From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

The bow lightly caressed the strings, fingertips and wrist clearly sensing the trembling vibration, like a sorrowful whisper. Blue notes flowed out, lingering and rippling around his ankles, the piercing chill seeping into his skin, inch by inch, through his toes.

Clang.

Miles Anderson abruptly pressed down on the strings, rudely and suddenly interrupting the performance. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down, but his thoughts were still in turmoil.

Leaving the band, leaving rock/pop music, Miles didn't need to worry about the future. He could always return to classical music, continuing to play his cello in an orderly fashion. Here, he was still a promising young genius, with endless possibilities waiting ahead.

However.

Miles could never calm down. He seemed to have lost the joy and passion he felt when he eagerly joined the band, hoping to add classical elements to pop music. Life returned to peace, but he could see the end at a glance, unable to feel warmth or color.

Involuntarily, Miles often spaced out, his mind a blank.

"Miles, you can't calm down. Your playing sounds very noisy and impetuous. You need to adjust."

"What's wrong? Did something happen in your life recently? Performing on stage in this state is definitely not going to work."

The concerned inquiries of the classical orchestra members reached his ears.

But Miles didn't know how to answer.

Fortunately, someone interrupted the classical orchestra's rehearsal, solving Miles's dilemma. "Miles, your phone has been vibrating in your coat pocket. I'm not sure, but I've heard it at least three times. Are you sure it's okay?"

Miles Anderson, Lily Watkins, and Connor Janks's band ultimately couldn't continue.

In fact, they had been "stealing" time for a year—

That afternoon, they stood on the streets of Manhattan and played "Wake Me Up" with a stranger.

Like Alice in Wonderland, it was wonderfully incredible, so much so that they couldn't help but miss the reality, because the stranger turned and left, disappearing into the vast crowd, vanishing without a trace with a "poof", as if he had never appeared, and everything was just a dream.

However, miracles still happened.

Relying on "Wake Me Up", their band started performing again, because they regained confidence, and also because this song was indeed inspiring.

Originally, they had been on the verge of collapse, and giving up seemed to be the only option; but "Wake Me Up" extended the life of their band, winning them a glimmer of hope.

A whole year.

Unfortunately, a year was still not enough. In the end, they still stopped and parted ways—

Miles returned to the classical orchestra, and the years of wandering with the band were like a brief escape in a long life.

Lily became a backing vocalist and instrumentalist, neither composing nor performing, joining a small group that specialized in providing background music for events such as weddings, birthdays, and coming-of-age ceremonies. It was a life they once disdained, but at least they had work and income to make a living.

And Connor?

Miles hadn't heard from him for a long, long time. The last time he heard, Connor seemed to have returned to his hometown of Kansas City, but what he was doing specifically was unknown.

They were like dandelions, scattered by a gentle breeze to the ends of the earth.

… …

"Connor… Connor! Phone. Line three."

In the distance, a call came. Connor Janks stood in the checkout lane, helping customers scan and pay, placing the groceries they had just purchased into plastic bags one by one.

This was a large comprehensive supermarket, covering all daily necessities, so customers' shopping lists could be very complicated, and they needed to be separated when bagging, at least separating food from other items.

Although he had been working at the supermarket for three months, Connor still seemed a bit clumsy at times, and there might be some deviations when sorting the bags.

Therefore, he needed to concentrate and not be distracted.

Even hearing the call, Connor didn't respond, focusing on finishing bagging all the items in his hand, and giving the customer a polite smile.

"Wish you have a nice day."

Waiting for the customer to leave, Connor signaled the next customer to wait a moment before answering the landline phone hanging above the checkout counter, pressing the number three.

"Hello, this is Connor Janks."

"Oh, hey, Mr. Janks, this is the 'Tonight Show' program team. We're calling to confirm…"

"What?" Connor frowned slightly, "'Tonight Show'? God, Robert, that joke isn't funny at all."

"Uh, Mr. Janks, this is indeed the 'Tonight Show' program team. We called your home, and your mother answered the phone and told us you were at work."

"Ha. Ha. Robert, very clever, but you can't fool me. 'Tonight Show', if you said the Kansas City Chiefs were looking for me to sing the national anthem, that might be more plausible. Want to prank me? Next time. Robert, I'm very busy right now, talk later."

After speaking, without waiting, Connor hung up the phone directly.

Connor was working hard to adapt to his current life.

He told himself, don't dream, don't daydream. He had worked hard and struggled, but in the end he failed, so he should accept it calmly.

There was no need to wallow in self-pity, let alone immerse himself in sadness. Life would continue. He needed to be down-to-earth and live honestly.

At least, starting with having an income every month, even if it was supermarket work. He was now living in his parents' basement, not needing to pay rent, but he couldn't not pay living expenses either. He couldn't continue to dream unrealistically anymore.

No time for sentimentalism, Connor smiled again. Welcome the next customer.

But, before long, the supermarket manager called again.

"Connor, line one."

Connor was slightly stunned, a little impatient. What was wrong with those friends today, playing pranks endlessly?

"It's a Miles Anderson, he says it's urgent."

Connor froze.

Miles Anderson?

He really hadn't heard this name for a long, long time. Four months? Six months? Because it was so far away, it seemed like a previous life.

But, what did Miles want with him?

Connor was a little dazed, unable to distinguish for a moment what his mood was when he heard Miles's call. Saying "sorry" to the customer, Connor answered the phone.

"Hey. Hey… Miles."

"Connor, Connor, we're going to the 'Tonight Show'!"

Connor: ? ? ? "Robert, that's not funny."

"Connor? It's me, Miles. The 'Tonight Show' just called and invited us on the show. Didn't they call you?"

Connor was directly stunned, his heart suddenly contracting, his knees weakening as he fell to the ground, like a fool, losing all ability to react.