### Chapter 168: No Matter What, We Will Keep Playing!
Morning session of the competition has wrapped up, and it’s intermission time.
In the backstage corridor of the concert hall, Tuoba Jianhui is preparing to step into his office, accompanied by his assistant Tian Rui, when a young man suddenly blocks his path.
Tuoba Jianhui looks up and sees Lin Tian.
“Oh, it’s you.”
“I need a clear explanation for what you said on stage earlier.”
Lin Tian glares directly into Tuoba’s eyes.
Tian Rui instinctively tries to protect Tuoba, but the old man slowly nudges him aside with one hand—
“Isn’t it clear enough?”
With a blank expression, Tuoba Jianhui responds to Lin Tian.
“If that girl’s performance isn’t stopped, she’s going to have a major issue one day.”
“You should know better than anyone, right, Lin Tian?”
“…”
Hearing his name come from Tuoba Jianhui’s lips sends a shiver down Lin Tian’s spine.
Then, a flicker of reluctance flashes across his heart.
Of course, he knows.
No one understands this better than Lin Tian, who is Gan Yan Yu’s partner.
From Symphony No. 40 to the E minor Cello Concerto, and even to “Por Una Cabeza.”
He witnessed every practice, every performance.
He has seen Gan Yan Yu lose herself in the music more times than he can count.
And he understands the painful price she pays for her devilish performances.
God is fair.
It gives you the ability to converse with your soul.
But the final act is inevitably a descent into hell.
“But…”
Just as Lin Tian is about to speak, Tuoba Jianhui presses his index finger against the young man’s forehead.
“Don’t you understand yet?”
Tuoba Jianhui states matter-of-factly,
“If left unchecked, she will devour not just herself but everyone around her.”
Now that is truly terrifying.
Gan Yan Yu is like a black hole; anyone who dares get close risks getting crushed.
In solo performances, she destroys herself; in duets, it’s her partner who suffers. If it’s an orchestra, even a conductor like Tuoba Jianhui could be obliterated.
And Lin Tian knows this all too well.
Whether it’s during the concert’s Symphony No. 40, where he frantically tries to decipher Gan Yan Yu’s heart, leading to his own mad actions,
Or that first moment when he and Gan Yan Yu danced in the illusion, a spine-chilling revelation dawning on him afterward.
Only a “madman” like Lin Tian would voluntarily choose to leap into Gan Yan Yu’s world, plummeting into chaos alongside her.
“Publicly, I don’t want this performance to continue; her existence is a disaster for the competition.”
“Privately, Gan Yan Yu is my dear friend. I can’t just watch her life get wrecked by music. If she can only perform in such a dangerous way, then she doesn’t belong in music. For that reason, I’m willing to use my influence to make her abandon this path completely.”
Tuoba Jianhui’s commanding voice booms, his tone sharper than sword edges, leaving Tian Rui frozen in fear beside him.
“I think I’ve made myself clear enough. Since you’re Gan Yan Yu’s friend, I hope you will think deeply about what’s best for that child.”
With that, Tuoba Jianhui’s expression hardens as he pushes open the office door.
Right as he’s about to step inside—
—Lin Tian’s hand blocks his path again.
Tuoba Jianhui furrows his brow, turning back. The young man’s eyes are fixed on him with fierce intensity.
Inside the office, judges including Yao Han and He Shu Mo are stunned, eyes wide at the scene playing out at the door.
“Claiming it’s for Yan Yu’s good—do you even understand her?!”
Lin Tian’s words come out like a torrent as he berates,
“She has severe asthma, so she memorized hundreds of scores just to stand on stage like a normal person; she battles serious mental health issues, takes medication, exercises, and returns to school, all to be more optimistic. Gan Yan Yu knows better than anyone that she’s not suited for this path, yet she’s still trying to change!”
“A flippant ‘she doesn’t fit’ from you could erase all her hard work! Who needs your judgment?! Stop pretending to be a wise elder! Gan Yan Yu’s achievements today are all thanks to her own efforts—not because of your arrogant self-importance!”
“…”
“Stop, just stop…”
Tian Rui hurriedly tugs at Lin Tian’s sleeve, sweating profusely.
The office goes silent; everyone is too shocked to say a word.
He dared to speak like that to Teacher Tuoba.
He’s the chief judge of the Parrot Zither Cup, a legend in the music world, and even fellow judges need to speak with utmost respect around him.
Yao Han feels a wave of anxiety, wishing he could jump out of the nearest window.
But Lin Tian is not done.
Coldly, he finishes,
“Even if you orchestrate some shady scheme to kick us out, it won’t matter; no matter what, Gan Yan Yu and I will continue down this path.”
With that, Lin Tian turns and walks away.
“…”
Leaving behind a room full of teachers who dare not breathe and a silent, dark-faced Tuoba Jianhui.
“Lin Tian?”
Once in the car heading home, Gan Yan Yu cautiously breaks the silence.
“What’s up?”
“Are you okay?”
Seeing Lin Tian return from Tuoba Jianhui’s office without a word, Gan Yan Yu can’t help but worry.
“I’m fine.”
Lin Tian waves a hand, trying to calm his racing heart.
“The preliminary ratings are out,” Gan Yan Yu quietly mentions.
“Twelve judges gave us three A+, four As, three B+, and two Bs; Tuoba’s rating was a B.”
“I thought he might just give us an E.” Lin Tian snorts.
The competition grading is based on a scale from A+ to E, with C being passable, B and above being excellent, and A being exceptional.
Looks like the old man, despite his harsh words, still respects reality enough not to give Gan Yan Yu an atrocious score.
Otherwise, that would be too obvious and wouldn’t look good in front of music media.
In reality, Gan Yan Yu’s performance deserves more than just three A+ scores; Tuoba Jianhui might have influenced some of those ratings, intentionally or not.
Anyway, more than half the judges rated them A or higher.
Advancing to the semifinals shouldn’t be a huge problem.
“Lin Tian.”
Just then, Gan Yan Yu calls out to him.
Lin Tian turns his head as the young woman gently asks,
“Do you really think what Teacher Tuoba said is true?”
(End of Chapter)
