"Can't sleep?" Joseph leaned back on the sofa, carefully observing Hugo.Hugo seemed somewhat unusual tonight, lacking his usual proactive optimism, warmth, and gentleness. The figure leaning against the edge of the dining table looked a bit thin, a faint melancholy vaguely discernible in the moonlight. The lines of his distinct face seemed softer, mostly obscured by the interplay of light and shadow, making his expression unclear. One could only see his thick eyebrows completely covering his amber eyes, and his slightly furrowed brow held an undeniable stillness.Joseph's voice sounded somewhat hollow in the deep quiet of the night, which made Hugo slightly uncomfortable. He tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I've moved to a new place, and even chatting with you feels a bit unfamiliar." Hugo looked down at the water glass in his hand, his slender fingers wrapped around it, making the reflection in the water look slightly distorted. Moonlight spilled down, causing the water to shimmer with captivating ripples. "It's just that things feel a little unreal.""What?" Joseph didn't quite understand."Everything," Hugo murmured.Hugo was talking about his life after transmigrating, but Joseph assumed Hugo meant everything that had recently turned for the better, especially the outstanding result of the audition for "a few good men" tonight, which even Joseph hadn't anticipated. "That's because you worked hard enough."Joseph's words made Hugo let out a silent, soft chuckle, a faint curve rising at the corner of his mouth. Joseph continued, "When an opportunity arises, you still need to put in corresponding effort and pay the price to seize it; otherwise, it's all empty talk. You performed very well tonight. Not just Rob, even I was very surprised." Joseph was encouraging Hugo in his own way. This was the first time Joseph had praised Hugo from the bottom of his heart since taking over as his agent."Didn't you see Brad and Martin's expressions?" Joseph gleefully exposed the rivals' sore spots.The arc at the corner of Hugo's mouth lifted a bit higher. "Are you referring to Brad's speechless expression when I spoke during dinner, or Martin's look of wanting to eat us alive when we left?""I mean Brad's righteous expression at the very beginning." Joseph successfully made Hugo laugh out loud.Hugo held his water glass and walked over to the old piano, sitting down before it. He looked at the black and white keys for a long time without speaking. Joseph asked, "Are you going to try it?""The piano?" Hugo turned to look at Joseph, then turned his head back. "No, I'm a terrible piano killer." Hugo's most proficient instrument was undoubtedly the guitar; his talent for learning musical instruments probably ended there. He had actually studied the piano for quite a while; he could play, but his skill level was very novice.Joseph wasn't surprised. The fact that Hugo could compose music was surprising enough; not knowing how to play the piano was actually expected.Then the room fell silent. One could even hear the sound of the moonlight flowing slowly like a stream, the stillness possessing a strange kind of beauty.Hugo started humming the song from earlier again, mumbling the lyrics indistinctly between his lips, while his brain continuously reconstructed every single note, attempting to vent all the emotions in his heart using these most basic musical elements. Watching Hugo bathed in the moonlight, surrounded by exquisitely beautiful musical notes, Joseph suddenly had a feeling: this moment, this Hugo, was the most real.It wasn't that Hugo was illusory at other times, but rather that Hugo immersed in music was so genuine, his inner emotions permeating every note, echoing with the tinkling of the surrounding moonlight stream. He was even more vivid than when Hugo was diligently studying to break through his acting skills. The light emanating from Hugo shone faintly yet resolutely.Joseph found it incredible. He couldn't believe that Hugo and music could generate such a strong chemical reaction—something he had never discovered before."Hey, are you singing 'Sally Can Wait'?" Joseph interrupted Hugo's creation and asked curiously. This made Hugo turn around, looking at Joseph inexplicably. But before Joseph could react, he continued asking, "Who is Sally? A girl you know?" Joseph never knew Hugo had met a new girl.Hugo paused, then immediately shook his head. "No, I wasn't singing about Sally." However, the name Charlize surfaced in Hugo's mind because Charlize's nickname was "Sally" (Charlie). Although the pronunciation was slightly different, the association was inexplicably there.Hugo shook his head, throwing the thought out of his mind. But immediately, Hugo discovered that this lyric seemed to have a wonderful fit with the melody he had just conceived; he could try it out."So, Sally Can Wait, she knows even if the current difficulties are immense, even if thorns cover the path ahead, she is still willing to walk hand-in-hand with you. But I remember you said the future is still worth looking forward to. Take me to the place you yearn for, a place no one knows, waiting for us to explore."Hugo connected the lyrics, and the overall feeling immediately smoothed out, but he still felt dissatisfied with some parts; the artistic conception of the entire lyric hadn't reached the expected effect.Hugo fell silent again. He began to contemplate the original intention behind composing this song: it was because he couldn't let go of the past, and also because of his confusion about the future. The elegance and firmness in the melody conveyed the decision deep within Hugo's heart. But what about the lyrics? The lyrics were also meant to express Hugo's determination to fight for the future, but why did it always feel lacking in force, missing a bit of chemical reaction?Joseph didn't speak again. He could intermittently hear Hugo humming. Those beautiful notes lit up the chilly night, like the glow of fireflies, slowly illuminating as they accompanied Hugo's warm voice, causing the coldness of the moonlight touching the skin to gradually dissipate, allowing one to feel wisps of warmth coming forward.This was truly a magical thing; the charm of music was displayed to its fullest extent at this moment.But a series of jarring noises interrupted the moment. "What are you guys doing?" Hugo and Joseph both turned around simultaneously to see Alex standing at the bedroom doorway, wearing Winnie the Pooh shorts, looking over sleepily and confusedly.Hugo and Joseph exchanged a glance. Although both had lowered their voices, they had still woken Alex up. Fortunately, Alex's personality was unrestrained; otherwise, disturbing someone on the first day of cohabitation would not be a good start."Nothing, just couldn't sleep." Hugo knew he was the cause of the situation, so he took the initiative to apologize. "Sorry for waking you up."Alex waved his hand, looking completely unconcerned. "Are you worried about tonight's audition?" Alex was naturally forward; he flopped onto the sofa, hugging a pillow, and mumbled his guess. "Didn't you say the audition went smoothly? Then stop worrying. What's past is set in stone. You might as well relax and let nature take its course. dont look back in anger, because it does no good; only you will get hurt. I'm sure Rob slept very well tonight; if anyone didn't sleep well, it should be Brad."Alex was muttering away. Hugo was listening with a slight smile, but suddenly he caught a phrase and couldn't help but interrupt Alex. "What did you just say?"Hugo's urgent voice made Alex look up, opening his hazy eyes toward Hugo. "I said Rob must have slept well…""No, no, the sentence before that."Alex was conflicted. He had just said it casually; how would he know what exactly he said? "Uh… dont look back in anger?""Yes! dont look back in anger (Dont. Look. Back. In. Anger)!" Hugo slapped his hands together suddenly, then started humming to find the rhythm. This was the feeling he wanted to capture; the previous lyrics all needed to be revised."So, Sally Can Wait, she knows even if your realization is too late, even if you've been abandoned by everyone, her youth gradually fades, but I remember you said, dont look back in anger."This way, the artistic conception of the entire lyric became complete! And instantly, everything clicked in Hugo's mind; all the lyrics poured out."Take me to the place you yearn for, a place no one knows, waiting for us to explore. Please don't waste your youth in a Rock Band; they will only lead you to gradual decline. So, I will start a revolution from the bed, because you say my thoughts have muddled my mind. Outside the door is midsummer in full bloom, and standing by the stove, the firelight reddens your face; the hope in your heart burns fiercely like that flame.So, Sally Can Wait, she knows even if your realization is too late, even if you've been abandoned by everyone, her youth gradually fades, but I remember you said, dont look back in anger. At least not today.""dont look back in anger (Dont. Look. Back. In. Anger)," this was the true depiction of Hugo's heart. People cannot always dwell on the past, nor should they regret what they have done. Occasional memories can motivate progress, but being unable to extricate oneself from dwelling on memories will only lead to collapse. People should learn to look forward because we will eventually find a better place.The past is history; no one can change history. The future is all unknown; all of this can be changed. The present is the foundation of the future and will soon become the past. Only by grasping the present can the "past" avoid becoming an object of regret, and can the "future" become a scene one longs for."dont look back in anger, at least not today." Hugo whispered to himself. All the emotions in his heart were vented, and Hugo felt completely relaxed.However, Joseph and Alex, who watched Hugo create, were clearly unaccustomed to it. Alex was even more full of doubt and cautiously asked, "Hugo, did you get possessed? Does he know witchcraft?" Looking at Hugo's action that seemed like a flash of inspiration, Alex had good reason to harbor such suspicion.Joseph couldn't help himself and spat a mouthful of saliva right onto Alex's face.
