Chapter 30: Emma Stone’s Sneak Attack. Spider-Man Is My Cousin?
Columbia Pictures Studios, New York City.
The filming of John Wick was progressing rapidly, with the production already halfway done. Xu Can's stellar acting and professional demeanor had left the entire crew in awe.
No matter how complex the scene, he seamlessly transformed into his character with unparalleled ease. His performances were flawless, and even when a co-actor made a mistake, Xu Can never complained. Instead, he patiently helped them analyze and refine their performance.
Ian McShane, the veteran actor playing Winston, praised Xu Can during a talk show:
"I've been acting for decades, and this is the first time I've learned acting techniques from someone so young. Xu Can is a true talent, and working with him has been an incredible experience."
Under Xu Can's influence, the entire crew operated with remarkable efficiency.
Even the producer, Happy Hogan, was stunned. "Xu, the budget for this movie is $20 million. Don't hesitate to shoot multiple takes for every scene. There's no need to worry about costs."
"Don't worry," Xu Can replied with a confident smile. "Each shot is already as good as it gets."
Director David Leitch, a newcomer without prior independent directing experience, found himself leaning heavily on Xu Can for guidance. Xu Can not only starred in the film but also took on a quasi-co-director role, refining every detail to perfection.
"Who would've thought my first foray into film investment would also give me experience as a director?" Xu Can mused.
Today, they were shooting the hotel fight scene from the second half of the movie.
Willem Dafoe, known for his iconic role as the Green Goblin in Spider-Man, had joined the cast as a guest star, playing a master sniper.
After finishing an intense scene, Xu Can walked over to Dafoe and handed him a water bottle. "William, thank you for your hard work."
Dafoe laughed heartily. "Hard work? Xu, you're the one working nonstop. I should be thanking you for inviting me. Ever since Spider-Man became a hit, my agent has been drowning me in scripts. Your invitation gave me the perfect excuse to take a break."
Dafoe reminisced about his time filming Spider-Man. "Back then, I was wearing heavy gear and shooting intense fight scenes with you. You're young, so you can handle it, but for an old man like me? That was brutal!"
Xu Can grinned. "Well, we're lucky to have you here."
As they chatted, Xu Can suddenly felt someone creeping up behind him. In the next moment, a pair of hands wrapped around his neck.
A sneak attack?
His instincts—and perhaps something akin to Spider-Sense—kicked in. Xu Can grabbed the attacker's arm and instinctively prepared to flip them over his shoulder.
"Ahhhh!" a feminine scream erupted, full of panic.
Mid-throw, Xu Can froze. He quickly adjusted his grip and gently set the person down instead of completing the move.
"When did you get here? And why the sneak attack?" Xu Can asked, feigning annoyance.
"Who knew you'd react like a trained assassin? My arm almost got dislocated." a familiar, playful voice retorted.
Xu Can turned around to see Emma Stone, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Emma," he exclaimed, unable to suppress a smile.
Willem Dafoe chuckled at the interaction, quietly excusing himself with a drink in hand to give them space.
As soon as Xu Can let Emma down, she turned and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Their lips locked, tongues intertwining in a fiery battle until they pulled apart, a string of saliva lingering between them.
"I've missed you," Emma whispered, her eyes gleaming. "It's been over a month since I last saw you."
Emma had been busy filming Twilight but had taken a brief break to play the role of Perkins, a female assassin in John Wick. In the movie, her character shares love and kill tension with Xu Can's John Wick.
"Be honest," Emma teased, poking Xu Can's chest. "You didn't flirt with anyone else while I was gone, did you?"
"Me? Flirt? Who has the time when I'm drowning in work?" Xu Can replied with mock innocence.
"Really? What about Avril Lavigne, Emma Roberts, or Taylor Swift?" she asked, her voice dripping with playful suspicion.
Xu Can's heart sank. 'How does she know so much?' Then it hit him—each of them had posted selfies with him on Facebook.
"Uh... those were just group photos at parties," he said, trying to deflect.
"Uh-huh," Emma said, crossing her arms.
"What about you? Did you keep your distance from that handsome Twilight guy?" Xu Can asked.
"Of course," Emma shot back confidently, puffing her chest out. "You're the only one I'm interested in."
Their playful banter was interrupted by the director's call. Break time was over, and it was time to resume filming.
As Emma walked off to touch up her makeup, Xu Can smiled to himself. 'She really knows how to keep me on my toes.'
Later that evening, Xu Can made a call to his mother in China.
"Are you coming back for Chinese New Year this year?" Li Ping asked, her voice tinged with hope.
"I can't, Mom. We're still filming here. I'll try to visit in the summer," Xu Can replied apologetically.
Li Ping sighed softly. "Alright. Just take care of yourself."
Guilt gnawed at Xu Can. His parents had supported him through thick and thin, and now, thousands of miles away, he couldn't even join them for the holidays.
"Mom, my movie's releasing soon. You can see me on the big screen in two days."
"Really? Then I'll have to book tickets right away!"
"Ask Xiaoling to buy them. I have sent her money. The whole family can watch together."
Back in China.
At Zhenhai Experimental Middle School, Xu Yuling, Xu Can's cousin, was busy with her studies. But during a break, she overheard her classmates discussing Spider-Man.
"Spider-Man is being released soon. Are you going to watch it?"
"Did you hear the actor's Chinese?"
"Impossible! Hollywood wouldn't cast a Chinese actor in such a big role."
Unable to hold back, Xu Yuling joined the conversation. "Spider-Man is Chinese. My cousin plays him."
Her declaration was met with laughter.
"Your cousin? Yeah, right. I'm Superman then."
"You're joking, right? My brother's the president of North America."
Frustrated, Xu Yuling pulled out her phone and showed them Xu Can's pics.
"That's just cosplay," someone scoffed. "Anyone can buy a costume and take pictures."
"If you don't believe me," Xu Yuling challenged, "watch the movie. If it's not my cousin, I'll bring you breakfast for a month. If it is, you owe me breakfast for a month."
"Deal," a classmate replied, confident they'd win.
The release date was only two days away, and the truth would soon be revealed.
_____________________________________________________________
Thank you to our amazing Patrons for your incredible support and contributions to our work. You're all legends.
[Sweaty Gamer]: The GODLY FAN - $50 pledged
[Gabriel Andersen]: The GODLY FAN - $50 Pledged
[Richárd Főző]: The GODLY FAN - $50 Pledged
[Wolfpack Studios]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Kuroko]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Shonen Zero]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Tikaru Shiro]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[Justin Coulter]: A Die Hard Fan - $20 Pledged
[James Murphy]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Hunter212]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Yann Schurmans]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Zekram]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Game Boy]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[The Book Nerd]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Evil_Bob]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Jessie Swann]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Avacus]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[David Lagos]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Sakai_Yt]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Luis]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[James Fleming]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Mozart 111]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Robert]: A Super Fan - $10 Pledged
[Nick]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[YesNoMaybeSo]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[Pedro Ignacio Faúndez Amurrio]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[Ivy]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[Zeren]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[Joshua Babineau]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
[Wes Ferrell]: A Loyal Fan - $5 Pledged
🎉 Join the Club! 🎉
Want to see your name up here and get exclusive perks, more advanced chapters, and arts?
Join our Patreon family and be part of something special. Your support helps us create awesome content and brings you closer to the action.
Don't miss out on the fun—become a SuperFan today!
You can join us at patreon.com/UchihaRemant.
Thank you, everyone, for making this journey amazing! Let's keep rocking together! 🚀💥
________________________________________________________________________