84. Chapter 84: Gan Yan Yu’s Liver Explodes (Third Update) (Urgent Request for Moon Tickets)
“I’ll do another round.”
Seeing Gan Yan Yu’s boundless enthusiasm, Lin Tian had no choice but to agree to the young woman’s request.
“In fact, I feel that we’re already playing this well enough. Since we have practice in the morning tomorrow, there’s no point in burning midnight oil tonight. Rest is key.”
Lin Tian patiently explained.
Moreover,
He felt that today, Gan Yan Yu was acting somewhat odd. It was as if she were living in two worlds, her mind wasn’t quite in the right place. But after checking her forehead, he found she didn’t have a fever. Considering her occasional mysterious episodes, this behavior wasn’t out of the blue.
No matter what, let her rest tonight.
“Mm-hmm.”
Having gulped down some beer, Gan Yan Yu seemed to find her focus again, swiftly picking up her bow.
Who would’ve thought someone could use beer to stay awake!
Lin Tian couldn’t do that; he could barely finish before nodding off.
For the last time!
This time, Lin Tian decided to play their scheduled performance order starting with the “Ode to Love.” Three pieces they would go through.
In moments, Lin Tian struck the piano keys.
Earlier, looking dazed like a zombie, Gan Yan Yu quickly sprang to life when the music started. Her bow moved as if on its own, pulling the strings!
Inside, the harmony returned once again.
After three tunes had played.
Their last rehearsal ended perfectly.
The moment he put his hands down, Lin Tian felt an incredible rush.
This practice session was even better than their combined effort earlier!
“Even if High Zhen Yang were to drop by, he couldn’t find anything to criticize!”
Encouraging Gan Yan Yu too, Lin Tian declared assuredly.
As he spoke, he felt a twinge of emotion. From fumbling and making countless mistakes at the start to achieving such smooth coordination now, it really hadn’t been easy. This all owed much to Gan Yan Yu, the lead performer, who managed to elevate their songs to this level. However, if there was something worrying…
It had to be Gan Yan Yu’s well-being.
After all, her health was uncertain.
Practice might’ve gone well, but on stage under the watchful eyes of an audience, whether she could maintain that perfection—
Well, fate would decide that.
Lin Tian could deal with everything except his helplessness about her illness. He hoped the morning rehearsal would boost her confidence.
“Let’s wrap it up for today, and rise early tomorrow to avoid any mishaps. We’ll take a cab, money or no, we won’t skimp on what matters, and that suit should be ready by noon.”
“Gan Teacher?”
Lin Tian tried to communicate, only to find that Gan Yan Yu was mysteriously unresponsive.
Only when he reached out and gently shook her head did she suddenly come to.
“What?” she responded groggily.
“You heard me; I’ll be taking a cab to the rehearsal in the morning,” she echoed.
Lin Tian ruffled her hair messily.
She covered her forehead, shrinking into a small ball, cautiously watching him.
“Whatever happens, let’s get some rest.”
“And…!”
“Alright! Alright! Rest!”
Word for word, Lin Tian emphasized loudly to Gan Yan Yu.
He feared she’d still be out of sorts during the practice.
“Got it!”
Gan Yan Yu straightened up, her little face flushed with seriousness.
“Go for it.”
Gan Yan Yu grabbed her cello, stood up, then propped an unfinished beer can in her mouth with one hand.
At the door, she turned back.
“Lin Tian?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I take another beer?”
“Huh.”
Such a glutton for beer!
With one still in her mouth, she wanted another.
Sighing, Lin Tian relented.
“Sure.”
“Yay~”
Gan Yan Yu cheerfully skipped over to the fridge, pulled out a can, then popped it open.
Amused, Lin Tian observed.
She was shockingly adept; knew exactly where the stash was hidden.
“Let’s rock.”
“Good night,” he wished as the door closed.
Silence fell again.
Exhausted from the day’s teaching and immediate follow-up practice, he collapsed onto the couch, yawning widely.
Instead of watching dead rats online, he finished off his bottle and powered off the computer.
Already, he’d asked Teacher Zhang Juan for tomorrow’s practice off, sick leave.
Fortunately, considering his grades, she granted the request easily.
He showered and hit the sack.
Sometime in the deep of night,
A need to urinate woke him up around 2:13 AM.
The early bedtime had its downside. Drinking a large can of beer, his body still hadn’t processed it.
Awake in the middle of the night, facing a full bladder…
On his way to the bathroom, he caught a glance at the trash bin. The beer can was still there.
Remembering tonight,
The sight of Gan Yan Yu drinking alcohol to stay awake and continue practicing stirred a memory.
And there, she had swiped a can before leaving—
“Hmm.”
Roused by this, Lin Tian rubbed his brow.
He drank to sleep;
She drank to stay alert.
Why, then, pilfer a bottle?
Dressed, he left the apartment.
Noticing Gan Yan Yu’s unusual state started from the weekend.
Slow responses, sluggish speech, prolonged bouts of yawning.
Considering her insane learning speed lately, it dawned on Lin Tian.
Simply put, lack of sleep.
But because she consistently played well at rehearsals, he let it slide without much concern.
And he had warned her just now to prioritize getting rest.
Yet…
Climbing to the sixth floor, he approached door “603”.
Just as he raised his hand to knock, he heard noise coming from the next room, “602”.
An elderly lady came out, scrutinizing him.
“Are you friends with that girl next door?”
Lin Tian nodded unsurely.
“Yes.”
The old woman sighed.
“That girl has been practicing her cello until the dead of the night since last week. She even started again this evening. No answer when I tried to knock.”
Concern spread across her face.
“Night after night, it worries me. Is she doing too much or is something wrong?”
“Bam-bam-bam!”
Rapping fiercely at the door.
“Gan, open up!”
If Gan Yan Yu was possessed, he didn’t know.
But, tonight, he’d become demon-enforcer to give her a scare!
More banging.
“Open up, now!”
The lock clicked.
A crack appeared in the door.
“Uh?”
A rumpled girl in pajamas cautiously poked her head through.
Lin Tian noticed countless beer cans strewn about behind her.
Task nearly complete! Push harder and see results tomorrow!
Chapter complete.
