Calling Yuffie?
Luke nearly choked.
Taylor was such a schemer. She really knew how to play.
"No backing out. I'm playing her," Taylor said, cutting off any escape route.
"Fine, fine, it's just a game," Luke said, giving in with a sigh.
"Then make the call already," she urged.
Luke mimed holding a phone to his ear with his right hand.
"Ring, ring!"
Before Taylor could say a word, Luke jumped in first.
"You probably won't understand a thing I'm saying, so I'm just gonna ramble. Haha, you're probably mad, but there's nothing you can do about it."
"???" Taylor looked utterly confused.
Luke had spoken in Chinese.
He and Yuffie were both Chinese, so of course they'd talk in Chinese. No issue there.
"Ugh, that's not fair! Speak English! You can't cheat at the game," Taylor said, catching on to his loophole and pouting.
"You said to make it realistic. We would talk in Chinese," Luke shot back.
"But then we can't even play the game! That's such a cop-out! You're totally bullying me!" Taylor complained, looking genuinely upset.
Seeing her sulky expression, Luke softened. "Alright, alright, let's start over. English this time."
"Ring, ring!"
"Luke, Merry Christmas," Taylor said immediately, picking up the "call" in English.
"Yifei, Merry Christmas," Luke replied.
Taylor swatted him lightly. "Get serious! I know you call her Sissi!"
She even knows that?
Luke was floored.
"Fine," he said, starting over. "Sissi, Merry Christmas."
"Where are you?" Taylor asked.
"Huh?"
"Who're you spending Christmas Eve with?" she pressed.
Luke rolled his eyes. Is she playing the jealous girlfriend catching me cheating? And cheating with herself?
He'd never imagined a game like this.
"I'm…" he started.
But Taylor cut him off. "Don't lie or dodge the question. I want the truth."
"I'm with a girl. We're camping at Big Bear Park for Christmas Eve. You know the place—we went camping there together."
Since she wanted to play, Luke went all in, laying his cards on the table.
Taylor hadn't expected that. He'd been to Big Bear Park with Yuffie? And he'd just said he'd never been there!
Typical guy—lying through his teeth!
But she saw right through his move. He was trying to muddy the waters to skate by.
Half-annoyed, half-amused, she said, "Don't think you can distract me with that. Who's the girl you're with?"
"Her name's Taylor Swift. I heard her music at your place. You're a big fan of hers, right?" Luke said with a smirk.
Taylor was caught off guard. She hadn't realized Yuffie was a fan of her music.
"Her? You're messing around with a great girl like that?" Taylor asked. "Tell me, are you just playing with her?"
Luke wanted to retort: Shouldn't you, as the "girlfriend," be grilling me about cheating instead of asking this?
But since it was a game, he played along.
He shook his head. "She's a good girl. I'd never hurt her."
"How'd you two meet?"
"Remember that train to Nashville?"
"I'll never forget it," Taylor said.
"That's when I met her for the first time."
"What was your first impression of her?"
"Gorgeous. Long blonde hair, fair skin—like a perfect doll."
"So you helped her music career take off just because she's pretty?" This question went beyond what Yuffie would know.
Taylor wasn't asking as Yuffie anymore—she was asking as herself, straight from the heart.
"No, it's because I genuinely admire her talent," Luke said. "I believe she's going to be the biggest pop star in the future. With or without me, she'd blaze through any obstacle. I just gave her a little push."
"So that's why you helped her? Just that simple?"
"Yup. I just really love her music."
As Luke finished, he noticed Taylor had leaned in close.
"What are you doing? We're still on the phone," he said.
"Screw the game—I don't care about the phone! I just want you right now!"
Taylor threw her arms around him, kissing him hard.
It wasn't their first kiss, but tonight felt different from any before.
In the cozy tent, they lay on soft blankets, wrapped in each other's arms, kissing deeply.
The moment naturally led to more.
As Luke's hand slid downward, unstoppable, he reached a certain spot—and felt something thick, like a pad.
"You're… not available today?" he asked.
"Yeah, sorry. It started last night," she said.
"And you still went swimming?"
Luke was stunned. Western girls really had no reservations—swimming, drinking iced water, all totally normal during that time of the month.
He let out a sigh, a bit disappointed. "Ugh."
Today was just bad timing.
"You feeling pent-up?" Taylor asked.
"A little, but I'll manage," he said.
Seeing his disappointment, Taylor bit her lip. "If you're okay with, uh, battling through the red, I'm down."
Luke was touched. Taylor didn't want him to feel let down, not even a little.
But their first time like that? It wouldn't be good for her, and it might even leave a bad memory.
He wasn't so desperate that he'd lose control. That'd be crossing a line.
So he ruffled her hair and said, "No worries. We've got plenty of time."
"I've got other ways," she said. "Don't laugh—I learned it from the internet."
Before Luke could react, Taylor lowered her head.
A shiver ran through him, from head to toe.
Honestly, her technique was clumsy and not exactly mind-blowing, but her heart made all the difference.
Luke gently held her head, feeling like he was holding the whole world.
When it was over, Taylor grinned. "That was unforgettable. Should I write a song about it?"
Luke: "???"