My girlfriend is a cellist

Hearing this, He Zhichen immediately took out his tablet and opened the document:
"You say."

“First of all, the number of participants.”

Wan Qi said,

"16 years ago, there were 104 contestants in the Kerr Cup that Gan Hua participated in, of which 32 advanced to the second stage and 8 advanced to the finals."

"And 16 years have passed. Since the international competition system was changed, the cello competition has developed faster and faster, and the audience has been getting bigger and bigger. By this year...Haha!"

At this point, the old man smiled with some black humor.
"The number of participants has exceeded 500."

"Five hundred people!"

He Zhichen exclaimed,
“It’s increased fivefold.”

Even Gan Yanyu took a breath and a stern look appeared on his face.

What does it mean to have more than five hundred of the world's top cellists?
To exaggerate a little,
Eliminate those players who have connections.

They have to face

There are 500 Bai Xi, 500 Nanali, and 500 Bai Junze.
It's so scary.

However, Lin Tian’s attitude towards this is pretty good.

No matter how many people there are, most of them are just here to fill in the lines. What really needs attention are often just the few dozen people at the top of the pyramid.

"Of those 500 contestants, how many will be left in the second and third stages?" Lin Tian asked.

After all, they will start directly from the second stage, and the number of people in the second stage is more important.

"If the news is accurate, there will be a total of 64 players in the second stage, and finally 14 players will advance to the finals."

If it looks like that.

There are two groups, A and B, with 32 people in each group. The top 7 players in each group will advance to the finals.

Again.

Just looking at the ratio, 64 to 14, it seems that the difficulty is not that great.

However, it is important to understand that after a round of screening of 64 people, each of these people is at the top of their respective regions.

Before the actual game, Gan Yanyu couldn't help but be a little nervous because she had never played against players from other countries.

But, in Lin Tian’s eyes.

This is Gan Yanyu, who has reached level 100 from the Novice Village, and has no basic understanding of his own strength!

To know,
Gan Yanyu used classical music to fight her way up from local competitions all the way to the Cole Cup.

Although the unexpected promotion to the Longqin Cup was a bit of luck, if Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu had not accumulated enough attention in the competition before, they would not have been able to win the favor of the organizing committee and be directly invited to the Kerr Cup.

Lin Tian felt that Gan Yanyu was fully qualified and should be proud of the path she had taken.

Gan Yanyu, who fought so hard, is not comparable to any ordinary cellist.

Of course, Lin Tian wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with Gan Yanyu’s current lack of confidence.

Gan Yanyu is no longer the same Gan Yanyu as before. She is unsure now, simply because she has just arrived and is not familiar with everything.

After all, it was my first time in Vienna, so it was normal to be a little restrained.

"By the way, when will the first stage of the competition start?" Lin Tian asked.

"It starts in three days—why, do you want to go and see it?"

"of course."

Lin Tian looked at Gan Yanyu with a smile.

For Gan Yanyu, the best way to improve her confidence is, of course, to watch the qualifying round.

"Well, that's good. In fact, most of the players who are promoted directly will also watch the first stage of the competition. Because every year there are always some dark horse players from the wild card group. The organizers also know this and have specially arranged special viewing rooms for you players who are promoted directly. You should be able to see many opponents in advance."

"Oh, then I have to go now."

Lin Tian was a little excited. The sooner he got to know his opponent, the better.

Maybe you can even see some weird creatures like an African chief cellist, a cello noble from the Middle East, and so on.

"How's it going? Are you going?"

Lin Tian looked at Gan Yanyu.

Although he just blurted out "I have to go", Lin Tian still asked Gan Yanyu for his opinion again.

What if this girl feels more stressed out by watching the game in advance?

"Go, of course."

Gan Yanyu stood up immediately and nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.

Lin Tian was startled by the girl's reaction. Soon, Gan Yanyu's eyes sparkled with little stars:
"Golden Hall. Go!"

"."

Lin Tianle was happy:

"You can perform there soon, why do you care about the delay?"

"Can't wait that long."

Gan Yanyu rarely showed such a longing look, and said urgently,
“In fact, I have been wanting to go today.”

"Well, let's save the first time in the Golden Hall for the Cole Cup."

Lin Tian said.

In fact, isn’t the Golden Hall the place that Lin Tian has always dreamed of?

In his previous life, Lin Tian’s understanding of the term “Golden Hall” came from Brother Yaoshui.

Many famous abstract memes were born in his former golden hall.

But Lin Tian also knew that this was actually the grandest stage that attracted music from all over the world. After coming to this world and becoming a musician himself, Lin Tian also had a strong filter for it.

Lin Tian couldn't help but get excited when he thought about performing in the Vienna Golden Hall soon.

But for now, I have to hold back and visit as a tourist, which is different from entering as a player when the Kerr Cup officially starts.

"Well, since you are going there, there are some opponents you need to keep an eye out for."

Wan Qi said this, raised his head and looked at He Zhichen.

He Zhichen immediately understood what he meant and picked up the tablet:

"You say."

“German composer and cellist Conor Ortiz.”

"French cellist, runner-up of the last Cole Cup, Alec Zorn."

"Cellist Hypnos Bryan is regarded as a pioneer of contemporary American pop music."

"Noel Perkins has won the highest honor for Brazilian cello for five consecutive years."

"Bennett Meyer, the father of Australia's famous cello"

"."

"wait wait wait"

After saying more than ten names in a row, He Zhichen interrupted Wan Qi and said embarrassedly,
"I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. Wan. Is it really necessary to pay attention to so many contestants?"

Said to keep an eye on “some” players.

But no matter how you look at it, the number of people clearly exceeds the scope of "paying attention", right?

Why don’t Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu remember all the players who will advance to the second stage?

"Do you understand or do I? Just remember it when I asked you to pay attention!"

Old man Wanqi shouted in dissatisfaction, seeming very dissatisfied with He Zhichen's interruption.

So he explained again,

"None of these cellists are simple. To be able to get here, almost all of them have their own advantages. Some of these advantages may even be unheard of by you."

"Unheard of?"

Lin Tian was delighted by this sentence.

"What do you mean?" "For example, the American cellist Hypnos Bryan."

At this point, the old man smiled mysteriously.
“Have you ever seen someone playing rock music on a cello?”

"."

Hearing this, the three of them fell silent at the same time.

The old man, who thought he had frightened these young men, smiled smugly.
"This Hypnos Brian"

"Teacher Wan."

Lin Tian interrupted Wan Qi, feeling somewhat embarrassed to speak, but still said emotionally,
"Not only have we seen this, we've also seen cellists who installed colorful LED lights on their cellos and gave themselves DJ effects on stage."

“Install LED lights??!”

Wan Qi couldn't hold it anymore.

As an old artist who has reached retirement age, he now showed an expression that said, "Are you kidding me, an old man?"

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't imagine that there could be a cellist so crazy.

“Not kicked out?”

"The Dragon Cup doesn't say it's illegal to install LED lights on a cello."

"He's actually the pianist of the Dragon Piano Cup?!"

Wanqi's mouth grew even bigger.

"It is true, Mr. Wan."

He Zhichen explained embarrassedly, "You probably didn't watch the Longqin Cup this year, did you?"

There were cellists who dressed like beggars on stage and installed LED lights on their cellos.

There are also music producers who arrange their newly released pop songs into instrumental music and then perform them on stage immediately.

Although he is British, he is a "Qingjiang-born pianist" who has fought his way up from the local league.

Also, the accompanist came on stage with blood on his face, the cellist announced that he would withdraw from the competition, and was finally sent to the Kerr Cup.

Yes, this is the live broadcast of the Longqin Cup, the highest honor cello competition in China in 2025!
No normal person would seriously say that this duel was the highest honor cello competition in China. To put it casually, it was a ward riot.

"Ahem. It's been a while since I paid attention to cello competitions in China."

Wan Qi was sweating profusely, thinking that before he retired, the domestic cello ecosystem was not so chaotic.

How come things became so chaotic once Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu joined in?

Even so, Wan Qi still pretended to cough, and then said stubbornly,
"Even so, wearing strange clothes and installing LEDs on the cello are just for show. Without the support of someone like Hypnos Brian, it must be..."

"His name is Bai Junze, and he is the runner-up of this year's Longqin Cup." Lin Tian said.

"alright!!"

Wanqi forcibly interrupted the topic.

He knew that there was no way to continue the conversation on this topic!
Too scary, the Celestial Cello!!
He has only been retired for one year. One year!!
It was so strange that it made him feel scared.

He now looked at Lin Tian and Gan Yanyu again.

My respect was already overwhelming, and now I can't stop it.

The fact that the two of them were able to fight their way out of such a hellish environment is really reason enough not to admire them.

"Although I have just mentioned so many contestants, there is one pianist that I still have to emphasize to you."

Wan Qi paused and said,

"Isaac Meck, an Austrian cellist who has won three of the world's highest honors for cello."

"Three?"

"Yes, three!"

"Which three?"

"Except for the Cole Cup."

When these words came out, even Lin Tian couldn't help but be shocked.

A long time ago, when he was still a high school student, he once heard Gan Yanyu say this.

The Cole Cup is not the only competition that represents the highest honor for cello.

In fact, there are four cello competitions that are crowned as the "highest honor" in the music industry, located in New York, Sydney, Berlin, and Vienna.

However, the Kohl Cup, which is located in Vienna and has the longest history, is recognized as the most valuable of the four competitions.

But this does not mean that the other three competitions are no good. They are also known as the highest honors of cello, but they have their own characteristics. The cellist who wins the championship will often be sent to the altar of cello by the world.

Wan Qi continued to add explanation.

In fact, there are many contestants in this competition who have won the championship in one of the other three competitions.

But he is the only one who has won three trophies at the same time.

"Are you here to collect stamps?" Lin Tian exclaimed.

Obviously, only one Kerr Cup match is enough to prove the world's number one strength.

I must collect all four cello trophies.

I feel like the kind of player who wants to get all the achievements in the game.

"Yes."

Wan Qi said,

"He came here with the goal of winning four trophies."

"I know this."

He Zhichen on the side also showed a serious expression.

"Whether you can win the championship is not only related to your cello skills, but also to your condition, opponent, and even luck."

“Although the other three competitions are less prestigious than the Kerr Cup, winning four trophies at the same time is very tempting for some cellists who are obsessed with titles. Therefore, cellists have been trying to win these four trophies.

In history, there are players who have won all four trophies at the same time, but they are rare, only one every 50 years. Isaac Maker is probably here to accomplish this feat.”

Lin Tian understood.

This is truly a player with “all achievements”!

Not to mention Isaac Maker, who has already won three other trophies, has such abnormal strength and luck.

Just the desire for the fourth trophy, the Cole Cup, is enough to make one feel how terrifying it is.

"I have a question."

Lin Tian thought for a moment and said,

"So if we beat him in the finals, does that mean we've also won the other three trophies?"

After hearing this, Wan Qi and He Zhichen fell silent.

They looked at Lin Tian in horror, the words "violent remarks" were almost written on Lin Tian's face.

"It seems...there is really no problem!" He Zhichen bit his finger.

Although this statement is shameless and unreasonable.

But if this really happened, of course the media would make a fuss about it, and in the report, "if one is not careful", all three champions were given away as dowries.

Too bad!
"Don't think too far ahead. Isaac's strength is not only reflected in his cello."

At this time, Wan Qi came out again and said,

"He also has a personal piano accompaniment, who is a composer and pianist from Japan. He is very talented and can be called Japan's national pianist. His presence has helped Isaac a lot. The two of them have a tacit understanding and have reached a superb level. That's why they have such a dominant position in the three major competitions."

When Lin Tian heard this, isn’t this the same as him and Gan Yanyu?

It seems that if Lin Tian wants to defeat Isaac, he has to defeat this "national-level" pianist.

That does seem a bit difficult!
"What's the name of that pianist?" Gan Yanyu asked.

"If I remember correctly, his name is Xichuan Youbai." Wan Qi said. (End of this chapter)