"What... is happening?"
Contestant number 11, Nannali, couldn’t help but stand up from her chair.
At the commentator’s booth, the two commentators were stunned.
"Could it be... today Gan Yanyu is going to perform alone?"
"Seriously... no way! This is the finals!"
Fengye exclaimed in disbelief as he glanced at the program sheet,
"Today’s piece for Gan Yanyu is her and Mr. Lin Tian’s famous piece... ’Ode to Love’..."
"Is she really going to perform this piece alone?" Zhu Ye said in horror.
Gan Yanyu, who walked onto the stage, didn’t sit down in her spot but stood in the center.
She lifted her head, staring at the ceiling of the concert hall, frozen.
The discussions among the audience were like a tide, unstoppable.
"What’s going on... we just encountered one last time, and now again?"
"What is Gan Yanyu doing? Stalling for time?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel-fire.ɴet
"Did she have a falling out with Mr. Lin Tian and is now throwing a tantrum?"
"So... what exactly happened to Mr. Lin Tian? This doesn’t look like it was arranged beforehand!"
In the backstage office of the concert hall.
Seeing Gan Yanyu frozen on stage, Yao Han almost jumped out of his seat.
He put one foot on the floor-to-ceiling window, eyes fixed on the stage scene,
"What is happening? What is happening??"
"Where did Lin Tian go? What is Gan Yanyu doing??!"
"Start the performance, start the performance!!"
Yao Han almost shouted out explosively.
"Calm down, Mr. Yao..."
Beside him, He Shumo looked helpless.
He understood the enormous expectations Yao Han had for today’s finals.
For Yao Han, the anticipation for today’s competition was perhaps no less significant than for Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu themselves.
Now witnessing this scene, almost losing sanity is understandable.
"Speaking of which, without Mr. Lin Tian... Gan Yanyu seems to have completely lost the will to fight."
With a look of pity, He Shumo gazed at the stage,
— Promise me, no matter what happens, just trust me... don’t give up.
In a daze, a voice echoed beside the girl’s ear.
Gan Yanyu’s pupils quivered suddenly, and her consciousness jolted awake.
She looked around at the audience with faces of horror.
Yes, I’m supposed to be competing.
This is the finals of the Dragon Violin Cup...
The most crucial match in realizing their dreams.
But Lin Tian... is absent.
Lin Tian’s words reverberated once more in Gan Yanyu’s mind.
Gan Yanyu bit down on her teeth.
No... absolutely not!
Their dreams... are right before them.
Nothing... absolutely nothing!! Is more important than achieving their dreams!
Believe in Lin Tian... believe he will lead her to realize their dreams!
Must trust Lin Tian!!
Gan Yanyu sat down and picked up the bow.
"Gan Yanyu has moved!"
Fengye exclaimed excitedly,
"Is she finally starting?"
In the audience, Gao Zhenyang stared blankly at the scene on stage.
At this moment, in the backstage corridor.
"Sir... that’s the entrance to the stage, you can’t go over there!"
The staff called out repeatedly, and the youth turned and glanced at her.
Instantly, the staff’s face turned pale with fear, unable to move.
Gan Yanyu took a deep breath.
It’s not, the first time playing on stage.
This is their shared dream, no matter what, fight till the end...
Gan Yanyu raised the bow.
The sound of shoes on the wooden floor felt like a heartbeat.
Gan Yanyu turned her head stiffly.
Her pupils instantly enlarged.
Lin Tian, his suit stained with blood, limped over.
The entire audience was silent as a grave.
Everyone was dumbfounded, staring at the scene before them, too scared to utter a word.
Lin Tian said nothing. He merely glanced at Gan Yanyu, showing a determined look.
Then, he went to the piano.
Placing his hands on the piano, Lin Tian assures himself.
No issue completing the performance.
"What happened... here?"
"Can he still play the piano?"
"My gosh... injured this badly, is he really okay..."
In the audience, many showed worried and sympathetic looks.
Everyone was guessing the origin of the boy’s injuries and worrying about the upcoming performance.
Gan Yanyu looked at Lin Tian, completely frozen.
As long as they step on stage.
As long as their music starts.
Absolutely can win the championship with Gan Yanyu!
Slay that so-called "fate," realize their dreams!!
All problems, Lin Tian will resolve.
He looked at Gan Yanyu firmly.
Gan Yanyu didn’t move her bow.
Her bow stayed stiffly in place, just staring at Lin Tian.
Her expression gradually turned pained.
"Did you forget what I said to you?"
Lin Tian softly said, gazing into Gan Yanyu’s eyes,
"Trust me.... no matter what happens....."
Gan Yanyu’s shoulders trembled uncontrollably, her eyes moistening gradually, yet her hand stayed still.
Lin Tian grew anxious, he raised his voice:
"Isn’t this... our most important match?!"
Through everything, all of this was for their dreams, for this moment!!
"I... I can’t do it!!"
The girl’s tears flew.
The bow fell to the ground.
In the stunned gazes of all the audience and judges—
Gan Yanyu stood up, faced the audience, and said:
"Contestant number 10 Gan Yanyu... forfeits the match!"