Chapter 282: Going Wild! (Fourth Update) (Vote for Me!)
Inside the Rest Room.
A group of pianists spontaneously clapped, congratulating Lin Tian on his performance. Nishikawa Yuha was especially enthusiastic with his applause.
This 18-year-old prodigy from Tianchao had won over both the audience and fellow competitors. Heck, even the biggest skeptic, Nishikawa Yuha, was bowled over.
One could say that witnessing two world-class pieces being performed live was an incredible experience for any music enthusiast.
Lin Tian truly deserved the Best Newcomer award!
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Watanabe Satoru struck another match to light a cigarette. However, before he could enjoy it, a hand reached over and snuffed it out.
Watanabe Satoru turned to see Yao Han,
“Are you not going to congratulate Master Lin Tian?”
“Why should I?”
“You’ve been helping me like crazy, just so you could use me to help Lin Tian win, right?”
Watanabe Sataru leaned against the wall, relieved,
“That’s exactly what you did, Mr. Yao.”
Pfft!
Yao Han burst into laughter,
“Not that anyone told me! I simply wanted to see an amazing showdown!”
Huh?
“I wasn’t trying to help anyone, I just wanted to witness an epic battle.”
Yao Han grinned at Watanabe Satoru,
“You pulled off ‘Exercise No. 43’ without any mistakes, an incredibly brilliant performance! Professor Watanabe, you did it too! This concert will stick with me forever.”
Watanabe Satoru was stunned.
Afterward, Yao Han patted his shoulder,
“The Best Newcomer award has just been announced, check out the public reaction.”
With that, Yao Han turned and left.
Watanabe Satoru took out his phone and opened the official livestream.
On the screen, comments were pouring in:
“The guy named Lin Tian is super strong, and that Watanabe Satoru isn’t too shabby either!”
“Ah, if two ultra-talented newcomers emerge, whoever loses really misses out!”
“Seriously, that performance by Watanabe Satoru was absolutely awesome! I’ll never forget this pianist!”
“Woah, how has nobody ever heard of such a talented Watanabe Satoru before? I can’t wait to watch his next performance!”
Watanabe Satoru’s cigarette trembled in his hand.
Isn’t this exactly what he wanted — to make a grand entrance?
He accomplished it!
He proved his worth to the world!
Finally, Watanabe Satoru burst into laughter.
He then lit another cigarette and staggered forward,
“It was all worth it.”
Stretching his arms, Lin Tian felt refreshed.
Now he had the fame and a trophy to boot.
He could finally return home with a smile.
“Just a moment, Master Lin Tian,”
He Zhi Chen lowered his voice seriously,
“My calculations suggest… it might not be over yet.”
“Still not over?”
Lin Tian glanced back at the big screen.
“Next up, we have the Audience Popularity Award!” said the host.
As the name suggests, the Audience Popularity Award goes to the contestant most favored by the audience.
Traditionally, this award usually ends up among the top three contestants.
“And the winner of the Audience Popularity Award is…”
“Lin Tian!”
Lin Tian? Again?!
Suddenly, the room erupted again.
If the Best Newcomer award seemed inevitable, there was no way anyone expected Lin Tian to snatch another special award.
“Wait, did this Lin Tian just grab two special awards already?”
One pianist exclaimed in shock.
“Heavens, his final score was supposed to be seventh. Getting two special awards…”
It’s worth noting that the “Audience Popularity Award” at the Sato Sakura International Piano Competition isn’t just based on votes. Only about 30% comes from audience members, while the rest is decided by esteemed music media and critics through further discussion in the judging committee.
If the committee found the results unreasonable, they could still overturn them. If their decision stood, it meant the vote was overwhelming enough that no one dared oppose it.
“This is insane!”
An on-site journalist cried out in panic.
Nearby media outlets were in chaos too.
Reporters were frantically calling their companies to break the news first.
This was far more dramatic than simply winning two non-gold awards!
This was the first time in nearly a century of the Sato Sakura International Piano Competition!
Even a performance match couldn’t escape history making!
“Hearing the judges arguing makes sense now. We’re seeing history being made, hahaha!”
Reporters conversed excitedly, knowing the magnitude of the event.
“He really went wild! The moment I saw him play ‘Croatian Rhapsody,’ I knew he was going to shake things up. But man, he really brought it!”
“It’s awkward, giving someone a score of seventh while also having to give them two special awards.”
Even Lin Tian himself was a bit overwhelmed.
“So, I’ll end up with two trophies?”
“Yes,” replied He Zhi Chen.
“Right now, you have more trophies than the top three winners.”
When the competition started, He Zhi Chen had mentioned this to Lin Tian.
Winning any of the three special awards other than Best Newcomer was unprecedented, historic even.
Now, Lin Tian had achieved more than just success; it was a steal!
“Gan Teacher, you’ve got to take a picture of me when I go on stage to get my award!”
Lin Tian rubbed his hands together, telling Gan Yan Yu.
“Sure thing! Have no fear, I’ll make you look fabulous!”
“Do I need to turn on the beauty filter?”
“Of course not!”
The 18-year-old boy and girl discussed things very much fitting their age and high school status, which made other piano players quite exasperated.
Defeated by a musical monster, there was nothing one could do.
Just as everyone returned to their thoughts:
The host’s voice came again,
“We will now announce the Best Performance of Modern Composition Award and the Best Classical Performance Award.”
Suddenly, everyone remembered the final two awards that hadn’t been given out yet.
The host cracked open the envelope, revealing a surprising result,
“First, the Best Performance of Modern Composition Award, given to Alves Burke for his piece ‘Little Boat.'”
“And the Best Classical Performance Award, goes to Lin Tian for his ‘Nocturne in E-flat Major!'”
What? Another one?!
(End of Chapter 282)
