222. Chapter 221: The Parrot Zither Cup Champion!
—
Watching as Gan Yan Yu actually grabbed his arm, Lin Tian was stunned for a good while.
Then he smiled,
“Since Teacher Gan invited me, what can I do?”
In the slightly shocked gaze of the staff,
The two stepped out side by side, walking toward the stage together.
At this moment, the scene was electric.
The audience buzzed, debating who might be the likely champion based on the previous performances.
On the judges’ bench, the assessors seemed slightly worried. Even though they had discussed and deliberated, they were still unsure who would get more “A+” scores.
“This year’s tournament… Is probably the closest one in the last ten years!” lamented an old professor.
“Yes, both of them are under 26 years old and entered the finals through exceptional criteria. This is the first time that’s ever happened.”
“I really like both of them; it’s so hard to decide.”
“Bai Xi already went for second place, getting first again might be cruel. But Gan Yan Yu has also come far despite all the doubts about her being Professor Gan’s granddaughter.”
Usually, near announcing results, judges would feel relaxed, enjoying making the final call.
But this time, everyone got so invested from a contestant’s perspective, sharing in their tension!
“Here comes the reveal…”
As murmurs grew sparse, the entire hall fell silent.
In everyone’s focus,
Gan Yan Yu walked onto the stage, with Lin Tian by her side.
Together, they stood on either side of the trophy next to Bai Xi.
The lights made this scene radiant, with three young competitors standing proud beside a crystal-clear cup.
The host approached.
Facing the silent crowd, he took the mic.
“After reviewing the scores, I have the champion’s name right here in this envelope.”
“Now, let me open it—”
“—.”
Everyone held their breath, watching him open the envelope.
At the same time,
Netizens watching online went wild, chatting up storm with their predictions.
“—.”
Then, the host pulled out the note as if at an Oscar ceremony.
Upon reading it, his expression showed mild surprise, raising an eyebrow, pouting slightly, mouthing an “Oh~”.
It seemed he was saying:
“Ahh, it’s her!”
Classic.
An audience member from the front row couldn’t hold back anymore: “Are you kidding me?”
“Gan Yan Yu!”
As the host announced it, the audience erupted into an unparalleled frenzy! Cheers and screams filled the air, accompanied by applause.
“Parrot Zither Cup champion is Gan Yan Yu!!”
The host repeated loudly.
Blue ribbons showered down, and the judges stood up with smiles, clapping along.
“Gan Yan Yu’s performance of Brahms’ Fifth Hungarian Dance on the cello mesmerized the judges! Her technique was flawless and her emotion rich, earning a perfect score from all eleven judges!”
The host sped through the words.
All around chaos, the host’s voice was like wind in Gan Yan Yu’s ears.
For a moment, she felt disoriented.
Turning, Lin Tian smiled at her eyes.
“Go on.”
She gathered her courage and stepped up.
As she reached for the trophy in the center, her cold skin felt extra chilled in winter.
But holding it instantly warmed her up.
In everyone’s gaze,
Gan Yan Yu raised the trophy!
The applause intensified.
Despite her smile, Bai Xi’s face carried a hint of wistfulness.
That moment, Gan Yan Yu’s eyes teared up.
She kept muttering,
“Grandpa… Did you see? I did it…”
For two and a half years,
Gan Yan Yu had stumbled and made mistakes, suffering great losses.
But even through pain, and taking the most naive approach, she persisted.
She wiped a tear and stepped forward, grabbing Lin Tian’s hand.
Lin Tian helplessly chuckled and joined her.
He felt proud,
Teacher Gan truly didn’t need to rely on anyone else this time.
Gan Yan Yu solely relied on her own skills to win the championship.
They raised the trophy together.
While Bai Xi, standing awkwardly in the back, resembled an ant on a blade.
The host chimed in,
“Let’s give another round of applause to Gan Yan Yu and her partner Lin Tian!”
“After the holidays, she will represent our province in the Dragon Zither Cup!”
“Let’s look forward to more beautiful performances!”
“—.”
“—.”
The rest of the night remained lovely…
It felt like a dream.
Lin Tian decided he’d never forget this hour.
Gan Yan Yu gave her acceptance speech and faced the media.
Surrounded by fans, Lin Tian listened quietly nearby.
Afterward, Yao Han, He Shumo, and some judges congratulated them enthusiastically.
Yao Han was especially excited.
For some reason, he clung to Lin Tian’s hand, expressing heartfelt wishes.
His wish for the duo to perform forever and worldwide sounded odd but sincere.
Feeling grateful, Lin Tian thanked him.
“—.”
After over an hour, the two finally stepped out of the concert hall.
The trophy would arrive at Gan Yan Yu’s home by courier soon.
“Alright…”
Looking skyward, Lin Tian took a deep breath, relishing the fresh air.
Time to eat now.
His phone buzzed.
It was Xu Yong.
“Beep beep, Lin Tian. Following your plan, everything proceeds normally!”
“All set up, just take it from there!”
Tomorrow’s update will wrap up this arc.
I’ve been sick for a week, which was not my intention. My condition was really bad. Many times, I wanted to take sick leave but refrained, knowing something was better than nothing.
Two nights ago, just when my cold was improving, it flared up again. I suspect it’s linked to the injection affecting my immunity.
So cold, guys, I recommend you all take it easy with injections or face consequences like the characters in this book.
But I’m almost recovered. After today’s extra burst, I’ll resume daily 6k chapters.
Also, shoutout to a friend whose sweet campus novel I want to recommend.
—
That’s a wrap.
