My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player-Chapter 4: The Girls at the Foot Spa Are Better Players Than You

What did "skip the drinking" even mean?
Lin Tian's mind blanked for a moment, unable to process her words. That is, until Gan Yanyu gently cupped his hand and leaned her body closer, inch by inch. Only then did he realize—something was off.
The couch wasn't exactly spacious, but with a slight adjustment of her waist (restricted by her snug dress), she effortlessly pressed her petite frame against him. From the straps of her slip dress, a glimpse of pale, delicate skin peeked through—not blatantly provocative, yet undeniably alluring.
Close enough that Lin Tian could catch that same faint, sweet scent again—the one he'd smelled earlier on her uniform. It wasn't fabric softener; it was unmistakably her.
A beautiful face tilted downward, her bangs casting shadows over her eyes, obscuring her expression.
"Actually," she began softly, almost hesitantly, "I saw you before… with my clothes." A pause. "Do you… have feelings for me?"
Her words hit Lin Tian like an icy splash of water. His brain scrambled to catch up.
Wait, wait, wait! I just sniffed her damn shirt! Don't make it sound like I devoured it whole alongside something far more explicit!
Lin Tian felt lightheaded. Of course, this cursed system had led him straight into this mess. One innocent whiff of her clothes, and now she thought he was lusting after her?! If he'd gone further—if he'd dared touch anything else—he'd probably already be in handcuffs or worse.
When Lin Tian didn't respond, Gan Yanyu continued, her voice gentle but firm. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I really must go. So… if there's anything you want to do… we should do it now."
That snapped Lin Tian out of his daze. He finally understood what was happening here. This girl assumed she owed him—a debt of gratitude for his help tonight. She thought his actions earlier were driven by attraction, not some bizarre quest for bodily fluids dictated by a glitchy AI. To repay him—and likely to leave without guilt—she was offering herself as payment.
Was this how people on the brink of death thought? No attachments left, so giving themselves away mattered little? Lin Tian was both shocked and disturbed.
But if he accepted her offer, he'd lose any justification to keep her around longer. Ah, so this was what "skipping the drinking" meant! Lin Tian felt utterly wronged. What kind of person did she take him for?!
He wanted nothing more than to knock her out, toss her onto his bed, and extract whatever biological samples he needed while she slept peacefully. But no—here she was, trembling beside him, thinking he was about to pounce.
Then, he noticed it: her shoulders shaking ever so slightly. Her small hands gripping his arm quivered uncontrollably. Like a fragile bird caught in a storm.
Lin Tian stifled a laugh. How amusingly naive. The girls working at foot massage parlors knew better tricks than this. Hell, if this trembling act were half as convincing, the masseuse cosplaying high schooler who charged him 699 yuan wouldn't have struggled so much.
"Can you lift your head?" Lin Tian asked suddenly.
To be honest, Lin Tian had never considered himself a saint. But taking advantage of someone in such a vulnerable state? That would make him lower than scum.
Gan Yanyu blinked, raising her head slowly. Her hazel eyes, devoid of their usual spark, gazed back at him. Lin Tian sighed inwardly. This poor girl didn't even seem aware of what she was doing. She could've walked away anytime—forcefully, if necessary—but instead, she chose to repay him in this misguided way. Even in death, she prioritized others' comfort above her own.
Such kindness was admirable, sure—but dangerously exploitable.
"I think you've misunderstood something," Lin Tian said carefully, choosing his words with precision. He gently detached her hand from his arm.
"Huh?" Gan Yanyu froze, her already muddled thoughts spiraling into chaos. Was her body not attractive enough? Was she less appealing than a piece of clothing? Or… did he prefer uniforms?
Countless possibilities raced through her mind. Her neck retreated slightly, cheeks flushing with embarrassment and hurt.
"To clarify, when I was helping you wash your clothes earlier, I did something unconsciously—but it wasn't because I wanted to do anything inappropriate," Lin Tian explained earnestly.
"Unconsciously?" Gan Yanyu repeated, furrowing her brows.
"Yes," Lin Tian nodded solemnly. "For example, when your eyes feel irritated or have something in them, many people instinctively rub them. Or when they're deep in thought or relaxed, they might absentmindedly play with their hair. These are unconscious habits."
"Oh…" Gan Yanyu murmured, absorbing this newfound theory. As if to prove his point, she absentmindedly started twirling strands of her hair.
"See? Look at you—you're playing with your hair right now!" Lin Tian pointed out.
"Wow, you're right!" Gan Yanyu quickly dropped her hand, wide-eyed with surprise.
Satisfied with the distraction, Lin Tian pressed on. "Whenever I apply detergent to my own clothes, I sometimes smell them out of habit. That's why I reacted the way I did earlier—it wasn't intentional."
Gan Yanyu hesitated, glancing at Lin Tian's serious expression. Could it really be true?
"Really?" she asked uncertainly.
"Absolutely."
"But then…" Her voice trailed off, realization dawning. If what he said was true, her earlier assumption made her look incredibly foolish.
"You see, you're drunk already, and you haven't even touched a drop," Lin Tian teased, cracking open a beer can with a satisfying pop. He grinned brightly, dispelling much of the lingering awkwardness between them.
Though neither explicitly addressed the misunderstanding, both silently agreed to move past it.
"Thanks," Gan Yanyu murmured, accepting the beer despite her still-flushed cheeks. Technically, she'd been rejected—but strangely, she didn't feel humiliated. There was something comforting about this boy's warm smile, something safe.
Despite meeting for the first time, being near him felt oddly familiar. She took a tentative sip of the beer. Bitter. Terrible. Yet, she forced herself to swallow another gulp.
As the cold liquid slid down her throat, an unexpected sensation washed over her—refreshing, exhilarating. Her eyes widened in wonder.
"How is it?" Lin Tian asked.
"Not as bad as I imagined," Gan Yanyu admitted, taking a few more sips despite the lingering bitterness. No wonder people enjoyed drinking—it offered a strange kind of solace.
Seeing her visibly relax, Lin Tian stood, grabbed a stool, and sat across from her. With another pop, he opened his own beer and took a long swig. The crisp taste exploded in his mouth—nothing beat the first sip of freshly chilled beer.
With several gulps under their belts, the tension dissolved, replaced by a comfortable ease. Lin Tian realized Gan Yanyu wasn't as difficult to talk to as he'd initially assumed. Beer truly worked wonders.
"So, you took a leave of absence and went abroad?" he asked casually, masking the probing nature of the question behind nonchalance.
"Mm-hmm."
"What for?"
She paused mid-sip. "Competitions… and other things."
Lin Tian picked up on the hesitation. "Cello competitions?"
"Yes."
"What kind of competition takes a whole year?"
"I entered multiple ones, but mostly, it was for further study."
"So, you're a professional cellist?"
At this, Gan Yanyu perked up. Leaning forward, chin resting on her palm, she smiled faintly. "Professional? Hardly. Just an enthusiast. The competitions weren't prestigious or anything."
"Why come back, then?"
"For college entrance exams." Her tone brightened. "I want to get into Zhonghua Music Academy. It's every musician's dream. Studying there means learning from idols I've admired since childhood…"