Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 136: Dancing to your Heart's Content

The upbeat rhythm was like sunlight dancing under the blue sky, while the sorrowful lyrics were like seaweed drifting in the ocean depths. Such contradictory emotions harmoniously blended together, creating a bittersweet sorrow that gently spread across the tongue.

Hope looked through tear-filled eyes at Renly bathed in light. His face gradually blurred, like a beautiful dream fading away, but the smile at the corner of his mouth gently rippled, like a stone thrown into the heart's lake.

Unconsciously, Hope's lips followed Renly's example, curving into a similar arc. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks, and then... she began to dance lightly. She didn't know what was happening; she just wanted to dance. The cheerful song echoed in her ears, and her body couldn't help but sway to the rhythm, as if every cell naturally responded to the melody's call.

Oh, Ophelia, do you hear? Someone has discovered your beauty, someone remembers your presence, someone reminisces about your story. It's not just Hamlet, nor just Laertes, but you, Ophelia.

Hope spread her arms and spun joyfully. The warm night breeze felt like wings beneath her arms, and she only needed a gentle push to soar high. She was so happy, so joyful, so ecstatic, but the tears wouldn't stop, falling like broken pearls.

It was missed, ultimately missed, just like Cleopatra missed Antony, and Hamlet missed Ophelia. In another world, could anyone love Hamlet as purely and unconditionally as Ophelia? In the real world, could anyone love someone as selflessly as Ophelia?

Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So, work as if you don't need money; love as if you've never been hurt; sing as if no one is listening; dance as if no one is watching; live as if today is the last day on earth.

Hope danced freely, spinning recklessly, relaxing into the melody, letting all her emotions run wild like untamed horses. Scalding tears slid from her eyes, landing on her lips and transforming into a smile brighter than the stars, illuminating the entire night sky.

The night was just right.

William raised his hands high, clapping to Ed's rhythm, tapping his feet in a joyful dance. Since he was nine, after being mocked by the senior football players for a tap dance performance at school, he hadn't danced again. Over time, he thought he had forgotten the steps, but now, they seemed to awaken from his blood, dancing freely and joyfully.

His heart soared with his smile. He had almost forgotten how wonderful it was to dance, how immersed he could be. Why had he given it up? The memory had blurred, those unfamiliar faces had long become passersby in life, so why should he still care about their opinions?

He shouldn't change himself for others, nor did he want to. Just like Ophelia, guarding the purest land deep in her heart, running wildly as if today were the last day of life.

Graham had just returned from the bar and was stunned by the scene. Seeing William's smile, he couldn't remember the last time William had been so happy. So, he clumsily started to dance too, moving awkwardly to the melody and rhythm, not feeling embarrassed but enjoying it—because everyone around was dancing, turning the place into a sea of joy.

Renly's eyes glistened with tears, the faint sadness lingering in the lyrics, silently drifting under the endless night sky, like a bird without feet, desperately flapping its wings, knowing that stopping meant the end of life. But seeing the people dancing, a smile spread across his face. Ophelia, that's the unchanging purity and beauty, eternally lighting the way ahead.

The melody stopped, the singing ceased, and the dancing halted.

Everyone turned to look at the two who had just finished performing. Someone whistled and then clapped loudly, "Well done, guys!" "Brilliant, brother!" "Encore, encore!" Cheers and applause grew louder, everyone using this to express their lingering emotions and complex feelings.

People then noticed that what was just a group of six or seven had now grown to over thirty. They scattered around the street corner, turning it into a small performance venue.

Elliot widened his eyes in disbelief at the scene before him. He looked down at the footage in his camera, his spirits soaring.

He had arrived a bit late. After photographing Jim and Todd, he left the "Glee" crowd and wandered the streets looking for Renly—he felt he shouldn't miss out. By the time he arrived, the song was already in the latter half. Everyone was singing and dancing freely, and Renly, sitting cross-legged on the ground, looked a bit disheveled but strangely fitting. It seemed that in this street environment, he was his truest self, making the suit he wore seem out of place.

Elliot didn't have time to understand the story—Renly had just been at the Emmy Awards, and now he was performing on the street? While other winners were swarmed by reporters for interviews, why was Renly here?

None of that mattered. What mattered was that Elliot immediately turned on his camera and started recording, although he regretted not capturing the beginning.

"Renly, what was that song just now? Did you create it on the spot?" Elliot's shout amidst the noise was not only not out of place but also won support from the audience. Everyone echoed, "What's that song?"

"Ophelia." Renly responded almost without thinking.

In fact, the song's structure was thin. Typically, a song lasts three to four minutes, but this one was only two and a half, longer with the intro. It was just a spur-of-the-moment inspiration tonight, an impromptu tune. But clearly, the audience thought otherwise.

"That song was amazing!" "Fantastic, I loved it!" "When will it be on iTunes? I'll buy it first." "Yes, hurry up and upload it. It's still echoing in my mind." "What's the meaning of the lyrics? I think it sounds like Shakespeare, a bit hard to understand." "Ophelia is from Hamlet, so it definitely has meaning." ...

The discussions grew, and Renly couldn't help but smile.

"Renly, will this song be released?" Hope took a step forward, her eyes full of hope as she looked at Renly. The surrounding chatter paused for a moment.

Renly thought everyone had already discussed it enough and didn't need his answer. But now that the question was posed again, he shrugged, "Why not? I think my rent could use the extra income." His teasing words made everyone laugh.

"I'll definitely buy it!" "Get it online quickly, I can't wait!" "I'll tell my friends tonight, we got a great new song"...

Renly could feel the genuine excitement and joy. He suddenly understood why Stanley Charleston loved sharing music so much. Because whether it was happiness or sorrow, regret or satisfaction, it was all shareable. Like a performance, each person finds different meanings in the melody, building bridges not only between listeners and performers but also between people.

It's a very personal thing because the melody touches the deepest, most private emotions. So when you find a stranger who likes the same melody, the tension, excitement, nervousness, and joy are incredibly subtle.

It seemed he should indeed share "Ophelia" with these strangers who had formed a bond.

"Hey, Renly, are you the same Renly from 'The Pacific'?" Finally, the crowd realized, albeit with a delayed reaction, "But weren't you supposed to be at the Emmy Awards tonight... Oh!" The person asking the question didn't finish, realizing the Nokia Theatre was just a street away.

"Look, isn't that the Emmy trophy? Haha, congratulations!" People noticed the trophy in the guitar case and started congratulating him, pulling out coins and bills to throw into the case, "Thanks for giving us a great night, man." "Brother, remember to upload that single. I want my girlfriend to hear it." "Tonight was so lucky, congrats!"

The waves of praise made Renly a bit embarrassed—he wasn't the main performer here.

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