Actor in Hollywood

People come, people go.

The tides rise, the tides surge.

The New York before his eyes appeared busy and noisy, the passing crowds filling the entire view, yet no one was willing to stop.

Even without smartphones, this concrete jungle remained as busy, crowded, and cold as ever. Each person seemed like a tightly wound toy, soulless and unable to stop, rushing forward at full speed. The whistling and clamor around turned the scene into a blur of light and shadow.

It was like the data world in "The Matrix."

A person was just a string of data, passing by each other in a hurry, without intersecting or even acknowledging one another.

Because of this, that unnoticed melody felt even more special.

Quiet and sorrowful, bright and clear, it colored the world with its notes. The thin golden sunlight carried a hint of warmth, drawing both eyes and ears toward it.

It was a four-member band: guitar, keyboard, drummer... and a cello.

Anson was a little surprised.

After Linkin Park integrated rap and electronic elements into rock, a new era of rock bands began, with increasingly diverse instruments and combinations.

But the cello was still very rare.

As a classical instrument, the cello's bass was difficult to harmonize with in a band setting. Even with another bass instrument like the bass guitar, they weren't on the same frequency, and if not careful, they could clash. This made not only live performances challenging but even composing a difficult task.

OneRepublic released the single "Apologize" in 2006, and the song's arrangement revolved entirely around the cello, opening up a new world within the pop-rock band genre. However, even after the success of "Apologize," the use of the cello in rock bands remained uncommon.

Yet today, on the street, he saw a cello being played—

Wait, could this be an early, yet-to-be-famous version of OneRepublic?

Anson was curious.

But no, it wasn't.

There was no Ryan Tedder, nor did he see any familiar faces from OneRepublic.

It didn't even seem like a folk band, just a pure rock band. After a quick glance, Anson didn't recognize any familiar faces.

Indeed, hidden talents abound. Even as early as 2000, there were bands already experimenting with integrating classical instruments into their compositions. Long before people saw the results, others had been laying the groundwork for a long time.

In hindsight, it wasn't surprising.

"Apologize" was released as a single in 2006 but didn't explode in popularity until 2008 when it was used as a soundtrack in the TV series "Gossip Girl."

The use of the cello in a rock band was indeed challenging; for it to be widely accepted by the public would take an even longer process.

The band before him was no different—

Learning how to use the cello correctly was still a lesson they were mastering, so the melody they played was slightly rough, not yet perfectly harmonious.

Meanwhile, the passersby refused to stop, not even sparing a glance, completely oblivious to their existence.

In the past, movies featuring street performances, like "Begin Again," often romanticized these scenes. But now, drawing from the original host's memories, Anson knew that even he had tried street performing before, and the reality was far more brutal and disappointing than imagined.

In New York, not just anyone could perform on the streets; they had to apply for a permit from City Hall and perform in designated areas. If they changed locations, they needed to report back to City Hall.

Although the income from performing wasn't taxable, it wasn't a lucrative job either. In a city as expensive as New York, the daily rent and cost of meals were enough to crush an independent musician. Besides street performing, they likely needed other part-time jobs to cover living expenses.

Yes, New York was a place of opportunities; but it was also fiercely competitive, with costs so high they could make one lose the will to live, leaving no hope in sight.

The beautiful melody came to a temporary halt, yet the cello case on the ground before them remained empty, with not even a single audience member.

The faces of the four band members showed different expressions, but all bore the same look of exhaustion and bitterness, as if they might shatter with the slightest touch, unable to hold on any longer.

They were confused, frustrated, and helpless, avoiding eye contact, hiding the emotions churning inside them.

Then, one of them finally couldn't hold it in any longer. Without saying much, he took off his guitar, muttered a few words, and turned to leave. Someone beside him tried to stop him, but without saying anything, the man broke down, spiraling into a frenzy.

"I've had enough!"

"Jesus Christ, I see no hope, no plan. I'm not young anymore, and I don't know how much longer I can keep wandering the streets like this."

"I... I wish I had the answers. I wish I could be unbreakable. I wish I could carry on, drifting and indulging as if nothing happened, but..."

"I..."

His voice was carried by the wind. With his back turned to Anson, he stood there, his shoulders slumped, looking lost and forlorn. His emotions poured out in a torrent, but his words trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished. As he looked at his three bandmates, guilt suddenly overwhelmed him, and he rubbed his face vigorously.

"Sorry."

With that single word of apology, he turned and walked away with large strides, merging into the surging crowd, disappearing from sight.

Yet, the truly heartbreaking part was—

No one noticed.

Even as they argued and cried out, even as their voices were carried by the wind and reached Anson's ears, no one stopped.

Life in New York was simply too busy, leaving no time to pause and witness the commotion. The endless flow of people continued, unchanged.

The three remaining stood in the middle of the crowd. Despite the surrounding clamor, they appeared distinctly lonely, a bitter taste spreading across their tongues.

Anson suddenly thought of "Titanic."

As the ship sank and everyone was scrambling for their lives, the band continued to play on the deck. They knew no one was listening, no one could afford to stop, yet they persisted, trying to offer a shred of comfort with their music, even if it was just a fleeting illusion.

The poignant and beautiful melody couldn't make people stop, nor could it save the Titanic from sinking, but in that moment, life felt warm.

This is the power of cinema, and more so, the power of music.

Then, Anson saw the sadness, despair, and confusion on the faces of the remaining three. In the end, they bowed their heads in silence, starting to pack up their instruments, ready to leave.

The young man holding the cello looked uneasy, trying to stop the band members but unable to speak. He sat there in a daze, almost on the verge of tears.

Although he said nothing, he feared it was all his fault—that it was the presence of the cello that held his friends back. He wanted to leave, but the reluctance in his heart choked him, his eyes flickering with hesitation. He quickly raised his hand to rub his eyes, trying to hide his distress.

Then, a voice from the front caused them all to pause.

"Excuse me, could you play one more song?"

**End of Chapter 3.**