Chapter 244: Supergirl in the Livehouse (4K)
All of a sudden, a myriad of eyes turned towards Gan Yan Yu.
The teenage girl who became the center of attention was somewhat dazed.
She patted Lin Tian’s shoulder and whispered:
“What did she say?”
“She invited you to join her on stage,” Lin Tian replied.
“Wait, why me?”
Gan Yan Yu’s little mouth opened wide; her head recoiled slightly as if she was scared.
“Because a high school student like you standing here doesn’t fit in?”
Lin Tian pondered,
“I can help you reject her in Japanese.”
Gan Yan Yu quickly raised her hand to block Lin Tian’s view,
“Ah, but she invited me so nicely… To refuse in front of so many people wouldn’t be right?”
Typical of Teacher Gan – never learning how to refuse gracefully. It’s always cost her.
Lin Tian considered this.
So, putting others before oneself ranks above feeling ashamed?
Is it because she finds it hard to refuse that she endures some embarrassment?
If so…
Lin Tian had a million wild ideas now.
“Well, I think it won’t hurt to give it a try.”
Gan Yan Yu muttered quietly.
“Huh?”
“Gather the courage. Help me hold it.”
Gan Yan Yu took off the cello from her back and handed it to Lin Tian.
Then, with bravado, she walked directly toward the stage.
Everyone instinctively made way for the small figure, letting her pass through.
Once they saw her clearly, the atmosphere intensified.
“Wow! She’s pure Tokyo schoolgirl perfection!”
“Oh my gosh, so cute!!”
“Smells so good!”
“. ”
Ikebukuro’s livehouses attract a lot of Tianchao students. The Chinese language used by bartenders and staff reveals this fact.
It’s extremely rare to find genuine cute sakura girls around. What you usually stumble upon are either street workers or mysterious beauties.
Now, all of a sudden, there’s an incredibly adorable female high school student onstage. Everyone is going wild.
Gan Yan Yu stepped onto the stage.
This classical musician, who’s performed at major venues before, looked a bit timid under everyone’s gaze.
Lead singer Kan pulled Gan Yan Yu to the center to spotlight her more.
With a lively tune, Kan dipped her head and stuck out her tongue,
“Who are you?”
“What?”
Gan Yan Yu stared blankly.
“Err…?”
Kan’s eyes widened.
The bassist whispered beside her,
“She might not understand Japanese.”
Kan then awkwardly said in broken Chinese,
“You’re Sun Mo—Ming Ci?”
“Gan Yan Yu.”
“Yan Yu, come here.”
After laughing, Kan detached the microphone from its stand and waved it, following the rhythm.
Kan kept looking at Gan Yan Yu, nodding and guiding her.
Gan Yan Yu followed suit, albeit somewhat stiff, but got into the swing of things, waving and clapping.
Her movements were clumsy, but she matched the music’s beat pretty well.
“How super-cute!”
“Is this chick from Tianchao? So cute!”
“She could totally kickstart a career here as an idol!”
“cr*p, she must be a first-timer! How did this happen?”
“.”
A simple live performance turned into a highlight due to this adorable girl.
Like walking into a party full of adults and discovering a shy maiden—it both tugs at your heart and makes you want to guard this purity.
Kan loved how it all came together. She gave a signal to her bandmates to change the tune, kicking off another electrifying rock song.
Gan Yan Yu strutted around the stage, dancing, her school uniform swaying lightly with each step. Her tiny gestures were so cute, they drove the audience wild.
Yeah, just like this.
Corner of the stage.
Lin Tian sat by the bar, holding a prepped cocktail, smiling fondly as he watched Gan Yan Yu.
She seemed to blend in pretty well. She even pulled off the dance moves decently.
Truth be told, during their practice of the Cosmic Flying Pig’s ‘One Step Away’ duo, Lin Tian noticed some dancing talent in her.
After all, the system rated Gan Yan Yu’s learning ability as ‘S’.
This ‘S’ didn’t refer to academic achievements but rather learning capacity in general. She could pick up almost anything within a short period.
Quick learner that she is, giving her something to dance to might make future videos more fun reasons.
“.”
Lin Tian sipped his drink.
“Eh?!”
This was potent!
Lin Tian studied his glass, surprised.
Stronger than expected.
“Long Island Iced Tea,”
said the bartender, leaning in with a teasing grin,
“Don’t let the name fool you. Most people can’t handle it well.”
“Impressive.”
“I thought you knew and picked this because you were intentionally being nice.”
The bartender arched her blue eyebrow playfully.
Her guardedness towards Lin Tian waned, replaced by curiosity.
“More or less,”
Lin Tian couldn’t bring himself to use such tricks.
Moreover, about her drinking capabilities, he learned on their first day that he couldn’t match hers.
“Shall we start over? High schoolers shouldn’t chug this,”
the bartender suggested, increasing her goodwill.
“Really?” Lin Tian marveled. Who knew the bartender could just swap drinks, especially since the alcohol wasn’t cheap.
“I own this place,” said the bartender.
“Oh.”
So, it was her—the owner personally mixing drinks as a hobby?
Still, regarding Zwei Xiao Xiao’s request.
Lin Tian thought sitting, enjoying a few drinks, music, and relaxing would be great enough tonight.
He hadn’t planned to help Zwei Xiao Xiao out tonight anyway.
“By the way, what’s the name of this band?” Lin Tian changed the subject, taking another sip.
The owner should know plenty.
“Universe Flying Pig, a rising band from Tokyo. They’re the guest performer tonight for the live house.”
“Anything else?”
“Only one underground idol after that. It’s Tuesday, no guest performers usually. Just a small setup.”
The bartender was very straightforward, regardless if facing a stranger or not.
“Actually, I have a friend from the mainland arriving yesterday in Tokyo. He offered to do a guest session tonight—I guess you might know him as you’re also from there.”
The bartender nudged Lin Tian playfully as she continued,
“Zwei Xiao Xiao.”
“Oh.”
“Surprised?”
The bartender grinned slyly,
“She’s a superstar, who in the mainland isn’t obsessed with her?”
“True.”
Lin Tian nodded hesitantly.
He only learned of Zwei a day ago.
“It’s just unfortunate. She can’t make it tonight and won’t be free till next week.”
The bartender sighed.
“She mentioned introducing two prominent musicians from the mainland tonight; she didn’t share their names though. She only said, ‘if they vibe, they might perform.’ I’ve been watching for some time but haven’t seen anyone who seems like a music professional.”
“.”
Lin Tian snuck away to move Gan Yan Yu’s cello bag to a corner.
“Think anyone over there looks like those musicians?”
The bartender leaned in, whispering as she pointed across,
“My theory is, get them to sit and have some specially crafted beer. Maybe the masters will agree. Except, there are so many people…”
“Yeah, super hard to find.”
Lin Tian nodded.
“Hmm, does that guy look like one? I’ve been watching him for a while.”
The bartender raised her finger.
Following where she pointed, a big bearded man sat on a crate nearby, wearing a suit that made a stark contrast with his size.
“Woah?”
Lin Tian squinted.
“The beard! The rugged look, isn’t that the essence of a musician?”
The bartender almost shouted with excitement.
Not literally, though. Musicians don’t have to look that rough.
Lin Tian felt embarrassed.
“But I think they aren’t that ugly.”
“Right.”
The bartender stroked her chin,
“Professional musicians in the same company as her shouldn’t look so average.”
“And who’s that?”
Pointing again, the bartender indicated another man standing by the stage, bouncing along to the music.
Thirty-ish, unremarkable face, save for a completely bald head.
“This guy?”
“This guy seems better than the other?”
This guy must be a programmer.
“Consider this; musicians are extraordinary. Regular folks usually don’t make it. Either they’re older with white hair, exuding a veteran feel, or younger yet eccentrically dressed. Either way, they aren’t ordinary.”
The bartender talked seriously, occasionally eyeing Lin Tian, seemingly teaching him a lesson.
Sure, Lin Tian couldn’t deny her point. Classical musicians are often seen this way.
“. ”
“Miss Gan, amazing dancing! Ladies and gentlemen, can you send some applause her way!”
As Kan finished a raucous performance, she picked up the mic and announced.
Cheers erupted instantly.
Once everything quieted down.
Kan paused, reluctant to let Gan Yan Yu leave the stage.
Turning to her, she said,
“You danced like you’re really groovin’!”
“I saw you with a cello. You play?”
Kan imitated playing a cello.
Everyone laughed.
Lin Tian nearly choked on his drink, getting a bad feeling.
Gan Yan Yu processed Kan’s words, then smiled,
“Of course.”
“You want to join in?” Kan asked.
“Of, of course.”
What the heck!
Seeing this, Lin Tian’s hope shattered.
Teacher Gan, so out of touch with her own skills!
“Why would you agree?!”
Don’t you realize how perilous this is?
Are you going to ruin the entire gig?!
Lin Tian panicked, realizing his instincts were right.
This band probably wanted Gan Yan Yu as an impromptu cellist.
Even just an accompaniment…
What were they thinking?
“Someone, bring up the cello?”
Kan yelled from a distance toward Lin Tian.
Unaffected, Kan tried asking in Chinese.
“Hi.”
Gan Yan Yu sensed Lin Tian’s anxiety and approached,
“Lin Tian?”
“Teacher Gan.”
Lin Tian noticed her excitement and amusement,
“Why agree so quickly?”
“Too caught up in the moment.”
Gan Yan Yu responded softly.
Obviously, she knew better than to act rashly.
“Which moment was too good?”
“The music was so good. I kind of wanted to join in.”
That’s a cello player’s musical sense for you.
Jump around once, and you just want to play.
“But think about it. This could disrupt their set.”
Lin Tian protested.
At that moment,
A notification popped up from the system.
[Producer Task, Assigned—]
[Later…]
Seeing the prompt, Lin Tian sighed.
Raising his head and smiling,
“If you wanna play, let’s play.”
“Awesome~”
Gan Yan Yu clapped her little hands, her face lighting up.
Witnessing the drastic change, Lin Tian even wondered if she said yes just to pull him in.
He turned back, fetched the cello from the corner, then walked to the bartender.
“Can we jam for a bit?”
[End of Chapter]
