"You're always so busy." In a vacation villa in Santa Monica's Westside, Los Angeles, Link muttered after ending a phone call.
"Hey, Link, it's party time, no phone calls, okay? Put your phone away." Paul Walker called out, holding a glass of wine.
Link shrugged and returned to the party.
After a busy period, Link was back in Los Angeles for a break. Taking advantage of the good weather, he invited Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Amy Adams, and a few other friends to a villa party.
Paul Walker also brought James Franco, Joaquin Phoenix, and Casey Affleck, all rising stars in their twenties and thirties.
Michelle brought her girlfriend Ashley Benson, and Amber Heard also brought a large group of young men and women.
More than forty people were partying on the lawn by the pool of the seaside villa, with wine, barbecue, music, and marijuana. Everyone was having a great time.
"Hey, Link, you're really popular lately. The newspapers are full of your news." Michelle Rodriguez, wearing a tube top and braids, lay sprawled on a beach chair, her girlfriend beside her.
"Yes, the new album just came out, and I can't sell it without promoting it." Link took a bottle of light beer and sat back in his chair.
"Link, it's hard to imagine that a boxer turned singer could sell over three million albums." Joaquin Phoenix sat in the corner, holding a cigarette in his hand, his greasy hair making him look a little depressed, out of place with the lively party.
Joaquin was a famous Hollywood actor, previously known as River Phoenix's younger brother.
In recent years, he had developed well in film, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for "Gladiator" and a Golden Globe for Best Actor and an Oscar nomination for "Walk the Line" in 2005, surpassing his brother's achievements in film.
He would also win an Oscar for Best Actor for "Joker" in the future.
He was a very talented and capable actor.
Link was a little surprised that Paul Walker brought him to the party.
"I'm just lucky to have caught a good market!" Link laughed.
"This guy is being modest again." Paul Walker lay on an orange rubber cushion in the pool and said to everyone, "Link is a real sports genius. Last July, I asked him if he could race, and he said a little, then left me miles behind on the road. Last time I asked him if he could play tennis, he said a little, then won all five games. Also volleyball, swimming, diving, and so on. He doesn't seem to have any sports he's not good at."
"You didn't mention boxing. He's a world champion who beat Tyson." James Franco, who became famous for the "Spider-Man" series, leaned lazily on a chair, holding a marijuana cigarette in his hand.
"No need to mention that. No one doubts his boxing skills." Paul Walker said.
"I can't play table tennis." Link chuckled.
"Okay, I'll play table tennis with you next time."
"Link, I'm also a singer now. Let's collaborate sometime." Joaquin raised his beer and said.
"Okay!" Link raised his glass in response.
Last year, at the premiere of "Two Lovers," Joaquin announced his retirement from acting to become a rapper.
He also released an album with poor sales, was late to a concert, had a conflict with fans, and told them, "I have a million dollars in the bank, what right do you have to criticize me," causing a lot of controversy.
Link had also heard about these things, but Joaquin was popular in the entertainment industry, and inviting him as a guest performer at a future concert would be a good choice.
"Hey, gentlemen, I started the topic, but I haven't finished yet. Can you wait until I'm done?" Michelle Rodriguez picked up a ball and threw it into the pool, splashing Paul Walker.
"Okay, Michelle, what do you want to say."
Everyone stopped talking, giving her plenty of time to speak.
Michelle raised her thick black eyebrows and smiled coolly, "Link, the news I was talking about wasn't the news about promoting your album. I was talking about Amber's interview. She said you're super strong, is that true?"
Wow!
Everyone at the party laughed. This news was indeed no less reported than the news of Link's album selling well.
"Link, tell us quickly, I'm also very curious about this. I wanted to call and ask you, but it feels weird for two men to talk about this on the phone." Paul Walker laughed.
Link was helpless, "We're all decent people, can we not talk about such boring topics?"
"Private party, what else to talk about? Hey, Amber!" Michelle shouted at Amber, who was carrying drinks, "Is what you said on ABC Fashion Ladies true?"
"Of course it's true, Link is even better than I said, if you don't believe me, try it." Amber, wearing a bikini and with her blonde hair loose, shrugged charmingly.
"Wow, how big is he?" Michelle asked, gesturing with her hands.
"Hey, Michelle, if you're so curious, why don't I take off my pants and show you." Link teased.
"Haha, take it off! Take it off! You think I don't dare to look?" Michelle laughed heartily.
Others also shouted loudly for Link to take it off for Michelle to see if she was really not interested in men.
Link shook his head, he was no match for this group of people when it came to dirty jokes.
"End this topic! Michelle, you said you wanted to fight me? Come on, let me see how good you are."
"Okay, when I was filming 'Girlfight,' I also practiced for a year, and I've been practicing these years. My skills are definitely at an amateur level." Michelle said confidently.
Link brought two pairs of boxing gloves and sparred with Michelle.
He just dodged without throwing a punch, and she was sweating profusely. In the end, Michelle, like Mario, tried to wrestle him down, but he lifted her up and threw her directly into the pool, causing everyone to laugh.
Paul Walker, Casey Affleck, and a few others were also interested in fighting him.
Link was not polite and used quick punches to make them dizzy.
While they were playing, assistant Anna came in and quietly told him that Taylor had arrived.
Link was a little surprised, why would Taylor come back at this time?
Link got up and went out to greet her.
Taylor drove a red Porsche convertible, wearing a white fringed dress with shiny sequins, the hem reaching her knees, revealing her long, straight legs, and high-heeled sneakers.
Her long golden hair was draped over her shoulders, her face was white and delicate, her lips were rose-colored, and her expression was indifferent, like a fairy.
"When did you get back?" Link asked.
Taylor didn't answer him, just handed him her luggage and walked inside with her long legs, as if she was the hostess here, not polite at all.
"There's a party going on inside, it's a bit messy." Link said, following her with the luggage.
Taylor looked in the direction of the pool, separated by a rose garden. The noisy sound came from there, and several frolicking figures could be vaguely seen.
"I won't go over. After the party, bring that woman to see me." Taylor said as she walked.
"Hey, Taylor, we broke up." Link reminded her.
"I said, I don't agree." Taylor glanced at him with her blue eyes, took Anna's hand, and asked her to help find a clean room, she needed to rest.
Link shook his head helplessly. This Taylor was too different from the Taylor in the news. He suspected that this must be a parallel universe, and this Taylor was not that Taylor.
(End of chapter)