At the night market near the apartment, inside a barbecue restaurant.
Lin Tian, Gan Yanyu, and their agent He Zhichen clinked glasses together.
"Big win, big win, Teacher Gan Yanyu!"
He Zhichen put down his glass and said with a smile,
"According to what I’ve found out from my contacts in the committee—even though there were significant disagreements, they finally reached a consensus. We’re pretty much confirmed to have advanced!"
Lin Tian chimed in, downing his beer,
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. He."
Lin Tian also expressed his gratitude to He Zhichen.
Then, as if something came to mind, Lin Tian curiously asked,
"How come you still have connections in Baijing?"
Back in Qingzhou, He Zhichen always gave Lin Tian the impression of having far-reaching connections in the music world. No matter what kind of intel or internal association data, he could always get ahold of it.
However, Lin Tian understood this well. After all, being on good terms with people like Gao Zhenyang, a director of the Qingjiang Music Association and of Xingye Music Academy, it was imaginable what kind of network he had in Qingzhou.
Yet even in Baijing, this guy’s prowess in information gathering hadn’t diminished one bit... This was more than just being a local bigwig.
"As long as there’s a desire to learn, the channels are quite abundant..."
"You’re being modest, Chen."
"This has nothing to do with me. If there’s anyone to thank, it should be you guys yourselves."
He Zhichen nodded slightly,
"Have you ever heard the saying? When you succeed, you’re surrounded by good people—even if I don’t actively seek out these channels, they naturally come to me."
Gan Yanyu felt a bit lost, but Lin Tian understood.
"Do you mean that there are still many people in the association supporting us?"
He Zhichen leaned back in his chair, letting out a soft sigh,
"Since the reform around 20 years ago, not only in the public eye but internal debates within the association haven’t ceased."
"After all, classical music once was the first lesson for all performers, and almost every musician has deeply studied classical works. It’s not that a change in competition trends could make them abandon this passion."
"Those who secretly support you may admire your talent and don’t want you to be buried by this competition format; or simply because of their love for classical music, they hope you can make it to the end."
Among these people, Tuoba Jianhui was likely one of them.
"In other words, Mr. Lin Tian, and Teacher Gan Yanyu,"
He Zhichen paused and said,
"You’re not fighting alone."
These words seemed to hit a chord within Gan Yanyu.
The girl cupped her beer glass with both hands, and her azure eyes began to tremble.
Since returning to the competition,
the pressure from classical music had always lingered over her...
Like a curse, deepening with each round of the competition.
The further she went, the stronger the power of the curse.
And on this stage of the Dragon Violin Cup.
Upon learning that there were many people behind the scenes supporting and affirming what she was doing...
How could she not be moved?
Seeing Gan Yanyu’s nose slightly redden, Lin Tian quickly put an arm around her shoulders, gently patting her on the head,
"Alright, alright..."
"What... I’m not crying..."
Gan Yanyu’s cheeks blushed slightly, and she quickly removed Lin Tian’s hand from her head, pouting a bit with a touch of dissatisfaction on her face.
Lin Tian knew that although Gan Yanyu had opened up a lot, she was still not comfortable being too affectionate in front of others.
He did this knowingly—his purpose was to help Gan Yanyu get over her sensitivity!
Like a little bull, initially firm and ready to erupt at any moment.
But once the threshold was crossed, and after the release, the desensitization training ends, and touching becomes comfortable for a long time.
So here’s a tip for you chefs who haven’t made love yet.
If it’s your first time, and you’re worried about inexperience causing you to finish quickly, leaving you unable to lift your head.
You might consider, before meeting the girl, taking care of yourself ahead of time.
This way, in theory, you can last much longer when it’s time to get into action.
"Hey, actually, based on the information I’ve gathered, the situation within the association is quite complex now too."
This line from He Zhichen brought Lin Tian back to reality.
"The resistance to classical music is more severe in our country than in many Western countries."
This was something Lin Tian hadn’t expected.
It was following so-called ’international trends’ that caused this reform.
But you’re telling me, our reforms are even more aggressive than in other countries?
He Zhichen finished another glass of beer, slammed it onto the table with a "bang!"
This guy, as usual, started showing a flushed face after just a few bottles in front of Lin Tian.
"Actually, the reason behind the International Music Association’s reforms is straightforward. It’s just to expand demographics, attract younger audiences, and turn music competitions into influential sporting events like the World Cup or the NBA, right?"
He Zhichen held his forehead as his emotions surged,
"Then, only the international competitions need reform. Domestic competitions don’t need such drastic changes; after all, many older musicians came from classical music backgrounds!"