CHAPTER 672: CHAPTER 424: SETTING OFF, KELLER CUP! - PART 2

[Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu!

They are the new generation of classical musicians succeeding Dean Tuoba and Elder Gan!

They are shouldering the weight of the mission that the Tuoba Orchestra could not complete back then!

They will guide all musicians who still love and wish to keep playing classical music with a new beacon of light!!

Even though they are only 19, from the moment of defeating Tuoba Jianhui, they have inevitably begun to bear the weight of classical music!]

[.....]

[Betting on his own career, it was Dean Tuoba who allowed Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu to enter the finals, which resulted in him being banned by the association, targeted and slandered by ill-intentioned people. He paused his teaching because, during this month, Dean Tuoba dedicated all his energy to the two of them!

Achieving this result was what they had always longed for.

Dean Tuoba and Elder Gan, they can rest now.....]

...

...

The days that followed.

Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu’s clock was fast-forwarded.

After defeating Tuoba Jianhui and Gan Hua in the ensemble, they no longer had any worries.

From the end of the Dragon Violin Cup until the official start of the Keller Cup.

Although they have declared to be together, because of the intense and tedious training, coupled with the high-pressure state, they never had the chance to experience a genuine young couple’s life.

But now, after defeating Sir Gan and old man Tuoba, in the last half month, they finally had some time.

They could finally live a little.

On Christmas, no matter how much Lin Tian tried to persuade with sweet words, Gan Yanyu refused to wear a short Christmas skirt and role-play as Santa Claus and gift, so Lin Tian mentally noted it down as a "must-experience play plan after marriage" +1.

However, little Gan did change into a cute little dress and went out with Lin Tian. She dressed like a princess, tightly holding Lin Tian’s hand, and they took a photo together under the Christmas tree in the square.

...

On New Year’s Eve, Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu also spent it outside, like countless ordinary young couples on the bustling pedestrian street, holding hands in the lively atmosphere, counting down "3, 2, 1."

Finally, as "Happy New Year" resonated through the night sky of the pedestrian street.

Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu simultaneously closed their eyes and made a wish in their hearts.

"Must marry Lin Tian!"

"Must marry Gan Yanyu!"

——They both made this New Year’s wish simultaneously in their hearts.

had arrived.

....

When they opened their eyes again, they glanced at each other and instinctively dodged a bit.

"What wish did you make?" Gan Yanyu tilted her head, exhaling a breath of cold air, curiously asking.

"What else could it be?"

Lin Tian laughed and said,

"Of course, to win the Keller Cup!"

"What a coincidence."

Gan Yanyu smiled sweetly,

"Me too."

.....

During this period, for both of them, it was like the summer vacation of the year after they had just finished the college entrance examination.

No homework, no academic pressure, they could leisurely do anything they liked, carrying hopes for the future, still very young.

No matter how long has passed, this time would always leave a significant mark on their youth.

As for Tuoba Jianhui and Sir Gan.....

Lin Tian was too lazy to complain.

Ever since that ensemble ended, the two of them seemed to have completely relaxed.

Tuoba Jianhui, once known as the first model conductor, was said to be the only active first-line figure in both music and education in that generation.

But ever since losing to Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu, he’s been at home planting flowers and plants, dragging Elder Gan and some former orchestra friends out for drinks in the evenings, looking cheerful daily with a bunch of old men.

Now, Sir Gan is more seriously considering investing in a small tavern in Baijing, abandoning hand-brewed coffee, and is now preparing to become a bartender.

With Sir Gan’s eloquence and his proficiency in online trends that match young people’s pace, who knows, he might really become a popular bartender at 60.

The two old men seemed relieved, losing the ensemble made them more relaxed, as if they’ve brushed off both hands to Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu.

While they can afford to not care, Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu cannot.

Having received the "weight of music" from Tuoba Jianhui and Gan Hua.

After a short half-month rest.

The plane to Vienna was ready to depart.

...

...

"The Keller Cup is an invitation-only competition, you should all know that, every year at this time, cellists from around the world gather in Vienna."

On the plane,

In the first-class cabin, He Zhichen turned his head and started explaining the rules of this competition to Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu.

Since it was Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu’s first time going abroad to participate in such an important international competition, the explanation of the rules needed to be more detailed.

"Because it is an invitation-only competition, the competitors are diverse, coming from different countries and cultures, you might encounter all kinds of people, so if there are social occasions, you must pay attention."

"Weren’t they all national champion musicians participating in the Keller Cup?" Lin Tian asked.

He Zhichen made it sound quite tense.

Since they are champion musicians, at least their overall quality shouldn’t be too bad, right?

"Not entirely, there are about 400 competitors in this competition, many invited through various channels, such as sponsors, or some international prestigious music academies, which also have quotas. Moreover, European countries generally have more slots than Tian Chao."

This Lin Tian understood.

It seems like the rule of "only champions are invited to participate" only effectively applies to weaker countries like Tian Chao.

After all, in these international music competitions, Tian Chao is indeed not very strong, adjusting the invitation quotas according to the strength of musicians from each country is also understandable.

In the previous world’s professional League of Legends tournaments, it was the same.

For example, the quota for participating in the global finals, in countries like China and Korea, which have always been dubbed strong in LOL esports, usually, there are 4 stable participation slots.

While in Europe, or even in North America, where the game was developed, there are only 3 slots.

Smaller countries and regions, like Japan and Vietnam, only have one slot, basically called the "wildcard region."

In the world championship, losing to a strong country is nothing, but losing to a team from the wildcard region means being nailed to the pillar of shame.

For instance, losing to Vietnam.

Not only suffering the pain of failure but also being affectionately dubbed as "Vietnamese captive" by domestic audiences.

To be talked about for a lifetime.

Moreover, the slots aren’t always fixed.

Like the provincial division of Tian Chao, having won a championship once in the ancient S2 season, they’ve generally had 3 slots since.

Being too inferior, struggling just to be in the top 16 for several consecutive years, Riot Games officials couldn’t bear it anymore and eventually dissolved this former "glory region," merging it into the wildcard regions.

For the players in this division, it was also immensely humiliating.

However, Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu have no qualifications to complain about this.

Because they themselves didn’t enter through winning a championship.

"It is worth mentioning that since the last two editions, the Keller Cup added a new rule."

He Zhichen said,

"The winner must perform a piece freely during their acceptance speech."

"Usually, people will perform pieces related to their country, to enhance national confidence and promote their country’s music in the Golden Hall."

"Um....."

Hearing this, Gan Yanyu, who had been listening attentively, silently raised her hand and asked,

"Do we have to play something related to those?"

"The rule does not specifically say, but it’s quite apparent."

He Zhichen said,

"After all, you’ve won a championship, you ought to have a broader perspective!"