Chapter 44: Christmas Eve

At that moment, the expressions on Evan Bell and Anne Hathaway's faces were a mix of amusement, surprise, and confusion.

Neither of them said a word; they just stood there, staring. Then, suddenly, they both burst into laughter, breaking the silence.

The little girl, Resa Rosie, had met Evan Bell in the most unexpected way. She was bubbling with excitement, but after saying her piece, she didn't ask for an autograph, a photo, a hug, or anything else.

Instead, she simply waved goodbye and left. This left Evan and Anne unsure of how to react.

When fans see their idols, it's usually the standard routine: asking for autographs, snapping photos, screaming, hugging, and even a bit of pushing and pulling.

But Risa Rosie was different. Apart from a little excitement, she acted completely normal, treating Evan like a friend rather than a celebrity.

But after Evan and Anne finished laughing, they thought about it and realized the reason.

Risa genuinely loved the song Evan performed, and the music itself had moved her.

That's why she didn't behave like a typical fan. She had also repeatedly expressed how much she looked forward to hearing more of Evan's music.

"Shouldn't you do something for those who support you?" Anne said with a smile that hadn't quite faded yet, her cheeks still flushed from laughing.

Evan hadn't anticipated that his performance at the Eagle Rock Music Festival would gain traction online.

Although it was just one song and the reach wasn't huge, he felt this could be the start of something big for him as an independent musician.

Evan had recently established Eleventh Music Studio, and he was thinking about whether he should create an official website for the studio.

He could publish his own work there, and since it would be the private site of an independent music studio, he could post whatever he liked.

He wasn't looking for profit or fame; he just wanted to create a space where fans of his music could gather.

In this way, Evan's music would have a release channel, a platform for promotion, and a way to build a fanbase. It was a practical solution.

Unlike many independent musicians today, Evan, who had lived two lives, understood the massive potential of the internet in the coming years.

Justin Bieber, for instance, would rise to global stardom through video-sharing websites.

So, in the early 2000s, using the power of the internet was a major advantage for an independent musician. Of course, there were still details like domain names and servers to sort out.

Evan had the idea in his head, though it wasn't fully formed yet. He put it aside for the moment and said to Anne, "You're right, I have fans now, so I'd better take care of them." He smiled, clearly proud of himself.

Anne saw the thoughtful expression on Evan's face and knew he was taking the idea seriously.

Perhaps today's encounter with a fan really could become a turning point for him as an independent musician, and that made Anne happy.

But seeing Evan's smug look, she couldn't resist teasing him. She put her hand on his shoulder, "You've got fans, sure, but it's just one. And you're this happy? What'll you do if you have thousands of fans? Pass out?"

Evan didn't dodge as Anne playfully choked him, but he kept protesting, "It's called gratitude, you know?" While Evan aimed to stay true to his passion for music, that didn't mean he wasn't interested in gaining fans or making money.

Independent musicians should stay true to the music they love, and in doing so, attract like-minded people. It's not about the number of fans but the quality of their connection.

The reason Evan was so happy to meet Risa Rosie today was that she truly loved his song—an affirmation that meant the world to him.

So yes, he hoped his music would be genuinely loved by fans, and if it could also make a profit, all the better. So, in Evan's mind, setting up a website seemed like a logical step.

Christmas at the Bell household was always lively, even with just the three of them. Catherine Bell handled the main dish—the turkey—while the brothers took care of everything else.

They also cleaned and decorated the house, insisting that Catherine relax and enjoy the holiday. She knew they did it because they appreciated all the hard work she put in throughout the year.

It is true that children from less fortunate backgrounds tend to grow up quickly. When the Bell family first arrived in New York, Teddy was eight, and Evan was just six.

Catherine opened a dry cleaning shop with her savings, but the startup capital wasn't enough, so she had to take out a loan. Raising two children alone was tough, and life was a constant struggle.

It wasn't until six years ago when the loan was finally paid off, that things began to improve.

Now, the Bell family wasn't strapped for cash, but they certainly weren't wealthy. They didn't have the means to move out of Brooklyn, and the money Evan used to set up his independent music studio was all he had saved from street performances and Broadway shows.

That money was now gone. Fortunately, both Bell brothers could earn their own money, and the family was slowly building some savings—a significant improvement for them.

Catherine sat on the sofa, watching her two sons bustle around the kitchen. Her heart warmed with pride. Though she hadn't been in contact with her parents for over a decade, though her marriage had failed, and though she had endured countless hardships since coming to New York, she was grateful to have two good sons.

For Catherine, they are her greatest gifts.

"Mom, can you help me tailor a suit?" Evan suddenly remembered something important and stopped what he was doing.

Catherine snapped out of her thoughts and asked, "Why? Was the last one I made too small?" Even as she asked, she was already getting her tape measure to take Evan's measurements.

Because the Bell family had always been careful with money, most of the brothers' clothes were hand-sewn by Catherine—from T-shirts to shirts to jeans.

Her craftsmanship was exceptional. Even the suits the brothers wore for their high school graduation were sewn by Catherine,

stitch by stitch.

Though Catherine never talked much about her past, Evan was certain she had learned her skills from top-notch teachers. Her designs and tailoring were precise and exquisite, and she even had her own creative ideas.

The clothes she made for the brothers were always top-notch, and combined with their natural poise, they looked even better than designer brands.

The Eleven Laundry shop also took on clothing alteration jobs, which was another way Catherine used her skills to bring in extra income.

"Yeah, the pants I wore last time were too short," Evan replied. Since entering college, he had grown quite a bit. The suit Catherine made him before was tailored when he graduated high school.

To save money, she had made the trouser legs longer and sewn them in so that they could be let out later as he grew. Even so, the suit was now two years old and too short.

As they talked, Catherine had already taken out the tape measure. She asked Evan to stand up straight and began to measure.

Teddy had finished setting the table and said, "Once you're done measuring, let's eat." He leaned against the table, watching his mother and brother with a contented smile.

"I haven't told you yet," Evan said. "The premiere of 'Donnie Darko' is set for the Sundance Film Festival in mid-January, and I got an invitation to the premiere." That was the main reason he needed a new suit. Otherwise, the shorter suit wouldn't have been an issue for everyday wear.

Catherine carefully noted down Evan's measurements in her notebook. Hearing about the premiere, she paused. If the event was in January, she would need to be even more meticulous.

The design might need to be updated. At that moment, she was both a designer and a proud mother, her voice full of joy as she smiled.

"Evan, there will be a lot of media there. You're officially stepping into the public eye," Teddy said with a grin.

Although the family knew this day would come sooner or later—perhaps as early as when Evan started on Broadway—it was still exciting now that the moment had arrived.

"Mom, you don't have to go all out. I just don't want to freeze during winter because my suit is too short. Otherwise, there's no need for a new one," Evan said casually.

He mentioned it today because the Sundance Film Festival was less than 20 days away. "Besides, I'm not exactly entering the public eye just yet. I'm still just an independent musician and filmmaker. It's too soon to talk about that kind of fame." Evan winked at Teddy and made a silly face. "When thousands of people can recognize my music, that's when I can say that I've made it."

Evan's confident words made Teddy and Catherine laugh. Christmas at the Bell household was always relaxing and joyful.

There was no grand celebration, but the warmth of their small family made the day special and full of happiness.