My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player-Chapter 17: The Foot Spa King Steps In?

Ten minutes later, the private room door opened. Gan Yanyu stepped in with her damp hair loose and wearing a bathrobe that was slightly too big for her petite frame.
Lin Tian's eyes widened involuntarily.
On any given day, Gan Yanyu radiated seven parts elegance and three parts cuteness. But now, her cuteness meter had skyrocketed to nine out of ten.
Her small figure swamped by the oversized robe made her look even tinier than usual. Below the hem of the robe, her pale legs peeked out, trembling faintly as though they might collapse at any moment.
It was clear this was her first time in such a place—Gan Yanyu seemed unusually shy, her movements cautious and restrained. When the masseuse told her to walk, she walked; when instructed to sit on the couch, she obediently slipped off her slippers and climbed onto the sofa without hesitation.
While it might have come across as overly compliant or awkward, paired with her innocent demeanor and delicate appearance, the effect was undeniable.
If she weren't her—if she weren't Gan Yanyu—she'd be the quintessential "pure moonlight" everyone secretly adored.
The kind of girl who, while massaging your feet, would gently say, "Big brother, don't come back here again. You work hard for your money. Save it up. If you really miss me, just book the cheapest package next time—I'll still take care of you properly. Find yourself a good wife… someone nothing like me."
But alas, this was Gan Yanyu. Her grace and poise made it impossible to imagine her saying anything remotely similar.
"Try it. Is the water temperature okay?" the female masseuse asked after filling the footbath.
She was already seething inside but trying to power through, determined to finish the job as quickly as possible. Ideally, no one would speak a word—not Lin Tian, not anyone. She resolved to focus solely on Gan Yanyu, ignoring everything else.
Still, she couldn't shake the unease creeping into her mind. These two didn't strike her as ordinary high school students. What were they doing here? Who came to a foot spa at their age?
Gan Yanyu gingerly extended her foot toward the water. The instant her skin touched the surface, she yanked it back reflexively.
"It's a bit hot," she murmured softly.
"I'll add some cold water," the masseuse replied tersely, turning on the faucet.
"How about now?"
"It's still too warm."
Another splash of cold water followed.
"Try again?"
"It's still… a little…"
The masseuse stared blankly, utterly exasperated. Never before had she prepared a bath so lukewarm. Usually, warmer water felt more soothing during a foot massage. Was it even possible for someone to have feet this sensitive?
Could it be that Lin Tian had sent this girl specifically to torment her?
What are you trying to prove? she thought bitterly. We've all been eighteen once. Stop pretending!
"I'm sorry," Gan Yanyu said quietly. "I'm not used to baths this warm."
That simple, heartfelt apology hit the masseuse like a ton of bricks. Sometimes, the difference between anger and calm is just one sincere "I'm sorry." It was as straightforward—and powerful—as that.
Looking at the angelic face tinged with embarrassment, the masseuse felt the fire within her extinguish instantly. No customer had ever affected her this way before.
"No problem, I'll add more cold water," she responded, suddenly feeling sheepish herself. At the end of the day, this was just an eighteen-year-old kid. Maybe she'd been too harsh.
After adjusting the water temperature yet again, it finally reached a level Gan Yanyu could tolerate.
"Thank you," Gan Yanyu murmured, keeping her head bowed.
Not "thanks"—but "thank you." That single additional syllable struck another chord deep within the masseuse's heart.
"You're welcome. It's my job," the masseuse replied, genuinely moved.
What a thoughtful girl. Seeing Gan Yanyu's shy, cherubic face softened something in the masseuse's hardened exterior. Too cute. Simply too cute.
She couldn't deny it—even amidst the seediness of this environment, Gan Yanyu's untouched innocence shone brightly enough to teach her a lifetime's worth of lessons.
Most high schoolers wouldn't carry themselves this way. No wonder Lin Tian brought her along—it really did feel like live-action training.
---
"Lin Tian, why are you sitting so far away?" Gan Yanyu suddenly piped up.
"Huh?" Lin Tian, who had been contentedly watching from afar, snapped out of his daze.
The girl feigned seriousness, patting the armrest beside her. "Come sit over here."
"Oh."
He'd been enjoying the show from a distance, but apparently, Gan Yanyu found the situation too awkward without him nearby. Reluctantly, Lin Tian got up and joined her on the couch.
From where he sat, he could see her dainty, porcelain-white feet submerged in the water—like miniature figurines, impossibly adorable.
"What are you thinking about?" Gan Yanyu noticed his lingering gaze and blushed slightly, waving her hand in front of his face.
I'm thinking this tub of water alone could fuel me through three bowls of rice.
"What size are your feet?" Lin Tian asked casually.
"Size 35."
Gan Yanyu knew that, for a girl standing 166 cm tall, her feet were considered quite small. Outside of family, she rarely mentioned her shoe size to anyone. Now, sitting here barefoot in front of Lin Tian, discussing the matter openly, she felt her cheeks burning with mortification.
At least she wouldn't have to endure much longer. Hopefully, she could die right after leaving the spa, sparing herself further embarrassment.
Once the initial soak was done, it was time for the foot massage. Gan Yanyu rested her foot on the edge of the basin, and the masseuse reached out to grasp it. But the moment her hands made contact—
"Ah!" Gan Yanyu let out a startled yelp, jerking her foot back instinctively.
Both the masseuse and Lin Tian jumped in surprise.
"It tickled," Gan Yanyu admitted bashfully.
"That's okay. Some people's feet are just more sensitive. We'll take it slow," the masseuse reassured her with a gentle smile.
Gan Yanyu slowly extended her leg once more. The masseuse tried again, only to find Gan Yanyu recoiling sharply the moment her fingers brushed against the girl's ankle.
This time, frustration bubbled over. Determined to get the job done, the masseuse grabbed hold of Gan Yanyu's ankle firmly.
Thwack! A swift kick landed squarely on the masseuse's forearm.
"Ouch!" She released her grip immediately.
"I'm sorry… I can't do this. No one has ever touched my feet before," Gan Yanyu said, lowering her gaze, looking utterly contrite.
She hadn't meant to cause trouble. She truly wanted to cooperate. But her body betrayed her every time. The mere sensation of someone else's touch sent waves of discomfort coursing through her, triggering an uncontrollable reflex to pull away.
The room fell silent, thick with awkwardness.
"Well, what do we do now? Should we continue?" The masseuse threw up her hands in defeat. In six years of working here, she'd never encountered anything like this. This sort of scene belonged in fairy tales, not real life.
Just then, Lin Tian spoke up.