Otaku Translation: My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player C165

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Chapter 165: The Enthusiastic

The , hosted biennially by the , was the largest and most prestigious cello competition in the region. It was open to all cellists—no prerequisites, no barriers. Anyone with a bow and strings could sign up.

That said, calling it an "open" competition wasn't entirely accurate. Before even stepping foot into the preliminary round, contestants had already been filtered through a rigorous pre-screening process. Each participant was required to submit a video of their performance along with personal information via email. Only those deemed worthy were granted entry into the live preliminaries.

Even so, the turnout was staggering. Over a thousand cellists advanced to this stage, with the professional division alone boasting an intimidating 260 competitors. This was a scale had never encountered before, far surpassing any stage he'd ever performed on.

The professional group was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. Lin Tian and were scheduled for the morning session. At present, the 130 participants were scattered across two large waiting rooms.

"Mr. Lin, Miss Gan—"

A familiar voice rang out, sending a jolt of unease through Lin Tian. He turned to see Bai Xi striding toward them, her red evening gown flowing gracefully behind her like a flame cutting through the room.

"I didn’t expect us to be in the same session," she said with her trademark radiant smile, as if they were old friends reuniting after years apart. "Looks like I’m going first again."

To Lin Tian, that grin felt less like friendly camaraderie and more like the taunt of a victorious rival. After all, the last time they’d exchanged such pleasantries, Bai Xi had walked away with the championship trophy. But perhaps he was being overly sensitive. Today was just the preliminary round—a simple pass or fail. There was no direct competition between him, Gan Yanyu, and Bai Xi... yet.

Still, comparisons would inevitably be drawn once the performances began. Dozens of media outlets had gathered for precisely that reason. They planned to evaluate each cellist based on five criteria: technique, emotional expression, stage presence, audience reaction, and judge feedback. These scores would then be used to update the real-time "" leaderboard. While similar rankings existed prior to the contest, these evaluations carried far more weight since they were based on actual performances rather than mere speculation. By the time the finals rolled around, viewers would have a clearer picture of who truly stood at the top.

"Mm-hmm," Gan Yanyu replied politely when Bai Xi greeted them. She always responded courteously to anyone who approached, regardless of context.

"Is Mr. Lin performing today too?" Bai Xi asked, turning her attention squarely on Lin Tian.

"Yes," he answered curtly.

"Oh, how wonderful!" Her eyes sparkled with exaggerated admiration. "I wish I had a talented fixed partner like you, Mr. Lin. Unfortunately, I’m stuck using the official accompaniment tracks."

As Bai Xi spoke, Gan Yanyu instinctively shifted her chair closer to Lin Tian, narrowing the gap between them ever so slightly.

Meanwhile, whispers rippled through the waiting room as other contestants stole glances at the trio. Both Bai Xi and Gan Yanyu were considered star players, ranked first and second respectively in the pre-tournament media assessments. Seeing them engage so warmly made many of the less confident participants silently lament, Ah, of course the best musicians already know each other.

"Hey, hey, look over there—" Bai Xi suddenly lowered her voice and pointed discreetly toward a distant figure.

It was another competitor, dressed distinctly differently from the rest. While others had opted for elegant gowns or formal attire, this young woman wore a tailored blazer paired with a pleated schoolgirl skirt. Glasses perched on her nose, thick bangs framing her face, she sat alone in a corner, deliberately keeping her distance from the crowd. An aura of gloom clung to her like a shadow.

This wasn’t the shy detachment Lin Tian associated with younger prodigies like Bai Xi or Gan Yanyu. No, this girl exuded something else entirely—an unapproachable coldness that set her apart.

"," Bai Xi murmured.

Lin Tian immediately recalled seeing the name on the rankings. Fourth place, right below Bai Xi, Gan Yanyu, and Nanali. If you discounted Nanali’s dubious inclusion, Yun Qiuqiu effectively ranked third. However, she hadn’t participated in the , making her something of a wildcard. Her reputation stemmed primarily from winning the recent in , where she was now hailed as the city's top cellist at just twenty-six years old.

"She’s incredible," Bai Xi said, her tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I watched her play during the Yongguang Cup. Her skill rivals mine—if not surpasses it."

Lin Tian raised an eyebrow. Coming from Bai Xi—the reigning champion of the Starlight Cup and currently ranked number one by the media—that statement carried significant weight. Yet, judging by Yun Qiuqiu’s morose demeanor, she looked less like a world-class musician and more like someone who spent her days holed up in her room playing and wearing .

"Heh, but I won’t get to see her perform today," Bai Xi added with a sly grin.

"Why not?" Gan Yanyu inquired.

"She’s slotted right after you. So naturally, I won’t stick around to watch hers specifically."

"But you’re staying to watch my performance, aren’t you?"

"I’m only here for your piece," Bai Xi admitted bluntly. "Once it’s done, I’ll leave."

Her words hung in the air, confirming what everyone already suspected: Gan Yanyu was the sole person Bai Xi viewed as a true rival. Lin Tian couldn’t help but admire her audacity. For all her seemingly carefree charm, Bai Xi was anything but naive. Every word she spoke was calculated, yet strangely transparent. It was as though she wielded her cunning nature to achieve absolute honesty—a paradox wrapped in silk.

"Well, it’s my turn," Bai Xi announced, waving goodbye. "Good luck, both of you~"

As soon as she left, the atmosphere in the waiting room shifted. Murmurs erupted around them, drawing Lin Tian’s attention to the large screen mounted on the wall.

"What’s wrong with him? He looks furious."

"Do you think we’ll get scolded if we go up next?"

"Toba Jianhui is terrifying..."

Lin Tian glanced at the screen, where the camera had panned to Toba Jianhui seated among the judges. The elderly man leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his sharp gaze narrowed beneath furrowed brows. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, loud enough to startle even the neighboring judges. Clearly, he was thoroughly dissatisfied with the performances thus far.

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