My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player-Chapter 5: The Kind One Is You

After a while, fueled by the alcohol and loosened inhibitions, their conversation meandered through various topics—complaints about teachers, gripes about school curriculums. Since Gan Yanyu had taken a year off, Lin Tian filled her in on some of the changes at school during her absence.
A few beers later, Lin Tian was already feeling lightheaded. He wasn't much of a drinker; two bottles of strong cider were usually his limit, and even with this cheap beer, five or six cans would typically knock him off balance. But when he glanced over at Gan Yanyu, she seemed surprisingly alert.
Despite appearing like someone who rarely drank, she downed one bottle after another without any sign of slowing down. Her curiosity was infectious—she'd sip, then examine the label, scrutinizing the ingredients and nutritional information as if trying to reverse-engineer the magic behind the beverage.
"The person who invented beer must've been a genius," she murmured, eyes sparkling with wonder.
Lin Tian, watching her from the sidelines, felt increasingly overwhelmed. Was this what people meant by "natural talent"? Losing a drinking contest to a woman was downright embarrassing for a guy. Still, it was her first time drinking, so perhaps her enthusiasm wouldn't last long.
But soon enough, signs of intoxication began to show. How could he tell? Well, Gan Yanyu had kicked off her shoes and plopped her feet onto the couch. Thankfully, her dress was long enough to avoid any awkward exposure. And she hadn't even asked permission this time.
Lin Tian found himself reminiscing about how reserved she'd been earlier—asking before sitting, seeking approval for every little thing. That version of Gan Yanyu felt worlds away now, though barely half an hour had passed.
For Lin Tian, there was no need to do anything drastic right now. All he had to do was buy time—to make sure tonight didn't end in tragedy. As long as he got her through the night, he'd have plenty of opportunities later to understand her story.
"Lin Tian, what year are you?" Gan Yanyu suddenly slurred, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean? School year? Age?"
"When were you born?"
"2005."
"What month?"
"June."
"Damn, I'm December. I'm younger than you."
You're December and complaining about being younger? Lin Tian couldn't help but roll his eyes internally. Clearly, she was drunk out of her mind.
"Do you have school tomorrow?" she asked next.
"Yes, don't you?"
"I took a week off."
Taking leave to commit suicide—how considerate. This was likely another way to avoid causing trouble for others. In schools in Zhonghua, once a student requested leave, their well-being was no longer the institution's responsibility.
"Well, you'll need to wake up early tomorrow. I shouldn't stay here and disturb you," Gan Yanyu said, attempting to clear her foggy head as she stood up shakily.
"Where are you planning to go in this state?" Lin Tian quickly rose to his feet as well.
"Hmm… where can I go?" Gan Yanyu paused, turning toward the window. Beneath the vast night sky, the city's neon lights flickered brightly.
Her words struck a chord within Lin Tian. From the moment he returned to the café earlier and found it closed, something had felt off. The unanswered phone call, Old Man Gan living just next door yet Gan Yanyu choosing not to return home—it all pointed to something ominous. Could it be…?
Lin Tian dared not let his thoughts wander too far, but he braced himself for the worst. Yet, throughout it all, he avoided asking directly, fearing it might push her over the edge.
"Lin Tian, thank you," Gan Yanyu said softly, clutching her beer can tightly as she gazed into his eyes with unwavering sincerity.
"For what?"
"Though we only met today, I truly believe you're a good person. You want me to stay because you're worried about me, don't you? Grandpa likes you, so you must be kind. You've been nothing but nice to a stranger like me, and you even appreciate classical music. If we ever meet again, I think we'd become great friends. But for now, I really can't stay here any longer."
The room fell silent, heavy with unspoken emotions. A bittersweet smile crept onto Lin Tian's lips.
The truly kind one… is you.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, Lin Tian realized he was more invested than he should have been. Initially, it was just about completing a system task or repaying Old Man Gan's kindness. But somewhere along the line, he'd grown attached. He'd done everything he could—more than enough to ease his conscience. Even if Gan Yanyu left now, he could still bind with someone else without consequence.
Yet, looking at her earnest expression tinged with resignation, he couldn't bear the thought of letting her slip away.
After drifting aimlessly through life until now, maybe doing something meaningful was exactly what he needed. Tonight, no one was taking her anywhere—not on his watch.
"All right, fine. You can leave, but only after finishing these drinks with me," Lin Tian declared firmly. "I'm not done yet, and nobody leaves halfway through a drinking session, leaving the other person to drink alone."
"But we've already finished!" Gan Yanyu protested, gesturing at the table cluttered with empty cans—they'd gone through seven or eight bottles in the past hour.
"Nope." Lin Tian smirked, heading to the fridge. Opening the bottom compartment, he revealed a full bag of premium craft beer.
Never underestimate a man who treats beer like soda.
"This…" Gan Yanyu hesitated, biting her lip nervously. Muttering under her breath, she protested weakly, "No… if I keep drinking, I'll pass out here…"
"These aren't like the ones before," Lin Tian assured her, placing a bottle in front of her. "This is artisanal brew—far superior in flavor."
Gan Yanyu stared at the dense labels detailing ingredients and nutrition facts, her eyes alight with fascination despite herself. Finally, she relented. "Fine… just a little more."
[Binding Task Completed:1. The candidate must spend the night at your residence. 2. Extract bodily fluids for intelligent health analysis. —Success]
[Partner Binding Confirmed - Gan Yanyu]
[Loading Interface...]
Seeing the notification, Lin Tian turned to find Gan Yanyu already fast asleep on the couch. He exhaled deeply, relieved. At least his pride as a man remained intact—he'd slowed his drinking pace discreetly, ensuring Gan Yanyu succumbed first. Her natural talent for holding liquor was terrifying indeed. Next time, he doubted he'd fare as well.
As he gazed at her serene, sleeping face, a sense of fulfillment washed over him. Everything he'd done tonight felt worthwhile.
Carefully lifting her feet, he placed them gently back on the couch, marveling at how small and delicate they felt in his hands, like fragile figurines. Then, he adjusted her position, tucking her comfortably onto the sofa and draping a blanket over her.
"Grandpa…" Gan Yanyu murmured faintly in her sleep.
Lin Tian froze, glancing at her. Was she dreaming? Considering her mental health struggles, it wasn't surprising she might talk in her sleep.
"No…" After a moment, her brows furrowed, and pain flickered across her face. She whimpered softly, "I still want to play… please…"