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Chapter 26: Let Me Blow on It
"Come in."
Gan Yanyu carefully slipped off her shoes and stepped into the house, her heart fluttering slightly as she took in the immaculate interior.
A small swell of pride rose within her. She wondered if Lin Tian had been startled when he returned home last night.
After setting down her cello, Gan Yanyu ventured into the living room.
"Can I sit here?" she asked, pointing to the couch.
Lin Tian's face scrunched up in confusion. "Huh?"
"S-sorry!" The girl immediately panicked, spinning around to address the sofa with an exaggerated air of authority. "Alright, sofa, I'm going to sit now!"
With that, she plopped herself down. The plush cushions bounced beneath her, sending a ripple through their soft fabric. Turning back to Lin Tian, her cheeks flushed pink as she fixed him with a serious stare—her expression silently declaring:
See? I didn’t even need to ask.
Lin Tian was utterly baffled by this bizarre little sequence.
On one hand, Gan Yanyu seemed distant; after all, she'd shown up at his door bright and early at seven o'clock. But on the other hand, they'd already opened up to each other yesterday, so why did she still feel the need to ask before sitting on his couch?
Perhaps it was simply ingrained politeness—a deep-rooted sense of humility drilled into her since childhood. It wasn’t about feeling distant from Lin Tian but rather adhering to the principles of respect and courtesy that came naturally to her.
Fine then. If Gan Yanyu wanted to treat herself like a guest, Lin Tian decided to play along.
"Would you like some water?" he offered.
"Thank you," she replied softly.
"I meant, do you want any?"
"Yes." Her voice grew firmer, almost defiant.
Lin Tian went to fetch the water while Gan Yanyu watched him nervously. Being back in Lin Tian’s apartment felt surreal. Not long ago, they were practically strangers. Now, starting yesterday, they’d become… partners?
The shift in their relationship left her both uneasy and secretly delighted. Yet whenever her actions didn’t align perfectly with what she thought a “partner” should do, she tensed up, fearing Lin Tian might think she didn’t value him enough.
From the fridge, Lin Tian retrieved a large bottle of Nongfu Spring mineral water and poured a glass. In summer, serving chilled water was considered the height of hospitality.
Gan Yanyu lifted the glass, taking delicate sips. Watching her, Lin Tian couldn’t help but steal another glance. Today’s Gan Yanyu looked different—unexpectedly so. She wore a flowing green dress paired with a side ponytail. Yesterday, she’d exuded icy elegance; today, she radiated warmth and intellect.
She really did have the aura of a musician.
"Lin Tian," she began suddenly, setting the glass down. "When did you realize I wanted to kill myself?"
The memory of that night came rushing back—the time she’d drunkenly passed out in his apartment. Even then, Gan Yanyu had suspected Lin Tian might’ve intentionally kept her there. He’d been so gentle, and though nothing explicit had been said, their interactions had flowed so smoothly that she hadn’t dared to confirm her suspicions.
But two nights ago, Lin Tian had dropped a bombshell that made her realize he’d seen through her charade from the very beginning. Now, finally having the chance to ask, curiosity burned brightly within her.
"Hmm…" Lin Tian picked up the water bottle and sat on the edge of the couch, thinking for a moment. "Probably when you mentioned looking for a cat on the rooftop."
"So you didn’t believe anything I said back then?" Gan Yanyu’s eyes widened.
"Not exactly. I was suspicious at first, but I became certain when you leaned over and asked me, ‘Do what do you want to do.’"
"Waaah!" Gan Yanyu scrambled to cover his mouth with her hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Why are you bringing that up?!"
Caught off guard, Lin Tian opened his mouth to speak—and inadvertently bit down on the tip of Gan Yanyu’s finger.
"Ow!" She yanked her hand back, revealing a faint toothmark on her thumb.
"I’m sorry!" Lin Tian’s face turned anxious as he hastily grabbed her hand. "Let me blow on it."
He gently blew warm breaths onto her injured finger. "Does it feel better?"
"It’s hot…" Gan Yanyu murmured shyly.
"Hold on." Lin Tian quickly gulped down a swig of cold water before resuming his ministrations. This time, the cool sensation provided relief.
Gan Yanyu lowered her head, her cheeks growing hotter. Every time she recalled that night, embarrassment overwhelmed her. How could she have misinterpreted Lin Tian’s intentions just because he’d smelled her clothes? Suicide truly messed with your mind. She vowed never to attempt it again.
"Is it feeling better?" Lin Tian cradled her hand gently.
"Mm-hmm," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Only then did Lin Tian realize how oddly paternal his actions must seem. Subconsciously, he’d treated her like a child. Shaking off the thought, he stood up and fetched something from his room.
Returning to the living room, he placed a sheet of music on the table. "This is the piece I wrote yesterday. Take a look."
"You actually finished it?" Gan Yanyu’s eyes widened as she picked up the score.
While Gan Yanyu trusted Lin Tian and believed in working together toward their shared goals, she hadn’t taken his claim of being able to compose music seriously. After all, even someone who’d played the piano since childhood like herself struggled with composition.
But holding a complete score in her hands left her genuinely impressed.
"Greeting of Love?" She read aloud.
"Yeah," Lin Tian explained. "It’s a Romantic-era classical piece."
Greeting of Love, composed by Edward Elgar in 1888, was also famously performed by Jacqueline du Pré, the prodigious cellist whose tragic life inspired Lin Tian’s story. At just twenty years old, Jacqueline mesmerized audiences worldwide with her rendition of Greeting of Love. Decades later, musicians often paid tribute to her memory during performances of the piece.
What kind of beauty lay hidden in this music? And why did it evoke such profound emotion in listeners? All answers awaited discovery within its notes.
"Try it out," Lin Tian encouraged. "Use your cello."
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