411-415

Chapter 411: A Stroke of Luck

From the timeline perspective, "Spider-Man" seems like the most plausible explanation, and everything fits neatly.

However, that's not the case.

Edgar couldn't hold back and muttered, "In my opinion, you should have been on a talk show already."

"Not showcasing your eloquence is such a waste, but apparently, Sony Columbia doesn't see it that way. They're worried that as a newcomer, you might mess up the promotion, so they never even reached out to the talk shows..."

"Captain, focus," Anson interrupted Edgar's ongoing complaints, feeling the need to bring him back on track.

But Edgar didn’t stop there. "They’ll regret it. They missed out on a prime promotional opportunity. The distribution department needs to seriously reconsider their strategy."

Without a doubt, the summer blockbuster season is fiercely competitive, with intense battles for coverage in magazines and on talk shows.

However, for a film of "Spider-Man's" caliber, if Sony Columbia wanted to develop a promotional strategy, getting on magazines and talk shows wouldn't have been a problem.

The issue was that Sony Columbia hesitated this time. In the promotional period, they decided to play it safe, avoiding risks and sticking to a strategy focused on print media. Forget about talk shows—they didn't even schedule any radio interviews, leaving many people bewildered by this conservative approach.

Essentially, Sony Columbia still had doubts.

First, they didn’t fully trust Sam Raimi as the director.

Second, they didn’t fully trust Anson and Kirsten Dunst as leads.

Third, relying solely on Willem Dafoe for promotion wasn’t enough.

In conclusion, Sony Columbia felt that TV or radio promotions might expose weaknesses or even cause damage. So after weighing all the factors, they decided to shift entirely to print media.

After all, it was still 2002, and print media remained influential. The promotional impact of newspapers and magazines was not necessarily weaker than that of TV shows.

Edgar, however, saw this as a huge oversight.

Sony Columbia had already taken a bold risk by choosing Sam Raimi as director and casting Anson and Kirsten as the leads, so why not go all the way?

Why not continue taking risks? Why not play up the youth angle? Even if they didn't fully trust Anson's individual appeal, they could have at least created some buzz by grouping Anson, James, and Kirsten together.

Unfortunately, Edgar was just frustrated with no real way to help. He had no voice within Sony Columbia and could only follow the contract.

It was infuriating to even think about it.

In a rare display, Edgar widened his eyes at Anson and declared, "They’ll regret it."

Anson chuckled and nodded sincerely. "I’m sure they will."

Only then did Edgar calm down a bit. He reached into his briefcase, pulled out a stack of papers, and asked, "Is this you?"

—Old school.

No computers or smartphones, just a stack of printed pages from a color printer. The image quality was slightly blurred, and you could even see the pixelation due to the original image being unclear.

Despite that, Anson recognized it.

It seemed to be from a video, and these printed pages were screenshots from it.

Anson was a bit surprised, a smile creeping onto his lips. "Wow, there's a video? How did I not know? Was someone filming a home video at the time?"

If it were twenty years later, with smartphones making photo and video recording a part of everyday life, it wouldn’t be surprising for anything to be captured. But at this time, cameras were still bulky, camcorders had to be carried on the shoulder, and handheld home camcorders had just started becoming popular. Things were different.

For Edgar, this was more than enough. "So it really is you. Oh, God."

Anson, puzzled, asked, "Is that a positive 'Oh, God,' or a negative 'Oh, God'? Let me guess, it’s a positive one?"

Edgar nodded repeatedly, not responding directly to Anson. Instead, he clenched his fists, stood up, and cheered, "Oh yeah!" His face lit up with joy before he began to explain.

Here’s what happened—

Before the rise of social media, it was still the era of BBS forums.

Early last year, a post on the Yahoo community caught some attention. The post contained a video, shot using a handheld home camcorder.

The video quality wasn’t clear, and the camera was slightly shaky, clearly an amateur recording. The poster confirmed that it was a street performance filmed in Manhattan, New York, purely by chance. But because they liked it so much, they uploaded it to the forum, hoping for more discussion.

The video featured a performance by a four-member band, with one particularly unique element—a cello, which was quite unusual.

Initially, due to the video’s quality and the cello, the post didn’t make much of an impact, receiving only minor discussions. But over time, these small discussions started to gain momentum, spreading quickly among music enthusiasts.

What began as a dozen or so discussion posts a week grew to thousands.

Amazingly, the post’s popularity never waned, eventually becoming a year-long hot topic on the Yahoo community. The thread had amassed over 337,600 comments before it was finally locked from further discussion, by then already pinned as a permanent highlight.

It’s important to note that the discussion was entirely among music enthusiasts—a niche audience. Unlike how things would spread virally twenty years later, the conversation stayed within the music lover community, with no broader reach.

They analyzed the band members, they analyzed the music, yet no further information ever surfaced—

The song had inspired nearly a hundred cover versions, but mysteriously, the original version still hadn’t been released. And yet, everyone knew the original was from that video.

It was a magical moment.

Up until last month, "The Tonight Show" team discovered this post. After understanding the backstory, they became deeply interested and wanted to track down the band from the video to invite them for a performance on the show.

"And then, they found me."

"My God, they still couldn’t believe their own judgment—Anson? That actor Anson? Why would he appear in a video of an indie band?"

"Because the video quality was poor, they couldn’t be 100% sure, so they sent the screenshots to me for confirmation."

"It wasn’t just them—even I wasn’t sure."

"Jesus Christ, we’re going to be on 'The Tonight Show,' Anson. We’re going to be on 'The Tonight Show!'"

"But wait, why were you in that video? Was it from before you became an actor?"

The information was overwhelming, leaving Edgar somewhat incoherent.

With so many questions, Anson didn’t even know where to start. He himself was quite surprised, never expecting his past to resurface in this manner.

After some thought, Anson asked, "Did the show manage to contact the other three members?"

This was a question Edgar hadn't anticipated. He blinked, "Aren’t they your friends?"

Anson chuckled, "No, we just met once. If it weren’t for you bringing these screenshots, I probably would never have crossed paths with them again."

Edgar: Huh?

### Chapter 412: Light at the End of the Tunnel

The bow lightly grazed the strings, fingertips and wrists sensing that shivering vibration, like a sorrowful lament. Blue notes gently flowed out, swirling around his ankles, with a biting cold slowly seeping through his toes into his skin.

Zing.

Miles Anderson abruptly pressed down on the strings, rudely interrupting the performance. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down, but his thoughts were still a tangled mess.

Leaving the band, leaving rock/pop music—it wasn’t something Miles needed to worry about for the future. He could always return to classical music, continuing to play his cello as he had before. Here, he was still the young, promising prodigy, with endless possibilities ahead.

And yet.

Miles couldn’t seem to find peace. He no longer felt the excitement and passion that once drove him to join the band and infuse classical elements into pop music. Life had returned to normal, but it was a life where he could see everything ahead of him, devoid of warmth and color.

Without realizing it, Miles often found himself lost in thought, his mind completely blank.

“Miles, you can’t seem to settle down. Your playing is noisy, restless. You need to adjust.”

“What’s going on? Has something happened in your life recently? You can’t perform on stage in this state.”

A concerned voice from a member of the classical ensemble broke through his thoughts.

Miles didn’t know how to respond.

Luckily, someone interrupted the rehearsal, offering a temporary escape from his predicament. “Miles, your phone has been vibrating in your coat pocket. I’m not sure, but I think it’s rung at least three times. Are you sure everything’s okay?”

Miles blinked and forced a smile. “Sorry, I’ll check it.”

He stood up and almost fled the rehearsal room, quickly rushing outside. It was only when he reached the open air that he felt like he could breathe again. After a brief pause to collect himself, Miles headed toward the lounge.

The band he’d formed with Lily Watkins and Connor Jenks hadn’t survived in the end.

In truth, they had “stolen” an extra year—

That afternoon, they stood on a Manhattan street, playing “Wake Me Up” with a stranger.

It was like something out of Alice in Wonderland, so magical and surreal that they couldn’t help but question its reality. The stranger had turned and disappeared into the crowd as if they’d never existed, leaving them wondering if it had all been a dream.

But the miracle happened.

Thanks to “Wake Me Up,” their band got another chance to perform. They regained their confidence, inspired by the song.

Originally, they had been on the verge of collapse, with giving up seeming like the only option. But “Wake Me Up” gave their band a lifeline, a glimmer of hope.

For a whole year.

But a year wasn’t enough. In the end, they still went their separate ways—

Miles returned to the classical ensemble, and the time spent wandering with the band seemed like a brief escape in his long life.

Lily became a backup singer and musician, not creating or performing in the spotlight, but joining a small group that provided background music for weddings, birthdays, and coming-of-age ceremonies. It was a life they’d once scoffed at, but at least she had work and income to survive.

And Connor?

Miles hadn’t heard from him in a long, long time. The last he’d heard, Connor had returned to his hometown of Kansas City, but what he was doing there remained a mystery.

They were like dandelions, scattered to the winds, drifting apart to different corners of the world.

…

“Connor... Connor! The phone. Line three.”

From a distance, a voice called out. Connor Jenks stood at the checkout line, helping customers scan and bag their purchases. One by one, he packed the items into plastic bags.

This was a large supermarket that sold everything, so customers often had extensive shopping lists. Bagging required separating items, at least distinguishing between food and other goods.

Even after three months of working at the supermarket, Connor sometimes still seemed a bit clumsy, occasionally mixing up the bags.

So he needed to stay focused and not get distracted.

Even when he heard his name, Connor didn’t respond, concentrating instead on finishing the bagging before flashing the customer a polite smile.

“Have a great day.”

After the customer left, Connor gestured for the next person to wait a moment before picking up the phone hanging by the register and pressing the number three.

"Hello, this is Connor Jenks."

"Oh, hey, Mr. Jenks, this is the team from The Tonight Show. We’re calling to confirm..."

"What?" Connor frowned. "The Tonight Show? Come on, Robert, this joke isn’t funny at all."

"Uh, Mr. Jenks, this really is The Tonight Show team. We called your home, and your mother answered. She told us you were at work."

"Ha. Ha. Robert, very clever, but you’re not fooling me. The Tonight Show? Seriously? If you’d said the Kansas City Chiefs wanted me to sing the national anthem, that might be a little more believable. Nice try, Robert, but I’m really busy right now. We’ll talk later."

Without waiting for a response, Connor hung up the phone.

Connor was trying to adapt to his current life.

He kept telling himself not to dream, not to chase impossible fantasies. He had tried, he had fought, but in the end, he had failed. It was time to accept that with grace.

There was no need for self-pity, and he shouldn’t wallow in sadness. Life would go on, and he needed to face it practically, living honestly.

At least he had a steady income now, even if it was from a supermarket job. He was living in his parents' basement, rent-free, but he couldn’t just freeload. He had to stop indulging in unrealistic dreams.

No time to be sentimental, Connor put on a smile and welcomed the next customer.

But before long, the store manager called him again.

"Connor, line one."

Connor hesitated, feeling a bit frustrated. What was up with his friends today, pranking him nonstop?

"It’s someone named Miles Anderson. He says it’s urgent."

Connor froze.

Miles Anderson?

He hadn’t heard that name in so long—four months? Six months? It felt like it had been in another lifetime.

But what could Miles want with him?

Connor was dazed, unable to sort out his emotions. He muttered an apology to the customer and picked up the phone.

"Hey. Hey... Miles."

"Connor, Connor, we’re going to The Tonight Show!"

Connor: ??? “Robert, this isn’t funny.”

"Connor? It’s me, Miles. The Tonight Show just called—they’ve invited us on the show. Didn’t they call you?"

Connor was stunned. His heart clenched, and his knees buckled as he sank to the floor. He was completely overwhelmed, as if all his senses had shut down.

*Chapter 413: Reality Sets In*

God.

Oh, God, God, God.

Connor tried with all his might to keep it together, but his fingers couldn’t stop trembling. He quickly clenched his hands into fists, trying to hide his nervousness.

It wasn’t easy.

He looked up at the single-story house in front of him, then around at the palm trees swaying gently in the California sun. The golden light was warm against his skin, grounding him in the reality that he had truly made it to Los Angeles. The bustling traffic and crowded streets were a stark contrast to his life in Kansas City, reviving memories of his time in New York. He took another deep breath before finally moving forward.

Knock, knock.

Connor knocked on the door and glanced down at his simple T-shirt, feeling a bit awkward and wondering if he was being too casual for this visit.

But then, would a shirt and tie have been too formal?

"Oh, Connor, finally! You’re the last one here."

It was Lily Watkins who opened the door, and the sight of her made Connor feel disoriented. He peeked past her shoulder, trying to get a look inside.

Lily noticed and smiled. "I know, right? I still can’t believe Anson is an actor. And I can’t believe we’re actually in Los Angeles."

Connor pulled back and offered Lily a shy smile. "Everything’s happening so fast. It still doesn’t feel real."

There was so much to take in that Connor didn’t even know where to begin feeling excited, amazed, or happy.

Lily understood. She held up her hands, showing them to Connor—

Her fingertips were trembling slightly.

Lowering her voice, she said, "My knees are shaking too. I can barely stand."

Connor immediately lowered his voice as well. "Do you think it’s okay for me to show up like this?"

He noticed that Lily was wearing a black cocktail dress and had done her hair, making her look much more formal.

Lily self-consciously tugged at the hem of her dress. "This is the best outfit I have. It’s what I wear for weddings. I’m starting to wonder if I’m overdressed..."

Before she could finish, a figure appeared from the kitchen, carrying a tray of tea. The person immediately noticed the commotion at the door.

"Hey, Connor, welcome. Come on in."

"Sorry I didn’t greet you at the door, but I’m trying to be a good host. I’m not sure if I’m doing it right."

"Tea?"

Connor finally saw Anson.

Wearing a white T-shirt with jeans, barefoot, he looked casual and relaxed. Yet there was an undeniable charisma in his every move that naturally drew attention. The moment he appeared, the entire room seemed to brighten.

Miles, who had been sitting stiffly on the sofa, quickly stood up, ready to help. But Anson insisted on setting the tea tray down himself.

Connor glanced at his own T-shirt and felt a bit more at ease. "Tea? Sure, why not."

Anson was genuinely trying to play the role of a good host, but it was clear he was struggling. In the end, Connor took over the tea-making process.

Anson raised his hands in a mock surrender. "I blame the tools. I tried to set up a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, but I don’t have the right equipment. It’s been a challenge."

You can’t make bricks without straw, as they say.

Seeing Anson’s candid expression, Connor couldn’t help but smile.

Anson smiled back. "Finally, you’re relaxing a bit. Just a moment ago, it felt like Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf were in the same room."

Connor realized that over the past few months, he had unknowingly lost his edge, becoming cautious and reserved. Only now was he starting to feel like his old, confident self again. "Sorry, I just haven’t been able to wrap my head around the fact that you’re an actor."

"I mean, your house... it’s so clean."

Anson laughed heartily. "Actors are supposed to be narcissists, right? The house should be filled with pictures and posters of ourselves. You should see James Franco’s room—my roommate. He’s every bit the stereotype you’d expect."

Lily nudged Connor’s knee with hers. "Didn’t you notice when you came from the airport? Anson’s face is all over the city."

Connor: ?

“Spider-Man” had already entered its early promotional phase, with posters everywhere, featuring giant close-ups of Anson’s face.

This time, the scale was entirely different, giving Anson a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a hundred-million-dollar blockbuster.

Now, when Anson went out, he had to start wearing a baseball cap.

Last time, he was helping a lady load groceries into her trunk in a supermarket parking lot. The woman mentioned that he looked familiar. When he turned around, he saw a massive Spider-Man poster on a building across the street. The juxtaposition of his face in two different depths of field startled even him.

To avoid similar situations, Anson now always carried a baseball cap and sunglasses with him. It wasn’t so much about avoiding recognition but more about avoiding the eerie feeling of breaking the fourth wall—like stepping into a horror movie. He didn’t want to scare anyone.

Miles chimed in, "‘Spider-Man,’ right? I can’t believe we’re actually talking to Spider-Man."

Anson spread his hands and showed his wrists to everyone as proof. "Hey, I haven’t been bitten by a mutant spider."

The room erupted into laughter.

After the humor subsided, Anson brought the conversation back to reality. “Let’s get back to the main point. ‘The Tonight Show’ has extended an invitation, and I wanted to ask what you all think. Are you willing to accept the offer?”

Lily was the first to respond, unable to contain her excitement. “Of course. Of course, I want to go. How could we say no?”

After speaking, she realized hers was the only voice, making her feel a bit awkward. “Right, Miles? Connor?”

Anson stepped in to ease the tension, raising his hand to signal that Miles and Connor didn’t need to rush their responses. “What I mean is, you’ve seen it yourselves—my movie is about to premiere. This is a new experience for me as well.”

“I’m not sure how the show will play out, or how Jay Leno will approach the interview. They might have invited the band as a gimmick, but the spotlight could quickly shift to me.”

“I think that’s unfair—”

Miles interrupted Anson, “Things have been unfair from the start. You wrote that song. We were just the backup, and now we’re getting this ‘Tonight Show’ opportunity because of that performance. It’s only natural that the focus is on you, isn’t it?”

“As for whether it’s about the music or the movie, I don’t think it matters because the focus is you.”

Anson didn’t entirely agree with that perspective.

A band and an actor are different. An actor is an individual, often relying on their abilities. A band is a collective, incomplete without any one member. Sure, the lead singer usually gets the most attention, but Anson always believed that without the other members, a band wouldn’t be a band anymore.

Moreover, during their initial street performance, Anson had been an outsider, an intruder. He was the stranger, and he didn’t think he should overshadow the band.

But now, looking at the three of them standing before him, he decided to hold back those thoughts.

Anson shrugged lightly. “I don’t mind, of course. You know, actors—always wanting all the spotlights in the world on them.”

Laughter filled the room once more.

*Chapter 414: Fear of Gain and Loss*

The smile remained on his lips.

Anson maintained a relaxed tone. "Of course, we could sit down and have an in-depth discussion about whether it’s appropriate for all the spotlight to be on one member; but there’s an undeniable fact here."

"Indeed, without me, that performance might not have happened; but at the same time, without you all, I wouldn’t have stopped in my tracks from the beginning."

"Did I ever tell you? The reason I stepped forward was because of the cello. It wasn’t just any band or street performance; it was you."

As Anson said, they could sit down and discuss the relationship between individuals and the band. History has seen countless bands fall apart for the same reason—desire becomes an elusive and unpredictable force in the pursuit of fame, yet it often triggers countless events.

But there’s no need for that—

After all, nothing has even begun yet. They don’t even know if they can be considered a band. What’s in front of them is merely an opportunity.

The key is whether they’re ready to seize this opportunity.

Anson could tell that Lily and Miles were very eager, but Connor wasn’t.

Connor seemed a bit quiet.

Anson gave a smile. "So, the decision is yours."

Lily was ready to speak up but noticed Miles’s gaze. Following Miles’s eyes to Anson, she saw that Anson’s attention was on Connor.

Lily paused. "Connor?"

Connor was lost in his thoughts. Without warning, he lowered his head, his right foot anxiously shaking. "I, uh... I’m not sure."

"Connor!" Lily called out.

Connor gently shook his head. "I know, I understand. I want to go, I want to say yes, and that’s why I’m here."

"But."

A moment of silence.

"I’m scared."

"I’m scared of reigniting hope only to be disappointed again. That... that hurts too much."

"Sometimes, I even wonder if it would be better to not have hope in the first place."

"I, uh, I want to be on stage. I want to keep performing. I love those moments when I can connect with the audience through music. It’s not about the spotlight on me; it’s about feeling a connection, knowing I’m not alone in the universe."

"I’ve already given up. I’ve convinced myself to return to peace, to stop dreaming. But now..."

Connor wiped his face hard and looked up, his eyes slightly red, a mixture of fear and longing, of hesitation and excitement—feelings that words could hardly express.

Connor looked at Anson and quietly asked, "What if we’re disappointed again?"

Anson understood all too well. In his previous life, he had experienced disappointment time and time again until even hope became loathsome.

But no one can predict the future—not even Anson.

In the parallel world he was familiar with, he had never heard of Miles Anderson, Lily Watkins, or Connor Jenks.

So, "The Tonight Show" might be an opportunity, a turning point that could propel them to new heights; but it might also be a false hope, a brief moment in the spotlight, earning a few cheers and applause, only to be forgotten and abandoned once more, returning to the calm.

Life is cruel. It doesn’t show mercy just because of who you are.

Anson let out a long breath.

"Connor, I’m not your answer. Lily isn’t either, and neither is Miles. Everyone’s life has its own confusion. We always hope to find answers in others, but at the end of the day, the only one who can answer your questions is yourself."

Anson didn’t want to give a long speech or offer some motivational talk.

Life is long, full of endless possibilities. If you dare to take risks, you might see a vast world.

Life is short, slipping away before you even realize it. You should learn to seize every moment.

As for Connor’s doubts, Anson had no answer. Just like that boy in New York, the answer has always been in their own hands.

One sentence left Connor stunned.

In his slightly reddened eyes, there was still a glimmer of tears—fear, anticipation, hesitation, and excitement, all tugging at him.

His head drooped again until he slowly exhaled a breath. The chaotic thoughts in his mind were difficult to sort out; then, he noticed a notebook under the coffee table with a hastily written line on it.

"I don’t want to be your hero, and I don’t want to be someone important. I just want to be an ordinary person, trying to live this life well."

It hit him.

Those words fell on his heart, burning quickly, almost scorching his soul.

Connor suddenly looked up. "Anson, sorry, I was just looking around. But... this, is this a song?"

Connor pulled the notebook out from under the coffee table and placed it in front of Anson, his eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Anson glanced at it. "These are just some notes."

The inspiration came from that boy in New York.

The boy’s words had echoed in Anson’s mind over and over until he finally wrote them down, interpreting them in his own way.

Indeed, many people yearn to be superheroes, to make great achievements, to leave a legacy in history; but at the same time, there are also those who long for an ordinary life.

In his previous life, Anson had experienced too many ups and downs; this time, he just wanted to enjoy life. Even becoming an actor doesn’t mean grandeur—acting in some roles, enjoying each filming experience, and leaving no regrets would be enough.

People often dislike being ordinary, but in reality, being ordinary is not easy, and simplicity is more precious than we imagine.

There’s a common misconception about actors and singers—that those who stand in the spotlight are usually narcissistic, obsessed with fame, and chasing attention. But in truth, artists are also ordinary people. Performing is just a job, and they experience the same joys and sorrows as anyone else.

Moreover, although rare, there are indeed some artists who simply love performing, whether it's acting or music. It's not about the applause or the spotlight; it's a way of self-expression, a means of seeking connection and resonance. Not everything revolves around fame and fortune.

Of course, fame and fortune are important, very important, but not everything is tied to them.

Perhaps, the boy from New York felt this way, and so does Connor.

Anson looked at Connor, and he could see a certain purity in his eyes—a pure love for what he does. "If you'd like, it could become lyrics."

Connor’s eyes lit up. "So, we could write a song. And then perform it on ‘The Tonight Show’?"

Lily immediately caught the key point. "Connor, does this mean you’re in?"

Connor shrugged lightly.

Miles, however, was already focused on that single line of lyrics, his brows slightly furrowed as if he was contemplating how to compose the music.

The atmosphere instantly lightened, like the warmth of spring spreading through the room.

Even Anson couldn’t help but get excited. This was a new experience for him too. "So, are we ready to start creating a brand-new song?"

"Wait, wait, if we’re a band, what should we call ourselves?"

"No, no, no, no name. The story of a chance encounter on the street—we should share that on the show, so we don’t need a name."

"But we’re about to perform on ‘The Tonight Show.’ Shouldn’t we have a name?"

As they chattered and debated, the light of hope slowly began to shine down on them.

Chapter 415: First Talk Show Performance

Inhale. Exhale.

And then, once more.

Inhale. Exhale.

Lily tried to calm herself down with deep, steady breaths. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very effective. Even so, she could still hear her heart pounding loudly, as if it might burst out of her chest at any moment.

The tension she felt was contagious, affecting the others as well. Even Connor’s breathing had become erratic.

Finally, Connor couldn’t hold it in any longer. “God, Lily, you’re throwing me off so much that I almost forgot how to breathe. I thought you were the one most excited about this performance. But now, when the moment's finally here, you’re giving off such anxious vibes that it seems like you can’t wait to leave the studio.”

Lily attempted to muster a smile—

But failed.

“Oh, Jesus Christ, I feel like my heart’s about to explode.” Lily covered her face with her hands. “What if we mess up? What if we ruin the whole performance?”

They were standing at the NBC studio in Burbank, Los Angeles, where "The Tonight Show" was recorded. Everything was set, and they were about to take the stage.

It was all new.

The studio, the makeup, the styling, the fully professional equipment, the pre-show rehearsal, the entire crew, and the audience members slowly filing into the studio.

The whole atmosphere, infused with a sense of professionalism, gripped their hearts, making it hard to breathe. There was a palpable sense of urgency, as if everything might suddenly explode.

Even Miles, who had once performed at Carnegie Hall, was feeling the difference in atmosphere between a concert hall and a television studio. Ever since the rehearsal ended, he had been in a daze, like a puppet waiting to be directed, leaving one to wonder if his soul had left his body and been replaced by an avatar.

Not to mention Lily and Connor, who had never experienced anything of this magnitude.

Initially, Anson was nervous as well.

Whether it was a talk show appearance or a band’s official performance, this was his first time, and the mix of anticipation and anxiety had sparked a small fire in his stomach.

But seeing his three companions so tense and anxious gradually calmed him down. If they were this nervous, at least one of them needed to stay composed.

Moreover, from the beginning, Anson had resolved to fully enjoy this journey—

Not because he had a safety net, but because every opportunity was an unexpected gift. Rather than worry about potential failures, it was better to seize each moment.

Now, hearing Lily and Connor’s conversation, Anson couldn’t help but smile slightly. “Don’t worry, this is a television show, not a live broadcast. It’s pre-recorded, so if we mess up, we can just do another take.”

Lily: …

Connor: …

Even Miles was taken aback. He hadn’t considered this at all. At Carnegie Hall, performances were live, and any mistakes were irreparable. Though they always told themselves that mistakes were part of live performances, the errors still left a mark, difficult to forget.

Miles asked, “Wait, really?”

Anson nodded. “Of course. Unless you mess up ten or so times in a row, in which case the crew might not bother trying to save it. But otherwise, they can always do another take.”

“If I remember correctly, ‘SNL’ is live, you know, ‘Saturday Night Live.’ The title emphasizes the live aspect. But most other late-night talk shows are pre-recorded.”

Phew.

Lily let out a long breath, and her nerves finally started to relax a bit.

Anson continued, “Even if we do mess up, it’s not a big deal. The audience watching at home won’t know what the correct version was supposed to be, so we can just pretend the mistake was intentional, and everything will be fine.”

Connor burst out laughing. “Anson, are you being cheeky?”

Anson remained completely unfazed. “How do you think those British rock bands have managed to survive all these music festivals?”

One second, two seconds—

Then, one by one, they all started chuckling, and the tense atmosphere evaporated.

Connor couldn’t help but glance at Anson again. It seemed that whatever fell into Anson’s hands somehow became easier to handle. Perhaps this really was a turning point.

And even if it wasn’t, failure didn’t seem as frightening anymore.

“Hey, guys, it’s time.”

A crew member from "The Tonight Show" came to notify them and led the four of them through the backstage maze of plywood corridors. They weaved their way through the labyrinth until they reached the small stage next to the main set, where the audience was seated. The main stage was where the show was being recorded, while they headed to a side stage.

This small stage was originally intended for the show’s house band to perform.

"The Tonight Show" was a bit different from other talk shows. Here, there were no musical guests. Even if a singer came to promote an album, Jay Leno rarely let them perform. The focus of the show was always on the conversation, so the house band remained stationed on the small stage, interacting with the host.

However, on rare occasions—very, very rare occasions—Jay Leno is willing to showcase something different.

Sometimes it's a short skit, sometimes a guessing game, or maybe even a musical performance.

Not only does this diversify the show's content, but it also serves as a way to try out new things and gauge the audience's reaction.

Today, since the main guests were a street band and there was no live performance segment, relying solely on video footage lacked the visceral impact. So, the production team decided to arrange a live band performance, which is why Anson and the others have been practicing for the past few days.

Now, it's finally time to take the stage.

Before this, Anson and the crew had been busy with rehearsals and makeup, so they hadn't had the chance to find out who the other guests on "The Tonight Show" were tonight. It wasn't until this moment that Anson saw and was taken aback—

The cast of "Star Wars: Episode II."

Instinctively, Anson began to glance around, trying to spot Hayden. After all this time, could their first encounter really be at a talk show taping?

However, Hayden wasn't there.

Today's guests for the taping were three big names: Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Like the "Spider-Man" cast, the "Star Wars: Episode II" team didn't trust new actors, fearing that young performers might reveal their shortcomings on a talk show. But luckily for them, their cast had plenty of stars. Even without Hayden, they still had other actors to take on the promotional duties.

With their schedules aligned, "Spider-Man" and "Star Wars: Episode II" were set to release in the same month, with a two-week gap in between. Although there wouldn't be a direct clash, both movies were undoubtedly the main contenders in the first big showdown of this summer's blockbuster season.

In such close quarters, even if not today, there would still be plenty of opportunities ahead—chances to run into Hayden at any time.

Quickly refocusing, Anson brought his attention back—

Today, they were on "The Tonight Show," not for Hayden, not for "Spider-Man," but for the band's performance.

Once the band was fully prepared, the live director stood behind the camera and gave Jay Leno a signal.

Jay Leno understood the cue, continued the interview for a little while longer, and then, with a light chuckle, announced the end of the first segment.

"After the break, a band that played heavenly music on the streets of Manhattan will join us as guests. We'll see you shortly."

The wait wasn't long. The live director then turned to the band and raised his hand—

Three. Two. One!