### Chapter 389: How Could Lin Tian Possibly Be a Love-Struck Fool?
“cr*p, seriously! What’s there to be afraid of?!”
That night, at a bar near the apartment.
Lin Tian slammed back a whole glass of craft beer and vented to He Zhi Chen.
It just so happened that He Zhi Chen had no plans for the day.
So, Lin Tian dragged him out.
This guy is supposedly a manager who treats his artists like “family,” right?
He promised to help before signing anything, but Lin Tian hadn’t really taken advantage of that in quite some time.
Now’s the perfect chance; Lin Tian unloaded everything that happened today on He Zhi Chen.
Purely as an emotional trash can!
“…”
After being used as a garbage can, He Zhi Chen set his drink down.
He chuckled,
“Love-struck fool, huh, Lin Tian?”
“Me? A love-struck fool??”
Lin Tian couldn’t believe it.
In his two lifetimes, this was the first time someone used that term to describe him.
Maybe he should ask around?
Lin Tian prided himself on being a strong-willed man with few words, his inner strength as solid as steel.
Does he even know what being a “Lin” with a “system” means? Those two buffs combined had incredible value in his previous life!
A “love-struck fool” character? Never in eight lifetimes would that ever apply to him.
“That’s what a love-struck fool is.”
He Zhi Chen shrugged,
“Look at you! It’s just picking a song for the finals. Gan Yan Yu didn’t say she won’t do it, and you’ve already thought of everything under the sun!”
“What do you mean ‘just picking a song’? Isn’t that important enough?”
“Glad you think it’s important. So, isn’t it normal for Gan Yan Yu to take a little extra time to think?”
“I…”
Lin Tian realized he had gotten wrapped up in He Zhi Chen’s words.
He quickly regrouped and replied seriously,
“Stop beating around the bush! If she really had those kinds of feelings, how could she lack confidence in ‘Ode to Love’?”
“Oh~ So now you’re even doubting Gan Yan Yu’s feelings and still saying you’re not a love-struck fool?”
He Zhi Chen delivered another playful jab.
“No, no! I mean, how can she not be confident?”
“Think about it from her perspective. If Gan Yan Yu doubted your feelings for her, how would you feel?”
“…”
Hearing that, Lin Tian was at a loss for words again.
Indeed, at this moment, to doubt Gan Yan Yu’s feelings would make him quite the scoundrel.
“Wait, are you suddenly Captain Dragonfly now??”
Lin Tian snapped back into reality, eyes wide.
“Calm down, Lin Tian. Take it easy.”
He Zhi Chen raised his glass, gesturing for Lin Tian to chill.
“Don’t you think you’re a bit too emotional today?”
Lin Tian clinked glasses with He Zhi Chen and downed his drink in one go.
He took a deep breath and looked around.
The bar was filled with scattered guests.
They were definitely the loudest table around.
“You’re right.”
Lin Tian rubbed his forehead, “I’ve been a bit emotional.”
“Totally understandable. After all, the Dragon Zither Cup finals are just around the corner, and your engagement with Gan Yan Yu is getting closer.”
He Zhi Chen chuckled, “At a time like this, feeling anxious is totally normal—because you love her, right?”
“Is this what they call pre-marital anxiety?” Lin Tian frowned.
“Not even close!”
He Zhi Chen looked exasperated,
“How can you have pre-marital anxiety when you haven’t even been in a relationship?”
“Then tell me, what should I do?”
Lin Tian had to admit it.
His anxiety levels had been climbing recently.
He found himself overthinking even the smallest things.
Something he didn’t do before.
It reminded him of a quote from his past life’s “Charlotte’s Troubles”: I’m so frustrated; I’ve suddenly become a crybaby fool without a single trait of a classical musician.
Maybe He Zhi Chen was right.
With the Cole Cup creeping up, the engagement was just around the corner.
It was hard not to overthink everything.
That’s totally normal.
But…
Was it truly all just him “thinking too much”?
Lin Tian recalled what Gan Yan Yu said before his outdoor performance that day:
“Lin Tian, I think you’re not the only one feeling anxious.”
He looked up, puzzled.
“There’s Gan Yan Yu too.”
He Zhi Chen said,
“Doesn’t she feel the pressure of the upcoming Cole Cup and worry just like you? She’s just not showing it in front of you.”
“She really is anxious.”
Lin Tian forced a bitter smile,
“Only, her worry is about whether she can win the competition and fulfill her dream—like today, when she said she needed time to think, it’s because she’s worried she won’t play the piece well in the finals.”
“…”
He Zhi Chen was momentarily speechless.
Lin Tian had truly left him at a loss for words.
Lin Tian glanced at him, then stared at the bar’s ceiling.
He sighed deeply.
“I’ll get my act together.”
Lin Tian said,
“After all, while Gan Yan Yu is tangled up over the competition, I’m here fretting over my feelings for her—doesn’t that make me a terrible person?”
“Yeah.”
He Zhi Chen nodded, then sighed,
“Only you, Lin Tian, can still rationalize while being a love-struck fool. The average person just can’t do that.”
“Not that I expected you to give any constructive advice, anyway.”
Lin Tian shot back.
Honestly, he just called He Zhi Chen out to let off some steam; he didn’t expect to get much advice.
As long as he vented, Lin Tian would feel better and could focus on the competition.
Having a cold fish girlfriend is like this.
Sometimes you have to learn to soothe yourself.
“By the way, there’s one thing I think you haven’t considered, Lin Tian.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Gan Yan Yu lacking confidence.”
He Zhi Chen said,
“Honestly, I think she should have overcome this issue with your support by now, but it seems she still has that mindset, which probably…”
“Can be understood; after all, it’s a very important competition.”
Let’s not even talk about Gan Yan Yu; Lin Tian himself wouldn’t dare be 100% confident.
“I think it’s due to her desire to break free from her ‘dependency’ on you.”
“Break free?”
“Yeah. The confidence that Gan Yan Yu built up before was based on you, but now, with all this confusion, it’s clear she wants to gradually get rid of that reliance. She doesn’t want to have to agree to perform this piece just because you’re there to back her up.”
He Zhi Chen explained,
“Lin Tian, in my opinion, you’re partners. And since you’re partners, that kind of dependency is unavoidable.”
“So, Lin Tian, just let her rely on you boldly, and it’ll be fine!”
(End of Chapter)
