Chapter 128: Bai Xi – A Seductive Performance
Lin Tian was montarily taken aback as he realized Bai Xi was indeed addressing him.
"You know ?"
"Mr. Lin," Bai Xi imdiately bead, stepping forward and enthusiastically shaking his hand. "Your reputation precedes you. I've long admired your work."
"?"
Lin Tian gently withdrew his hand. He couldn't recall any notable achievents that would warrant such admiration from a cellist like Bai Xi.
"I watched your performance with Miss Gan at the Soul Concert. It was my first ti realizing there's such a skilled pianist in Qingzhou." Bai Xi's eyes shone with admiration, even more intense than her earlier deanor toward Gan Yanyu.
"Thank you," Lin Tian replied indifferently, his expression unchanged.
He admitted that anyone who noticed his role in that concert wasn't ordinary. Still, sothing about Bai Xi's behavior felt off.
"May I ask what your relationship with Miss Gan is?" Bai Xi inquired.
"Partners."
This was obvious, and Lin Tian saw no reason to hide it.
"Just partners?"
"The best of partners," Lin Tian reiterated.
"How wonderful," Bai Xi said, smiling brightly as she leaned closer to him.
"Miss. Bai, I appreciate your praise, but I must excuse myself." Lin Tian politely responded, taking a step back. "And yes, please keep so distance—I don't want Miss Gan to get the wrong idea."
"…"
In an instant, Lin Tian witnessed what could only be described as a dramatic transformation—Bai Xi's cheerful smile vanished, replaced by a sly, knowing gaze. Her lips curled slightly upward.
"No need to rush, Mr. Lin. I just wanted to have a little chat."
"About what?"
"I've heard so rumors recently—though they're just rumors, so no need for you to refute them right away." Bai Xi tiptoed around him, circling slowly. "After disappearing for over a year, Gan Yanyu returned with astonishing growth. Her performance style has completely transford, injecting emotions she never displayed before."
"There's talk of a ntor behind this transformation—soone who not only helped her evolve her style but also unlocked her full potential in classical music. But Old Gan had been training her for years without achieving such results. Plus, after his recent car accident, he couldn't possibly still be guiding her."
Bai Xi stopped, locking eyes with Lin Tian. "Mr. Lin, who do you think this ‘ntor' might be, if not Old Gan?"
"Hmm, who indeed?" Lin Tian stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps Old Gan visited her in a dream?"
"Haha, Mr. Lin, you're quite the joker," Bai Xi laughed.
The answer was clear enough—it didn't take much to connect the dots.
"I've always believed that a manager capable of nurturing a musician is far greater than the musician themselves. Talented musicians are common, but true ntors are rare."
"I'm just a high school student, not a manager," Lin Tian clarified.
"So you admit it?"
"You've made your point clear. Do we really need to play word gas?"
"…"
Accustod to Gan Yanyu's straightforwardness, Lin Tian found Bai Xi's roundabout speech infuriating. If given the chance, he'd have punched her.
"Mr. Lin," Bai Xi hopped onto the table, sitting casually as she gazed at him with burning intensity. "Would you be interested in a private performance from soti?"
"No thanks, I'm busy cooking als for Gan Yanyu every day," Lin Tian declined firmly.
"I understand your concerns, Mr. Lin. I assure you, I have no ulterior motives. Soone as talented as yourself would never sway based on others' opinions."
"I simply wish to perform for you and hear your thoughts."
"I think you're misunderstanding sothing," Lin Tian replied.
He couldn't fathom Bai Xi's intentions, but her words hinted at her underlying motives. Rather than brushing her off, Lin Tian decided to address her directly.
"My relationship with Gan Yanyu isn't what you imagine—a ‘manager' and ‘musician.' We're just ordinary high school students. Though, perhaps inadvertently, there's a bit of truth to what you're saying."
"But let make one thing clear—we complent each other. We achieve greatness together."
Lin Tian spoke with conviction. While he sotis acted as a producer in their partnership, guiding Gan Yanyu's developnt brought him imnse joy. Theirs was a symbiotic relationship where both inspired and elevated the other.
"From your earlier words, I sense a lack of respect for my partner. You should consider yourself lucky I've indulged you this far."
Lin Tian concluded politely.
"…"
Bai Xi stood frozen for a mont before responding.
"So, what did you see in Gan Yanyu when you first t her?"
"Everything," Lin Tian suddenly grinned, delivering his answer with absurd casualness. "I'm Miss Gan's number one fan, you see."
"Huh?"
Caught off guard by Lin Tian's abrupt change in tone, Bai Xi faltered. After regaining composure, she feigned disinterest.
"Fine then."
Smoothing her black dress, Bai Xi stepped down from the table and turned to leave. Before departing, she glanced back at Lin Tian, a playful yet confident smirk tugging at her lips.
Her ssage was clear: Let the music speak for itself.
As Bai Xi walked away, Lin Tian remained rooted in place, replaying their conversation in his mind.
When she sat on the table earlier… he'd caught a glimpse. Black lace, triangular… damn provocative.
He needed to share this with Miss Gan.
Rubbing his hands together, Lin Tian headed back to find Gan Yanyu. Upon locating her makeup station, he approached.
Gan Yanyu had already finished her base makeup and was working on contouring. Seeing Lin Tian approach, she asked, "What were you talking about with Bai Xi?"
"Nothing much. She wanted to give a private performance, but I declined."
". Oh." Gan Yanyu's pupils dilated slightly. Lost in thought, she nodded silently.
"Anything else?"
"Yes, I gathered so useful intel," Lin Tian said seriously. "Don't worry, I've already seen through Bai Xi's underwear."
"Huh?"
Before Gan Yanyu could respond, the host's voice echoed through the lounge speakers.
"Respected judges, esteed guests, and dear audience mbers…"
Everyone in the lounge looked up at the screen. Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu followed suit, watching as Bai Xi walked onto the stage.
"Next up is Contestant No. 1 from the professional group, the young virtuoso Bai Xi…"
She was the first perforr.
Lin Tian was surprised. Despite being fully prepared monts ago, she'd still found ti to chat with him?
anwhile, Gan Yanyu had drawn number 7.
"Seven's a good number," Lin Tian mused. "It feels like kicking out the bottom eight contenders."
More seriously, an early slot risked underpreparation, while a late slot increased anxiety due to prolonged waiting. For Gan Yanyu, seven was ideal.
"…"
Skipping lengthy introductions and accolades, the host announced, "Please enjoy Bai Xi's performance of Golden Dance."
Bai Xi took center stage, gracefully lifting her dress hem as she positioned her cello. With a gentle stroke of the bow, a lyrical and tender lody filled the air.
"…"
Good.
That was Lin Tian's imdiate reaction. This wasn't "good" in the traditional sense; rather, Bai Xi's piece exuded a palpable sense of joy, resonating emotionally with listeners.
"It's pop music," Gan Yanyu remarked.
"Pop music?"
"Yes. Compared to emotional expression, pop music prioritizes connecting with the audience and enhancing their listening experience."
"I see," Lin Tian nodded.
To put it bluntly, compared to other genres, pop music was like street-side barbecue—delicious but lacking depth.
Still, Bai Xi's boldness was comndable. The cello wasn't inherently suited to pop music elents—it wasn't as versatile as the piano, which seamlessly blended into various styles. The instrunt was notoriously picky about musical genres.
"…"
From Gan Yanyu's furrowed brows, it was clear this wasn't simple.
Playing pop music on the cello required rewriting pieces to fit the instrunt's solo capabilities. During the competition, the perforr had to focus on the main lody of the song, using advanced techniques to captivate the judges and audience.
Moreover, mastering slides, vibrato, staccato, and legato contrasts was crucial to creating rhythm and dynamism akin to pop music—a daunting challenge for any musician.
Whether "pop music," "classical music," or any genre, theoretically, there shouldn't be bonus points at the Starlight Cup. Musical choice depended on personal preference, with varying evaluation criteria for different styles.
Yet, performing pop music on the cello during a competition was undeniably unconventional.
No wonder she was a self-taught prodigy. Conservatory-trained musicians might never attempt such a feat.
So, how did Bai Xi fare on the Starlight Cup stage?
The reactions of others in the lounge provided the answer.
"Truly impressive, Bai Xi. Rember her special solo with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra last year?"
"Incredible. First to perform, yet she's in top form."
"No wonder she was runner-up at last year's Parrot Cello Contest. Who can possibly compete with her this year?"
"…"
Whispers spread throughout the room, filling the air with palpable tension.
Lin Tian understood this feeling. In competitions depicted in dia, those who perford first often faced unfavorable outcos. Later performances typically garnered better reactions, aligning with rising emotional expectations.
But this rule seed ineffective for Bai Xi.
Her rendition of Golden Dance evoked the sultry, hormone-stirring lodies of a nightclub. The piece was elegant and lingering, yet its sentintality differed from Gan Yanyu's classical works, which conveyed tearful passion. Bai Xi's emotion was more refined, akin to a sophisticated socialite exuding charm without vulgarity.
Beautiful.
Lin Tian found himself entranced, involuntarily recalling black lace and triangles.
Strong. Stronger than anticipated.
Not only had Bai Xi dared to perform pop music on the cello, but she executed it with 200% effectiveness. Both technique and emotional expression were top-tier.
No wonder she was the runner-up.
Lin Tian inwardly marveled. It made sense why Gan Yanyu had specifically ntioned her earlier. Bai Xi was undoubtedly a formidable rival for the upcoming Dragon Cello Competition.
"…"
On the large screen, Bai Xi briefly glanced up at the cara mid-performance. Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat. Recalling their earlier conversation, he wondered—was this the music Bai Xi wanted him to hear? What was she trying to convey?
Was it that she was unique, requiring no validation? Or…
Watching Bai Xi radiate feminine allure on stage, Lin Tian felt a fleeting illusion. Those eyes seed to whisper: Have you considered becoming my "little fan"?
Was this part of her plan?
Undeniably provocative. Most n might succumb to such tactics. But Lin Tian wasn't swayed.
Bai Xi concluded her performance.
The lounge quickly descended into despair. Many contestants began seeking solace in huddling together for comfort.
"How can we compete? Pop music perford like this…"
"I feel like my own performance is trash. What do I do?"
"I'm not upset about facing Bai Xi here—it's next month's Parrot Cello Contest rematch that terrifies ."
"Twenty-three years old. What kind of monster is she? Putting the strongest contender first—is this psychological warfare?"
"…"
Placing the presud champion first was indeed torturous. After witnessing such a performance, who wouldn't panic?
Still, Lin Tian remained optimistic.
Yes, Bai Xi was strong. But they had Gan Yanyu.
Turning around, Lin Tian intended to say sothing reassuring. Instead, he found Gan Yanyu hunched in her seat, furiously drawing pentagrams on her thigh.
"Calm down, calm down."
"This is hopeless!"
Lin Tian pinched her thigh beneath her skirt, forcibly erasing the imaginary drawings. Startled, Gan Yanyu straightened her legs and looked up innocently.
"What…"
"The competition's about to start. Are you planning to quit halfway?"
"No… I'm just nervous." Gan Yanyu fidgeted with her fingers, speaking softly.
Retreating or avoiding wasn't in her nature, but being scared witless was entirely possible.
By now, Gan Yanyu was fully made up, appearing less naive yet more beautiful than ever.
"Oh, right—your hair tie."
Noticing her loose hair, Lin Tian removed the elastic band from his wrist and placed it in her palm.
"Don't worry, Miss Gan. Just focus on your performance."
Lin Tian smiled warmly. "I'll always be your number one fan."
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