Chapter 171

"Your hand is trembling—I can tell you're very nervous."

"Oh? Mr. Medical Expert, why would I be nervous?"

"Because you're interested in me. Your mouth says you want to reject me, but your body is very honest."

"Let's go."

"Now?"

"I don't mind, because I'm thinking the same thing you are…"

Immediately after, the scene cut—from the coffee shop to the female lead's apartment.

"Action!"

At the director's command, Xu Can and Anne Hathaway were already in position.

The moment they pushed open the door, they were locked in a deep kiss—a very intense one, from the doorway all the way to the dining table.. 0

Even though it was just acting, Xu Can could smell the fragrance on Anne, and the wild clash of lips and tongues.

Her acting really is excellent—no trace of performance at all.

……

Hoo—

Battle results screen: the two lay on the floor.

"Cut!"

The director finally wrapped the scene, and the two sat to the side wrapped in blankets, drinking hot coffee.

The weather was rather cold; with so little clothing, it was still easy to catch a chill.

"How did it feel?" Anne Hathaway looked at Xu Can with a teasing gaze.

"What?"

"Compared to Taylor, or compared to Emma—were the kiss scenes any better?"

"Let's just say, not bad. Not too terrible."

"Huh? Just not bad?" Anne pouted.

"It's fine, we'll get better with practice. We have plenty of scenes like this."

A dragon-king-like faint smile tugged at the corner of Xu Can's mouth.

"Ah…"

Only then did Anne Hathaway remember that in the next scene, she would have to be completely open with him.

There were so many people on set!

She suddenly grew a little nervous, even regretting taking this role.

"I'm right here with you."

Xu Can seemed to see through her thoughts and took Anne's hand.

"Mm."

Feeling the warmth and steadiness of his hand, Anne gradually stopped trembling.

Only now did she understand why young women like Taylor Swift and Emma Stone would fall for him.

"Action!"

Anne lay on top of Xu Can, suddenly feeling that the set really was quite cold.

She could only try to take as much warmth from Xu Can as possible, keeping her composure as she delivered her lines.

"Your insides aren't as bad as I imagined."

"No, no, I'm a real bastard—trust me."

"Good."

Anne gently kissed Xu Can.

"If you weren't a bastard, that would be the real problem."

"Then let you have a taste of what a bastard is like." Xu Can suddenly turned forceful.

Even though the situation was very awkward, with the entire crew staring at Anne,

Xu Can beside her made Anne utterly lost in the moment, forgetting the gazes around her.

Her whole being seemed to leave her body, soaring through the clouds.

Director Edward and assistant director Clark watched the monitor screen.

"That's Xu for you, that's Anne for you—even these high-difficulty scenes they shoot so realistically."

"Yes, the acting is really good—basically one take and done."

"Wait, isn't it a bit too realistic?"

"I think… they don't seem to be acting at all?"

"HolyShit?!"

……

New York's Kennedy International Airport, VIP lounge.

"Xu, are you really leaving?"

"Silly, I'm just going to a premiere. We haven't finished filming our scenes yet."

"Alright, I don't know why, but I'm suddenly a little reluctant to part with you." Anne Hathaway gently bit her lower lip.

"Oh? So reluctant to part with a working partner?"

"You really are a bastard."

Anne punched Xu Can's chest in annoyance, yet seeming afraid of hurting him, let her fist fall softly.

"Goodbye, Annie. Wait for me to come back."

Xu Can very naturally cradled Annie's face and, as if filming a scene, gave her a light kiss.

Matters settled, he brushed off his sleeves and walked into the security checkpoint.

Watching Xu Can disappear around the corner, Anne Hathaway couldn't shake the hollow, empty feeling in her heart.

For some reason, she felt she might have gotten too deep into the role.

It was clearly a modern-day romance film—surely it didn't warrant getting this into character?

……

Having just kissed Annie at the New York airport, a little over five hours later, Xu Can was again deep in a kiss with Taytay—this time at Los Santos International Airport.

Yes, ever since that phone call, the emotions Taytay had been suppressing for many days finally burst forth.

If she hadn't been tied up with work, she would have flown to New York to find Xu Can on the spot.

The day Xu Can returned, she could no longer hold back and rushed to the airport to pick him up.

Not until they reached the car in the parking garage could Taylor Swift hold back any longer—she threw herself at Xu Can, pinning him against the passenger seat, like a vampire.

"Hey, hey, you're going to give me a blood clot at this rate."

……

The next day, at the premiere of *La La Land*, Xu Can wore a high-collared T-shirt.

This time he went for a casual look, a touch more relaxed and free-spirited, strutting the red carpet like a runway model.

"Babe, first time I've seen you in a high collar—not bad, you look pretty handsome."

Emma Stone looped her arm through his, her gaze practically unable to look away.

During their "cooling-off" separation, Emma had felt every day drag on like a year.

Now that she'd flown back from Europe to Los Santos for the premiere, she wished she could grab hold of Xu Can and never let go.

"Your yellow dress looks great too—wear this one tonight…"

"You're so naughty." Emma shot him a glance rich with meaning.

The *La La Land* they starred in was about to have its global premiere,

and besides fans, the media and well-known film critics had also gathered in force.

Seasoned Hollywood experts had previously kept saying,

"The musical is the hallmark of Hollywood's golden age—it's their former glory."

"Xu Can, as a Chinese person, simply doesn't grasp the essence of the musical,"

"Everyone wants to see how a foreigner can destroy Hollywood's golden age!"

Those were the exact words of a *New York Times* columnist.

Now, Xu Can was about to conquer Hollywood using the very method Hollywood was proudest of!.