Chapter 111: Making It Official with Taylor Swift
After the press conference, the Suns didn't immediately hop on a plane to their next game.
Coach D'Antoni knew his guys well. Young, energetic, and now in the heart of New York City—a global metropolis buzzing with life—it only made sense to give them a night to blow off some steam.
And by "blow off some steam," of course, he meant hitting the nightlife. No surprise there.
New York's known for its world-class club scene, and Le Bain—perched atop The Standard Hotel—was their destination. Velvet ropes, rooftop views, luxury vibes. The works.
Amar'e Stoudemire led the charge, beaming with excitement. He was easily the most nightlife-obsessed guy on the roster. If the team was headed out to a club, you could bet Amar'e organized it.
Chen Yan wasn't really into clubs. Loud music, flashing lights, overcrowded dance floors—it wasn't his scene. But when the whole team rolled deep, he made sure to show up.
Tonight, though, was different. He'd invited Taylor Swift to join him.
When she heard she'd be going to the Suns' team party with Chen, Taylor lit up. It was a clear sign their relationship was moving forward.
As soon as they got in, Amar'e leaned in and whispered with a sly grin, "Yo, how far you and Taylor gone, huh?"
Chen raised an eyebrow. Didn't expect the big man to be this nosy.
"Same as always," he replied casually, brushing it off.
Stoudemire looked confused. If it were up to him, he would've sealed the deal the first night.
"What about Kim Kardashian?" Amar'e pressed, clearly not done. "Why didn't you bring her too?"
Chen Yan rolled his eyes. "Man, what do I have to do with her?"
"She went public sayin' she was feelin' you. You ain't see her tonight? That body…"
Stoudemire trailed off, practically drooling. While he wasn't quite on Harden's level when it came to his obsession with thick girls, it was safe to say most guys in the league admired Kim K's curves.
Chen laughed and clapped Amar'e on the back. "Yo, Amar'e, your drool's about to hit the floor. Why don't you go shoot your shot on the court like you do in the club?"
Amar'e rubbed the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "Man, I'd love to. She just ain't into me like that."
At that moment, Taylor walked up beside Chen. She'd been feeling a little left out while he chatted with teammates.
"What are you two talking about?" she asked, curious.
Without missing a beat, Amar'e flashed a smile. "Your music. Big fan."
Taylor beamed. "Aw, thanks! Which song is your favorite?"
Amar'e froze.
He didn't listen to country music at all. That answer was just for show.
Watching him squirm, Chen couldn't help but laugh.
To save himself, Amar'e quickly suggested they all play some party games.
In less than 30 minutes, he was already partying hard. Two black girls clung to him, and he looked like he was living his best life.
Elsewhere, Barea and Azubuike were dancing wildly, while Raja Bell and Boris Diaw were downing shots like college freshmen.
Sensing the chaos starting to spiral, Chen grabbed Taylor's hand and pulled her out of the club.
"Those guys are always like that once they're a few drinks in," Chen said with a chuckle.
Taylor laughed. "They're actually kind of cute. So different from how they are on the court."
They strolled together through the night, eventually stopping near the Empire State Building.
"Wanna check out the view?" Chen asked.
Taylor nodded. She'd been in New York plenty of times, but she rarely had time to stop and admire it.
The ride up was quick—just 15 seconds to the 80th floor. From there, they had to transfer elevators to reach the 86th-floor observatory, passing through a gift shop on the way.
When they finally stepped onto the open-air deck, a cool breeze brushed past them. Midnight in Manhattan.
Despite the chill, the view was stunning. The Hudson River, the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, Wall Street—all lit up like stars on the ground.
New York really was the city that never sleeps.
Chen had been here once before—during the NBA Draft. But back then, he was with his parents. Tonight, it was just him and Taylor. The vibe couldn't be more different.
Under the soft lights, with the breeze and the skyline around them, the moment grew quiet and intimate.
Chen turned to Taylor. She turned to him.
They leaned in.
The kiss came naturally—smooth, unhurried, full of emotion.
A rookie star and a pop sensation kissing under the New York night sky. It felt like something out of a movie.
When they broke apart, Taylor held him close and kissed him again, deeper this time.
Then, whispering into his ear, she asked, "Wanna come back to my place? We can watch a movie or something…"
Chen nodded.
"What kind of movies do you like?" she asked, still close.
"Action," Chen answered without thinking.
He meant martial arts films and blockbusters.
But Taylor's cheeks flushed.
"I don't have that kind of action movie… but I can download one," she said shyly.
Chen couldn't help but laugh at the misunderstanding. She was too damn cute when she got flustered.
—
Later that night, Chen followed Taylor back to her place—a rented three-story villa in the suburbs.
Just like him, Taylor was in the early stages of her career. Despite her rising fame, she was still grounded. The villa was bigger than his apartment and even had a private home theater.
They chatted on the way back about what to watch. But once they got home, it turned out the conversation didn't matter.
The movie barely started before they were back in each other's arms.
The kisses grew longer. The hugs tighter. The tension they'd been tiptoeing around finally gave way.
That night, their relationship took a major leap.
And in the early morning, when the first ray of sunlight slipped into the bedroom, Chen slowly opened his eyes.
He reached for the other side of the bed.
Empty.
Just as he was about to get up, Taylor tiptoed back into the room, holding a plate of food.
She'd tried to make him breakfast.
Even though she wasn't exactly a culinary expert, she wanted to do something nice for him.
Chen stared at the two burnt eggs with a complicated expression.
Still, he smiled, got up, washed up, and sat down to eat.
"So… how does it taste?" Taylor asked, eyes full of hope.
Chen smiled. "Very... unique."
Because honestly, it was.
Burnt to hell, but made with heart.
Taylor laughed, curling up next to him.
"Do you think the paparazzi caught us last night?"
Chen shrugged, completely unfazed. "If they did, whatever. Let's just announce it next time someone asks. No point hiding it."
Taylor wrapped her arms around him, her smile soft.
In that moment, Chen wasn't just a rising NBA star.
To her, he was the most dependable man in the world.
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