บท 58: Chapter 57
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In the early morning, the sun shone brightly over Los Santos, casting rays of light through the large floor-to-ceiling windows of Xu Can's mansion bedroom.
Xu Can, half-asleep, felt an itch in his nose. Groggily, he reached out to rub it, hoping to drift back to sleep.
He was so tired!
But just a few seconds later, the itch returned, more persistent this time.
Xu Can could hear someone stifling laughter nearby, and the bed shook slightly.
Fully awake now, Xu Can decided to keep his eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. He waited for the culprit to come closer. When the moment was right, he suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed her slender wrist.
"Ah!"
Taylor Swift, who had been teasing Xu Can with her golden hair, was caught off guard. She gasped in surprise.
"You weren't asleep…"
"I was, but you woke me up. How do you plan to make it up to me?" Xu Can pretended to be angry.
"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. Just go back to sleep."
Taylor tried to slip out of bed and make her escape like a startled deer, but Xu Can quickly flipped over, pinning her down and capturing her right on the spot.
Did she really think she could escape Spider-Man?
"Wait, I haven't brushed my teeth yet… mmph!"
Xu Can silenced her with a kiss. Since she had woken him up, it was only fair that she faced the consequences.
Some singers struggle with hitting the E6 note, but Swift in Xu Can's bedroom hit it effortlessly, her voice sweet and melodious, with perfect timing, just like her songs.
...
The kitchen was still a mess from the night before, with dishes left unwashed. Xu Can, too lazy to clean up first thing in the morning, used new kitchen utensils to fry eggs and toast. After making breakfast for himself and Swift—who had clearly overexerted herself—he decided to let the housekeeper take care of the mess later.
"Honey, you're so bad… I had a commercial shoot scheduled today, and now I don't think I can even move."
"Then just rest at home for the day… wait, what did you just call me?"
Xu Can nearly choked on his breakfast.
"Honey, I looked it up later. It means 'husband'… We're not married, though. You're so bad! Evil!"
Swift, blushing, playfully punched Xu Can on the shoulder. He caught her wrist with a sly grin.
"Then why did you call me that?"
"I don't know, it just felt natural."
"Then say it a few more times…"
"No way!" Swift quickly changed the subject. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting today? Go on, don't be late."
Xu Can checked the time—she was right. He needed to head to the company.
In addition to overseeing the "Iron Man" schedule, there were several other movie projects to discuss, including Xu Can's upcoming "La La Land."
If he didn't have so much on his plate, he might have just carried Swift back to the bedroom to continue their earlier activities.
"Can I stay at your place to rest? It's all your fault; I feel so weak."
"Of course, you called me 'husband,' so you're the hostess here too."
Swift couldn't help but chuckle at that. She leaned in to give Xu Can a kiss.
"Can I have the food you made yesterday? The potatoes and beef brisket were so good."
"That depends on how well you behave."
Taylor Swift gave him another tight hug, taking the initiative for once. Since her boundaries had been pushed last night, she had become much more assertive and affectionate.
Xu Can nearly lost control, but he managed to pull away. He carried her princess-style back to bed, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead before turning to leave.
If he didn't leave now, he'd never make it out the door.
...
After Xu Can closed the door, Taylor Swift lay on the bed, gazing thoughtfully at the ceiling.
...
"The trailer has been completed, rated PG-13, and is scheduled for release in the second week of January."
"No issues there. What about the other regions?"
"Everything's arranged for a simultaneous global premiere."
Xu Can nodded in satisfaction.
The review process for "The Dark Knight" in China was still ongoing due to some sensitive content. Xu Can had advised against cutting any scenes, which meant additional negotiations were necessary.
"Iron Man," however, had sailed through approvals quickly, with a contract signed with China Film. Finally, a film of his would be released simultaneously worldwide!
With just one month left, early trailers and offline ads for the movie were already making waves. Even while "The Dark Knight" was still in theaters, "Iron Man" posters had started popping up everywhere, and several 30-second previews were released, generating buzz online.
As the final trailer's release approached, the storm surrounding "The Dark Knight" had not yet subsided, and "Iron Man" was already waiting in the wings, ready to make its mark.
Xu Can was relentless, delivering one blockbuster after another, leaving no time for fans to catch their breath!
...
The ongoing debate between fans of "The Dark Knight" and the older "Batman" films had yet to die down.
The "battle between the old and new Jokers" had reached a consensus among most audiences in North America and worldwide. While the old Joker was considered a classic, Xu Can's new portrayal was seen as groundbreaking, and many believed it would become an iconic image in film history.
But some stubborn critics, who hadn't even seen "The Dark Knight," continued to dismiss Xu Can's performance.
As a die-hard American comic book fan and Xu Can enthusiast, Dr. Sheldon Cooper from Caltech couldn't stand it. After arguing with others on forums for hundreds of posts, he decided to make a video response to silence the doubters.
Unexpectedly, Sheldon's reply video went viral, racking up tens of millions of views on YouTube. His slightly nerdy demeanor, paired with his sharp, precise arguments, resonated with Xu Can's fans and left the critics with little to say, securing a decisive victory for Xu Can's Joker.
Encouraged by his success, Sheldon decided to start a video series reviewing live-action comic book movies.
While recording one of his videos, his roommate Leonard barged in, interrupting him.
"Excuse me, Sheldon, it's my turn to record! You're supposed to stay out for 30 minutes!"
"Forget that for now; look at this!" Leonard excitedly opened a video—the final trailer for "Iron Man" had just been released on YouTube. In just five minutes, it had already racked up over a million views!
Sheldon's eyes widened in amazement...
...
Produced by Galaxy Pictures.
Marvel Entertainment.
Released by Columbia Pictures.
The trailer began with the classic drumbeat of AC/DC's "Back in Black." As the restless and thrilling melody played, a military Humvee sped through the vast Gobi Desert.
Inside the Humvee, playboy Tony Stark sat, casually holding a glass of bourbon, completely at ease.
"Aren't you all supposed to be quiet?"
"To be respected, or to be feared? Which one is better?"
A missile, brimming with advanced technology, was launched and split into countless warheads in the air, creating a devastating explosion on a mountainside. The shockwave nearly knocked the soldiers off their feet.
"I want them all."
"...for peace..." Boom!
Tony Stark was caught in the blast, left barely alive, and captured by the enemy in a cave.
"Tony Stark, you're my dog."
Ding...
Ding...
In the cave, Tony Stark picked up a sledgehammer and struck the metal.
At this point, Leonard and Sheldon didn't fully grasp what the metal sounds meant.
"Stark, what are you trying to build?"
Bang!
The Mark 1 armor broke free, emerging like a beast, ready to unleash destruction!
Boom!
"Welcome home, Mr. Stark."
"I've awakened, and I want to protect people."
Stark donned his mask and fired a laser from his steel gauntlet!
Boom!
"There's an army of steel warriors capable of conquering Asia."
In his lab, Tony Stark's armor gradually evolved.
"Yeah, I can fly."
Seeing this, Sheldon couldn't contain his excitement any longer. He shoved Leonard out of the chair and sat down, staring intently at the screen.
The original rock music had been replaced by more intense and electrifying metal music.
With a thrilling melody, the silver-white Mark 2 armor shot out from the garage!
"Yeeeeh-huh!"
Boom!
The armor suddenly lost power, plummeting through the roof of the building and severely damaging a limited-edition sports car.
"Sir, the upgrade is complete."
"Give me some cool red."
The familiar image of Iron Man appeared, and both Sheldon and Leonard leaped up in excitement!
Is this the power of Xu Can?
Starting with "Spider-Man," he had gradually brought those iconic characters to the big screen, and now it was Iron Man's turn!
Could Marvel's Captain America, Hulk, and Thor be next?
Could DC's The Flash also be in the cards?
Would the scenes that once existed only in comics and crude animations finally be brought to life on the big screen?
Just thinking about it was enough to send shivers down their spines!
In the trailer,
The rapid editing, the dazzling special effects, and those tantalizing glimpses of action were almost too much to bear!
"Heroes aren't born…"
"Heroes are created."
"Some people suspect that I'm related to the recent superhero incident. I'm not the hero you imagine…"
Boom!
"IRON MAN"
"January 11, 2008"
"Coming soon!"
The trailer for "Iron Man" made waves across the internet, as expected. Judging by the trailer, it promised to be another fast-paced live-action comic adaptation.
Even though Xu Can wasn't starring in the film, his role as the director was enough to get fans buzzing with excitement. The phrase "Produced by Xu Can" had become synonymous with high-quality filmmaking, and fans were eagerly anticipating his next hit.
The industry was equally abuzz. Hollywood was stunned by the special effects and production value displayed in the brief teaser.
"Wait, tell me again—this was made by a start-up special effects team?"
"Boss, they recruited a lot of talent from Industrial Light & Magic and Weta Digital. Even some of our team members have left…"
"What? Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
"At Disney headquarters, the president was fuming, taking out his frustration on his subordinates.
Paramount and Fox were also in meetings, analyzing Xu Can's latest film.
Paramount, especially, was on edge—they had just released the mecha blockbuster "Transformers," which had dominated the market. But now, "Iron Man," another special effects-laden blockbuster, was on the horizon.
"Don't worry, these are just Marvel's second-tier superheroes. Their most popular characters are still out there," said Paramount's CEO, Brian Robbins, confidently.
"But the director is Xu Can!" some were already feeling the threat.
"So what? He's just a young guy who wants to run before he can walk."
"I'd be worried if he were starring in the film. But as a director, with a drug addict in the lead role, the movie's doomed."
Paramount's competition with "Iron Man" in January would be their new sci-fi thriller, "Cloverfield." Logically, a superhero movie and a thriller found-footage film wouldn't necessarily conflict, but the January market wasn't like the summer blockbuster season. It was a quieter period, where usually only one film could dominate, potentially affecting the box office of others.
The competition was set. Which film would come out on top depended on their respective quality.
At Galaxy Entertainment, in the dance studio, Emma Stone cornered Xu Can just as he was about to leave.
"I've been practicing my tap dance. When can we rehearse together?"
"Soon, before the movie starts. Once 'Iron Man' is released and all the promotional chaos is over, we'll start filming."
"What about your moves? Can you jump?"
"Of course, I learned that when I was a kid."
"Sorry... I thought you didn't know how."
Emma Stone lowered her head in embarrassment, but Xu Can gently lifted her chin and kissed her on the lips.
Just two hours earlier, he had kissed the blonde girl at home; now, he transferred that affection to the red-haired beauty in front of him. Xu Can had become adept at seamlessly switching between relationships, giving each one his full attention.
"I'll make sure you see what I can do when the time comes," Xu Can whispered in Emma Stone's ear, promising to master the dance moves he hadn't yet learned.
But Emma, hearing this, felt he wasn't being serious again.
"You're so bad…"
The trailer for "Iron Man" had already been out for a while, and 2007 had drawn to a close. As 2008 began, Xu Can entered his second year in this parallel world. In less than two years, everything had changed drastically, and he was on a path that was both unknown and wild.
On New Year's Eve, Xu Can showcased his skill in time management. After dinner, he took Emma Stone to a secluded spot behind the restaurant for some private time. Then, after dropping her off at her apartment, he met Taylor Swift for a French meal at the same restaurant.
Luckily, Xu Can had reserved a private room and tipped the waiter generously. If news of this had gotten out, it would have caused an uproar in the entertainment world.
Scandals about Xu Can were already flying everywhere, like snowflakes in a storm. One day he was seen holding hands with Emma Stone on the street, and the next, he was rumored to be having a private dinner with the country music queen at a restaurant. There were even whispers about an affair with Avril Lavigne and rumors of intimate moments with Emma Roberts.
Xu Can admitted to some of the stories, but others were just nonsense. After adding Avril as a friend, they had only had dinner once, where he'd tried to sign her to Galaxy Music. With two major American pop stars, the label would thrive even more.
However, Avril, now married, was thinking more about retiring than advancing her career. Xu Can, not one to pursue married women, wasn't particularly interested, no matter how attractive Avril was.
They agreed that Avril could reach out to him anytime she changed her mind; there would always be a place for her at Galaxy Music.
As for Emma Roberts, their relationship was strictly platonic. They hadn't seen each other for a while and were just catching up as friends. Emma liked to hold Xu Can's arm, which was completely normal…
Fortunately, Xu Can had so many scandals that fans automatically dismissed most of them as rumors. Those shipping Spider-Man and Gwen were as enthusiastic as ever, and others were enjoying the on-screen chemistry Xu Can displayed on "SNL."
Despite everything, Xu Can's official "couple" status was still tied to Emma Stone. The impact of "Spider-Man" was too great, and everyone had grown used to seeing them together.
On the day of the 65th North American Golden Globe Awards, Xu Can arrived with Emma Stone, hand in hand, as his partner on the red carpet. At this time, Taylor Swift had no ties to the film industry and could only sit in her apartment, watching the two on TV with a pout.
"Hmph, even the potato chips taste sour now…"
Xu Can was nominated for a Golden Globe this year for his phenomenal performance in "The Dark Knight." Although watching it made Swift uncomfortable, she didn't turn off the TV. She wanted to witness the moment Xu Can won his first Golden Globe, even if it wasn't an Oscar. This would be the start of his legendary career.
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