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Chapter 27: Greeting of Love
“Classical music, huh?”
Gan Yanyu’s lips trembled faintly as her eyes traced the notes on the sheet music. Her humming grew softer, then louder, until it reached a crescendo that made her heart race.
Her chestnut-brown eyes locked onto the score, drinking in every note as if trying to absorb them into her soul.
She was exhilarated.
Suddenly, she whipped her head around.
“Lin Tian.”
“Hm?”
“Have you played this piece all the way through yet?”
“No.”
That means… I’m the first person to play this piece?
Gan Yanyu’s expression turned serious.
Before Lin Tian could process what was happening, Gan Yanyu extended her hand.
“The cello…”
At the sound of her command, Lin Tian scrambled to fetch the instrument. He handed it over, slightly startled by the sudden shift in her demeanor.
He’d never seen Gan Yanyu act so assertively before.
With deliberate care, Gan Yanyu unzipped the case and lifted the cello out as though performing a sacred ritual. Slowly, she positioned it between her legs and picked up the bow.
Not wanting to disturb her, Lin Tian moved to sit across from her at the table. He settled onto the floor, propping his chin on his hands, watching her intently, holding his breath.
“Can you open a window? It’s a bit stuffy,” Gan Yanyu asked.
“Sure.”
Lin Tian opened the balcony door, letting in a gentle breeze before returning to his spot on the floor.
“You can start whenever you’re ready, Miss Gan,” he said respectfully.
Gan Yanyu took a deep breath and raised the bow.
The bow glided across the strings, testing a few notes to ensure everything was in tune. Satisfied, she adjusted her posture and began to play.
To many people, the cello isn’t the most popular instrument. It’s niche—played by few, appreciated by even fewer.
Most listeners associate the cello with a somber, almost mournful tone, evoking images of old-world solemnity. Some might joke that if the cello had feelings, it would probably prefer to be buried alive and replaced by something livelier, like the suona.
Unlike the violin’s clarity or the piano’s brilliance, the cello often fades into the background, relegated to accompaniment roles in orchestras or overlooked entirely in media portrayals. Even in anime about musicians, you’d be hard-pressed to find a protagonist playing the cello.
But is that really fair?
As renowned Chinese composer Tian Yimiao once said:
“If not for the cello, how would our sorrow find its voice?”
The cello is an instrument of contrasts—cold and precise, warm and elegant, tender and lingering, dark and mysterious. But above all, its sound speaks of profound devotion.
A timeless classic, Greeting of Love has been performed countless times in various arrangements—piano, violin, harp—all interpreted by world-class musicians over more than a century. Yet, to Lin Tian, none of those versions captured the depth of emotion quite like the original cello rendition.
Only the cello could convey such raw passion. Only the cello could express tenderness with such perfection.
As Gan Yanyu drew the bow across the strings, the melody flowed like liquid silk, cascading through the room.
What kind of piece was this?
It was like whispered love confessions—tinged with melancholy but brimming with sweetness. Tender, yet deeply moving.
Even someone without a musical bone in their body would feel stirred if they took the time to listen.
Elegant. So elegant.
This was Gan Yanyu’s private performance for Lin Tian.
Sitting there on the floor, he gazed up at her, utterly mesmerized. The shabby little rental apartment transformed into a grand concert hall in his mind. The cold bottle of Nongfu Spring in his hand became a vintage 1888 Lafite Rothschild.
Pure bliss.
Gan Yanyu seemed like an entirely different person while playing. Gone were her usual hesitations and insecurities. She exuded focus and reverence, commanding the music with effortless grace. Gradually, a confident smile spread across her face.
For a moment, Lin Tian forgot that this was the same girl who had sat on the windowsill, ready to jump.
He forgot she was the stubborn drunk who could down glass after glass without flinching.
He forgot she was the clumsy Gan Yanyu who needed him to blow on her bitten finger.
In that instant, she was the most beautiful poet in the world.
Finally, Gan Yanyu lowered the bow and exhaled deeply.
“How was it?”
Her nervous gaze darted toward Lin Tian.
After all, this was the first time she’d performed solo for someone other than her grandfather.
Lin Tian stroked his chin, furrowing his brow.
Seeing his expression, Gan Yanyu grew even more anxious.
“Why haven’t you won the Parrot Cello Contest yet?” he blurted out.
“I…”
Gan Yanyu hesitated, momentarily speechless, though inwardly she felt relieved.
“I’m not good enough. Grandpa always said my playing lacked emotion, like I was some kind of robot.”
“That depends on who you’re comparing yourself to.”
Her grandfather was, after all, a living legend—the undisputed master of the cello. Searching “Gan” online would bring up his name first.
Reaching such a level and still feeling inadequate—it was unimaginable how harshly her grandfather must have criticized her during her childhood.
“In my opinion, your performance was extraordinary.”
Lin Tian didn’t mince words this time, offering his honest assessment.
To interpret Greeting of Love so beautifully on the first try—Gan Yanyu’s skill far exceeded his expectations. If they filmed this and uploaded it, failure would be unthinkable.
“Thank you,” Gan Yanyu said, her face lighting up with rare joy.
For her, this praise carried weight—it came directly from the composer himself.
“Lin Tian, this piece you wrote is breathtaking. I think it rivals any world-class classical composition,” she gushed. “If Grandpa were here, I’m sure he’d love it too.”
“Then let’s record it and play it for him next time we visit the hospital,” Lin Tian suggested with a smile. “Who knows? Maybe hearing this piece will wake him up.”
“Okay…”
Gan Yanyu beamed, her resolve strengthening silently in her heart.
We’ve made a promise—I’ll definitely go.
Lin Tian turned his attention back to the sheet music.
Since the trial run went smoothly, the next step was recording and uploading the piece online. However, achieving high-quality audio required professional equipment—and ideally, a piano for accompaniment when needed.
Money. Everything came down to money.
Neither Lin Tian nor Gan Yanyu were exactly rolling in cash—they were just two struggling high school students scraping by. Renting equipment wasn’t outrageously expensive, but for Lin Tian, who planned to release videos regularly, long-term rentals would be impractical.
Just then, an idea struck him.
Maybe… he could ask for help?
Lin Tian opened the desk drawer and pulled out a business card:
[SYC Music Agency]
[Music Director: Zhong Wei’an]
Salut d'Amour
Greeting of Love
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