**Chapter 132: Fireworks**

Thump-thump, thump-thump—

Boom-boom, boom-boom.

The keyboard kicked in, followed by the drums, light and cheerful, making you want to jump along with the rhythm. It felt like sunlight cascading down in a waterfall.

Clap-clap, clap-clap.

Then, the guitar and bass joined in. Not only that, but Daniel and Tom started bouncing around, letting their bodies sync with the rhythm and beat of the music.

A glance revealed four young people, all looking at each other—no nerves, no anxiety, no worries, no awkwardness. They had set aside their burdens for the moment, fully immersed in the melody, with their hearts colliding with the notes, sparking fireworks.

The simple melody, the cheerful drumbeats, effortlessly conveyed the lightness and joy of the music to the audience, drawing them in.

Smiles crept up on their faces.

Anson's hands danced across the black and white keys, his body leaning slightly forward toward the microphone.

*Beeep!*

A shrill sound emitted from the unprofessional microphone, causing Anson's face to scrunch up. But instead of panicking, a smile spread across his lips.

"I like her style, different from those 'fashionable' girls." (Note 1)

Jumping, rhythmic.

Anson's articulation was crisp, deliberately making each syllable short and sharp. This allowed every word to bounce off the notes, the vocals perfectly matching the rhythm, enhancing the punk vibe.

Fast. Jump. Bounce.

You could almost feel the syllables bouncing off your teeth, leaping across your heart.

"I like how she keeps her own color, I think she has her own beauty."

Bang, bang.

A pause, as Anson's slender fingers stopped on the black and white keys. He looked up at his bandmates, and they exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with hidden excitement and joy.

It was like the sunlight scattering across the Caribbean Sea.

Michael was still the same Michael—

With his retro bowl cut, nerdy appearance, and rainbow candies scattered across the black and white keys, he looked every bit the ungrown teenager.

But Michael was also not the same Michael. When he sat behind the keyboard, when he started singing, he radiated a light that made it impossible to look away.

Bang!

Michael's hands fell on the keys, causing the rainbow candies to bounce around. He couldn't help but nod along as he leaned into the microphone and belted out,

"She's so lovely!

She's so lovely!"

He sang with abandon.

At that moment, Mia made her entrance.

Riding her electric scooter, her fluffy, wild hair resembling a squirrel's tail, no one noticed her quiet arrival. Her attention was entirely on her Mustang, and she didn't notice Michael practicing with the band—the music was just background noise.

Mia smoothly passed through the garage, heading straight for her car.

Her entire focus was on the misty blue Mustang parked in the neighboring garage. As soon as it came into view, her smile bloomed uncontrollably, unable to hide her joy and happiness.

Meanwhile, Michael kept singing.

"She's so lovely!

She's so lovely!"

The scene shifted back and forth.

Michael didn't notice Mia, and Mia didn't notice Michael. They were in the same space but in two completely different worlds, entirely disconnected.

However, the melody and singing gradually turned into background music, naturally accompanying Mia's entrance.

Even though Mia didn't notice, that didn't mean others didn't.

Three girls sat on a couch between two garages, their bodies sinking deep into the cushions, staring at Michael with starry eyes—

Unable to look away.

The girls couldn't help but open their mouths, as if drooling was about to happen, and they crowded together like moles.

"Oh, my God."

"He can fix cars, he plays guitar, piano, composes music, sings, and he reads Woolf. He's just so charming."

"I thought I was the only one; I honestly think he's so adorable."

"Ahhh!"

A prairie dog scream.

Amidst the noisy music, the girls couldn't control their screams, staring at Michael, who was sitting behind the keyboard, practically undressing him with their eyes—

White T-shirt with the word "Creep" on the left chest.

Sky-blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows; paired with light blue jeans and dark blue canvas shoes.

He looked clean and fresh, yet traces of oil stains could be seen on his cuffs and jeans, not messy at all, but rather possessing a different kind of charm, a charm that was the complete opposite of the nerdy vibe of a bowl cut.

Their eyes simply couldn't look away.

Those screams didn't disturb Michael, but they did catch Mia's attention.

Mia looked over, puzzled, and only then noticed Michael practicing in the garage.

Michael was singing his heart out.

"She's a beauty, a perfect ten, but she likes someone else, what a shame."

"She doesn't know how beautiful she is, and that makes her even more beautiful."

Mia was slightly stunned—

Who was Michael singing about?

At that moment, Michael looked up and unintentionally noticed Mia. Across most of the garage, Michael and Mia exchanged a glance, and then a shy smile crept onto Michael's lips.

"You don't know.

You don't know.

You don't know how beautiful you are."

Mia froze, wondering why Michael was staring at her while continuing to sing.

Was this just a coincidence?

Was this just her imagination?

It was all because of those three prairie dog-screaming girls next to her who wouldn't stop, making her have these inexplicable thoughts. Clearly, Michael was singing this song for those fangirls.

Yes, it must be that.

"I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know how to forget all of this."

Boom.

Boom, boom, boom.

Annie tried to look away, tried to remind herself of the reason she came to the garage, but the cheerful melody and passionate drumbeats kept hitting her chest, one after another, unconsciously throwing her heartbeat out of rhythm.

Those melodies, those lyrics, every note hitting her ears perfectly, settling right on her heart, gently causing ripples, completely unsettling the calm waters of her heart.

Annie didn't even realize it herself, but it was as if an invisible red string was pulling her head up, and when she looked over, she could see Anson's eyes.

Clear. Bright. Deep.

That faint smile, so focused yet so boldly directed at her, suddenly pierced through her heart, making Annie instinctively avoid eye contact, but before she could react, she quickly looked back again.

His hands were flying over the black and white keys, the drumbeats and notes colliding like sunlight and waves, creating hot yet refreshing air that rushed towards her.

"I like the way she bites her lip."

Annie couldn't help but bite her lip.

"I like her awkward and clumsy dance moves."

Annie straightened her back slightly.

"I like how she completely captures my gaze."

Annie subconsciously avoided eye contact.

"I like how she doesn't realize how beautiful she is."

Time stopped at that moment, as if even the sunlight and breeze paused for a while. Annie and Anson, Mia and Michael's gazes intertwined, and the world quieted down; nothing else mattered anymore.

The drumbeats, like fireworks, exploded in the mind, one after another, thousands of them blooming simultaneously, making the entire brain roar.

Magnificent and grand.

Note: "She's So Lovely" by Scouting for Girls