Chapter 169: The Petty Toba Jianhui
When Gan Yanyu asked that question, Lin Tian imdiately understood what she ant.
Was her performance truly as dangerous as Toba Jianhui had claid?
Gan Yanyu hadn't been present during Lin Tian's heated exchange with the old man. She didn't know what was said. To her, it was hard to recognize just how "special" her playing really was. All she knew was that she loved the feeling of resonating deeply with the music—and it had beco second nature to her since she began playing at the age of seven.
Whenever she encountered a piece that either pulled her in too deeply or failed to connect with her at all, Gan Yanyu simply chalked it up to the inevitable challenges of performing. Over ti, neither she nor Lin Tian had fully confronted this issue.
So when Toba Jianhui first pointed it out, even Lin Tian was caught off guard—let alone Gan Yanyu.
From her perspective, Toba Jianhui was still soone she admired as an orchestra conductor. His words weren't easy to brush aside.
"Lin Tian," Gan Yanyu continued, her voice tinged with worry. "Do you think my playing is dangerous? Have you ever been hurt by it but didn't tell ?"
Her rapid-fire questions left Lin Tian montarily speechless.
Yes, he thought. Shouldn't I have considered this myself?
After venting his anger at Toba Jianhui, Lin Tian couldn't deny one thing: no matter how arrogant the old man might be, he was undeniably a great musician. So of what he said held rit. Though Lin Tian was impulsive, he wasn't incapable of rational thought.
The reality was that Lin Tian lacked any systematic way to pull Gan Yanyu back from the brink before she lost control. This was a problem they needed to take seriously. The line between passion and madness in her performances was blurred and unpredictable.
Deep down, Lin Tian didn't want Gan Yanyu to keep pushing herself to such extres for the sake of perfection. It was taking a toll on her body.
If Gan Yanyu remained oblivious, then Lin Tian couldn't afford to be. Was there another solution? At the very least, he hoped she could rely on him more—even just a little. He wanted to share her burden when things beca unbearable.
Damn it. If only the universe would grant him so kind of superpower, like telepathy or mind-reading. That would solve most of their problems. He could snap Gan Yanyu out of her trance whenever she started spiraling out of control.
Frustrated, Lin Tian let himself wallow in these escapist thoughts.
"Lin Tian," Gan Yanyu called again.
"I don't think so," Lin Tian replied firmly.
"You don't?"
"No."
Though uncertainty lingered in his heart, Lin Tian knew he had to instill confidence in Gan Yanyu. Raising a finger, he spoke earnestly:
"Just keep playing the way you do. Your performance today was amazing—it didn't affect negatively at all."
Forget Toba Jianhui's nonsense. Gan Yanyu's performance had genuinely surprised and delighted him. She'd found her own confidence without leaning on him, delivering a flawless rendition of the piece.
"Keep this up until the semifinals."
Gan Yanyu's gaze dropped slightly, as if words were stuck in her throat. But after a mont, she nodded softly.
"Okay."
---
The next day, following the conclusion of the preliminary round for professional competitors, the comprehensive rankings compiled by major music dia outlets were released. Scores were calculated out of 1,000 points:
"1st Place: Bai Xi – 937 points"
"2nd Place: Christine Nanali – 913 points"
"3rd Place: Yun Qiuqiu – 901 points"
"4th Place: Mao Junfeng – 894 points"
"5th Place: Lou Yitong – 886 points"
...
"8th Place: Gan Yanyu – 802 points"
Eighth place. Seeing this ranking made Lin Tian sigh.
Though the scores were based on dia evaluations, those assessnts undoubtedly factored in feedback from the judges. Clearly, Gan Yanyu's performance hadn't impressed them. The semifinalists would be announced next week after deliberation by the panel. With eight spots available, being ranked eighth put both Gan Yanyu and Lin Tian in a precarious position.
Online discussions reflected growing concern among fans:
"This competition is full of hidden talents! I'd never heard of Mao Junfeng or Lou Yitong before, but wow, what surprises!"
"But why is Gan Yanyu only eighth?"
"Heard from front-row spectators that Toba ripped into her right after her performance."
"Oh no, does that an she might not make it to the semifinals?"
"It'd be insane if Gan Yanyu didn't advance. She's insanely talented."
"Hard to say. Word is Toba holds grudges."
...
Had he gone too far? Lin Tian felt a pang of regret. Recalling how he'd berated the elderly judge in his office, he grew uneasy. This was Gan Yanyu's competition. If his actions cost her a chance to return two years later, he'd never forgive himself.
He could only hope the other eleven judges wouldn't cave to Toba Jianhui's influence. For a prestigious event like the Parrot Cello Contest, surely they wouldn't bow to the whims of such a petty old man. Please vote fairly.
Tossing and turning in bed, Lin Tian suddenly heard a notification chi.
A ssage popped up on his phone from his agent, He Zhichen. The MV shoot was nearly planned and would begin in a few days.
Already? Lin Tian froze. He still hadn't figured out how to address the issues surrounding Gan Yanyu's performances. Facing her now felt daunting.
Ping! Another notification appeared—a WeChat friend request.
"Verification ssage: I'm pianist Yao Han."
Yao Han? The na sounded familiar. One of the judges, perhaps? What stood out was his youthful appearance—he looked to be in his thirties, standing out among the older judges.
Why would a judge add ? Curious, Lin Tian accepted the request.
The first ssage ca through imdiately:
"Lin Tian, can we et for dinner soti?"
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