Manhattan Reborn 1978

new York.

afternoon.

Manhattan, in front of Wildfire Bar on 42nd Street.

Two thin young boys, each carrying several musical instrument boxes in each hand, followed the three girls and looked around, finally focusing on the plaque of the Wildfire Bar. He said not very sure.

"It should be here~"

"should?"

"Yup!"

"Look across the street, what Professor Cox said...the Auxiliary Police Office, and this Wildfire Bar..."

"...Okay~"

One of the young girls, the girl with a violin case and golden brown shawl hair, Somina Stansted, took out a small note from her pocket, compared it with the bar plaque, and shrugged.

"This is it! Let's go in~"

"ok~"

. . .

in the bar.

After receiving Zina's notice, Madonna Signe, who had been waiting here for a long time, saw five young people walking in carrying musical instrument boxes, and hurriedly greeted them, smiling.

"Are you students of Professor Cox?"

"Yes ~ you are?"

"You can call me Madonna~ I am also a student of Professor Cox~"

After Madonna finished speaking, she looked at the expressions on the faces of the five people with a guilty conscience. .

Unexpectedly, none of them had any reaction on their faces. .

Somina, who took the lead, walked to a small table, put down the box, and asked Madonna.

"Can we wait here for a moment Professor Cox?"

"of course can!"

"What would you like to drink?"

"We have several delicious non-alcoholic drinks here..."

"No thanks!"

"Just give us a bottle of Coke~"

"..ok~"

. . .

Upstairs at Wildfire Bar.

After lunch, David asked Susan to bring Ruby all the cash at home and prepare many gifts to take back.

Ruby, who was standing aside, bit her lip silently and watched as Susan and Cui Yingying found two oversized suitcases and filled them with various items David bought from London one by one. .

"Hoo~ Yingying! Think about it for me again. It seems that you brought some back when you came back last time."

"That's enough, Susan!" Ruby said quickly to stop her.

"Oh? Haha~"

Susan tilted her head and looked at the two suitcases on the ground, pulled Cui Yingying to stand up and smiled.

"Alright then~"

"I really can't bring you much back this time..."

"next time!"

"I will definitely prepare a few more big suitcases next time..."

Ruby took a step forward, held their arms, and asked in a low voice with complex expressions of inquiry, curiosity, and loss in her eyes.

"You... why?"

"what why?"

"that is.."

"Are you asking why we accept living together?"

"Ok!"

"Hehe~"

Susan and Cui Yingying looked at each other and laughed~

Cui Yingying explained with a lot of relief and happiness in her smile: "Actually, this is not difficult to understand!"

"Take me for example~"

"When I want to be content with the status quo, life and destiny are always playing tricks on me~"

"When you don't have it, you long for it; when you have it, you are afraid of losing it; when you lose it, you regret it."

"In the past few years, I have been in this vicious circle, going in circles over and over again. I have never found an exit, and I have no courage to escape from it."

"But fate helped me make the choice!"

"It made me know that if I don't make changes, my life will only end in a bloody tragedy."

"What can I do? How can I do it? How can I do it?"

"Hehe~"

"Clenching my teeth and coming out bravely is the most correct decision in my life!"

Cui Yingying took Susan and Ruby to sit down, looking at their big eyes, and continued with a smile.

"After I have experienced failed marriages and fate's tricks, I now understand a truth~"

"Don't ask yourself why!"

"If you ask too many questions, you will get lost in your own weird circle and never be able to get out~"

"What do you want to do!? Do it immediately~"

"do not hesitate!"

"While you're doing it, you have enough time to think clearly about why!"

"Um...that's great what you said!"

Susan pulled Cui Yingying over with a smile, held her in her arms and sighed.

Cui Yingying's smile showed a hint of endearment, she shook her head and looked at Ruby who was in a daze, and smiled.

"Your memory is still stuck on the David of the past...?"

"Hehe~"

"You don't have to think too much...let alone guess too much about his intentions~"

"Give him a little time and a little more patience, and you can also give yourself one more choice~"

"Time will tell everything..."

"..."

Susan, who was sitting on the bed, raised her head slightly and looked at Cui Yingying, and whispered in surprise: "Why have you never told me this before?"

"Hehe~"

"These are all things Polly once said to me... What should I say to you?"

"Polly?!"

"Wow~" Susan suddenly felt a strong picture appear in front of her eyes. .

. . .

Outside the room of the three of them.

Steward Acklade walked to the study door with brisk steps, knocked twice, and after receiving a response, he pushed the door open at an angle and said to David who was sitting behind the desk.

"Ms. Zina and Professor Cox are already here~"

"Oh~"

"Did Tony and the others from the Power Plant recording studio come over too?"

"Yes, they will be here soon too."

"Ok!"

David rubbed his forehead with his hands, wrote the last few sets of numbers extracted from the information in his notebook, and let out a long breath.

Then, he put all the records into the information folder and said to Ackleide.

"Call Maggie and ask her to come over and give these to Stanley CEO Nelent Ramon."

"Ok!"

"When she comes over, do you want to have a few words with her in person?"

"No, just let her take the things back."

"Ok!"

. . .

David walked out of the study, saw Ruby in the living room, and an oversized suitcase beside her, and smiled.

"We're going to try to finish that song in a minute... Do you want to join us?"

"...Okay!" Ruby pressed her hands on the sofa, stood up slowly, looked directly into David's eyes, and nodded lightly.

"Haha~"

David smiled and gave Ruby a thumbs up, then waved to Susan and Cui Yingying who were moving another suitcase from the room, and said with a smile.

"Come on, let's go together!"

"Okay!"

. . .

Top floor of Wildfire Bar.

When David led the three women up, two groups of people had already arrived before them.

A group of students led by Gila Cox was placing some large musical instruments that had been temporarily pulled over.

The other group is Harvey from Da Film and Television Company.

After receiving a call from David last night, he found Martin Scorsese's assistant director Oliver Stone and asked him to come over today to temporarily help as a professional photographer to capture everyone's creative experience today into a major film. Wei wants to keep his collection of documentaries.

"Hi~David!"

"boss!"

"Boss, good afternoon!"

"Hahaha~ Don't be so polite!"

After saying hello to several familiar staff members, David walked up to Harvey with a smile. After his introduction, he met other staff members including Oliver Stone.

not far away.

Professor Gila Cox, who had arranged the students at the grand piano, saw the housekeeper Acklade walking up behind David. He lowered his head to check his clothes with a wider smile and was filled with excitement. He walked towards David confidently.

"Hi~David!"

"Oh...Hi, Kira!"

"They...are all your students?"

"Yup!"

"They can be responsible for the accompaniment of the violin, viola, and cello, as well as the singing harmony part with you~"

David raised his eyebrows and nodded, his eyes swept across the faces of the two young boys, and finally landed on the girl sitting in front of the piano, pointing at her and smiling.

"Aren't you going to play the piano today?"

"No!"

"I have discussed with them, and I will be responsible for the overall accompaniment arrangement and scheduling."

"Ok!"

"Then we just need to wait now...Teachers Tony and David from the power plant are here?"

"Hey~hey~"

"No need to wait! We're already here!"

at the door.

Teacher Tony, who was holding two piano cases in his hands and carrying a large backpack, panted and held the door and shouted.

"Wow~"

"Where did you go fooling around again last night?"

"It's only five floors up. How could you be so tired?"

After David saw his "ugly appearance", he quickly stepped forward and taunted him with a venomous tongue.

"Ha~ah~fxxxyou!"

Teacher Tony, who was holding on to the door frame, rolled his eyes and replied breathlessly.

"Hahaha~"

David took a piano case, glanced behind Teacher Tony, and asked.

"You're the only one who came here by yourself?"

"Ha~ah~ha~they... are unloading the car downstairs!"

“Unloading the truck??”

"What did you bring here?"

"..all!"

"what?"

"Did you bring all your belongings?"

"nonsense!"

Teacher Tony calmed down his breathing, swallowed his saliva and shook his head: "You kid wants to film the whole process this time!"

"If we bring some junk here, we will definitely be laughed at by you asshole for the rest of our lives..."

"Hahaha~ Yes, yes!"

"You're getting smarter, Tony!"

"...Get out!!"

"Hahaha~"

. . .

Just as the two were teasing each other, another person walked up the stairs holding a bass drum.

David heard the sound and said in surprise: "Pine?"

"You...why are you here too?"

"Haha~" Pine said with a smile after putting down the drum in his arms.

"I happened to go to Wildfire Restaurant to eat and discuss business."

"After it was over, I just wanted to stop by and see you~ I didn't expect to meet them moving instruments downstairs, so..."

"Oh.."

David glanced down at the drum, frowned at Pine, pondered for a moment and asked: "Professor Bartlet, how is your recovery?"

"I want to go see him in a few days, is it convenient?"

"he's good!"

"If you look over there, I can go with you."

"Okay! It's settled!"

David smiled and picked up the big drum and asked: "Do you have anything else to do this afternoon? Stay and play together!?"

Pine looked around the room, shook his head and said with a smile: "You can have fun by yourselves, I have work to do later~"

"..ok!"

"Come on, let's go inside. There are drinks there. You can drink some first and rest for a while."

"Hmm!" Pine followed David curiously and walked into the room.

. . .

After half an hour.

After the two cameras were turned on and recorded silently, everyone arrived and made preparations.

Gila Cox, who was temporarily responsible for coordinating the accompaniment, held a handwritten musical score in her hand, took David to the piano, clapped her hands several times, and spoke into the adjusted microphone.

"Hey~ everyone, be quiet!"

"Is the recording equipment ready?"

"All right!"

"ok~"

"David, come and sing a cappella first~"

"Remember! Try to restore the melody you already have in your mind, and bring it out naturally from the singing. Don't be too deliberate."

"Understand?"

"Ok!"

David, who had already had some experience, stood next to the grand piano with his folk guitar in his arms, lowered his head towards the microphone, lightly played the chords he had just learned a few times with his fingers, took a deep breath, and sang. stand up.

"Herewego, lostinthelessons."

“SometimesImessupmyintentions”

"Igetlost, thecostwas..."

"stop!!"

"Wait a moment!"

"..."

Mr. David from the Power Plant Recording Studio, as today's lead electric guitarist, quickly walked up to David with a "ferocious" look on his face, snatched the folk guitar from his arms, turned around and sat in front of the piano. Somina Stansted asked.

"It's up to you to do these harmony~"

"Let him continue this afternoon and I will definitely be constipated tonight!"

"..Hahaha~"

"Ok!"

Somina, who was in front of the piano, glanced at David with a sarcastic face with a bright smile, and nodded with a smile.

Gila Cox, who was standing nearby, nodded in agreement and smiled.

"ok~"

"Recorder, let's start over again~ delete the part just now... delete it!"

"Okay~"

"..Hahaha~"

Everyone looked at David, who was standing there rubbing his chin, and laughed again.

. . .

"Pah~pah~quiet!"

After everyone laughed, Gila Cox looked at the musical score in her hand, walked to Teacher David and whispered.

"When David starts singing later, after two bars, try using your electric guitar to gradually enter the bass..."

Teacher David tilted his head and thought for a while, then nodded and said, "Okay~ try it!"

"ok~"

"Here we go again, David!"

"When you are ready, remember to raise your hand to signal Somina~"

"Ok!"

David readjusted his emotions, spread his feet apart and level with his shoulders, closed his eyes and recalled the once very familiar melody, raised his hands behind the microphone, covered his ears and sang.

"Herewego, lostinthelessons." (While walking, I learn from life's experiences)

"SometimesImessupmyintentions"

"I get lost, the cost was losing everything I've known."

"Laying here, staring at the ceiling."

"Sometimes still dealing with the feelings"

"WhereI'vebeen, whatI'vedone, I'msofaroutthereonmyown."

. . .

When David sang this, Gila Cox suddenly raised her right hand and gestured to Teacher Tony who was sitting behind the drum set.

Teacher Tony, who was already "unbearably thirsty", smiled and raised the drumstick. .

A drum rhythm with a weak presence followed David's singing and joined the accompaniment~

"So quick to point the finger, to find the one to blame."

"SohardtorealizeIkeptgettinginmyownway."

"IneverthoughtthatIwasthatstrong."

"To carry on, carry on to night."

"Forgiveness in youreyeswithnothingtohide." (Forgiveness in your eyes is so sincere)

"AllIknow, it'sshownmeit'sbeautifulworld."

"Oh, it's beautiful world ~ it's beautiful world." (Ah, this is a beautiful world)

. . .

The verse ends, before entering the chorus.

Kira Cox motioned to several of her students to join the violas and cellos in accompaniment to the rhythm of the drums and piano.

"No more fearing my reflection"

"Here I am with these imperfections."

"You know my flaws but you don't care, you take them all." (However, you don't care and accept it frankly)

"TillnowIwasbarelybreathing."

"But you gave me something to believe in."

"We'rewriting history, life'smadeupofsmallvictories." (We are writing history, life is full of applause and glory)

"We could go round in circles and never get to here" (We can hesitate but cannot stand still)

“So good to realize that we have nothing left to fear.”

"IneverthoughtthatIwasthatstrong."

"To carry on, carry on to night."

. . .

corner of the room.

Pine, with his arms behind his back, stood in a position where the camera was not filming, quietly watching David's "performance". .

But after David finished singing the first chorus, his eyes turned to Ruby, who was leaning on Susan by the window in the distance.

All the people around David were carefully investigated by Pine, and then the entire information was compiled and handed over to Old Morgan. .

Not only did Pine know Ruby, he also did a lot of background research on her past.

Including her alcoholic father + the terrible mother who only knows how to take drugs but never cares about her daughter~

Jean Ruby has almost never experienced the warmth and care of family. .

But in Pine’s view, Ruby’s tragic childhood experience is not very unusual~

The entire 60s in the United States was almost full of calls for "freedom" and "indulgence"~

Not only in the large cities in the east and west, but also in the central states of the United States, which have always been conservative, there were many "new freedom" groups that emerged in response to various "movements + new trends of thought" in the 60s. .

They have made many "different voices" in the media and have had fierce collisions with various people who once controlled the mainstream thinking in society~

There are many of them. .Young parents who have just entered the stage of raising the next generation, but cannot control their desires. .

Therefore, Ruby's parents "worked very hard" to make her a very typical "baby boomer misfortune" ~

(The post-World War II baby boom period in the United States generally refers to the generation born from 1946 to 1964, with about 6000 million people.)

----

Manhattan.

In the sky that had been gloomy all day, the setting sun reflected a beautiful fiery red sunset.

66th Street, downstairs of the FBI's New York headquarters.

Harold Stone tightened the collar of his coat, watched Far Pocchivino get into his car, and waved goodbye to him.

Far Pocchivino, who was sitting in the driver's seat, smiled at him, started the car, and left quickly.

Two 10 minutes later.

Downtown, in an apartment building on 16th Street.

Fal Bocchivino opened the door with the key, and threw the gun and some scattered items on the cabinet at the door. Just as he was about to go into the bathroom and take a shower, he suddenly remembered. .A new person just moved into the house!

"Chasida? Are you there?"

Farr looked around the dark living room, turned on the light, walked toward the bedroom, and continued shouting.

"Hey~Chasida!?"

"I'm Far Pocchivino~I'm back!"

When Farr turned on the light in the bedroom, he found that the girl whose name he had just called was curled up on the floor in the corner of the bedroom, with a pair of big eyes hidden under her long blond hair, staring at him coldly. .

"Uh...Chasida, I'm sorry!"

"I have a case today that has been delayed until now..."

"Did you have meal?"

"what do you want to eat?"

"Shall I buy you a pizza, or a hamburger and Coke?"

The girl who was called Chasida silently uncrossed her legs, stood up slowly, walked up to Far Pocchivino, stared into his eyes, and spoke in English with some accent. asked.

"Did you catch the murderer?"

"Yes!"

"What did they say?"

"Uh... didn't say anything~"

"..." The light that had just ignited in Chasida's eyes immediately dimmed again.

She lowered her head slightly, unbuttoned her coat, and said, "I have nothing to give you."

"Only myself!"

"No! No need!"

Far Pocchivino quickly stopped Chasida from taking off her clothes, pushed her down on the bed and sat down, scratching her head vigorously and said.

"I didn't take you in just to covet your body!"

"Don't do this again! Okay?"

"..."

Chasida lowered her head and placed her hands on the bed. Her long golden hair slowly spread out, blocking her young, delicate, and slightly childish face.

"Then please help me find a job..."

"I don't want to be a parasite!"

"no problem!"

"When your case is settled, I will..."

"Case closed!?"

"..Yes!"

Far Pocchivino took a deep breath and whispered: "The three bastards who have been imprisoning you are dead."

"Although we have caught their murderer, the clues to your case... have also been cut off~"

"The police have no reason to continue the investigation and can only close the case first."

"Hehe~"

Chasida laughed twice with a hint of "crazy" in her voice, clutched the sheets with her fingers, and whispered.

"Thank you!"

"It doesn't matter anymore~"

"..Feel sorry!"

Far Pocchivino, who also felt angry and powerless in his heart, fell beside Chasida, looked up at the chandelier on the ceiling, and whispered.

"I'll... help you find a temporary job tomorrow!"

"Ok!"

Chasida responded, and slowly unbuttoned her coat with both hands, revealing her smooth neck and collarbone that was "marked" with fireworks and bite marks. .

----

Asia, Hong Kong.

early morning.

Victoria Peak, a small white marble building built in the 40s on Peak Road.

Kanes Rothschild, who had just arrived in Xiangjiang this morning, stood in the lobby on the first floor of the mansion, looked around, and asked the housekeeper who was following behind him.

"This is what Shen Bi arranged for me...a mansion?"

"Yes!"

"Hehe~"

"Forget it~ Let's live here for now~"

With a hint of "disgust" on his face, Karnes walked up the stairs to the second floor and said to the housekeeper.

"Put those important information in my bedroom first."

"Lunch time, come earlier!"

"I'm hungry~"

"Okay, sir!"

The butler, who spoke with a standard British accent, watched Kanes and a maid who guided him upstairs. He immediately looked at a middle-aged British man standing at the door with an apologetic smile on his face and said.

"Would you... like to stay for lunch?"

"Oh~ no, no!"

"I just think.."

"Huh? What?"

"Um...it's nothing!"

The middle-aged man with a polite smile on his face put his hat on his chest with his right hand, saluted slightly, and said.

"If you have any other instructions, you can always come to me!"

"OK, thanks!"

"..."

Ps:

The song "Beautiful World" that appears in this chapter comes from Westlife's 2009 album "Greatest Hits".

Westlife boyband, founded in 1998 in County Sligo, Ireland~

Its earliest name was IOU, which was formed by six people and released the single "TogetherGirlForever".

After experiencing some twists and turns, IOU lost one member and changed its name to Westside.

In 99, Westside debuted as a five-piece group and changed their name to Westlife.