298-300

Chapter 298: On Tour 

A gentle breeze drifted in from the Appalachian Mountains, carrying the crisp air of Mississippi’s grace. There wasn’t the slightest hint of December’s typical chill or dryness. The warm wind still carried traces of summer’s freshness mixed with spring’s vitality. Only the distant, fading forests—gradually losing their leaves and color—hinted that winter was slowly approaching. 

A cup of black coffee, a bowl of oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and bacon—paired with the view of endless farmlands and mountain ranges. Neatly stacked hay bales dotted the open fields like coordinates, setting order and structure. The landscape was like a painting, blending yellows and greens, blacks and blues into something breathtaking. 

“Plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I quietly see the southern mountain.” 

Starting the day like this—calm and peaceful—happiness gently swelled in the chest. 

“Ahh, I don’t want to leave,” Ollie said, stretching with a long, lazy yawn. His face showed clear reluctance, and his tone was thick with regret. 

Wearing sunglasses and a flashy floral shirt, Maxim looked hilariously out of place—like a charming bachelor vacationing in the Caribbean, but instead seated in the backyard of a countryside inn surrounded by farmland. He was as mismatched as a vagrant wandering into an opera house. 

“I admit, life here is pleasant and relaxing,” Maxim said, firmly, “but I still miss the bustle and convenience of the city.” 

Cliff shrugged. “We’re just here for the show. It’s like a mini-vacation. We’re not living here forever. A few extra days won’t hurt.” 

Maxim shook his head. “You don’t understand. Within a five-block radius, I couldn’t even find a single convenience store or supermarket. That’s terrifying. If I were really on vacation, I’d need two full suitcases just to meet my basic needs.” 

He turned to Ronan for backup. “Ronan, you complained too yesterday, didn’t you?” 

“Yes, yes, yes,” Ronan nodded rapidly. “I tried finding a deli, couldn’t find one. I couldn’t even get a kebab.” 

*Kebab (doner-kebab)*—sliced rotating meat (lamb, beef, or chicken) paired with fresh veggies. Greasier than a sandwich, spicier than a burger, and super easy to eat. In cities like New York or Washington, especially in Turkish immigrant neighborhoods, they’re everywhere. 

But now the band was in Bristol, Tennessee. It’s the southeastern U.S., where immigration is sparse. Remember, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Plus, Bristol isn’t even one of the major cities like Nashville or Memphis—it’s a small town. Rural, even. 

Ronan loved Southern food—New Orleans being a prime example. But southern cuisine is rooted in a history of plantations, where soybeans and corn ruled. The variety isn’t great, and it gets boring fast. Yesterday, Ronan craved a change of flavor. But even the kebab stands he’d usually ignore in the city were nowhere to be found. That alone was depressing enough to ruin his taste for bacon. 

“…That’s not the answer I wanted,” Maxim muttered. 

Ronan glanced at him, puzzled. Then what kind of answer were you expecting? 

Maxim sighed and turned back to Ollie. “Regardless, we’re leaving today. Whether we like it or not, it’s time to move on to the next stop.” 

One Day King and Shining Band were still deep in their joint tour, with shows scheduled into February next year, stretching coast to coast across North America. Most of the venues were in second-tier cities—major hubs like Washington were rare. But that was actually a good thing for both bands. 

With the music industry in decline, album and single sales didn’t bring in much money anymore. Tours were where the real income came from. 

Even mid-sized shows like theirs had already paid off. Just two months on the road, and the earnings nearly matched—or even exceeded—the total revenue One Day King had made over the past seven years. Maybe a little short, but not by much. 

Publicity, income, and the thrill of the stage—it was a dream come true for them. 

“Ugh…” Ollie let out a wistful sigh. He knew Maxim was right, but that didn’t make it easier. “The only downside to being on the road is never being able to settle down. I wish we could stay in one city for ten or fifteen days, just take a real break. Even a short one would be nice.” 

“So what you’re saying is… you miss life from six months ago?” Cliff teased mercilessly. 

Ollie panicked. “You know that’s not what I meant…” 

Cliff rolled his eyes dramatically, which made Maxim laugh out loud. Ollie turned to Ronan for support—only to see him seriously focused on breakfast, as if it were the most important thing in the world. Not surprising at all. 

Ollie threw up his hands. “I’m just saying, we’re in Bristol, and we didn’t even catch a single NASCAR race before leaving. Isn’t that a shame?” 

NASCAR—America’s biggest motorsport event, as influential in North America as F1 is globally. In this car-loving country, NASCAR draws a massive audience, rivaling even football in viewership. 

Bristol hosts one of NASCAR’s major annual races. 

This time, Maxim nodded in agreement. “True. If not for the tour, we’d never come here. Miss it now, and we may never get another chance. But there are plenty more races. If you’re really into it, once the tour’s over, you can fly out to see one. Forget NASCAR—if you want, we can even get Super Bowl tickets.” 

That rich-guy tone instantly sparked complaints from both Cliff and Ollie, and Maxim found himself under playful fire from both sides. 

“Hey, looks like you’re all in a good mood.” 

Alice’s voice cut through their chatter, her bright smile showing she was clearly in high spirits. 

“Well… this might be a problem. I’m not sure if the news I have will make you all even happier—or completely ruin the mood.” 

Chapter 299 – Breaking News 

The mood was light, cheerful, and bright. Alice made no attempt to hide her good spirits, and her playful tone made it clear she was teasing. Her mood was contagious—soon the rest of the band was joking around, too. 

“Alice, no matter what you tell us, we’ll be happy. And even if we’re not, we’ll just pretend,” Maxim said, throwing a quick side glance at Ronan as if he were being threatened. His overly dramatic expression sent everyone into laughter. 

Alice didn’t mind one bit. She raised her hands with a smile. “Well, that’s even better. I love it—keep that energy. Always pretend to be happy, no matter what.” 

Maxim’s smile froze on his face. Why did it feel like he just dug his own grave? 

Then came Ollie’s signature, explosive laugh—“Hahaha!”—thunderous and overwhelming. The noise even caused a stir in the nearby bushes, scaring up two wild pheasants that flapped into the air in a panic, leaving only a few feathers twirling behind them. 

Hahaha! Hahaha! 

Everyone burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs. Even Ronan wasn’t spared—he nearly choked on his scrambled eggs and had to frantically grab a napkin to cover his mouth and avoid a real disaster. 

Alice wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye. Was she… crying from laughter? 

“Everyone! Hey, everyone!” Alice clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention back. Her radiant smile softened as she grew serious. “I really do have something to tell you. Don’t worry, it’s good news.” 

“Of course, of course,” Ollie nodded. “We can tell.” 

Alice paused for a moment and then turned to Ronan. Naturally, everyone else followed her gaze. With all eyes suddenly on him, Ronan looked totally lost. He quickly wiped the corner of his mouth and shook his head—he had no idea what was going on. 

“Wait, is it about the Billboard album charts?” Ronan guessed, although he wasn’t entirely sure—he hadn’t paid much attention when Alice brought it up the day before. He only caught a few keywords. 

“The album chart? Everyone already knows about that,” Alice answered, glancing at them all. “In the latest update, our ranking has climbed again. For the third week in a row, album sales have been on the rise, and our singles are going up the charts too.” 

It was Friday, after all—the new Billboard chart had just dropped. 

“My Demon” was now in its second week on the chart, climbing confidently to No. 77—a result they had expected, thanks to the music video’s explosive popularity. But “Chasing Light” was the real surprise, making a strong comeback by jumping from No. 50 to No. 37. 

The worst-case scenario that industry experts had feared… hadn’t happened. At least not yet. 

One Day King had two singles rising together, showing an incredibly promising trend. As Alice pointed out, the steady increase in album sales was a huge part of the story. 

Because the truth was: 

More and more people weren’t just hearing about One Day King—they were liking them. The growth might not be dramatic, but it was solid and steady. That kind of foundation gave the band real staying power and drew more attention every week. 

But that still wasn’t the news Alice wanted to share. 

She glanced at Ronan again, letting the suspense build for just a second before revealing it. 

“The Grammy nominations were announced.” 

“…So?” Ollie blinked, confused. 

Cliff caught on half a second faster. “We got nominated?” But the moment he said it, he second-guessed himself. “No way…” His voice shook with barely contained emotion, excitement and anxiety rushing through him all at once. 

Alice nodded. 

Just like that, the whole room froze. 

All four band members stared at her in stunned silence—including Ronan. Their minds short-circuited. 

They—One Day King—had just gotten a Grammy nomination? 

That— That was way too sudden. Way too shocking. Way too unreal. 

But Alice still wasn’t done. 

With a magician’s flair, she pulled out a folded newspaper from behind her back. It was the Los Angeles Times, open to the sixth page—the entertainment section. The headline in bold read: 

“We Received Seven Nominations—One Day King Leads the Grammy List!” 

“What?!” Maxim leapt to his feet like he was spring-loaded. His chair tipped over behind him, but he didn’t care. Eyes wide, he stared at Alice in disbelief. 

“Alice—are you saying us? Are you sure you mean us?” 

One Day King—just five months ago, they were nobodies. A forgotten band teetering on the edge of breaking up. And now they were leading the Grammy nominations? 

It sounded like pure fantasy. 

“Alice… don’t get me wrong—I believe you. I want to believe you. But this… this is insane!” Maxim could barely breathe. His words tumbled out in fragments. Even he wasn’t sure what he was saying anymore. 

Alice’s nose tingled as emotion swelled inside her. She understood how they felt. 

From rock bottom to the peak—this kind of rollercoaster would rattle anyone. If they had given up five months ago… If they hadn’t stuck with it… If they had walked away… 

They never would’ve made it to this moment. 

They had made it through their darkest hour. Now, like their song “Chasing Light,” they had finally reached the light they had been pursuing all this time. The journey had turned, and even Alice couldn’t believe it. When she heard the news from Atlantic Records, she had to confirm it three times. 

And how would the band members—the stars of this story—respond? 

Alice looked at Ronan again. And then she saw it—his smile spreading softly across his face. No pretending. No masking. Just pure joy, radiating straight from his eyes. It was glowing. 

That kind of genuine happiness was powerful—it made Alice smile, too. 

Yes. This wasn’t a moment for tears. It was a moment to laugh. To laugh loud and proud. 

Alice beamed, even as her eyes filled with a thin mist of tears. A thousand tangled emotions swirled inside her, too complex to describe. Bitterness turning to sweetness—words couldn’t express it. So instead, she simply held up the Los Angeles Times and showed it to the others. 

“55th Grammy Nominations Announced: One Day King Leads with Seven Nominations” “Who is this band, One Day King?” 

The entertainment section’s headline was bold and black, practically leaping off the page. There was no need for more explanation. The facts said it all. 

Chapter 300: Bittersweet Triumph 

In early February, the 54th Annual Grammy Awards made history: Adele swept all six categories in which she was nominated, taking home six trophies and becoming the biggest winner of the night. This achievement tied Beyoncé’s record from two years earlier for the most awards won by a female artist in a single ceremony. Even more impressive, Adele claimed three of the four major general categories—missing only Best New Artist—making her haul even more prestigious than Beyoncé’s. 

This marked a clear shift: the Grammys had finally and fully opened their doors to the younger generation. Compared to the increasingly aging and conservative Oscars, or the over-the-top and increasingly superficial Golden Globes, the Grammys stood out by adapting to the times while still striving to maintain a sense of professionalism. And the results were starting to show. 

That said, the 54th Grammys weren’t without controversy. Critics accused the awards of becoming too commercial, favoring artists with stronger sales and market success over independent or experimental musicians. Many argued the Grammys were turning into a second Billboard Awards, abandoning their original goal of honoring artistic excellence. 

But awards shows are always going to spark debate—that's just the nature of the beast. 

Overall, the Grammys' evolution was evident to everyone. Change takes time, and while it's never instant, the slow and steady progress was winning over audiences. The most direct proof? The ceremony drew in 39.9 million viewers—just shy of the 40-million mark. That was the highest viewership in 28 years, second only to the iconic 1984 show when Michael Jackson made history with eight Grammy wins in one night. 

Industry experts pointed to two main reasons for this viewership surge: First, the emotional tribute to the late pop legend Whitney Houston captured audiences’ hearts, with a medley of her classic songs acting as a powerful draw. Second, Adele’s album 21 had revitalized the struggling music industry. Its commercial success and cultural impact were undeniable, and her six-for-six sweep—though controversial—highlighted how much the public loved her. 

By December, as awards season rolled around again, the 55th Grammys announced their nominations. For the second year in a row, the Grammys showed a strong commitment to change—this time, even more boldly and fiercely than before. Just by looking at the nomination list, the trend was clear: 

The push for youth continued, but now with added emphasis on artistry and independence. A wave of fresh, lesser-known talents and independent musicians made the list, proving that the Grammys were slowly reclaiming their sense of professionalism and authority. 

One standout? The band King for a Day (一日国王) led the pack with seven nominations. After seven years together—six of which were spent in relative obscurity—they finally broke through during the summer, much like Maroon 5 had years ago. Thanks to a string of powerful live performances and strong word-of-mouth, their album managed to break into the mainstream, landing on both the Billboard singles and albums charts. 

Few noticed at the time, but their album Seven received reviews from 42 major professional outlets, including Rolling Stone, Spin, Q Magazine, AllMusic, New Music Express, and Pitchfork. 

Their final average score? An impressive 93 out of 100—making Seven the second-highest rated album of 2012, just behind Ten Freedom Summers by jazz legend Wadada Leo Smith, which scored a near-perfect 99. 

Critics raved: 

“If you want to contribute something to this album, just let go of all reviews—ours included—and lose yourself in the music. Listen to the melodies and feel the soul Ronan Cooper poured into each note. A perfect score.” 

“The lyrics and melodies reveal the soul of this band—fragile, complex, and deeply human. Classic, modern, touching. King for a Day presents themselves in the most stunning way possible. 100/100.” 

“Pure beauty. An exquisite experience. 100.” 

“There are many ways I could praise this album, but what truly stands out is Ronan Cooper’s bold and daring arrangements. He uses layered harmonies to give the music a sense of space—like a 3D architectural blueprint where each layer brings a different emotion. It's a wild move for pop music—and it worked. 100.” 

Of course, not everyone was completely sold: 

“Yes, it’s a bit too mainstream and loud, but by the end, you can feel the band’s long journey through darkness. That quiet moment of peace at the end is something special. 98.” 

“Seven is brave, daring... maybe even reckless. 90.” 

“I wasn’t a fan of the pop-heavy choruses. You can tell Ronan Cooper made compromises to appeal to the masses. But the verses? The instrumentation? Pure joy. 85.” 

“The album has flaws, no doubt. The band tried to cram in too many ideas. But even so, Seven makes King for a Day feel more like true artists than just another pop act. The raw emotion in the lyrics is their greatest strength. 70.” 

Clearly, the reviews weren’t all glowing, but they did show the band’s artistic potential. A 93-point average across 42 media outlets is a major achievement. 

However, Seven was released so quietly that few even noticed. Reviews trickled in over nearly six weeks, scattered and low-profile. Atlantic Records didn’t issue a formal press release, and the album flew under the radar—until the Grammy nominations dropped. 

Suddenly, people began asking: Is King for a Day’s album really that good?