Chapter 114: Music That Evokes "Sadness"
Liking sothing and excelling at it were two different things. Lin Tian had co to understand this clearly.
Until Gan Yanyu overca her inner fragility, asthma and anxiety would continue to haunt her every performance. This issue had to be resolved at its root. It wasn't feasible for Lin Tian to sacrifice himself each ti, as he did during their last concert, just to help Gan Yanyu through a performance. The best solution was for her to deliver a stunning solo act at the Starlight Cup—one that would shatter her self-doubt once and for all.
This ti, without Lin Tian competing alongside her, the event could serve as an opportunity for Gan Yanyu's growth—a chance to break free from her ntal prison.
"A new piece?" Gan Yanyu asked, looking puzzled by Lin Tian's suggestion.
"Forget Greeting of Love," Lin Tian said firmly. "If we're aiming for confidence, let's avoid pieces that don't suit us both."
Liking a piece didn't an it suited her. Gan Yanyu might adore Greeting of Love, but the piece itself didn't reciprocate. Just as Lin Tian harbored feelings for Gan Yanyu that remained unspoken, love was an emotion she hadn't truly experienced yet—how could she resonate with it?
Lin Tian realized he needed to compose sothing specifically for Gan Yanyu—a piece that would not only fit her abilities but also help her regain confidence on stage.
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[Producer Task Issued—
Objective: Compose a musical piece to be perford as a duet video, achieving 2 million likes and evoking 500,000 units of 'sadness' from viewers across any platform.
Deadline: 15 days.
Reward: Master-Level Makeup Skill.]
Fifty thousand emotional points… Seeing this number shocked Lin Tian. And the deadline—exactly 15 days—made the task even more daunting. This was no ordinary challenge.
The reward, however, intrigued him. A master-level makeup skill? While seemingly mundane, such a skill could prove invaluable in shaping his appearance for public life—especially if he ever decided to step into the spotlight. It might even aid his upcoming art exam preparations.
"Sad music…" Lin Tian murmured thoughtfully.
The system had already chosen the the for him. Indeed, heavier, lancholic compositions suited Gan Yanyu better. In terms of expressiveness, Lin Tian knew few cellists could rival her ability to imrse themselves completely in a piece's soul. Her innate talent for evoking sorrow made her uniquely suited for such emotionally charged works.
Even during their performance of Mozart's Symphony No. 40, Gan Yanyu had briefly hinted at her latent depressive tendencies. But since that piece leaned toward liveliness, her lancholy remained subdued. Now, asking her to perform pure "sadness" would unleash her full potential—or risk pushing her too far.
Sitting opposite Gan Yanyu, Lin Tian stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"What are you doing?" Gan Yanyu asked, breaking his silence.
"Thinking about a piece."
"Right now?"
Her eyes widened in surprise as Lin Tian grabbed a notebook and began scribbling furiously. An audacious idea had taken shape in his mind.
He wrote the score for the second movent of Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor. Written when Elgar was 62, it was his final large-scale concerto, composed against the backdrop of World War I. Compared to Greeting of Love or Symphony No. 40, this piece was anything but accessible. Its profound sadness and tenderness embodied the very essence of the cello.
Others might struggle with it, but Gan Yanyu? She could bring this piece to life—or unravel herself in the process.
---
When Lin Tian handed Gan Yanyu the freshly written score, her astonishnt was palpable.
"You're done already?"
"Yes."
"Do you always write so quickly?"
"With Miss Gan waiting, how could I afford to dawdle?" Lin Tian teased lightly.
Gan Yanyu held the sheet music as though it were a precious treasure. As she humd the lody softly, her pupils dilated. The lonely, gentle, sorrowful notes intertwined, echoing like distant gunfire in her mind. Only when Lin Tian gently removed the sheet did she snap back to reality.
"I want to try it now."
"No." Lin Tian stopped her imdiately. "Take your ti with this one. Go ho, familiarize yourself with the score, and practice gradually."
With a 15-day deadline, Lin Tian wasn't in a rush. He wanted Gan Yanyu to approach this piece with the right mindset. Knowing her all too well, rushing could lead to another breakdown—like the exhausting all-nighters they pulled rehearsing Symphony No. 40. If she conquered this piece, she'd conquer her inner demons too.
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Saturday arrived.
Outside Fulai Restaurant, Gan Yanyu stood waiting, her high ponytail bouncing as she wore her school uniform. When Lin Tian appeared, running slightly in the suit he'd worn to their concert, Gan Yanyu's eyes widened.
"Why are you dressed so formally?" she blurted out.
"What?" Lin Tian looked confused. "Isn't this your parents we're eting? I figured I should show so respect."
He'd even styled his hair into a mature style. Yet Gan Yanyu wasn't impressed.
"It feels like a blind date—it's awkward."
"How did you introduce to them?"
"I said you're my music partner."
"Doesn't that sound more like soone in a rock band?"
"Stop it…"
Gan Yanyu lowered her head, embarrassed. "They're already inside. Let's go in."
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