171-173

Chapter 171 Interview Techniques

"I think it's probably because we've consciously tried to forget it," Ronan said.

"Because you're afraid of criticism?"

This back-and-forth, almost like a game of catch, felt like pressure, even though Wyatt wasn't intending it that way. It wasn't aimed at the band or Ronan, but rather at the journalists themselves, who needed to take control of the conversation to dig out more inside stories and create more buzz.

Even a simple statement could be a leading conjecture.

But Ronan didn't fall for it, instead chuckling softly. "No, because we're afraid of being ignored."

The true answer was a bit disheartening.

However, Ronan's tone and expression weren't sad. His bright eyes and upturned lips still held a smile. "Actually, silence is scarier than criticism. When you finish a performance, you eagerly anticipate some feedback, but after searching, you find nothing. It's like shouting into thin air, and honestly, it's very discouraging."

"We all know we're not perfect; it's impossible for everyone to like us. So, we can accept both criticism and praise. But over the past few months, the feedback we've received has always been scarce. Gradually, we became afraid to face a silent social media again," Ronan said, spreading his hands, stating a sad truth with such candor and directness.

"Silent social media" is a contradictory phrase, because social media is never silent—it's constantly updating with news, bustling with activity every minute. But it's precisely this contradiction that highlights the band's situation, allowing one to appreciate the helplessness and bitterness behind the words.

They had been working so hard, yet it was as if they couldn't leave any trace.

This was also a part that Wyatt's preliminary investigation couldn't show. When he searched for the YouTube videos, the views were already in the thousands, and comments were steadily increasing. He couldn't see the struggles they faced when they were unknown, when a YouTube video might only get dozens of views after being uploaded.

But Wyatt quickly understood the situation.

Even now, the view counts for One Day King's YouTube videos were still quite pathetic. Compared to popular videos that garnered millions or tens of millions of views, they were practically hidden in obscure corners, easily submerged in the vast ocean of online information, like they were invisible.

Despite this, Wyatt didn't find any sadness or frustration in Ronan's eyes. His faint smile carried a sense of vitality—bitter and lost, yet also relieved and positive. These intertwined and contradictory emotions shone brightly.

It was a little special.

Out of the corner of his eye, Wyatt could see the other three band members; they were more or less somewhat dejected and a little lost, but Ronan was not.

How should he describe it?

His bandmates were like a light gray, carrying faint negative emotions but not heavily. Ronan, however, was a deep green—a profound color that nonetheless nurtured vibrant life.

---

"So, how does it feel now, knowing the band has entered the global trending list on Twitter?" Wyatt looked forward to Ronan's reaction.

Ronan paused, then turned to Cliff and Maxim, signaling with his eyes for them to answer. But their reaction was a little slow, creating a brief silence, which made Ronan chuckle. "Happy. Personally, I'm very happy."

As he spoke, Ronan laughed joyfully, not bothering to hide his happiness and delight. He expressed his joy with such sincerity and candor, his smile spreading across his face, so much so that Wyatt could feel the genuine exhilaration radiating from him.

Wyatt watched Ronan closely, with scrutiny and assessment, trying to connect the Ronan in front of him with the commanding presence on stage. But it wasn't easy, to the point where Wyatt began to wonder if Ronan had a twin brother.

Ronan also realized he might have lost his composure and reined in his smile. "I mean, it still doesn't feel real, and I haven't even seen what's happening on Twitter yet. But just hearing about it brightens my mood. After all, someone finally heard our music, right?"

It wasn't about the Twitter buzz, but because someone heard their music?

Wyatt's gaze fell on Ronan's bright, expectant eyes. He knew Ronan wasn't just being polite, and he found himself nodding in response, not necessarily in agreement, but simply wanting to reciprocate Ronan's gaze. He felt like he couldn't just be an indifferent observer in that moment.

"It's our honor," Cliff finally found his voice. "Just as Ronan said, we still don't know what it means or what exactly is happening on Twitter, but regardless, it's our honor, and we need to thank Bruno."

Indeed, they didn't know what was going on with Twitter at all; they had no real sense of it. Expressing their feelings would be like building castles in the air, dry and empty, just polite platitudes.

Meanwhile, Maxim, slowly regaining his composure, quietly leaned back, pulled out his phone, trying to avoid Wyatt's gaze, and opened Twitter, just like a high school student secretly playing with their phone in class, glancing at the screen, trying to see for himself what was happening.

---

Wyatt then asked, "Can you share your story with Bruno with our readers? How did Bruno find you? How did you become Bruno's opening act? How did all these things happen? There must be a story behind it."

Because the band still lacked sufficient information and hadn't officially released any works, Wyatt's interview lacked a clear core. So, he slowly delved into the band's story by focusing on Bruno's concert. The flow of the conversation adjusted responsively with the dialogue, yet didn't stray too far off track. These subtle details revealed Wyatt's interviewing skill.

"Of course, actually, thinking about it now, it still feels a little unreal..." Cliff took charge of telling the story.

From their street performances in Las Vegas, to the mysterious email from YouTube, then waiting by a public phone late at night, braving mosquitoes, rushing to Washington overnight, followed by all-night rehearsals, and finally Ronan's special interview with Bruno late at night by the swimming pool.

The rollercoaster story captivated Wyatt, but what was even more interesting was that Ronan and Ollie were just as captivated, as if hearing the story for the first time. This made Wyatt chuckle and voice his confusion. "Why do you two act like you're not even in the band?"

Chapter 172: Zoning Out

Watching Ollie and Ronan listening intently, their ears perked up with interest, and Maxim, who was zoning out and couldn't help but snicker, Wyatt took in the whole scene of the band. He couldn't help but jokingly tease, "How come it seems like you guys aren't even in the band?"

Ollie tried to answer, but facing strangers, he really needed some time to adjust. His brain couldn't keep up with the pace, so he could only remain silent, turning his head to look at Ronan, hoping he would provide an answer.

Ronan was already used to this. "Even listening to this experience again as an outsider, I can still feel the incredible magic. It's hard to believe that something like this actually happened to us. We've waited seven years to stand on that stage."

"Welcome to the entertainment industry," Wyatt said, completely unfazed.

Overnight success stories were countless in the entertainment industry, so there was nothing surprising about it. What was truly astonishing was the speed of turnover and the fickle nature of the audience. Shooting stars filled the sky, but only a few managed to last. A promising newcomer could become a has-been before the next day even dawned.

"Seven years, wow, that's a really long time to wait," Wyatt then exclaimed. Independent bands that could persist in their dreams for seven long years were not uncommon in the industry, but they weren't abundant either. It wasn't an easy feat.

Ronan and Ollie exchanged a look, and then Ronan smiled at Wyatt, spreading his hands. "Welcome to the entertainment industry."

Countless unknown singers and actors in the eighteenth tier were as numerous as stars in the vast sea of the entertainment industry. Among a thousand or even ten thousand singers and actors, only one true superstar might emerge. The seemingly glamorous entertainment industry was mostly filled with struggling ordinary people. For them, it was just another job, not much different from an office worker's life.

The same words were true coming from Wyatt's mouth, and they were also true coming from Ronan's.

Wyatt was slightly taken aback, then he quickly understood. The smile in his eyes slowly spread, and after savoring the moment again, he still found it clever and witty, unable to help but chuckle. His gaze on Ronan deepened, and his interest grew a little more.

An idea flashed in his mind, and Wyatt keenly seized it. "Ronan, judging from Cliff's description, you were the one who ultimately sealed the deal. So, what do you think it was about that night that moved Bruno and ultimately won the band this valuable performance opportunity?"

Ronan was a little sensitive.

He knew what Bruno had experienced in Los Angeles, and Wyatt, as a reporter, must have known as well. Was Wyatt trying to dig up gossip about Bruno?

Of course, maybe Ronan was just overthinking it, but he was indeed a bit sensitive right now. The thought spun in his mind for a moment, and he answered without hesitation, but his answer was still somewhat cautious. "I really want to say it was 'music,' that our music moved Mr. Bruno."

However...

Ronan still showed humility—or perhaps a lack of complete information. "But I know Bruno is a very, very talented singer and songwriter. I don't want to sound too arrogant, so I need to revise my answer. I think it was 'sincerity'."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ronan could see the speechless expression on Wyatt's face, clearly showing his dissatisfaction with the answer.

Ronan didn't mind at all, laughing cheerfully and waving his hands repeatedly. "Not the literal meaning, but the sincerity revealed in our music awakened Bruno's past memories. We all experienced long dark periods, and music was the only driving force that kept us going. I think Bruno must have captured that sincerity in our music, so he was willing to give us a chance."

Wyatt pondered for a moment. "So, after going in circles, what you're saying is that your music is exceptionally good, right?"

"Huh?"

Ronan was taken aback, then he followed Wyatt's train of thought and reanalyzed it. After realizing, he clapped his hands and burst into laughter: it seemed like maybe perhaps probably or should be really like that.

Did this mean he was slowly starting to become more confident? And it was even starting from a subconscious level?

Looking at Ronan, who was laughing heartily, Wyatt's mood also brightened. He had to admit that this was a relaxed and pleasant interview.

"Regardless of the reason, I think Bruno saw something special in you, and your performance proved Bruno right. On the first night of performing at the Verizon Center, the band made a minor mistake at the beginning of the set, but the band turned the tide with unparalleled performance and delivered a stunning show, which became one of the most unforgettable memories for countless audience members that night."

Chuckle chuckle.

Wyatt was asking a question when he heard a low laugh coming from the side. Following the sound, he immediately saw Maxim secretly laughing.

One. Two. Three. Four.

Four people, eight eyes, all focused on Maxim. Maxim's entire expression relaxed, completely lost in his own world. He had even taken out his phone, seemingly immersed in a Twitter discussion frenzy, completely in another dimension.

"Maxim..." Ollie called out softly and cautiously, trying to remind Maxim, but it was clearly too late.

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Maxim was a beat late in looking up, realizing he was the center of attention. His first reaction was to straighten his chest and adjust his hair, displaying a perfect, dashing demeanor. He met Wyatt's gaze and asked with his eyes, as if the other person was the one who had lost composure.

Wyatt didn't mind, just nodded slightly, his meaningful expression unreadable. "So, does the Twitter frenzy feel a bit more real now?"

Exposed for zoning out, Maxim still didn't panic, cheekily nodding. "A little bit. But they can't even say my name, so it still doesn't feel clear enough. I mean, M-A-X-I-M, it's not that difficult of a name, is it?"

"So, after Browse for so long, that's the only takeaway?" Ronan instantly and sharply caught the key point, mercilessly mocking. "Did they remember the rest of our names?"

"...Not exactly." Maxim's words stumbled a bit. "But they should at least remember my name, shouldn't they? I don't have a face that's easily forgotten. Even if they don't know, they should be curious." Maxim gestured to his face, his expression full of self-righteousness.

Ollie turned his head, Ronan's gaze drifted away, and Cliff lowered his head to pick at his fingernails. No one was willing to respond.

Chapter 173: Deepening Interest

During Bruno's concert, Ronan didn't introduce the band members individually. This was a decision they'd made together.

Even though they could have still taken the time to introduce each member at the end of their opening set, their band name wasn't yet widely known. They figured it was more important to get the name "King for a Day" out there to as many people as possible, rather than focusing on individual names just yet.

You could see it from the Twitter hashtags. It was all about "Bruno's opening act." Most of the comments accurately mentioned "King for a Day," but you hardly ever saw the individual band members' names, unless people went digging for their videos on YouTube.

This was exactly what Maxim was complaining about. He'd thought that after the Twitter buzz, people would naturally flock to YouTube to find out more about the band.

Of course, that wasn't a wrong assumption, just a little too eager.

The Twitter hype had only just started today. If they gave it some more time, or after their opening gigs in Philadelphia and Boston, as long as the band maintained the same quality and standard as their Washington performance and continued to win over fans, the subsequent impact would slowly build and spread, creating a real buzz. Then, more people would gradually head to YouTube to dig up their past.

It just needed time.

Faced with Maxim's confident and self-assured attitude, the other band members were all thinking, "Don't act like we're old friends!" But Maxim remained unfazed, sticking to his guns and acknowledging his earlier statement.

This allowed Wyatt to smoothly shift the focus. The question he had initially directed at Ronan was now thrown back to Maxim: about the opening mistake.

"That's all Cliff and Ollie's fault," Maxim immediately deflected. "Cliff completely forgot to bring his in-ears, and Ollie only had one in. Then, standing on a stage like the one at the Verizon Center, we weren't used to it, and the whole rhythm was clearly off. It was all their fault."

"Hey! Don't act like you weren't wrong too," Cliff immediately protested. This was the band's first time appearing in a magazine, and he definitely didn't want his mistakes recorded in print. But the mistake was undeniable, so at least he should drag a few others down with him.

Maxim straightened his back, leaning over Cliff to exert some physical pressure. "My in-ears were perfectly fine."

"But your timing was off too! I was wrong, Ollie was wrong, and you were wrong. You don't believe me? Ask Ronan!" Cliff blurted out everything at once, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

Maxim was so agitated that he stood up slightly, his butt hovering just above the sofa. His face flushed as he expressed his frustration. "That's because you... it was you! It was clearly you..." He should have argued logically, but his head was spinning, and he couldn't stop the words from tumbling out, turning into a "damsel in distress" kind of complaint.

Ronan sighed and rubbed his forehead.

Clearly, facing an interview with "Rolling Stone" magazine, the band members were all acting a little... dramatic, slightly more intense and obvious than usual. They were putting on a bit of a show, not like their stage performances, but more like acting in front of a reporter, trying to present their best side. They hadn't expected that all their emotions would also be amplified, eventually going off the rails and becoming more exaggerated than usual.

Wyatt watched this lively scene unfold before turning to Ronan. "Aren't you going to stop them?"

"I don't think we can hide it anymore," Ronan replied. "Maybe your interview title could be something like, 'King for a Day: A Band Plagued by Internal Conflicts Before Achieving Success, Destined to Fail on the Road to Stardom'." Ronan not only didn't stop them but also earnestly discussed article-writing techniques with Wyatt.

"Ronan Cooper!"

Maxim and Cliff's simultaneous shout showed the powerful coordination of a men's doubles ping-pong team, their voices exploding right next to his ears.

Ronan raised his right hand and repeatedly pressed it down. "Quiet, quiet. We're in a public place. What if we scare the plants?" Then, ignoring Maxim and Cliff's frustrated expressions, he turned to Wyatt with a smile. "You can always see their teamwork at times like this."

"Haha." Wyatt finally couldn't help but burst into laughter. "So, is that how you resolved the opening mistake on the night of the tour as well?"

"Something like that." The question ultimately came back to Ronan. "Actually, our lack of performance experience didn't offer many solutions. At the time, my mind went completely blank. I didn't know what to do, but I always believed that the show should go on, it couldn't stop."

"The greatest charm of a concert is that it provides a platform for performers and the audience to communicate face-to-face. It's a two-way response."

"If a singer stands on stage and completely ignores the audience, lost in their own world, then why shouldn't the audience just listen to the album at home? Conversely, if the audience is physically present but their minds are elsewhere, giving no response, then why don't they just stay home and rest?"

As he spoke, Wyatt once again caught that pure excitement and passion in Ronan's eyes. The genuine sincerity made his eyes sparkle, as if the whole world had suddenly lit up. It made Wyatt feel uplifted too, and he started to miss going to concerts.

This wasn't easy for him to admit.

Because of his work, Wyatt had seen far too many concerts. Gradually, he had lost that excitement of being present at a live show. Everything had become routine, and once the passion faded, he couldn't feel that inner warmth anymore.

But now?

"I realized that we weren't alone on stage. We could invite the audience to join in the performance, correct our mistakes, and then all get caught up in the excitement of the concert together. I couldn't predict exactly what I would face, but at the time, that's what I did."

Watching Ronan get excited again, unable to contain his enthusiasm, Wyatt also became curious about what the atmosphere had been like that night.

"You succeeded," Wyatt concluded.

Ronan laughed heartily. "A reporter from 'Rolling Stone' magazine showed up in front of us, so I guess our performance that night must have been pretty good."

Faced with praise and affirmation, Ronan was slowly learning to accept it calmly. Although he still couldn't respond with complete confidence, he was getting there.

Just then, the hotel lobby suddenly brightened. The dark clouds above the city slowly dispersed, and a beam of sunlight pierced through the layers of clouds, shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the front of the lobby. It landed right in the area where the King for a Day band members and Wyatt were sitting, like a spotlight.

Wyatt could immediately see Ronan's eyes sparkling in the golden sunlight. His clear pupils reflected the swaying golden light, and his whole face seemed to illuminate, making the sunlight pale in comparison. That inner vitality, like flower buds embracing spring, proudly bloomed.