Many years later, a certain artist surnamed Luo would be exposed and mocked as a master of time management.
Xu Can had never imagined that one day, he would also need to learn time management.
Inside her apartment, professional makeup artists and stylists had finished dressing Emma Stone.
From her expression alone, anyone could tell that she was looking forward to the upcoming party hosted by the Twilight crew.
A brand-new black evening dress, paired with exquisite makeup, made Emma look especially beautiful. The fabric hugged her curves in all the right places, and her auburn hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders.
"Didn't you say I only needed to attend the premiere?" Xu Can asked, leaning against the doorframe as he watched the final touches being applied.
Emma turned to face him, her green eyes sparkling with excitement and something else—something that made Xu Can's stomach tighten slightly.
"I'm sorry, honey. The director suddenly arranged a private party. Everyone really wants to meet you, and they insisted that I bring you along." Emma Stone stepped closer and lightly pressed her red lips against Xu Can's lips.
The kiss was brief but carried an undeniable warmth. Emma then pulled back and reached for her lipstick tube, carefully reapplying the crimson shade.
"Come with me, okay?" She batted her eyelashes playfully, but underneath the teasing, there was genuine hope in her voice.
Xu Can studied her face for a moment.
Since Emma had already said that much, refusing too bluntly would definitely make her sad. Besides, most of the crew members were young actors.
It was also a good chance to make connections and expand his network. In Hollywood, social connections were an important part of the industry. Maybe these people would become useful when he made films in the future.
In that case, it would not be too late to attend the party first, find an excuse to leave early, and then return for his date with Swift.
He had already pushed the timing as much as he dared. Taylor was waiting, and he hated keeping her waiting.
"Okay. Let's go."
Emma's face lit up, and she threaded her arm through his. The stylists packed up their kits and quietly let themselves out, leaving the two of them alone in their properly furnished living room.
"You won't regret it," Emma promised, squeezing his arm. "Catherine has been dying to meet you ever since she found out we were... close."
"Catherine?"
"Catherine Hardwicke. The director. She's... intense, but in a good way."
Xu Can filed that information away as they made their way to the parking garage. His Ferrari Spider gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and Emma let out an appreciative whistle.
"Still gets me every time," she murmured, running her fingers along the hood before sliding into the passenger seat.
The drive to Beverly Hills took about twenty minutes, during which Emma fiddled with the radio and chattered about the various cast members he would meet.
Xu Can half-listened, his mind already calculating the logistics of the evening.
A quick appearance at the party, some handshakes and small talk, then a graceful exit. Taylor would understand. She had to understand.
The female director of Twilight, Catherine Hardwicke, lived in Beverly Hills, and her mansion was the venue for this private party.
The house was a sprawling modern structure with floor-to-ceiling windows that spilled golden light onto the manicured lawn. Music thumped from inside, and the distant sound of laughter carried on the evening breeze.
When Catherine saw Xu Can and Emma Stone arrive, she immediately came forward and hugged Emma warmly. Her weathered face split into a wide smile as she rocked the younger woman back and forth.
"Emma, you made it. And this must be the famous Xu Can I've heard so much about."
Catherine turned her attention to him, and her eyes traveled over his frame with undisguised appreciation. "Finally. I've been counting down the days."
Then she greeted Xu Can with equal enthusiasm, pulling him into a hug that lingered several seconds past comfortable.
"I finally got to meet you. To be honest, I originally wanted to cast you as the male lead, but unfortunately, the production team had already confirmed the actor."
Catherine's hands rested on his biceps, giving them a squeeze.
"What a waste. You would have been perfect."
The female director was a little too enthusiastic. Her hands were not exactly honest, and her intentions were obvious.
Xu Can kept a polite smile on his face and calmly stepped away without making it awkward.
"Thank you. If there is a chance in the future, we can work together." He kept his voice even, professional.
He had no interest in playing a pale vampire. This good opportunity should be left to Robert Pattinson.
Besides, the vampire aesthetic required actors to look perpetually constipated, and that wasn't a look he aspired to cultivate.
Soon, all the main actors in the crew came over to greet him.
Without realizing it, Xu Can became the center of the party.
Everyone present knew how popular John Wick, which he had invested in and co-directed, had become recently.
The film had turned into a cultural phenomenon, with action enthusiasts praising the choreography and critics surprised by the depth beneath the stylized violence.
Xu Can was quickly becoming one of Hollywood's hottest producers and a reliable box-office machine.
Naturally, everyone looked forward to working with him. Young actors clustered around him like moths to a flame, each hoping to catch his attention and perhaps land a role in one of his upcoming projects.
British actor Robert Pattinson was especially attentive when he met Xu Can. He kept speaking to Xu Can in his British accent, his words slightly slurred from what smelled like whiskey.
"Xu, I watched your movie yesterday. Wow, it was so amazing. Seriously, if I could make a cameo in it, that would be amazing."
Robert ran a hand through his tousled hair, looking like he was trying very hard to appear casual and failing miserably.
"The gun-fu stuff? Absolutely mental. I've been practicing the reload moves in front of a mirror."
"We can collaborate on the sequel next year," Xu Can said, genuinely meaning it. Robert had potential, even if his current state was somewhat diminished by alcohol.
At that moment, another actress walked over to greet Xu Can, which surprised him a little.
It was Kristen Stewart, the original heroine of Twilight.
It turned out that after failing the audition for the heroine, she had still joined the crew and was playing Bella's classmate, Jessica.
This role had originally belonged to another beauty, Anna Kendrick, but Kristen Stewart had taken her place.
Kristen's most famous scandal in Xu Can's previous life was probably when hackers leaked her private photos.
Xu Can had once seen them. Her figure was relatively flat, so there had been nothing particularly interesting.
Because of her relationship with Robert Pattinson during Twilight, and because she started dating women after their breakup, she was later called "the spanner of the world" by people in the entertainment circle.
"Hey, Xu. Nice to meet you." Her voice was surprisingly cool, casual, with an undertone of genuine interest beneath the practiced nonchalance.
At seventeen years old, she looked much younger than he remembered, and she spoke with a cool, casual demeanor.
Her dark hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she wore a simple tank top and jeans that made her stand out among the more formally dressed party attendees.
"Kristen, right? I heard you're playing Jessica." Xu Can extended his hand, and she took it with a firm grip that surprised him.
"Yeah. It's not the lead, but whatever. Jessica's got some funny lines." She shrugged, but her dark eyes studied him intently. "So you're the guy everyone's talking about. John Wick was pretty sick."
"Thank you. Are you enjoying the party?"
"It's alright. These things are usually kind of boring." She glanced around the room, her lip curling slightly. "But the networking stuff is necessary, right? That's what my agent keeps telling me."
Since it was their first meeting, and Xu Can still had Swift in mind, he did not chat with her for too long. They simply exchanged contact information.
"Let me get your number," Kristen said, pulling out a battered Nokia. "In case I need career advice or whatever. From someone who actually knows what they're doing."
Xu Can rattled off his number, and she typed it in with quick, efficient movements.
"Cool. I'll text you so you have mine." She pocketed her phone and gave him a small nod. "See you around, I guess."
At that time, Xu Can still had no idea what kind of chaos Kristen would bring him. If he had known, perhaps he would have left the party immediately and never looked back.
After chatting for a while with a glass of wine in hand, he had met almost everyone he needed to meet.
Various producers had pressed their business cards into his palm. A few studio executives had made not-so-subtle inquiries about his next project.
Finally, he caught Emma's eye across the room. He made his way over to where she stood chatting with a few other actresses.
"Emma, something came up in the music department. They contacted me temporarily, so I have to go over there. Have fun here tonight, and I'll ask Vanessa to pick you up later."
Emma's expression fell slightly before she caught herself and plastered on a smile.
"Ah? Okay, then please be careful on the road." She reached up and straightened his collar, her fingers lingering against his chest. "Text me when you get home safe?"
"Of course."
Emma Stone pursed her lips and watched Xu Can leave with obvious reluctance. He could feel her gaze on his back as he wound through the crowd toward the exit.
Kristen, who was on the other side of the room, accidentally saw this scene and was so surprised that her mouth almost fell open.
Emma Stone had always been very straightforward on set. When had she ever shown such a soft, little-woman side? What kind of magic did that Chinese man have?
Xu Can stepped out into the cool Beverly Hills night, the noise of the party fading behind him.
He slid into his Ferrari Spider and pulled away from the curb, his mind already racing toward his next destination.
Xu Can drove his Ferrari Spider through the streets of Los Angeles.
The scenery around him kept reminding him of GTA V. The second hometown he had never personally seen in his previous life was now right before his eyes.
Palm trees lined the wide boulevards, their fronds silhouetted against the orange glow of streetlights.
The Hollywood sign peeked over distant hills, a constant reminder of where he was and what he had achieved.
________________________________
Thank you to our amazing Patrons for your incredible support and contributions to our work. You're all legends.
[Buddyschlym]: THE GODLY FAN - $50 Pledged
[Zulkifli Rozani]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Van Raven]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Flipoverrr54]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Jaiman Vatcher]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Justin Mercado]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[UR-E-GO]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Victor A Centeno]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[John Garcia]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Dallas242]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Juan Correa Sandoval]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Winterage]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Buddhasnow]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Marvin Baltes]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Gilb]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Noname]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Braydnpaech]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Sai Manoj Nelavalli]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Jose Newcomb]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Edward Mainwood]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Luci alarri]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Romeo Stone]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[[ ]]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Copinsa]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Jose Torres]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[41730]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Canbone]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[GrasshopperNZ]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Василий Майоров]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Billy Poindexter]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[Change]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[Sanji Gun]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[Kashtira]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
🎉 Join the Club! 🎉
Want to see your name up here and get exclusive perks, more advanced chapters, and arts?
Join our Patreon family and be part of something special. Your support helps us create awesome content and brings you closer to the action.
Don't miss out on the fun—become a SuperFan today!
You can join us at patreon.com/UchihaRemant.
Thank you, everyone, for making this journey amazing! Let's keep rocking together! 🚀💥
________________________________________________________________________