Anson knew his own limits—
He wasn't professionally trained and hadn't studied music formally; everything he knew was based on personal interest and his advantage of foresight.
So while he could talk about theory, practical application was a different matter. When it came to acting, he relied on his own exploration, but music production required the expertise of Miles and Dustin.
He didn't see himself as all-knowing or believe that he could control everything.
When Miles and Dustin had disagreements, Anson had some ideas, concepts, and inspirations, but putting them into practice required trial and error, adjustment, and exploration.
Of course, this was part of the fun.
However, after meeting Ryan Tedder, Anson began to have some ideas.
Ryan Tedder, the producer and lead singer of OneRepublic.
OneRepublic was among the first bands to incorporate classical instruments like the cello into the pop/rock genre, not only taking bold risks but also bringing a fresh perspective to pop music, opening up a new world.
At the same time, outside of the band, Ryan remained active as a producer, crafting hit singles for numerous top artists. Interestingly, while the works Ryan produced as a producer topped the Billboard charts multiple times, OneRepublic itself never reached the top, often stuck at number two, which became a humorous topic among fans.
At twenty-three years old, Ryan was likely still in a period of obscurity. His music didn't fit the current mainstream market, much like Miles and the others before, and very few record companies were willing to take the risk, so he was still lying low, waiting for an opportunity.
Despite this, Ryan had already demonstrated his talent in production.
As Ryan had just mentioned, he had been involved in producing albums for artists like Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé.
More importantly, Ryan had been exploring the fusion and collision of classical instruments and pop music, making him more than familiar with the style of "August 31st." Anson was eager to hear his professional opinion.
And sure enough, he did not disappoint.
Not only was he knowledgeable in theory, but his talent also shone through during practical application. The collision of different thoughts and inspirations made the music discussion all the more enjoyable.
It was a different kind of excitement from filming movies but just as thrilling.
"...I think we've done it."
All eyes fell on Anson, and when he smiled and gave his approval—
Oh yeah!
One by one, they stood up, high-fiving each other to celebrate the breakthrough in their work.
Even Dustin.
The previous disputes, collisions, anxieties, confusions, and frustrations no longer mattered. The satisfaction and joy of sprinting toward the same goal and crossing the finish line together were the only things that held value at that moment.
Perhaps, Ryan was the only exception?
After a brief moment of joy, Ryan felt a bit awkward. After all, he was surrounded by strangers and didn't feel like he belonged in this celebration. Then, a wave of melancholy washed over him as he thought about the bleak situation ahead, with his dreams slowly sliding into an endless abyss, a bitterness forming on his tongue.
"Ryan?"
A call brought Ryan's head up. He quickly forced a smile to hide his true emotions, trying hard to look cheerful.
Then Ryan saw Anson's eyes.
"Great work."
Anson said, raising his coffee cup in a toast-like gesture towards Ryan.
"I guess the coffee might be cold by now; I'm not sure if it still tastes good, but… do you want to try it?"
Ryan noticed Anson's implied gesture and followed his gaze towards the coffee. Without hesitation, he grabbed a cup from the corner.
Aha, this must be the latte!
Ryan, delighted, raised the coffee cup to salute Anson, as if toasting, and instinctively took a sip.
Pffft.
Ryan almost spat out the coffee, but he managed to hold it in at the last second, letting it sit in his mouth while looking at Anson in shock.
Anson looked innocent, "What's wrong? Is the coffee cold?"
Ryan: ...
Reluctantly, Ryan hesitated but finally swallowed it down. He stared at Anson, stunned, "This is an Americano."
Anson nodded, "Yeah."
Ryan: ...
Staring at the utterly matter-of-fact Anson, Ryan was momentarily at a loss for how to respond. He thought Anson's look was a hint, but it turned out—
With the bitterness spreading in his mouth, Ryan's facial features began to scrunch together.
Anson seemed to suddenly realize, "Oh, I didn't know which cup was the latte."
Ryan felt like crying but had no tears.
Connor, who had been silently watching the scene, finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, nudging Ryan's shoulder, "Don't be fooled by Anson's innocent face. He loves playing pranks in private."
Ryan looked at the coffee in his hand, then at Anson, who had his hands spread wide, looking totally unapologetic, and without thinking, he tilted his head back and gulped down the coffee as if toasting—
Bold move.
But ideals are often idealistic, and reality is usually more harsh.
Halfway through, he choked, and the coffee, like poison, spilled from the corners of his mouth. His grimacing expression contorted his facial features even more, and he couldn't help but start hopping, using his entire body to express his bitterness.
"Haha, hahahaha!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Finally, Ryan managed to regain control, watching as Anson approached, holding a box of tissues and a pack of wet wipes for Ryan to clean up. Then Anson handed him another cup of coffee, smiling brightly as he gestured.
"Rinse your mouth."
Ryan, without suspicion, took the coffee, only to find—
Again.
Tears welled up in Ryan's eyes; it was another Americano.
Hahaha!
The room erupted in laughter.
Anson, wiping away tears of laughter, looked at the tearful Ryan, "Sorry, I thought you wouldn't fall for it a second time."
Lily was nearly doubled over with laughter, "Never take anything from Anson's hands."
Ryan looked at his hands—one holding wet wipes, the other an Americano—feeling a chill as he cautiously eyed Anson, "There's nothing wrong with the wet wipes, right?"
Anson sighed regretfully, "I didn't have time to mess with them, but that's a good idea. I might try it next time."
Ryan shuddered, wondering who the next unlucky victim might be.
Finally, Anson put down the coffee, "Sorry, I noticed you were still a bit tense, so I played a little joke."
"Honestly, Ryan, I think you're very talented. You should form your own band."
Ryan wiped his mouth and hands with a tissue, "I am trying, but it's not easy."
According to history, OneRepublic's big break wouldn't come until 2007. Like Linkin Park, OneRepublic went through a long period of obscurity, struggling and wandering, repeatedly on the verge of disbanding.
In the past, it was hard to imagine how they managed to persevere just by reading about it; now, Anson could see the waiting, struggling, hesitation, and indecision in people like Miles.
"Chasing your dreams," is a phrase that rolls off the tongue easily, but living through it reveals the true difficulty and torment of walking that lonely road.
So, Anson thought, "Maybe you could try Warner Records."
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