(Lin... Lin Tian?)
Connor immediately took the list and looked at the name under piano accompaniment—
Lin Tian
(This... really is the same name.)
Connor muttered in disbelief. Perez, beside him, became excited at that moment.
(Could it... be the same person?)
At that moment,
Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu had already stepped onto the stage of the Golden Hall, the spotlight focused on them.
Looking at the young man onstage, the two cellists were uncertain.
The same young age, the same pianist from China.
Could he be the man rumored to have defeated Nishikawa Yuuhaku?
Though his emotions were already surging, Connor forced himself to calm down.
(Don't jump to conclusions.)
(As far as I know, Lin Tian isn't an uncommon name in China. It's not impossible for two people to share it.)
(Besides, that pianist from the rumors is extremely low-key. He usually doesn't appear in international competitions. And how could he possibly accompany someone who got in through connections?!)
Though even Connor himself found that reasoning somewhat forced, it did make some sense.
Nishikawa Yuuhaku had been willing to become someone else's dedicated accompanist only because he and Isaac were close friends to begin with.
And most importantly, Isaac's ability was enough to match Nishikawa Yuuhaku's talent.
So what was this Gan Yan Yu capable of?
How could someone who had not even won a national championship make a composer like Lin Tian accompany her?
Therefore.
Before hearing them play, Connor and Perez agreed.
No rush!
They would decide after watching.
However, the other cellists in the lounge were looking at the screen with far more malicious delight.
(One scored 98, the other 97. The first places in Groups A and B are already out. If I had to go onstage now, I couldn't take it.)