The rising sun illuminated the entire sky.
Beneath the azure sky, the scenery of Qingzhou City had never appeared so clearly behind the boy.
At that moment, it was as though the entire city lay beneath Lin Tian's feet.
Sunlight fell across the boy's handsome face as a light breeze stirred, making him look high-spirited and full of confidence.
"You'll help me?" Gan Yan Yu's eyes widened.
"Yes."
Having finished showing off, Lin Tian leaped down to the ground.
"I'm no expert, but I know a little about music."
"Classical music in particular."
At the words "classical music," the girl's pupils visibly trembled.
The first time Gan Yan Yu had met Lin Tian on the balcony, he had easily recognized that she was playing classical music.
So, Gan Yan Yu rather believed that Lin Tian understood music.
"I can compose, but my performance skills are fairly average, so we can work together."
"Work together?"
"I'll compose, and you'll perform. When necessary, I can accompany you on the piano as well," Lin Tian said.
Cello performances accompanied by piano were an exceptionally classic pairing.
It had also always been the official arrangement for many cello competitions.
Ever since his first encounter with Gan Yan Yu.
With the experience of two lifetimes, Lin Tian could tell that this girl was extraordinarily gifted and had a promising future.
If he cultivated her properly, Lin Tian believed they could accomplish something great!
"Then what do I need to do for you?" Gan Yan Yu asked.
"Very simple."
Lin Tian smiled. He had already thought it through earlier that day.
"Shoot short videos with me!"
Lin Tian said.
In Qingzhou, a city full of internet celebrities.
For a high school student with talent who wanted to earn money and gain fame as quickly and easily as possible without delaying the college entrance exam.
Making Douyin videos was quite a good choice.
Almost the instant Lin Tian spoke.
The system interface popped up.
Producer mission issued-- Mission objective: Compose a piece of music, release a short video featuring a partner performing an instrument, and receive over 10,000 genuine likes! Mission deadline: 5 days Mission reward: 10,000 yuan (legitimate source, please use with confidence)
Cash reward?!
At the sight of the ten thousand yuan, Lin Tian's heart surged with excitement.
For him right now, real cash was far more tangible than any other reward.
In fact, due to difficulties with his recent work schedule, Lin Tian's balance had long been hanging by a thread.
Moreover, he already owed two months' rent. It was only because his beautiful and kind-hearted landlady knew how difficult it was for Lin Tian to live alone that she had let him keep putting it off.
If he could really get this money, it would ease an enormous amount of pressure!
"What does shooting short videos mean?"
Gan Yan Yu asked curiously.
That was something Lin Tian truly had not expected.
Then again, for an honest girl whose WeChat name was Sunshine After Rain and whose profile picture looked like something a mom would use.
Being out of touch with the internet was perfectly normal.
"You can think of it as recording your performance and turning it into a relatively short video, then posting it on short-video platforms like Douyin."
"I see."
Gan Yan Yu nodded thoughtfully.
Once he mentioned video platforms, she understood.
When she was abroad, she would occasionally go on YouTube to watch livestreams or recordings of music competitions.
"I'll help you enter the cello competition, and you'll shoot short videos with me."
"We'll form a partnership and become partners. How about it?"
Lin Tian held out his hand and grinned.
Partners?
Looking at the boy's radiant smile.
Gan Yan Yu froze for a moment.
Then, as if some unknown force were driving her.
The girl reached out her hand as well.
"Okay."
Gan Yan Yu said.
Sunlight fell upon the boy and girl as their hands clasped tightly together.
From that moment on, Lin Tian's partner was truly bound to him.
Gan Yan Yu did not ask Lin Tian about composing, nor did she try to find out how well he played the piano.
But in Gan Yan Yu's heart.
The boy before her was someone she could trust.
Or rather, as long as she stood beside him, she would have that thing she had lost long ago—security.
None of those things mattered.
As long as she stood with Lin Tian, she had the courage to face anything.
Gan Yan Yu let go of his hand.
"Lin Tian."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you. Thank you for bringing me here."
"If you keep being so polite, I'll feel like all my effort today was for nothing."
Lin Tian rubbed his forehead helplessly.
They had already opened up to each other, yet Gan Yan Yu still spoke like an NPC.
However, the girl before him.
Had somehow already flushed bright red.
"Sorry. Our handshake just now felt too ceremonial, a little too serious. It would have felt strange not to say thank you."
Gan Yan Yu spoke softly, gradually lowering her head.
"Here we go again!"
Lin Tian put his hands on his hips. "Gan Yan Yu!"
"Ah?"
Gan Yan Yu shuddered all over like a little girl whose name had been called during military training, then lifted her head.
Lin Tian reached out and pinched both of Gan Yan Yu's cheeks.
They were soft and smooth. Despite looking like there was hardly any flesh on them, they were surprisingly nice to pinch.
Lin Tian pulled Gan Yan Yu's face upward, shaping it into a smile.
"Weren't you pretty cool when we shook hands just now? Smile! Be more confident!"
"You're an eighteen-year-old professional cellist, after all!"
Lin Tian said seriously.
"Mhm..."
Gan Yan Yu made a soft sound like a Little White Rabbit and lowered her head.
Her face turned even redder.
It seemed this move did not work on Gan Yan Yu.
Just then, as though he had remembered something.
Lin Tian immediately pulled out his phone.
6:12.
Damn, this was the suburbs.
He was going to be late for school!
He had nearly forgotten that miserable high school students still had to attend class!!
He hurriedly turned around and ran toward the road.
"Go back and get some rest. See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, I'll write a piece for you. Come find me then!"
Watching Lin Tian's receding back.
Gan Yan Yu recalled everything that had happened that night.
Gradually, a sweet curve rose at the corners of the girl's lips.
That morning, there had been two math classes and one PE class among the five periods.
Because the PE teacher had taken leave, there were three consecutive math classes instead.
Lin Tian did not even dare imagine how blissfully he would sleep.
The moment he arrived at school, Lin Tian flopped onto his desk and fell into a deep sleep.
Under the math teacher's sleep-inducing lecture, Lin Tian slept very, very soundly.
This was probably the best sleep Lin Tian had ever had at school.
Until, at some unknown point, voices began calling beside his ear.
"Lin Tian!"
"Lin Tian!!"
Lin Tian abruptly raised his head and saw that the classroom was empty. Only Xu Yong remained seated beside him, calling out to him.
"It's already lunch break."
Xu Yong frowned, looking worried. "Brother Tian, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I just didn't get enough sleep."
Lin Tian yawned and stretched.
He looked around, trying to clear his head.
"What did you do with Gan Yan Yu last night? Don't tell me you stayed up all night?"
Xu Yong scolded him in exasperation. "Forget that for now. More importantly, look at this first!"
As he spoke, Xu Yong took out his phone and opened Douyin.
Lin Tian, still groggy, suddenly widened his eyes.
The video showed a passerby's recording of him playing the piano the previous night.
The number of likes had already reached 120,000.
"You brat, you're fucking famous!" Xu Yong said indignantly.
Before you continue