Chapter 28

At the end of 2006, Xu Can was invited to a New Year's Eve party hosted by Sony Entertainment. This exclusive event was more like an internal annual meeting, gathering top talent from across Sony's subsidiaries, including Columbia Pictures, NBC, FOX, Sony Records, and Sony Games North America. The atmosphere was relaxed and informal, allowing celebrities from different industries to mingle freely.

Among the attendees were North American music giants like Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Avril Lavigne. Hollywood stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Leonardo DiCaprio also made low-key appearances, creating an ambiance that felt truly star-studded.

As Xu Can entered the banquet hall, he was immediately recognized by familiar faces—quite a change from his previous life, where these stars were only distant figures separated by the vast Pacific Ocean.

"Hey Xu! Over here!" called out 16-year-old Emma Roberts, spotting him quickly. She ran over to greet him with her usual enthusiasm. Though Emma had a reputation for being a bit of a "green tea bitch," her lively demeanor was still endearing.

"Emma, you're here too?" Xu Can greeted her warmly.

"Of course! I heard you'd be here, so I had to come~" Emma replied with a sweet smile, naturally slipping her arm through his.

Xu Can couldn't help but think how fortunate it was that his girlfriend, Emma Stone, was busy filming Twilight in Portland. Otherwise, she might have been a bit jealous seeing this.

"Xu, it's great to see you. I watched Spider-Man twice! It was amazing!" said Jennifer Lopez, who was chatting with Emma. Around them were other young celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Shia LaBeouf, and Jessica Alba, all expressing their admiration for Xu Can with exaggerated excitement.

Xu Can responded with a professional smile, navigating the social scene with ease.

"Xu, let me introduce you to more people!" Emma Roberts, well-connected through her famous aunt, was in her element as she led Xu Can around to meet various stars.

As they moved through the crowd, a slender woman with long blonde hair and smoky eye makeup suddenly grabbed Xu Can's arm. "May! It's really you!"

Xu Can recognized her immediately. "Avril, nice to meet you."

Standing before him was Avril Lavigne, the rock queen herself. In person, she was surprisingly petite, her 160 cm frame making her appear almost delicate next to Xu Can's 185 cm height.

"Wow! I'm a fan of your movies. Can I get your autograph?" Avril asked, her usual cool demeanor replaced by the enthusiasm of a starstruck fan.

"Sure, let's exchange autographs," Xu Can replied, pulling out a pen.

After signing each other's business cards, they posed for a photo together, with Emma Roberts stepping in as the photographer. Xu Can placed his hand gently on Avril's shoulder for the picture, while Avril, more familiar, wrapped her arm around his waist.

"This is a nice photo," Emma remarked with a playful smirk.

Before parting, Avril suggested, "Let's have dinner together sometime."

"Sure, feel free to contact me," Xu Can agreed, watching as Avril walked away.

Emma Roberts, who had been observing the interaction, commented, "Even though she's married, she's still all over you."

Avril Lavigne had indeed married band singer Derek Whibley in July 2006, but her husband was notably absent from the party. Was this an early sign of the relationship troubles that would lead to their divorce in 2009?

"It's just a new friend. What are you thinking?" Xu Can teased, giving Emma's nose a playful tap.

"Can friends do this? Then I want to, too," Emma said, ignoring his comment as she wrapped her arms around Xu Can's waist, pressing herself against him. The sudden closeness and the scent of her perfume made it difficult for Xu Can to stay composed, especially since he hadn't seen Emma Stone for days.

"What are you doing?" Xu Can asked, trying to maintain his composure.

"Aren't we friends?" Emma replied innocently.

"Let go first, there are so many people around," Xu Can insisted, glancing nervously at the crowd.

"Hmph, so you still like Sister Shitou more," Emma pouted, using her nickname for Emma Stone.

"Where did you learn all this?" Xu Can sighed, relieved when Emma's agent appeared to introduce her to other celebrities.

Finally alone, Xu Can took a moment to catch his breath, but the party continued to buzz around him. Spider-Man was the talk of the night, with everyone from directors to A-list actors wanting to meet him. Even Marvel Comics, which had been in decline, was experiencing a resurgence thanks to the film's success.

Xu Can found himself surrounded by industry giants like director Ridley Scott, actor Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Winslet. With his newfound popularity, Xu Can knew he needed to make the most of these opportunities, forging connections that could help him in future projects.

As he navigated the social maze, Xu Can channeled Peter Parker's charm, making witty remarks that had Kate Winslet laughing so hard she nearly spilled her drink.

After exchanging contact information with numerous stars, Xu Can decided it was time to slip away. He made his way to the buffet table, pouring himself a glass of Coke to quench his thirst.

As he reached for some fruit, he accidentally bumped into the person next to him.

"Sorry…"

"I'm so sorry…"

They both apologized simultaneously, then looked up and froze in surprise.

"May! You're here too! I'm a fan of your movies and I really love Spider-Man!" The blonde girl opposite Xu Can was tall, nearly his height, and had a figure that could rival a supermodel's. She was wearing a sleek black evening dress, though she seemed a bit uncomfortable in it.

Her red phoenix eyes were captivating, and her fair skin contrasted strikingly with her flaming red lips.

"Taylor?" Xu Can asked, recognizing her instantly.

The girl's initial surprise quickly turned into excitement as her eyes lit up. "Ahhh! You know me! Have you heard my songs?"

Of course, Xu Can knew who Taylor Swift was. At 17, she was already making waves in the North American music industry.

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