Chapter Summaries

Lin Tian sought advice on a gift that could help Gan Yan Yu feel confident during the upcoming Dragon Qin Cup, then gave her a silver pendant engraved with a rainy day. Gan Yan Yu cherished it because it came from him and promised to wear it at the competition.

• Lin Tian told Gao Zhenyang that he had previously given Gan Yan Yu a watch, and Gao Zhenyang advised him to choose a more personal gift.
• Lin Tian asked Xu Yong for suggestions, but Xu Yong proposed an inappropriate prank, so Lin Tian blacklisted him.
• Lin Tian consulted Su Ran, who suggested that a meaningful gift mattered more than its cost or whether it could be seen and touched.
• Lin Tian called Gan Yan Yu over at home and fastened a silver pendant engraved with a rainy day around her neck.
• Gan Yan Yu blushed and told Lin Tian that the pendant would make her feel his support because it came from him.

Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu shared a romantic moment before discussing her Star Cup preliminaries and her goal of restoring Classical Music’s standing. The next day, Gan Yan Yu left to compete while Lin Tian checked the modest response to his Cello Concerto in E minor.

• Gan Yan Yu tied her red hair tie around Lin Tian’s wrist and called it a bond between partners.
• Gan Yan Yu told Lin Tian that the Star Cup preliminaries were the next day and explained how international competitions favored music popular with younger audiences.
• Gan Yan Yu affirmed that she would keep performing Classical Music abroad to help the world hear it, and Lin Tian agreed to support her.
• Gan Yan Yu asked Lin Tian to make food and buy pudding and milk tea for her return, then left for the competition after breakfast the next morning.
• Lin Tian checked Douyin and saw that his Cello Concerto in E minor had earned 420,000 likes and several million views, while commenters struggled to understand it.

Composer Tong Tai discovered Moonlight and Cat’s “Cello Concerto in E minor” through his grandson Wang Ming’s video and was deeply impressed by its mournful power. As online listeners debated what the piece depicted, Tong Tai published a widely noticed interpretation describing war, sorrow, and hope.

• Tong Tai scolded Wang Ming for watching Douyin until he heard “Cello Concerto in E minor” and demanded that the music be turned up.
• Tong Tai praised the composition and performance, then recognized Cat as the cellist Gan Yan Yu and guessed that Moonlight was a high school student.
• Tong Tai ordered Wang Ming to sweep the courtyard after learning he had been laughing because he thought Moonlight and Cat made a good couple.
• Netizens debated the story behind “Cello Concerto in E minor,” and the question became a trending topic.
• Tong Tai posted a Weibo review describing the piece as an account of war and suffering that also contained hope, drawing widespread attention.

Tong Tai’s public praise of Moonlight and Cat’s cello concerto drove a surge of attention and changed the tone of the online discussion. Gan Yan Yu returned from the Star Cup preliminary round distressed after passing despite playing poorly, explaining that her fans’ noisy, concert-like reception had made her nervous; Lin Tian planned to raise the issue with the organizers.

• Tong Tai defended his Weibo review of Moonlight and Cat’s piece after his student and friends urged him to delete it, and his post brought him many new followers.
• Lin Tian noticed the video’s likes had doubled and found that netizens were discussing the concerto more seriously after Tong Tai’s review.
• Lin Tian followed Tong Tai’s account, prepared dinner and desserts for Gan Yan Yu, and opened the door when she returned from the competition.
• Gan Yan Yu told Lin Tian that she had passed the preliminary round but played badly because she was nervous, then showed him videos and posts about fans crowding the venue and cheering for her.
• Lin Tian realized the fan spectacle had distracted Gan Yan Yu and said he would contact Gao Zhenyang about asking the organizers to address it.

Lin Tian learned that Gan Yan Yu feared Star Cup spectators might be watching to mock her, and promised to handle the audience so she could focus on competing. Later, he told Xu Yong he planned to confess his feelings to Gan Yan Yu at the Parrot Qin Cup.

• Over dinner, Lin Tian asked Gan Yan Yu why the Star Cup audience made her uneasy, and she explained that she feared people came to watch her fail rather than support her.
• Lin Tian told Gan Yan Yu to focus on the competition while he handled the audience, and urged her to give the finals her all.
• At dinner near school, Xu Yong told Lin Tian that Su Ran had discovered he and Gan Yan Yu were Moonlight and Cat but had promised not to spread it.
• Xu Yong asked Lin Tian about his relationship with Gan Yan Yu, and Lin Tian admitted they mostly talked about music, food, and their dreams despite spending so much time together.
• Lin Tian told Xu Yong that he planned to make his feelings clear to Gan Yan Yu at the Parrot Qin Cup.

On the day of the Star Cup, Lin Tian accompanied Gan Yan Yu to the competition and learned about her formidable opponents and her grandfather’s unfinished path. As Gan Yan Yu prepared backstage, Bai Xi approached her and then recognized Lin Tian.

• Lin Tian tried to steady Gan Yan Yu before the competition and accompanied her to the venue.
• On the way, Gan Yan Yu explained that she was competing in the professional division and told Lin Tian about Bai Xi, a strong rival she had faced in the 2022 Parrot Qin Cup.
• Gan Yan Yu and Lin Tian arrived at the venue, where excited fans surrounded them with cheers before they entered the waiting hall.
• Bai Xi greeted Gan Yan Yu and recalled watching her compete two years earlier.
• When Gan Yan Yu left to have her makeup done, Bai Xi turned to Lin Tian and asked if he was Lin Tian.

Bai Xi questioned Lin Tian about his role in Gan Yan Yu’s musical transformation, then performed a dazzling pop arrangement on cello that shook the contestants in the waiting room. With Gan Yan Yu nervous before her turn, Lin Tian gave her his hair tie and encouraged her to focus on performing.

• Bai Xi approached Lin Tian, praised his work with Gan Yan Yu, and tried to recruit him to hear her perform, but Lin Tian defended his equal partnership with Gan Yan Yu and declined.
• Bai Xi asked Lin Tian to watch her performance, then took the stage first and played “Golden Dance,” a striking pop-style cello solo.
• The other contestants feared they could not compete with Bai Xi, while Lin Tian recognized her as a serious rival for Gan Yan Yu.
• Lin Tian found Gan Yan Yu nervously drawing stars on her thigh and urged her to sit properly and continue with the competition.
• Lin Tian gave Gan Yan Yu the hair tie from his wrist and told her he would always be her number one fan.

Bai Xi praised Gan Yan Yu as a rival before Gan Yan Yu admitted she feared she could not match Bai Xi or handle the attention of her fans. Lin Tian encouraged her to focus only on playing, and she took the stage to begin her cello concerto.

• Bai Xi returned to the lounge, praised Lin Tian, declined to press him further about a solo, and wished Gan Yan Yu good luck.
• Gan Yan Yu told Lin Tian that Bai Xi's Golden Dance was formidable and that she feared the pressure of performing for her fans.
• Lin Tian told Gan Yan Yu to treat the fans like radishes and cabbages and focus on finishing her piece.
• Gan Yan Yu tied her hair up, asked Lin Tian how she looked, and headed to the stage.
• Gan Yan Yu walked onstage, sat with her cello, and prepared to play her Cello Concerto in E minor.

Gan Yan Yu struggled with stage fright while performing Moonlight and Cat’s cello concerto at the Star Cup, as Bai Xi recalled how hard she had worked since childhood. The chapter ended when Lin Tian appeared in the audience with a sign and began dancing to cheer her on.

• Performers in the waiting room recognized Gan Yan Yu’s piece as Moonlight and Cat’s newly released cello concerto and doubted her choice for the competition.
• Gan Yan Yu searched the audience for Lin Tian and mistook her excited fans’ waving signs for a threatening sight, causing her performance to falter.
• Bai Xi remembered meeting sixteen-year-old Gan Yan Yu studying scores alone at the 2022 Parrot Qin Cup and reflected on her extraordinary dedication.
• Gan Yan Yu felt overwhelmed by the judges’ attention and struggled to continue playing.
• Lin Tian held up a sign reading “Gan Yan Yu is Awesome,” grabbed two glow sticks, and began dancing to encourage her.

At the Star Cup finals, Lin Tian performed an exuberant support dance to encourage Gan Yan Yu, who responded with a deeply emotional cello performance. Gan Yan Yu finished to sustained applause as security reprimanded Lin Tian, and Bai Xi left looking forward to seeing them at the Parrot Qin Cup.

• Lin Tian stood in the audience and performed a support dance with glow sticks, drawing attention from the crowd and the lounge.
• Gan Yan Yu saw Lin Tian cheering for her, suppressed a laugh, and began playing with overflowing emotion.
• Gan Yan Yu's cello performance captivated the lounge, and Bai Xi recognized her musical strength while reflecting on Lin Tian's devotion.
• As Gan Yan Yu's performance reached its climax, Lin Tian kept dancing until security rushed in and he surrendered.
• Gan Yan Yu finished to applause and cheers, while performers praised her performance and Bai Xi left anticipating the Parrot Qin Cup.

After Gan Yan Yu completed her Star Cup performance, Lin Tian praised her and celebrated with her and Gao Zhenyang while they discussed her chances and the competition ahead. The chapter ended with Gan Yan Yu asking whether Lin Tian would still partner with her if she proved less capable than he imagined.

• Lin Tian met Gan Yan Yu backstage after her performance and praised her playing.
• Gan Yan Yu returned to the lounge, where Zhu Ya and other contestants congratulated her and invited her to discuss music.
• Gan Yan Yu left before the results were announced, and Lin Tian joined her for a celebratory meal with Gao Zhenyang.
• Gao Zhenyang assessed Gan Yan Yu and Bai Xi as nearly equal in technique but thought Gan Yan Yu had stronger emotional expression.
• Gan Yan Yu asked Lin Tian whether he would still partner with her if she was not as strong as he expected.

Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu met music manager He Zhichen, whom Gao Zhenyang recommended to help them navigate the music industry and their future arts entrance exams. The next day, they checked the Star Cup results together, and Lin Tian's heart sank when he saw a two-character name at the top of the list.

• Lin Tian reassured Gan Yan Yu that no one suited his music better than she did.
• Gao Zhenyang introduced Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu to He Zhichen, who recited detailed profiles of both musicians and estimated Lin Tian could sell at least 110,000 copies of a first-month album.
• Gao Zhenyang steered the discussion away from album plans because Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu were still studying, and He Zhichen offered to help them prepare for their arts entrance exams.
• Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu accepted He Zhichen as their music manager and agreed to call him Brother Chen.
• The next day, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu checked the Star Cup results, and Lin Tian's heart sank when he saw a two-character name at the top of the list.

After Gan Yan Yu placed second in the Star Cup, Lin Tian tried to comfort her while they prepared for the arts entrance exam. Gan Yan Yu privately feared Bai Xi might steal Lin Tian away, but Nana Li arrived to challenge her to the Parrot Qin Cup.

• Gan Yan Yu left Lin Tian's home after saying she was satisfied with her performance, though Lin Tian suspected the runner-up result had upset her.
• Gan Yan Yu came back for dinner and studied music theory while Lin Tian read online reactions to the Star Cup results.
• Gan Yan Yu asked Lin Tian to play a duet, then left early, telling him she was tired.
• Gan Yan Yu went to the café alone and rolled around in frustration, worrying that Lin Tian might turn to Bai Xi and be stolen away.
• Nana Li visited Gan Yan Yu and urged her not to get depressed, declaring that she expected them to compete for first and second place at the Parrot Qin Cup.

After losing the competition, Gan Yan Yu feared Lin Tian would choose to perform with Bai Xi, and Nana Li helped her realize she was jealous. The next day, Gan Yan Yu apologized to Lin Tian and gave him a sealed letter to open when they achieved their dreams.

• Nana Li confronted Gan Yan Yu about losing the competition and urged her to take their rivalry seriously.
• Gan Yan Yu admitted she feared Lin Tian would leave her to practice with Bai Xi, and Nana Li suggested that she was jealous because she liked him.
• Gan Yan Yu thanked Nana Li, then left with a clearer idea of what she wanted to tell Lin Tian.
• Lin Tian worried that Gan Yan Yu was suffering over the competition and regretted letting her leave alone.
• The next day, Gan Yan Yu apologized to Lin Tian and gave him a sealed letter, asking him to open it when they achieved their dreams.

Lin Tian apologized to Gan Yan Yu for leaving her to bear their Star Cup loss alone, and she promised not to run away. Later, He Zhichen argued that the judging panel’s biases meant Gan Yan Yu had not lost on performance, leaving Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu with a new explanation for the result.

• Lin Tian apologized to Gan Yan Yu for failing to share the burden of their competition loss, and she told him she would not run away.
• Lin Tian encouraged Gan Yan Yu to move on from losing the Star Cup, and they studied together more comfortably.
• After Gan Yan Yu left, Lin Tian resisted opening the secret letter she had given him and hid it in his bedside drawer.
• Lin Tian met He Zhichen for afternoon tea, where He Zhichen showed them the Star Cup judges’ list.
• He Zhichen said that judges favoring the International Musicians Association’s standards made up about 41.67% of the panel, and argued that Gan Yan Yu had not lost in performance.

After He Zhichen’s analysis showed that Gan Yan Yu’s Star Cup performance had been equal to Bai Xi’s despite a scoring advantage for modern music, Lin Tian prepared for his arts exam and completed a system mission that granted him Master-Level makeup skill. He decided to test the skill and called Gan Yan Yu to borrow cosmetics.

• He Zhichen compared competition scores and concluded that Gan Yan Yu had performed as well as Bai Xi, though internationalist judges’ scoring had favored modern music.
• Gan Yan Yu realized she had not lost the cello duel, and He Zhichen said the Parrot Qin Cup would likely have more professional judges.
• With two days left before the arts exam, Lin Tian’s system mission was completed and he received Master-Level makeup skill.
• Lin Tian admired his newly heightened sense of his own appearance and decided makeup could help him at the exam.
• Lin Tian called Gan Yan Yu and asked to borrow her makeup.

Lin Tian went to Gan Yan Yu’s home to try out his self-taught makeup skills, and she watched as he applied a natural-looking makeup style. When he finished and asked her to assess his hair, Gan Yan Yu was stunned by how good his fashion sense was.

• Lin Tian visited Gan Yan Yu’s home early in the morning to practice makeup.
• Gan Yan Yu brought out her small collection of makeup, and Lin Tian checked that it had everything he needed.
• Lin Tian explained that makeup could change someone’s style and began applying a natural look to himself.
• Gan Yan Yu watched Lin Tian work and was surprised by his skill.
• Lin Tian finished his makeup and asked Gan Yan Yu to look at his hair, leaving her stunned by his fashion sense.

While Gan Yan Yu styled Lin Tian’s hair, Lin Tian tried to learn what kind of boys she liked before he confessed after the Parrot Qin Cup. Her answer about preferring something grand and uninhibited left him puzzled, and she finished his hair in a middle part for the upcoming arts exam.

• Lin Tian realized Gan Yan Yu’s comment about his fashion sense was an indirect compliment about his improved appearance.
• Gan Yan Yu said Lin Tian’s bangs needed changing and styled his hair with a comb and hair dryer.
• Lin Tian used the hairstyle conversation to ask what style Gan Yan Yu preferred, hoping to learn what kind of boys she liked.
• Gan Yan Yu said she liked something grand that gave her a feeling of a grand narrative and made her feel shocked and uninhibited.
• Gan Yan Yu finished Lin Tian’s hair in a middle part and suggested he wear it for the arts exam the day after tomorrow.

On the morning of Qingjiang Province’s music unified exam, Lin Tian dressed for the test and traveled alone to Qingjiang Music University, where he stood out among students arriving with arts training institutions. He was an independent trainee with no formal institutional training.

• Gan Yan Yu styled Lin Tian’s hair and advised him to wear a white shirt for the arts exam.
• On December 12, Lin Tian got up early, put on exam makeup and formal clothes, and headed to Qingjiang Music University after Gan Yan Yu said they would meet there.
• Lin Tian arrived at the crowded exam square, where students gathered in groups under their training institutions’ flags.
• Lin Tian watched Chunqiu’s students draw attention as the group from a training institution known for producing Qingjiang’s top scorers.
• Lin Tian stood alone among the organized groups, revealing that he had received no formal institutional training.

Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu arrived at the art exam venue together, drawing attention with their looks before separating for their exams. Lin Tian entered his first exam room, while a Spring and Autumn teacher and candidate Wu Yi wondered whether the unknown pair could be competitors.

• Lin Tian prayed to Kunmen, then met Gan Yan Yu, who brought him warm soy milk and wore a white shirt like his.
• Gan Yan Yu grabbed Lin Tian's arm and hurried with him toward the teaching building as the first round of drawing lots began.
• Students admired Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu, while Spring and Autumn's teacher wondered where the unknown, striking pair had come from.
• Wu Yi suggested they might be students from out of town and said he hoped to face interesting candidates.
• Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu compared their exam rooms, wished each other luck, and went their separate ways.
• Lin Tian followed the exam order into his first exam room.