*Buzz.*
The lody reverberated in the air, leaving layers of ripples, stirring up waves.
At that mont, Mia looked at Michael, and Michael looked at Mia, as if they were the only two people in the garage, and everything else was still.
The cheerful band mbers, the captivated girls, the busy repair shop—all paused, as if soone had hit the pause button. The air and ti themselves seed to halt.
Annie forgot to breathe—
In that brief instant, the line between reality and fantasy completely blurred.
Nervousness, confusion, excitent, shyness—all these emotions intertwined. She instinctively lowered her gaze to hide the surge of feelings in her eyes, but the lody that continuously pounded her eardrums still stirred ripples in the lake of her heart.
"I think she's really beautiful." (Note 1)
Anson sang.
*Thump.*
Her heart skipped a beat, and she found herself unable to breathe.
One second—
Just a brief second of silence, but the garage did not fall quiet. The screams, the chatter, the bustling noise—they all surged around her, unstoppable. Yet these sounds only served to contrast with the turmoil in her mind and heart, bringing every detail into sharper focus.
*Thump.*
*Thump.*
*Thump.*
Her heart, completely out of control.
*Bang!*
Michael's long fingers pressed down again, striking the black-and-white keys forcefully. The colorful candies seed to leap like fleas, and the boy's emotions broke free in the lody.
A mont of boldness, a mont of adventure.
"She's really cute.
She's really cute."
Michael sang with abandon, despite his shyness and awkwardness. The keyboard was his shield, and the music was his armor. He mustered the courage to look at Mia.
This ti, he didn't look away.
Over and over again.
Again and again.
So open, so straightforward, the adolescent feelings laid bare in the sunlight.
The lody, the drumbeats—so simple, yet so powerful, effortlessly tugging at the heartstrings. Her entire soul was bathed in the joy and happiness of the notes, quietly listening to his confession.
A young, vibrant, straightforward, and bold confession.
Annie was stunned.
Her mind went blank, but her peripheral vision couldn't help but drift towards Michael.
Then, the voice of the repair shop owner broke the mood, shouting into the phone, "God, you need to speak up; clearly sothing has happened here."
A double entendre.
Annie heard the voice and couldn't help but shiver—
Why did Mia notice Michael?
**Michael is Lily's younger brother—yes, that should be all there is to it; but why are those girls practically stripping Michael with their eyes?**
Oh, God!
Mia's cheeks turned a slight shade of red, instantly heating up. She quickly forced herself to look away, turning around sharply to sever all connections. Yet, behind her, she could still hear Michael's singing.
"You don't know.
You don't know.
You don't know how beautiful you are."
Ahh!
The girls scread.
Mia sneaked a glance at the three prairie dogs on the sofa, unable to resist wondering, *So, which girl is Michael singing to?*
"I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know how to forget all of this."
Oh.
Poor Michael.
Mia couldn't help but secretly sigh. She involuntarily glanced at Michael, only to unexpectedly et his gaze head-on.
It was like an electric shock, her heart slamd hard against her chest.
She hadn't expected Michael to notice her gaze. He smiled, picked up a candy from the black-and-white keyboard, tossed it into his mouth, and caught it perfectly—just like a juggling act.
*Pfft.*
Mia couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, her cheeks warming up slightly. She turned completely around, facing away from the garage and the band, forcing herself to focus on the Mustang in front of her, repeatedly telling herself:
*Mustang. Mustang. That's the reason I ca to the repair shop today.*
Behind her, the music was coming to an end, and Michael's voice ca through the poor-quality microphone.
"You've been watching the performance of Hawaiian Pizza, and now we're about to go dig up so pineapples. Thank you!"
Hawaiian Pizza?
Dig up pineapples?
Haha, hahaha! Annie tried to control herself but couldn't help it; her laughter overflowed, rippling endlessly through her chest.
Annie could hardly believe her ears. *Where on earth does Anson get these ideas?*
The repair shop owner noticed the music had ended and let out a long breath, speaking into the phone, "The band's rehearsal is over; no need to shout now."
His tone and voice sounded as if a nightmare had finally ended, with an uncontrollable sense of relief.
But a nightmare? Really?
Annie didn't think so. She instinctively turned around, only to see Anson standing up from behind the keyboard. Her heart stopped, and she reflexively turned back.
Once she did, Annie was full of questions: *Wait, why did I turn away?*
"Cut!"
Gary's voice ca from the side, cutting off Annie's thoughts. An indescribable surge of emotions welled up in her chest, but before she could sort them out, the crew's applause pulled her back to reality, finally feeling the pull of gravity.
*Whistle!*
It was the sound of a whistle.
Annie turned around and saw Gary stepping out from behind the monitor, leading the applause, with a big smile and a whistle.
Even though Gary didn't say anything, his expression and actions were more powerful than words, clearly conveying his feelings.
Instinctively, Annie joined in the applause.
She was slightly late, but she couldn't help replaying the recent performance in her mind. The catchy lody was still swirling in her head—just one listen was enough; but more importantly, Annie could still recall the lyrics and the emotions hidden within them.
Those crushes, those feelings, those bold confessions, those brave pursuits.
Everything was laid bare, like waves crashing under the golden sunlight, bursting with pure and resilient energy.
Her heart still seed to feel the rhythm of the notes, speeding up just a bit.
The applause beca a little more enthusiastic.
And it wasn't just them.
One by one, crew mbers from all around began to turn their attention to the scene. The surprise in their eyes couldn't be hidden.
Forget about the jealous looks from those waiting for Anson and the band to fail— even those eagerly anticipating Anson and the band's performance didn't expect that they would not only pull off a song but also use it to advance the plot and character developnt so perfectly.
Now, they finally understood what Anson had been guiding Gary on—
From Mia's entrance, to the girls' screams, to Michael's exploration and Mia's reactions, from Anson's performance to Annie's response, everything was intricately linked. The storyline and its twists were perfectly matched with the band's performance—not just with lyrics that aligned with the characters' emotions or a lody that set the mood, but with a clear narrative structure.
Everything was flawless.
Moreover, the band's brilliant performance completed the most important piece of the puzzle, transforming what was originally a transitional scene into an indispensable part of the plot's progression.
Brilliant!
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