My Girlfriend Is a Cello Player-Chapter 96: An Excellent Laborer Nanali Christine
Chapter 96: An Excellent Laborer – Nanali Christine
Lin Tian stared at Nanali Christine, who was still extending her foot toward him in an unspoken act of defiance. His gaze narrowed into a puzzled squint.
"So… you're here to issue a challenge?" he asked dryly.
"Of course," she replied with haughty confidence.
"And you're not Gan Yanyu's friend?"
"Hmph, absolutely not."
Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Tian had already grabbed the table she was sitting on and began dragging it toward the door.
"What are you doing?!" Nanali exclaimed, startled by his sudden action.
"If people like you are considered nobility, no wonder your ancestors' reputation isn't great. Thieves and plunderers, all of them." Lin Tian continued pulling the table effortlessly, ensuring he didn't touch any part of her body as he maneuvered her closer to the exit.
He resolved then and there that his first order of business tomorrow would be to hang a sign at the entrance: "No Foreigners or Dogs Allowed." It would serve as a filter for individuals with questionable manners.
"You—you—what's wrong with you?!" Nanali spluttered, caught off guard by Lin Tian's refusal to even hear her out. Not only was he ignoring her completely, but he was also literally kicking her out without ceremony. Was this man insane?
Once they reached the doorway, Lin Tian placed both hands under the table and flipped it upward with a swift motion.
"Wha—?!"
Fortunately for Nanali, despite her voluminous skirt, she managed to recover quickly enough to avoid landing flat on her rear. Her balance wavered, but she steadied herself just in time.
"Sorry, Gan Yanyu is busy today and can't deal with you, Miss Lily," Lin Tian said dismissively.
"My name is Na-na-li," she ground out through gritted teeth.
"Mm-hmm, Clara. Please leave now—and maybe head back to England while you're at it. This land clearly doesn't suit you."
Lin Tian had lost every ounce of patience for this brat. She might have been pretty enough to pass as a decorative vase, but her personality made him question whether anyone would hire her even for something as mundane as giving foot massages. Unless, of course, someone enjoyed being dominated by a supposed descendant of the British Empire while simultaneously practicing their English listening skills during a pedicure session.
"Figures you'd be partners with that insufferable woman. You're even worse than her," Nanali spat venomously. "Your piano playing? Mediocre at best. I don't see how you deserve to stand beside her."
Nanali crossed her arms, launching into another round of scathing remarks when a new voice interrupted them.
"Lin Tian, what are you doing?"
Both turned to see Gan Yanyu entering through the café's back door, curiosity etched across her face. Upon spotting the golden-haired girl next to Lin Tian, her expression shifted to one of confusion.
"Nanali?"
At those words, the previously combative Nanali fell eerily silent. She gazed at Gan Yanyu, her earlier bravado replaced by a soft, almost timid tone.
"Gan Yanyu..."
Where did all that fire go? Lin Tian thought incredulously before shaking his head. Before he could comment further, Gan Yanyu approached calmly.
"Why are you here?" she asked simply.
"I'm starting university nearby," Nanali responded tersely.
"Oh," Gan Yanyu nodded thoughtfully, seemingly unfazed by the revelation. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "Come inside."
At these words, a flicker of delight passed over Nanali's face—but it vanished almost instantly as she glanced sideways at Lin Tian. Instead, she adopted a smug expression, feigning nonchalance as if to say, "Fine, since you invited me in, I suppose I'll oblige."
With exaggerated strides, she marched past Lin Tian and stood before Gan Yanyu once more. Flipping her golden hair dramatically, she pointed a finger directly at Gan Yanyu and declared:
"Gan Yanyu, I've come here today to challenge you!"
Unfortunately for Nanali, her shorter stature meant she had to crane her neck upward to address Gan Yanyu—a sight that struck Lin Tian as comically absurd. Between his own towering height and Gan Yanyu's childlike demeanor, he hadn't realized until now that she was nearly 167 cm tall—a figure that put her well above average among women. Watching Nanali glare up at her rival added an unintentionally humorous element to the confrontation.
"A challenge?" Gan Yanyu tilted her head, genuinely perplexed.
"How sneaky of you to return to Zhonghua without a word, not even bothering to say goodbye," Nanali accused, her eyes blazing with resentment. Clenching her teeth, she continued, "In Manchester, we were the only two cellists at the top of our game—and we never settled who was better. Yet you just ran away!"
"Hold on…" Gan Yanyu cut her off mid-tirade. Furrowing her brow, she paused to think deeply—or at least pretended to—for a full ten seconds. Finally, she spoke with sincere earnestness:
"I'm sorry, but I honestly don't remember ever losing to you. If you recall a specific match, feel free to remind me when it happened."
Silence hung heavy in the air as Nanali flushed crimson, pointing accusingly at Gan Yanyu.
"It's happening right now! Right here, right this second! I'll beat you, Gan Yanyu, so don't get cocky!" she shouted indignantly. "Let's settle this properly! We'll play together, and your partner can record it. Let's see who's truly better!"
"Sorry, as much as I'd love to accommodate you," Gan Yanyu interjected smoothly, "we need to clean up first."
"How long will that take?" Nanali demanded.
"Four or five hours, probably," Lin Tian chimed in, surveying the cluttered café. Cleaning such a large space wouldn't be easy—moving tables, setting up equipment—it was all labor-intensive work. By the time they finished, dawn might already be breaking.
An idea suddenly struck Lin Tian.
"Here's the deal," he said, raising a finger. "You want to play against Gan Yanyu? Help us clean. Otherwise, Miss Gan won't be available tonight."
"Excuse me?! Me? Clean? Do you know who I am?! I'm from the prestigious Christine family!" Nanali sputtered indignantly.
"Enough talk. If you want to challenge Gan Yanyu, get moving," Lin Tian shot back, shoving a mop into her hands. Without waiting for a response, he turned to Gan Yanyu. "You start sweeping around the counter area; I'll handle the tables."
"Got it," Gan Yanyu replied cheerfully, immediately getting to work.
The two dove into their tasks, leaving no room for hesitation—or negotiation—from Nanali.
Standing frozen in place, Nanali watched the scene unfold in disbelief.
"Hey, Lilith," Lin Tian called out mockingly, waving her over. "Stop daydreaming and mop up the areas Miss Gan has already swept."
.
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Chapter 96: An Excellent Laborer Nanali Christine
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