Otaku Translation: My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player C59

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The bespectacled young man’s gaze locked onto Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu as they began tuning their instruments. His intense stare wasn’t born out of pettiness—it stemmed from sheer disbelief. No matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn’t fathom that two high schoolers were being held in the same regard as his own instructor.

Especially when he noticed the deference in Gao Zhenyang’s tone while addressing Lin Tian—a level of respect typically reserved for seasoned professionals. This only deepened his confusion and jealousy.

“…”

“Sir,” one of the female students asked hesitantly, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction, “are you having us stay here to learn?”

These students weren’t just any ordinary music majors. The fact that they’d willingly stayed after class for a private lesson with Gao Zhenyang spoke volumes about their ambition and competitive spirit. Now, being told to watch a live performance by two high schoolers felt like an insult—a blatant comparison where they would inevitably fall short.

“How could that be?” Gao Zhenyang chuckled at the absurdity of the question.

“Do you really think you can learn anything from watching them?” He shook his head. “What they’re doing is on an entirely different plane. You might admire it, but replicating it? That’s not realistic.”

“…”

The three students fell silent, unsure how to respond. But soon enough, Lin Tian’s fingers danced across the piano keys, and the room filled with rich, resonant notes. Moments later, Gan Yanyu joined in, her bow gliding smoothly over the cello strings. A lively melody spilled forth, weaving the two instruments together seamlessly.

As the familiar tune reached their ears, the university students froze. It was Can-Can Dance, a piece that had recently gone viral on TikTok. Nearly every music student had heard it by now. While not overly complex, it was far from simple—especially during the climactic sections, where tempo changes demanded precision and coordination between performers.

When the main section of the piece began, the interplay between the cello and piano grew more intricate. Lin Tian’s hands moved faster, and Gan Yanyu’s cello soared into its crescendo.

“~”

Perfect rhythm.

The students were mesmerized. Within moments, the gap became glaringly obvious. Zero mistakes? That was merely the baseline. What truly stunned them was the terrifying stability and synergy between the two musicians. Every emotional nuance of the piece seemed perfectly captured—their control over dynamics, phrasing, and expression was impeccable.

For a duet, blending the deep richness of the cello with the bright clarity of the piano required meticulous planning and execution. Yet Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu made it look effortless. Their performance was nothing short of textbook perfection.

These students, who had spent years honing their craft, understood music deeply enough to recognize true mastery when they saw it. And right now, chills ran down their spines.

“This song has only been out for four or five days,” the female student whispered, unable to contain her astonishment. “And they’ve already mastered it to this extent? Even Moonlight and Cat, the original composer, probably couldn’t pull this off!”

“Are these…really high schoolers?” another male student blurted, his frustration boiling over into expletives.

“…”

The bespectacled young man—Gao Li—was utterly speechless. Among the three, he was the top performer, often praised for his talent and potential. Yet here he stood, completely overwhelmed by a sense of awe and helplessness.

Watching Gan Yanyu play the cello left him particularly shaken. Her technique was flawless—not a single error in the sheet music, nor in her tone, dynamics, or timing. If someone claimed she was using a scripted program to guide her performance, people might actually believe it. This was the work of professional musicians, not amateurs.

Beyond a certain point, Gao Li couldn’t even critique further. His own skill level limited his ability to fully analyze their brilliance. If he could dissect every aspect of their playing, would he still be stuck in university?

“…”

Observing his stupefied students, Gao Zhenyang felt a pang of nostalgia. Sometimes, young people needed moments like this—a humbling experience to remind them of their place. He remembered the first time he’d watched Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu perform Greeting of Love on TikTok. The feeling had been exactly the same.

There were always greater talents lurking beyond those who thought themselves exceptional. In the presence of true genius, all one could do was stand aside and marvel.

Every self-proclaimed prodigy eventually had to reconcile with reality. And sometimes, the sooner that happened, the better.

---

The first piece ended, and Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu stopped playing, turning expectantly toward Gao Zhenyang.

“How was it, Mr. Gao?”

Instead of answering directly, Gao Zhenyang shifted his gaze to his three students. Knowing their personalities well, he deliberately posed the question to Gao Li:

“What do you think, Gao Li?”

The young man choked on his words. Having just been thoroughly humbled, this follow-up query felt like a dagger to the heart.

“It was incredible,” Gao Li managed through gritted teeth, his tone sincere despite his inner turmoil. “Their performance was absolutely stunning.”

What he really wanted to say was, ‘Am I even qualified to judge?’

No wonder Gao Zhenyang addressed them using honorifics. Seeing Gao Li’s defeated expression, Gao Zhenyang decided to let him off the hook. Turning back to Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu, he said:

“Yes, excellent. The piece itself was flawless, but what impressed me most was your synchronization of emotions. If you can maintain this level, next week’s performance shouldn’t be a problem.”

Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu exchanged glances, visibly relieved.

“But don’t celebrate too soon,” Gao Zhenyang added. “I’ve only heard one piece today. Perhaps you’ve practiced it extensively behind the scenes, but I still don’t know how you handle other compositions. One successful run doesn’t guarantee you’ve met the requirements.”

He continued, “Live performances are a completely different beast. You’ll need to play 3 to 6 pieces consecutively, which will test your endurance, focus, and ability to handle pressure. Many of my students have excelled in practice sessions only to stumble on stage.”

After this buildup, Gao Zhenyang finally revealed his plan:

“I’ve prepared some sheet music for you. These pieces aren’t particularly difficult. For both of you, taking a few minutes to skim through them and performing sight-readings shouldn’t pose much of a challenge.”

With that, he pulled out a stack of sheet music from his bag. Lin Tian glanced at it and did a quick mental calculation. There were seven pieces in total—complete scores for both cello and piano. Clearly, Gao Zhenyang had gone to great lengths to prepare this surprise for them.

“Try playing them all in one go. If you can’t keep going, feel free to stop.”

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