Chapter 104: The Campus Heartthrob
Monday.
It had only been a weekend. Just two short days.
Yet when Lin Tian stepped onto the school grounds that morning, he could feel dozens of eyes burning into him like spotlights on a stage. Walking toward the main building, whispers buzzed around him like bees, low but impossible to ignore.
"Hey, isn't that him?" one voice murmured.
"Yeah, it really is…" another replied in awe.
And then ca the inevitable comntary:
"Holy crap, Senior Lin Tian is insanely handso."
"I saw his clip on TikTok last week, but I didn't realize he'd perford at the concert hall—and with Gan Yanyu from Class C!"
"Ugh, why does he have to be so perfect? Smart, talented, and now apparently an amazing pianist too. My high school life feels like a lie."
The speed of gossip in schools never ceased to amaze. Last week, Lin Tian had worried no one would talk about their performance. But over the weekend, Gan Yanyu's recital went viral online, dragging Lin Tian along for the ride. Now, here they were—suddenly thrust into the spotlight.
Online, most people had focused on Gan Yanyu as the star of the show, with Lin Tian playing second fiddle as her accompanist. But within these walls, things seed flipped. While Gan Yanyu was relatively new to campus fa, Lin Tian already carried a certain mystique thanks to the urban legends swirling around him. He wasn't just popular; he was legendary.
"That concert? My brother went and sent photos," said one girl standing near the sophomore building. "I recognized him instantly—it's definitely our Lin Tian!"
"Oh my gosh, he's so dreamy," sighed another. "I can't believe I missed that concert. What was I thinking?"
"Do you think… do you think Gan Yanyu might be Lin Tian's soulmate or sothing?" ventured a third.
"No way! If that's true, we're all out of luck," groaned soone else.
A gaggle of gossiping underclassn stood by the entrance, shalessly staring as Lin Tian passed by. anwhile, Gan Yanyu herself had beco the undisputed queen bee of Qingzhou Seventh High. With her sweet face, flawless braids, and undeniable charm, she'd quickly risen to T0 status among both boys and girls.
For so girls who once harbored secret crushes on Lin Tian, those fantasies died the mont they learned he'd shared the stage with Gan Yanyu. Any lingering hope evaporated faster than spilled soda on a sumr day. Instead of pining, they simply shipped the pair together, convinced there must've been sparks flying long before the concert.
Lin Tian remained stoic throughout it all, though his brisk pace betrayed his discomfort. As he entered the classroom and took his seat, Xu Yong greeted him with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Oi! There's our piano prince!" Xu Yong spread his arms wide, ready to pull Lin Tian into a hug.
Two swift punches to the stomach later, Xu Yong was curled up on the floor, clutching his stomach.
"You're famous now, man," he wheezed. "Can you try acting like it? People are watching!"
"Relax," Lin Tian replied coolly. "If they mistake us for bros instead of rivals, maybe it'll shut them up."
Xu Yong stared at him, utterly defeated. "Damn you…"
It should've been infuriating—how effortlessly Lin Tian embodied the role of every shonen ani protagonist, shrugging off attention like it was nothing. To guys like Xu Yong, perpetually single and destined to remain side characters in everyone else's story, Lin Tian's nonchalance felt like salt in the wound.
After finally calming down, Xu Yon asked curiously, "So, how many people know that you and Gan Yanyu are 'Moonlight and Cat'?"
"Among the people around , aside from one university teacher, it's just you."
"Well, I am truly honored," Xu Yong replied with a grin.
Truthfully, Xu Yong had always viewed Lin Tian's endeavors with quiet admiration. Nothing Lin Tian did surprised him anymore—not even the growing scale of his success. Still, curiosity got the better of him.
"You're not gonna drop out early and start cruising around in a Rolls-Royce, are you?"
"Cars don't interest ."
Xu Yong winced dramatically. "Do you need anything? A piano? I'll sell everything I own to help!" Then, echoing sentints familiar to any high schooler, he added, "If you strike gold, don't forget , okay? Call if you ever need a lackey."
Lin Tian didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the blackboard, lost in thought.
Next week was the second mock exam—a crucial test that would determine whether he could secure leave. Based on his sixth-place ranking last ti, breaking into the top five was essential. And for that, he needed to unlock the "Efficient Learning" skill from the system ASAP.
Later that evening, Lin Tian opened his phone. Before he could check notifications, TikTok autoplayed a familiar tune. Soone had already turned Spanish Bullfighting March into background music for their video. When he finally checked the stats—
1.04 million likes. In just two days.
This was the fastest climb yet. Even Can-Can Dance, their previous hit, had taken several days to gain traction. Comnts flooded the screen:
"This track hits hard. Makes want to grab a cape and run off to Spain!"
"So badass. I thought Moonlight excelled at deep, emotional pieces—but turns out, he's versatile AF."
"Wait, seriously? Did Moonlight just whip this up at ho? Unreal."
"Genius like this doesn't co from nowhere. Every piece tells a story because he's lived them all."
Like Can-Can Dance, this composition appealed universally. Its infectious energy transcended technical knowledge, making it accessible to listeners of all ages. Naturally, TikTok users ate it up. So even began theorizing patterns in Moonlight's releases:
"One profound, introspective masterpiece followed by a catchy banger tailor-made for social dia virality."
If the pattern held, the next release promised to be epic.
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