Otaku Translation: My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player C168

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Chapter 168: No Matter What, We Will Keep Playing

The first session of the morning ended, and the intermission began. In the backstage corridor, accompanied by his assistant Tian Rui, was about to enter his office when a youthful figure stepped in front of him.

Toba looked up and saw .

"It's you," he said.

"Your words on stage earlier—please explain them clearly," Lin Tian demanded, locking eyes with Toba.

Instinctively, Tian Rui moved to shield Toba, but the old man gently pushed him aside with one hand.

"Isn’t it clear enough?" Toba asked, his expression unreadable.

"If left unchecked, that girl’s playing will eventually lead to disaster—for her and everyone around her."

"You should understand this better than anyone else, Lin Tian."

Hearing his name spoken by Toba sent a shiver down Lin Tian’s spine. A flicker of frustration followed. Of course, he knew. No one understood ’s struggles better than Lin Tian, her partner.

From to , and even , Lin Tian had witnessed firsthand how Gan Yanyu teetered on the edge during every practice and performance. Her ability to channel raw emotion into music came at a steep cost.

God is fair—if He grants you the power to converse with souls, your ultimate fate is likely to burn in hell.

"But—" Lin Tian began, only for Toba to raise a finger and point it sternly at the young man’s forehead.

"Do you still not understand?" Toba asked sharply.

"If she continues like this, she won’t just destroy herself. She’ll drag everyone close to her down with her."

That was the real danger. Gan Yanyu was like a black hole—anyone who dared approach risked being crushed. When she played alone, she consumed herself. In duets, her partner bore the brunt of the torment. If she were part of an orchestra, even someone as accomplished as Toba might fall victim to her destructive force.

Lin Tian understood all too well. Whether it was their chaotic attempt to connect during Symphony No. 40, or the chilling aftermath of dancing together in a shared hallucination, Lin Tian had felt the weight of Gan Yanyu’s world. Perhaps only someone as reckless as him would willingly step into that abyss alongside her.

"Officially, I cannot allow such performances to continue. Her presence is a disaster for this competition," Toba declared. "Personally, Old Gan was my dear friend. I can’t stand idly by while music ruins her life. If she can only perform so dangerously, then music isn’t the path for her. For her sake, I’m prepared to use my influence to ensure she abandons this road entirely."

Toba’s voice carried an unprecedented severity, freezing Tian Rui where he stood.

"I’ve made myself perfectly clear. As Gan Yanyu’s friend, I hope you think carefully about what’s truly best for her." With that, Toba turned and reached for the office door.

But before he could enter, Lin Tian’s hand shot out again, blocking his way.

Toba frowned, turning back to face the defiant youth whose gaze burned with intensity. Inside the office, judges like Yao Han and He Shumo, along with other staff members, watched in stunned silence as the scene unfolded at the doorway.

"You keep pretending you’re doing this for Yanyu’s sake, but do you really know anything about her?!" Lin Tian snapped, his voice rising.

"She suffers from severe asthma, yet she memorized hundreds of scores just to stand on stage like anyone else. She battles crippling mental illness, takes medication, exercises, goes to school—all to make herself more optimistic. Gan Yanyu knows better than anyone that music isn’t the right path for her, but she keeps trying to change!"

"You casually dismiss her with ‘she’s not suited for this’ and expect to erase all her hard work? You think we don’t already know she’s unsuited? Stop acting like some benevolent elder. Gan Yanyu has gotten this far through sheer determination—not because of arrogant old men like you sitting high above everyone else."

"Enough! Enough!" Tian Rui tugged desperately at Lin Tian’s sleeve, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

The room fell silent. No one dared breathe. To speak to Toba Jianhui this way was unthinkable—he was the chief judge of the , a towering figure in the music world whose very presence commanded respect. Even fellow judges addressed him with utmost deference.

Yao Han’s mind raced; he half-expected to dive out the nearest window.

But Lin Tian wasn’t finished.

Finally, he added coldly, "Even if you manipulate things behind the scenes to kick us out, it doesn’t matter. No matter what, Gan Yanyu and I will keep walking this path."

With that, Lin Tian turned and walked away, leaving behind a roomful of stunned judges and a silently fuming Toba Jianhui.

---

"Lin Tian?"

On the ride home, Gan Yanyu hesitantly broke the silence.

"What is it?"

"Are you okay?"

Seeing Lin Tian return from Toba’s office without saying a word had worried her.

"I’m fine," Lin Tian replied, waving a hand dismissively as he tried to steady his emotions.

"The preliminary ratings are out," Gan Yanyu said softly.

"Twelve judges gave us three A+s, four As, three B+s, and two Bs. Toba rated us a B."

"I thought he’d give us an E outright," Lin Tian sneered.

Scores ranged from A+ to E, with C considered passing, B and above excellent, and A+ exceptional. Despite his harsh words, Toba hadn’t completely disregarded reality. Giving Gan Yanyu’s performance a B avoided blatant favoritism, which might have drawn unwanted attention from the press.

Still, Gan Yanyu deserved more than three A+s. Toba’s influence undoubtedly swayed some judges, but over half still awarded her top marks. Advancing to the semifinals shouldn’t be an issue.

"Lin Tian," Gan Yanyu called softly.

He turned to look at her. "Do you think what Mr. Toba said… is true?"

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