The moment Gan Yan Yu finished those words.
The entire hall fell into dead silence.
All the audience members were stunned. The judges looked at one another, and even the camera flashes paused for a moment.
As the first Classical Musician from China to win the Ke'er Cup, everyone had expected a grand narrative to follow.
Who would have thought that right from the start, she would offer such a plain, simple "thanks to my partner"?
"(That was too rash.)"
Perez, sitting below the stage, felt somewhat embarrassed.
"(This is nothing like the bearing a newly crowned world number one cellist should have, is it?)"
"This isn't just polite courtesy, and I'm not thanking a 'partner.'"
Gan Yan Yu's voice rose slightly, carrying an unquestionable sincerity and strength. She was still looking at Lin Tian.
"Just now, during the eleventh movement of Requiem, I truly thought I was going to be completely swallowed by my own emotions. It was your music that guided me. It was so heavy, so steady, like a boulder smashing through ice."
Gan Yan Yu spoke softly and gently, as though in this vast Golden Hall, only she and Lin Tian remained.
"..."
Her eyes never left Lin Tian, and Lin Tian continued to answer her with a smile, listening to this speech meant for him alone.
The nineteen-year-old girl was attentive and perceptive, with an exceptionally deep understanding of emotions.
She had not prepared this part of her speech beforehand.
Yet now that she was speaking these words aloud, even Gan Yan Yu herself was somewhat surprised.
So she could express what she wanted to say so accurately and clearly.
"..."
At this moment,
A stir began to rise among the audience.
As they listened to Gan Yan Yu's words, there were surprised whispers and