Chapter 308: In Fact, You Can Be a Bit More Proactive
“Don’t move just yet!”
At this moment, Gan Yan Yu had her heart in her throat.
She suddenly remembered something.
Right now, in her bed right next to the pillow.
On New Year’s Eve, Lin Tian gave her “Q version Xiao Tian,” which was lying right at the center of her bed.
The quilt covered the Q version Xiao Tian’s small feet.
If Lin Tian saw this…
He would surely guess that she always slept with it!
That’s too embarrassing!
Gan Yan Yu couldn’t imagine Lin Tian finding out about this and what expression he’d have.
She’d be so embarrassed that she’d want to jump off here!
Isn’t this like saying Gan Yan Yu is constantly fantasizing about sleeping with Lin Tian every night?
Actually,
If it were only that, it wouldn’t be so bad.
A girl still has methods to get by.
But, perhaps because recently,
In addition to sleeping with it, Gan Yan Yu did other things too.
For example, whispering secrets, playing little games, etc.
These things made Gan Yan Yu feel a sense of guilt from deep inside her heart, in an intangible way.
This guilt made her feel that if Lin Tian touched this doll, God knows what kind of scary things might happen!
So,
“Click-clack-click”
The girl’s bare feet ran across the floor.
Then, “whoosh!” with a swift motion, she blocked in front of Lin Tian.
“It’s better if I do it myself,” said Gan Yan Yu, quickly spreading her hands.
Lin Tian looked at Gan Yan Yu who was standing in front of him, then lowered his head to look at the girl’s feet touching the ground.
His gaze became meaningfully deep.
“Why? You don’t let me enter your inner chamber?”
“Mmm!” replied Gan Yan Yu, nodding seriously.
“No.”
Lin Tian’s eyes immediately narrowed.
“But you’ve been in before.”
Strictly speaking, Lin Tian had already entered Gan Yan Yu’s room more than once.
The first time was when Gan Yan Yu worked too hard and fell asleep in the living room; Lin Tian carried her back to the bed.
Back then, Lin Tian was focused entirely on Gan Yan Yu and didn’t really pay much attention to the room.
He could only remember:
It was a very ordinary room for a girl with dreams of marshmallows, decorated in pink, with stuffed animals of various sizes, and a pleasant fragrance permeated the room.
Certainly,
Because it was an ordinary girl’s room, to Gan Yan Yu, it felt especially special.
“It’s different!” whispered Gan Yan Yu. “Today… Today’s inconvenient!”
“Huh?”
Lin Tian’s gaze became even more confused.
Just a room, how could it be convenient on some days but not others?
Those who know, Lin Tian is entering Gan Yan Yu’s room. Those who don’t, might think he is entering somewhere else entirely.
This actually made Lin Tian rather unhappy.
He sighed quickly and acted dejectedly,
“I get it, previously when I was only a partner with Little Gan, there weren’t so many restrictions. Now there are promises, and Little Gan suddenly starts setting boundaries; I wonder what’s causing this?”
Lin Tian shook his head sorrowfully, then let out a long sigh,
“Oh, sometimes I wonder if these promises are just baiting me; am I being played as a catch for Little Gan?”
“.”
After Lin Tian said those words, he suddenly sensed that something was off.
He lowered his head.
At this moment, Gan Yan Yu was staring deeply into his eyes, biting her lip, with a hint of glitter in her watery eyes.
Lin Tian’s expression immediately turned frantic.
“Little Gan.”
Suddenly,
Gan Yan Yu stood on tiptoe, wrapped both arms around Lin Tian’s neck, pulling him towards herself.
Instantly, Lin Tian’s face was enveloped in a sweet scent. The back of his head felt the strength in Gan Yan Yu’s hand, refusing to let go easily.
Her thin nightgown, carrying this fragrance, enveloped Lin Tian’s face.
“I don’t like it,” whispered Gan Yan Yu softly,
“Using our promise as a joke.”
“Sorry,” replied Lin Tian quickly, “I just wanted to tease you. It wasn’t intentional, Teacher Gan!”
Recalling these thoughts, Lin Tian pinched himself hard.
He knew there were many ways to express dissatisfaction and tease Teacher Gan without having to push her buttons.
Yet somehow, he chose a button that made her uncomfortable.
He knew that the most precious thing to Gan Yan Yu was their promise.
“No, it’s not your fault,” murmured Gan Yan Yu,
“It’s mine.”
“If I could make you happy more often, show you how much I care, you wouldn’t have thought such absurd things…”
Lin Tian’s expression froze.
Then, Gan Yan Yu let go of Lin Tian and urged him to look up.
“In fact,”
Whispered Gan Yan Yu softly,
“When you do it occasionally, I don’t mind it.”
Lin Tian was stunned again.
Occasionally?
What counts as occasional?
Anything within the bounds of what is acceptable, right?
Actually, ever since they resumed their routine after the Spring Festival, they have already naturally started getting physically close quite frequently.
Given what Gan Yan Yu says…
There is much Lin Tian can do.
He peered at Gan Yan Yu’s bashful expression and lowered his head.
Finally, he smiled.
Lin Tian reached out and gently lifted Gan Yan Yu’s chin.
“All right,”
He said,
“I was just joking; don’t take it to heart.”
“Ultimately, these minor issues mean nothing compared to our promise.”
“To achieve our dreams, these issues hold no weight.”
Lin Tian also knew that Gan Yan Yu never led him astray with false promises.
She has always regarded the promise as the most important thing between them.
This is not only Gan Yan Yu’s dream, but also Lin Tian’s.
They had already proven this countless times.
No need to reiterate.
“Alright,”
Nodded Gan Yan Yu with determination,
“Mainly, I am worried that you cannot bear to be alone. So sorry, after we fulfill this promise, I will definitely make it up to you.”
Suddenly,
Lin Tian grabbed Gan Yan Yu’s hand tightly, with a serious expression,
“Are you making empty promises to me?”
“What what?” Gan Yan Yu was puzzled,
“Which line?”
“The compensation one.” Lin Tian expressed emotionally.
What does Little Gan know, really?
How did she know that he already made a list of everything he wants to play after marriage?
“.”
“Really.”
Gan Yan Yu looked away.
“In any case, I owe you!”
“Alright, alright,” Lin Tian laughed.
He felt warm inside.
With the promise of Little Gan, he felt he could work hard again.
Finally, Lin Tian glanced at the door behind Gan Yan Yu.
And asked:
“Can I open the room and come in?”
Gan Yan Yu’s expression was conflicted, her eyes wandering.
She heaved a sigh, seemingly letting go of something.
“Unacceptable.”
“Why not?” Lin Tian commented.
Then, Lin Tian received a message from He Zhi Chen.
Apparently, they found a singer who agreed to be the guest for Moonlight and Cat’s concert, and this singer was said to play the violin and have great popularity and high traffic.
They needed to meet tomorrow to confirm.
Lin Tian agreed and planned to go with Gan Yan Yu tomorrow.
Finally, they bid each other goodnight and returned home.
Night.
Laid on her pillow in pajamas, Gan Yan Yu stared blankly at Q version Xiao Tian in her hands.
“Says you, who needs me when you’re lonely; who would I turn to if I’m lonely?”
Gan Yan Yu spoke to “Xiao Tian.”
She pretended to think for a moment, cupping her face,
“Want me to give you a custom-designed plushie?”
“But you’re quite big, giving you anything too small can’t keep you company!”
“If you roll over, aren’t you going to squash me flat?”
“—Would a full-sized one do?”
Upon saying that sentence, Gan Yan Yu’s expression turned peculiar.
“You fool, what are you thinking?”
Gan Yan Yu then started hitting herself with the plushie.
In the dark, the sound of a button being pressed faintly echoed.
But it seemed the girl hadn’t noticed.
Realizing this, Gan Yan Yu hurriedly took down the plushie.
“Ah, sorry! Teacher Lin, did I hurt you?”
She quickly comforted the plushie.
“You’re alright, our Teacher Lin.”
“You won’t cross the line unless you’re willing.”
“But I told you can be a bit proactive today, you should take it to heart!”
“I mustered all my courage to say that.”
Next day.
Early in the morning, Lin Tian got up from bed, briefly tidied up, and met Gan Yan Yu downstairs.
Gan Yan Yu wore brown dress with a coat outside, looking sophisticated but sleepy.
“Why, did you sleep poorly last night?”
“Uh, kinda.”
Gan Yan Yu yawned and shoved her hands into her pockets, mumbling,
“Maybe it’s because I haven’t gotten up so early in a while?”
“Cheer up,”
Lin Tian encouraged, “after all, today we are meeting a key guest!”
Last night, He Zhi Chen told Lin Tian the identity of this famous singer.
Under the stage name “Hu Lang,” he could tell right away which style the pop singer specialized in.
Since he could also play the violin, often creating “seductive” and “leisurely” music, Hu Lang could certainly leave a lasting impression among music fans.
Additionally, from a musical perspective, even as a classical player, Hu Lang could still find success.
Most importantly,
Hu Lang was very famous, far beyond ordinary fame.
In the entertainment industry, he was considered a top-tier artist, with consistent invitations to participate in various TV shows and events.
As someone who paid no attention to stars in this world, Lin Tian usually sought Xu Yong’s advice.
Xu Yong confirmed that he recognized Hu Lang and had been a fan for years, making him a d*e-hard fan.
However, Lin Tian thought otherwise, considering Xu Yong didn’t mention fangirling, leaving his dedication doubtful.
According to He Zhi Chen,
Hu Lang was willing to participate because recently, he had collaborated on a project with Yue Yun and had developed interest in joining their performance.
He Zhi Chen suggested:
Letting Hu Lang join as a special guest, by performing the violin, would certainly draw crowds and ensure the audience had their money’s worth.
Lin Tian saw no problem with this plan.
But He Zhi Chen added that Hu Lang had specific terms which needed to be discussed face to face.
Lin Tian understood this point well.
Certainly, a top-tier pop artist, known for his impressive violin skills, is a perfect fit for this concert.
Given the venue, conditions like price and scale could put the concert at risk without such a prominent performer.
Meeting location was not chosen lightly; the coffee shop they usually practiced at instead of formal settings to avoid leaks and privacy concerns.
Seated at the café.
While waiting for Hu Lang to arrive,
He Zhi Chen explained further:
“I’ve contacted numerous established musicians, most rejecting our offer.”
“Finding Hu Lang is already a blessing, so best to seal this deal.”
“Actually, I even posted a message in the industry circles. Any professional musician interested can reach out directly – good conditions, no matter their fame.”
“That bad, huh?” Lin Tian was surprised.
Gan Yan Yu echoed, “Why wouldn’t they want to perform?”
Lack of trust.”
He Zhi Chen smiled helplessly,
“With just ‘Moonlight and Cat’ as branding, musicians would flood the opportunity. However, our choice of venue is too ambitious.”
“Not only selecting the Jing River Cultural Center but also setting a four-digit ticket price, twice as expensive as usual concerts.”
“Though none admitted explicitly, everyone doubts the feasibility of our concert.”
“Most artists cherish their reputations.”
“.”
Lin Tian understood.
The problem lied here.
Exactly.
Considering the scale of this orchestra,
Finding comparable instances worldwide is rare.
Now, people view Moonlight and Cat not just as overly confident but suspect the back team is unreliable.
How could such planning work? Any mature team wouldn’t.
Unreliable teams often result in unreliable events, everyone having their own thoughts.
Participate, only to end with few attendees and messy results…
Spread around, likely to become a laughingstock for the music industry.
Furthermore, Moonlight and Cat themselves have always faced skepticism and targeted media criticism. When they finally fall, it will be catastrophic.
This concert poses extreme risks to other musicians.
Given how significant reputation is in the community, few dare to take the risk.
Lin Tian sympathized with them.
Situational constraints.
No one believed Moonlight and Cat could pull off this concert or successfully revive classical music because…
Such an endeavor is unprecedented.
Like criticisms of Xiang Yu’s enfeoffment system.
Unifying the nation only to fragment it further, dividing land into kingdoms…
Such short-sighted actions allowed Liu Bang to seize power.
But these criticisms lack reason.
Before Xiang Yu, such practices persisted for centuries, seen as effective by Xiang Yu.
The dynasty that unified eventually lasted only 14 years.
To Xiang Yu, Qin Shi Huang’s path was undoubtedly misguiding.
This is situational constraint.
Never seen it, so deemed impossible.
Thus, Lin Tian partly understood.
“But if even classical musicians don’t understand, what hope do we have with these efforts…” whispered Gan Yan Yu.
He Zhi Chen was stumped.
True.
What Moonlight and Cat strive for—revitalizing classical music—is challenging.
They are financially stable, primarily through album sales.
They could choose a modest venue and host a straightforward event, providing closure for music fans.
Despite this, they elected a massive concert to legitimize classical music.
Yet, other musicians didn’t recognize it.
Cruel indeed, but unavoidable.
“These musicians see this as a risky venture, overshadowing other considerations…”
“Exactly, as you say.”
A voice floated from nearby.
A scruffy man entered the café.
“Mr. Hu Lang,” greeted He Zhi Chen.
Hu Lang approached Lin Tian directly,
“Teacher Moonlight, right?”
“Yeah.”
Lin Tian stretched out his hand and shook Hu Lang’s.
“Looks like you are well-informed, saving much explanation on my part.”
Lin Tian scratched his head, somewhat troubled, and said with effort,
“As such, I wish to convey my stance—that joining your concert is risky for someone like me.”
“While my flow can sustain minor impacts, and though we come from different circles, if your concert falls flat, it’ll impact my image. I don’t want that.”
“I understand.”
Nodding, Lin Tian appreciated Hu Lang’s candidness.
Essentially, Hu Lang lived off double incomes: pop and classical music scenes.
Probably he wanted to leverage the concert to gain recognition in the latter realm.
Hu Lang stroked his beard and smiled,
“So, I wish to perform longer on stage and involve my team in planning.”
“Are they still ‘Moonlight and Cat’ anymore?”
Hearing that, Lin Tian was dumbfounded instantly.
Perform longer and bring in his team?
“Absolutely, I’ll promote it with my resources,”
Silent for a moment.
This sounded tempting indeed. With Hu Lang’s clout, the crowd would not be a concern for sure.
But the problem is…
Was it still “Moonlight and Cat’s” concert?
Inviting in his team meant unpredictable trouble. If he brought his music in, it would completely change the nature.
Moreover, Hu Lang was hugely popular, far surpassing “Moonlight and Cat”.
Allowing participation would risk making him the central attraction instead. Effectively handing over half the spotlight.
For Hu Lang’s immense popularity, however, turning him down seemed like a lost cause.
“We’ll pass, we decline.”
After much deliberation, Lin Tian decided.
“Heh, makes sense then,”
Like guessing the outcome,
Hu Lang smiled,
“So, the team won’t join, only doing half the show?”
“No.”
Lin Tian didn’t hold back.
Even though he himself was a violinist.
Their music paths were just too different for him to collaborate with.
“This ok.”
Without another word, Hu Lang stood up.
“Nothing left to discuss.”
Finishing, he looked meaningfully at He Zhi Chen.
Yawning,
“Wish you all good luck with the concert. Though, I doubt it’ll succeed.”
“Don’t regret your choices and call me. Just, under certain conditions.”
They all remained silent, understanding he was taunting them.
Regardless of seating capacity issues, Lin Tian struggled even finding guest performers as it was.
Bye.”
Hu Lang pushed open the glass door, his guard waiting outside.
Watching the car leave, the café went into silence.
Unknown time passed.
“Anyone home?”
Called out a voice from outside.
Lin Tian turned, startled.
“Heard you guys are hosting a concert?”
Gold hair gleamed, and the figure stepped in.
Carrying a cello behind her.
“Nanaly?” Lin Tian was astounded.
“Just heard about it. Heard you guys needed a guest, came out of sympathy,”
Nana explained earnestly, “You have to be nice to me!”
“Well,”
Nana’s voice trailed off,
“Classical music isn’t your monopoly to excel in!”
Watching Nana step in,
Another set of footsteps followed closely.
“A thousand-person classical music concert sounds perfect for me. Of course, if you owe me, I could lend a hand.”
Bai Xi walked in, leaning against the glass,
“Only kidding—”
(The End)
