From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Carefully, Annie picked up her coffee cup and took a small sip, using the subtle movement to secretly observe Kristen and Jake, who were whispering to each other across from her. She noticed the distance between them was comparable to the Grand Canyon, but Jake's eyes were full of tenderness when he looked at Kristen.

"Careful."

A low voice came from her ear, so close that Annie could clearly feel the faint warmth mixed with the captivating aroma of coffee brushing against her ear. The magnetic, mellow voice gently plucked at her heartstrings, making her earlobe feel as if it were on fire, instantly burning hot, and her heartbeat immediately went haywire.

The muscles on the left side of her cheek, shoulder, and arm completely stiffened and tightened. A tingling sensation, like an electric current, surged and leaped across the surface of her skin. Without turning her head, Annie could catch a glimpse of Anson's slightly approaching facial contours in her peripheral vision, casting a shadow on the location of her heart.

Thump.

Reason gradually melted away in his voice.

Involuntarily, Annie nodded slightly in agreement, using the last bit of her rationality to rein herself in. She couldn't help but slightly close the distance, leaning back and whispering into Anson's ear in the same way.

"But, is it really okay to do this? They don't seem to be making any progress."

After speaking, Annie couldn't help but swallow, and the lingering coffee in her mouth brought a wave of sweet aftertaste. The caffeine seemed to have seeped into her bloodstream, and her heartbeat slammed against her eardrums, naturally creating a sense of tension and excitement.

It felt as if they were sharing a secret, naturally closing the distance and forming an alliance without the need for words or actions.

Anson also noticed the chasm between Kristen and Jake, but at the same time, he also noticed the brightness and focus in Jake's eyes when he looked at Kristen. No matter what happened, Jake's gaze never left Kristen.

Sure enough, their focus was different.

"But, I thought they were making good progress. After all, there's no need to be too hasty," Anson said, expressing his thoughts.

Annie secretly glanced at Anson. The distance between them was truly too close, and she could even feel the heat emanating from his pores, making her skin slightly flushed. She murmured, "Are you sure? They haven't even made eye contact. If they can't receive the signal, everything is useless."

Without warning.

Anson turned his head to look at her, and those deep blue eyes crashed into Annie's.

Anson didn't realize how close they were, and his first reaction was surprise. Annie, on the other hand, hadn't anticipated Anson's sudden turn, and her mind was instantly filled with a drawn-out "buzzing" sound in her ears.

The breaths beneath their noses intertwined, and she subconsciously held her breath. The sound of her heart pounding grew louder and heavier in her eardrums.

Time briefly paused.

The air and melody flowed gently, with faint voices and engine sounds interspersed between them. The world was still noisy, but it felt as if someone had pressed the pause button.

An idea flashed through Anson's mind like lightning, and his eyes lit up. "I know."

Annie widened her eyes, trying to avoid breaking eye contact and revealing the chaos of her heartbeat at that moment. "What?"

The corners of Anson's lips curled up slightly, outlining a light arc. "There's no need for us to be too hasty. Everything still needs to happen naturally. But you're right, at the very least, we should let them feel the atmosphere."

Annie's pupils reflected Anson's face, and she couldn't help but carefully search for the joy and happiness in his eyes. Two red blushes flew onto her cheeks, burning hot. "Atmosphere?"

Anson nodded slightly. "Atmosphere. Where are we right now?"

Annie's thoughts completely entered Anson mode. "A coffee shop?"

Anson smiled. "Exactly. So, what do you hear right now?"

Hear?

Annie was stunned, temporarily regaining her thoughts. "Music, no, a live performance?"

This was a coffee shop with live performances, and different musicians were scheduled to perform every night, including but not limited to jazz, folk, pop, blues, etc., mainly to create an atmosphere.

And for those independent musicians and underground bands, such a platform was especially precious, not only allowing them to showcase themselves but also allowing them to maintain a relatively stable income to support their daily lives.

In addition, New York was a large city filled with countless opportunities. Music producers, magazine editors, professional music critics, etc., might appear in every corner of the city, discovering tomorrow's superstars.

It was conceivable that no one would be willing to miss such a performance opportunity.

The same was true at the moment.

A singer was performing jazz, and the lazy and dreamy melody made the atmosphere of the coffee shop also settle down. The muscles and nerves naturally relaxed, creating an ambiguous feeling, which was just what they wanted.

Annie immediately understood what Anson meant, and her eyes also lit up, but then she revealed a look of confusion. "But isn't this music very suitable?"

Anson shook his head slightly. "No, you should listen to the lyrics."

Annie quieted down and listened carefully for a while, and then she was stunned.

Something about "hands full of tears and a heart full of alcohol, like a walking corpse", something about "in the vast ocean, I am willing to die with joy."

Obviously, this was not a romantic love song.

Annie looked at Anson, her smile a little awkward.

Anson shrugged slightly. "Unless they are two scarred and wandering hearts leaning on each other and embracing each other, it will be difficult for them to exchange glances."

Annie noticed the playful teasing in Anson's eyes and couldn't help but smile, having to cover her mouth to avoid bursting out laughing, but her shoulders still couldn't help but twitch rapidly.

Barely managing to control herself, Annie spoke again, "Then what should we do?"

Anson's face was full of seriousness. "I have an idea. Maybe we need to execute a 'Mission: Impossible' task and kidnap that performing singer and take them away."

Annie was just about to retort when the sound of the music ending came from her ear.

"Thank you, that's the end of tonight's performance."

Annie looked at Anson.

Anson looked at Annie.

Looking at each other, Annie couldn't hold back any longer, and her smile completely overflowed from between her eyebrows. Because it was too exaggerated, Hannah also noticed the movement here.

Anson signaled to Hannah with his eyes, and then used his eyes to calm Annie down. He had already thought of a solution and left his seat without explaining.

Hannah leaned over and asked in a low voice, "What were you two whispering about just now?"

Annie didn't know how to explain. "We were discussing the live performance. That singer was good just now, right?"

Hannah: ? ? ? "Who chats in a coffee shop and pays attention to the background music?"

Although she was complaining, both Hannah and Annie were watching Anson's movements.

Anson went to the front desk and exchanged a few words with the waiter, then exchanged a few words with the coffee shop manager, and then followed the manager and disappeared backstage.

Hannah and Annie looked at each other, neither of them knowing what had happened.

Without waiting long, Anson reappeared, with a guitar in his hand, and his direction was actually…

The performance stage!