The music stopped, and the world returned to silence, but this ti, it was slightly different.
Breathless, emotions surging.
Miles, Connor, Lily—none of them were exceptions. Their chests heaved violently, as if they could clearly feel the burning passion within.
Yet, there was no regret, not even a hint of remorse. Their eyes sparkled with satisfaction and exhilaration, all focused on Anson, their gaze resting upon him.
The lights gently illuminated Anson's fingertips as he picked up the guitar again, his slender fingers lightly strumming the strings.
Notes rippled out.
But there was no other accompanint, just a return to tranquility, to simplicity—one guitar, one voice, and that was all. But it was more than enough.
"So, let go." (Note 1)
With this simple line, the music stripped back to its purest form, returning to where it all began. Blair felt a shiver run down her spine.
"I don't want to be your hero, I don't want to be so big shot, I just want to live my life like an ordinary person."
The piano's black-and-white keys gently joined in, like spring water trickling over pebbles, making a soft, lodious sound.
Anson no longer sang; he rely humd softly.
"Mm… mm-mm-mm…"
Gentle, light, like a lullaby.
The strings of the cello and bass joined once again, long and drawn out, as the piano's notes danced lightly through the lody, spreading out like mist in the air, leaving a lingering resonance.
In that mont, it felt as though the world had cleared after a storm, and that frail figure who had been running endlessly finally broke through the tempest, once again basking in the sunlight.
Before their eyes, a brilliant golden light unfolded, a sudden clarity.
The performance ended just like that.
Silence.
The studio remained utterly still.
At so point, the entire studio had beco packed, overflowing with people. Every mber of the "Tonight Show" crew had gathered, even more frenzied than during the opening performance of "Wake Up"—not a single person was missing.
The small space was filled to the brim with people, crowded yet orderly, occupying every inch without the slightest chaos. There wasn't even a sound, as if any movent might disrupt the performance they had just witnessed.
It was packed, but silent.
Even though the performance had ended, the excitent and shock still surged in their minds, blood boiling, hearts pounding, deeply imrsed, unable to pull themselves out.
This wasn't just a song or a performance; it was a movie, a story, about pain, about growth, about life, about refusing to give up.
The vivid and dynamic images unfolded like a scroll in their minds, pulling each listener in with the force of a storm.
Every soul could feel different emotions because everyone is unique; everyone has their own story and their own pain, but in the music, their wounds seed to find healing.
This is the power of music.
Then.
Blair stood up.
She didn't wipe away the tears on her face. She just stubbornly straightened her back. She knew she must look a ss right now, but that didn't matter.
Her eyes, mind, and soul were filled with only one figure—Anson.
If Anson could be so brave in revealing his scars and vulnerabilities, why should she hide? She should also face herself with courage.
So what if she looked disheveled?
At least her soul was resilient and strong.
Blair didn't say a word; she just started clapping, one clap after another.
Clap, clap, clap.
Finally, the silence was broken.
It was as if the magic in Cinderella's fairy tale vanished at the stroke of midnight, and the rosy glow of the enchanted kingdom faded away, bringing everyone back to reality.
One by one, the audience began to stand up—
Applause followed.
Unlike the novelty and shock of the opening performance, this one delivered a soul-cleansing experience that wasn't fully released until the performance ended. Waves of emotion surged from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads, making every cell in their bodies scream. Clapping was the only way to release the overwhelming feelings.
If they didn't, they might not be able to bear the emotional impact.
So, the entire audience stood up, and the applause thundered.
Blair turned to look at Karen. The two exchanged glances, but neither spoke. They simply shared a knowing smile at their own disheveled states before turning back to Anson. The applause grew louder and more intense.
Clap, clap, clap!
The whole place roared.
Witnessing this, Connor could no longer hold it together. He turned away, lowering his head as he wiped his eyes repeatedly with his hands, trying his best to compose himself, but his shoulders still trembled slightly.
"Ah, so this is the end."
During the performance, Connor was 100% focused, pouring all his emotions into the music, not letting any inner turmoil affect his performance. That's what true professionalism is; but as soon as the performance ended, all that passion and heat surged back like a tidal wave.
It easily overwheld and crushed him.
Connor felt so helpless and vulnerable, but he wasn't sad, nor did he regret it. He loved today's stage and was grateful to be part of it. Even if his musical dreams ended today, he had no regrets and could walk away with his head held high.
But… but…
The tears wouldn't stop.
Lily tried to comfort Connor, but she found her own eyes had reddened. A thousand words stuck in her throat, unable to escape.
She didn't want it to end. Why did it have to end? She wanted to keep running forward, no matter how long and dark the night was.
She firmly believed that at the end of the tunnel, there would be a ray of light. Even if it was just a glimr of hope, she believed it could make her life different.
She still wanted to keep running.
Turning her head, Lily saw Miles watching the wave of emotion in front of them with a face lit up, an expression of determination and confidence she hadn't seen in a long ti.
It made Lily's heart swell with emotion.
And then there was Anson.
Anson, with his chin slightly raised, standing tall, looking ahead, smiling, even though his eyes were red and he looked a bit disheveled, still didn't hide or retreat. He faced the gazes and scrutiny head-on, showing his true self.
The studio lights fell gently on his shoulders and cheeks, outlining the stubbornness and vitality of youth. The overwhelming surge of emotion around him seed to fade into the background, framing a grand picture that extended from the music into reality, breaking the fourth wall and awakening a deep-seated passion.
Then, it ignited the entire room.
In a mont of distraction, Lily was stunned.
Clap, clap, clap.
The applause, like a tidal wave, poured down, wrapping the entire scene in a shimring glow, as if touched by Mary Poppins' magic. Everywhere the eye could see was bathed in vibrant, radiant colors.
Who could have imagined that the "Tonight Show" studio would completely transform into a concert hall, without cheers or whistles, just pure, simple applause, making today's recording a mont to go down in history.
(Note 1: "Hero" by Family of the Year)
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