Chapter 29

Xu Can didn't expect to run into Taylor Swift at Sony's annual meeting.

He was pretty sure she was signed with Universal Music, right?

In his previous life, Xu Can only listened to music and didn't pay much attention to Swift's career details.

If someone asked him who his favorite female singer was in the European and American pop scene, Xu Can's immediate answer would be Swift.

He'd been a fan of her music since his student days.

Meeting a 17-year-old Taylor Swift in this parallel world was something he never expected.

"Can we take a photo?" Swift asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Of course!" Xu Can replied, pulling out his phone.

His phone, a Nokia N95, had a front camera with a small frame. They had to get very close to fit into the picture together. As they leaned in, Xu Can could feel the softness of Swift's cheek next to his, and the subtle fragrance of her Chanel shampoo filled his senses.

"Let's add each other on Facebook, and I'll send you the picture," Xu Can offered.

"Great!" Taylor replied, her excitement making her seem like any other teenager.

"But, aren't you signed with Universal Music? What brings you to a Sony event on New Year's Eve?" Xu Can asked, curious.

"Well, actually, my manager brought me here. I'm not signed with a major label yet," Swift explained with an awkward smile.

Through their conversation, Xu Can learned that Swift had chosen to sign with a small label called Big Machine Records instead of a major company like Universal. The larger labels wanted to control her creative process, but Big Machine allowed her full creative freedom. Swift's father even invested in the label, becoming one of its shareholders.

"That's interesting…" Xu Can mused, recalling how Swift had been involved in a bitter album ownership dispute in his past life. Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records, had sold her master recordings to Scooter Braun without her knowledge, leading to a massive controversy. The incident sparked a wave of online harassment against Swift, making it one of the darkest periods of her life. Fortunately, she eventually overcame it.

In this parallel world, however, Swift had just released her debut album, Taylor Swift, in 2006. The album featured tracks like "Tim McGraw," "Picture to Burn," and "Teardrops on My Guitar," and had already reached 19th place on the Billboard 200, a remarkable achievement for a newcomer.

"So, Taylor… if you don't mind me calling you that…"

"Of course, we're friends now!" Swift responded with a bright smile.

"Well, Taylor, I know this might sound a bit off, but I have some advice that you might want to consider."

"What is it?" Swift asked, intrigued.

Xu Can's warm, approachable demeanor made Swift naturally trust him.

"I've heard some rumors about Scott Borchetta. He might not always have your best interests at heart and could make some decisions that are more about profit than your career."

"Really?" Swift asked, surprised, covering her mouth.

She had expected Xu Can to engage in some light-hearted banter, not dive into such a serious topic so soon after meeting.

But Xu Can's sincere eyes reassured her that he was genuinely concerned about her.

And after working with Borchetta for a while, Swift had noticed his mercenary tendencies. There had been some friction between them, but Swift, in her youthful naivety, had believed that her boss would support her and have her best interests in mind.

Now, what Xu Can said made perfect sense.

"Of course, this is just a suggestion. I don't want to interfere with your career," Xu Can clarified.

"It's okay. I'm touched that you care about my career so seriously, especially since we've just met," Swift replied. She was a person who tended to be more emotional than rational, which is why she poured her feelings into her songwriting. Xu Can's concern warmed her heart.

"I'll keep an eye out. I've been working on a new album, and we've had a few disagreements. If things don't feel right, I'll consider leaving," Swift chuckled.

"That's good. If you ever need help, feel free to reach out. I can introduce you to Sony Records," Xu Can offered. He was well-connected with Sony Entertainment's chairman, Howard Stringer, and could easily recommend a talented female singer like Swift.

Or perhaps, Xu Can mused to himself, he could start his own record label and sign Swift himself. He could bring the future queen of pop under his wing… not to mention, under his command.

"Xu, my manager is calling me. It was great meeting you. I'm glad we became friends," Swift said as she excused herself.

"Same here. Take care," Xu Can replied, watching her walk away with a knowing smile.

He never expected to meet Taylor Swift in such a serendipitous way.

And it seemed like she wasn't in a relationship yet. If memory served him right, her first public relationship was in 2008 with Joe Jonas.

That relationship had inspired a string of hit songs…

Xu Can suddenly recalled how close Swift had been during their photo, her cheek nearly brushing against his. A ripple of emotion stirred within him.

…

The filming of John Wick was well underway.

After New Year's Eve, it was already 2007. While his compatriots in China were celebrating the New Year's Day holiday, Xu Can was still hard at work on the film set.

Director David Leitch had initially planned for Xu Can to undergo rigorous combat, firearms, and CQB (Close Quarters Battle) training, much like Keanu Reeves had done before filming John Wick. Reeves had completed all the fight and shooting sequences himself and even achieved impressive results in competitive CQB shooting. If he were to go up against a gang of criminals with a real gun, Keanu Reeves might actually cause some serious damage.

However, Xu Can didn't need any such training. From the moment he awakened his character, Xu Can could become the legendary assassin, John Wick, at will.

As a result, the film's progress was much faster than Spider-Man! In just a few days, Xu Can had completed the scenes where the son of a gang boss provokes John Wick. Now, they were moving on to the revenge phase of the story.

"John, I'm sorry to hear about your wife's passing. My condolences. Maybe it was just a coincidence that we met again in this way," said the actor playing the gang boss.

"…"

"John, let's not be impulsive. Let's resolve this matter rationally, like civilized men…"

Click! John Wick hung up the phone without a word.

He remained silent, his expression calm and robotic. Only the dim light in the room revealed the overwhelming anger simmering in his eyes.

The gang boss, sensing the danger, asked his henchmen, "Prepare the manpower."

"How many do you need?"

"How many do you have?"

In the villa, John Wick took a shower, put on his signature black suit, and faced the mirror with a dark, brooding expression. His beard was unkempt, and his eyes were cold as he stared into the abyss…

"Cut!" Director David Leitch called out, standing up with satisfaction.

He had been skeptical about the rumors circulating among directors—rumors that Xu Can never made mistakes and always delivered perfect performances. But after working with him, Leitch felt like he had hit the jackpot with an SSS-tier character.

"Let's take a five-minute break! Xu, would you like to grab something to eat?" Leitch called out, only to realize that Xu Can was still standing in front of the mirror, silent and still.

Was he too deep into the role?

Leitch started to approach him, but as he got closer, a chill ran down his spine. Xu Can's eyes, full of murderous intent, were fixed on him, sending a shiver through the director's body. It was as if Xu Can was no longer an actor but a real killer.

But just as quickly as the cold, murderous gaze appeared, it vanished, replaced by Xu Can's usual clear, friendly eyes.

"What's up, director? Is dinner ready? I'm getting a bit hungry," Xu Can said with a sunny smile.

"Y-Yes, there's a buffet over there…"

Xu Can walked off to grab a bite, leaving Director Leitch drenched in sweat, as if he had just walked through the gates of hell.

"This is terrifying! His immersive acting is out of this world! Is he even human?" Leitch muttered to himself.

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