Chapter 354: Let’s Have a Recital in Tenyin’s Classroom!
“Why?!”
Lin Tian asked.
He and Gan Yanyu had just arrived and hadn’t even exchanged a word yet.
Why were they being asked to play?
It wasn’t that Lin Tian had completely let go of his grievances over the previous events; he had plenty to discuss with Old Deng. He was just waiting for the right moment.
“Consider it a personal request.”
Tuoba Jianhui looked at the students in the classroom, his eyes brimming with emotion.
“These are all students I’ve personally mentored—all of them love classical music.”
“Not for me, just for these juniors.”
“…”
At this moment,
When the students saw President Tuoba standing at the door chatting with someone, some curious souls couldn’t resist stretching their necks toward him.
Once they got a good look at who it was, a wave of commotion spread through the classroom.
“Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu…?”
“Wow! It’s really them!”
“My God, what’s going on? Why are they talking to Teacher Tuoba?!”
“Will they come in soon? They must come in!”
“…”
Whispers trickled out from the classroom, with some students so excited they could hardly contain themselves.
Lin Tian glanced at Gan Yanyu.
The young woman adjusted her cello case strap calmly, giving Lin Tian an earnest look.
Lin Tian knew this meant she was okay with it.
“Sure.”
He nodded.
If not for Tuoba Jianhui, then for these devoted junior lovers of classical music.
After all—
Yanyu had brought her cello along today.
She must have anticipated something like this.
Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu stepped into the classroom.
The noisy room fell silent the instant they entered, as everyone held their breath.
Students opened their eyes wide, watching Lin Tian sit at the piano while Gan Yanyu unzipped her cello case and sat on a nearby chair.
Silence filled the room.
Everyone’s eyes turned to President Tuoba standing at the door, wondering what was happening.
However, Tuoba Jianhui stood there with his arms crossed, without a word.
A faint look of anticipation was evident on his face.
Neither the principal nor the students dared to ask any questions.
Everyone watched, wide-eyed, as Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu set up their instruments and tested the sound.
“Um…”
A bespectacled artsy young man in the front row timidly raised his hand.
He asked in a barely audible whisper,
“Can we film, Brother Lin Tian?”
Lin Tian glanced at him and nodded.
Even though the voice was soft, it triggered a reaction across the room.
All the students whipped out their phones instantly.
Every one of them wore ecstatic grins, fixated on the scene before them.
Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu exchanged a glance.
Then, they pressed the first key.
“~”
Gentle piano notes reverberated through the classroom.
Gan Yanyu began to play her cello, her notes flowing elegantly around her.
“It’s ‘The Blue Danube.'”
A student whispered.
With the Dragon Zither Cup in full swing, every music academy student was glued to the competition, none more so than Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu’s performance.
“…”
As the beautiful tune intertwined and swirled, reaching every student’s ear,
it seemed to cast a soothing magic.
In this quiet classroom,
the students were spellbound.
No wonder people said Gan Yanyu’s live performance is so stunning—
Even after years of studying at a conservatory, everyone struggled to put their feelings into words now.
“This is such beautiful classical music! Lin Tian’s composition is fantastic.”
“Back then in the competition, I felt this piece was the pinnacle of classical music form’s beauty. Its structure and arrangement are impeccable.”
“You’re right. Recently, I’ve been so frustrated with all the online negativity. People who don’t understand the beauty of music can’t appreciate how powerful this piece really is!”
“Such auditory imagery—it’s so beautiful. Maybe I’ll never create anything like it!”
Under the piano’s and cello’s enchantment, the melody undulated like the waves of the Danube River.
The horn’s motive at the opening resembled a sunrise; the pizzicato notes mimicked spring water’s ripples, and the arpeggios at the end evoked the moonlight’s shimmer.
Amidst such beauty,
students forgot about filming and put away their phones, focusing solely on enjoying the moment.
“Surprised, huh?” Tuoba Jianhui said quietly.
Beside him, He Zhichen was taken aback, realizing Tuoba Jianhui was addressing him directly.
Out of respect, he stood straight.
“Yes.”
He could guess Tuoba Jianhui was referring to—
not Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu, but his own students.
Their quiet discussions showed each student had a strong grasp of classical music.
It wasn’t surprising that conservatories offered classical music courses.
But having such advanced knowledge is quite rare,
especially in today’s world.
Add to that, their teacher is Tuoba Jianhui.
Clearly,
everything was Tuoba Jianhui’s doing.
He aimed to impart classical music techniques to potential conductors.
Watching his students react passionately to the performance,
He Zhichen could truly feel their enthusiasm.
“Teacher Tuoba,”
He Zhichen gathered the courage to ask,
“Given how much you teach your students about classical music, why does your ensemble rarely perform classical pieces?”
Everyone knew—
Tuoba Jianhui still diligently participated in major halls and international competitions.
Teaching, for him, was just a small part of his busy life.
He had abandoned classical music in his career,
yet still taught his students classical music.
Isn’t that contradictory?
Tuoba Jianhui fell silent.
He realized he might have asked a disrespectful question.
Just then, he spoke:
“I’m old, but someone has to keep this tradition alive.”
While speaking, he looked not only at his students but also at Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu onstage.
Tuoba Jianhui recalled—
back to that Dragon Zither Cup day.
Though he wasn’t part of the jury,
he watched the entire event from a backstage office with a great view.
Seeing Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu perform,
the half-century-old man was joyous.
Yet, once the elation subsided,
he fretted more than anyone else about their future.
Maybe he could do something for them.
They say Tuoba Jianhui had abandoned classical performances, forming a new ensemble to pursue different styles.
But it was obvious to his colleagues!
Privately, he continued nurturing gifted students.
His efforts produced excellent talents.
Despite this, the criticism against him persisted.
Universities are meant to prepare students for employment,
not chase “dreams”—which seem abstract and distant.
Right now,
to steer all students towards classical music would be a joke given today’s practical needs.
Many older contemporaries shared this view:
Tuoba Jianhui had dragged committed students into a risky path for personal gains.
Indifferent,
Tuoba Jianhui smiled.
He didn’t care much about such opinions.
An arrogant and persistent old man,
He proclaimed,
“If I told everyone my students chose this because of love, who’d care?”
In this matter,
Tuoba Jianhui would let others see his stubborn side!
“Guh—”
As Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu reached the third movement’s climax,
a uniquely “Gan Yanyu variation” echoed.
Students could no longer control their excitement,
collectively gasping “Wow—”.
Gan Yanyu’s emotive power hit hard in this tiny room.
Every student felt sheer terror—
that’s the magnetic allure of Gan Yanyu’s playing!
“Guh—”
When the recital ended,
applause swept through the room.
“This is masterful—that’s frightening.”
“He’s an idol, of course he’s amazing!”
“Seeing a performance like this makes university worth it.”
“…”
Despite being a small recital, Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu still politely bowed to the audience.
Unlike ordinary spectators,
these students showed more expectations, dreams, and fantasy.
In these fresh-minded students’ eyes, a dream of becoming like Lin Tian or Gan Yanyu existed.
Lin Tian smiled.
Now he understood the significance of playing here.
But unbeknownst to them,
they were each other’s dreams, pursuing theirs too.
Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu returned to Tuoba Jianhui.
“Done. You wanted to talk, right?”
He said with satisfaction.
This old dog—
had once tried all means to eliminate them in the competition, yet now begged for a recital?
So, he added,
“Do you still call this ‘dangerous’ playing?”
“Yes,”
Tuoba Jianhui gave his signature sardonic grin.
Eyes squinting, he responded,
“My opinion of Gan Yanyu won’t change—her playing is always dangerous. Even if she controls it well now, there’s no guarantee for the future.”
“I’ve only changed my attitude toward this style of play, believing it has greater value—I haven’t changed my thoughts.”
“…”
Hearing this, Lin Tian’s bl**d pressure spiked.
If not for this being Tianchao’s Academy of Music—
he’d slap the guy.
Fine. After finishing their performance,
this j*rk still can’t say anything positive!
Tuoba Jianhui hadn’t changed, despite his age—he remained as stubborn as ever.
“Come on, cut the drama.”
Lin Tian got straight to the point,
“What did you want us for?”
“Let’s move this somewhere private,” Tuoba Jianhui suggested without getting upset.
Under his lead, they arrived at his spacious faculty apartment.
Tuoba Jianhui’s assistant—a teacher who initially escorted Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu—patiently served tea.
“The main reason I called you two is for a chat.”
Tuoba Jianhui held the teacup and swirled it,
“In truth, I should’ve called when you got to the city, but I’ve been swamped recently.”
“Does that mean you waited until we made it to the semi-finals before inviting us here?”
Lin Tian didn’t hold back.
Even Gan Yanyu nudged him subtly.
Frowning, she mouthed to him.
He slightly pulled back, taking the cup.
Fine,
he conceded—
after all,
this old man’s actually older than Gan Yanyu’s grandfather.
Given how hospitable he’s been, some politeness is due.
Clearing his throat, Tuoba Jianhui replied,
“Fair enough.”
No more pretenses.
He got serious and asked,
“Did you catch my students’ reactions during your performance?”
“Yeah, looks like they loved classical music.”
“Nope.”
Repeating,
“It was all fake.”
(The End)
