The night before.
New Year’s Eve.
At Lin Tian’s ho, Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu both received a ssage from the backstage.
Only then did they learn.
Qingjiang Province Music Association officially announced today the eight contestants who advanced to the semi-finals of the Yingqin Cup.
They are:
Group A: [Bai Xi][Lou Yitong][Yang Weize][Zhu Ya].
Group B: [Christine Nanali][Yun Qiuxiu][Mao Junfeng][Gan Yanyu].
Eight contestants will battle it out on the semi-finals stage.
Finally, the highest scoring contestant from Group A and Group B will participate in the grand finals, determining the champion of this Yingqin Cup, and will represent Qingjiang Province in the Dragon Violin Cup in the latter half of the year.
"How brutal the competition format is."
Lin Tian couldn’t help but say,
"260 contestants, down to 8 in the semi-finals, and only 2 in the grand finals."
Although Lin Tian was not familiar with music competitions, he had never seen a music competition where only two people are left in the last round.
That is too ridiculous.
They are competing in playing the cello, not actually fighting with cellos in a literal PK, where the loser gets carried away.
Such occurrences are very rare in music competitions.
It is supposed to be about competing for the championship based on scores, but it ends up being 1V1.
"It’s a competition format that has been modified in recent years to follow international standards, to cater to young audiences, and it’s modeled after sports competitions," explained Gan Yanyu.
"That is indeed quite competitive."
Lin Tian now understood.
Just compare it with other competitions.
Why isn’t there enough interest in music competitions among young people?
Because there isn’t enough "confrontation," not enough "competitiveness."
Not everyone can understand the obscure and complex cello.
But who wins and who loses is still very clear!
The concept of "no losers in music" has been deliberately downplayed.
Turning it into A and B groups, making the final battle a 1V1.
This is more suited for the officials to generate topics and popularity, better suited to "manufacture stars" for musicians.
From Lin Tian’s point of view, this still isn’t enough.
Might as well add a trash-talk segnt before the match, or a handshake after the match.
The strong should utterly humiliate the weak!
"...."
Although the competition format has changed a bit, overall, the rules of the competition have not changed at all.
According to the grouping.
In the semi-finals, Gan Yanyu will not face her old rival Bai Xi.
Instead, she will PK against these three: Yun Qiuxiu, Christine Nanali, and Mao Junfeng.
"Nanali..."
Lin Tian really didn’t expect that this person could actually make it to the semi-finals.
When the dia initially ranked her third, Lin Tian found it rather amusing.
Even after the second ranking, post-preliminary competition, when the dia placed her second, Lin Tian still felt that this person was just riding on the "rivalry with Gan Yanyu" hype.
But now, with the advancent list out.
Lin Tian has to start taking this person seriously.
He had never really paid attention to her before.
But she seems to be winning all along.
Just right, in two more days, the semi-finals will officially start, Lin Tian’s performance still needs further consolidation.
"How about, we call Nanali over for a joint practice?"
Lin Tian asked.
"Ah?"
Gan Yanyu was a bit surprised, "But, will she co?"
"You actually asked if she would co..."
Lin Tian looked at Gan Yanyu with a bit of panic, unsure whether she genuinely didn’t know or was pretending not to know. Nannali was the epito of a tsundere, the kind that even light novelists now disdained to write about.
—In front of Gan Yanyu.
"Just wait." Lin Tian said, then, he sent a ssage with his phone.
...
...
The next day, Nannali indeed arrived on ti.
Upon seeing Gan Yanyu, Nannali unexpectedly softened her usual harshness, glancing to the side and said sowhat softly,
"Congratulations on making it to the semifinals... I thought that annoying old man wouldn’t let you advance after what he said about you."
At this point, Nannali’s emotions stirred up again.
It was as though she thought of sothing infuriating, and she said fiercely,
"That disgusting old man, I’ve always felt there was sothing wrong with him! His eyes are so lecherous, I felt violated when I was performing, I suspect he doesn’t understand music at all, he’s just sitting there posing as a senior because he’s old..."
"Not necessarily, not necessarily."
Lin Tian quickly interrupted Nannali with an embarrassed expression.
It was understandable to curse at Tuoba, but escalating it to personal attacks and placing such labels on soone was too hateful.
Nannali was still just as fond of sharp tongues as before...
Only, this ti, her target was on the opposite side of Lin Tian.
Considering Nannali was from the UK, she had no filters towards musicians like Tuoba and felt no burden when scolding him.
It was different for Gan Yanyu.
Tuoba Jianhui was her idol.
After she said that sentence on stage, up till now, Gan Yanyu had not said a harsh word about Tuoba Jianhui in front of Lin Tian... but then, she never says harsh words about anyone.
"Why not necessarily..."
Nannali pouted, seemingly ready to continue.
But suddenly, as if rembering sothing, she quickly added,
"Gan Yanyu, I’m not speaking up for you... I just also dislike that old man, and besides, if you hadn’t advanced, I wouldn’t have had the chance to defeat you personally... So that’s why I congratulated you just now, don’t overthink it!"
Gan Yanyu stared blankly at her, tilting her head to the side.
Without saying anything, yet as if everything was said.
"....."
"Anyway, let’s start!"
Lin Tian approached the piano, and Gan Yanyu sat on the sofa; both tuned their instrunts and got ready.
Subsequently, Nannali sat on the coffee shop counter, her legs swinging in the air, eagerly rubbing her hands.
"Quick, quick, start!"
"....."
As their music began, the coffee shop was filled with the beautiful sound of their playing.
"Ode to Love."
This was the piece chosen by Lin Tian.
Because he wanted to solidify the technique of overpowering Gan Yanyu with a piano filled with "affection," which he tried last ti in "One Step Away."
"Ode to Love," originally a piece to express love, was very suitable.
Indeed, to call it "overpowering" wasn’t quite suitable for official competitions, as Lin Tian would be accompanying and certainly couldn’t play like that.
It was just because last ti during the MV shoot, it was his first attempt being so forceful.
The correct approach was to maintain a consistent performance dinsion, allowing Lin Tian to act as a "guide" and keep Gan Yanyu’s performance within a controlled range.
Being able to prove that he could effectively guide was in itself a form of "overpowering."
Regarding the effect on their performance, there might not be a big improvent, perhaps from 100 to 102.
But the improvent in stability and coordination was significant. It ant that Gan Yanyu had soone who could stabilize her imrsive performance at critical monts.
Moreover, the most important thing was:
It was a very effective counter to what Tuoba Jianhui had said that day!!
"....."
After the first round of the ensemble ended.
Gan Yanyu put down her cello, her heart pounding.
She felt it again.
That emotion from last ti, and... even more intense...
"Lin Tian..."
Just then, Nannali suddenly glared with a strange look at Lin Tian,
"Was that piece you just played... carrying so personal touches?"
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