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Chapter 154: Sunny Uncle Dong’s New Video
“Now, we can confidently take this piece to The Parrot Cello Contest,” Gan Yanyu said thoughtfully after reviewing the recording of their performance.
“Yes, if we maintain this level during the preliminaries, it’ll definitely make for an unforgettable stage,” Lin Tian agreed.
In truth, Lin Tian was being modest. To him, their earlier performance transcended mere excellence—it was nothing short of world-class. He believed they could achieve a 98% audience satisfaction rating with ease. Why? Because even for him, the experience had been entirely novel and exhilarating.
“It’s all thanks to you, Lin Tian,” Gan Yanyu murmured with a soft laugh.
“No, it’s not.”
“But without you, I wouldn’t have been able to capture the emotions of this piece.”
“That might’ve been true before, but not this time.”
Lin Tian cut her off firmly. He didn’t want to take credit for something that wasn’t his—especially when it came to Gan Yanyu, who often underestimated herself.
Raising a finger, he said earnestly, “It was your idea to perform outdoors, your decision on where to play, and your suggestion to create a romantic duet atmosphere. And let’s not forget how you cleverly used the performance to drive away that violinist while elevating the mood. All of this was your doing, Miss Gan.”
Today, Lin Tian had merely played the role of support. From practice to filming, every step had been led by Gan Yanyu. She had taken charge, exploring and experimenting until she found the perfect emotional resonance, which they then brought to life together through their performance.
“Did I really do all that?” Gan Yanyu whispered, lowering her head.
Me? The same me who only ever caused trouble for Lin Tian?
“Yes,” Lin Tian replied gently, lifting her chin with his hand. “Have a little more confidence.”
He smiled warmly at her. She had truly grown.
Once upon a time, she would’ve said, “I don’t think I can play this piece,” leaving Lin Tian scrambling to solve the problem for her. Now, she took initiative. When she realized a piece wasn’t suited to her style, she immediately set out to find the missing pieces of its emotional puzzle.
Gan Yanyu nodded thoughtfully, then brightened slightly. “Then, Lin Tian, feel free to write whatever kind of music you want in the future. No matter what, I’ll do my best to play it perfectly.”
“Uh-huh,” Lin Tian replied, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.
Truth be told, when composing music, he rarely considered whether Gan Yanyu could pull it off. While she focused solely on performing, he had many other factors to consider when arranging scores.
Back home, Lin Tian edited the footage they’d shot that day. It was their first attempt at filming an outdoor performance, and the presence of nearly twenty bystanders added a unique charm to the video. Their reactions enhanced the ambiance of the piece, making it feel alive and vibrant.
Before uploading, Lin Tian included the Zhonghua title of the piece: A Step Away.
“Por Una Cabeza (A Step Away) – Cello & Piano. Our first outdoor shoot!” After tagging the video with a flurry of keywords, he hit publish.
Meanwhile, as Moonlight and Cat’s latest video awaited approval, another creator had already uploaded content to Bilibili. A well-known musician named Sunny Uncle Dong released a new video titled:
“Street Encounter with Masters: Collaborative Performance of Spanish Bullfighting Song. An Epic Clash That Was So Satisfying!”
As one of Bilibili’s top creators, Zhang Dong’s influence was undeniable. The moment the video went live, it drew massive attention. Fans were immediately intrigued—Zhang Dong’s street performances were known for their entertainment value. His videos often featured themes like “pro players trolling noobs” or “pretending to struggle before blowing everyone away during the chorus.”
This time, however, the title suggested a rare admission: Zhang Dong had met someone worthy of being called his equal.
Curiosity piqued, thousands clicked to watch.
The video opened with Zhang Dong’s first-person perspective as he stumbled upon two musicians playing Spanish Bullfighting Song near a bookstore. The duo—a pianist and cellist—immediately caught viewers’ attention.
“Wow, piano and cello combo? These must be huge fans of Moonlight and Cat!”
“When Spanish Bullfighting Song starts playing, even dogs stop to listen!”
As Zhang Dong approached them with his violin, the crowd reacted with surprise. Many speculated about his identity, wondering if he was a famous violinist or influencer. This element of mystery was part of Zhang Dong’s signature style. At key moments, the camera deliberately focused on the bystanders’ astonished faces, prompting familiar comments from regular viewers:
“So satisfying!”
“Hero has arrived!”
“Classy move, Brother Dong!”
“Playing Moonlight and Cat’s song right in front of Brother Dong? Talk about bringing a knife to a gunfight!”
But as the video progressed, things took an unexpected turn. When the tempo suddenly increased, the two strangers showed no signs of faltering. Instead, they pushed the piece to greater heights, creating a breathtaking crescendo.
The chat exploded with excitement:
“Oh wow, this is insane!”
“A feast for the ears! Can’t imagine how electrifying this must’ve been live.”
“This is what happens when masters collide! Those two are incredible.”
“No wonder he called them ‘masters.’ They’re absolutely on par with Brother Dong.”
However, the video abruptly ended shortly after the climax. The screen faded to black, cutting off the remainder of the performance. When it returned, Zhang Dong was summarizing the experience directly to the camera. Despite the incomplete piece, the thrilling collaboration left a lasting impression, propelling the video to viral success. Within two hours, views surpassed 600,000, with likes and coins skyrocketing.
Behind his computer, Zhang Dong couldn’t contain his delight. At this rate, the video would easily surpass a million views by evening and climb the site’s rankings. Another blockbuster hit!
Yet, amid the praise, some viewers lamented the unfinished performance. Zhang Dong chose to ignore these comments—he knew better than anyone why the video ended prematurely. During the actual performance, his playing had nearly fallen apart toward the end. Even now, recalling those moments sent chills down his spine. Those two musicians… they were terrifying.
Had he included the full recording, untrained eyes might not have noticed anything amiss beyond minor discordance. But anyone with musical knowledge would instantly recognize the issue: Zhang Dong’s skills had been utterly outmatched.
He understood his audience well. Most weren’t die-hard violin enthusiasts—they watched his videos for the thrill of vicarious superiority. If they discovered he’d been overshadowed by two random strangers, that illusion would shatter completely. Losing their admiration meant losing subscribers. To preserve his image, Zhang Dong had carefully framed the narrative as a clash between equals—a collaboration among masters.
But soon, he realized he might have painted himself into a corner. In the comments section, debates raged over who was superior: Zhang Dong or the mysterious duo.
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