A Gentleman's promise

The autumn in New York had its grandeur, and Renly always believed that as the world's foremost metropolis, New York should be a city that didn't pick seasons—a place of constant hustle and bustle, a concrete jungle frozen in time.

But it wasn't until he actually lived here that he realized autumn belonged to New York. Lacking the exuberance of spring, the blossoming of summer, and the serenity of winter, autumn here carried a dryness in the air, spreading a sense of boundless freedom. The lazy sunlight meandered between the cement structures, infusing a touch of greenery from Central Park into the wide streets and winding alleys, lending them a unique charm.

This afternoon was exceptionally beautiful, making people reluctant to leave.

Renly spent the entire day at Sinai Hospital, forgetting the clamor of Toronto, the scorching flashes of cameras, and the cacophony of bustling crowds. He was fully immersed in his volunteer work. Only when night fell did he bid farewell to Nurse Manager Anita Tunisia, embraced her, put on his baseball cap again, and disappeared into New York's resplendent night.

Returning once more to Village Vanguard, the entrance seemed no different from before. It wasn't more crowded or bustling, nor was it more desolate. It appeared to be just another normal Monday. It then occurred to Renly that during his interviews, no one had mentioned the filming location for the "Cleopatra" YouTube video. Thus, Village Vanguard remained undiscovered, and he had been overthinking it.

Pushing open the dark red wooden door, the familiar, deep tones of Janis Black's voice greeted him. "Welcome! Little guy, you're back from Toronto? We made it to the Times yesterday. You really stole the spotlight this time! Everyone's itching to get to the movies now!"

The Times was how Americans referred to the newspaper. There was only one paper that could be abridged that way—The New York Times. This demonstrated the formidable influence of The New York Times in mainstream American culture.

"Including Stanley?" Renly's rhetorical question made Janice burst into hearty laughter.

Stanley Charlson was a stubborn old man, a staunch supporter of jazz bars, and at the same time, a resolute opponent of cinemas. He didn't reject movies themselves but protested against the commercialized entertainment form that cinemas had become, which he believed was causing people to forget the essence of art. If necessary, Stanley was willing to go to Broadway to watch a play and occasionally catch a glimpse of a movie at the bar. However, he hadn't been to a movie theater in years.

Janice spread her hands, her expression helpless. "We all know what a stubborn old guy Stanley is." Evidently, Renly couldn't convince Stanley to step into a cinema.

Renly also spread his hands, displaying a look of resignation. "Looks like I need to keep trying." This made Janice smile knowingly.

Stepping inside the bar, it was still early in the day, far from peak hours. Adding to that, it was Monday, so there were even fewer patrons. People were gathered in scattered groups around the counter, engaged in hushed conversations. When they heard the sound of the door opening, all eyes turned, ready to welcome someone. But unexpectedly, they saw Renly's face, and everyone's expressions immediately lit up with joy.

"Quick, Renly, take a photo with me." Neil Tuson enthusiastically rushed over with his phone. "I was talking to a friend a few days ago, boasting that I knew Renly Hall, the guy who went on a date with Natalie Portman at the Toronto Film Festival. They didn't believe me. Now I must gather evidence!"

Renly couldn't help but roll his eyes, avoiding Neil's playful pounce. He then walked toward the counter, chatting and laughing with the other waitstaff. From behind him came Neil's unwilling voice, "Hey, just one, Renly, just one!" Then Neil dashed over, sprinting towards Renly and leaping onto his back, slinging his arm around everyone and eliciting a collective expression of disdain as they pushed Neil away.

Someone couldn't help but quip, "Renly is precious now, a picture costs ten dollars!"

Renly shot a scornful look. "Am I that cheap? You're evaluating our relationship with just ten dollars? It should be at least a hundred dollars!"

Everyone paused, then burst into collective laughter.

Stanley walked out from backstage, his eyes sweeping around. He spotted Renly amidst the crowd and couldn't help but break into a radiant smile. "Hearing such commotion, I knew you must be back." His gentle smile was akin to a father welcoming his prodigal child, not overly excited but brimming with warmth.

Approaching, Stanley gave Renly a hug to welcome him. "Hard work." A faint smile tugged at the corner of Renly's lips as he patted Stanley's back in thanks. Their words of gratitude went unspoken. After they released each other, Stanley waved his hand toward the group behind him. "Go on, get back to work. I'll take care of Renly."

Neil immediately wailed, "Stanley!"

But both Stanley and Renly paid him no mind, proceeding straight toward a nearby booth. Neil once again became the target of the group's banter.

After some brief pleasantries, Stanley inquired, "Last week, a young man named Ed Sheeran came to the bar. He said you recommended him?"

Renly gave his head a light pat, chiding his forgetfulness for not having called Stanley about this. With Sound City and then Toronto, so much had transpired in these short two weeks. "Yes, he's the one I recommended. Sorry, I forgot to call you."

Stanley chuckled lightly. "I know he wasn't lying. After all, not many people know your name. If he could mention your name and find Village Vanguard, then it's genuine."

Renly sighed in relief and smiled. "It seems I was quite irresponsible recommending someone for the first time."

"You knowing is enough." Suddenly, Stanley's expression turned serious, his tone stern. But he couldn't maintain the solemnity for more than a second, and he broke into a smile. "I've given him a chance. Monday through Wednesday, he'll perform three nights in a row, thirty minutes each night. Let's see how it goes. I trust your judgment."

"So, that means he'll be here tonight?" Renly's surprise was evident. He hadn't expected that the casual agreement from before would actually be honored by Ed. "Let's wait and see then. Who else is performing tonight?"

"There's also an amateur band from the university." A hint of melancholy flickered across Stanley's brow. "The economic situation hasn't been great lately, the bar's business has been inconsistent. Not long ago, a record company approached me, suggesting I host small concerts here. It wouldn't require too much, maybe once a month. I'm considering it."

Renly was aware that these kinds of concerts were essentially a form of commercial performances. Record companies used Village Vanguard's reputation to give a golden sheen to their independent bands, while also attracting some professional seasoned fans. And Village Vanguard could not only reap ticket sales, but also promote its reputation among the general public. It seemed like a win-win situation.

However, Stanley had consistently rejected this approach over the years precisely because it was too commercial. He believed it could undermine Village Vanguard's authority in the hearts of seasoned fans. Just imagine if a horde of Jonas Brothers' fervent fans flocked to Village Vanguard? That would be a terrifying prospect. Perhaps it would mark the beginning of Village Vanguard's downfall.

Now, Stanley was actually seriously considering this, and Renly understood the gravity of the situation.

Pursuing a dream was never an easy task. Renly greatly admired Stanley for persisting for so many years. But now, Renly wasn't in a position to demand that Stanley keep on persisting. Running Village Vanguard wasn't such an easy task, and even though Stanley had never openly spoken about it, Renly knew that managing it was a constant struggle.

Stanley sighed lightly, as if wanting to vent the frustrations between his brows. "So, are you planning to perform tonight?"

Renly's expression paused slightly before he teasingly remarked, "You've built up so much just for this last line, haven't you?"

Facing Renly's straightforward response, Stanley laughed heartily. "Don't consider yourself too important. I just value a free labor force." Renly's comeback was just as sharp, making Stanley laugh too. "In reality, tonight there are only two groups of singers performing. The schedule is quite open, so I thought maybe you'd be willing to get on stage and recreate that scene from the street performance with Ed."

Business on a Monday was typically slow, but before there had been at least three groups of singers.

In Renly's mind, he couldn't help but recall the scene of Hazel singing her heart out earlier today. What would it be like if Hazel stood on Village Vanguard's stage? And what if she stood on the "American Idol" stage?

"I don't see any reason to refuse." Renly spread his hands. "Perfect timing. I didn't bring my wallet today, and I haven't had dinner yet." So, he would pay for dinner with his performance.

"Haha." Stanley laughed heartily. "Looks like I've struck gold."

"Aha!" The bar's door was pushed open once again. Since there were hardly any customers at the bar at this time—only two tables—the sound was especially pronounced. Renly reflexively turned his head to look and heard Janice's booming voice calling out, "Stanley, the performers for tonight's show have arrived."

"He's here early." Stanley glanced at his watch, smiling broadly. "I wonder if he came early to prepare for the performance, or if he, like someone else, came early to have dinner?"

The teasing tone made Renly chuckle involuntarily. He stood up. "Leave it to me." With that, Renly walked toward the entrance. From a distance, he could see Ed, carrying a guitar on his back, standing awkwardly at the entrance like a lost lamb.