From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

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

The entire venue erupted in applause, filled with cheers and whistles.

Conner rushed to the front, not thinking much, just not wanting to keep the guests waiting, but he only reacted after seeing the smiles of James Franco and Norah Jones, and his steps involuntarily braked.

But it was too late.

Conner dazedly accepted the gramophone trophy, but as if it were a hot potato, he immediately turned around and stuffed it into Anson's arms, retreating repeatedly.

Anson looked at the trophy in his arms, then looked at James, who was smiling particularly wildly and unrestrainedly, and finally turned back to see Lily and Miles, who had made way early, and the smile on the corner of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.

Tonight, Anson's attitude was very correct—

He was just here to enjoy the stage.

As for awards?

Anson had never even thought about it; the nomination was already a significant affirmation.

In the field of music, he had no say; he was purely satisfying his childhood dream from his previous life. He was very content with everything he had won so far; and he sincerely believed that Miles and Lily needed these affirmations more than he did.

So Anson gave up the opportunity for an acceptance speech, allowing these dreamers who loved music, lived for music, and died for music to shine.

However, tonight's harvest far exceeded expectations.

After circling around, the gramophone trophy still came back to his hands again.

Anson chuckled speechlessly.

James took the lead in heckling, constantly waving his hands to stir up the atmosphere in the Staples Center, signaling the audience to shout louder and louder.

Norah, on the side, stared at this scene in astonishment, unable to hold back for a moment, and burst out laughing, then quickly covered her mouth to conceal her expression.

This time, Anson didn't act coy either. Under the gaze of everyone, he took a step forward, raised the gramophone trophy in his hand, and took a deep breath.

In an instant, the entire venue quieted down, quietly waiting for Anson's acceptance speech.

Including the entrance of the Staples Center, it was no exception.

Then, Anson gently exhaled.

"Thank you."

After lightly raising the trophy, Anson turned around and left.

Just like that… left…

The entire venue was stunned, because it was too unexpected and too shocking, to the point that they slightly opened their mouths and forgot to react. Their brains were in a mess, and they were all briefly stunned.

Pfft.

Hahaha, Gloria laughed so hard she clutched her stomach.

Archie looked at Gloria foolishly, and finally couldn't control himself and also laughed wantonly.

Anson was already standing in front of Conner, placing the gramophone trophy in his arms, and directly asked, "There's still time, do you want to say a few words? If you don't say anything, we'll leave, but there might not be another chance."

Tonight, the August Thirty-First Band won three gramophone trophies, second only to Beyoncé. The competition for subsequent awards was fierce, so this might be their last time on stage. Therefore, Anson didn't refuse the opportunity, seizing the chance to express his most sincere and direct feelings at this moment.

So, what about Conner?

If he didn't say anything, he would regret it.

Last chance?

An idea firmly grasped his heart. Under Anson's gaze, Miles and Lily both pushed him from behind, and Conner's body reacted before his brain.

Conner walked forward two steps uneasily, flusteredly looking around, his mind blank. He still hadn't figured out whether he should give an acceptance speech or not, nor was he sure what he was thinking. He took the gramophone trophy from Anson's hand, as if Rose in "Titanic" grabbing onto the door panel at the end, clutching at the lifeline, standing in place at a loss.

Then, unable to hold back, tears fell just like that.

Feeling wronged, but also filled with emotion.

"Two years ago at this time, I was working as a stock clerk in a supermarket, leaving New York in a disheveled state, returning to my hometown with a disgraced face, shamefully burying my musical dreams, becoming a laughing stock in the eyes of others."

"I was the fool that people talked about who had no talent but overestimated himself and wanted to stand on the Grammy stage. I refused to believe in myself and dared not believe in myself, because believing in dreams made my life a failure."

"Lying on the mattress in my parents' basement, I dared not face myself."

"And now, I'm standing here, on the Grammy stage in the Staples Center, and I still dare not face myself."

"Not because it means success, but because it means dreams exist. I am ashamed of my past doubts and denials."

"But now, I just want to say that I am very happy, happy to have Miles and Lily, happy to have Anson, happy that we can stand on this stage to enjoy music and enjoy dreams, so that life can extend infinite possibilities beyond the mundane routine."

"I am very happy, yes, happy."

"So… thank you. Thank you!"

Conner burst into tears, his whole body crumpled into a ball, unable to control his emotions anymore, crying like a lost child, but at the end of his tears, a big smile bloomed, that crying and laughing, undisguised appearance, so real and so sincere.

No tricks, just a pure heart.

Now people finally understand the charm of the August Thirty-First Band's music—

Sincerity. Purity. Simplicity.

Everything returns to the origin, awakening the kind of emotion they first fell in love with music. This emotion is completely different in everyone but leads to the same destination, and no one can be an exception.

However.

Anson and Lily, standing behind, struggled hard to hold back their laughter, and finally secretly chuckled; Miles silently raised his head and looked at the sky, counting the lights on the ceiling, trying his best to control the corners of his mouth from rising.

Conner turned around and saw this scene. At this moment, he finally realized what had happened. He had been avoiding and hiding all night, trying to cover up his embarrassment and awkwardness, but the result was still exposed, and it was still on the Grammy Awards ceremony stage, which was broadcast live across the United States.

Ah!

Conner let out a wail, his shoulders drooped, feeling hopeless.

Even though he was three steps away from the microphone, Conner's voice was still transmitted through the microphone, so that the audience in the front row could all hear it clearly.

Hahaha, hahaha.

Unable to control it anymore.

In the side stage, Higgins was frantically raising his hand to wipe the tears from his cheeks.

He didn't realize he was so embarrassed, but he couldn't control his emotions at all.

Tonight, he witnessed the band wholeheartedly devote themselves to rehearsals, he felt the band put aside the burden of the awards ceremony and focus all their attention on the performance, he watched the band truly let go of their burdens and enjoy every minute and every second of tonight—

This is unique.

You must know that this is the Grammys. Everyone who comes here inevitably feels excited, thrilled, and elated; even if they maintain a normal heart before attending the awards ceremony, when they are truly in the atmosphere of the Staples Center, they are still inevitably caught up in that tension and anxiety.

But the August Thirty-First Band didn't. They used their own way to transform tonight's Grammys into a stage for their youth to bloom and for summer to be eternal.

Those laughs, those splendors, those unrestrained moments, will forever be frozen on the tail end of the August Thirty-First summer, and will not disappear.