Otaku Translation: My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player C188

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Chapter 188: Stop Pretending, Lin Tian. Bring It Out.

As Nanali’s performance concluded, the hall erupted in thunderous applause.

From the judges’ panel, a sharp gaze pierced through the air—landing squarely on Lin Tian’s forehead.

“Miss Gan,” Lin Tian said, breaking the silence.

“It’s our turn.”

“Yes,” Gan Yanyu replied softly, her voice steady but tinged with anticipation.

“Have you figured out how to slap that old man yet?” Lin Tian teased, half-jokingly.

“Yes.”

“Miss Gan…” Lin Tian turned to face her, only to find the young girl smiling back at him with unwavering confidence.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let it affect me.”

“Really?”

This time, it was Lin Tian who sounded uncertain.

Unaffected?

The same girl who used to tremble uncontably onstage whenever fans held up light boards for her?

Now, she was about to face her former idol—the very person who had publicly criticized her last time.

Forget Gan Yanyu. Even Lin Tian couldn’t help but feel a lingering sting from what happened before.

It wasn’t because he felt intimidated or hesitant after being scolded. No—it was something far more frustrating.

Damn it, why hadn’t he thought of a better comeback at the time? Something sharper, more biting…

Lin Tian clenched his fists, irritation bubbling within him. A poorly fought argument could haunt you for days, and Lin Tian—a self-proclaimed master debater—was no exception.

Still...

Over these past twelve days of intense training, Lin Tian had been laser-focused on practice. Yet somehow, he’d neglected to address Gan Yanyu’s mental preparation—a task that once took precedence over everything else, even their performances.

With the stage just moments away, he decided it was finally time to check in.

“I told you, didn’t I?” Gan Yanyu said matter-of-factly. “Look at my last performance. Did I seem distracted then?”

“Well, no…”

But Lin Tian pressed further. “So, what exactly did you figure out to get like this?”

“I already told you,” she said, her lips curling into a mischievous grin.

“You did? Then remind me again.”

“Nope.”

Gan Yanyu blinked innocently, clearly enjoying herself. “Guess.”

“What?”

Seriously? Playing mind games right before going onstage? Was this really something she’d do?

“If you want to know, take me to Jiefang Road for pudding after the performance. Three cups—one mango, one strawberry, and one more mango.”

She clasped her hands behind her back, looking every bit the scheming troublemaker as she beamed up at him.

“Fine, fine—but only one cup. We’ve got a celebration dinner later tonight.”

Lin Tian crossed his arms, trying to sound firm.

“Two cups! One of each flavor!”

“One cup.”

“That’s so unfair!”

Before Gan Yanyu could protest further, a staff member interrupted them, waving a hand awkwardly between the two.

“Uh, excuse me… Could you both head to the stage now?”

Lin Tian glanced around the green room for the first time and realized everyone—including Yun Qiuqiu, still glued to her phone—was staring at them.

“Oh.”

“Let’s go,” Lin Tian muttered, grabbing Gan Yanyu by the arm as they hurried out the door.

“They’re so relaxed, chatting like that right before stepping onto the stage,” Mao Junfeng remarked, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Ah, couples are always like this,” Yun Qiuqiu chimed in absently, her eyes never leaving her screen.

“What? Couples?! They’re only eighteen…”

Mao Junfeng, thirty-two and perpetually single, slammed his fist on the table in mock outrage. “Why can’t I find a beautiful accompanist like that? Why?!”

---

“The next performer is Gan Yanyu.”

He Shumo glanced down at the list in his hand, though he barely needed to. He’d memorized the lineup long ago.

Everyone knew Gan Yanyu would follow Nanali.

Her previous performance had left an indelible mark on anyone hearing her play for the first time. She wasn’t just another talented cellist; she was dangerous—unpredictable. While other musicians might be praised for their emotional expressiveness, Gan Yanyu transcended such descriptions entirely.

She didn’t merely perform music. She lived it, recreated it, dragging every listener into her world until they were drowning in its depths. Her playing was intoxicating, mesmerizing—and infuriating.

No wonder Toba Jianhui had lashed out so publicly during her last performance.

He Shumo adjusted his glasses, glancing toward Toba Jianhui sitting two seats away.

Nanali had just exited the stage, and Toba remained silent, calmly sipping his tea. For nearly an hour, he’d spoken only once—when pointing out Nanali’s prestigious lineage.

Just like last time.

Silent all morning, only to erupt after Gan Yanyu finished playing.

Whatever.

He Shumo refocused his attention on the stage. One thing was certain: this performance would explode—whether in praise or controversy, there was no middle ground.

---

“Look! They’re coming on stage!”

A ripple of excitement spread through the audience as Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu stepped into view.

“Finally! Are they Moonlight and Cat-chan? Every piece they’ve played so far has been one of Moonlight and Cat-chan’s works!”

“What’s the scoop?”

“Didn’t you hear? Last month, Moonlight and Cat-chan filmed a new video in Qingjiang Province, so people started speculating…”

“And honestly, they look perfect together! Sure, they’re way hotter than I imagined Moonlight and Cat-chan to be, but otherwise, it fits!”

---

Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu settled into their respective positions under the blinding stage lights.

Lin Tian scanned the judges’ panel, locking eyes with Toba Jianhui. The older man didn’t flinch, meeting Lin Tian’s gaze head-on with an unreadable expression.

After the verbal thrashing Lin Tian had given him, Toba probably didn’t harbor warm feelings. Still, Lin Tian smirked inwardly.

Then, he glanced at Yao Han, seated beside Toba.

To this day, Lin Tian couldn’t fully grasp Yao Han’s motives for helping them. Risking exposure by Toba—all for the sake of witnessing the “greatest performance”? It bordered on madness.

At that moment, Gan Yanyu turned her head, catching Lin Tian’s eye. Their gazes met briefly before the music began.

---

First came Lin Tian’s piano solo.

The melody flowed gently, like a tranquil stream winding through the concert hall. Soft, warm, and imbued with emotion, it washed over the audience, calming their restless hearts.

“This pianist, Lin Tian—he’s incredibly skilled,” one judge remarked.

“Indeed,” another agreed. “I didn’t notice last time, but the level of Gan Yanyu’s accompanist is extraordinary.”

Meanwhile, Yao Han reclined in his seat, eyes closed, completely immersed in the music.

Is this all? Impossible.

Come on, Lin Tian. Stop pretending. Bring it out.

And then—

Gan Yanyu lifted her bow.

The cello joined the piano, and in an instant, the music soared into a breathtaking crescendo.

“—”

Yao Han bolted upright in his chair, wide-eyed. He slapped He Shumo’s arm urgently.

“Wait. What is this piece?!”

He Shumo flipped through the program notes, adjusting his glasses.