At the Cannes train station, people bustled about, the scene was exceptionally busy.
Noah stood diagonally across from the main entrance, glanced at his watch again, then quickly looked up, fully focused on the doorway, not wanting to miss a single person emerging.
And then.
Noah immediately spotted the tall, upright figure, effortlessly picking him out of the crowd. It wasn't difficult at all.
A surge of excitement filled him.
"Anson!"
Noah shouted, and as soon as the words left his mouth, he noticed several confused glances gathering around him, following his gaze toward the entrance.
Anson: …
He quickly lowered his head, using the brim of his baseball cap to completely cover his face.
Connor, acting swiftly, raised his right hand high and even jumped up a little, flashing an excited expression in response to Noah's call.
Seeing this, those onlookers dispersed as quickly as they had gathered, suspecting nothing.
Miles felt his heart, which had been stuck in his throat, finally return to his chest. He looked at Anson with lingering fear.
But what he saw was Anson looking as calm as ever, not a hint of nervousness on his face. In fact, there was a slight smile on his lips. "Should we find a restaurant first? How about seafood?"
Miles was left speechless, choking on his words. "You!"
Anson lifted his chin slightly, showing a look of realization. "You're right. The restaurants near the train station are just tourist traps. Not trustworthy. Let's wait a bit longer and find a really good spot in town. We can't waste the fresh seafood here."
Miles couldn't hold it in any longer, shaking his head in both frustration and resignation. As expected, they were the only ones worrying unnecessarily.
Anson patted Miles on the shoulder, "Relax. Relax! As long as you stay calm and composed, no one will suspect a thing."
With that, Anson lifted his head again and walked toward Noah.
Noah, now visibly tense, kept his mouth tightly shut, not daring to speak to avoid causing trouble. He even held his breath, his face quickly turning red as he waved the sign in his hand, which read:
Miles. Lily. Connor.
But no mention of Anson.
Seeing this, Anson burst into laughter, quickly approaching Noah and patting him on the shoulder. "Breathe, man in black, breathe!"
Only then did Noah emerge from his self-imposed underwater silence, taking big, gulping breaths, his simple, honest expression causing Connor to break out in laughter as well.
Miles lagged behind a little, looking around. The train station remained crowded with people coming and going, yet none of them paid any attention to Anson.
In that moment, Miles wasn't sure whether he should be relieved or not. Was this a good thing?
Logically, it was.
It wasn't just Miles. Lily and Connor had also been worried about the situation getting out of control. After all, the band's guerrilla-style street performances across Europe had already become public knowledge, often causing a frenzy wherever they went. And now, in Cannes, where film lovers gathered, things could easily get even crazier.
After the traffic chaos in Paris and the crowd surge in Madrid—though no one was hurt, the risk was real—none of them could shake their anxiety about things spiraling out of control again.
But nothing happened.
Everything was just as Anson had said—no reporters, no excited fans, nothing. It was all calm, just a typical day before the official start of the Cannes Film Festival. The passersby didn't even notice Anson's presence.
This... was a good thing, right?
Yet, upon second thought, was it really?
Cannes was still Cannes, unlike the street performances they'd been doing. This was a town dedicated to film. For the next ten days, everything would revolve around movies. And this year, Anson had a film competing in the main competition, marking his return as an actor and a megastar.
And yet, no one recognized him?
Was that a little disappointing?
Whether as an actor, a musician, or just an ordinary person, leaving a stage filled with applause and laughter and returning to an empty room brings an inevitable sense of emptiness. That feeling can easily drag a person's soul into darkness. It's a normal experience anyone might face.
Humans, after all, are full of contradictions.
Being noticed is stressful, but being ignored can be just as frustrating.
When there's no attention, people long for it. But when there's too much attention, they crave privacy and peace.
We go back and forth, seemingly never fully understanding our own desires. Or maybe, we yearn for something but reject the costs that come with it.
The truth is, things are never simple. You gain some, you lose some. There are no rewards without sacrifices. Behind every glamorous life, something precious must be given up. Even the queen in Snow White isn't exempt from the law of conservation of energy.
With a slight pause, Miles realized the contradiction within himself.
He looked up and saw Lily wearing a bitter smile, clearly sharing the same thoughts. She nodded toward something ahead.
Following her gaze, Miles saw Anson's back, looking relaxed and eager, completely oblivious to his surroundings.
Lily leaned in slightly, shaking her head gently, "Looks like we still have a lot to learn."
Miles chuckled, exhaling slowly as he regained his composure. "Keep your feet on the ground. Keep your feet on the ground!" He needed the reminder.
Shaking off his thoughts, Miles and Lily quickly caught up, leaving the train station and stepping into the golden sunlight of Cannes, blending into the crowd.
Connor eyed the black business van in front of him, pretending to be disappointed. "What happened to the convertible?"
Though clearly a joke, Noah earnestly replied, "Convertibles don't have air conditioning. They're not practical for getting around Cannes—they're mostly for show."
Connor: ...
Lily laughed mercilessly at Connor's expense. "Low profile, remember? We're trying to stay low-key."
Noah, completely unaware of the joke, continued seriously, "If you really want a convertible, I can rent one for you.
Cannes has plenty of rental agencies for that. All the cars you see driving along the coast, they're all rented by tourists."
"I thought you didn't want to be like a tourist, but if you'd like the experience, it's easy."
Miles turned to Connor with a deadpan expression. "Tourist."
That look, as if he were inspecting a curious object.
Connor looked up at the sky in silent despair. He wanted to explain to Noah that it was just a joke, but it felt like the moment had passed.
And, seeing Noah's earnest expression, Connor had a sinking feeling that any explanation might just dig him a deeper hole.
What to do?
Connor looked at Anson, almost in tears. "Where exactly did you find this guy?"
Anson struggled to contain his laughter, shrugging with a wide grin as he spread his arms.
Connor: …