### Chapter 27: Ode to Love
“Classical music, huh?”
With the sheet music in her hands, Gan Yan Yu’s little mouth quivered gently as she felt the rhythm of the piece.
As she softly hummed along, the tune reached its climax.
Her heart raced, thump-thump, faster and faster.
With her beautiful, chestnut-brown eyes locked onto the notes, it was as if she could devour each and every one of them.
She was beyond excited.
Suddenly, the young woman spun around.
“Lin Tian!”
“Uh?”
“Have you ever played this piece in full?”
“Nope.”
So that means…
I’m the very first person to play this piece?
Gan Yan Yu’s expression turned serious.
Lin Tian was still in a daze when Gan Yan Yu suddenly stretched out her hand.
“Cello!!”
With a commanding “Bring it here,” Lin Tian didn’t dare to slack off and hurriedly grabbed the cello from the side, handing it to Gan Yan Yu.
The change in her aura caught him off-guard.
He had never seen Gan Yan Yu so demanding!
Gan Yan Yu unzipped the case with the gravitas of a funeral director and solemnly took out the cello.
Like she was completing a sacred ritual, she slowly positioned the cello between her legs and picked up the bow.
Not wanting to distract her while she played, Lin Tian stood up and moved to the other side of the table.
He sat on the floor, propped his hands on the table, rested his chin on them, and held his breath as he watched Gan Yan Yu opposite him.
“Can we open a window? It’s a bit stuffy in here,” Gan Yan Yu asked.
“Sure.”
Lin Tian opened the balcony door and then returned to the floor.
“Okay, you can start now, Teacher Gan,” Lin Tian said respectfully.
Taking a deep breath, Gan Yan Yu lifted the bow.
The bow glided across the strings.
After trying a few notes and confirming that there were no issues, Gan Yan Yu adjusted her seating and began to play the cello.
To many, the cello might not be the most popular instrument.
It’s just so niche.
There are few players, and even fewer listeners.
Most people’s impression of the cello is: it sounds dull, sort of like an old grumpy grandpa.
And if you’re already grumpy, you might as well shuffle off this mortal coil and listen to a suona!
The cello doesn’t have the bright clarity of the violin nor the rich nuances of a piano.
It seems to play a role that is more optional — whether in movies or the real concert halls, it often ends up as an inconspicuous accompaniment in an ensemble.
Even in band anime, there’s hardly any main character playing the cello.
But, is that really the case?
The renowned Chinese composer Tian Yimiao once said—
“If it weren’t for the cello, how would our sorrows find a voice?”
The cello is that kind of instrument.
Sometimes cold and rigorous, sometimes warm and elegant, sometimes soft and lingering, or darkly mysterious.
Regardless of how it’s played, the cello’s sound,
is life and d*ath intertwined.
As a world-famous piece, “Ode to Love” has received numerous interpretations through history.
Piano versions, violin versions, harp versions—many top-notch musicians over the past hundred years have attempted to express this piece in their own way.
However, from Lin Tian’s perspective, none of those versions offered the depth that the original instrument—the cello—does.
Only the cello can give people such deep emotion; only the cello can push gentleness to its limits.
As Gan Yan Yu drew the bow across the strings,
the beautiful notes cascaded down the musical score.
What a tender piece this is!
Like a lover’s sweet whispers, it carries a hint of melancholy yet is filled with sweetness.
Tender like water, deeply heartfelt.
Even those without an ounce of musical talent, if they take the time to savor it, would surely be moved.
Elegant, far too elegant!
This was a personal performance just for Lin Tian.
He sat below, gazing at Gan Yan Yu on the sofa, seriously playing.
The old, shabby rental apartment suddenly transformed into a lavish concert hall.
The large bottle of chilled Yi Bao in his hand turned into a 1888 Lafite.
What a treat.
All about the enjoyment—just enjoyment.
As Gan Yan Yu drew the bow across the cello, it was as though she completely transformed.
Gone was the usual clumsiness and timidity; now she was serious and sacred, manipulating the music in her hands like a magician.
Gradually, a confident smile crept onto the young woman’s lips.
For a brief moment, Lin Tian forgot this was the girl who was once sitting on the windowsill with a cello case, contemplating jumping.
He forgot she was the one with a red face from drinking, yet could still stand tall like a genius alcoholic.
He forgot she was the clumsy Gan Yan Yu, who needed someone to blow on her finger when she got bitten.
For just this moment,
she was the most beautiful poet in the world.
Gan Yan Yu placed the bow down, exhaling heavily.
“How was it?”
The girl anxiously turned to Lin Tian.
After all, this was her first solo performance for someone other than her grandpa.
Lin Tian stroked his chin, furrowing his brow.
That frown made Gan Yan Yu even more flustered.
“Why haven’t you won the Parrot Zither Cup yet?”
Lin Tian couldn’t help but ask.
“I… ”
Gan Yan Yu stumbled over her words but let out a sigh of relief internally.
“I just can’t, Grandpa often says I play with no emotion, like a robot.”
“Well, it also depends on who you’re comparing yourself to.”
Grandpa Gan is like the top cello player; if you Google your name, he’ll be the first result!
Given that he’s at that level, it’s hard to imagine what kind of hellish pressure training little Gan Yan Yu must have endured.
“I think your performance was already extremely outstanding!”
Lin Tian put aside the beating around the bush and gave a straight critique.
Playing “Ode to Love” for the first time, and achieving this level?
Gan Yan Yu’s cello skills had exceeded his expectations by leaps and bounds!
If this were recorded into a video, if it didn’t go viral, it’d be cosmic injustice!
“Okay.”
Upon hearing Lin Tian’s praise, Gan Yan Yu’s face showed a rare joy.
To her, this was the recognition from the composer himself.
“Lin Tian, the piece you wrote is too beautiful! I think it can compete with those world-class classical music pieces!”
Gan Yan Yu couldn’t help but exclaim, “If Grandpa were still here, he’d definitely love this piece.”
“Then let’s record it and play it for him when we go to the hospital next time!”
Lin Tian said with a smile, “Who knows, maybe Grandpa will wake up when he hears it.”
“Okay!!”
Gan Yan Yu beamed.
The girl secretly made up her mind.
It was settled; they had to go.
Lin Tian shifted his focus back to the sheet music.
Since the trial run was successful, the next step was to record the piece and upload it online.
However, to ensure good recording quality, they needed professional equipment.
Plus, a piano would be handy as Lin Tian could accompany when necessary.
All these things cost money.
Right now, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu, to put it bluntly, were just two high school students without any lifeboat.
Renting the equipment wasn’t too pricey, but for someone like Lin Tian who constantly needs to upload videos, long-term renting would be a financial black hole.
Just then, Lin Tian suddenly thought of someone.
Maybe he could ask for his help?
Lin Tian opened the drawer of the desk and took out a business card—
[SYC Music Agency]
[Music Department Director: Zhong Wei’an]
(End of Chapter)
