From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Finally!

Finally, his thoughts returned, but the surging emotions in his mind couldn't find an outlet. Amidst the shock and impact, he barely managed a primal reaction, instinctively clapping his hands to release the energy.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

The applause thundered, escalating from zero to a hundred, exploding to the extreme in a single second.

Then, the lights in the Staples Center finally came on—

The stage was empty.

No Anson, no Miles, Lily, or Connor, not even any instruments.

It took a full half-beat to realize that the stage lights had changed position, now focused on the secondary stage, shifting people's attention from the main stage—a basic and simple rule of television broadcasts.

However, their stunned brains had forgotten this fact.

But turning to look at the main stage, it was the same. The band members had all disappeared. If the instruments weren't still there, one might think that everything that had just happened was just a dream.

Everyone felt suspended in mid-air, unable to find their center of gravity or balance, lost in a fog, half-dreaming, half-awake. That feeling of passion and emotion, wonder and excitement, filled their chests, but they couldn't find an accurate way to express it, and they were just stuck in shock, losing their ability to react.

So, the only thing they could do was clap.

Using the simplest, most primitive, yet most direct and sincere way to vent all the emotions surging from the depths of their souls.

Once upon a time, they had all forgotten the original intention and essence of music, gradually getting lost in the glitz and glamour of the fame and fortune, bathing in applause and cheers like walking corpses, thinking they were standing at the pinnacle of the world, but couldn't help but question.

Why is happiness becoming more and more difficult? Why is joy becoming more and more scarce? Why are desires becoming more and more unfillable?

And, why is music and performance no longer joyful?

Until tonight. Until this moment.

In the corners of their hearts covered in dust, something broke through the soil, dispelling the darkness and lighting up the world.

And then, they couldn't control it anymore.

It became more and more fanatical, more and more turbulent.

The applause thundered, lingering for a long time, stirring the entire arena. Even though the August 31st Band was no longer on stage, no one could stop.

Everyone stood up and applauded enthusiastically.

The roar, the excitement, spread out mightily.

Rushing backstage, Anson felt exhausted. All his energy and spirit had been released without reservation, leaving him feeling empty.

His knees were weak, and he almost couldn't stand, but that happiness, that joy, was irreplaceable.

Turning around, Anson looked at his bandmates, opened his arms, and cheered ecstatically.

"We did it! Hey, guys, we did it!"

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.

They screamed like prairie dogs, Connor excitedly hugging each of his bandmates, giving them bear hugs, completely ignoring Lily and Miles' disgusted faces. But after hugging them, Connor's eyes suddenly turned red, and he stood there like a lost child, silently wiping away tears.

They jumped, cheered, and raised their arms, so joyfully and freely, even happier than winning a Grammy.

Everything was so simple.

On the side, Higgins was fully alert, trying to remind the band members that they should go change their stage costumes and return to the audience seats.

However, the words swirled in his mouth, but he couldn't say them.

Watching this scene, Higgins was deeply moved. His chest seemed to be filled with cotton, and a thousand words surged up, but he couldn't find the right way to express them.

Then, Higgins saw Anson take a long, long breath. His hands and knees were shaking, and he almost couldn't stand.

So, Anson was also nervous, but he had just carefully concealed it.

So, even after standing at the top of the Hollywood pyramid and winning two Grammy Awards tonight, Anson would still be nervous about a performance.

So, after a hearty and unreserved release, Anson would also feel exhausted, relieved, and reveal his true feelings.

Anson seemed to notice Higgins' gaze and looked up.

Their eyes met.

"Shhh." Anson put his finger on his lips and smiled.

Higgins couldn't help but be stunned and couldn't help but smile.

Before Higgins could respond, a commotion came from behind him.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

Turning around, the dancers, backing singers, and staff standing backstage were all standing on both sides of the corridor, applauding the August 31st Band.

Those performances were not only dedicated to Archie, but also sang out their inner voices.

The applause continued from the front of the stage to the backstage.

This scene fell into Connor's eyes, and he could no longer control himself. Tears burst out, and he quickly turned around, covering his cheeks with his hands to hide himself.

However, Anson didn't act coy. He opened his arms and ran along the corridor, high-fiving the people on both sides.

That brilliant and vibrant atmosphere swept through like a tornado, mightily, from the front of the stage to the backstage, and no one was an exception.

Archie and Gloria were the same.

Laughing loudly and crying loudly, venting and reveling to their heart's content until they were exhausted, and then looking at each other's embarrassment, they both burst out laughing.

In the past, Archie always heard people say that if you like a singer, be sure to go to their concert, because the music you hear on tape is different from the performance at the concert. That kind of emotion and impact is not the same thing at all, so don't leave any regrets.

Archie didn't understand or know.

He wasn't prepared to go to a concert, after all, he was disabled.

But now, Archie had a wish, a small wish. He wanted to see a concert, he wanted to stand there and feel the power of music.

If it was a concert by the August 31st Band, it would be perfect.

Raising his head and staring at the live broadcast screen, Archie made a silent wish.

The applause continued thunderously, the energy of the tsunami seemingly endless, lasting for a full three minutes, three minutes like thirty years.

Seeing that the applause finally subsided, the second half of the Grammy Awards ceremony slowly opened, and the awards had to continue to be presented.

But what they never expected was that outside the Staples Center, another surging wave of air surged again, and the majestic and turbulent energy soared into the sky.

What's going on?

Even Archie, who had lost his hearing, felt this energy and couldn't help but turn his head to look over.

Boom. Boom boom boom.

Boom!

Escalating steadily, exploding completely.

Archie and Gloria realized at the same time, in unison, "Delay."

It was because of CBS's broadcast delay that the audience in front of the TV finally felt the shock of the scene and belatedly joined the revelry.

The sound waves, rolling, were not only in Los Angeles, but the entire North American continent was clamoring. Volcanoes began to awaken, and finally converged into a force, layer by layer, wave after wave, continuously surging towards the Staples Center, and the continuous heat wave instantly devoured the entire arena.

The roar stirred the blood.