My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player-Chapter 57: If Were Going to Take the Test, Lets Aim for the Best

Chapter 57: If We're Going to Take the Test, Let's Aim for the Best
Lin Tian froze as he looked at the girl in front of him. She leaned forward slightly, her head tilted up, and her amber-brown eyes locked onto his with an intensity that made him pause.
The Conservatory of Music?
Truth be told, it wasn't something Lin Tian hadn't considered before. After all, music was already shaping up to be his career path. But there were two sides to this coin. For one, Lin Tian didn't share Gan Yanyu's unyielding obsession with music. Even without attending a conservatory, he could still write compositions and make money just fine. And secondly—well, if getting into a conservatory were truly within reach for someone like him, he'd have marched straight to his homeroom teacher tomorrow and declared himself switching tracks to become a music major.
But reality was harsh.
The university entrance exams were only months away, and the art-specific exams—the auditions for music schools—were less than two months out. Passing those would barely scratch the surface; after that came individual university-level tests from each school. Starting now felt about as realistic as walking into the NBA without any prior training.
It wasn't going to be easy.
Sure, Lin Tian had his skill cards boosting him, so technically, he could handle the basics: playing instruments and understanding music theory. But knowing how to play and acing an exam were two very different things. Exams demanded more than raw talent—they required you to understand what answers the test-makers wanted. The knowledge stored in your brain might not align perfectly with textbook definitions or standardized expectations.
Take instrument performances, for example. Each school had its own preferences. Some favored classical pieces steeped in tradition, while others preferred obscure works that showcased innovation. And let's not forget the subjective element: teachers grading these performances. Could Lin Tian really guarantee their approval?
And then there was the rest of the package. Beyond instrumental skills and theory, music academy entrance exams also tested composition, music history, ear training, sight-reading—all sorts of specialized subjects. These alone would be enough to overwhelm anyone who hadn't been preparing since high school.
Most students pursuing the arts route started gearing up back in their freshman year. Very few began prepping this late in the game, especially not someone like Lin Tian, whose academic scores gave him a solid shot at a prestigious Tier 1 university. Why go through the trouble of trying for a conservatory when failure wouldn't just waste time—it could jeopardize his entire academic standing?
He could coast along comfortably, keeping up decent grades, sneaking in some downtime here and there, maybe even indulging in a little procrastination. Then, come application season, he could pick a moderately competitive program, glide into university life, and join the ranks of those envied "elite" graduates living large online, flexing memes like "Even we elite graduates aren't worse than trade-school kids."
Wouldn't that be satisfying?
In theory, yes. Absolutely.
"Miss Gan," Lin Tian said slowly, "before I met up with you today, I was actually thinking about whether I should go to university—or even if going to university is necessary at all."
"What? You're skipping university?" Gan Yanyu asked, her expression shifting to shock.
"No, no, of course not," Lin Tian chuckled at her reaction. "I'm just saying—I haven't figured out which university to aim for, what major to choose, or what kind of university life I want. Honestly, the only reason I see for going seems to boil down to earning a degree."
"Lin Tian…" Gan Yanyu murmured softly.
Though she hadn't walked in his shoes, she understood where he was coming from. Standing on the precipice of senior year, every student began grappling with questions about their future. Someone like Lin Tian, gifted both musically and academically, faced an even heavier burden of choice. As the saying went, sometimes duller authors produced better work because they lacked distractions. Perhaps Lin Tian's multitude of talents left him more conflicted than most.
Her request for him to take the conservatory exam alongside her suddenly felt selfish. If Lin Tian himself hadn't yet found meaning in attending university, wouldn't forcing the conservatory path feel like nothing but added pressure?
She opened her mouth hesitantly. "Lin Tian…if it doesn't work out, it's okay—"
"I'll take the exam with you."
Lin Tian cut her off firmly.
"Huh?" Gan Yanyu blinked, her jaw dropping slightly. "But you just said…"
"Yes, I do think university feels pointless," Lin Tian admitted, turning to face her with an earnest, almost childlike expression. "But the scene you described earlier—the life you talked about—it resonated with me."
For a moment, silence hung between them.
That vision of the future—the idea of shared dreams and mutual support—was worth fighting for. More than coast skin-deep success, Lin Tian found himself drawn to the picture Gan Yanyu painted: a vibrant campus life filled with purpose, camaraderie, and growth. Whether it was studying music or something else entirely, the specifics didn't matter. Not the major, not the diploma, not even the name of the institution.
To Lin Tian, something as ephemeral as the lifestyle Gan Yanyu described held far greater appeal. It was intangible, yes—but also meaningful.
Of course, phrased differently, it boiled down to simpler terms:
Fun. Adventure. Playfulness.
"However," Lin Tian added, his tone growing serious, "I have one condition."
Gan Yanyu tensed visibly, her head instinctively ducking. "What condition?"
"You mentioned earlier that you'd settle for Xingye Conservatory of Music, right? I heard you."
"Uh…yes?"
"But you've always said your dream is Zhonghua Music Academy."
Lin Tian pointed at her accusingly, eyeing the girl who now looked small and sheepish. Then, smirking faintly, he adopted a deliberately cocky tone. "You know my track record. If I'm taking an exam, I aim for the best. Xingye Conservatory? Ranked fifth nationally? That's beneath me."
"If we're doing this, it's either Zhonghua Music Academy or Shanghai Conservatory. Those are the only options."
"If your goal is settling for some mediocre school like Xingye…" He paused dramatically. "Then sorry, but count me out."
His words sounded arrogant, bordering on offensive. Yet, somehow, they struck a chord.
Gan Yanyu's lips curved upward despite herself, her usual insecurity melting away into a shy but undeniable smile.
"Alright," she nodded, then pursed her lips thoughtfully. "But…what if we don't get in?"
"If we fail, we retake next year."
"My artistic scores are strong, but my academics…" Gan Yanyu trailed off, looking disheartened. "Even if I pass Zhonghua's audition, my national exam score might still fall short."
"Simple solution," Lin Tian declared, raising a finger confidently. "You tutor me in art-related subjects, and I'll help you with academics. You're unbeatable at music, and I excel academically. Together, we're unstoppable. Zhonghua Music Academy won't stand a chance."
"So, Yanyu," he continued earnestly, "you need to believe in yourself. With your talent, settling for a second-rate place like Xingye shouldn't even cross your mind."
Before Lin Tian could finish, Gan Yanyu leapt up, grabbing his arm with one hand while clapping the other over his mouth. Her wide-eyed gaze darted toward the doorway of the neighboring classroom, where a group of students had just emerged, textbooks in hand, staring curiously at the pair.