Otaku Translation: My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player C121

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Chapter 121:

After the performance, finally pinpointed his mistake.

He had been fixated on practicing separately, driven by a simple belief: they couldn’t always rely on each other. This time, he was preparing for the while was gearing up for the . If their success hinged entirely on one another, that would be terrifying.

But now, Lin Tian realized something else.

So what if they didn’t separate physically? What was wrong with staying together?

They were partners, after all. Partners became stronger when united. The separation he sought wasn’t meant to sever their connection—it was merely physical, not spiritual.

From the start, Lin Tian’s approach had been flawed. He shouldn’t have aimed for “I can win without her cello.” Instead, it should have been:

“No matter where I am, when my piano plays, I believe her cello is always beside me.”

That was the essence of partnership.

Take this analogy: Lin Tian wanted to learn from his partner during solo practice, thinking her skill alone made him feel good. But no—it wasn’t just her technique; it was her. No matter how hard he tried to mimic her, using only his own hands left him feeling hollow.

What could he do? Simple. During solo sessions, he needed to vividly imagine her presence—her face, her warmth, her gentle touch. Believe she was there, and his performance would shine.

“…”

Gan Yanyu murmured, half-comprehending, “Pretend you’re by my side?”

“Yes,” Lin Tian affirmed. “Miss Gan, your problem isn’t ability—it’s confidence. You already have the skill. You just lack faith in yourself.”

Though Lin Tian reassured her repeatedly, he knew overcoming self-doubt wouldn’t happen overnight. It was a journey Gan Yanyu had to navigate on her own.

“I’ll work hard,” she said, nodding determinedly.

But inside, she was still confused. How could she pretend Lin Tian was there when he wasn’t? Especially during the competition, without his piano accompaniment, how could she conjure that imaginary support?

“Is this what people mean by ‘feeling someone’s presence’?” she asked hesitantly.

“No, not exactly,” Lin Tian corrected, tapping her head lightly with his finger. She yelped, covering her head in mock protest.

“That phrase is usually reserved for… well, dead people.”

Lin Tian chuckled at his own morbid thought. After he passed away (hypothetically), maybe he’d haunt her performances as a ghostly pianist. Given Gan Yanyu’s uncanny ability to connect with classical music’s soul, perhaps she’d even sense his spectral presence.

She might even have a chance to say, “Hey, great composer ghost! Got any new tunes lately?”

“Anyway, let’s both keep pushing forward,” Lin Tian concluded. “If we can rehearse together, we should prioritize duets.”

For over a week, they’d avoided playing together to break Gan Yanyu’s reliance on him. Ironically, this decision left Lin Tian feeling isolated too. Thankfully, with more than ten days until both the arts exam and the Starlight Cup, there was still time to recalibrate.

---

Lin Tian exported the video file of their recent recording and titled it carefully:

“ – Cello & Piano”

Since the author was “,” the official name should technically be Moonlight’s Cello Concerto in E Minor. For tags, he added:

#Classical #Cello #Piano #Performance #JK #LongLegs #BeautyInTears #Sadness #HeartwarmingMelancholy #LongStickBackAndForthAction

This piece stood out among Lin Tian’s works. On one hand, it showcased deep emotion and complexity, appealing to those who appreciated nuanced artistry. On the other hand, casual listeners might struggle to grasp its meaning even after multiple listens.

Even Gan Yanyu, a prodigy, had struggled with insecurity during her practice. Lin Tian understood his audience well—this track lacked catchy modern hooks. Predictably, the video’s engagement might suffer. But that didn’t matter. This piece was tailor-made for Gan Yanyu’s competition. As long as judges and audiences understood it, that was enough.

While uploading, Lin Tian noticed updates from several music media accounts he followed. These outlets were hyping the upcoming Starlight Cup.

“’s largest unofficial music event, the Starlight Cup, is set to begin! Many top contenders are participating.”

“The Starlight Cup: Qingzhou’s hottest female cellist, Gan Yanyu, confirmed to compete!”

“Who will reign supreme? Gan Yanyu enters the Starlight Cup.”

Out of ten headlines, four mentioned Gan Yanyu.

“Miss Gan, everyone’s rooting for you,” Lin Tian teased.

“Stop!” Gan Yanyu groaned, burying her head in her knees on the couch. The pressure was already getting to her.

“This is the price of fame, huh?” Lin Tian sighed.

After their last concert, thanks to the viral attention, Gan Yanyu became a household name in Qingzhou’s music scene. Fans affectionately dubbed her “” after her rendition of . Some enthusiasts even speculated about the connection between Lin Tian, Gan Yanyu, and the fictional duo Moonlight and Cat.

Initially, Lin Tian panicked slightly. Fortunately, since Gan Yanyu’s popularity remained confined to Qingzhou’s music circle, conspiracy theories fizzled out due to lack of evidence. Still, her rise to prominence was undeniable.

Lin Tian scrolled further, noting the peculiar positioning of the Starlight Cup. While not an official tournament, it served as a prelude to the prestigious Parrot Cello Contest, which began less than a month later. Many viewed the Starlight Cup as a predictor of potential winners in the bigger contest.

Lin Tian also checked the participant list, relieved not to find the foreign cellist who’d previously helped them clean. Perhaps she was saving her big move for later.

Curious, Lin Tian browsed comments under these articles. Predictably, many revolved around Gan Yanyu.

“Will Sister Gan play Moonlight’s compositions again? She suits them so well!”

“She’s gorgeous and talented. My ideal Cat-chan looks just like her.”

“But Cat-chan is cute, while Gan Yanyu exudes cool elegance. Hard to picture her smiling.”

“Where’s Lin Tian? Aren’t they partners?”

The buzz was undeniable. Oddly, many commenters seemed to oscillate between K-pop fandom and idol dramas before suddenly obsessing over a local cello competition. Yet their focus kept returning to “Goddess Gan.”

It was unclear whether fans adored Gan Yanyu’s music or her beauty. Regardless, Lin Tian suspected her popularity would draw crowds to the venue, similar to their previous concert.

“…”

After reviewing the comments, Lin Tian glanced at Gan Yanyu, still curled up on the couch, scrolling nervously.

“What are you looking at?” he asked, leaning closer.

She quickly hid her phone. “N-nothing!”

“You’re reading comments, aren’t you?”

“…”

“You’re doing this despite knowing it stresses you out?” Lin Tian sighed.

He’d assumed she never paid attention to online chatter, given her sensitivity. Seeing negative remarks could easily unnerve her, affecting her performance.

“Did you see anything bad about yourself?”

“No, but some comments weren’t nice.”

“What kind of comments?”

“They said I’m only popular because I’m pretty, overshadowing more talented cellists. They think it’s unfair—and honestly, I agree.”

“Nonsense,” Lin Tian shot back. “Being beautiful is part of your charm. People liking you for whatever reason is their choice.”

“But I don’t deserve this level of attention…”

“Miss Gan, you’re overthinking traffic,” Lin Tian explained. “The internet thrives on entertainment. Whether fans love your music or appearance doesn’t matter—it’s all about satisfying themselves. Do you think every fan of great musicians truly admires their talent? Often, it’s just to feel cool associating with genius.”

“…”

Gan Yanyu lowered her head. “Maybe I’m taking it too seriously.”

“I didn’t expect Miss Gan to care so much about others’ opinions,” Lin Tian teased.

“How can anyone not care?”

“True,” Lin Tian conceded. “People are multifaceted. Someone like you, who empathizes deeply, tends to be highly sensitive. It’s natural to care about others’ views. Conversely, those indifferent to criticism are often oblivious to others’ feelings.”

He paused. “Still, your habit of browsing comments likely stems from being online more recently.”

Lin Tian hadn’t paid much attention to her online habits before. But now, seeing how affected she was by the comments, he felt a pang of protectiveness.

“How about this?” he suggested with a mischievous grin. “I’ll create a fake account online and become your personal cheerleader. I’ll be Miss Gan’s number one fan, spamming support everywhere.”

“No!” Gan Yanyu protested, her cheeks flushing red. The very idea seemed to mortify her.

…..

On weekends, Lin Tian visited . After finishing a piano session, clapped enthusiastically.

“Bravo, Mr. Lin! Your progress is remarkable. At this rate, you’ll surpass 99% of candidates.”

“And the remaining 1%?”

“That depends on fate. Exam conditions differ greatly from practice.”

“Fair enough.”

Stretching lazily, Lin Tian felt triumphant. Solving musical challenges mirrored cracking math problems: identifying issues, adjusting strategies, upgrading skills, and ultimately succeeding. It was exhilarating.

“Still, Mr. Lin, remember—the arts exam isn’t straightforward. There are unpredictable elements, like sight-reading unfamiliar scores.”

“You’re right,” Lin Tian admitted. “More practice is needed.”

“And how’s Miss Gan preparing for the Starlight Cup? I haven’t seen her in a while,” Gao Zhenyang inquired.

Lin Tian hesitated. Knowing Gan Yanyu, she was probably still figuring out how to visualize him during performances.

When Lin Tian shared their unique method, Gao Zhenyang was astonished. “You can do that? It sounds almost mystical.”

Perhaps this was how geniuses operated.

“Well then, Mr. Lin,” Gao Zhenyang suggested with a grin, “maybe give her a small keepsake to bring onstage. Something tangible to remind her of you—like in TV dramas.”

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