Neverland, the former ranch, covers an area of 2,800 acres—more than ten times the size of Tiananmen Square combined.
Michael Jackson purchased the estate in 1987 and invested heavily to turn it into a resort complex with an amusement park, sports fields, a zoo, and a movie theater, naming it Neverland after the island in Peter Pan.
However, unlike a typical resort, Neverland was not open to the public. It only welcomed Michael's friends and children.
"There would usually be many kids here, coming from Santa Barbara and all over the country," Michael said, driving the tour cart around the estate.
"When the children are here, Neverland fills with laughter, but unfortunately, not today."
"Don't be down, Michael. This is only temporary. I'm sure that Neverland will soon be filled with laughter again," Eric reassured him.
Michael smiled, "I hope so."
Gal didn't really know Michael. She had heard his songs, but by the time she grew up, his prime had already passed, and other artists had taken his place on stage.
But that didn't matter. If Eric supported Michael, she would, too.
"Those journalists are terrible, especially that Martin Bashir. He's a real piece of work," Gal remarked indignantly.
Michael sighed, "I never expected things to turn out this way. I think I'll never agree to another interview or documentary again. There will always be people full of malice, and you can never predict it."
Eric decided to give a warning, "Michael, it's not just the media. The Arvizo family is also raising suspicion. Recent reports show that they've been acting strange."
"Especially Gavin's mother, Janet. She seems to be plotting something that could harm you."
Mentioning the Arvizo family clearly clouded Michael's face, but he replied, "I don't think it's that bad. Maybe she just wants to protect Gavin. I've met them; they all seem like good people."
"But remember, people can change, especially when personal interests are at stake," Eric said.
"Michael, are you going to continue supporting Gavin Arvizo? I've heard that you not only paid for his treatment but also improved his family's living conditions. Are you going to keep doing this for the rest of their lives?"
Michael Jackson was a kind man, but no fool. He understood that some people saw him as a massive prize, a bite of which could be worth millions of dollars.
Eric went on, "Michael, another thing: Janet Arvizo has several criminal convictions and is a repeat offender."
"I'm not saying that people can't change, but with someone like her, you need to be cautious and protect yourself."
"Don't risk your kindness on the faith in others' integrity!"
These words hit Michael like a bolt from the blue. His face grew somber. Just then, the car stopped near the zoo. Michael turned to Elizabeth, "Would you like to go in? I have rare animals from all over the world here."
Elizabeth nodded. Even though she had been to many places, Neverland still amazed her.
They entered the zoo with excitement and awe. Eric and Gal followed them.
"Wow, there are penguins!" Elizabeth exclaimed, looking at the adorable creatures.
"These aren't Antarctic penguins, but tropical ones. I brought them from Isabela Island. They're Galapagos penguins," Michael explained.
Elizabeth was astonished, as was Gal.
"Can we touch them?" Elizabeth asked with excitement.
Michael quickly shook his head, "No, they can bite. I've been bitten before, and it hurt a lot."
"Too bad."
After visiting the zoo, they headed to the amusement park.
Elizabeth pointed at the roller coaster, "It looks prettier and more impressive than others I've seen. Can I try it?"
Michael shrugged, "No problem. But it's too extreme for me, so I'll sit this one out."
Eric glanced at Michael. Although he didn't look old, he was over forty.
He couldn't understand how this man managed to keep his childlike spirit. Maybe some people just stayed pure and genuine.
Looking at him, Eric thought of Zhou Botong from The Legend of the Condor Heroes, but Michael was more responsible and less rambunctious.
In the end, Eric went on the roller coaster with Elizabeth, while Gal admitted she'd been afraid of this ride since childhood and didn't want to try it again.
They sat in the front row and secured their safety belts.
Suddenly, Eric felt a small hand gripping his. He looked at Elizabeth.
Little Elizabeth took a deep breath, "This way, we won't feel nervous!"
"Are you scared?"
"A little."
"Then why are you here?" Eric asked, surprised.
"I just want to try it," Elizabeth replied.
The roller coaster slowly gained speed. Elizabeth sneaked a glance at Eric, feeling a thrill, "This is the only way I can hold your hand!"
"Aaahhh."
And then, their screams echoed throughout Neverland.
After a day of wild fun, all four felt exhausted, even the energetic Elizabeth had lost her spark.
During dinner, Michael Jackson served a steaming bowl of beef stew. Slightly embarrassed, he said, "My cooking skills aren't the best. If you don't like it, there are other dishes by Ovid – he's a real chef."
All three laughed. Eating a meal prepared by Michael Jackson was a privilege, no matter how it tasted.
Eric remembered the internet photos of Michael cooking dinner for The Beatles. Could it be that now he himself was part of such an event?
Taking a bite of the meat, Eric couldn't hide his smile as the aroma and flavor filled his mouth. He gave a thumbs-up in approval.
Hunger and happiness brought them closer, so neither Gal nor little Elizabeth hesitated at the table and ate heartily.
Seeing them enjoy the food, Michael genuinely smiled. Neverland hadn't had visitors for months, and now he felt less lonely again.
After dinner, all four gathered on the floor in front of the TV, which was playing a video of one of Michael's old concerts.
Michael handed out drinks, and Elizabeth asked, "Michael, why aren't you releasing more albums?"
"My last album came out in 2001. Maybe you don't know, but creating an album takes a long time."
"It can take two years or more. I'm working on a new album now, but it's still far from being released."
Elizabeth was surprised, "Two whole years! My sister also releases records, and it takes her much less time."
Eric, patting Elizabeth's head, said, "Your sister's albums are for kids and teens. It's a whole different level of complexity. Michael's albums sell hundreds of millions of copies worldwide, while if your sister's albums sold ten million, that would be a miracle."
Seeing Elizabeth pout, Michael consoled, "I like children's songs. Elizabeth, next time you come, you can bring me one of your sister's records?"
"Of course!" she replied, giving Eric a look of indignation.
Eric shrugged, "Alright, I was wrong. But Michael, if releasing an album takes so long, why don't you release a single? That's faster."
Eric shrugged. "Alright, I was wrong. But Michael, if making an album takes so much time, why not release a single? It would be quicker."
Michael shook his head. "A single requires just as much effort. An album can have one or two standout songs, but a single has to be a hit every time. So, if there isn't a great song, it's better not to release anything."
"I see. By the way, I have a song. Want to hear it?"
"You write songs?" Michael was surprised.
"Not exactly. I don't have any formal musical education; I just hum melodies."
"That's not an issue. Many songs start with a simple hum. Sing something."
When the topic turned to music, Michael became animated.
"Sing! Sing! I've never heard you sing, Eric!" Gadot and Elizabeth chimed in.
Snap
Michael snapped his fingers. "Sit down, start the equipment."
A dark-skinned woman emerged from the next room, pressed a button on the wall, activating the home theater system, and handed a microphone to Eric.
Clearing his throat, Eric hummed a few notes to prepare, which made Elizabeth giggle.
Although Eric hadn't been a singer or familiar with English songs before his time travel, thanks to frequent karaoke sessions with actresses, he knew a few global hits.
Today, he chose a special song for Michael – Adele's hit, Rolling in the Deep.
"There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it's bringing me out the dark
Finally, I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare..."
Singing can feel awkward at first, but with each line, the embarrassment fades. By the tenth line, Eric was fully into it, even though he had no musical accompaniment—just Adele's voice playing in his head.
However, when it came time to hit the song's climactic high notes, he realized his vocal range couldn't match those heights. He strained his neck, trying to reach them, but it was in vain.
"Ha-ha-ha!" Gadot and Elizabeth couldn't hold back their laughter. They had never seen Eric in such a comical situation, and even the dark-skinned lady controlling the equipment laughed, slapping her thigh.
Eric spread his arms wide, signaling, "Well, this is how I sing."
But unlike the others, Michael's eyes sparkled. He looked at Eric as if he'd discovered a rare treasure.
"Don't stop! Keep going, Eric, keep going! Don't worry about the vocals, just sing!"
Michael stood up, clapping in rhythm and swaying smoothly to the beat.
Inspired by Michael, Eric started moving with the rhythm too, opening his mouth and continuing to sing:
"Baby, I have no story to be told
But I've heard one of you and I'm gonna make your head burn..."
By the final note, Eric turned to Michael, ignoring Gadot and Elizabeth, who were still laughing.
"Michael, what do you think of the song?"
Michael seemed still captivated by the melody. Even after hearing it just once, he was already humming it to himself.
After a moment, a bright smile spread across his face.
"Eric, did you really just hum this song in your spare time?"
Eric shamelessly nodded.
"Oh my God! You're a true genius. Although your vocals need work, that doesn't take away from the brilliance of the melody and lyrics."
"Rolling in the Deep" is truly a song of a new era, both in style and emotion."
"If it's arranged properly and performed by the right artist, I'm confident it will top the Billboard charts!"
"Billboard? Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I've seen and heard countless songs and artists. I'm sure some songs are destined to become hits the moment they're released."
Eric nodded. He wasn't sure if Rolling in the Deep had topped Billboard, but considering its global popularity, there was little doubt.
He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Michael: "Then I'll give it to you."
The room fell silent. Michael stared at the paper with the song's lyrics, covered in scribbles and notes.
He realized that despite not being a professional, Eric had tried to indicate melodic lines.
"No, no, I can't accept this. This song is too valuable. You can't just give it away."
"Eric, you should find a professional team to finish this song. Trust me, many would pay big money for it."
With that, Michael handed the paper back to Eric.
Eric smiled and looked at him: "Michael, are you worried because it's our first day meeting, and accepting such gifts might not feel right?"
"But I feel like we get along really well. You think this song is priceless, but for me, it's just a melody I hummed."
"In comparison to friendship, what's one song?"
Michael continued shaking his head. "Eric, you're not in the music industry. You don't understand how important a good song is to an artist. It can be worth millions of dollars; it's too precious a gift, I can't accept it!"
"Millions of dollars? Gadot, how much was the budget for Transformers?"
"$150 million."
Eric shrugged. "Michael, to me, it's just a piece of paper. If you don't want it, you can burn it."
"I have a lot of work and no time to focus on songs. Do you want it to stay in the shadows forever?"
Michael's face showed hesitation. As the King of Pop, his love for music ran deep within his soul.
If he hadn't heard this song, it could have been destroyed.
But now that he had, the melody, like a spell, kept playing in his mind. Burying such an amazing song would hurt.
Seeing his hesitation, Eric took his hand again. "Michael, I believe this song will truly shine in your hands!"
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