177-179

Chapter 177: A Little Hope 

“So… how’d it go?” 

Cliff’s eyes were brimming with urgency and longing as he studied Wyatt closely. It was just one short question, but the earnestness behind it slipped out anyway. You could almost hear a thousand more “How’d it go?”s looping in his head, barely held back. 

Wyatt found it kind of funny and let out a half-amused, half-exasperated look. “Aren’t you worried I might actually be a scammer? That all this interviewing and photographing today could be for nothing? So, are you still excited to see how the shots turned out?” 

Cliff’s eyes widened, his pupils practically trembling as he tried—and failed—to keep his emotions in check. 

“Even if it all ends up being pointless, the process was still fun. Plus, we made something great today. Maybe no one will ever see it, but Van Gogh didn’t know his work would spread across the world either, and he never put down his brush.” It was Ronan who stepped in to smooth things over. 

Wyatt was caught off guard. Ronan wasn’t the type to steal the spotlight or pick a fight—rarely, if ever. But then again, it wasn’t that surprising. Avoiding confrontation didn’t mean he couldn’t push back, and when he did, it always piqued Wyatt’s curiosity. 

“Are you comparing yourself to Van Gogh now?” Wyatt’s reporter instincts kicked in, and he couldn’t resist the jab. 

Ronan burst into a cheerful laugh. “Nah, I’m just saying we’re creators. No matter what happens, we had a blast with this afternoon’s interview and shoot. So, back to Cliff’s photos—how’d they turn out? You happy with them?” 

And just like that, he circled the conversation back. 

Wyatt glanced down at the camera in his hands, deciding not to drag it out any longer. “I’m happy with them,” he said to Cliff. “We’re all done here.” 

Cliff and Ollie’s photo sessions had been just as tricky as the others. Stiff body language was still the common thread, though each had their own quirks. 

Cliff was like a marionette—give him a direction, and he’d follow it to the letter. He knew his limits, like how his height was the shortest in One Day Kings, practically standing in a ditch compared to the others. But his proportions were solid, and he had a knack for posing. With a little guidance, he adjusted and delivered shots that exceeded expectations. 

Ollie, on the other hand, channeled the No-Face from Spirited Away. He kept his expressions minimal, fading silently into the background. In that near-motionless state, though, something unique slipped through—especially when his eyes drifted off into a daze. Those moments turned into surprisingly good shots. No expression became his biggest expression, a weirdly effective style all its own. 

As for the group photos… 

Well, the obvious approach—four band members standing still, posing politely to show off their teamwork while the photographer snapped away—didn’t work for One Day Kings. Luckily, Alice’s quick thinking saved Wyatt from the mess. 

She got the band to “argue”—debating where to stand, how to line up, what they thought of the earlier shots, how they should pose. It brought the scene to life. Even Ollie, who’d been silent all through the interview, slipped back into his usual self. No photographer interference needed—the band just was, and Wyatt wandered around, snapping the best moments. In the end, the group shots were his smoothest and most satisfying haul. Even Maxim showed off some fresh poses. 

But inexperience was inexperience. The indie band’s raw, unpolished energy was undeniable, and it made Wyatt’s job both heavier and trickier. Especially since he was flying solo today. He couldn’t tell if this was some cosmic test or just him making life harder for himself. 

It was rushed, it was rough, but Wyatt still pulled it off. His clothes were a wrinkled mess, soaked through and dried out, then soaked again—two, three times over. Finally, the dragged-out day wrapped up, and the results weren’t half bad. 

Perfect? No. The lack of hair, makeup, and styling was a glaring flaw. Still, Wyatt was willing to give the band props where it was due. 

Cliff, though, was clearly still uneasy. 

The Twitter buzz? The band still didn’t feel it. So naturally, they were skeptical about a Rolling Stone feature. Today’s barebones interview and shoot didn’t help—everything screamed “scam” vibes. Hard not to wonder. 

Wyatt’s earlier tease had been a joke, but Cliff wasn’t laughing. 

Seeing Cliff’s tense, fidgety look now, Wyatt realized his quip had landed wrong. He patted Cliff’s shoulder again. “Relax, the photos came out great.” 

Across the band, Maxim’s shots were the strongest, with Cliff a close second. Wyatt’s personal favorite, Ronan, didn’t quite shine through in the photos—his unique vibe slipped past the lens, which bugged Wyatt the most. Maybe next time, with a real photographer, it’d turn out better. 

“Barring any surprises, the piece should drop next week—aiming for before Friday. I’ll email you once it’s locked in.” 

Wyatt was wiped out, too drained to keep reassuring Cliff, but professional duty nudged him to toss out that lifeline. 

“I know this interview was pretty basic. We didn’t see the scope coming and weren’t prepped for it. Hopefully next time we meet, things will be different—bigger setup, bigger team, the works. I’m really looking forward to that day.” 

For Wyatt, that was about a month’s worth of politeness crammed into one go. 

Day in, day out, he lived between spotlights. Stepping away from the dazzling glow into the quiet shadows, feeling that raw passion and sincerity again—it hit him. Under all the entertainment hype and profit-chasing glare, that simplicity could still soothe a tired, jaded heart, even if just for a moment. 

So yeah, he was willing to pin a little hope on One Day Kings. Today had been too rushed—he hadn’t even had time to really listen to their music, which made him feel sloppy. Before he sat down to write the piece, he’d start there: with the music. 

The chaos was finally over. Wyatt turned and walked off. A wild, surreal afternoon faded into calm. 

Chapter 178: Cross Coverage 

Wyatt was gone. 

Even after the interview wrapped up, the band members still couldn’t quite wrap their heads around what had happened. No matter how they thought about it, Rolling Stone magazine felt too distant, too unreal, too far removed from their world.  

It wasn’t until they calmed down and opened Twitter that things started to sink in. Seeing “Bruno’s Opening Act” trending worldwide, with One Day Kings mentioned under the hashtag, brought a flicker of reality. But even then, it didn’t feel solid enough.  

It was like swallowing something cold and heavy. You could feel it slide down your throat and settle in your stomach, a definite weight, but you couldn’t tell what it was. So your mind started spinning—  

A lump of lead? A chunk of ice? 

Coal? Or maybe sugar? 

The jumble of flavors in your mouth defied description.  

Luckily, the band didn’t have to wait too long.  

Monday morning, Bruno sent a private car to take them from Washington to Philadelphia. The trip took about two and a half hours—pretty convenient. But even on that short ride, before they reached Philly, Maxim was already bouncing in his seat, shouting, “It’s out! The article’s out!”  

Truth be told, since the night before, Maxim hadn’t let his phone out of his hands. Like an internet addict, he kept refreshing Twitter’s trending topics, scrolling through every post, and gleefully checking every new comment that popped up.  

At first, Cliff joined in, buzzing with excitement and savoring the sudden attention. But it didn’t take long for him to tap out. Maxim’s refresh rate was insane—every three to five minutes, without fail.  

The only thing that could separate Maxim from his phone was probably a shower. “If phones were waterproof, he’d bring it in there too,” Ollie quipped mercilessly. Ronan, sitting nearby, just smiled quietly, though his heart skipped a beat—because, well, phones did become waterproof later on.  

Sure enough, Maxim fell asleep clutching his phone, then kept it glued to his hands on the trip. Naturally, he was the first to spot the social media buzz.  

“Whoa!” 

Cliff was the first to lean over. Ronan and Ollie couldn’t help but glance his way too, brimming with anticipation for Maxim’s update. But as Maxim read, his expression turned odd. “Uh… what was the name of that Rolling Stone reporter from yesterday?”  

“Wyatt Garcia,” Ronan answered instantly.  

Last night, Ronan had checked with Julio to confirm. Wyatt was indeed a Rolling Stone journalist, assigned to cover Bruno’s concert. Once they got that reassurance, the band finally relaxed—otherwise, it would’ve been a sleepless night.  

But now, seeing Maxim’s face, their hearts sank again. Was something off?  

Maxim held up his phone for the others to see, confusion spilling over. “But this article—it’s written by someone named Buster Wayne.”  

“Huh?” Cliff blurted out, snatching the phone from Maxim to skim it himself.  

Ronan thought it over. “Maybe it’s a piece about Bruno’s concert that just mentions us in passing? We stepped in at the last minute to save the day. Bruno probably put out an official statement, and with Fitz throwing a tantrum, fans might want to know more. So the reporter could’ve tacked us on?”  

Ollie, ever the laid-back one, shrugged. “I thought it was something big. Even if it’s not Rolling Stone, any press is good press. I’d be happy with TMZ.” He plopped back in his seat, grabbed his chips, and stared out the window, crunching away.  

“…Uh, this… doesn’t seem like that…” Cliff had read the opening lines. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he sounded certain. After another quick glance, he added, “This is a full article about our band.”  

Cliff looked up, bewildered, meeting his bandmates’ eyes.  

A spark of wild joy flickered in Maxim’s gaze, but then—crunch crunch—the moment was shattered. He turned, exasperated, to see Ronan and Ollie casually sharing chips like it was a friendly picnic. His ears rang. “Hey! You two! Are you serious right now?”  

Crunch crunch.  

Ronan glanced over, mid-chew. “Just read it, and we’ll know what’s up. Why waste time yelling at us when you could check the article?” He popped another chip in his mouth, flashing Maxim a grin like he was starring in a snack commercial, showing off how crispy it was.  

Crunch crunch!  

Maxim was done talking to Ronan.  

He turned back, only to find Cliff already deep in the article. “Hey, I haven’t even read it yet—how are you already scrolling? Wait, that’s my phone… Cliff! Cliff Barron! This is robbery! Fine, fine, we’ll read it together.”  

Meanwhile, off to the side, Ronan and Ollie exchanged a look.  

“Should we… open another bag?” 

“How far are we from Philly?” 

“Not far, but…” 

“Mouth’s still got room. Let’s open one.” 

“Yep, another bag it is.”  

Rip, crunch crunch.  

The car fell into a strange, almost magical silence.  

The answers didn’t come quickly. Buster Wayne’s article was longer than expected—nearly 3,000 words, packed with info. It wasn’t a light read. Maxim and Cliff were fully absorbed, poring over every line.  

But one thing was clear: this was a detailed feature on One Day Kings.  

If Buster’s in-depth piece was just the first spark, slowly drawing more eyes to the band, then Tuesday morning’s special report on Rolling Stone’s official site was the explosion that set social media ablaze.  

The “Bruno’s Opening Act” hashtag surged again, this time with even more force. Unlike before, when concertgoers shared their reactions, now the curious masses flooded in, buzzing with the same questions—  

Why two in-depth articles in two days? 

Why was Rolling Stone doing a full feature?  

Why was this band suddenly blowing up? 

Why was everyone talking about them all at once? 

Where did this band even come from?  

And the biggest question of all: “Who is One Day Kings?”  

Chapter 179: A Little Spark 

Wyatt successfully proved his "innocence," and Rolling Stone magazine smoothly published the feature story about the One-Day King band – though only on their website. 

Wyatt ultimately couldn't convince the editor-in-chief. 

For an unknown indie band like One-Day King, a feature story was still too much, the magazine would absolutely not dedicate eight pages to in-depth coverage of an indie band. Even a combined feature on indie bands, where multiple bands including One-Day King shared the spotlight, was a bit of a stretch. 

But Wyatt did manage to persuade the editor-in-chief to publish the feature on the official website. Or rather, it was more of a threat: "If you hadn't asked me to jump on a hot topic, how could I have spent an entire afternoon in that hotel, finally writing something I felt good about, only for you to not publish it? If you don't publish it, then I won't be in the mood to continue writing that big feature next month either. It's up to you." 

And then… Rob Sheffield published the feature story on the Rolling Stone official website. However, the eight pages of photos and text that Wyatt had painstakingly put together were slashed in half with a wave of the editor-in-chief's hand. What ultimately appeared on the official website was a four-page report. 

Of course, even "just four pages on the official website," and not the front-page headline, was already a rare and prestigious treatment for an indie band like One-Day King. After all, before this, no official print media had ever reported on One-Day King in any form. 

So, "One-Day King, who exactly are they?" 

First up was Buster Wayne. 

As a freelance professional music blogger, Buster had a considerable following among serious music enthusiasts. He also freelanced for several professional music magazines and consistently updated his professional blog with lengthy articles every week, showcasing his expertise. 

Buster was a typical omnivorous music lover, not picky about musical styles or genres, embracing both indie and pop. But as a professional graduate from the classical music department, he could always approach things from a unique perspective and offer his own interpretations, which earned him a lot of applause among dedicated fans. 

That's why Buster would periodically write different themed articles to introduce music, such as operas or symphonies worth appreciating, indie bands and underground singers worth listening to, music styles or experimental albums worth trying, and so on. 

This time, Buster specifically introduced the One-Day King band. From Buster's perspective, this was just routine. There was nothing special about it; he heard some music worth recommending at the Bruno concert, so he recommended it. 

In the article, Buster didn't go on and on about the life and achievements of the One-Day King band, nor did he mention their current situation. He simply mentioned that he had unexpectedly discovered an indie band worth paying attention to at the Bruno concert, and then the focus of his writing shifted entirely to the band's music. 

Buster's main point was that One-Day King's live performances were incredibly captivating and infectious. Being there in person allowed you to feel completely enveloped by the emotion, as if your heartbeat perfectly matched the melody, drawing you irresistibly into the world of their music. 

At the same time, Buster started with the arrangement, delving into the analysis of One-Day King's style and structure, including songs like "Chasing Light" and "Born This Way." He truly felt the emotions the creators wanted to convey when writing the lyrics and melodies, and how they perfectly combined with the performance. 

According to Buster's analysis, he believed that "Chasing Light" simplified complexity, achieving brilliance through simplicity, truly showcasing the creator's talent and carrying a deep and pure emotion. It was a masterpiece with the potential to become a classic. However, the arrangement was too self-insistent, avoiding mainstream market aesthetics. In terms of popularity and mass appeal, it was not as good as "Born This Way," which had sharper emotions and a more cutting edge, making it potentially difficult to promote widely. 

"How exactly should this song be described? It's like running wildly in a vast and empty building, with only your own heartbeat and footsteps echoing in your ears, running aimlessly and blankly. Your blood vessels start to burn, your muscles start to ache, but the exhilarating feeling of being drenched in sweat surges through your chest. 

And then… just like that, you burst out of the building and suddenly see the starry sky scattered all around you, so breathtaking that time and space seem to freeze in an instant. You just stand there, dumbfounded, bathing in the overwhelming grandeur, and you can't help but want to open your arms and feel the wind rush through them. 

It's a pure feeling, like a child running recklessly through the adult world, just running. 

It's a magnificent feeling, a thorough and joyful release blossoming in the simplest form of exertion, returning to simplicity." 

Undoubtedly, Buster gave "Chasing Light" the highest praise, but he believed that this song was not suitable for the mainstream market because it didn't align with popular trends. The mass appeal wasn't skillful enough or sophisticated enough, which was undoubtedly a pity. Otherwise, it had a very good chance of becoming another "Iridescent" – from Linkin Park. 

But Buster still believed that the song "Born This Way" could win over listeners for the One-Day King band. 

In his lengthy three-thousand-word article, Buster showcased his professionalism and once again recommended a noteworthy indie band to his followers. This was originally a routine article that would appear every week without fail, nothing particularly special. But with the rise of the hashtag "Bruno's Opening Act," this article did spark a wider discussion. 

Usually, the viewership of Buster's long articles was generally controlled between ten thousand and thirty thousand, with a comment and like ratio of around ten percent. But this time, the One-Day King special garnered nearly fifty thousand views in just twenty-four hours, and the comments and likes almost doubled. The surge in discussion was very significant. 

Then, Rolling Stone stepped in. 

The newest novel was first published on the 69 Bookstore website! 

Different from Buster's professional report, Wyatt's report detailed the life of One-Day King and also delved into the band's inner workings, asking about the opportunity to tour with Bruno and their feelings about gaining attention. It was more like a brief biography, introducing the band's background to the readers. 

From the perspective of a feature story, the "Bruno's Opening Act" tag made it clear that people's attention towards One-Day King initially came from Bruno. Wyatt's report was unlikely to generate much attention or curiosity on its own. After all, readers didn't know this band at all, and it was difficult for them to empathize with the hardships of an indie band. 

However, thanks to the Twitter hashtag and Buster's article laying the groundwork by generating initial interest and curiosity, the band had already gained some visibility. Then, Rolling Stone's report came along like a pillow for someone who's sleepy, and the effect exploded. 

Over the course of five days, the discussion surrounding the One-Day King band steadily climbed, reaching a small peak of popular attention. 

(End of this chapter)