This wasn't Hazel's first time hearing Renly sing. In the hospital, Renly had played the guitar and piano to accompany the children many times. However, this was Hazel's first time hearing Renly sing seriously—a song she had never heard before, a melody brimming with a faint sorrow, a poetic and heartfelt expression.
All emotions were subdued, entwining within the melody like aquatic plants. Accompanied by the ebb and flow of the sea, the serene notes even pacified the lamplights under the night sky. Yet, concealed beneath the musical notes was an emotion so real, so turbulent that it collided with her chest, causing a faint ache.
Suddenly, Hazel thought of herself. Her dreams seemed to have been stifled in their infancy, imprisoned within the cradle. Her feeble body had become an inescapable shackle, imprisoning her every step. Although she hadn't voiced it outwardly, deep inside, she resented the heavens and the world.
But if she herself were to give up, who would be able to realize her dreams?
"I can't believe you're such a talented singer?" Hazel's voice disrupted the courtyard's tranquility, a hint of an almost imperceptible nasal twang revealing her earlier embarrassment.
Turning around, Renly's lips curved into a smile when he saw Hazel. "It's just a hobby," he responded simply, dismissing the subject with a wave of his hand. "It's getting dark, and the wind outside is strong. Let's go inside."
"Don't worry about me, I'm not made of glass." Hazel rolled her eyes and retorted confidently. With that, she strode forward, heading toward the bench.
Each step was arduous, and one could even see her legs trembling hesitantly, as if walking on a knife's edge. For an ordinary person, walking would be as simple as it got. But for her, it was currently one of the most challenging tasks—just like eating, drinking, and breathing.
Though Hazel's steps were extremely difficult, Renly didn't get up to help her. He knew that Hazel hadn't reached such a heavy point yet. She could still walk on her own two feet, just a bit slower. He also knew that Hazel needed respect and trust, not pity and sympathy. She had received enough care from her parents and nurses. She needed someone to treat her independently, equally, and normally, so she could feel more than just a frail patient.
At least in his past life, lying in a hospital bed, Renly had thought so. Even though he knew such thoughts were naive, he still clung to them. This was also why he always craved friends.
However, despite the short six or seven steps, it took Hazel nearly two minutes to reach the bench. She settled down carefully, exhaling a long breath and relaxing completely.
Silence spread slowly, and although Renly didn't rush to break it, he waited until Hazel had caught her breath before she voluntarily spoke up, shattering the silence. "What's the name of the song you just played? I've never heard it on the radio before."
"I improvised it just now," Renly confessed candidly. To be honest, the composition had been rather impromptu. The lyrics lacked a narrative style and were filled with the feeling of poetry.
The same song can have different interpretations in different contexts, evoking various emotions in different listeners. Of course, performing in different settings can also bring out different connotations. Tonight, it was about Hollywood.
"Monster, this song is called "Monster"," Renly didn't ponder for long, casually stating, "What do you think?"
Hazel didn't speak but instead carefully savored it. "Monster", the name seemed completely unrelated to the song's content. The melancholic solitude it carried appeared disrupted by the song title. Yet, upon closer reflection, Hazel fell silent.
Monster—a wild beast that survives in the jungle through instincts, the creature that endures the natural selection of the wild, the lone wanderer on the path of survival, the rugged survivor scarred by the harshness of nature. Primitive and unrefined, stark and untamed, lonely and unrestricted.
Although she heard Renly's voice, Hazel was lost in her thoughts and didn't really hear. Unconsciously, she asked, "Huh?"
Renly chuckled slightly and shook his head. "Nothing, never mind."
Hazel observed Renly's appearance attentively, his eyes hidden behind thick lashes, resembling the mysterious depths of the night sky—endless darkness with intriguing patterns and halos, containing the universe's mysteries and profundities. The zenith of a fleeting youth, gone in an instant.
"I never knew your performance could be so captivating," Hazel admired, "I mean, I know you're a fantastic actor. "The Pacific" is truly a remarkable work. Your performance is... " Hazel paused for a moment, seemingly searching for suitable words to describe her inner feelings, "memorable and thought-provoking."
Renly had never mentioned his profession. Hardly anyone in the hospital knew he was an actor. If someone hadn't accidentally seen "The Pacific", everyone would still be in the dark. In fact, Renly wasn't just an actor; he was a stunning one at that.
Hazel wasn't an industry professional; she didn't know how to judge acting skills. But she could sense the powerful force of his performance, plucking the strings of her heart, triggering an uncontrollable reflection, immersing her truly in Eugene "Sledgehammer" Sledge's world.
With that said, Hazel shook her head in dissatisfaction with her choice of words, unable to come up with more suitable expressions. Frustratedly, she waved her hand, "That's the only reason I've watched that series a second time. However, I had no idea your music could be so... moving."
Indeed, moving, striking the chords deep within her heart—soft and warm. The sunset of utmost loneliness, so heartwarmingly touching that it brought tears to her eyes.
Renly broke into a broad smile. "Thank you for the praise. Although I suspect you're trying to flatter me, still... thank you."
"Flatter?" Hazel widened her eyes, her expression full of disdain. "I don't need to flatter you. If your music was terrible, I would be the first one enjoying it, believe me. I'd be the first to throw stones at you. I just think that perhaps, maybe, possibly, you're a great actor but an even greater singer. You should share your talent with other listeners, like that song just now."
"Direct hit," Renly clutched his chest, feigning a mournful look. "I thought you were saying my acting was incredibly impressive."
"Of course, of course. What I meant was, there are limitations to "The Pacific", and your performance is excellent, but the role itself imposes more restrictions..." Hazel explained anxiously. But then she noticed the playful smile tugging at Renly's lips. It dawned on her that Renly was deliberately teasing her. She couldn't help but turn her head away, her cheeks puffed up, refusing to continue the conversation with him.
"Hehe," Renly's laughter spilled gently. "I know what you mean. I was just thinking that maybe, possibly, probably, you're a great actor but an even greater singer. I should've used my words more carefully. Anyway, I'm just kidding."
"Kidding?" Hazel rolled her eyes, her frustration evident. "I wasn't trying to flatter you either. But seriously, compared to music, I still enjoy acting more. Although I'm probably just a talentless actor wasting my life, who knows?" Renly shrugged, spreading his hands, "If I don't persevere, who knows what could happen?"
Hazel was amused by Renly's playful remarks. She was about to say something, but then remembered she was still in a bit of a standoff with him. She turned her head one way, then another, and then couldn't resist turning back again. Finally, she gave up and looked at Renly with a somewhat exasperated expression. "That's not what I meant. You are indeed a very talented actor, but I just feel that your music... has the power to touch every listener."
"What if I told you that you're not the first person to say that? Would I come across as arrogant? Will that affect my image?" Renly propped his chin, speaking in a serious tone.
"Pfft." Hazel couldn't help it; she burst into laughter. Upon reflection, it seemed rather helpless, and she found herself even more amused. Renly joined in, and after a while, they managed to stop, both wearing smiles. Hazel let out a gentle sigh, "You know, you might attract quite a bit of envy with this."
Possessing enviable talent yet squandering it recklessly.
That's how geniuses often were—enviable, admirable, yet also detestable. Just like Wolfgang Mozart, brilliant but reckless, transforming Antonio Salieri's amazement into envy, then jealousy, and finally into resentment, gradually pushing Mozart onto a dead end.
Renly spread his hands, "Is this praise or criticism?"
"It's both praise and criticism." Hazel acted quite grown-up, speaking earnestly. However, her facade lasted for only three seconds before her smile broke through. "I'm sure you'll be an excellent... no, a great actor, just as you could be a great unknown singer. So, it's an honor to know you."
Great.
A faint touch stirred within Renly. While "The Pacific" had proven his abilities, Elizabeth's and George's words lingered in his ears. Since childhood, they hadn't believed in Renly's so-called dreams. It wasn't just because acting was a lowly profession for nobility, but also because they thought he lacked talent.
Genius was actually a pejorative term. Only when you reached a certain level did you realize that the world was full of countless geniuses. Yet, only a handful could achieve success and make a name for themselves. In reality, geniuses often faced adversity, often dying young. In the end, the ones laughing were the worldly-wise.
Bearing the "Hall" surname, Renly had seen countless geniuses as a child—genuine geniuses. That's why he never believed he was a genius, even questioning his acting talent. But this never wavered his dreams. He had reached this point step by step.
Looking at Hazel before him, Renly chuckled softly. He had already made his decision, hadn't he? So why hesitate? Wasn't last lifetime's hesitation, struggle, and confusion enough? What the future held would only be known by moving forward, right?
"Hazel, I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"