### Chapter 325: “Love Upon Strings” – College Entrance Exams Are Done!
“Get your papers ready now,” came the voice over the intercom.
Inside the classroom,
The atmosphere was so tense it could have been cut with a kn*fe.
Every student had a solemn look on their face, diligently passing test papers and scanning the questions.
Lin Tian sat at his desk, deep breathing as if he were holding a sword in his hand, ready to strike at any moment.
Young man Lin Tian’s heart was racing with excitement and adrenaline.
He used to feel this way in competition waiting rooms but now it was different. This was his familiar ground, the exam room where he once studied for endless nights.
This nostalgic feeling gave him a strong sense of security.
In this half-year dream, he felt as though he’d been pulled from one world and thrown into another. Every day was filled with new challenges, victories, and immediate moves to the next phase.
But then,
The real-life interruption known as “College Entrance Examinations” brought him back to his comfort zone.
Compared to music, the exam hall was his true comfort zone.
So why not fully embrace it?
Lin Tian closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to calm himself. His heart rate slowly stabilized.
Bing bing bing — went the bell, and he opened his eyes, grabbing his pen.
Math— the first big hurdle for all the candidates.
A strange subject indeed.
Smart students could breeze through everything except a few challenging questions. The struggling ones didn’t care, knowing they already had their fate sealed with math.
But for those middle-ground strivers, every problem was a mental battle.
They agonized over solutions, even writing “solve” on blank spots just to show effort.
For those who’d already given up,
It was blissful.
They watched other students look hopeless, with expressions saying, “I’ll be back next year.”
They laughed, almost falling asleep, wishing the paper was even harder so that their 25% chance at success was worth more points.
Even the proctor had a good chuckle. Math always made the exams intriguing.
But,
Amidst it all,
A girl stood out.
She wore Qingzhou No. 7’s white T-shirt, her hair tied up high and neat.
Her expressionless face showed no emotion as she methodically scribbled formulas on scratch paper.
Cool. Cool down. It’s all about calmness, Yan Yu. She kept telling herself.
Math is crucial. All these questions—they’ve all been reviewed.
Every multiple-choice option, every graph, is familiar.
Just stay calm and you’re good.
Trust yourself, Yan Yu!
At the exact moment Lin Tian raised his pen,
Yan Ru also picked hers up.
“Thank you, Teacher Lin and Teacher Yan Ru, for helping me with this song during such a stressful time right before the college entrance exams.”
“Perhaps, years from now, Moonlight and Cat will have graduated from prestigious schools, becoming famous musicians. Those days when we were high schoolers, helping each other with our studies over countless nights—they might become just a memory.”
An Shi Chia held the microphone tightly, looking directly at the camera with utmost seriousness.
“But as an onlooker, I will forever capture this in a song!”
Boomba! Boomba!
With the distinctive rhythm of Tango, each beat broke through the scratch paper like a wrong step erased during problem solving.
The band started!
An Shi Chia played the bass.
Delicate low notes formed Fibonacci-like sequences, climbing from G to D to A#. Like parabolas subtly tilting in a coordinate system.
On the boy’s face, a sweet smile emerged.
“Strings are unsolved problems; bows kiss trembling puzzles.
You drew endless rests on her scratch paper.
When parabolas meet tremolo, coordinates start slanting.
A step away, the ambiguity is like a critical point after differentiation…”
Just then,
While Zhang Dong opened the live stream,
The scene hit him hard.
“Whoa. Unbelievably good.”
“Yeah, really. Feels quite nice.”
“Huh? You mean they’re using music to symbolize math?”
“Hahaha, Moonlight’s got a knack for games?”
“Just imagining it makes it taste sweet!”
“Wow, he really captured the romanticism between Moonlight and Cat!”
Among the sea of comments, Zhang Dong sighed lightly:
“This is… a remix of ‘One Step Away’?”
“So strong! Wow!”
Knowing Moonlight and Cat were taking their exams today, Zhang Dong had opened his long-dormant live stream to cheer them on with fans.
Both he and many others hadn’t appeared in public for over a month, and Zhang Dong looked more haggard from practicing violin.
Yet, hearing anything remotely linked to Moonlight or Cat instantly lifted his spirits.
Unexpectedly fun!
Especially the lead singer, An Shi Chia…
Zhang Dong remembered her from a previous concert.
Never expecting such a captivating voice—
Ethereal, clear, deeply soothing.
Soon,
In the classic variations of ‘One Step Away’.
Song titled “Love Upon Strings” reached its chorus.
“Love upon strings, bow and string’s struggle.
Your hesitation retreats. His infinite expansion remains.
When black and white keys submit to the Cartesian Rose Equations.
Don’t ask about proof. Here lies truth.”
There lies truth.
—Such heartfelt lyrics!
Almost immediately,
Zhang Dong envisioned a scene—
Two youths kneeling, Moonlight patiently explaining formulas to Cat.
The boy guiding the girl, lifting her cello bow, sketching a function. With a little prompting, sharp Cat quickly figured out the solution.
Under a bright desk lamp in the dark, their figures became endearing.
“Aaaah! How romantic!”
“Waaah! I can picture it so clearly!”
“Really love this chemistry! Cat, keep it up.”
The same image flickered in Cat’s mind.
A slight grin curled up the corners of her lips,
Instantly turning into newfound motivation.
In a daze, the ballpoint pen in her hand morphed like a bow—
The complex numbers and graphs transformed into dense sheet music.
Scribbling on scratch paper,
The answer sprang vividly before her eyes, dancing to song rhythms.
Cat’s eyes widened in surprise.
Swish swish swish—
Cat Yan Ru’s pen swiftly recorded answers already solved on scratch paper.
That problem?
Lin Tian had covered it.
She clearly remembered.
During his commentary on that example, he teased her about how convenient it was to use the cello bow like a brush, causing her face to flush.
That memory sparked her solution process again.
Though altered, with the right approach, it was a breeze!
No problem!
Surely—
I won’t let you down, Lin Tian!
Cat Yan Ru touched her lips gently.
The lyrics entered the outro.
“Love upon string. String upon bow. Bow in fate’s hand.
When the last note pierces the window of the Dean’s office…
You exchange a glance, saying it’s yet another puzzle…
Of initial chaos.”
An Shi Chia smiled at the camera.
The song ended as her smile faded away.
“Whoa! Epic performance and adaptation!”
“Turns out Moonlight’s music became this catchy?!”
Seeing An Shi Chia delivering the final line,
Zhang Dong felt a mix of emotions.
Huh, he’d practically grown with Moonlight and Cat, watching them from debut through MVs, piano competitions, concerts, and now college exams.
In a blink—
Moonlight and Cat graduated.
Tears welled up in Zhang Dong’s eyes.
This journey of witnessing, truly moved him.
Next,
University life—
Moonlight and Cat would finally break free?
Boldly, proudly, with their music on the global stage.
At that moment,
In Zhang Dong’s livestream, the video ended—
Simultaneously,
The exam bell rang.
“Submit your papers,” said the proctor.
After two days of intense exams, it was over.
Exiting after the last test, Lin Tian saw Yan Ru.
With hands behind her back, she tapped water droplets with her toe.
Same summery white T-shirt, head down, a lost expression.
Most examinees probably felt this way—
It’s done.
Lin Tian chuckled, walking towards Yan Ru.
Under the banyan tree, seeing Lin Tian, Yan Ru’s eyes brightened, about to speak.
Predicting her words, Lin Tian stopped her with a finger.
“Let’s go,” he said, “The dessert shop on Jiefang Road!”
No need for further words.
If it’s over, let it be.
For Lin Tian and Yan Ru,
The real battles were yet to come.
“Alright~”
Yan Ru hugged Lin Tian’s arm, looking up with a radiant smile.
The moonlight and the cat had finished their exam.
And with it, a new song—”Love Upon Strings”—caught fire online.
In just two days, the video surpassed 12 million views on Bilibili.
An Shi Chia and Cosmic Flying Pig gained immense popularity.
“I really didn’t expect this adaptation to be so good!”
“The lyrics are fantastic, they really nailed the feeling!”
“Haha, unrealistic though. Love songs, right?”
“Some romance in commercial tunes.”
Regardless.
This perfect combination of timing, place, and people fueled the fire.
Firstly,
For fans,
The song’s surprise release was a massive treat.
After a month without releases, everyone was thirsty. Only classical music filled the gap.
Discovering it didn’t match expectations,
Many realized—
They liked Moonlight and Cat’s style, not classical in general!
Then,
The appearance of “Love Upon Strings” hit the spot.
Everyone was craving something new. This quality piece authorized by the creators easily attracted viewers.
Secondly,
The song’s theme.
Moonlight and Cat’s mysterious study period fueled curiosity.
“Love Upon Strings” satisfied fan’s desires.
Even with skeptics complaining about the overly ‘dreamy’ lyrics.
People just wanted to enjoy it!
Under these ideal conditions,
Cosmic Flying Pig’s surge in popularity was inevitable.
Overnight, Cosmic Flying Pig gained 2 million followers on Bilibili, surpassing their growth from the concert.
As creator and lead singer, An Shi Chia caught significant attention.
Responding to fan questions and analysis in a follow-up livestream,
She shyly smiled,
“No cosmic timing or anything.
All thanks to Lin Tian and Yan Ru.”
“We’ll make more hits if you love this one. Support Lin Tian and Yan Ru’s new album!”
Later,
Lin Tian learned about the online buzz.
Sequestered from internet for a month,
Post-exam isolation added three more days.
Celebrating with Yan Ru,
Eating heavily to make up for missed meals.
Naturally, He Zhichen joined for tradition.
On the dinner table, He Zhichen dropped a bomb.
“It’s time to pack. We’re heading to Baijing soon.”
Lin Tian felt puzzled.
Hadn’t they just finished exams?
Results weren’t even out yet!
Even if they were, admission and enrollment weren’t immediate.
“The GZC finals start next month,” explained He Zhichen helplessly.
“We need to leave soon to acclimate to the venue and opponents.”
“A date’s set. If there’s nothing else, off we go!”
(Fin)
