Lin Tian looked down.
On Gan Yanyu’s white high heels, one indeed was stained with a smudge of gray dirt.
The performance was about to start; this was so careless.
Slipping in the bathroom wearing these high heels without falling head over heels was already very lucky.
Fortunately, the purple dress wasn’t really dirtied; otherwise, Lin Tian really wouldn’t know where to find a new outfit for Gan Yanyu.
The rest area arranged for the finalists was a private room, not only fully equipped but also featuring a white couch that was just right to lie down on.
Lin Tian helped Gan Yanyu lie down on the couch and then sat down on one corner of it.
He took one of the girl’s small feet into his hands and examined it closely in front of his face.
"Is it the left foot?"
Gan Yanyu let out a soft moan,
"Sorry to trouble you again, Lin Tian."
"Between partners, let’s not talk about trouble."
Lin Tian spoke and grabbed the girl’s left ankle with one hand, gently taking off the high heel with the other.
A faint pleasant fragrance mixed with a slight sour scent, possibly from the overheated auditorium, wafted from the heel.
Did she spray perfume...?
The combination of scents was not off-putting to Lin Tian.
Lin Tian knew that Gan Yanyu would always spray a bit of floral perfume on her clothes before a competition.
But he hadn’t expected the perfume to waft up from her feet.
It must be coming from this...
Lin Tian pinched the thin layer of silk on Gan Yanyu’s leg with two fingers.
"Mr. Gan, this needs to come off."
"Mhm... this is the bare-legged artifact, for warming up."
Although Gan Yanyu herself did not know why she felt the need to explain,
after Lin Tian’s remark, she still sat up and peeled off the pantyhose from her thigh, revealing her white ankle.
Then, she placed the pantyhose on a table nearby.
Lin Tian grasped Gan Yanyu’s small foot and held it in his hand, as deftly as ever, like handling a small hand.
Not to mention, in the winter month of January, the girl’s little foot still retained a good temperature and was warm in Lin Tian’s palm.
The bare-legged artifact truly was a great invention.
It made Lin Tian want to buy a pair, to wear under his pants for warmth.
On the television screen.
The live stage performance had already begun—now was the time for the special guest performances.
A few judges took turns to showcase their professional skills in order to warm up the audience before the official start of the competition.
The atmosphere on-site was lively.
It was understandable; you couldn’t really call it a final if it was just two contestants performing.
The audience was quite willing to appreciate a master’s performance.
At this moment on the television, Yao Han was playing.
This pianist sat on the stage, a confident and bold smile on his face, playing the piano, his beautiful music filling the entire venue.
Judging by the sound of the piano, the maturity of his skill indeed surpassed Lin Tian by more than a notch.
True to form for a seasoned artist.
However, at this moment, Lin Tian was not in a position to focus his attention on the television screen.
Lin Tian held onto the sole of Gan Yanyu’s foot with one hand, and her upper foot with the other.
His hand stroked back and forth from her calf to her sole and, after nearly probing,
Lin Tian seemed to find the right point to apply pressure.
"Bear with it a bit."
Gan Yanyu took a deep breath and pursed her lips.
Lin Tian exerted strength.
Gan Yanyu immediately bit her lip.
Her little face turned red, yet she didn’t make a sound.
"Impressive, Mr. Gan."
Lin Tian smiled and praised,
"I couldn’t even withstand such a twist."
"Now if you call out, would it attract the sister at the door?"
The "sister" Gan Yanyu referred to, was the staff member on standby at the door.
"It sounds like we are doing something indecent."
He then continued to grasp Gan Yanyu’s toes, taking the ankle as the center.
Gently rotating, massaging...
Providing Gan Yanyu with relaxation.
He never expected that one day, his master-level massage skill would actually come in handy.
It was extremely quiet all around, with only the sound of stage performance emanating from the TV screen.
Lin Tian was like performing a ritual.
He massaged the girl’s delicate feet seriously and carefully.
This feeling was amazing.
Despite the fact that they were in the Yingqin Cup finals rest room right now.
Despite the fact that they were about to perform on stage in a little while.
But at this moment, the environment was so quiet it felt as though everything else was shut out of the room.
Gone were the looming competition, gone were all those troublesome worries...
What remained was just the person in front of him.
If only time could pause at this moment.
Watching Lin Tian in front of her, who was bending his head and meticulously massaging her feet, Gan Yanyu was momentarily entranced.
In her heart, a seed that was still struggling, finally seemed willing to slowly sprout.
"Hmm? Did I massage too hard?"
Hearing Gan Yanyu’s call, the young man quickly looked up.
Gan Yanyu was looking intently into his eyes.
Her eyes seemed to contain some unspeakable affection.
"After the competition ends, I have some things I want to tell you."
Lin Tian immediately responded.
With a determined look in his eyes.
Gan Yanyu was momentarily stunned, then she smiled,
Perhaps, between the two of them, there were emotions that could not be expressed at the moment.
These emotions formed an invisible wall separating their hearts to an unprecedented distance.
Whether there’s a wall or not, let’s set it aside.
Focus on the competition!
After the performance, perhaps, they could both get the answers they wanted.
Maybe the two of them have experienced estrangement due to various reasons.
Winning the Yingqin Cup.
Was a common will that could link them together at any time, any place!
"—Now please welcome the first contestant to perform, Bai Xi!"
Following the voice from the TV.
Both of them looked towards the big screen.
Adorned in a red dress and exquisite makeup, Bai Xi stepped onto the stage.
Each of her steps carried a charm, every smile facing the audience showcased the absolute confidence of this strong contender.
The woman’s face bore a radiant smile, the tear mole at the corner of her eye was especially captivating.
Standing in the center of the stage.
She faced all the audience and brought out her cello.
The competition had officially begun!