My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player-Chapter 36: The Campus Gossip with Gan Yanyu

Chapter 36: The Campus Gossip with Gan Yanyu
Given Gan Yanyu's current health condition, without a recovery certificate from the hospital, there was no way the school would allow her to return.
The only explanation—
This girl had sneaked in on her own.
If she got caught, she'd be in serious trouble.
What an idiot…
Just as class was about to start, Lin Tian didn't have time to check his messages. He tucked his phone away and walked into the classroom.
However, the moment he stepped inside—
Lin Tian was immediately surrounded by the burning gazes of his classmates.
Curiosity, shock, envy, even fear—every pair of eyes locked onto him, following him from the door all the way to his seat.
He didn't need to guess what this was about.
High school gossip spread faster than news of Kana Momonogi getting caught shoplifting at a convenience store.
What kind of scene had Gan Yanyu caused this time?
It wasn't so much that she did something—it was just that wherever Gan Yanyu went, drawing attention was practically guaranteed.
"That girl earlier was so cute. Is she Lin Tian's girlfriend?"
"I think so. Didn't they say before that Lin Tian has a soulmate who's more than just a girlfriend?"
"Right! I heard that too. They said it's someone who's been quietly watching over him for years—the classic ‘white moonlight.' It must be her."
"Oh man, that girl is gorgeous. Even I, another girl, couldn't help but swoon."
"…"
Before the teacher arrived, whispers filled the room.
The murmurs weren't loud, but every word reached Lin Tian's ears clearly.
Great. Just great. Last time, that TikTok video already made him the center of attention in class. Now this? Lin Tian felt like the weight of the world had finally snapped his back.
But the whispers weren't done yet.
The girl sitting in front of him turned around.
"Lin Tian, who was that girl who came looking for you earlier?"
Her name was Su Ran, the class representative for academics. She had short hair, big eyes, and was widely regarded as the prettiest girl in their grade—A-Class, where brains were abundant but beauties were scarce.
Xu Yong once joked that he'd… let's say, "admired" her photo more than once. Whether that was true or exaggerated remained unclear.
Su Ran excelled in English but struggled with math. She often brought problems to Lin Tian for help, making her one of the few people he actually talked to at school.
Lin Tian didn't understand why she cared, but he answered casually:
"A friend."
"Eh? Just a friend? She's really pretty. I almost fell for her myself, haha."
When Su Ran called someone "pretty," you had to take it with a grain of salt. After all, she was notorious for being a "green tea"—only complimenting those she perceived as threats, especially if they were prettier than her.
"Yeah, a friend," Lin Tian emphasized again.
"Oh~"
Su Ran seemed like she wanted to say more, but at that moment, the teacher walked in. She had no choice but to turn back around.
Compared to these rumors, Lin Tian was far more concerned about Gan Yanyu's situation.
He opened their chat history and found only one message:
["Lin Tian, I need to talk to you."]
It had been sent an hour ago.
At the time, Lin Tian had been in class, focused as always. He rarely checked his phone during lessons.
So in the span of just one hour, this girl had shown up at school?
Man, even trying to catch a cheating boyfriend wouldn't be this intense.
Lin Tian immediately replied: [Where are you?]
To his surprise, Gan Yanyu responded instantly:
[Are you free at lunch?]
[Yes.]
And then… silence. No further response.
Lin Tian frowned, confused. Beside him, Xu Yong teased:
"What's wrong, Moonlight Bro? Did your little kitten come to visit you at school?"
"I'm your Moonlight Grandpa."
Returning to the topic of borrowing money, Lin Tian sighed in frustration.
Even if he managed to get three thousand yuan from Xu Yong, it was still nowhere near enough to buy a piano.
He couldn't exactly take out a loan for the rest, could he?
"I think you should find a gig as a singer-songwriter," Xu Yong suggested. "You're such a good pianist—it's perfect."
"Too slow."
Forget whether a high schooler could even land such a job. Even if he did, five thousand yuan wasn't something you earned in ten days or two weeks.
"The fast ways are all written in the criminal code."
"Anything legal?"
"There is one," Xu Yong smirked. "Find yourself a rich sugar mama, put on your best poker face, warm her seat, and boom—you're set."
"Get lost."
End of discussion.
---
Class ended—
The classroom erupted into its usual chaos.
Amid the noise, Lin Tian suddenly spotted something.
At the doorway, a head slowly peeked out, like a timid little rabbit cautiously surveying the scene.
Lin Tian stood up immediately and strode over.
The head retracted in panic, but Lin Tian was already outside, grabbing the girl by the arm.
"What are you doing here at school?"
Lin Tian glared down at Gan Yanyu.
"I needed to see you urgently."
Gan Yanyu covered her head, looking guilty as hell.
Behind them, heads popped up at the classroom windows, eager spectators ready for the drama. Even Su Ran, trying to maintain her dignity, couldn't resist joining in.
When she saw Lin Tian's stern expression, gripping Gan Yanyu's hand while the latter looked down bashfully—
Oh, the rumors were already writing themselves. Classmates' imaginations ran wild, conjuring up tens of thousands of words' worth of romantic fiction: stories of a domineering boyfriend and his sweet, shy girlfriend.
Especially given how attractive both of them were.
So sweet.
Totally shippable.
Soon, catcalls erupted: "Ooooh!"
Realizing this wasn't the place for explanations, Lin Tian dragged Gan Yanyu upstairs, ignoring the growing commotion.
By the time they reached the chemistry lab, the teasing had reached a fever pitch.
Lin Tian finally let go of her arm.
"Do you think your classmates will misunderstand?" Gan Yanyu whispered nervously.
"Does it matter?"
Lin Tian was exasperated. Of all the things to worry about right now, Gan Yanyu was fixated on this?
"It matters."
To his surprise, Gan Yanyu sounded unusually insistent.
"You have to explain to them, Lin Tian. We're just partners, nothing more."
She felt a pang of guilt.
Coming to the school had been a mistake. If Lin Tian got misinterpreted because of her…
That would completely contradict her original intentions.
"…"
Lin Tian was speechless.
What was this about?
Sure, he didn't enjoy being the center of attention at school. But Gan Yanyu's reaction made it seem like she was terrified of being linked to him in any scandalous way.
Did associating with him embarrass her that much?
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. Lin Tian quickly steered the conversation back:
"Do you realize you can't just run around like this, especially coming to school? If you get caught, you won't be allowed back this semester."
"I'm sorry…"
Gan Yanyu quickly apologized, fidgeting with her fingers, visibly anxious.
But she pressed on:
"This is important. I was afraid if I waited too long, I wouldn't be able to find you. You're free at lunch, right?"
"What is it?"
"Come with me to meet someone. He's leaving the country this afternoon, and this is the only time he's available."
"Who?"
"The chairman of Qingzhou City's Music Association. He wants to meet you."
TLN:
The term "white moonlight" originates from Chinese internet culture and literature. It refers to an idealized, pure, and almost unattainable love or romantic figure in someone's life. The phrase is often used to describe a person who holds a special, untouchable place in someone's heart—someone they admire deeply but may never fully possess. This "white moonlight" is typically seen as perfect, innocent, and ethereal, like moonlight itself.
The term "green tea" (or "green tea bitch") is a slang expression in Chinese pop culture used to describe a type of person—usually a woman—who pretends to be sweet, innocent, and vulnerable to manipulate others or gain attention. These individuals often use their seemingly "pure" demeanor to mask ulterior motives, such as competing for affection, status, or resources. The term comes from the idea of green tea being light and delicate on the surface but having hidden bitterness underneath.