Chapter 6

According to Emma Stone, filming *Spider-Man* was the happiest time of her life. Before landing this role, she had only appeared in guest spots on reality shows and American dramas, often wrapping up her scenes quickly, never fully experiencing the joy of acting.

Then, one day, she received an offer for a leading role, and the excitement kept her awake all night. Her agent tried to steer her toward a different project, a youth film called *Superbad*, suggesting it might be a smarter choice compared to a comic book movie that was "destined to flop." However, something in Emma told her to follow her instincts, and she chose to play Gwen Stacy in *Spider-Man*.

That decision turned out to be the right one. The atmosphere on set was fantastic, filled with laughter every day. Director Marc Webb was incredibly kind, patiently guiding her through scenes when her performance needed a bit more polish. Most importantly, she met Xu Can, the magical Chinese actor who opened up a whole new world for her.

After getting tipsy together on the night they first met, Xu Can and Emma began having dinner together almost daily after filming, exploring New York City side by side. They quickly became close friends, confiding in each other about everything. Xu Can often shared his thoughts on movies with Emma, and his insights even began to influence her acting. Since joining the cast, her skills had visibly improved.

Without realizing it, Xu Can had become an important person in her life.

"Cut!" Director Marc Webb sighed helplessly. "Emma! What are you thinking about? Read your lines!"

"Ah?" Emma snapped back to reality, suddenly realizing she was on set, with Xu Can standing right in front of her.

Seeing her flustered expression, Xu Can couldn't help but laugh. To be honest, while Emma's large eyes and high cheekbones were more in line with Western beauty standards, she wasn't exactly his type. Xu Can preferred actresses like Sophie Marceau, Jennifer Connelly, and Kate Beckinsale—more delicate beauties by Eastern standards. However, he couldn't deny that Emma Stone had her own unique charm, especially with the blonde look she sported as Gwen Stacy. At 18, she was even more stunning than in her later role in *The Amazing Spider-Man*.

Today's scene took place at Gwen Stacy's house, where Peter Parker was visiting for the first time. Gwen's father didn't like Peter, leading to a tense dinner. Afterward, Peter and Gwen went to the balcony to talk. Peter wanted to reveal that he was Spider-Man but struggled to find the right words. Gwen, thinking he was about to confess his love, was hopeful but ended up disappointed when he didn't.

This scene wasn't particularly challenging for Xu Can and Emma Stone. From the beginning, Marc Webb had noted the chemistry between the two leads, which made their performances both natural and compelling. He expected the filming to go smoothly and even hoped to wrap up early that day.

But to his surprise, Emma kept missing her lines, lost in her thoughts.

"What's going on? Did you forget the script?" Marc asked.

"No, no, I'll do it again, director. I'm sorry. I won't mess up this time," Emma promised, flustered.

"Okay, take your time… All units, prepare for another take!" Marc directed the crew, sighing softly.

Xu Can looked at Emma with concern. "Hey, are you alright? You seem off today."

"No… I'm fine. Let's just continue," she replied, trying to regain her focus.

"I remember you never got nervous. Where did that carefree girl go?" Xu Can teased.

"Pfft, you're the one who's silly!" Emma laughed, relaxing at last.

"Action!" Marc called.

The moment the camera started rolling, the two actors slipped seamlessly into their roles. They stood close on the balcony, their faces inches apart.

"I have something to tell you," Peter began.

"Okay, what is it?" Gwen asked, looking up at him expectantly.

"I was bitten…" Peter hesitated.

"Me too," Gwen responded, her eyes softening as she misinterpreted his words as a confession.

"No, no, that's not what I meant… I just… It's really hard to explain," Peter stammered, visibly conflicted.

"It's okay, just say it," Gwen encouraged, moving closer.

Peter struggled to speak, nearly blurting out the truth but holding back at the last second. Xu Can's subtle expressions left Marc Webb marveling behind the monitor. If this were a serious drama instead of a superhero movie, Xu Can might even have been an Oscar contender.

"What kind of talent have I discovered?" Marc mused.

Meanwhile, the camera kept rolling. Emma Stone, playing Gwen, couldn't help but think about what would happen once filming ended. Would her friendship with Xu Can fade away? The thought sent a shiver through her.

Reacting in character, Gwen's face fell as she interpreted Peter's hesitation as rejection. She turned away, disappointed, and started to leave. But just then, a web shot out, pulling her back into Peter's arms.

"Oh my God! Peter, you—" Gwen gasped in shock.

Peter didn't need to say a word. He kissed her, and the scene took an unexpected turn. It was Xu Can's first on-screen kiss, and he hadn't been prepared. He was completely immersed in his character until the moment his lips touched Emma's. Then, a second later, he was caught up in the depth of her kiss.

"You're… you're Spider-Man!" Gwen exclaimed between kisses.

"Don't talk," Peter whispered.

"Mmh!" Gwen responded, leaning in.

This was also Emma Stone's first kiss—not just on screen, but in real life. Initially, it was just acting, but after a few seconds, it felt real. Xu Can couldn't help but hold her closer, both of them caught in a powerful, undeniable chemistry.

"Cut…" Marc Webb hesitated. Technically, the scene was over. He'd planned to stop filming, but the two actors seemed too deeply absorbed in the moment.

"Huh? What the…" Marc muttered, deciding not to interrupt. He let the camera keep rolling, capturing every second of the intense, unscripted moment.