Chapter 151: A Street Performance
Lin Tian froze, his fingers hovering uncertainly over the piano keys.
A mont later, Gan Yanyu appeared beside him. Without a word, she nudged him slightly with her shoulder and said softly, "Scoot over."
Lin Tian shifted to one side, making just enough room for her. She sat down close—so close that their shoulders brushed against each other. The warmth of her presence sent an unexpected jolt through him.
He took several deep breaths, trying to steady himself. Her proximity was intoxicating. A few strands of her hair had fallen loose, grazing lightly against his neck, tickling him in a way that made it hard to focus. And then there was the faint scent of flowers—sothing delicate and sweet—that drifted up every ti she moved.
Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu had perford together countless tis before. But never like this. Never so close, as if they were sharing not just the music but also the sa space, the sa heartbeat.
"Does this bother you?" Gan Yanyu asked quietly, tilting her head toward him.
"No," he replied quickly, perhaps too quickly.
"Will it affect your playing?"
"No… not really."
She smiled faintly, her lips curving into a soft, satisfied arc. Then, without another word, she raised her bow and rested it gently on the strings of her cello.
"Let's start from the beginning," she said.
"What do you an by ‘the beginning'?" Lin Tian asked, glancing at her.
"The first piece you ever wrote for ."
"Oh." He nodded, setting up his phone on a small tripod next to the piano. With everything in place, he pressed his hands to the keys, letting the lody flow out.
The notes spilled forth like water, rippling outward from the piano. It wasn't long before the music began to draw attention. Passersby paused mid-step, turning their heads toward the source of the sound.
"Hey, look!" A young woman tugged at her boyfriend's sleeve, pointing excitedly toward the bookstore entrance where the duo sat.
Her boyfriend followed her gaze, his brow furrowing in curiosity. "Is this so kind of street performance?"
"I don't think so," the girl mused. "Isn't that the store's piano? Maybe they're just ssing around…"
But when Gan Yanyu lifted her bow and began to play, the young couple grew still. The rich, soothing tones of the cello intertwined seamlessly with the piano's gentle strains, creating sothing magical.
"It's a duet—a piano and cello!" soone whispered in awe.
"This is rare…" murmured another.
The riverside pronade was usually quiet during weekdays, its peaceful ambiance attracting only a handful of visitors. Today, however, the serene atmosphere was shattered—not unpleasantly—by the music spilling out from the bookstore's doorstep. More and more people gathered, drawn like moths to a fla, stopping to watch and listen.
For years, the piano had stood unused outside the bookstore, collecting dust and fading into the background. Now, it ca alive under Lin Tian's touch, harmonizing beautifully with Gan Yanyu's cello.
"That's amazing," one listener breathed, shaking their head in disbelief.
"Wait—isn't that one of those viral TikTok songs? They're incredible!"
"Why are they hiding their faces?"
"Could they be influencers or sothing?"
Qingzhou was known for its vibrant online culture, and it wasn't unusual to stumble upon live streams or impromptu performances ant for social dia. Yet sothing about these two felt different. Despite the cara perched nearby, neither perforr acknowledged it or interacted with any potential audience beyond their music. And why would anyone choose such a tranquil, secluded spot for a flashy street performance?
anwhile, about a hundred ters away along the sa pronade, a young man carrying a violin walked briskly, holding a phone attached to a selfie stick. His na was Zhang Dong, but to his 1.67 million followers on Bilibili, he was known as "Sunny Uncle Dong." Though he jokingly referred to himself as "Uncle," most fans simply called him "Brother Dong." At twenty-six, he was already considered one of the platform's top musicians.
Zhang Dong specialized in covering popular tracks, particularly those composed by Moonlight and Cat, a legendary musician whose works had taken the internet by storm. Through skillful renditions of pieces like Can-Can Dance and Greeting of Love, Zhang Dong had carved out a niche for himself, earning both critical acclaim and a massive fanbase. Many even dubbed him "the second most knowledgeable person about Moonlight and Cat after the creator himself."
Today, Zhang Dong was streaming live, planning to entertain his viewers with spontaneous street performances. As he strolled along the riverbank, chatting animatedly with his audience, he suddenly heard distant strains of music wafting through the air.
"Guys, I think soone's performing ahead!" he exclaid, quickening his pace. When the lody beca clearer, his eyes widened in astonishnt.
"It's Spanish Bullfighting Song!"
His chat exploded with excitent.
"No way! You've got to be kidding !"
"Turn the cara around! Let us see!"
Obliging, Zhang Dong flipped the lens toward the bookstore entrance. There, surrounded by a growing throng of spectators, stood a man at the piano and a woman with a cello, locked in perfect harmony. Their instrunts mirrored the exact combination favored by Moonlight and Cat.
"This is insane! Look how professional they are—they're using the sa setup as Moonlight and Cat!"
"Brother Dong, go join them! Imagine how thrilled they'd be to jam with a top Bilibili creator!"
The fans couldn't contain their enthusiasm. This was exactly the kind of content they loved: the thrill of serendipity, the clash of talent, and the subtle flex of celebrity status. To them, this mont was golden—an unscripted encounter between a rising star and mysterious musicians who seed equally gifted.
Zhang Dong grinned, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline. Of course, he wouldn't disappoint his viewers. Pulling his violin from its case, he hurried forward, ready to insert himself into the performance.
But as he drew closer, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
These two… their skill level—it was almost unreal. Too good to be true.
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