From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Rip.

Breaking through the darkness, entering the light curtain, and finding himself in a dazzling golden hue, the entire world instantly erupted with incredible energy, spinning at high speed.

Like Alice entering the rabbit hole, bizarre and fantastical scenes poured down.

Dazzling. Overwhelming. The clamor and heat were continuously surging.

Clearly, this scene was something Anson hadn't anticipated—

Grammy?

That sounded like another world, a distant and unfamiliar world, coming tonight to participate, to sightsee, to enjoy, and to venture.

However, now?

As soon as Anson looked up, he saw Matthew Perry's big smiling face.

Since "Friends," the two hadn't seen each other for a long time, but they didn't expect to reunite in such a setting, making everything in front of him seem even more unreal.

Indeed, in Hollywood, everything is full of magic.

Striding forward, Anson gave Matthew a hug, jokingly complaining, "Are you sure?"

Matthew heavily patted Anson's back, "You better believe it, this is happening.

Congratulations! Congratulations!"

Anson was still in a daze, without a shred of reality, "I still remember this is one of your pranks."

Matthew spread his hands, "Chandler Bing doesn't have that kind of courage."

The two exchanged a look and burst into hearty laughter.

Matthew stepped aside, John Mayer walked forward two steps, handed the Grammy Award trophy to Anson, and said a slightly restrained congratulations.

In his hands, it felt heavier than he imagined.

Anson turned to look at his partners and reached out to hand the trophy to Connor.

However, he never expected that Connor would take half a step back, as if seeing a flood or a beast, his eyes fixed on the trophy, quietly observing, still trying to figure out what exactly was happening in front of him.

Anson: ?

He chuckled speechlessly.

Anson looked at Lily again.

Lily didn't refuse, carefully took the trophy, looked at it carefully in her hand, but turned around and handed it to Miles, her eyes flashing with excitement, elation, emotion, and happiness, but also worried that everything in front of her was just a dream, and took two steps back slightly.

When Miles looked up, he saw that all three of them had stepped aside, and only he was closest to the microphone.

Miles: … …

His first reaction was still to hand the trophy to Anson.

He knew that people were eager to hear Anson's acceptance speech, but seeing Anson's encouraging gaze, Miles hesitated for a moment, turned around, stepped forward, and stood in front of the microphone.

Lily was stunned and called out, "Miles," subconsciously turning her head to look at Anson, asking with her eyes: Shouldn't you be giving the acceptance speech?

From any point of view, Anson should be speaking on behalf of the band at this moment.

Who knew if this was August 31st Band's only chance tonight?

Not only the audience, but also the band members, assumed that Anson should be the representative.

But, what was Miles doing?

Unexpectedly, Anson showed Lily a big smile, with a contented and smug expression, looking towards Miles.

Honestly, Anson hadn't anticipated that August 31st Band would win an award; at the same time, Anson always believed that his thoughts and his feelings were all hidden in the performance, which contained more power than any vocabulary or any language.

As for now?

Anson had already said too much, wouldn't it be perfect to leave the opportunity to Miles and the others?

At that moment, Miles took a deep breath and mustered his courage.

"I have a dream…"

As soon as he opened his mouth, the Staples Center erupted with laughter—

Was he imitating Martin Luther King's famous speech?

Miles was half a beat late to react and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

"Oh, sorry, it's not that great."

Amidst a burst of laughter, Miles was focused and sincere.

"In the beginning, I just hoped that people could realize the beauty of the cello, that's all."

"However, this was clearly not an easy thing.

We encountered setbacks, we fell into troughs, we helplessly gave up, and on that afternoon when we were about to fall apart and turn around to leave, in the bustling streets of Manhattan, Anson appeared."

"Yes, I know, he was like a hero descending from the sky on auspicious colorful clouds to save the world, and he played that song with us."

The Staples Center was silent, with only Miles' voice.

A few kind chuckles rippled through the venue, but they still didn't interrupt Miles' words.

He was so focused and so sincere, and in that slightly trembling voice, one could feel the power from the depths of his soul erupting.

"Anson found a small entry point between classical and pop music, connecting them with his soul, allowing us to return to the essence, return to the melody, sing with our hearts, and interpret the charm of music."

"Then, magic was born."

This was the reason why Miles was willing to step forward—

They owed Anson a thank you.

But it wasn't just a "thank you"; that emotion far exceeded the warmth and power that "thank you" could carry.

If he didn't seize the opportunity in front of him, Miles wasn't sure if he would have the courage to say it, nor was he sure if he could accurately convey that emotion.

His voice was trembling, but Miles never gave up.

"Tonight, we are standing here, from the streets of Manhattan to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, from the predicament of being on the verge of falling into the abyss of despair to the stage of the Grammy Awards, having a small, dreamlike moment of our own."

"Maybe we are still outliers, but music is music, no matter how niche or how different, they are all sounds from the soul, from passion."

"I want to continue to believe in music, just like believing in dreams."

"Then, we can all enjoy being an outlier."

"Thank you.

And…" Thousands of words surged in his chest, and he always felt that the words were not finished, but he didn't know how to express them, and finally, in embarrassment and awkwardness, he repeated again, "Thank you."

Sincere, earnest, and passionate.

Miles took a deep breath, and even with all his strength, he couldn't control the surging emotions.

In a short moment, they all erupted, and Miles quickly lowered his head, flusteredly trying to hide himself.

The next second, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue—

Clap clap clap, clap clap clap.

Escalating, intensifying, and finally evolving into a tsunami of sound, sweeping the entire venue.

Miles turned to look behind him, preparing to ask his partners if they were ready to speak, but he never expected Anson to be the first to lead the applause, that bright look in his eyes, that brilliant smile, awakening the fanaticism of the entire Staples Center.

Involuntarily, Miles' smile also bloomed in tears, shining brightly.