Otaku Translation: My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player C176

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Chapter 176: A Perfect Wrap

How could this be? It was impossible. Absolutely impossible.

That was ’s performance, wasn’t it? couldn’t stay calm. Frantically, he grabbed his tablet and started scrolling through the data he had meticulously compiled earlier.

"If we assign Gan Yanyu’s performance ability a score of 100, then ’s performance ability would be around 30, with his compositional skills being an unknown variable N. When Lin Tian synchronizes fully with Gan Yanyu, his performance ability might reach about 60 points. But when Gan Yanyu fully enters her zone, the combined effect of their performances can multiply that total by ten—resulting in a staggering 1700 points."

With Gan Yanyu’s , such a score was plausible. However, for Lin Tian to achieve a 90-point performance, dragging Gan Yanyu down to 89 and resulting in an even higher combined score… that was inconceivable.

No, no, no!

What was he even calculating? He Zhichen clutched his head in frustration. His thoughts were as chaotic as the scrambled equations on his tablet. No matter how he crunched the numbers, there was no way Lin Tian should have been able to overpower Gan Yanyu at this moment.

And yet—it was happening. Right before his eyes. Like a dream.

The piano flowed like a gentle stream, irrigating and enveloping the tender cello, gradually assimilating its tone. On the surface, it sounded as though the cello and piano were advancing side by side, each contributing equally to a brilliant collaboration.

But upon closer inspection, it became clear: the piano was guiding the cello forward. Not aggressively, but with slow, heartfelt persuasion, drawing the cello into a realm of tenderness.

"How is this possible?"

Faced with something so far beyond the realm of logic, He Zhichen scratched his head in bewilderment. He had no answers.

"What are you muttering about?" The director, standing nearby, shot him a curious glance.

"Even if I explained it, you wouldn’t understand," He Zhichen replied dismissively. How could he possibly convey this to someone who didn’t grasp the nuances of music? Some forms of romance required a certain level of artistic appreciation to fully appreciate.

"Who says I didn’t notice?" The director smirked, cigarette dangling from his lips as he leaned casually against the wall. "It’s simple—the piano overpowered the cello, and Gan Yanyu suddenly weakened."

He pointed toward where Gan Yanyu was playing.

"Look—"

Following the director’s gesture, He Zhichen was astonished to see a sweet smile gracing Gan Yanyu’s face as she played.

Could it be… that Gan Yanyu had willingly yielded?

Impossible.

He Zhichen shook his head vigorously. In the world of music, Gan Yanyu was an absolute powerhouse. Once immersed, she lost all sense of rationality. There was no way anyone could—

"That’s where you’re wrong."

The director patted He Zhichen on the shoulder.

"I may not know music, but I understand actors. I’ve seen like Gan Yanyu before—only once in all my years. Often, these performers aren’t fully aware of what’s happening during their performance. Their reactions to external stimuli are largely subconscious."

Exhaling a pair of smoke rings, the director watched the two musicians intently. Having directed countless commercials, stage plays, and music videos, he found this scene particularly mesmerizing. It was far more captivating than anything scripted.

Listening to the director’s words, He Zhichen slowly began to piece things together.

So it wasn’t about the music—it was about emotion?

A cold sweat broke out on He Zhichen’s forehead.

Lin Tian…

You weren’t planning to confess, were you?

At a time like this… in this form? Testing Gan Yanyu’s feelings beforehand?

The impact might not match a full-blown confession, but the aftermath would certainly rival it.

Weren’t you afraid of not getting the answer you wanted? What if your mindset shattered afterward? Could the two of you still work together as partners? Could you still live your lives normally?

Lin Tian…

Ruthless.

He Zhichen adjusted his glasses, deeply impressed.

But fortunately… it seemed Lin Tian had succeeded.

His piano had elicited a response from Gan Yanyu’s cello.

And if that were true… hadn’t they completely shattered of them?

---

Meanwhile, as the cello and piano remained lost in their own world, they seemed to forget one crucial detail: behind them lay a group of struggling accompanists.

By now, the trainees playing alongside them had descended into a zombie-like state. Their faces contorted, flushed red, arms trembling violently as they fought to keep up.

While Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu reveled in their musical synergy, the others were left to suffer.

Each of them regretted ever thinking that performing alongside would be a blissful, romantic experience.

It was blissful, alright—but only for Moonlight and Cat.

They were like magpies building a bridge for the on the . While the lovers enjoyed their reunion above, the magpies’ heads were being trampled beneath their feet.

In reality, the truth was even harsher.

Moonlight and Cat didn’t need the bridge at all—they could fly just fine without it.

The accompanists served merely as decoration, like a sprig of broccoli on a gourmet steak platter, adding a touch of optional flair.

They had become mere pawns in the duo’s game.

Zhang Dong, in particular, was on the verge of collapse. His violin was completely out of tune, but he had no choice but to soldier on. This recording would undoubtedly go down as the darkest moment of his career.

He even began to suspect that this was Moonlight’s way of exacting revenge. By inviting Zhang Dong to collaborate, Lin Tian had seemingly set him up for humiliation.

If he refused, it would prove he was fake—a sellout who didn’t truly admire Moonlight and Cat.

If he accepted, he’d end up losing face spectacularly.

It was a masterstroke—a diabolical plot worthy of the ages.

"Brother Chen, do you think we should keep recording this?"

The director’s cigarette hand trembled slightly as he gazed at the chaotic ensemble before him.

The grand performance had devolved into a cacophony of discordant notes, resembling a symphony from hell. Each musician played their part independently, their expressions twisted in agony, yet still forcing themselves to continue despite the obvious disaster unfolding.

Thankfully, the piano and cello remained steady.

Though the accompaniment had spiraled wildly out of control, the overall piece somehow remained listenable.

"Let’s keep recording," He Zhichen chuckled. "Don’t you think this scene is rather interesting?"

Though he hadn’t said or done anything, the musical transformation alone carried a strong narrative quality.

In a way, it had become a form of art.

Besides, this wasn’t the official version of the MV—it was meant to be an .

"This is exactly what an Easter egg should feel like," He Zhichen mused, growing increasingly excited.

How much would CD sales increase with such a unique bonus track?

Most intriguing of all were Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu, who remained entirely unaffected throughout the chaos.

What were they thinking right now?

Upon hearing Gan Yanyu’s responsive cello, Lin Tian didn’t react with the elation he had anticipated. Instead, he felt an immense wave of relief wash over him.

Ah, good.

I knew it.

Miss Gan’s subconscious acknowledges me.

If she felt nothing for me, that would have been too cruel.

The essence of a gamble lay in the cost of failure. Here, the price was primarily Lin Tian’s emotional state.

After all, this attempt amounted to an unconscious confession while Gan Yanyu was unaware.

Had he lost, Lin Tian would either give up entirely or resort to brute force next time.

But…

What a relief.

For the remainder of the performance, it was essentially Lin Tian’s time to bask in satisfaction.

Gan Yanyu’s cello was tender, almost kitten-like, curling up in Lin Tian’s embrace.

Never before had Lin Tian heard such adorable music from Gan Yanyu.

For a moment, he felt utterly at a loss, unsure how to respond. One wrong note, and the kitten might leap away.

But soon, Lin Tian found his rhythm. Gently stroking the metaphorical fur, he guided the music along in perfect harmony.

As the piece neared its conclusion, Lin Tian rose to his feet and approached Gan Yanyu.

When the piano abruptly ceased, Gan Yanyu snapped out of her reverie. Opening her eyes, she saw Lin Tian standing before her, holding out two masks.

Lin Tian donned one, and Gan Yanyu followed suit.

Then, placing her hand in his palm, she stood up.

Together, they began to dance.

"Ohhh~"

A few trainees watching from the sidelines let out envious sighs.

"Oh, shut up and join in!"

The director crushed his cigarette butt, snapping at the group.

Lin Tian’s impromptu move caught everyone off guard—even the director took two seconds to signal the waiting trainees.

Realizing their cue, the trainees scrambled onto the dance floor, posing as couples attending the ball.

The camera widened its frame, capturing the breathtaking spectacle as it unfolded.

With Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu at the center, everyone swayed gently around them.

Thanks to their earlier synchronization, their dance steps were now perfectly coordinated, with no missteps.

Lin Tian held Gan Yanyu close, guiding her movements while gazing into her eyes.

Having won his gamble, Lin Tian’s mindset shifted entirely.

How much did Miss Gan’s feelings amount to? Were they enough to qualify as romantic love? Did they match his own?

For now, Lin Tian chose not to dwell on these questions. The answer he had received was sufficient to carry him through the final stretch.

He had made his decision.

On the day they claimed victory at the , he would confess.

Not on stage, of course. Lin Tian doubted Miss Gan could handle a public declaration of affection.

Something like professing his love in front of all the audience after the competition—though undeniably dramatic—would surely make her explode.

Instead, he decided on the concert hall entrance.

Cupping the trophy, stepping out into the night breeze, basking in triumph and joy—this would be the perfect moment.

It would be a decisive move.

Afterward, assuming his confession went well, their relationship would naturally progress, providing the perfect opportunity to publicly reveal their identities.

The ensuing buzz would be electrifying.

As for the possibility of rejection or failing to win the championship? Lin Tian refused to entertain such thoughts.

He wouldn’t let it come to that.

This time, he was serious.

He would win everything.

---

The rest of the shoot proceeded smoothly.

The official version was simpler than the Easter egg, as it didn’t need to be performed in one continuous take and relied more heavily on montage techniques. Essentially, it was a formality.

In just one day, the MV was complete.

Cost-effective and efficient, Lin Tian considered it an excellent work despite its low budget.

During the wrap-up ceremony, Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu each held a bouquet of flowers, smiling graciously as they acknowledged the applause of the crew.

That evening, there was a wrap party.

The venue? A barbecue restaurant named “BBY.”

This was a tradition at . Every time an MV shoot wrapped, the team celebrated at this very establishment.

According to He Zhichen, back when Yueyun Entertainment was a fledgling record company with limited funds and few employees, the old chairman often brought the team here for bonding sessions, sharing dreams of a brighter future.

Twenty years later, Yueyun Entertainment had grown into a massive entertainment conglomerate, yet this tradition endured.

Tonight’s dinner was purely for introductions.

Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu were new to the company and unfamiliar with many people. This gathering provided a chance to get to know everyone better—a gesture He Zhichen appreciated.

Take today’s trainees, for example. Despite their struggles later in the performance, they had mostly maintained high standards.

Not everyone could perform alongside Gan Yanyu and Lin Tian, and they had done admirably considering the circumstances.

Such hardworking, unpaid laborers were a rare find. Though He Zhichen had brought them in this time, Lin Tian would need to build connections himself if he wanted to work with them again.

"Mr. Moonlight, my name is Zhou Xia."

In the restaurant, four tables were pushed together.

The viola player from earlier stood up, shaking Lin Tian’s hand with excitement.

"It’s such an honor to perform with you today—it feels like a dream!"

"Thank you," Lin Tian replied politely.

"My name is Wang Chun."

The accordion player rose next, gripping Lin Tian’s hand with respectful composure. His demeanor was calmer compared to Zhou Xia.

"Mm."

One summer, one spring—the next was…

"My name is Hu Dongdong."

The red-haired girl blushed as she introduced herself. "I play the violin."

She extended her hand to Lin Tian, shaking it firmly. Then, without letting go, she continued:

"I really let Mr. Moonlight down today. After I go home, I’ll practice twice as hard, no, ten times harder! If I ever get another chance to help Mr. Moonlight, I swear I’ll perform much better—"

Hu Dongdong rambled on, her hand still firmly clasped around Lin Tian’s.

Whoosh—

Beside them, Gan Yanyu suddenly stood up.

Lin Tian turned to look at her, startled.

After a brief pause, the girl spoke:

"I’m going to the restroom."

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