Otaku Translation: My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player C41

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Lin Tian agreed because, honestly, he wouldn’t mind taking a break from cooking for once. Besides, knowing Gan Yanyu’s personality, if she didn’t feel like she was contributing in some way, she’d probably go overboard trying to make it up elsewhere—like a stubborn little goblin determined to balance the scales. It was amusing, really.

“Hmm, let me think…” Gan Yanyu began counting on her fingers. “You’ll need a rack of ribs and two carrots…”

“Just send me a list via WeChat tomorrow,” Lin Tian interrupted. “Let’s focus on practicing first.”

There were only two weeks left until the concert. According to Mr. Gao Zhenyang, achieving harmony between two musicians who’d never played together before required plenty of practice and coordination.

Gan Yanyu sat on the couch, opened her cello case, and carefully took out the instrument. Lin Tian positioned himself at the piano.

“Let’s start with Greeting of Love,” Lin Tian suggested. This piece was relatively simple for a duet since its melody relied heavily on singular tones, making it easier to blend. The piano would serve as more of an accompaniment; even if Lin Tian wasn’t perfect, it wouldn’t overshadow Gan Yanyu’s main performance.

Before beginning, Lin Tian set up his phone on a tripod by the balcony.

“What’s that for? Are you planning to post this online?” Gan Yanyu asked nervously, eyeing the camera pointed toward them.

“No, just recording for feedback purposes,” Lin Tian explained.

“Oh… okay.”

The young girl glanced down at her casual dress, feeling slightly self-conscious. Though the outfit wasn’t revealing, she wasn’t used to being in front of a camera while dressed so casually.

“It’s just practice footage. I won’t upload it,” Lin Tian reassured her.

“You probably won’t?” Gan Yanyu tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. But before she could press further, Lin Tian had already returned to his seat.

After testing their instruments and ensuring everything was ready, Lin Tian glanced at Gan Yanyu seated on the sofa. Their eyes met briefly.

They began playing—the rich resonance of the cello mingled beautifully with the delicate notes of the piano, filling the room. But barely two seconds in…

“Too fast!” Gan Yanyu called out sharply, causing Lin Tian to immediately stop.

Wait, they’d only just started! Was she exaggerating?

Even with his heightened musical sensitivity thanks to his skill card, Lin Tian hadn’t noticed anything amiss yet.

Gan Yanyu raised a finger, speaking with unwavering authority. “The timbre and playing techniques of the cello and piano are different. We must synchronize perfectly in rhythm, tempo, and expression. Even the slightest discrepancy can ruin the overall effect.”

She emphasized, “Remember, the slightest discrepancy.”

When it came to music, Gan Yanyu transformed into a completely different person—strict, precise, and unyielding. In this state, she exuded an intimidating aura that made Lin Tian realize why she was considered such a formidable musician.

He knew better than to argue with her expertise. “Got it,” he said, giving her a thumbs-up gesture.

They resumed playing. This time, under Lin Tian’s focused cooperation, they managed to continue without interruption. The result sounded promising. Compared to Gan Yanyu’s solo performances, the duet added depth and layers to Greeting of Love. Adding the piano accompaniment had clearly been the right decision.

“Lower your volume a bit. Don’t overpower my cello,” Gan Yanyu instructed.

“Okay.”

“For this section, try slowing down slightly.”

“Mm-hmm.”

And so, they repeated the process, practicing Greeting of Love continuously for half an hour. By the end, both felt confident they’d ironed out most of the issues.

Wiping sweat from his forehead, Lin Tian turned to see Gan Yanyu sprawled on the couch, cradling her cello, lost in thought.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Something feels off,” she murmured hesitantly, worried Lin Tian might think she was nitpicking.

“I think it sounded fine,” Lin Tian said, feeling quite satisfied with their first attempt. By the end, they’d achieved about 98% synchronization—a solid effort for beginners.

But Gan Yanyu pursed her lips, torn between voicing her concerns and avoiding unnecessary criticism. Finally, she spoke up:

“Here’s the thing—I think your piano playing is excellent, and my cello isn’t bad either…”

“Your cello is amazing,” Lin Tian interjected quickly.

Gan Yanyu always went out of her way to boost his confidence, which sometimes made him feel awkward, as though she were treating him like a child needing constant praise. Still, she continued:

“But our duet… it doesn’t feel as good as it should. Ideally, a duet should be 1+1=2, right? But what we’ve done feels more like 1.2—barely better than a solo performance.”

She was right. And she’d phrased it diplomatically. The truth was, Lin Tian had struggled to keep up. Over the course of an hour, he’d increasingly felt the pressure mounting.

Listening to Gan Yanyu play had always left him awestruck—her talent undeniable, her sound breathtaking. But actually accompanying her? That was another story entirely. Her cello possessed a dominating presence unmatched by any other musician he’d encountered. It commanded absolute attention, forcing his piano to revolve around her like a planet orbiting the sun.

To put it in simpler terms: imagine being a support player in a MOBA game paired with the world’s top-tier AD. Falling behind wasn’t merely about lagging in speed—it was about failing to match their level of precision, strategy, and awareness. Every move mattered, every second counted. Communication through words was too slow; success depended on instinctive synergy.

Gan Yanyu may have been kind-hearted in real life, but in music, she was an unrelenting force—a true tyrant. And unlike regular duos, they couldn’t rely on verbal cues during their performance. Everything had to flow seamlessly through the music alone.

This was why stories like that of Boya and Ziqi (TLN 1.) resonated across millennia. Achieving mutual understanding purely through music—without words—was incredibly rare and deeply moving.

---

“Hold on,” Gan Yanyu said suddenly, standing up from the couch. She grabbed her cello, pulled over a stool, and sat beside Lin Tian at the piano. Looking directly at him, she declared:

“I’ll sit next to you while we play again. Let’s give it another shot.”

………….

TLN: The Story of Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi

A long time ago during the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China, there lived a highly skilled guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) player named Bo Ya (伯牙). He was famous for his exceptional talent in music, but he often felt that no one truly understood the emotions and meaning behind his playing.

One day, while traveling by boat, Bo Ya stopped at a quiet place and began to play his guqin. A woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi (钟子期) happened to be nearby and was drawn to the beautiful music. As he listened, he surprised Bo Ya by interpreting the music perfectly.

When Bo Ya played a piece about towering mountains, Zhong Ziqi said, "How majestic, like Mount Tai!"

When Bo Ya played a piece evoking flowing water, Zhong Ziqi said, "So graceful, like a mighty river!"

Bo Ya was amazed. He realized that Zhong Ziqi could truly understand the feelings and images behind his music — something no one else had ever done. The two became close friends, calling each other 知音 (zhīyīn), meaning "one who truly understands."

Sadly, not long after, Zhong Ziqi passed away. Bo Ya was heartbroken. At Zhong Ziqi’s grave, he played one final song. Then, he broke his guqin and vowed never to play again, saying: "Since the one who understands my music is gone, there is no reason to play anymore."

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