The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 2100 Dark Abyss
Life seems to be caught in a storm, yet it also seems to be getting back on track.

The home was filled with the sounds of children crying, wives complaining, and family members making noise, creating a deafening atmosphere; during the tour, people indulged in a life of debauchery, partying every night without knowing when to stop, their numbed brains and chaotic consciousness losing their ability to perceive daily life in the midst of revelry, and the boundary between dreams and reality became completely blurred.

Half-asleep and half-awake, Johnny snapped out of his drool and looked up to see Jack.

Jack was still so young, seemingly neither grown up nor aged, his eyes still bright and still quietly watching his younger brother JR.

Johnny snapped out of his daze, his face covered in sweat.

He decided to return to his family and stay by Vivian's side to see if he could save their marriage, but fate played another trick on him.

Johnny runs into Joan Carter again in a grocery store.

After a long period of silence, Joan Carter's marriage finally broke down. Because she didn't want to be criticized, she had been enduring and trying to salvage the marriage, but it still ended in divorce. As expected, she became the target of public condemnation.

In the 1950s, divorce was still rare, and when it did occur, it was often the woman who was blamed.

Even strangers she met at the grocery store were condescending and bossy, pointing fingers at her and saying things like, "Divorce is a scandal, marriage is life."

Joan Carter swallowed it all, silently endured it all, and even took the initiative to apologize to the other party.

As a result, around a corner, she saw Johnny clumsily scattering illustrations and cards from fairy tale picture books all over the floor, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Johnny was trying to pick out storybooks for his daughter because he missed her birthday, but he clearly had no idea what to do, and Joan Carter helped out a little.

Then, Johnny went fishing with Joan Carter, and although feelings were stirring between them, they both managed to stop themselves this time.

Johnny was testing the waters and taking a risk; he unexpectedly invited Joan Carter to come on stage and sing a duet with him.

Joan Carter really didn't want to get involved in Johnny's marriage. More importantly, she herself was now a target of public criticism and in a precarious situation. She didn't even need to make any mistakes to be a negative example for society. Women have their own difficulties and setbacks, and she couldn't do whatever she wanted like Johnny.

Ultimately, Joan Carter couldn't bring herself to leave Johnny on stage.

Unexpectedly, after Joan Carter took the stage, Johnny went too far and asked to perform a song she sang with her ex-husband Carl Smith.

Despite Joan Carter's strong resistance, Johnny persisted. Seeing the performance about to turn into a disaster in front of everyone, she maintained her professionalism and, reluctantly, performed with Johnny. Then, together in the Lumière Hall, they witnessed the film's first true climax—

A chorus.

There's ambiguity and tension, a tug-of-war between romance and resistance, hidden within the singing. Emotions are infused into the notes, turning the performance into a true show, a thrilling rollercoaster ride that leaves listeners shouting with excitement. Anson and Reese's performance truly makes music a form of expression.

A turbulent undercurrent, full of ups and downs.

Then, Joan Carter spotted the woman who had been judging her at the grocery store that afternoon; she was now scrutinizing Joan Carter with a smug look.

Joan Carter's expression stiffened slightly. Even with so many years of performing on stage, she couldn't control herself and momentarily lost in thought.

In that brief moment of distraction, Johnny crossed the line and impulsively gave Joan Carter a light peck on the cheek.

However, this became the last straw that broke the camel's back. Shame and anger instantly overwhelmed Joan Carter, and she stormed off the stage.

Johnny couldn't care less about any of that and chased after him.

Joan Carter locked herself in the waiting room. Johnny, ignoring the danger, forced the door open and saw Joan Carter sitting on the floor, tears streaming down her face. Panting and sweating profusely, Johnny was blinded by rage. "What? What did I do? Joan, it was just a song!"

But how should she explain it?

Joan Carter was caught in a painful struggle, and all her words ultimately boiled down to a powerless protest: "Please stay away from me."

Johnny was furious, absolutely furious. He couldn't control his emotions at all in his locker room. He didn't understand what had happened or what he should do.

He smashed the guitar, the sink, and the entire locker room. Then he sat in the ruins, took out the few remaining pills and swallowed them all, then gulped them down with beer. He lay there in the trash, completely disoriented, his eyes gradually losing focus.

Not only that, Johnny completely slid into the abyss, living a life of debauchery and drowning himself in alcohol, unable to extricate himself.

Joan Carter tried to keep Johnny and the rest of the tour in line, but all she got in return was Johnny's inappropriate jokes and vulgar banter.

Despite her fury, Joan Carter managed to control herself, deciding not to argue with the men, and turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, Johnny continued his endless nagging.

Finally, Joan Carter lost her patience and returned, grabbing beer bottles scattered all over the stage and smashing them hard at the group of immature men.

The men fled in panic.

Johnny cowered behind his chair, hands raised in surrender, but this only fueled Joan Carter's fury.

She roared, "What am I thinking? I must be crazy! You're going to ruin this tour. You can't stick to your principles."

"Walk-the-Line," appeared, the movie title appeared, in a completely unexpected situation.

Here, it can be understood as adhering to bottom lines, upholding principles, or forging ahead without hesitation, remaining clear-headed amidst the clamor and bewilderment of the world of fame and fortune.

Disappointment, even more so than anger, was evident on Joan Carter's face. Without even glancing at the group of men, she turned and walked away.

Johnny popped his head out from behind the chair, staring blankly at Joan Carter, his eyes surging with emotion. He was also controlled by his emotions, and he staggered to his feet, almost unable to stand, and roared at Joan Carter's back.

"If you think this has to do with the tour, you're fooling yourself. The problem isn't about the tour, the problem isn't about a song..."

Unfortunately, despite his desperate roar, Joan Carter couldn't stop, and Johnny couldn't maintain his balance, stumbling and falling amidst the shards of glass on the stage.

Life goes on.

Johnny became increasingly successful, his fame grew, and his career flourished. He and his family left Memphis for sunny California, where he took his mother, younger brother, and younger sister under his wing and shouldered the responsibility of caring for the whole family.

However, Vivian increasingly looked down on him, even despised him. He could see the contempt in Vivian's eyes, without a trace of respect.

Does Johnny care?

The answer is no. He was just drifting in an endless abyss of darkness until one day, Johnny impulsively invited Vivian to an awards ceremony, intending to bring her along, simply because he had read about it in the newspaper.

Joan Carter got married to a football player, and she's going to be attending that awards ceremony.

(End of this chapter)