It's Friday, May 3rd, 2002.
Pirates of the Caribbean is officially premiering tonight at midnight.
Luke was getting ready to head out to watch the first showing, and he was working on his disguise.
He put on a wide-brimmed, round hat to cover his hair and forehead, and then added a pair of big, ugly, black, circular-framed sunglasses, completely obscuring his handsome face.
On his torso, he wore a simple, unremarkable black graphic T-shirt. Then, he cinched a cotton pad around his waist and abdomen, carefully constructing a realistic beer belly over his eight-pack abs.
A pair of baggy, oversized casual pants made his 6'2" (188 cm) long legs look thick and short.
He was meticulously recreating the look—a perfect, one-to-one rendition of the "cringey, greasy guy" stereotype often mocked in online forums.
He really didn't have a choice. With Luke's supermodel physique, he'd stand out like a sore thumb even in a potato sack. If anyone noticed him, they'd instantly recognize him.
His fame and popularity in North America were absolutely off the charts right now. Without a disguise, he'd be mobbed by fans and haters alike, making it impossible to slip away, let alone watch the premiere.
To make himself as invisible as possible, this was the only way.
He looked at himself in the mirror: a harmless, standard-issue "nerd" who should be ignored by most people. He couldn't hide his height, but he could slouch and hunch over.
Ugh, he thought. Everyone else tries to doll themselves up, and I have to make myself ugly. I guess this is the price of fame.
Luke glanced at the Rolex Daytona on his wrist. Zhang Ziyu bought it for him last year in Hong Kong. At over 600,000 RMB (about $72,000 at the time), it was a small number for him now. He could easily afford to switch to a limited-edition Patek Philippe, but he had zero interest.
It was just an object. He didn't need external things to highlight his status, and frankly, he already thought this watch was too expensive. A cheap digital watch would be more practical for everyday wear—something you wouldn't have to worry about scratching or bumping.
He remembered a news story about a Wall Street investment bank boss who angrily slammed his hand on a table during a meeting. He forgot he was wearing a rare, limited-edition Patek Philippe on his left wrist. That one slap cost him $3 million in damages. Talk about an expensive temper.
It was 11:00 PM on the dot. Time to leave for the midnight premiere.
Luke went downstairs, and a pink Lamborghini was already waiting for him by the curb.
The media already knew his license plate number, so driving his own car was out of the question, and taking a cab would be too risky.
So, Luke had asked Taylor Swift to come with him to the premiere, doubling as his driver.
Taylor was particularly stunning tonight. A soft lipstick enhanced her naturally moist lips, her fair skin had a subtle, soft glow, and black eyeliner and mascara framed her bright eyes. The overall look was lively and effortless. Even though she was only wearing light makeup, she radiated an extra sense of maturity and charm.
"You look amazing tonight; the makeup really suits you," Luke complimented her sincerely.
This was basic social etiquette. When a woman takes the time and effort to wash her hair and put on makeup to go out with you, you must compliment her when you meet. If you don't, she'll feel a little disappointed. Anyone who doesn't understand that will probably stay single—unless, of course, they look "plain and ordinary" like Louis Koo.
"Just the makeup?" Taylor clearly wanted Luke to say a little more.
Luke gave her a deliberate look over, from head to toe.
Taylor was wearing a white dress that was the picture of fresh, understated elegance. The dress was perfectly tailored, subtly highlighting her attractive curves without being overly seductive. The delicate lace trim along the hem added a touch of feminine playfulness. Below the skirt, a shapely, long leg extended down to a pair of exquisite silver high heels at her ankle, creating an alluring picture.
"Beautiful from head to toe! If people knew that your inner talent is even more beautiful than your outside, they'd be jealous of God for being so unfair and giving you all the best things in the world." Compliments flowed easily from Luke.
The key was that he spoke only the truth, so it didn't come across as simple flattery.
"Haha, you're so good with words. This is my favorite dress; I put it on just for tonight," Taylor said, smiling.
"Uh-huh. That's a player's line. The last time, when we were in the forest, you told me your favorite dress was a totally different one," Luke said, sounding unimpressed.
"That dress couldn't get wet, and it got warped after dancing in the rain last time! This is the new favorite dress, I'm not lying to you!" Taylor defended herself, slightly annoyed.
"But why are you dressed like that tonight?" she then asked.
"I can't help it. I'm worried about being recognized, so I have to try and keep a low profile," Luke said helplessly.
"Haha, with how popular you are right now, I guess you really have to do that. But I'm so used to your handsome look, seeing you like this tonight is really... a little jarring," Taylor admitted.
"If I really end up looking like this one day, will you dump me?" Luke asked, laughing.
"No, I wouldn't leave you no matter what you looked like. But I would write a song poking fun at you and reminding everyone how dashing and handsome you used to be," Taylor said, revealing her darker, mischievous side.
Luke hummed a song, expressing his dissatisfaction with Taylor's focus on his looks: "How many people loved your face in your youthful days? But who would endure the changes that ruthless time brings?"
"A Asia song? It sounds pretty, what does it mean?" Taylor asked, a little confused.
"Nothing, let's go. We'll be late if we wait any longer."
The Lamborghini started up, and with the roar of the engine, they headed straight for the movie theater.
The two times Luke watched the premiere of his own movies before, they were in Los Angeles. This was his first time watching a premiere in New York, so he definitely wouldn't run into that white couple again.
Taylor drove him to the South Shore Theater located on the banks of the Hudson River.
This movie house in eastern New York is a venerable cinema with nearly a century of history. Under its glass and concrete exterior, the old architecture resonates with a sense of film history.
Taylor pulled the car into an inconspicuous corner, though she didn't realize that driving a car like that, it's impossible to truly be subtle no matter where you park.
And her tall, stunning looks certainly couldn't be overlooked.
Luke, who had tried his best to make himself low-key, realized his plan had failed. With such a remarkable date, there was no way to stay under the radar.
"Luckily, everyone's attention is focused on Taylor," Luke secretly thought. They'll just think I'm rich.
And he couldn't even argue with that, because he really was rich.
So, both low-key and high-profile, Luke could only hold Taylor's hand as they quickly made their way into the movie theater.