Chapter 62

"So, after you finish filming the musical with her, you're going to film the sequel to Spider-Man?"

"That's what happened."

"Emmm…"

"What's wrong?"

"I just feel uncomfortable. Speaking of which, what kind of relationship do we have now? What about you and her?"

Under the candlelight, Taylor Swift's eyes glimmered, her red lips vibrant against the soft light. The violin band in the luxurious restaurant played passionately, and only the melodious tune of "Por una Cabeza" could be heard—a classic piece from the film Scent of a Woman.

The air grew tense as Xu Can felt the pressure of a critical moment. It was as if he stood at a pivotal choice point in a dating sim. If he was resolute, focusing on one path wouldn't be difficult. The problem was, Xu Can wasn't sure of the answer himself. Perhaps his hesitation came from wanting it all. To him, it felt like the free trial with Swift was over, and now it was time to decide if he was ready to commit.

Swift's initial look of anticipation had gradually turned into anxiety.

Luckily, Xu Can reacted quickly.

"How about I show you a magic trick?"

"Okay," Swift replied, her expression puzzled.

Xu Can held his left hand out, seemingly empty. He picked up a napkin from the table with his right hand, twisted it into a strip, and let it hang loosely. Swift watched as he suddenly produced a lighter and set the napkin on fire. The napkin burned brightly, but as the flame died down, a rose appeared in Xu Can's hand.

In the background, the violinists smoothly transitioned from "Por una Cabeza" to Swift's own song, "Love Story." Xu Can smiled at the blonde girl before him, who was now beaming with excitement.

"What do you think our relationship is now?" he asked.

Swift gasped, her hand covering her mouth in surprise. She leaped forward, wrapping her arms around Xu Can's neck.

"Are we in a serious relationship? Are we officially together?"

Looking into her eyes, filled with hope and joy, Xu Can responded with a playful tone, quoting her own lyrics, "You'll be the princess, and I'll be your prince."

Swift's heart raced as she took the rose from his hand and leaned in to kiss him. With that, their relationship was official, bringing Swift a sense of security she had longed for.

Though external threats remained, Xu Can's reassurance was enough for the moment. As Swift smiled, Xu Can breathed a sigh of relief. His mind raced, and in just a few seconds, he had concocted the entire plan—picking the rose from a nearby flower bed and executing the trick he had learned earlier. He knew that any further ambiguity on his part would have likely driven Swift away, possibly forever. It was a close call.

Perhaps, Xu Can mused, he might hear a new song from her inspired by this very night.

Having resolved things with Swift, Xu Can thought about his other relationships. He couldn't help but wonder if he should make things official with Emma Stone as well. After all, it seemed only fair.

"It's tough being such a good man," Xu Can sighed.

Reflecting on how it all started, he thought back to his speech at the Iron Man premiere. After wrapping up the musical La La Land, he would soon begin filming Spider-Man 2, followed by Marvel's Avengers. These were set to be blockbuster hits, dominating not just Hollywood but the entire internet. Xu Can had become a star in his own right, catching the attention of Disney, Paramount, Fox, Universal, and more. His mere words at events could steal the spotlight from other major studios, making their efforts seem almost futile.

Xu Can's next co-star, Emma Stone, would appear alongside him in two upcoming films, which only fueled Swift's anxiety about a potential on-set romance. The pair had become the most talked-about couple in North America, and Swift feared that if they grew too close, she might lose Xu Can for good. But for now, Xu Can had managed to reassure her.

Still, Xu Can couldn't deny that he had some feelings for Emma. Swift, despite her relief, still harbored a touch of unease.

Xu Can's phone buzzed repeatedly with messages from acquaintances sharing good news, including Happy Hogan and Kevin Feige.

"Hey! We've done it! The first day's box office was $55 million, second only to Spider-Man!"

"Fantastic, Xu! Based on pre-sales, the North American market should hit $140 million by the end of the first weekend!"

Iron Man was an undeniable success. With an opening day rivaling that of Spider-Man, the film was on track to surpass $800 million globally, possibly even reaching $1 billion. Xu Can's acquisition of Marvel had paid off, and the company was now firmly on the right path. Xu Can could now shift his focus to other projects, leaving the day-to-day management of Marvel to Kevin Feige while he provided overall direction.

After dinner, Xu Can returned to his Beverly Hills mansion, where he playfully hoisted Swift onto his shoulders.

"Hey…wait! I haven't taken off my high heels yet!"

"Exactly as I planned."

"Wait a minute…Oh my Lord…"

Beverly Hills echoed with Taylor Swift's melodious voice once more.

Two days later, as expected, Iron Man dominated the North American box office with a staggering $146 million opening weekend.

Disney's National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Fox's Cloverfield, and Warner's The Bucket List were all crushed in comparison, their earnings paling next to Xu Can's film.

Iron Man's $146 million was a commanding lead, with Cloverfield coming in second at just $40.03 million, and even the month-old The Dark Knight earning only $36 million that weekend. Xu Can had two films in the top spots, solidifying his status as a Hollywood powerhouse.

In other markets, Iron Man was similarly dominant, topping box office charts across Europe, Asia, and beyond. In Hong Kong, it grossed $12 million, outperforming Alien vs. Predator: Requiem and National Treasure: Book of Secrets. On the mainland, it pulled in 63 million yuan in its first weekend, crushing all competition.

Yet despite the film's enormous success, news about Xu Can remained low-key. Galaxy Entertainment's PR team had yet to fully capitalize on the film's potential in global media. Perhaps, Xu Can mused, only an Oscar win would break through the barriers, finally giving the domestic media a reason to celebrate his achievements.

With the Oscars just over a month away, Xu Can wasn't focused on nominations. Instead, his crew was assembled, and the filming of La La Land was about to begin.

Compared to Spider-Man 2, La La Land felt closer to Xu Can's original vision—something more grounded after spending so much time in the world of superheroes.

Two days later, in Los Angeles, Hollywood, at Galaxy Studios, the crew of La La Land gathered for the start of filming. Xu Can took on the roles of director, screenwriter, and leading actor, with Emma Stone as the heroine.

Emma was concerned about playing a character ten years older than her real age, but Xu Can assured her that she was perfect for the role. The supporting cast was filled with talented actors, and JK Simmons, who had previously worked with Xu Can on Spider-Man, was cast as the restaurant owner in La La Land.

As the cast and crew assembled for the first day of filming, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.

"Alright, everyone," Xu Can announced. "We're ready to start. La La Land is officially in production!"

Cheers erupted, and Emma Stone, affectionately known as Sister Shitou, popped a confetti tube, her excitement palpable.

The first scene to be filmed was the one where the protagonist, Seb, sits in a restaurant playing jazz. The female lead, Mia, enters, captivated by his music. It was the second time their characters would meet on screen.

Xu Can settled in at the piano, ready to perform. JK Simmons stood by, prepared for his role.

Emma couldn't help but tease, "Can you really play the piano?"

"Of course," Xu Can replied confidently.

"Then why haven't I ever seen you play?"

"I've been busy filming," he said with a smirk.

Emma, knowing Xu Can as well as she did, was still surprised. He always seemed to have something new up his sleeve.

As Xu Can sat at the piano, everyone on set watched intently, including the landlord who had rented the space and Ivanka Trump, who had come to visit.

Xu Can placed his hands on the keys and took a deep breath. In that moment, he wasn't just Xu Can; he was Seb, the jazz musician with big dreams and even bigger frustrations.

He started playing a simple tune, one anyone could recognize. The crew exchanged puzzled looks, thinking maybe Xu Can was joking about his piano skills.

But then, the melody shifted. The simple notes transformed into something profound and deeply emotional, capturing everyone's attention. The music swelled with sadness and longing, perfectly complementing the film's narrative.

Ivanka's eyes sparkled with delight as she listened, the music moving her deeply. The theme Xu Can played, "Seb and Mia's Theme," would become the film's signature melody, weaving throughout the story.

As Xu Can played, the spotlight seemed to narrow until only he existed in that moment. Emma Stone watched in awe, realizing there was still so much to this man that she didn't know. He was a true artist, capable of surprising everyone, even those closest to him.

When the piece ended, the set erupted in applause.

Xu Can stood up and walked over to Emma.

"How was it?"

Emma Stone wrapped her arms around him, kissed his cheek, and said, "That was amazing. I never knew you could play like that."

Xu Can smiled, "There's a lot you don't know about me."

Shooting continued smoothly from there. Emma Stone performed her part flawlessly, and Xu Can's direction brought the story to life. Every note of music was in sync with the actors' performances, and the chemistry between Xu Can and Emma was undeniable.

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