Salut d'Amour

"Classical music?"

Gan Yan Yu's small lips trembled slightly as she looked at the score in her hands, feeling out the rhythm of the piece.

As she hummed softly, the melody reached its climax.

The girl's heart began to pound faster.

Her beautiful brown eyes stayed fixed on the notes on the score.

As if she wanted to understand every single note completely.

She was excited.

The girl suddenly turned her head.

"Lin Tian!"

"Huh?"

"Have you ever performed this piece in full?"

"No."

Then that meant...

I'm the first person to perform this piece?

Gan Yan Yu's expression gradually turned serious.

Lin Tian was still dazed when Gan Yan Yu suddenly held out her hand.

"Cello!!"

At her call for the instrument, Lin Tian did not dare delay. He hurriedly grabbed the cello from the side and handed it to Gan Yan Yu.

The shift in her aura startled Lin Tian.

He had never seen Gan Yan Yu act so forcefully before!

Gan Yan Yu unzipped the case and solemnly took out the cello.

As though carrying out some sacred ritual, she slowly positioned the cello between her legs and picked up the bow.

So as not to disturb her performance, Lin Tian got up and moved to the other side of the table.

He sat on the floor, bracing both hands against the table and resting his chin on them as he watched Gan Yan Yu across from him, holding his breath.

"Could you open the window? It's a little stuffy," Gan Yan Yu asked.

"Okay."

Lin Tian opened the balcony door.

Then he returned to the floor.

"You may begin, Teacher Gan," Lin Tian said respectfully.

Gan Yan Yu took a deep breath and raised her bow.

The bow swept across the strings.

After trying several notes in succession and confirming there were no problems,

Gan Yan Yu adjusted her posture and drew the bow across the cello.

In many people's eyes, the cello might not have been a particularly popular instrument.

Because it was simply too niche.

Few people played it, and few people listened to it.

For most people, the impression of a cello was that it sounded dull, with an old-man sort of vibe.

And if it was already that old-man-ish, it might as well go straight into the ground and listen to the suona.

The cello had neither the clear brightness of the violin nor the resonant delicacy of the piano.

It seemed like a dispensable role, an inconspicuous accompaniment in an ensemble, whether in film and television or in real concert halls.

Even in band anime, no protagonist played the cello.

But was that really true?

The renowned Chinese composer Tian Yimiao once said—

"If there were no cello, how would our sorrow find its voice?"

That was the kind of instrument the cello was.

Sometimes cold and rigorous, sometimes warm and elegant, sometimes lingering and tender, sometimes brooding and mysterious.

But no matter the style of performance, at its core, the cello's voice

was one of "a love unto death."

As a world-famous piece, "Salut d'Amour" had had quite a number of versions throughout history.

Piano versions, violin versions, harp versions—many top musicians had used their own understanding to interpret this piece over the past century and more.

Yet in Lin Tian's view, none of those versions evoked feelings as profound as the instrument it had originally been written for—the cello.

Only the cello could give people such deep affection. Only the cello could carry tenderness to its utmost limit.

As Gan Yan Yu drew the bow across the strings,

the beautiful sound of the instrument poured forth with the music.

What an incredibly gentle piece it was.

Like the lingering whispers of lovers, carrying a trace of plaintive melancholy while brimming with sweetness.

Tender as water, profound in its devotion.

Even someone with no musical sense at all would be moved if they patiently listened and savored it.

Elegant—far too elegant!

This was a private performance meant exclusively for Lin Tian.

He sat below, watching Gan Yan Yu perform earnestly on the sofa.

The shabby little rental room seemed to transform in an instant into a magnificent concert hall.

The large bottle of ice-cold C'estbon in his hand became a bottle of 1888 Lafite.

Bliss.

Nothing but bliss.

Gan Yan Yu, drawing her bow across the cello, seemed like a completely different person.

Her usual sluggishness and timidity were gone. She was serious and sacred, and music bent freely to her will beneath her hands.

Gradually, a confident curve appeared on the girl's lips.

For an instant, Lin Tian forgot that she was the withdrawn girl carrying a cello case on her back, sitting on a windowsill and preparing to jump.

He forgot that she was the naturally gifted drunkard who could drink until her face turned crimson yet still stand firm.

He forgot that she was the foolish Gan Yan Yu whose fingers had been bitten and who still needed someone to blow on them.

In this moment alone,

she was the most beautiful poet in the world.

Gan Yan Yu lowered her bow and let out a heavy breath.

"How was it?"

The girl looked at Lin Tian nervously.

After all, aside from her grandfather, this was the first time she had ever performed face-to-face for someone else alone.

Lin Tian stroked his chin and frowned.

The moment he frowned, Gan Yan Yu became even more flustered.

"Why haven't you won the Parrot Qin Cup championship yet?" Lin Tian could not help asking.

"I..."

Gan Yan Yu choked up for a moment, but inwardly, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm not good enough. Grandpa often says that my performances have no emotion, that I'm like a robot."

"That depends on who you're comparing yourself to."

Grandpa Gan was the number one cellist. Even the first result when searching your name was at his level!

She had already reached this level and was still so insecure. It was hard to imagine what kind of hellish pressure-filled upbringing Gan Yan Yu had endured under her grandfather as a child.

"I think your performance was already outstanding!"

Lin Tian stopped beating around the bush and gave her his straightforward assessment.

For a first performance, she had actually interpreted "Salut d'Amour" to such an extent.

Gan Yan Yu's cello skills had far exceeded his expectations!

If this were filmed and uploaded as a video, it would be an outrage if it did not become popular!

"Okay."

Hearing Lin Tian's praise, a rare look of joy appeared on Gan Yan Yu's face.

To her, this was recognition from the composer himself.

"Lin Tian, the piece you wrote is so beautiful! I think it's absolutely no worse than those world-class classical pieces."

Gan Yan Yu could not help praising him. "If Grandpa were still here, he would definitely love this piece."

"Then let's record it and play it for him the next time we go to the hospital!"

Lin Tian smiled. "Maybe when Grandpa hears this piece, he'll wake up."

"Okay!!"

Gan Yan Yu smiled brilliantly.

The girl silently made up her mind.

They had agreed. She would definitely go.

Lin Tian turned his gaze back to the score.

Since the trial performance had gone smoothly, the next step was to record it and upload it online.

However, to ensure the recording quality, they needed professional recording equipment.

And they also needed a piano, so Lin Tian could accompany her when necessary.

All of that cost money.

To put it bluntly, Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu were both high school students without a lifeline.

Renting was not expensive, but for Lin Tian, who planned to keep releasing videos, a long-term rental would be far too wasteful.

Just then, Lin Tian suddenly thought of someone.

Maybe he could ask him for help?

Lin Tian opened the desk drawer and took out a business card—

SYC Music Agency

Music Department Director: Zhong Wei'an