Taylor brought it up again, jogging Luke's memory about the press conference for King of Espionage over a month ago, where he'd publicly announced he had a girlfriend.
The news, once reported, sparked a global media frenzy.
"Luke's Mysterious Eastern Girlfriend!"
"Anne's Heart Finally Broken!"
"A Night That Shattered Countless Girls' Dreams!"
Headlines like these dominated the news for over two weeks straight.
Luke's popularity in the West was already off the charts, fueled by the success of his two latest movies and the massive buzz from the football incident. He was a household name across Europe and America.
Fans went wild speculating about his love life. At first, some doubted the relationship—it seemed so sudden, naturally raising questions.
But when old classmates dug up stories about him and Yuffie, the narrative flipped completely.
A childhood sweetheart romance, born from humble beginnings, was the kind of love story that captured hearts worldwide.
As a result, Yuffie's popularity in the West skyrocketed.
In East Asia, Luke's core fanbase, the news hit like a bomb.
In Japan and Korea, the vibe was a mix of congratulations and mild regret—happy for Luke's relationship, but a little bummed it wasn't with someone from their own countries.
In China, Yuffie's fame shot through the roof.
As a rookie in the entertainment world, she became a household name overnight.
Director David Li of The Golden Family couldn't stop grinning. The show hadn't even aired yet, but the hype was already maxed out—it was guaranteed to be a hit.
While fans worldwide were hungry for more details about Luke's love life, follow-up reports were scarce.
Why? Because Luke had jetted off to film a movie abroad.
It was like telling half a story—frustrating, leaving everyone itching for more without closure.
Taylor's mood during this time was… complicated, to say the least.
Getting caught up in the gossip about herself, with no way to vent, left her stewing.
She'd planned to let Luke have it the moment she saw him.
But when she laid eyes on that infuriatingly charming face, all her frustration melted away.
So, she just gave him a playful jab: "Announced a girlfriend and then immediately hid out filming abroad?"
"Hid?" Luke shot back, grinning. "I'm an open book. Why would I hide?"
Taylor laughed, a knowing smile that made Luke feel a little guilty.
She leaned in close, her face inches from his. "An open book? Never guilty?"
Luke knew he couldn't back down now. With a confident smirk, he said, "Never."
"You'd kiss me, then? A guy with a girlfriend?"
Taylor's lips were soft, pink, and inviting, like cherry blossoms ready to bloom.
At a moment like this, answering a woman's question with words is a rookie mistake. You don't answer—you act.
And Luke wasn't about to mess up. He leaned in, planting a gentle kiss on her soft lips.
Instantly, he felt her respond, her tongue eagerly meeting his in a passionate dance.
This kiss was different from any before.
Luke could feel her love, her possessiveness, her joy, and her need all at once.
After a long moment, Taylor pulled back and said, "Christmas Eve this year—it's mine."
Luke knew exactly what she meant. He nodded. "Deal."
"You're such a player," she teased.
"Guilty," he admitted.
"But I'm kinda glad you're a player."
"All I want is for you to be happy."
It was straight out of the player handbook, but no response could've been more perfect.
Taylor nodded. "I'm not like your Eastern girls. I don't care about titles or being your 'girlfriend.' You're right—being happy with you is what matters."
Luke pulled a small glass vial from his pocket and handed it to her.
[Youth Potion (Type O): Swallow in one gulp. Effect: Extends lifespan by 15 years and delays aging by 8 years. This potion is effective only for Type O females in a close relationship with the host.]
This was one of the main reasons he'd come to see Taylor today. Carrying something this precious made him paranoid about losing or breaking it.
Handing it over to its rightful owner was the safest move.
"What's this?" Taylor asked.
"Drink it. It's good for you. Do it now," Luke urged.
"Some kind of magical Eastern medicine?"
Taylor uncapped the vial and poured it into her mouth.
"You're not worried it's poison?" he teased.
"If it's from you, I'd drink anything," she said with a grin.
Bold move, girl!
Her response made Luke's mind wander for a second.
"Hm? It's sweet, like glucose water. You sure you didn't get scammed?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sure enough, her potion tasted similar to his, but the effects were worlds apart.
Luke chuckled. "This stuff might be one-of-a-kind. You'll see the benefits later."
Taylor was still young, so she wouldn't notice the potion's effects right away. In a few years, when she realized her beauty was lasting way longer than it should, she'd get it.
She didn't press him further, just smiled and said, "Since you're saving Christmas Eve for me, I've gotta hustle. I want to finish recording my second album before then."
"What kind of success are you aiming for?" Luke asked.
"Maybe top ten of the year?" Taylor said, sounding unsure.
As a new artist with just one album out, she was confident in her second album, Fearless, but cautiously thought top ten would be a solid win.
In reality, that album would sell over 10 million copies worldwide, becoming a massive hit.
More than half of Taylor's fans first discovered her through songs from Fearless.
And those insane numbers were from her last life—without Luke's help.
So, Luke grinned and asked, "Can you aim a little higher?"
"Top five?" she ventured.
He gestured for her to go bigger.
"Top three?"
Seeing him still smiling, Taylor pouted. "What, you think a newbie like me can take the number-one spot?"
"Exactly! This time, you've got me in your corner. And I never settle for second place."