The Road to Superstardom: Starting as a Singer

At 8 p.m., Huang Weijie sat on the sofa replying to congratulatory messages from China on his phone, while Christine nestled in his arms playing on her iPad.

The two looked serene and content.

But the tranquility was soon broken by Huang Weijie's cell phone ringing.

Looking at the "Taylor Swift" logo on his phone screen, he glanced at Christine, who was surfing the internet, before answering the call.

"Feed?"

"Jace, congratulations on reaching the top!"

Taylor Swift's voice came through the microphone, "Wait, is it a convenient time for you to talk? Am I bothering you?"

"It's convenient, go ahead." Huang Weijie's lips twitched slightly.

"Oh, that's great!" Taylor Swift's tone brightened. "I knew you were a really talented guy! 'What Makes You Beautiful' truly deserved to be number one. You have no idea how excited I was when I heard the news..."

I didn't know before, but I do now.

Hearing Taylor Swift's excited voice, Huang Weijie smacked his lips.

Christine shifted in his arms, trying to get more comfortable. She didn't suspect much about her boyfriend answering the phone, assuming Huang Weijie was talking to his agent.

"Oh, right, besides congratulating you, there's something else I wanted to tell you."

"What?"

"Regarding the promotion of 'Love Story.' You know, the song is scheduled for release on September 12th, but I want to start the pre-release hype starting today. I'd like to... take advantage of your rise to the top, and I need your cooperation."

"No problem," Huang Weijie readily agreed. "What do you need me to do?"

"Tonight at 9 PM, I'll release a short teaser video, like a castle silhouette. You can share it, and the caption is up to you, but it would be best to mention something like 'It's an honor to participate'."

Taylor Swift said it was up to her, but she still made the arrangements very honestly: "Then starting tomorrow, my team will gradually release some stills, and you may need to share them. In return, when 'Just the Way You Are' is released, I will also do my best to promote it for you."

"make a deal."

The two chatted for a few more minutes about interesting things in the industry, and Huang Weijie could feel Taylor Swift laughing brightly on the other end of the phone.

Just then, Huang Weijie's frank answer made Christine, who was nestled in his arms, finally realize that the person on the other end of the phone was probably not Madeline.

After a figure flashed through her mind, she put down her iPad, quietly moved closer, and listened intently...

The faint female voice coming from the phone made her frown.

Holy crap!

How could this bitch be so shameless as to call someone else's boyfriend again?

Even if there is work involved, can't the team handle it?!

Christine rolled her eyes, coughed lightly twice, and then asked in a soft, sweet voice, "Honey, who are you talking to on the phone?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was clear enough.

Huang Weijie realized that she must have been discovered as soon as she approached. Hearing this, he could only look at her helplessly and reach out to pinch her cheek.

On the other end of the phone, Taylor Swift's bright smile vanished instantly. After muttering a couple of curses about the shopping spree, she paused for two seconds before saying, "Jace, I suddenly have something to take care of, I have to hang up now. Remember to retweet at nine tonight, goodbye."

Before Huang Weijie could speak, the call was disconnected.

Huang Weijie put down his phone and looked at Christine, who had an innocent look on her face.

With a slight exertion of his large hand, the other person obediently let him pinch their face and bring it closer.

Huang Weijie lowered his head and captured her cherry lips, exchanging a few drops of saliva before releasing her: "Christine, Taylor has something important to discuss with me, her single..."

"Taylor Swift?"

Christine didn't care what the other party wanted from Huang Weijie; instead, she keenly noticed Huang Weijie's unusual way of addressing Taylor.

"..."

Huang Weijie stumbled over his words; he was used to it and hadn't had time to correct it.

"Emm, Taylor, she..."

"Why do you call her Taylor Swift, but call me by my name?" Christine was jealous.

Huang Weijie wrapped his arms around her, and despite her struggles, pulled her into his embrace: "What? Darling, when did I call you by your name?"

Seeing that she still wanted to speak, Huang Weijie lowered his head again and sealed her mouth.

After a long pause, Christine finally said, panting, "I don't care, when your new song is released, you have to promote me on social media too."

"That's a must! Darling, I would have done it even if you hadn't said anything! I'm not only going to promote you, I'm going to say you're my best friend."

When Christine heard the word "good friend," she understood, but her eyes dimmed slightly for a moment.

Then Huang Weijie said, "Your movie will be released in two months. I'll not only support you, but I'll also book out a whole theater for you! I'll support you!"

Hearing Huang Weijie say that, Christine immediately became happy again.

Although Huang Weijie may be suspected of using sweet talk, at least he takes some real action!

This is more than most of the guys she knows!

Christine immediately stopped caring about Huang Weijie's special way of addressing Taylor.

What's so great about Taylor Swift? He even calls me "darling"!

……

At 9 p.m. sharp, Taylor Swift's account posted a short video with the words "The love story of Romeo and Juliet...9.12" in the center of the screen.

Huang Weijie then promptly reposted the message, adding the caption: "Honored to be a part of this story, I can't wait! @taylorswift"

This repost immediately attracted the attention of a large number of netizens.

This is another song collaboration following last month's "What Makes You Beautiful"!

Moreover, just today, "What Makes You Beautiful" topped the charts, and another new song was officially announced. This dream collaboration immediately sent the fans of both artists into a frenzy.

[@Jace Huang @taylorswift Are you two really just friends? I don't believe it!!]

[Fun fact: Jace didn't sing in Taylor Swift's song; she only appeared in the music video. So, if you're hoping for a duet, you might be disappointed.]

[You won't be disappointed! Taylor's music video features Jace! I'd watch it a hundred times just for this pairing!!]

So this is a two-way street? Jace's *What Makes You Beautiful* stars Taylor Swift, and Taylor Swift's *Love Story* stars Jace. I don't believe this is friendship!

[The two guys at Walmart had great chemistry the other day, and now they're collaborating on a music video! I also feel like something's off between them!]

[Taylor's fan reporting in! I got to know Jace through "What Makes You Beautiful," and now I'm really looking forward to "Love Story"! I believe that the collaboration of these two creative geniuses is a guarantee of quality!]

[Jace fans here! Thank you Taylor for her perfect performance in "What Makes You Beautiful," and supporting Taylor's new song is a must!]

The question of whether the two have a purely platonic friendship has been hotly debated in the comments section.

However, neither Huang Weijie nor Taylor Swift offered any explanation.

The scope of this discussion is small, just enough to attract the attention of a segment of people, but not enough to draw definitive conclusions, which is perfect for maintaining their current level of interest.

……

After a night of buzz, the popularity of Huang Weijie's second single reaching the top of the charts and his second collaboration with Taylor Swift finally spread.

The next day, their teams also began to strike while the iron was hot.

Taylor Swift's team started "story marketing," stating on social media that the inspiration for the song came from her falling for a very talented guy, but the two couldn't be together anymore for some special reasons, blah blah blah.

She even gave a special interview, in which she said that this song made her feel real love for the first time!

(Joe Jonas: Let's be honest, Heath Ledger came to me specifically when he joined the cast, wanting to ask how he could play that role better!)

She didn't explicitly say who she was referring to, but everyone knew who she was talking about.

Regardless of how the fans reacted after hearing this, Kristen was furious when she found out!

That bitch has no shame!

She took out her phone, intending to call and give him a piece of her mind, but before she could press the button, reason prevailed over her.

No, that's too low-class; she didn't even mention Jace's name.

Maybe that bitch is just waiting for me to call so she can take the opportunity to humiliate me!

Hmph~ I won't fall for that!

Christine thought through gritted teeth.

Without realizing it, the phone's dial pad changed from Taylor's number to Jace's number.

But after hesitating several times, she did not choose to make the call, knowing that Huang Weijie had work to do today.

This kind of thing, which doesn't even exist online, is fine to joke about when the two of you are alone, but now that he's busy, it would seem too inconsiderate of me to call him.

As he thought about it, his anger gradually subsided.

Christine pursed her lips and pondered for a moment, then got up to pack and prepare to leave.

I remember Jace said last time that she wanted to see her wear skinny jeans. What kind of fetish is that? Wouldn't it be better if she showed off her long, white, and straight legs?

Well, I only mentioned skinny jeans, but I didn't specify the color. How about I buy blue?

I remember his favorite color was blue.

Never mind, I'll just buy a few more...

Muttering to herself, Christine changed her clothes and went out, heading straight for a nearby clothing store.

......

After Taylor Swift's team posted their update, Huang Weijie's social media account also released the second teaser image for "Just the Way You Are".

The photo was taken on the set of the music video shoot:

Huang Weijie stood in the middle, casually placing one hand on Kristen Stewart's shoulder, and bumping fists with Bruno Mars next to him with the other.

All three were dressed casually and smiled naturally at the camera.

Caption: "Some stories are best told with good friends. September 8th, 'Just the Way You Are.' Special thanks to my two good friends @Kristen Stewart and @Bruno Mars for their wonderful performances."

This update has sparked a new round of discussion.

One minute everyone was shipping the two in Taylor Swift's comments section, and the next minute someone jumped out and said that this was Kristen Stewart and Huang Weijie's second collaboration, the first being "Baby"!

This immediately piqued the interest of some viewers who wanted to watch the drama unfold.

[Kristen and Jace look so natural together! Those rumors about Jace and Taylor can stop now! If they were really going to be together, I think Kristen is a better match for Jace; they're both so good-looking!]

[Don't talk nonsense! Jace would never date them! Jace belongs to everyone!]

Some people say Taylor Swift is lucky, but I think Kristen Stewart is the lucky one. If Jace hadn't worked with her, who would know who she is?

Jace is a really nice person. Look at him, he's already so famous, yet he still collaborates with people who aren't very well-known.

Bruno Mars? Who's that guy? Never heard of him.

[Yeah, Kristen is a child star, but who is Bruno? He looks so short...]

[Upstairs, Bruno is a new singer-songwriter. He's done harmonies for many people; he's very talented! Jace is just mentoring a newcomer.]

The topic gradually veered away from gossip, but when it came to mentoring newcomers, that was exactly what Huang Weijie wanted.

While Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, and others are still quietly developing their careers, he can first gain a good reputation for mentoring them, which is entirely beneficial!

A few minutes later, Bruno Mars reposted the post with another group photo and the caption: "Thanks, brother, for this opportunity. September 8th, listen to Jace speak through music."

Wow, such a simple and unpretentious caption.

Looking at Bruno Mars's updates, Huang Weijie smiled and shook his head, then gave it a like. But when he noticed that Christine hadn't made a move yet, he frowned.

What happened?

Could it be because I mentioned an extra good friend in the copy?

That shouldn't be the case...

Although he didn't think Christine would miss the opportunity to ride the wave of popularity over something so trivial, Huang Weijie still called her with questions in mind.

"Hey, honey... um? Where are you?" Huang Weijie asked, puzzled, as he listened to the jumbled sounds on the other end of the phone.

"I went out to buy clothes, is there anything you need? Oh! I forgot!" Christine slapped her forehead in annoyance.

I was so busy trying on clothes that I completely forgot about something so important!

I should have set an alarm.

No, I shouldn't have come out. If I had stayed home, I would definitely remember this!

wrong!

It's all that damn Taylor's fault! If it weren't for her, I would never have had the sudden idea to go out and buy clothes!

Yes, it's all her fault!

You unwanted bitch! You deserve to die!

Women's thought processes are so strange. Huang Weijie didn't even ask where she was, and Christine immediately directed her hatred at Taylor.

In her opinion, if it weren't for Taylor, she wouldn't have inexplicably wanted to satisfy Huang Weijie's fetish.

"Honey, wait a minute, I'll forward it right now."

After saying that, he hurriedly hung up the phone, leaving Huang Weijie completely bewildered.

What the hell?

Shortly after, Christine's account was also updated with a photo of them together and the caption: "I always learn something new from you. Looking forward to everyone seeing this story! @JaceHuang"

Huang Weijie liked the post, and then received a call from Christine.

"Jace, you lied to me! Why did you... why did you... me and Bruno..."

A pitiful voice came from the phone receiver. Even though he couldn't see Christine's face, Huang Weijie could almost picture the girl pouting on the other end of the line.

Huang Weijie smiled faintly, not rushing to explain, but instead switching the phone to his other hand.

He likes to control the pace of the relationship, so he won't just keep explaining when a girl's emotions change.

"Christine, you know, if it weren't for my current identity, I'd even want to announce your existence to the whole world!"

Explanations are meant for equally rational people, but most girls are already emotionally unstable when they confront you.

Since emotions can be unstable, explanations may have the opposite effect.

Especially when emotions run high, what's needed is often not a logically rigorous explanation, but an attitude that can handle that unease!

Therefore, when he said this, he deliberately lowered his voice, speaking in a deep and steady tone, not at all frivolous, with each word wrapped in a layer of helpless tenderness.

Sure enough, Christine was immediately drawn into the story upon hearing his deep voice.

Actually, she wasn't that angry; it was just a girl's habitual way of acting cute, her goal being to get Huang Weijie to pay attention to her.

Hearing such a promise now makes me incredibly happy!

He really does care about me!

"Hmm~ I know, actually I didn't care about it that much. You could have explained it to me clearly, and I understand."

You don't understand anything!

You were already jealous back then, yet you still calmly listened to what I was saying?

"OK, OK! I'll definitely make things clear to you in advance next time," Huang Weijie said with a smile.

"must!"

"Okay, I'll definitely do it next time!"

Whether it's possible or not, we'll talk about it later, but we must say it first!

The two exchanged a few more sweet words before hanging up the phone.

Christine happily went to try on clothes, while Huang Weijie threw himself into his new work.

On September 6, when asked about his new song during a radio interview, Huang Weijie gave a carefully prepared answer: "This song is about acceptance—accepting the imperfections of others, and accepting your true self. It's a little different from my previous works; it's warmer and more introverted. I'm very grateful to Christine for agreeing to star in it; her performance gave the song another layer of life."

When the host tentatively asked about his relationship with Christine, Huang Weijie laughed heartily: "She's a very, very good friend of mine, and also a very professional actress. We spent most of our time on set discussing how to convey emotions with the most subtle expressions. I really cherish this collaboration!"

First, they affirmed their close friendship, then briefly mentioned it.

The interview was edited into a short video and circulated. Kristen herself was very satisfied. At least Jace used two "very" to affirm their relationship. Even if she didn't say it directly, it was still an extra "very" compared to Taylor!

This is victory!

Taylor Swift: You idiot, how can you compare this?

As for the others, they were successfully guided to the topics of "professional collaboration" and "the meaning of the song".

Meanwhile, the hype surrounding Taylor Swift's "Love Story" has begun again.

On September 7, Taylor Swift released a 15-second teaser for the music video.

In the footage, Huang Weijie, dressed in medieval knight attire, turns around in the castle corridor. The camera only shows his profile and back, creating suspense.

Taylor captioned the post: "My Romeo. See you on September 12th!"

The trailer was retweeted more times than any of Taylor's tweets that day.

In the comments section, Huang Weijie's knight outfit became a hot topic of discussion:

"OMG!! I'm speechless... Jace's look is exactly like the male lead I've always imagined!" (3.2 likes)

"Taylor has such a great eye for talent! Jace really has that classic aristocratic air about him, he's exactly the Romeo I've always imagined! The collaboration between these two is a visual feast!" (2.8 likes)

"My rational mind tells me this is just a work collaboration... but my emotions make me scream! The two of you standing together are just too beautiful! Creative genius × Creative genius, oh~ all I want to say is, please continue your collaboration! I'm willing to support you unconditionally!"

All I can say is that Taylor Swift's team really knows how to distinguish between the big and small kings.

At this moment, Huang Weijie is all about popularity and buzz. The publicity effect is completely different whether or not he is included!

Driven by this surge in popularity, Huang Weijie's search index increased by 180% on the afternoon of September 7.

Although the album "Jace Huang" has not officially started pre-sales yet, the promotion is already quite hot, and the promotion team is considering whether to start pre-sales in advance.

According to collected information, the number of posts inquiring about album information on major music forums and fan communities has tripled.

After a unanimous discussion, we'll wait for the new song to be released tomorrow. If it performs well enough, we'll bring forward the album pre-sale.

Despite the talk, pre-sales are actually being prepared to start ahead of schedule.

Because everyone has high hopes for Jace!

They believe that the third single will continue the success of the first two!

Huang Weijie himself believed he could succeed; not every number-one single can win, but now a number-one single has arrived.

You can't expect me to have a large bowel movement, can you?