### Chapter 218: “Hungarian Dance in G Minor No. 5”
“Just kidding~”
Bai Xi lowered her voice, dragging out the last note like a pro.
She then lifted her head and strutted forward. As she passed Lin Tian, she chuckled, “But that first part isn’t a joke—”
“I’ll be waiting for you at the Dragon Zither Cup.”
And with that, she was gone, leaving only a lingering, pungent perfume in the air.
“Wow.”
No matter when, she truly embodies absolute confidence.
Lin Tian had no clue how much of Bai Xi’s blessings were sincere or just playful banter.
Having already snagged the Star Cup championship, it’s almost a given that Bai Xi will get invited to the Dragon Zither Cup, whether she wins this final or not.
That must be why she could flaunt such composure right now.
But as a cellist, saying she didn’t care about the Parrot Zither Cup? Come on, it’s not like he believed that for a second.
Lin Tian couldn’t help but picture her devastated expression if she lost. Only then would he know if her previous words were genuine or not.
Ah, whatever!
Time to hit the stage!
The stage lights flickered to life, illuminating the entrance.
This was it—the grand finale of the Parrot Zither Cup!
With all the audience members on the edge of their seats, Gan Yan Yu and Lin Tian strode onto the stage.
One donned a stunning purple gown, while the other sported a deep blue suit. The girl moved with grace, and the boy adjusted his tie, all serious-like, tailing her with a look that could steal candy from a baby.
“They’re so handsome!!”
As they made their entrance, the audience couldn’t help but gasp.
“It’s like they’re a princess and a knight!”
“The ultimate visual duo!”
“I was just watching their live stream a few days ago, and now they’re serious contenders on stage—what a surreal feeling!”
“…”
As the audience buzzed with chatter, the two finally took their seats.
Not just the audience, but even the judges—who were already crushing on their previous performance of “Canon”—were sweating bullets.
Everyone was wondering, after Bai Xi’s flawless performance, what kind of masterful piece could Gan Yan Yu possibly deliver to top that?
By this point in the competition, both were practically error-proof contenders.
So, the deciding factor would come down to who could interpret a piece more emotionally impactful.
Let’s go!
The mellow notes from the cello floated through the air—
Gan Yan Yu pulled on the strings.
It was some chill, casual tune, oozing with exotic flair.
The judges exchanged surprised glances.
“Well, this isn’t what I expected.”
“Who’d have thought we’d hear something like this in the finals?”
“Definitely has that Hungarian vibe.”
Rather than dazzled, they seemed a bit puzzled.
In their minds, Gan Yan Yu was known for her expressiveness and emotional intensity.
It’s not that playing a piece like this in the finals was a bad idea.
But given the nature of dance music, it can only go so deep.
Even if you push it to its utmost limits, it remains fundamentally party music; it’s the kind of music that makes people want to dance.
Great depth? Not likely.
He Shu Mo, the judge, especially felt this.
It’s like a dance competition where you’re busting out the moves for “Study Session No. 3.”
Even if you whip out some eye-catching dance moves, the ceiling for that is pretty much set.
This isn’t to say dance music can’t yield depth—nor does the finals require a highbrow piece.
But in such elite face-offs, everyone thought Gan Yan Yu and Lin Tian would pick a traditional classical piece that showcased their strengths.
This dance tune was unexpected.
As the piano chimed in, a variation swept through.
The music hit its peak!
“…”
The tempo soared, like a rollercoaster full of twists and turns—a mix of high and low, perfectly synced with the piano, creating a rich auditory experience!
“Oh~”
He Shu Mo crossed his arms, mildly awestruck.
“This piece is no joke!”
Just listening to it made the complexity of the performance palpable.
This wasn’t something you could learn in a couple of days.
With so many variations and sudden speed-ups, it was like the boss fights in those soul games—one moment fast and the next slow.
The contrast was torturous for the players, let me tell you.
Especially during the ensemble parts.
They required exceptional chemistry and lengthy practice to harmonize the two instruments, creating such rich and layered music.
“Gan Yan Yu is truly impressive.”
He Shu Mo couldn’t help but admire.
Even though discussions about Gan Yan Yu often circle back to her immersive performances that can leave one feeling a little creeped out, the truth is her fundamentals are shockingly solid.
You hardly ever catch her missing a note or lacking proficiency.
It’s as if she can master any piece to an exaggerated degree in no time.
And achieving this level requires an enormous amount of practice.
Yet all that weight rests on the shoulders of this 18-year-old.
Based on that alone, Gan Yan Yu was a contender worth respecting.
Even within this piece, she displayed remarkable fundamentals.
“‘Hungarian Dance in G Minor No. 5.’”
He Shu Mo murmured, “What a piece!”
Seated to his right, an older professor closed his eyes, lost in the music, and remarked, “This truly has that Hungarian flavor. Didn’t expect it to come from a Tianchao composer.”
“After all, it’s Lin Tian!”
He Shu Mo sighed, his voice tinged with an unwillingness to admit defeat, “He can compose the best Spanish Bullfighting Song without leaving his house, and now he comes back with a Hungarian dance. Sometimes I just want to crack open his head and see what’s inside; how does he come up with so many pieces?!”
Ever since last week, when music media blew up with headlines about it…
Gan Yan Yu’s accompaniment—Lin Tian, the 18-year-old boy who was the genius behind many of the performed works, had become an open secret within the Parrot Zither Cup judging panel.
Although in musician competitions, composition is generally overlooked, and no one really cares if you’re playing your own piece, it still made a lot of people take notice of this young man.
“However, why ‘No. 5’?” The professor raised an eyebrow at the materials. “What about the first four pieces?”
“Ah, that’s something you may not know,” Yao Han interjected, leaning across the seat. “This composer has a habit of releasing works piecemeal. He might drop one movement of a larger piece, and the other three movements could take months to surface.”
“So, since this is called ‘No. 5,’ it means the first four have already been composed—just not released.”
“Ah, I see!” The professor nodded in understanding.
After saying that, Yao Han turned his gaze back to the stage.
The piece is undeniably good.
But if she only plays it to this level, it’s still not enough to defeat Bai Xi.
Lin Tian, what else are you hiding?
(End of Chapter)
