**Chapter 416: A Stunning Entrance** Her heart was pounding uncontrollably. Blair Miller felt like she might throw up at any moment. She turned her head and noticed that Karen Fox was in a similar s

**Chapter 416: A Stunning Entrance**

Her heart was pounding uncontrollably.

Blair Miller felt like she might throw up at any moment. She turned her head and noticed that Karen Fox was in a similar state. Her smiling face had gone completely stiff. Although her mouth was curved upward, her eyes betrayed the overwhelming anxiety and nervousness within.

Even now, as the two of them stood inside "The Tonight Show" studio, it was still hard to believe—

This was really happening.

Blair had never imagined that after following Anson because of the Emmy Awards, she would end up receiving an invitation to "The Tonight Show" taping, crossing the entire North American continent from New York to Los Angeles, and getting the chance to meet Anson up close.

Karen never expected it either. After she accidentally filmed a video on the streets of Manhattan and uploaded it to a forum because she liked it, it ended up becoming one of the most incredible and beautiful memories of her life. From the moment she boarded the plane, everything felt too dreamy to be real.

As the creators of the performance video and witnesses to the street performance that day, Blair and Karen had received an invitation from "The Tonight Show" to share their firsthand experience and reveal the stories behind the video that the band members might not know, giving the audience a complete behind-the-scenes look.

So here they were, sitting in the front row of the audience at "The Tonight Show" studio, with even a camera focused on them.

"Breathe, Blair, breathe!"

Blair silently reminded herself, but she couldn't quite distinguish whether her nervousness was because of Anson, the taping of the show, or something else. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest at any moment.

Why were they so excited and exhilarated, even though they weren't the stars of the show?

He appeared.

Anson Wood.

The moment Blair saw Anson up close, it felt like the world had stopped—

There was no noise, no sound, no tension, no excitement. Her gaze was fixed on his figure, following his every move. Even the surrounding lights seemed to fade, as if a spotlight was solely focused on him. In that moment, the world consisted only of him and her.

Everything else became unimportant.

She couldn't feel the passage of time at all.

It wasn't until she heard the live crew counting down that Blair became acutely aware of her heartbeat, thumping louder and louder in her ears.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Happiness bloomed like a firework, brilliant and vibrant.

Blair had never known that things could be so simple and pure—that simply liking someone could bring such pure joy and happiness, even without the other person's acknowledgment. Just quietly watching him was enough to light up her entire day. She thought her fondness for Anson was just superficial, based on his appearance, but little did she know, she had long since fallen for him, unable to pull herself out.

Then.

Slowly, gradually, the lights in the studio dimmed, until only one spotlight remained, shining on Miles. The entire world seemed to quiet down.

One person. One cello.

Elegant yet lonely, calm yet isolated.

Then, the strings began to play—a sound both ancient and gentle, melodic and melancholic. This classical instrument, unfamiliar to the general public, resonated with a deep, steady beauty that captured everyone's attention.

But that wasn't enough, not nearly enough.

Eyes remained on the cello, but focus wavered. The audience assumed it was just another classical music performance, nothing particularly special. It was hard to imagine "The Tonight Show" would devote a segment to something like this—slightly disappointing.

Since when did "The Tonight Show" turn into "The Oprah Winfrey Show"?

Not that there was anything wrong with "The Oprah Winfrey Show," but the nature was different. "The Tonight Show" viewers typically enjoyed sarcasm, humor, and sharp conversations, not inspirational talk—and certainly not classical music.

It was understandable that their gaze stayed fixed out of politeness, but their attention drifted out of instinct.

Until—

Connor. Lily. Anson. They appeared one by one, surrounding the cello. Four people, one instrument, yet they perfectly showcased the layers and style of the melody. The entire studio was stunned.

What was this?

It wasn't just the live audience—even Jay Leno was caught off guard.

Although Jay Leno had already seen the video on the forum and knew what to expect, which is why he agreed to invite an unknown band on the show:

After all, with the summer blockbuster season approaching, the line of movie casts waiting to appear on "The Tonight Show" was already long. Their regular tapings were fully booked. If not for the need to prevent the show from falling into a monotonous routine of promoting summer movies, which could lead to audience fatigue, they wouldn't have sought out new content to mix things up.

Yet, at that moment, curiosity still led Jay Leno to lean forward and crane his neck for a better look.

Seeing it live was even more magical than watching the video. Even witnessing it in person, it was still hard to believe how they had come up with such an idea.

Perhaps the only exceptions in the studio were Blair and Karen.

They weren't trying to figure it out; they were just enjoying it.

Last time, they had witnessed the street performance live, but like today's audience, they were so caught up in the excitement and thrill of the moment that they forgot to truly immerse themselves in the music.

Especially Karen.

She was responsible for filming, so she couldn't jump, cheer, or scream. She had to use all her strength to restrain herself from joining the crowd in celebration.

Today was different.

Karen wanted to savor this moment, to fully immerse herself in the melody, feeling the notes with her heart, her body, and her soul.

She knew that what she was witnessing was only the beginning—

One layer. Then another.

From the serene and calm a cappella to the resonant clash of instruments, the richness and layers of the arrangement captivated the entire audience, taking them on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that steadily climbed to new heights. The performance's progressive intensity not only showcased Anson's mastery but also highlighted the band's versatility.

The passion, the adrenaline, the joy—they were released step by step, as if the audience could actually "see" the brilliance and grandeur of the notes unfolding before them.

Just when the live audience thought the arrangement was already rich enough, and the music had reached its peak, a subtle shift occurred, leading them into an entirely new realm.

It was like a breathtaking revelation, as if a hidden path suddenly appeared, opening up to a stunning new landscape that stirred their minds into a frenzy.

Incredibly, there was yet another layer.

As Anson introduced each band member, and each member was given the opportunity for a solo showcase, where one instrument took the lead while the others provided the backdrop, the depth of the music and the band's uniqueness were fully revealed. The audience could truly sense that this band was one of a kind:

The number of members wasn't just for show.

Every instrument, every member had the chance to shine in different combinations and arrangements, and even in solos, they never felt isolated.

It was like a symphony orchestra.

Finally, Anson returned to the snare drum, picked up the drumsticks, and brought them down with a powerful strike—

A battle anthem, exhilarating and rousing.