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Chapter 15: The Obsessive Musician
Lin Tian didn’t consider himself someone with particularly low emotional intelligence. But sometimes, Gan Yanyu really left him baffled. Then again, women’s hearts were always hard to read—especially someone like Gan Yanyu, who struck him as incredibly sharp the first time they met.
So Lin Tian’s approach was simple: drag it out. Just keep dragging things along. And in that sense, what he said next came straight from the heart.
“As long as you don’t go and die on me, anything else is negotiable.”
But when Gan Yanyu heard those words, she froze. Her eyes went distant, her cheeks flushing pink. It was like a scene plucked straight out of an anime—the delicate shimmer of an idol’s pupils trembling ever so slightly. Was she embarrassed? Flustered? Or just awkwardly blushing? It was impossible to tell.
“What… did you just say?” Gan Yanyu turned her head away, her voice softening unexpectedly.
It didn’t take long for Lin Tian to realize his words might’ve been open to misinterpretation. What he’d said could easily be taken as, “As long as you’re here, anything tastes good.”
Crap. What kind of corny line was that?
He scrambled to clarify. “What I meant was, I usually eat alone after work. Having someone to keep me company tonight already makes me happy.”
Even as he spoke, Lin Tian wasn’t sure what he was trying to explain. The more he talked, the weirder it sounded. But when he noticed the tension easing from her expression, he knew—at least his words had done something.
At the same time, a notification popped up in front of him:
[SAN Value: 18↑]
[Health Status: Very Poor → Poor]
A slight improvement? Lin Tian felt a flicker of relief. Sure, the number was still alarmingly low, but at least it proved his efforts weren’t completely wasted. If he pushed a little harder, maybe he’d find a breakthrough.
“Alright,” Gan Yanyu said, adjusting her expression to appear composed. Though part of her thought Lin Tian’s sudden comment was odd, she couldn’t imagine him saying something with romantic undertones—even accidentally. In fact, that made his statement feel all the more genuine. With that realization, her mood settled.
“How about this,” Lin Tian suddenly suggested. “Treat me to dessert.”
“Dessert?” Gan Yanyu’s eyes lit up.
“Yeah. If we’re still hungry, we still have some mung bean cakes.” Earlier, while they were strolling downstairs, Lin Tian had noticed her glancing three times at the menu outside a dessert shop. She wasn’t great at hiding her interests, though she seemed pretty good at concealing other secrets.
“Sure.” This time, Gan Yanyu responded quickly.
---
The two moved to a nearby dessert café. Bright lights illuminated the minimalist, fresh decor. They sat down, and Gan Yanyu ordered two puddings—one mango-flavored, one strawberry. Lin Tian opted for a watermelon shaved ice.
There was something oddly satisfying about scooping through the towering mound of icy sweetness, spoon by spoon, like unearthing buried treasure—or, as Lin Tian once joked to Xu Yong, “digging up someone’s ancestral grave.” That day—it happened to be Lin Tian’s birthday—Xu Yong had promised to treat him to a fancy meal, only to bring him here for shaved ice instead. Lin Tian had quipped, “Doesn’t this look like blood-soaked dirt from your family crypt? Every scoop feels like desecrating your ancestors’ resting place.” Despite the joke, he eventually grew fond of the flavor.
Across from him, Gan Yanyu cradled her pudding cup as if it were a sacred relic. Delicately, she scooped a bite and placed it in her mouth. The smooth texture, chilled sensation, and fragrant burst of mango—the undisputed king of fruits—elicited pure bliss. Spoon between her teeth, eyes curved into crescents, she wore an expression of utter happiness. For a moment, it seemed as though every worry in the world had melted away with that single spoonful.
Lin Tian stared, dumbfounded. Watching her, he couldn’t help but think of one person—an invincible man named—
Kusuo Saiki.
So this was what it looked like when anime scenes came to life.
“I remember,” Lin Tian ventured cautiously, seeing Gan Yanyu in such high spirits, “your grandpa’s coffee shop also sells pudding, right?”
“Yes, but Grandpa’s coffee is decent; his pudding isn’t. He’s not even as good as me.” Gan Yanyu bit her spoon, lost in pleasant memories. “Grandpa gets frustrated, you know. He knows how much I love pudding and has tried countless methods to perfect it, but it never quite matches the taste of store-bought ones. When I went to England, he promised me that by the time I returned, he’d make pudding I’d actually enjoy.”
“And… did he?” Lin Tian asked, mustering his courage.
Gan Yanyu chuckled softly. “You guess.”
With that, she reached for her strawberry pudding and resumed savoring it. Predictably, she wasn’t giving anything away.
Lin Tian sighed inwardly. Still, it wasn’t a total loss. He realized something important: Gan Yanyu wasn’t as cold or distant as she appeared. Beneath her reserved exterior lay warmth and light. Perhaps before everything happened, she’d been just another playful, ordinary high school girl.
---
“I remember you mentioned playing classical music?”
After unlocking the piano skill and awakening his musical library, Lin Tian wanted to broach the topic with Gan Yanyu. Maybe starting with music would make her less guarded.
“That’s right,” she confirmed.
“What’s the difference between classical music and regular music? Is it just old music, or is there more to it?”
“The differences are vast.” At this, Gan Yanyu set her pudding aside. Though unsure why Lin Tian was suddenly interested, she earnestly raised a finger to explain.
“Classical music refers to a specific style, not just ‘old’ music. In cello competitions, for instance, pieces are categorized clearly: classical music, modern music, jazz, pop, and so on. Lately, international cello competitions have gained popularity among younger audiences. However, classical music often emphasizes technical precision and rigid structure, which doesn’t appeal much to modern listeners.”
“So does that mean you’re at a disadvantage in competitions because you play classical music?” Lin Tian asked.
“It’s not about being at a disadvantage,” Gan Yanyu replied gently, gazing out the window. “We choose this path because we love the music. Sharing our passion on stage with the audience isn’t a loss—it’s fulfillment.”
Lin Tian understood. If you compared the cello to League of Legends, then international competitions were like the World Championship. In this analogy, “modern music” and “pop music” were the meta picks—strong, dominant champions. Meanwhile, “classical music” was the underdog, struggling against the trends. Gan Yanyu was like a master of the forgotten champion, sticking to her roots despite the odds stacked against her. She knew the meta existed but chose not to adapt, resulting in losses—but she stayed true to her craft.
Of course, all of this was Lin Tian’s speculation. He hadn’t seen Gan Yanyu perform and had no idea how skilled she was in England. But from her words, one thing was clear: Gan Yanyu harbored an almost obsessive devotion to classical music—a passion most people couldn’t comprehend.
---
Bzzt—bzzt—
Suddenly, Lin Tian’s phone buzzed. It was Xu Yong.
What did that guy want now?
“I’ll take this call,” Lin Tian said, standing up and stepping outside.
“Hey, Lin Tian! Where are you? Still eating with Gan Yanyu?” Xu Yong’s voice crackled with urgency.
“Yeah, why?”
“There’s something I wanted to ask you earlier, but I forgot. Just remembered now…” Xu Yong hesitated. “Do you know why she took a leave of absence back in high school?”
“She went to England for further studies,” Lin Tian replied.
“No, that’s not it.” Xu Yong lowered his voice. “Back in our first year, when I went to the administration office to submit my apology letter, I saw her filling out paperwork for a leave of absence. There were so many people around—it was surreal. I remember clearly: her reason wasn’t studying abroad. It was medical treatment overseas.”
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