Chapter 355: A Tune That Reveals The False Facade Of Prosperity!
“Fake!”
Lin Tian didn’t quite know whether Tuoba Jianhui was saying that the students’ reactions were fake.
Or if it was their passion for classical music that was fake.
“What do you mean fake?” asked Lin Tian.
“They’re not as pure as they seem — in fact, their love isn’t rooted in your music, but rather your status,” Tuoba Jianhui answered.
“No way.”
Gan Yan Yu was the first one to show disagreement when she heard this,
“Surely, their eyes are real.”
“This is exactly what I worry about.”
“…”
Tuoba Jianhui put down his teacup and sighed gently as he continued,
“Aren’t we merely dealing with young people chasing cultural identity? Most of them don’t even know why they’re studying classical music.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Lin Tian shook off the joker attitude, serious as ever, “We’ve already sat through this; can’t you just come right out and say it?”
From the beginning, Lin Tian had noticed something was amiss.
The invitation from Tuoba Jianhui had started from stepping foot on the campus, continued to the classroom performance, and now to drinking tea at Tuoba Jianhui’s home.
This old man seemed to have been holding something back, something he desperately wanted to tell Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu, but couldn’t until after all these stages had passed.
Only then did Tuoba Jianhui feel comfortable enough to start talking.
Every step so far was just leading up to this moment.
Looking at Lin Tian’s earnest face, Tuoba Jianhui smiled for once,
“You really didn’t disappoint me.”
Despite still harboring resentment over what this brash young man did in the past, Tuoba Jianhui acknowledged that talent and guts were priceless treasures in navigating the journey they took together.
Standing up, Tuoba Jianhui walked to the balcony and looked at the scenery of the campus with his back turned to the two of them,
“Have I ever seriously discussed classical music with either of you?”
“We’ve never even had a good chat.”
“Out of the several pieces you’ve written so far?”
“…”
Lin Tian was still in a daze, while Gan Yan Yu responded bluntly,
“18 pieces — 19 if we count ‘Dream Wedding.'”
d*mn, she remembered better than him.
Lin Tian was surprised silently.
“Starting last year, you two created a miracle on the internet with classical music — something no one has achieved in decades. Various media outlets have already made this clear.”
The phrase “clear” spat out casually by Tuoba Jianhui was like a hurricane in the music industry.
The current music world was split between conservatives and reformers.
Conservatives believed music didn’t need any other definition beyond its own beauty, whereas reformers insisted music should always be relevant or risk becoming obsolete.
With the conservatives at the helm, the internet was filled with praise for “Moonlight” and “Cat.”
Moonlight and Cat accomplished in a year what other maestros hadn’t managed in a lifetime, reviving classical music’s grandeur among common people.
Especially after the magnificent scenes at the classical concert organized by Qingjiang.
It brought back a spectacle last seen about 200 years ago in Europe.
Thanks to this trend led by Moonlight and Cat:
Not just their work, but all classical music, old and new alike, experienced a resurgence in popularity.
Music long deemed obsolete found renewed interest.
In everyone’s eyes,
If Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu didn’t achieve their ultimate glory by 2024-2025, this period would still be etched into Tianchao—or even world—music history.
It would be known as the “Renaissance of Classical Music.”
And history would record that on such-and-such a date, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu released “Ode to Love,” marking the beginning of reclaiming classical music’s former glory.
“If only my ensemble had musicians like you, perhaps the outcome would’ve been different,” said Tuoba Jianhui pensively.
People often don’t realize the profound effect they have on others.
Just as Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu had yet to grasp the true weight of their impact amidst the whirlwinds of public opinion against modern music.
But once the storm blew over,
This wouldn’t just be wishful thinking.
Together, they’d be remembered in Tianchao and possibly world music history.
However,…
Tuoba Jianhui paused,
Normally, stories reach a turning point at this stage.
And this twist was a cruel one,
“Everything you’ve built is fake.”
Even He Zhi Chen couldn’t listen any longer, frowning in disbelief.
Without allowing anyone to rebut,
Tuoba Jianhui continued,
“Your false album sales and concert attendance, all propped up by the current social media craze, have placed you in an unearned spotlight.”
“But of course, this wasn’t your doing. It’s the conservatives and these media outlets.”
“The so-called Renaissance of Classical Music isn’t taken seriously. Hardly anyone truly appreciates classical music. They don’t understand the intricacies of ‘The Blue Danube’ or the emotional depth of your ‘Symphony of Fate.’ All they do is share short clips on social media.”
Tuoba Jianhui grew more agitated, causing him to spit everywhere, which probably explains why he had stepped onto the balcony alone,
Seeing this, Lin Tian hadn’t reacted, but Gan Yan Yu nodded somberly, agreeing.
Lin Tian knew this had been weighing heavily on Gan Yan Yu.
She never cared much about their view counts, album sales, or concert attendance.
None of those mattered to her compared to helping others appreciate classical music.
She simply wanted to share her passion with a broader audience.
This should have been a straightforward task, yet here it lay complex.
“I get it,” Lin Tian said.
He and Gan Yan Yu had always strived to convey their music faithfully.
It wasn’t just about composing a piece and releasing it for profit.
Lin Tian genuinely considered how best to express their music.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t agonize over every detail of performances after writing each piece.
Tuoba Jianhui was merely articulating these thoughts in a harsher light.
“Let’s talk about my students now,” Tuoba Jianhui finally returned to his earlier topic.
A chuckle escaped,
“With your help, more students now choose classical music, packing every class.”
“But the longer they stay, the more they struggle,” Tuoba Jianhui added.
“Last week, one of my favorites, a male student from undergrad through Ph.D., got a job unrelated to music, joining a tech giant instead.”
Hearing this, both Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu were deeply affected.
A student nurtured from undergraduate to doctoral studies had given it all up.
The pain in such a scenario could be imagined vividly.
Maybe this explained why today, Tuoba Jianhui seemed more emotional and talkative yet less combative than usual.
Lin Tian surmised he must be tired.
“These youngsters are truly distraught, but it’s not entirely their fault. Mostly, they don’t know why they’re learning classical music and rush headlong into the glamor.”
“In their words, perhaps because it’s ‘cool,’ or ‘satisfying.’ But most of them don’t truly understand.”
“Perhaps, you’re too pessimistic, Teacher Tuoba,” Gan Yan Yu spoke up, interrupting.
Tuoba Jianhui was momentarily taken aback, turning to look at the girl.
Taking a deep breath, Gan Yan Yu responded,
“Starting something just because it’s ‘cool’? No big deal. What matters is commitment.”
“You’re right,” said Tuoba Jianhui, his eyes softening with a gentle smile,
His gaze reflected Gan Yan Yu, almost as if he saw someone else.
“Yeah, maybe I am too pessimistic,” he said looking at the sky,
“Otherwise, why would I keep numbing myself like this?”
“You’re talking about band matters?” asked He Zhi Chen.
Why was Tuoba Jianhui still going strong after such a significant impact 20 years later?
Organizing tours across cities.
Was it because of this numbness?
He Zhi Chen found this hard to comprehend.
What wound was severe enough to make someone leave the industry as Gan Hua did, becoming a coffee shop regular for over ten years?
Yet, Tuoba Jianhui chose continuous performances as his coping mechanism.
Meanwhile, Lin Tian, who hadn’t participated in the initial discussion, caught on via He Zhi Chen’s exchange.
He felt a surge of unrest.
“Ha!” Lin Tian sneered.
On a certain level, Tuoba Jianhui’s behavior was more reprehensible than Old Uncle Gan’s.
Though Uncle Gan defected, his heart remained free; he carved another life path.
If not for the accident, his life till now wouldn’t have hurt anyone—except himself.
But Tuoba Jianhui?
Filled with lingering discontent from the past,
He threw himself into popular music, using it to pacify his lingering bitterness.
“.”
Lin Tian’s sneer seemingly struck Tuoba Jianhui,
The elder turned toward the group, only to chuckle bitterly,
“Treat my last words as the rants of an old man. You youngsters won’t understand anyway.”
That said, silence blanketed the air.
Once such topics emerged, they instantly brought the mood down.
Having addressed the issues, everyone understood…
How to move forward?
Old master?
After gathering them here, pouring out a story,
You owe us something constructive.
Lin Tian continued glaring at Tuoba Jianhui.
Sighing, the old man reorganized his thoughts,
“Have you not realized? The current turbulence stems from media hype and your fans.”
“The manufactured hype of the classical music renaissance has pushed you two into a massive public debate.”
If not for media exaggeration and fan-generated illusions,
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu wouldn’t have been pitted against pop music in such a dramatic fashion.
In Lin Tian’s eyes, this made no sense;
I? Taking on the entire pop music scene?
Me?
It wasn’t about winning but being forced into the spotlight.
Not only did they occupy the jury seats in debates,
“How do you fight them?”
“So, Lin Tian, Gan Yan Yu,” Tuoba Jianhui paused,
“My advice can be summed up simply —”
“To win this war, you must dismantle this fabricated prosperity!”
Tuoba Jianhui fixed Lin Tian with a stern gaze.
In that instant,
On his resolute face,
A hint of hatred flashed.
This hatred scared Lin Tian.
It encapsulated everything about Tuoba Jianhui, and those early enthusiasts.
Some were gone, some bedridden, others had left music altogether.
But now, Tuoba Jianhui stood before Lin Tian still, speaking.
“…”
Caught in that intense look, Lin Tian froze.
Perhaps…
Tuoba Jianhui had never been a coward.
The humiliation and fury drove him to remain active in this scene, every day.
All along, waiting for a chance to reclaim his lost ground.
“To the extent I must,” Lin Tian stated.
Quiet settled in the room.
Later, back in their apartment that night,
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu bid each other goodnight and, alone, Lin Tian came to the piano.
He grabbed a pen and notebook, ready to pour his thoughts.
Every bit of his conversation with Tuoba Jianhui replayed.
Lin Tian’s inspiration surged.
Indeed, the online influence and fan base meant nothing to their growth.
They’d earned their place through sheer determination.
Even genuine connections at live performances weren’t reliable anymore.
The fleeting nature of internet culture created hollow success.
Lin Tian needed to strip away this facade,
Shedding the shallow engagement that characterized current youth and classical music adoration—
Which had solidified into a mere shadow of itself.
Lin Tian intended to confront this directly, deconstructing the superficial embrace of classical music.
Perhaps, in creating a piece that revealed the essence and deeper meanings of classical music,
Alongside critiquing the pursuit of superficiality itself, he could achieve something transformative.
Or perhaps it sounded too abstract.
Regardless, Lin Tian knew the piece he was writing was inherently abstract,
“…”
Finally,
After furiously jotting down his thoughts, Lin Tian finished the composition,
Then, atop it all, he titled it—
“Moonlight.”
(End of Chapter 355)
