Chapter 901: 900 unique

In the 2018 Super Bowl season, the disappointing performance of the Los Angeles Rams caused viewership ratings to plummet.

The rating was 44.9, with 98 million viewers, both numbers hitting the lowest in a decade.

Multiple professional media outlets expressed that the overwhelming expectations before the game plummeted after a lackluster first quarter, leading to audience loss, with the rest of the game failing to regain traction; the viewership in Los Angeles, which had high hopes pinned on it, fell far below expectations due to the team’s abysmal and scattered performance, completely lacking the explosive viewership power expected from a Super Bowl city.

Ultimately, the Los Angeles Rams were the original sin.

Statistics showed that New York, Buffalo, New Orleans, and Indianapolis led in viewership ratings across North America–thanks to the New England Patriots generating animosity, which garnered widespread support for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Of course, Kansas City achieved a historic high–

71.7% rating.

The viewership rating was an astonishing 27 percentage points higher than the nationwide average. In Kansas City, more than 70% of the population aged 18 to 49 tuned in to watch the Super Bowl.

The influence was undeniable.

It is worth mentioning that when Maroon-5 performed during halftime, it should have been the moment for ratings to explode–even those uninterested in the Super Bowl would tune in to avoid falling behind on trending social media topics, much like Lunar New Year Gala performances. But unexpectedly, the opposite happened–it was a jaw-dropping moment.

Ratings and viewer numbers didn’t rise; they declined instead, and discussion buzz completely plummeted.

Unbelievable!

So, when was the highest viewership moment in the entire game?

The answer: during the awards ceremony, when Li Wei delivered his acceptance speech.

The ratings shot up to 49.7, with viewership surpassing 120 million, breaking historical records in a mind-boggling fashion.

In a chorus of cheers and applause, Li Wei once again held the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Although he had experienced this moment last year, Li Wei thought he would be fluent this time, that his emotions would be somewhat calmer, yet his heart still raced uncontrollably. At the instant his hands touched the trophy, a feeling of happiness and excitement, indescribable with words, quietly ignited within–

Different, after all, it still felt different.

Every journey, every challenge, the obstacles and scenery along the way are unique, and so are the mindset and feelings.

As he carefully felt the weight of the trophy, countless words swirled on the tip of his tongue.

But in the end, what remained in Li Wei’s mind was still that young girl, Annie Galas.

The mischievous girl who played hide-and-seek pranks on everyone in the hospital, the stubborn girl who sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” loudly in the parking lot after the Gillette Stadium incident, the sunshine-filled girl who murmured during her funeral, “I hope you’ll forget about me.”

She faced a battle destined to fail, yet she was still a victor.

With all eyes on him, the crowd waited patiently, filled with anticipation and excitement. They saw Li Wei take half a step forward, standing at the microphone.

He began to sing–

Not an acceptance speech, but a song.

The entire stadium was utterly stunned.

But Li Wei wasn’t; Li Wei knew exactly what he was doing.

Stubborn and resolute, he sang, expressing the mixed and surging emotions that could only be fully conveyed through that melody.

“When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark.”

Each word and phrase came from the heart.

Suddenly, it struck Jenna, hard and unguarded. Tears broke free from their restraints, surging uncontrollably as she stood defenseless–

Sorry, Annie. I promised you I wouldn’t dwell on past memories, wouldn’t let the past bind my feet; but… just this once, one last time.

In an instant, Jenna realized that Lucas’s acceptance speech was dedicated to Annie.

Her Annie, though no longer here, continued her life in another form. She would accompany the Kansas City Chiefs, accompany Li Wei, battling forward together.

She would never walk alone.

Jenna cried uncontrollably.

“At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet sound of the oriole.”

Jenna wasn’t alone.

Talia instantly understood, gazing quietly and deeply at the man on the television screen.

He smiled warmly, his bright eyes shining. His messy short hair revealed he had just undergone a grueling match. Yet, he still calmly sang, pouring all the emotions into the melody.

While everyone’s attention was on the championship trophy and the countless historical records, he alone remembered that girl.

A seemingly insignificant girl, yet one who weighed heavier than mountains.

Talia’s eyes sparkled with faint tears. She no longer cared about the stares of others and joined Li Wei, singing aloud.

She believed that Li Wei would never walk alone.

Talia wasn’t alone.

Slowly, the fans inside and outside the Mercedes-Benz Dome also understood.

Felix was the first to lift his chin high, following Li Wei’s footsteps, singing with abandon. Although his eyes glistened with tears and his voice quivered uncontrollably, he remained unwavering.

One by one, voices joined together.

Kansas City Chiefs fans, Atlanta Falcons fans, and countless others fixed their gaze on this moment, overwhelmed by emotion.

Undoubtedly, it was a moment unlike any other–a moment for the annals of history.

“Walk on, through the wind; walk on, through the rain.

Though your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone.”

The song, unified and spirited, resounded richly and fervently through the Atlanta night sky, binding every fan’s heart tightly together.

At this moment, Los Angeles Rams fans who refused to stay any longer and had begun leaving the stadium stopped in their tracks, listening to the all-encompassing song.

Suddenly, they froze–

If, just hypothetically, if they’d been willing to stand by the team until the very end, if they’d been willing to grow with the team through victories and defeats, if they’d been willing to become part of the team and share its hardships and lows, would the conclusion of tonight’s Super Bowl have been different?

Since the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers returned to the City of Angels, this city, abundant in entertainment, had always resisted giving its passion. Until this year, when the Los Angeles Rams built a winning streak, “fair-weather fans” swarmed to witness the Super Bowl championship moment.

However, a little setback, a small obstacle, was enough to make these fair-weather fans turn away, scattering like loose sand.

After all, beyond the Los Angeles Rams, they had plenty of other options.

But sports shouldn’t be this way. Even the Los Angeles Lakers or the Los Angeles Dodgers faced peaks and valleys, endured setbacks, and rallied stronger. Fans persistently stayed by their side, journeying together through tough times–that’s the only way victory can truly resonate with the soul.

So, did they get it wrong?