The Greatest Showman - Chapter 849

"Damn this traffic," Andy muttered under his breath. The traffic jams in New York always seemed to have a magical ability to drive people to their breaking point. The city's chaos could turn a person irritable, on the edge of losing their temper, and before they knew it, they'd experienced the city's rollercoaster ride—constant starts and stops, with an adrenaline rush that made even a morning feel like a test of endurance.

After almost ninety minutes of stop-and-go driving, they finally arrived at Mount Sinai Hospital. Without Renly's cell phone, they had no way of pinpointing his location. They weren't even sure if he was still at the hospital, had already gone home, or had completely disappeared.

Even someone as calm as Andy couldn't shake the sense of unease. It certainly didn't help that New York in February was unbearably cold, with gusts of wind that turned the branches of trees into cracking skeletons, filling the air with a desolate sound.

The three of them rushed through the entrance of Mount Sinai Hospital, only to stop short at the sight of the massive space before them. How on earth were they supposed to find Renly in this maze?

Both Roy and Nathan turned to Andy, but Andy could only shrug. "I don't know anything about Heather's situation." So, the three quickly approached the front desk, identified themselves, and asked for Heather's room number. However, the nurse on duty insisted on confirming their identities and relationship to Heather, which added more complications to the process.

Finally, Nathan had an idea. "Renly? Do you know where Renly is? This is his agent, this is his manager, and I'm his assistant."

The nurse's eyes brightened as if a light bulb had gone off in her head. She nodded and pointed to the right. "You're Renly's team! He just came over and said he was waiting for you there."

Relieved, the trio turned in unison to the designated area and spotted Renly sitting calmly in a lounge. He was watching a news program on the television, completely at ease despite the chaos they had just endured.

After thanking the nurse, they hurried over to Renly, their faces etched with worry. But as they approached him, they found themselves at a loss for words. None of them knew how to begin.

"Renly, are you okay?" Nathan was the first to speak, his concern clear and direct.

Renly turned his gaze from the television, his lips curling into a small smile. "I'm fine," he reassured them, his tone casual. He looked at Andy and Roy, whose brows were furrowed in concern. "Don't worry, I'm fine. What can go wrong? Remember? Just twenty-four hours ago, I won an award. Today, I'm doing even better."

His lighthearted tone and self-deprecating humor indicated that, physically, he was fine. But there was something about his demeanor that made Andy and Roy uneasy—something didn't feel right, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it.

"I want to hold a concert." Without waiting for a response, Renly looked at Andy and Roy and made the unexpected declaration.

The two of them blinked, caught off guard. A concert? From a hospital to a concert? How could this be? And wasn't he just back from Berlin? Wasn't he supposed to be focusing on the upcoming award season?

"What do you mean?" Andy asked, trying to make sense of it all.

"A solo concert," Renly clarified with a smile. "Literally. I want to hold a concert as soon as possible. It doesn't matter where, as long as there's a stage and a guitar. That's enough."

Andy was quick to latch onto the most pressing question. "Why?" he asked, seeking the core of the issue.

Renly answered simply, "For an appointment. Specifically, for one person. If possible, I want a small venue that can fit sixty to a hundred people. It doesn't matter. The band, the rehearsal, the audience—it's all manageable. If needed, the venue can be free, and I'll cover the costs myself."

The information was overwhelming and complicated, but Andy was quick to regain his focus. "A concert isn't a simple thing. There's a lot involved—venue booking, ticket sales, rehearsals, promotion. This takes time, months even. You're talking about summer? What about 'Les Miserables'?"

"No," Renly interrupted, his tone calm. "I mean tomorrow. Or the day after."

Andy and Roy stared at him, stunned. This wasn't possible. Planning a concert of any size required months of preparation—this was out of the question.

"What about the Grammys? And the PR plans for the Oscars? Our timeline is tight," Roy interjected, trying to bring some order to the situation. "We barely have time left to adjust our overall plan."

Renly was unfazed. "Concerts are work, and so is the PR for college. I don't see a conflict."

Roy opened his mouth to argue, but hesitated. Finally, he looked at Andy, silently asking for guidance.

They both knew that Renly was a determined man, unwavering when it came to his beliefs. This concert, whatever its true purpose, clearly meant something to him, and no amount of arguing would change that.

They didn't need to keep debating. The concert wasn't a grand tour or a complicated event—it was a small, impromptu performance in a tiny venue. The logistics were manageable. Even the PR for college could adapt to this minor shift.

Andy, understanding what Roy was asking with a simple look, nodded. "If there's no problem with the PR, then we go ahead."

Roy caught the subtext. He knew that Renly's health was a priority, but the timing felt right to go along with him.

Andy turned to Renly, his expression softening. "Just take care of yourself. We don't want you to miss the Oscars."

Renly's smile returned, full of resolve. "I will."

After making the decision, Andy lightened the mood with a grin. "Well, I'd better get going and call Teddy Bell to reserve a venue. We've got a concert to plan!"

Although impromptu concerts weren't unheard of, they weren't without risk. A low attendance could result in significant losses, but with a small venue, the financial risks were minimal.

The most crucial task was securing the right venue—everything else would fall into place after that.

"Let's hope the turnout is good," Andy joked, the tension lifting from the room. "Otherwise, we'll be paying off the losses with last year's earnings."

Renly laughed. "No, that's the standard for a talk show."

A quiet moment passed, and outside, a golden beam of sunlight pierced through the clouds, breaking the lingering chill. Even the wind seemed to calm, leaving behind a sense of calm and warmth—a hint of hope.

Andy pulled out his phone and got to work. There was a lot to do, but the wheels were in motion. The concert, though unexpected, was becoming a reality.

By the afternoon, Andy was working nonstop, making calls, and pushing the project forward. Though they were still facing hurdles, there was no turning back now.