From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

"Welcome to Kroger Supermarket, would you like a bag?"

Subconsciously, the words to greet customers automatically surfaced in Connor's mind; however, the expressions on the faces before him were different from usual.

They displayed smiles, they were enthusiastically beaming, one by one, extending their right hands in a friendly manner, waiting for a handshake and greeting, sincerely and brightly completing the exchange of glances, in those pairs of eyes, one could feel warmth and happiness.

A brief encounter, a handshake.

Just this short moment of meeting, Connor could feel a cotton candy lightly and fully expanding in his chest, instantly filling it completely.

So, this is happiness.

Not just because of those cheers and applause, but even more because in these eyes and faces, one could feel the resonance of emotions, they understood those performances and those songs, they found each other through the melodies.

At this moment, unfamiliar souls briefly shared a moment of warmth—

Not much, but real.

This, is the power of music.

So, is this a dream? Is he still standing in Kroger Supermarket, busy, and everything happening before him is just a daydream?

But even if it's a daydream, so what?

He refuses to wake up, he's willing to keep indulging in this dream and be happy forever.

Only now did Connor finally understand the soul of the song "Wake Me Up," it wasn't foolishness nor naivety, but a deep love, and then, Connor suddenly realized how much he loved music, even if it was a dream, it didn't matter, let the musical notes flow in his blood, like Icarus, fearlessly flying towards the sun.

What's going on, why is his vision blurring even though he's smiling?

Then, Connor saw the girl in front of him.

He couldn't see her face clearly in the hazy tears, but he could see that big smile, perfectly blooming, she generously extended her right hand.

He grasped it, tightly.

"I love your bass. Your playing has warmth and color. God, this is the first time I've realized the unique charm of the bass."

"Hope it's not too late."

Thump, thump.

Connor's heart was struck hard like that, the melody played with sincerity and soul could eventually be heard, happiness bloomed proudly like fireworks, he couldn't help but ask, "Can I give you a hug?"

The girl smiled brightly, "Of course."

Connor politely gave the girl a hug, carefully placing his palms on the girl's shoulders, feeling the warmth of that embrace, feeling the breath of that embrace, the temperature of life became unprecedentedly clear.

Everything was understood without words.

Blair could feel the warmth of the hug, Connor was trembling slightly, his timidity and fragility, his joy and happiness, his reluctance and regret, the complexities of thousands of words simply could not be expressed in language, but were conveyed in the action of a hug, gently touching Blair's heart.

But, Blair wasn't surprised.

Because in the performance just now, she had already felt these emotions.

Sure enough, music doesn't lie.

In a sense, music is also a form of performance, presenting the emotions and images imagined in the mind, just like an actor.

But in a sense, music and acting are two completely different things, because an actor's performance is concealment, while a musician's performance is revelation.

A melody that truly originates from the soul can penetrate deeply into the soul.

No wonder everyone says that if you like music, you must appreciate live performances.

Different from the perfection of the recording studio, the emotional power shown in live performances can always perfectly and powerfully strike the heart, making the soul deeply tremble, that is an unparalleled experience, truly conveying the pulse of life.

It was like this last time on the streets of Manhattan, and it is like this again this time in the Burbank studio.

Blair believes she is lucky to be able to personally experience these moments on the scene.

And, witness all of this.

After saying goodbye to Connor, Blair also saw the pure and simple Miles, and also saw the stubborn and arrogant Lily, finally stopping in front of that man.

Anson Wood.

His eyes are so deep and so clear, his mouth always carries a dashing and suave smile, if you are not careful, you may be charmed away, but you will also forever miss the opportunity to explore more unknown possibilities in the depths of those eyes.

But the Anson in front of her is slightly different from the image in Blair's memory.

His smile is so light and so soft, it seems like it will break with a light touch; but it is also so bright and so dazzling, like golden sunlight gently falling into the palm of your hand, the faint warmth makes your palms and body stretch out.

Like butterfly wings, broken, but beautiful.

Then, she came to Anson, gently, for fear of disturbing the butterfly.

She really had so many, many things to say, she wanted to share her joy and happiness with Anson, she also wanted to help Anson share the sorrow and loss between his brows, she wanted to tell Anson that no matter what happened she would always follow, she also wanted to…

Countless words, but at the moment she stood in front of Anson, disappeared completely, her brain went blank, falling into a daze.

Language, no longer has any weight.

"Thank you."

Blair said.

It was just the simplest sentence, but thousands of words were all hidden within it.

Then, Blair heard her own voice continuing to sound in her ears.

"Thank you for performing this song. Just, thank you."

Thank you Anson for appearing in her life, thank you Anson for being willing to show his vulnerability, thank you Anson for bravely standing under the laser lights and singing heartily, thank you Anson for daring to foolishly continue to dream, and thank you Anson for telling her that being ordinary is okay, thank you for everything.

Thank you Anson for being willing to become a light in her youth, guiding her out of that endless darkness and confusion, allowing her to feel the beating of her heart again, and feel the warmth and strength of life flowing in her blood again.

Quietly, Blair stared at Anson, obviously saying nothing, but there was an urge to cry, she embarrassedly rubbed her eyes, and laughed wantonly, covering up her embarrassment, happiness rippling in her smile.

Anson, was stunned—

He realized for the first time that a simple "Thank you" could have such a powerful force, containing too much weight, heavily pressing on his chest.

Even if they had never met before, he could feel the complexities in that smile.

A smile, with bitterness and sorrow, climbed onto the corner of his mouth, Anson asked, "I'm Anson, and you are?"

Blair was stunned, her thoughts couldn't keep up at all, she just subconsciously gave a conditioned reflex answer, "Blair."

Anson, "Nice to meet you, Blair."

Blair was stunned, her heart swollen with a faint pain, after a half-beat she realized that she seemed to be standing in place silently crying like a madman, she flusteredly wiped her eyes, "God, I'm like a lunatic, but…"

But, what to do, she couldn't stop, the more she wiped, the more tears there were, obviously it was happiness, obviously it was joy, obviously a smile was blooming wantonly on her lips, but why couldn't she stop the tears?

Blair felt that she must have gone crazy.