Chapter 137: Celebrating All Night with Taylor Swift, Chen Yan's Addiction
The Billboard Hot 100 is the most authoritative singles chart in the United States—and arguably the world. Established in 1958, it has long stood as the ultimate benchmark of pop music success.
On September 2, 1995, Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone" became the first single in Billboard history to debut directly at number one. In the following twelve years, only fifteen songs had managed the same feat, all of them by superstar artists.
Now, in 2007, Taylor Swift had joined that legendary list. Her new single debuted at number one, making her the sixteenth artist in history to achieve this honor.
What shocked the industry even more—the song's lyrics and composition were credited to Chen Yan.
A basketball player writing a chart-topping single?
To many, it was like a chef suddenly abandoning recipes to write military strategy. The story spread like wildfire, and Chen Yan once again found himself the center of conversation.
NBA players weighed in one after another, impressed not just with his basketball skills but with his surprising musical talent.
Iverson praised him:
"His music is just like his performance on the court—pure talent."
Artest added:
"I think he should've sung it himself! If I wrote something that good, no way would I hand it off to someone else."
Carter laughed:
"Even if he didn't play basketball, Chen would succeed. Music, boxing—he's got too many gifts."
Shaquille O'Neal grinned:
"Chen and I are cut from the same cloth. We're both Li-Ning guys, and we've both got music in our blood!"
---
On the phone, Taylor Swift was nearly incoherent with excitement.
"I love you, Chen! My body, my soul—everything is yours!"
Chen chuckled. "Relax. You sound like you can't breathe, haha."
"I really can't breathe," Taylor admitted, voice trembling. "Do you realize what this means? Billboard number one! That list is filled with names like Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. And now… mine is right there with them!"
Chen Yan's tone remained calm. For him, music was a hobby, not a career-defining path. "You deserve it," he said lightly.
But Taylor knew the truth. She had released her debut album Taylor Swift in 2006, which went five-times platinum, but that was still small compared to legends. In her eyes, 80% of the credit for her new single's success belonged to Chen Yan.
Her admiration for him deepened beyond romance. Chen wasn't just the man she liked—he was the first man she truly respected from the bottom of her heart.
"Chen, I'm coming to celebrate with you right now!" she declared.
"I'm in Chicago now, but I'll be flying to New Orleans for our next road game," Chen replied. Though suspended, he still had to travel and train with the team.
"Then I'll see you in New Orleans!"
Before Chen could protest, Taylor had already hung up. Within minutes, she booked a flight and flew overnight to Louisiana.
---
The next evening, Taylor arrived in New Orleans and headed straight to the hotel.
Chen, ever cautious, had arranged a room in the hotel next door to the team's. He didn't want his teammates disturbed by what he jokingly called "high-intensity confrontation."
The doorbell rang. "Ding-dong!"
Chen opened the door, and there she was—Taylor Swift, smiling brightly.
They embraced instantly, lips meeting in a kiss that spoke louder than words. For lovers, celebration didn't need to be complicated.
Chen had no game the next day and didn't need to worry about saving his energy. Tonight, he could let go completely.
Taylor had been training at the gym herself in recent weeks, determined to keep up with his level of intensity. To her, it wasn't just about spiritual harmony—it was about matching him in body as well.
On December 22, the Suns traveled to New Orleans to face the Hornets.
Before tip-off, Chen Yan appeared in high profile, bringing Taylor Swift along at his side. Their relationship was already public, so there was no longer any reason to hide it.
The moment the media spotted them, it was like sharks scenting blood. Reporters swarmed, microphones flashing.
"Chen, where did you get the inspiration for See You Again?"
"Taylor, will you ever perform this song with Chen?"
"Chen, do you plan to keep writing songs for Taylor?"
"Chen, will you write and perform music for yourself in the future?"
Not a single question about the infamous KO incident against the Spurs. The media had moved on—always chasing the latest headlines.
Chen Yan handled every question with ease, answering calmly, almost playfully. In a way, it became free promotion for Taylor's single.
Once the game started, the reporters finally dispersed, and the focus shifted to basketball.
---
Suns vs. Hornets
From the opening tip, the matchup was fierce. Both sides traded leads, and at halftime, the Suns trailed by just three points.
The Hornets were no pushover. Led by "Queen Bee" Chris Paul, they also had David West, Tyson Chandler, and sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic. Ranked third in the West—just 1.5 games behind Phoenix—they were legitimate contenders.
During halftime, after the cheerleaders performed, the arena's "Kiss Cam" lit up.
The big screen roamed through the crowd, zooming in on random couples, drawing laughs and cheers. Then, suddenly, it froze—right on Chen Yan and Taylor Swift.
The arena erupted. Watching Chen Yan and Taylor kiss was far more exciting than watching ordinary fans.
Taylor blushed and covered her face, but Chen Yan laughed, pulled her close, and kissed her gently on the big screen.
The crowd went wild.
Next to Chen sat Raja Bell, still serving his suspension. He looked like he wanted to raise his hand and complain: Help, I'm being force-fed dog food here!
Although Chinese broadcasts didn't show such halftime segments, GIFs of the kiss quickly went viral on domestic forums.
"What a public display of affection!"
"I've never been hit this hard in a war before…"
"Kill me now, I'll clap for them from the underworld!"
"Damn, why did Chen Yan find a foreign girlfriend? He'd be better with a Chinese girl!"
"Shut up, they're perfect together!"
---
When play resumed, the game remained close. Both teams fought hard into the final two minutes.
But when it mattered most, the Suns collapsed. They missed four straight possessions, throwing away their chance to win.
Stoudemire, though dominant inside, struggled in crunch time. Nash, brilliant as a playmaker, wasn't suited for isolation scoring. Without Chen Yan, Phoenix had no true closer.
On commentary, ESPN's Mike Breen summed it up perfectly:
"In the past, the Suns always gave the ball to Chen in crunch-time possessions. Tonight, without him, they looked lost. They've developed what I'd call… 'Chen Yan Dependence.'"
The phrase spread quickly. Sports outlets across the country quoted it the next day.
---
Mixed News
For the Suns, the aftermath was bittersweet.
The bad news: losing three of their last four games cost them the top seed in the Western Conference.
The good news: Chen Yan's suspension had finally ended.
He would return in the next game—unsealed and ready to come back stronger than ever.
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