From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

The performance finally began in full swing —

The star of the show was none other than the cello.

Myles’s hair flew in the light as he passionately and wholeheartedly drew his bow across the strings, the rhythm and melody accelerating fluidly.

Everyone else surrounded Myles, the bright notes of the keyboard, the piercing sound of the guitar, the vibrations of the bass, all intertwined, and as the cello grew more impassioned and vigorous, the other three members’ performances also ignited with passion, pushing towards a climax bit by bit, releasing energy without reservation.

This was also the biggest highlight of the band before her: the instruments played a more important role, showcasing their charm through performance and coordination.

Even though the tempo wasn't fast, Blair felt her blood boiling.

She could clearly hear the sound of her heart pounding heavily against her chest, those intricate and surging emotions rushing up all at once, plunging the world into a roar.

A smile quietly bloomed at the corner of her lips, but her vision was completely blurred by tears.

She was like a madwoman, on the verge of losing control, crying and laughing, radiating a silly energy.

But she didn't care. Not at all.

Blair focused intently on the front, letting herself lose control in the performance.

Just then, Blair saw it.

Anson slung his guitar behind him, picked up drumsticks with both hands, and exchanged a look with his three bandmates as he stood in front of the drum set—

Lily received the signal.

With a whoosh, a sweep across the keyboard, from bass to treble, fluid and seamless, instantly pushing towards a climax.

The drumbeat fell.

Boom, boom, boom.

Like a sound coming from the other end of a valley, it lifted the already peak-climbing melody to another level in one fell swoop, stirring up a storm.

Full-on ignition.

The bass, frantically strumming.

The keyboard, a torrential downpour.

And the cello—

Unexpected, but reasonable, the cello was the true axis.

Based on Bach's legendary classic "Air on the G String", the bass, keyboard, and drums intertwined dazzlingly, yet firmly grasped the melody's brilliance and splendor.

Myles remained elegant, but his bow collided frantically and passionately with the strings, injecting all his fervor and happiness into the notes, as if one could clearly feel the energy of his burning soul pouring down like a waterfall, plunging the entire studio into a roar.

All reason, all thoughts, were crushed, shattered, and solidified, turning to ashes—

Nothing remained.

Even the tears temporarily froze on her eyelashes as she stared blankly, dumbfounded, accepting the baptism of this storm, unable to move from the shock.

Language lost its color, actions lost their meaning, the brain pressed the pause button, just standing there dumbly, passively becoming a small boat in the storm.

The band held nothing back anymore.

Connor didn't know if this was the end. After "The Tonight Show", they would part ways, with no sequel, no future, and no next step.

This was the farewell performance.

Then, he would return to Kansas City, return to the supermarket, return to his daily life. This time it would be a farewell, a complete goodbye to his musical dreams.

Ah, parting, this day was finally about to arrive. He had struggled for a long time, worked hard for a long time, given up several times and picked it up again several times, but in the end, he still had to face the cruelty and helplessness of reality. Perhaps he was not suitable for music, not suitable for performing. Perhaps he should hide his dreams quietly in his heart.

It was just a thought, but it took root and sprouted in his mind, and in a blink of an eye, it grew into a towering tree.

Everything, everything, turned into notes, pouring out like a torrent.

Roaring, surging, shocking—

The different textures of different instruments collided and intertwined in this way, and the cello's melodious and grand sound was displayed vividly at this moment.

A completely different expression from "Wake Me Up", the power and passion poured down surgingly, and the whole world spun.

Dizzying.

The collision of heart and chest, the burning of blood and passion, a kind of emotion that language could not express roared in her mind.

Quietly, they just sat there quietly, worshiping.

So, instrumental performance could have such power.

So, a band performance was far more than just singing.

So, there was a higher level of impact and baptism beyond "Wake Me Up".

Then.

In the roar of the peak, Anson spoke again—

"Ah…"

No lyrics, just a shout, a shout from the depths of the soul.

"Ah! Ah, ah, ah!"

A little, then a little more, climbing to the peak like this, releasing all the energy hidden in the melody without reservation, an octave, then another octave.

Although there were no lyrics, the imagery rushed to the face.

"Run. Jack, run."

In the raging storm, amidst the earth-shattering chaos, a thin and small figure, seemed to be swallowed by the darkness at any moment, and would be crushed if he was just a little slower.

However, he did not give up.

He ran like that, running all the way selflessly, burning his lungs, burning his life, running recklessly with scars all over his body.

Firmly grasping a faint glimmer of dawn, sprinting with all his might.

Anson heard it, heard Connor's sorrow, heard Myles's stubbornness, heard Lily's desire; and also heard the boy's cry.

Everything, turned into song, released to the fullest.

"Ah! Ah, ah, ah!"

From the previous life to this life, from the boy to Connor, they had never succumbed, stubbornly and foolishly, naively and passionately, igniting their own lives.

Running all the way.

"Run, Jack, don't stop, don't look back."

Blair noticed—

The tears in Anson's eyes.

Those deep blue eyes were like a vast ocean, inclusive of storms, inclusive of the night, inclusive of all the wounded, so bright and so tenacious, yet sparkling with tears; however, he was not crying, on the contrary, he was smiling, the arc of his lips flashing with determination and fortitude.

He was shouting, he was venting, and he was roaring.

In an instant, Blair just broke down.

She sat there, the whole world falling apart, drooping her shoulders, hugging her arms, trembling uncontrollably, more sadness than emotion.

Because at this moment, she saw a fragile and strong soul, carefully showing his wounds, refusing to give up, refusing to surrender.

He, didn't admit defeat,

Run, Anson, run!

Involuntarily, Blair also ran with Anson, taking off her armor, standing naked in this storm, opening her arms, embracing this rainstorm, the trembling from the depths of her soul made the smile bloom wantonly in the tears, just like a madman.

After reaching a peak, the performance finally slowed down and returned to calm—

Myles, Connor, Lily, they were all breathing heavily, as if they had poured their souls into the performance, emptying themselves out. Their eyes met, and finally they all looked at Anson.

The world was silent.

There was not a single bit of noise.

Note 1: Hero—Family-of-the-year