Chapter 44: Gan Yanyu Confesses Everything
Lin Tian couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Gan Yanyu flustered and scrambling to regain her composure.
"Co on," he said with a playful smirk, "You didn't believe when I told you before, and now that I'm offering proof, you're refusing to look."
He leaned back casually, arms crossed. "It's just abs, not so scandalous secret."
Her audacity to question his self-proclaid label—[185cmWithAbs]—was almost offensive.
But then again, out of all the labels he'd jokingly assigned her over ti, she only seed bothered by this one. That spoke volus about how much she trusted—or perhaps cherished—the rest of them.
She really was a woman who knew herself well.
For soone so insecure about her musical talent, she sure didn't shy away from complints about her appearance. Lin Tian found it endearing in its own quirky way.
Finally, as if struck by lightning, Gan Yanyu realized exactly how she had been draped over him monts earlier. She scrambled upright, cheeks flushing bright red.
"I—I'm so sorry!" she stamred, waving her hands frantically like a guilty child trying to undo their mistake. "I wasn't trying to… I an, I was just leaning forward to see the computer screen!"
Lin Tian raised an eyebrow. If every little thing required such an earnest apology, this would feel more like a clichéd romance novel than real life. It felt oddly stiff, almost unbearably awkward.
If it were any other girl reacting this strongly, Lin Tian might have thought she despised being near him. But he understood Gan Yanyu better than that. She wasn't embarrassed because she disliked touching him; she simply feared causing him discomfort.
"Don't worry about it," he reassured her lightly. "You didn't hurt or anything."
Then, with a teasing grin, he added, "Though your reflexes are hilariously slow."
Gan Yanyu froze suddenly, her eyes widening in horror. "Wait—did you upload that video of ? You said you wouldn't post it!"
Her face turned crimson as embarrassnt flooded through her. Without another word, she buried her head into the couch cushions, muttering sothing unintelligible under her breath. The poor girl looked like she wanted nothing more than for the earth to swallow her whole.
Lin Tian blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't even thought about the video until she ntioned it. But now that she brought it up…
"You watched send it out without saying anything," he pointed out wryly. "Honestly, we got carried away earlier."
Still, there was no need to panic. "Relax," he continued calmly. "Your face isn't showing in the video, and trust , your outfit doesn't reveal much either."
"This is what I wear to sleep," she murmured defensively.
Lin Tian bit back a laugh. He'd suspected as much, but hearing her confirm it outright was too amusing to ignore. Truthfully, though, the outfit did cover everything important—it was modest enough, aside from exposing her thighs. Perhaps she felt particularly protective since it was sleepwear?
"If you wanted to nap here, you could've just asked," he teased gently.
To reassure her, Lin Tian reopened his laptop and replayed the video for her. The footage focused primarily on his fingers dancing across the piano keys, while Gan Yanyu, seated slightly behind him to the right, remained mostly obscured by his fra.
After watching it again, Gan Yanyu finally nodded reluctantly, conceding defeat. But as she recalled their earlier antics on the sofa, her heart began racing once more. She ntally scolded herself, wishing she could slap so sense into her own traitorous actions.
She'd promised herself she wouldn't act so impulsively anymore. Clearly, getting swept up in their duet had clouded her judgnt yet again.
Just like last ti.
Despite her frustration, warmth filled her chest as she rembered their performance together. Playing alongside soone she trusted, losing herself in the emotions evoked by the music—it was sothing she adored deeply. Since her grandfather's accident, she hadn't experienced such joy in ages.
But if she wanted these monts to continue, she needed to rember her place.
"I should go ho," she announced abruptly.
"So soon?" Lin Tian asked, surprised. They'd spent over an hour playing nonstop, pouring their energy into the piece. He'd assud they'd take a break afterward—maybe chat, enjoy a drink, and unwind.
Plus, he still had questions about their collaboration. "Stay a bit longer," he suggested, surprising even himself with his unusually persistent tone. "Have a drink?"
Gan Yanyu shook her head firmly. "No, it's already late. Staying longer would be too much of a bother."
"Tomorrow, then," she added softly. "I'll send you the nu once I get back."
Her calm deanor gave nothing away, leaving Lin Tian utterly clueless about her true feelings. She slipped on her shoes and opened the door—but before she could step outside, a hand shot out, blocking her path.
The door clicked shut.
Gan Yanyu's eyes widened in shock as Lin Tian stood before her, his expression uncharacteristically stern.
Enough was enough.
Every single ti they reached a point where they could deepen their connection, she bolted without explanation. Even if she had her period (which couldn't possibly last forever), what excuse did she have now? This behavior wasn't quite cold violence—it wasn't hostile—but it left him uneasy nonetheless.
Their interactions had always been harmonious: weekend workouts, impromptu visits to school, even going out of her way to introduce him to Wan Qi. Everything seed fine on the surface, yet sothing felt… off.
It was as though Gan Yanyu had drawn an invisible line between them—a boundary she refused to cross. Whenever she sensed she might overstep, she retreated instantly, pulling back those long, elegant legs of hers.
Tonight, Lin Tian decided, he needed answers.
"Miss Gan," he began, his voice sharp and direct. "Do you have a problem with ?"
His words landed like daggers, piercing straight through Gan Yanyu's defenses. Her mouth dropped open in disbelief, and she waved her hands frantically. "No! Why would you think that?"
"How could I possibly have a problem with you, Lin Tian? You've always treated so kindly."
"Then why do you always rush off?" he pressed, his gaze unwavering.
"The video's done. What reason do I have to stay?" she countered weakly.
"I gave you a reason—drinking," he shot back.
"At ten-thirty at night? A girl drinking alone in your house? That's not normal partner behavior," she muttered, avoiding his eyes.
"And what is normal partner behavior?" Lin Tian challenged.
Gan Yanyu hesitated, lowering her head. Slowly, she began ticking off points on her fingers. "Completing our responsibilities. Sticking to agreed-upon activities like als, workouts, training. Avoiding anything that could lead to misunderstandings."
"Who would misunderstand?" Lin Tian asked sharply. "Your admirers?"
"No, of course not," she replied quickly.
"Then who are you performing for?" His eyes narrowed, boring into hers.
Step by step, he advanced, backing her against the wall. Finally, with a soft thud, his palm slamd against the door beside her head, trapping her beneath him.
Face burning, Gan Yanyu covered her face with both hands, surrendering completely. In a muffled voice, she confessed:
"I don't want to hold you back. You're popular at school—you deserve to be free to et other girls. When you took up the mountain and proposed we beco partners, I got carried away. For days afterward, I acted recklessly—waking you up early, asking you to massage my feet…"
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