Chapter 39: The Song That Brings Joy
After discussing a few more details about the upcoming concert and exchanging contact information, Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu prepared to bid farewell to Master Wan Qi, who would soon be leaving for Europe.
As they were about to leave, Wan Qi called Lin Tian aside. This ti, there was no joking or teasing—only a tone of seriousness mixed with warmth.
"Xiao Lin," he began, "Qingzhou is too small, but the world of music is vast. Don't limit yourself to this tiny corner or get caught up in fleeting gains. The allure of music cannot be asured by wealth."
Having taught for decades, Wan Qi had seen countless talented composers falter along the way. Yet, sothing told him Lin Tian was different.
"Follow Yanyu and challenge yourself on bigger stages," he encouraged, patting Lin Tian's shoulder firmly. Then, raising his voice so both teenagers could hear, he added with a hearty laugh, "I'll be waiting for you two in Vienna!"
"Thank you again for the piano," Lin Tian said, bowing deeply once more.
With that, the pair stepped out, closing the door behind them. Watching their retreating figures, Gao Zhenyang couldn't help but ask curiously:
"Teacher, what did you say to Lin Tian just now?"
Wan Qi didn't answer directly. Instead, he chuckled softly and returned to the tea table. Gao quickly followed, resuming his role as host by preparing another round of tea.
"You've heard Xiao Lin's two compositions. What do you think?" Wan Qi asked.
"To be honest—world-class level, especially Greeting of Love. Even within our association, I doubt anyone could write sothing like that."
Gao paused, his voice tinged with envy and frustration. "If it weren't for your presence earlier, I might have let those words slip."
Such raw talent often left young composers feeling utterly hopeless. Imagine dedicating your entire life to music, being hailed as a prodigy from a young age, working tirelessly for years only to realize that true genius makes all your efforts seem insignificant. That crushing realization—the sense that your hard-earned achievents pale in comparison—was exactly how Gao felt after hearing Lin Tian's work.
But with his teacher present, he managed to mask his emotions.
"I kept you from voicing those thoughts because I didn't want Xiao Lin to beco complacent. There are far too many examples of gifted individuals losing themselves to arrogance."
Truthfully, Wan Qi's praise for Lin Tian had been deliberately restrained—more encouragent than flattery. To comfort his student, Wan Qi personally poured a cup of tea, which Gao accepted humbly with both hands.
"But tell this," Wan Qi continued gently. "Have you noticed how soone capable of composing such masterpieces remains calm and composed? Even so renowned musicians lack that kind of poise."
Pausing thoughtfully, he turned to Gao and smiled. "You've been stuck at a creative bottleneck for quite so ti, haven't you? Perhaps guiding them will give you an opportunity to learn sothing new as well."
---
Due to spending most of the afternoon with Gan Yanyu, Lin Tian successfully skipped his first class back at school. His excuse—"I fell asleep in the library"—was laughably weak, considering several classmates had spotted him leaving with a girl earlier. Predictably, rumors began swirling around campus.
But Lin Tian couldn't care less. After all, gossip about him had already reached fever pitch. As long as Gan Yanyu hadn't returned to school yet, things wouldn't spiral out of control.
That evening, the two agreed to begin rehearsals after dinner. anwhile, the piano Lin Tian acquired was delivered to his apartnt. Thoughtfully, Gao Zhenyang had arranged for a tuner to set it up before departing.
Surveying the bulky instrunt and his cramped living room, Lin Tian found himself montarily stumped about where to place it.
His modest 68-square-ter ho was laid out simply: To the left of the entrance was the kitchen, next to which was the bathroom. Across from the bathroom stood Lin Tian's bedroom. On the right side was the living room, furnished with a dining table, sofa, small round table, and TV stand. Beyond that lay a narrow balcony.
For a single person, the setup was cozy and comfortable. On lazy days, Lin Tian would lounge on the sofa, prop his laptop on the round table, crack open a beer, browse Bilibili, and unwind without interruption—a lifestyle many high school students envied.
However, since embarking on his musical journey, Lin Tian's once-pristine living room had transford into a makeshift studio complete with a permanent guest (Gan Yanyu) and cara equipnt. If finances allowed, renting a larger space seed increasingly appealing.
For now, though, Lin Tian instructed the movers to relocate the TV stand to the balcony, finally finding room for the piano beside the impromptu filming area.
With ti to spare before Gan Yanyu finished showering, Lin Tian contemplated watching an episode of Hardcore Badass when suddenly, the system interface appeared before him.
[Producer Tasks Released]
[Objective: Compose a piece of music to be perford as a duet with your partner. Post the video online, earning 100,000 likes and evoking [100,000] instances of "joy" among viewers.]
[Deadline: 7 days]
[Reward: Double Inco Card x1]
[Double Inco Card: Select one recent release. Any revenue generated through legitimate channels will be doubled and transferred to the producer's account.]
Double inco?
Lin Tian pondered the implications. Currently, he lacked the ans to produce albums for sale, aning his primary source of inco ca from Tiktok ads. To maximize profits, incorporating sponsorships into future videos was essential.
Speaking of ads…
An idea ford in Lin Tian's mind.
"To play music as captivating as mine, you need a reliable piano. Thanks to my second-hand purchase on ZZ—an official verified platform—you can trust quality instrunts every ti."
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