Chapter 83: Something’s Off About Gan Yan Yu (Second Update) (Please Vote for Me)
“Yeah.”
Gan Yan Yu nodded, and then the young woman tilted her head, flashing a shy smile.
“Um, Lin Tian?”
“Huh?”
“Can you pack a portion? I want to eat it as a midnight snack.”
[Facepalm]
Just eat already, will you? Silence while you munch!
Next time, I’ll go eat king crabs and big abalones by myself. You can go enjoy your little pudding, thanks!
Lin Tian silently raged in his heart.
Monday, two days before the concert.
At seven o.m., he returned home.
After quickly having dinner, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu immediately plunged into intense practice.
“Three, two, one.”
“~”
“Teacher Gan, you’re rushing the tempo a bit, didn’t you adjust it right?”
“Oh oh.”
“Again.”
“Three, two, one!”
“~”
“.”
Their ensemble went surprisingly smoothly.
They played without any real difficulty.
Lin Tian could clearly feel that Gan Yan Yu had reached masterful levels with “Symphony No. 40”.
Except for the first try, which was slightly off due to state issues,
from then on, every note and beat was practically perfect—like it was synthesized.
In other words—
This is scripted!
Even with just a week-old piece, she’s already analyzed it this well.
Such playing talent is terrifying!
Lin Tian only had to keep up with Gan Yan Yu.
“You’ve got this; no problem at the concert,” Lin Tian encouraged her with a thumbs-up.
“Just stay relaxed!”
“Really?”
Gan Yan Yu narrowed her eyes and sat on the sofa, swaying as if doing the hula, saying with a smile:
“Isn’t this nice?”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Lin Tian noticed something odd about Gan Yan Yu’s demeanor.
Since she came in, she seemed preoccupied, but there was no alcohol smell on her.
However, her responses were delayed, like she was on a different time zone!
Initially concerned about her, but once they started playing, her spirit surged, like she’d just downed a Red Bull. The music came out flawlessly.
“I’m great!” Gan Yan Yu held the cello.
Her gaze was empty, like it couldn’t focus.
Softly, she said:
“Do you think my playing is flawless, but maybe it lacks emotion a bit?”
[Facepalm]
Lin Tian remained silent.
While her playing was excellent now,
it lacked that initial wow factor when they played together.
Simple reason:
as accompanying, the pressure on Lin Tian was significantly less than during their second try.
Sure it might be because of his improved piano skills,
but he could also tell that Gan Yan Yu’s cello lacked the same emotional depth as before.
Still, he found it acceptable.
Those minor issues were the bloopers an over-critical composer would notice.
“If it’s unblemished, it’s already better than most performers.”
Plus, today’s performance is better than recording sessions with all the banter.
It’ll wow the audience live!
“Great, let’s just keep this momentum.”
Lin Ti emphasized,
“Just play naturally, slowly inject your emotions. Keep it smooth and error-free. Now, more important than anything else!”
“Gan Yan Yu, are you hearing me?”
Lin Tian whispered, puzzled,
“Gan Yan Yu?”
“. Yan Yu?”
“Ah!”
Gan Yan Yu suddenly sat up straight, wide-eyed.
Nodding like a chick pecking at food.
“I know, I know!”
“But..”
Lin Tian quickly moved closer.
Pressed his hand to her forehead.
Not feverish.
“Isn’t sick…”
Getting weirder?
“Did you sleep badly?”
Lin Tian frowned.
“No, not going to class or working, how could I be tired?”
“Right.”
Every day, Lin Tian wakes up early for school and practices afterward, so he’s always well-rested.
Gan Yu, who doesn’t go to school or work, acts half-asleep, like she’s part of a mental patient squad.
If even she can’t rest enough, the world’s workers deserve a mutiny.
But watching her act like someone snoozing in class,
head nodding like a bobblehead, nearly hitting the desk and startling herself awake,
then pretending to lose a pen to take a quick nap—it’s exactly like when he dozes off in math class.
She grabbed Lin Tian’s sleeve, whispering softly,
“Have we got beer?”
“Huh?”
“Just open one for me, please.”
Her eyes, when looking at him, were soft as marshmallows.
“Yeah, I have one.”
Lin Tian wondered why she wanted beer now but fetched two cans from the fridge anyway.
He opened his and handed her one.
“Pop!”
The girl gulped down half a can like there was no tomorrow, burpped, and wiped her mouth.
“Burp.”
“Let’s continue shall we?”
“So soon?”
Lin Tian thought they’d need a break after that.
“C’mon, c’mon.”
Gan Yan Yu cupped her face, tapping lightly as if to wake herself up, then with a tipsy flush and dreamy eyes murmured,
“At the start of the second bar, I was off on a note… Gotta practice more.”
Cute, but timing’s off, Lin Tian thought, feeling that today’s Gan Yan Yu is softer than usual.
Like, maybe her tootsies are soft too?
Then he remembered her last comment,
“Not exaggerating?”
He hadn’t noticed, but she did. Her understanding of the piece must be terrifying.
“We need to hurry, rehearsal’s tomorrow.”
