My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player-Chapter 45: A Healthy Partnership Requires Effort from Both of Us

Chapter 45: A Healthy Partnership Requires Effort from Both of Us
After hearing the words "boyfriend and girlfriend," Lin Tian visibly froze.
Then, with a sigh that carried more exasperation than frustration, he let out a soft breath.
So that was what this was all about.
Looking down at Gan Yanyu, who still had her face buried in her hands, head bowed in embarrassment, Lin Tian understood. This reaction—this awkward retreat—it was so her.
In Gan Yanyu's mind, their relationship was strictly professional. She saw herself as nothing more than his partner, maybe not even a friend. Yet here they were, constantly doing things that seemed far too intimate for mere colleagues. Meals cooked by Lin Tian at home, morning runs together, practice sessions, performances, video shoots—all happening under his roof. Clearly, these activities went beyond the boundaries of a typical partnership.
Someone like Lin Tian, popular and well-liked, surely had plenty of admirers. What would those girls think if they found out another girl spent every day hanging around him? It wouldn't be appropriate. So Gan Yanyu chose to hold back, retreating tactically whenever their interactions grew too close or personal.
What Gan Yanyu didn't know, however, was twofold: first, Lin Tian wasn't seeing anyone. Second, his sudden rise in popularity at school was partly due to the rumors swirling about him and Gan Yanyu. Their "partnership" had become the talk of the campus.
Lin Tian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Truthfully, he could understand where she was coming from. This wasn't some frivolous teenage overthinking; it was a legitimate concern. If he were being honest with himself—and truly considerate of her reputation—he'd admit that constantly inviting her over for drinks and casual chats might not be the best idea. And yes, there was also the matter of him massaging her feet twice now.
But seriously, who could resist playing with those adorable feet? Not his fault!
Still…
His feelings toward Gan Yanyu weren't entirely innocent either. The root of their current awkward limbo stemmed from one simple fact—they'd skipped the friendship stage entirely and jumped straight into calling themselves "partners."
And oh, what a loaded term that was.
On a grand scale, "partners" could mean comrades-in-arms, sharing hardships and victories while fighting to attend the same university. On a smaller scale? They weren't even sure if they qualified as friends.
Which meant Lin Tian's next step was clear: he needed to figure out exactly what "partnership" meant to them.
"Why do you think this way?" Lin Tian asked, tilting his head slightly. "I believe partners should act just like this."
"Huh?" Gan Yanyu looked up, eyes wide with surprise.
"To me," Lin Tian continued, "a partnership is something deeper than friendship. It's built on trust and cooperation—not necessarily romance. Isn't that kind of connection amazing?"
"You're right, but…" Gan Yanyu hesitated, biting her lip.
"But getting too close might cause problems for me, huh?" Lin Tian's expression darkened. He leaned in closer, pressing her further against the wall. With her survival space shrinking, Gan Yanyu instinctively covered her head and crouched lower, emitting a helpless whimper.
"Yes," she admitted softly.
Lin Tian flicked her forehead lightly.
The latter let out a mournful wail, clutching her forehead.
"Idiot," Lin Tian said firmly. "Did you ever stop to ask me how I felt? You made assumptions about my discomfort without considering whether I actually minded. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of thinking about my feelings?".
His logic was sound, undeniable. Gan Yanyu was left speechless, crouching on the floor and staring at him with an expression caught between guilt and frustration.
Seeing that she'd calmed down, Lin Tian decided enough was enough. He stepped back and extended his hand toward her. After a moment's hesitation, Gan Yanyu cautiously reached out hers. With a firm grip, Lin Tian pulled her upright.
Poor thing. She looked utterly flustered. Usually so eloquent when explaining her thoughts, she turned into a nervous wreck the second things got physical.
Lin Tian pressed on earnestly. "Even good friends, or close opposite-sex companions, can eat meals together and go running daily without raising eyebrows. There's no need to tiptoe around our interactions just because we're partners."
"But what about behaving like… a couple?" Gan Yanyu murmured weakly.
That gave Lin Tian pause. He hadn't expected her to double down on this point.
He sighed inwardly. Clearly, the foot massages had triggered something in her—a bout of adolescent self-consciousness. He could see why. Gan Yanyu was the type to kick anyone who dared touch her ankle. Yet here she was, melting under his expert kneading. No wonder she'd started overthinking things.
It wasn't that she resented him; she just felt conflicted. If roles were reversed, Lin Tian imagined himself daydreaming about a sweet wife massaging his tired legs after a long day at work. Romantic fantasies aside, though, he knew they needed practical solutions.
"Alright," Lin Tian said, having carefully considered the issue. "To ease your worries about causing me inconvenience—and for the sake of your reputation—we'll establish a rule. Whenever we feel our actions are crossing the line of ‘partnership,' one of us will call it out, and the other must immediately stop. Deal?"
Before Gan Yanyu could respond, Lin Tian added, "Of course, this only works if we both commit to acting like trusting partners. You can't keep running off with random excuses, leaving me guessing what's wrong."
Finally, he emphasized the positive aspect of this arrangement. "We're musical collaborators. Only by maintaining a healthy dynamic can we create our best work."
Gan Yanyu twirled a strand of hair thoughtfully before nodding. "Okay."
Listening to Lin Tian's reasoning, she felt a pang of guilt. Her behavior had been childish. They were supposed to face challenges together as partners. His words resonated deeply: a strong partnership required mutual understanding and respect.
"Lin Tian, you've really thought this through," Gan Yanyu praised sincerely, though her voice dipped slightly as she added, "Unlike me. I don't have much experience with relationships. I always struggle to know what to do."
"It's fine," Lin Tian reassured her with a smile. "Let's agree on this, then. From now on, if either of us feels we're crossing a boundary, you'll speak up, alright?"
"Mm-hmm!" Gan Yanyu clasped her hands together in front of her chest, her face set with determination. "I promise I will."
"Since we've clarified our relationship," Lin Tian ventured, "shouldn't we adjust how we address each other?"
"Address each other?" Gan Yanyu echoed.
"Yes. Do you like being called ‘Miss Gan'?" Lin Tian asked pointedly.
Truthfully, his use of the formal title had been somewhat passive-aggressive. Every time she addressed him politely, he countered with exaggerated formality, creating distance. But Gan Yanyu never reacted—she simply accepted it, staying perfectly in character.