My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player-Chapter 81: No, Youve Crossed the Line

Chapter 81: No, You've Crossed the Line
Inside a dessert shop called "Five-Word Sugar Room," the lights were bright and the decor had that fresh, minimalist vibe. The place was bustling with young customers, chatting animatedly as they savored their treats.
Gan Yanyu sat near the floor-to-ceiling window, her black strap dress revealing elegant collarbones that gave off an air of quiet coolness. Her reflection shimmered on the glass pane—her delicate features blending seamlessly into the picturesque scene like one of the shop's finest pastries.
This aloof beauty moved gracefully, lifting her spoon to scoop up a bite of mango pudding. The texture was smooth yet bouncy, and as she placed it in her mouth, her expression softened instantly.
"Mmm~"
She cupped her cheeks, letting out a blissful sigh. "Delicious."
"I'm glad you like it," Lin Tian said from across the table, his tone laced with amusement but tinged with resignation.
Earlier that day, he'd received a hefty advertising fee—ten thousand yuan—which doubled after using a "Profit Boost Card." Another ten grand hit his account, bringing the total to twenty thousand. He'd originally planned to splurge at some fancy restaurant, maybe drop seven or eight hundred bucks for a luxurious meal. But instead, here they were, indulging in desserts costing only seventy or eighty bucks. Still, watching Gan Yanyu enjoy herself made him feel oddly content.
"Lin Tian, why aren't you eating? Don't you like it?" Gan Yanyu asked curiously, holding her spoon mid-air.
Lin Tian glanced down at the towering mound of red syrup-drenched watermelon shaved ice before him. It looked less like dessert and more like a sugary grave waiting to be excavated. He shrugged inwardly. This would probably be his last outing before the big concert—might as well relax.
"If Miss Yanyu likes it, then I'm happy," he thought silently.
Gan Yanyu yawned, pulling out her phone. "Tuesday morning, nine o'clock—we have a full rehearsal for the concert. All performers are required to attend."
"A rehearsal?" Lin Tian mused aloud.
"Yes, a complete run-through of everything. For such an important event, we always do a final rehearsal the day before. It's standard practice."
"That sounds good," Lin Tian replied. Truthfully, neither he nor Gan Yanyu had ever participated in a concert this large before. A trial run would help them get familiar with the flow, and it might even ease some of Yanyu's nerves.
"We'll need to wake up early that day," Gan Yanyu added. "Even though it's not the actual performance, all the instructors will be there, so we'll need to wear makeup."
"Do I have to wear makeup too?" Lin Tian blinked, caught off guard.
"Of course! Everyone performing onstage has to wear makeup."
Gan Yanyu tilted her head, studying Lin Tian thoughtfully. "You know… I think you'd look really good with makeup."
"Why ‘think'?" Lin Tian raised an eyebrow. "Are you implying my charm isn't already undeniable?"
"Oh no, definitely good-looking," Gan Yanyu amended quickly, nodding emphatically. Her placating smile was almost comical, but Lin Tian didn't bother arguing further.
He wasn't against makeup himself. Though many men saw it as something effeminate, Lin Tian understood its necessity when appearing on camera. Even professional esports players wore makeup during competitions—it was just part of the job.
"Lin Tian, do you not like your dessert? Why haven't you touched it?" Gan Yanyu frowned slightly, looking at the untouched mountain of watermelon shaved ice in front of him.
If Lin Tian had ordered it just to humor her, she'd feel guilty. She remembered how quickly he'd devoured a similar dish during their previous visit. "I thought you liked it…"
Truthfully, he did. But what fascinated him most was the act of digging through the icy layers, like uncovering hidden treasures.
"Do you want to try mine?" Gan Yanyu suddenly scooped a spoonful of her pudding and extended it toward him.
Lin Tian froze.
Was she suggesting… he take a bite directly from her spoon? That felt dangerously intimate—a subtle crossing of boundaries.
"It's really delicious," Gan Yanyu urged, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes sparkled earnestly. "Want to give it a try?"
The pudding glistened invitingly under the shop's soft lighting. While Lin Tian had never been particularly interested in sweets, this spoonful seemed impossibly tempting. Imagining the rich sweetness melting on his tongue sent a strange thrill through him.
Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward slowly, lips brushing closer—
"Oh no, wait!" Gan Yanyu abruptly pulled the spoon back, her cheeks flushing pink. "This spoon is the one I've already used. If I let you eat from it, we'd be crossing a line."
…
Well, well, well.
Should I commend you for being so mindful of our boundaries? Lin Tian gritted his teeth internally. He hadn't been trying to overstep—he genuinely wanted to taste the mango pudding.
"You can use your own spoon," Gan Yanyu suggested, then paused, realizing it still sounded awkward. Instead, she pushed the entire cup of pudding toward him.
Suddenly, Lin Tian reached out and grabbed her wrist. "What about these calluses? What happened?"
On her slender, pale fingers, small, hardened bumps stood out like tiny mountains under the shop's glow. Each one told a story of hard work and dedication.
"I've always had calluses," Gan Yanyu stammered.
"No," Lin Tian cut her off firmly. Last week, when she cooked at his house, her hands had been soft and smooth. Sure, there were traces of years spent practicing piano, but nothing like this. Now, her fingertips were rougher, the calluses newly formed.
"I've just been practicing a lot lately," she admitted sheepishly.
"Just a little, huh?" Lin Tian pressed skeptically. "Maybe we should buy some hand cream."
"I don't think hand cream will fix this," he muttered dryly.
Gan Yanyu yawned again, tears welling up in her warm brown eyes. She rubbed them sleepily. "I'm tired. Let's go home and rest soon. Tomorrow night, let's practice earlier to prepare for the rehearsal, okay?"
Her voice carried a note of pleading as she looked up at him.
Lin Tian sighed softly. Seeing her like this, he couldn't bring himself to press further. "Alright. Get some rest early tonight. Don't push yourself too hard. If you collapse before the concert even starts, it won't be worth it."
Gan Yanyu smiled faintly, relief washing over her face.