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Chapter 19: A Chance Encounter with a Fan
Grandpa used to say: Sometimes, it's better to go through life a little clueless.
Lin Tian was an interesting character.
Thanks to this young man, Gan Yanyu had spent two delightful evenings.
The first time, she got tipsy on beer and ended up spending the night at his place. She tasted her favorite dessert—turns out there was a shop that made mango pudding so delicious it bordered on divine. She even tried foot massage for the first time, something she’d never experienced before. The masseuse was pretty, and the massage itself was heavenly.
All these moments, shared in Lin Tian’s company, took on a certain charm. If these were to be her last two days on Earth, Gan Yanyu thought, then this wouldn’t be such a bad way to go.
But—
Ever since their rooftop cat-catching game on the very first day, neither of them had mentioned the word “suicide.” Gan Yanyu didn’t know whether Lin Tian understood what she intended to do—and perhaps it didn’t matter. As long as he didn’t bring it up, they could continue to enjoy each other’s company until she repaid her debt and quietly slipped away.
But now—
As they stood outside the foot massage parlor, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, the streets nearly deserted and eerily quiet, Lin Tian’s sudden question shattered the moment.
“Where to? Up there?"
Gan Yanyu froze where she stood.
It was like someone had ripped open the shiny wrapper of a candy, only to reveal the bitter, dark chocolate inside. Did nothing in her life deserve a graceful ending?
“Just kidding.”
“Huh?”
Before Gan Yanyu could process his words, Lin Tian, ever the quick-change artist, strode ahead.
“Come on, I’ll show you something fun.”
“Fun? At this hour?” Gan Yanyu hesitated. It was late, and she’d already accomplished what she came for. It was time to leave.
“It’s gotta be this late for the real show,” Lin Tian said with a wave, grinning mischievously. “If you’re not coming, I’ll go by myself.”
As Lin Tian’s figure grew smaller in the distance, Gan Yanyu couldn’t help but give in. Taking a deep breath, she hurried after him.
---
“Alright, folks, hit that like button, follow me, and watch me open twenty beer bottles with my bare hands!”
No sooner had they stepped out of the taxi than a loud shout startled Gan Yanyu. A middle-aged man stood by the bridge, bellowing into his phone camera. With a sharp smack, he popped the cap off a beer bottle using just his palm.
Before long, rhythmic beats filled the air. Gan Yanyu turned around to see a fruit vendor selling bananas, belting out a song in front of his phone.
“There once was a mountain~ On the mountain stood a temple~ In the temple lived a banana seller smiling at you~”
“Fam, drop some likes! Once we hit five thousand, I’ll switch to the next dance!”
Next to a fruit stand, a woman dressed provocatively cooed into her microphone, her voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness.
Gan Yanyu blinked, trying to take it all in. The entire street buzzed with activity—half the people here seemed to be livestreaming.
“What… is all this?” Gan Yanyu murmured, instinctively stepping behind Lin Tian for cover.
“This is Qingzhou’s Internet Celebrity Street,” Lin Tian explained. “It’s been blowing up online lately. Lots of people come here to livestream. This is my first time visiting too.”
He’d expected some eccentricity, but this? This was something else entirely. TikTok influencers, indeed, were a breed apart.
A quick scan revealed a kaleidoscope of outfits: maid costumes, nurse uniforms, delivery drivers, and even performers covered head-to-toe in body paint, lying motionless on the ground pretending to be invisible. Every kind of person imaginable seemed to be shining under the spotlight here.
Compared to them, Gan Yanyu looked downright sane.
“Are they all crazy?” she whispered, still stunned.
This was her first time witnessing such a spectacle. Unable to contain herself, she burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hands.
“Well, they’re just making a living,” Lin Tian said with a shrug. Seeing her laugh, he couldn’t help but chuckle too. So, Gan Yanyu enjoyed watching clowns, huh? They had more in common than he thought.
Watching her delighted expression, Lin Tian felt glad they’d come.
“Let’s keep moving forward,” he suggested.
They strolled further down the bustling street. Alongside the livestreamers were vendors hawking snacks and lemon tea. Young people milled about, and it was clear that this area had developed its own thriving ecosystem.
Gan Yanyu gazed around with wide-eyed curiosity, darting her attention from one thing to another. Even the price list for lemonade held her interest for a good thirty seconds.
Had this girl really led such a sheltered life?
Lin Tian sighed inwardly but patiently kept pace with her.
As they walked, they noticed a large crowd gathered not far ahead. From within came the sound of enchanting music—a violin and cello duet.
When they drew closer, they saw it was a pair of street performers. A young woman played the violin while her companion handled the cello. Together, they wove a harmonious melody, the deep tones of the cello leading, with the violin providing delicate accompaniment.
For a moment, Gan Yanyu forgot everything else. Her eyes softened, and she simply listened.
The piece they were playing was lively and upbeat.
The deep resonance of the cello intertwined beautifully with the violin’s sprightly notes, creating an unexpectedly harmonious effect. The music flowed like a bubbling brook through a sunlit forest, its refreshing melody washing over everyone who listened. It carried with it the scent of blooming flowers and birdsong—a vivid escape from reality.
Street performers singing for tips weren’t uncommon, but instrumental duos like this? That was rare. And perhaps because of their novelty, they had drawn quite the crowd. Many onlookers murmured in admiration, some pulling out their phones to record the performance.
Lin Tian instinctively thought that such a display might dredge up painful memories for Gan Yanyu. He was about to suggest leaving when he felt a tug at his shirt.
Gan Yanyu stood frozen, her small hand clutching the edge of his sleeve as she stared intently at the musicians.
Lin Tian blinked, momentarily stunned. Of course—she was a cellist herself. Hearing such skillful playing would naturally resonate with her.
“That’s the second movement of ‘Barber’s Serenade.’ The accompaniment is decent enough, but the male cellist… not so much. His tempo during the fourth beat of the variation in the second section was rushed, and by the transition into the third section, he’d veered off-key by nearly thirty percent.” Gan Yanyu critiqued earnestly.
...Really? This was what caught her attention?
It was as if she’d come here to grade someone’s homework.
Lin Tian couldn’t help but feel a pang of embarrassment. Though he’d picked up substantial musical knowledge through his [Piano Skill], even he hadn’t noticed those technical flaws. Clearly, Gan Yanyu’s level of musicianship far surpassed his current silver-tier ability.
Soon, the piece came to an end. The young man set down his bow, wiped the sweat from his brow, and stood up holding a QR code for donations.
“Thank you all for listening,” he said humbly. “We’re college students chasing our dreams down south. We’re working hard to make music our career, so we hope you’ll support us…”
But just moments ago, those same people eagerly recording videos suddenly seemed to lose interest. Like their phones had died en masse, they slipped them back into their pockets and pretended to chat with friends nearby. One by one, the crowd began to disperse, leaving the musician standing awkwardly with his donation sign.
Behind him, the girl holding the violin looked equally disheartened.
“Can I pay with WeChat?”
A soft voice cut through the silence.
Gan Yanyu stepped forward, phone in hand.
“O-of course!” The young man’s face lit up instantly, relief washing over him.
She scanned 30 yuan from her WeChat balance, leaving herself 8 yuan for the subway ride home.
“The variations need more practice,” Gan Yanyu remarked matter-of-factly. “This serenade suits the cello well, but if you don’t practice diligently, performing on the street at this level doesn’t exactly scream dedication to your dream.”
Her words struck a chord. The young man’s expression turned solemn as he stammered, “Are… Are you also a cellist?”
“I used to be.”
The man squinted, his gaze flickering uncertainly. “Wait… do I know you? Don’t you… aren’t you surnamed Gan?”
At that, Gan Yanyu froze.
Seeing her reaction confirmed his suspicion. His voice trembled with excitement. “Miss Gan Yanyu! You’re the Gan Yanyu, right?”
“This is Miss Gan Yanyu!” he shouted over his shoulder to his girlfriend, who stood farther back. Turning back to Gan Yanyu, he gushed, “Miss Gan, I grew up watching your grandfather’s videos. I’ve listened to every one of your cello performances. I’ve watched recordings of all your competitions!”
He leaned forward, his eyes alight with fervor. “In my opinion, compared to Senior Gan Hua, your style has a vitality that resonates with our generation. I’ve been a fan of yours for so long! I truly believe that the future of Zhonghua’s cello scene belongs to you. And now—to think I’d meet you here, of all places!”
The young man’s enthusiasm bordered on frenzy. His voice shook, his hands gestured wildly, and his entire demeanor radiated the kind of unbridled joy only a meeting with one’s idol could evoke.
But Gan Yanyu…
Her eyes dimmed, losing their spark. Slowly, she took a step back, her lips parting faintly.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, almost inaudibly. “I have something I need to do.”
Without another word, she turned and walked away, ignoring the puzzled look on the young man’s face.
And then, she broke into a run.
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