Chapter 102: Gao Zhenyang's Advice
At those words, both Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu froze.
Early admission?
Xingye Conservatory of Music was one of the top five music universities in the country—its reputation spoke for itself. Being offered early admission to such a prestigious institution would be a source of imnse pride for any aspiring musician.
Gan Yanyu's inclusion on the list wasn't surprising. After all, she was the granddaughter of Old Gan, a living legend in the music world, and her talent had already made waves locally in Qingzhou. But Lin Tian?
Lin Tian hadn't publicly revealed his identity as the creator behind Moonlight and Cat. To most people, he was just Gan Yanyu's piano accompanist—a role many assud was unofficial or self-appointed rather than part of the official concert lineup.
Yet here was Xingye Conservatory recognizing Lin Tian's skill purely based on his rit as a pianist. It was no small feat, especially considering how overlooked he'd been by the broader public so far.
"Such professionalism," Lin Tian thought silently.
"Well?" Gao Zhenyang spread his arms wide, addressing the two. "If you choose to accept Xingye's offer, you won't have to worry about entrance exams or the college entrance exam for the next six months. You can focus entirely on your music."
The proposition was undeniably tempting. For soone like Lin Tian, who juggled composing with academic responsibilities, the promise of uninterrupted ti to dedicate to music was incredibly appealing.
But… could they really settle for Xingye?
Lin Tian glanced at Gan Yanyu beside him. The girl sat quietly, her head bowed as if deep in contemplation. When she noticed Lin Tian looking at her, she paused, turning slightly toward him.
"Lin Tian, what do you think?"
"?"
"If you're okay with it, I don't mind either way," Gan Yanyu said softly.
Her tone carried an unspoken implication: her opinion didn't matter. After all, it was she who had dragged Lin Tian into pursuing music together in the first place. If Lin Tian wanted a less stressful path for the next six months, she'd follow him to Xingye without complaint.
She wouldn't argue.
"...Huh."
Lin Tian hadn't expected Gan Yanyu to pass the decision-making responsibility over to him. But then again, he understood her well enough to know that even if she had her own preferences, she'd prioritize his wishes above all else. And deep down, he knew exactly what Gan Yanyu truly desired.
"Our goal is Zhonghua Music Academy," Lin Tian declared firmly.
His statent caught Gan Yanyu off guard, her eyes widening slightly in surprise.
"You don't need to give an answer right away," Gao Zhenyang interjected gently.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Gao, but Zhonghua Music Academy has always been our goal—it's also Miss Gan's dream," Lin Tian replied, glancing at Gan Yanyu as he spoke.
Zhonghua Music Academy represented more than just an elite institution. It symbolized their ticket to the capital's music scene—the larger stage where countless opportunities awaited.
As Wan Lao had once told him: "Qingzhou is too small. Sooner or later, you'll have to move on to bigger stages."
Enrolling in Zhonghua Music Academy ant stepping onto the national platform, gaining access to unparalleled resources and connections within the capital's music industry—sothing no other conservatory could match.
While Xingye Conservatory was excellent, it remained rooted in Qingzhou. In contrast, Zhonghua Music Academy offered sothing irreplaceable. This conclusion ca after careful deliberation—not solely for Gan Yanyu's sake, but for both of them.
"...I see."
Leaning back in his chair, Gao Zhenyang chuckled lightly. "To be honest, it feels a bit awkward for to say this as a teacher at Xingye—but I genuinely believe you two belong at a better university. Zhonghua Music Academy, or perhaps even Shanghai Music University. With your abilities, I'm confident you'll make it. Those schools are clearly better suited for you than Xingye."
Lin Tian couldn't help but admire Gao Zhenyang's candor. As a faculty mber of Xingye, encouraging students to aim elsewhere wasn't exactly standard practice. Then again, had Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu accepted the offer earlier, Gao Zhenyang might have sung a different tune entirely.
Lin Tian disliked premature celebrations. Sensing Gao Zhenyang's congratulatory mood building, he swiftly changed the subject.
"Mr. Gao, may I ask you so questions about TikTok?"
Recently, Lin Tian had been considering expanding their presence across multiple platforms and even creating a Weibo account. He figured this dinner was as good a ti as any to seek advice.
"That actually ties into another topic I wanted to discuss with you today," Gao Zhenyang said, his expression turning serious once again.
"I think, if possible, you two should consider signing with a talent agency."
"A talent agency?"
"Yes."
Gao Zhenyang sighed, looking sowhat apologetic. "After all, my primary role is as a university lecturer. My expertise lies elsewhere—I'm not a professional music manager, and my ability to assist you is limited. Look at your TikTok account—it already has over a million followers. Once you release more works, you might consider putting out a classical music album. More collaborations will likely co your way too."
He went on, "Take your previous piece, Symphony in G Minor: Pathétique. It would be perfect for adaptation into multi-instruntal arrangents. Plus, I noticed you've only written one movent so far. You could expand it into a full symphony and license the rights—I'm sure many musicians would be interested."
Though Gao Zhenyang spoke passionately, he kept his suggestions concise. As he himself admitted, he wasn't a professional manager. Still, he saw imnse untapped potential in Lin Tian's compositions.
Perhaps because Lin Tian was still a high school student, he hadn't yet shown much interest in these matters. But that didn't an he wouldn't reconsider after the upcoming art exams—or even after the college entrance exam.
In such a scenario, finding a reliable music manager to guide them could prove invaluable.
"I'll think carefully about what you've said," Lin Tian assured him.
Gao Zhenyang's words had indeed struck a chord. If circumstances allowed, seeking professional guidance might be the smartest move. Especially after his recent experience negotiating copyrights, Lin Tian realized just how ill-equipped he was to navigate these waters alone.
Gao Zhenyang had already done so much for them, unpaid and unasked. Continuing to rely on him felt increasingly uncomfortable.
For now, though, Lin Tian decided to wait and see how their latest piece, The Bullfighting Suite, would be received tomorrow.
User Comments
0 comments from readers