
