boxer to hollywood

As Link left the bar, news of him dating a new girlfriend appeared online.

This news first appeared on Twitter.

A fan tweeted that she was drinking at a bar on Hollywood Boulevard when she suddenly discovered that the big star Link was sitting next to her. She was very excited, saying that Link looked even more handsome up close than in his music videos. She also said she wanted to go up and say hello but was worried about offending him.

The fan secretly took a few photos of Link from the side, and whether intentionally or not, she happened to capture him laughing and talking with Jennifer.

These photos were then reposted by multiple media outlets.

The headlines were that Link was chatting with a young beauty in a bar, and the two looked very intimate, suspected to be his new girlfriend.

There were pictures as proof.

According to media investigations, it was discovered that his new girlfriend was Jennifer Lawrence, the actress from "The Burning Plain" and "Winter's Bone".

Then, many people criticized him in the comment section.

They said he hadn't even officially broken up with Taylor before choosing his next target, and that he was a true playboy.

Some also commented that his 'new girlfriend' was far inferior to Taylor, mocking his taste.

Link had seen a lot of such comments recently and didn't care much, not even bothering to send a clarifying tweet.

He just sent a message to Taylor, telling her that the other person was the female lead in "Midnight in Paris" and that it was director Woody Allen who invited them both to discuss the script, not a private date.

After waiting for a few minutes without a response, he forwarded the message to Emily.

Ding-dong!

Not long after sending it, he unexpectedly received a reply from Taylor.

Taylor said: "No need to explain, who you date has nothing to do with me."

Link said: "We haven't broken up yet, you're still my girlfriend, I think it's necessary to clarify with you."

Taylor said: "Don't you think it's ridiculous? Every time you mess around outside, you never think of telling me proactively. But when you encounter this kind of easily clarified scandal, you immediately send me a message. Are you trying to prove you're a good boyfriend, or are you just trying to convince yourself that you're doing a good job?"

Link rubbed his forehead. During their relationship, the sweet nothings could make someone sick, but after the fallout, Taylor's words became increasingly sharp, sometimes cutting like a knife.

"I didn't mean that, I just don't want you to misunderstand."

"Whatever, I don't care."

Taylor said.

Link sighed, "Honey, can we put aside our differences for now and not talk about those unpleasant things? We lived together for over a year and had many happy times, right?

We wrote songs in the apartment, played the piano, watched the heavy rain in New York, we played and frolicked in the bathroom, cooked and baked in the kitchen, played tennis and practiced yoga together, made love on the balcony, on the floor, in the recording studio, in the bathroom, on the lawn, everywhere...

We went to Andrea Bocelli's concert together, remember that time you drank too much and I got fined by the police for walking in a straight line? We've experienced so many wonderful things, do you still remember them?

I miss all the days I spent with you, all the things we did together. Those were the best times I've ever experienced, and I believe they were for you too. So, can you forgive me this once? We can still have more beautiful stories."

Taylor: "I remember, of course I remember, but you ruined it all, Link Baker. You ruined everything. We could have had a wonderful love, even marriage, but you ruined it all. Now it's broken, irreparable. Don't you think it's too late to cherish it now?"

Link: "Does making one mistake deserve a death sentence? I've heard that true love can withstand the test of storms. If we can't even withstand a small setback like this, what kind of love is it?

I've also heard that lovers who truly love each other, even if they are thousands of miles apart, will subconsciously move closer to each other.

But the feeling you give me is that you're running away from me, and you've never cherished or tried to save our relationship. So, is it really because you found out I cheated that made you decide to leave me, not because you never truly loved me or cherished this relationship?"

It took three or four minutes for Taylor to reply with a message.

Taylor: "The days I lived with you in the villa were the best time of my life. I miss it very much, but living there also often made me feel depressed, like I couldn't breathe. Do you know why?" 

Link: "Yes, but even before that, you never really took me seriously. We rarely kissed or hugged, and we only occasionally talked on the phone. When we did, you were always excited to tell me about where you performed today, where you'll perform tomorrow, who you met, and who your favorite male singer was. But you never told me when you'd come back.

I had heard that the entertainment industry is chaotic. During the time I was your boyfriend, my biggest fear was waking up one day to see you in the papers, rumored to be involved with some male singer. I hated the thought of that happening to me.

So, to protect myself, I broke up with you shortly after the Americas Qualifying Tournament.

You didn't agree, but you didn't try to stop me either.

At that time, I felt like you were hot and cold, sometimes close, sometimes distant.

It wasn't until I went to New York and we met again that we took our relationship further and made it official.

But I know people in the entertainment industry don't take relationships seriously, whether they're male or female.

To keep you, to make sure no one else took you away, I joined the music industry. We practiced piano and wrote songs together, creating more common ground. By the time my first album was released and I became a rising star in the music world, we were finally publicly together.

Do you think I enjoy singing? I don't. I'm a boxer; I only love boxing. If I could, I'd rather spend 24 hours a day in the gym, doing nothing else. But I knew I couldn't do that.

If I only pursued boxing and didn't understand music, we wouldn't have much to talk about. Our differences would grow, and we'd have fewer and fewer common interests, until one day you'd dump me without hesitation and choose a man who shared your passions.

To keep you, I continued making music and releasing albums, becoming the most dazzling man in the music industry. I thought this would keep you, but now you're telling me that my success has put too much pressure on you, so you want to leave me?

Taylor Swift, do you even have a heart?"

After sending the message, Taylor remained silent for four or five minutes without replying.

Link: "I'm sorry if I spoke too harshly. It's just that I love you so much and don't want to lose you.

There's something else I forgot to tell you. Balancing singing and boxing is exhausting. After more than a year of living like this, I often feel mentally drained. My original plan was to release four albums and then discuss retiring from the music industry with you.

But I didn't expect you to feel pressured by my success in the music world. I'm sorry. I should have retired sooner."

Taylor: "You want to retire from the music industry?"

Link: "Do you think I'm someone who loves music?"

Taylor: "I don't know, but your talent is incredible. Your singing is getting stronger, your songwriting is top-notch. How can you just leave the music industry?!"

Link: "I don't love music. I love someone who loves music—*you*."

Taylor took three minutes to reply.

Link: "Come back, please. If you feel pressured, I'll announce my retirement from the music industry right now and focus on being a boxer."

Taylor: "Link, don't do this. Your voice is so beautiful, your songs are amazing, and so many fans love you. How can you just quit the music industry? That's so irresponsible."

Link: "If you leave me, staying in the music industry will be meaningless."

Taylor: "You can't quit the music industry. I won't allow it."

Link: "Come back, please? I can pick you up at the recording studio. If you don't like living at the bay villa, we can stay at your place. I really like your little mountain cottage."

It took Taylor three minutes to respond.

Taylor: "But you cheated on me, not just once. If you really loved me, you wouldn't have touched another woman."

Link: "Those two women threw themselves at me, like reproductive health technicians. What I did with them had nothing to do with love. I never had any feelings for them, not even for a moment. I swear."

Taylor: "I need time to think. Give me some time."

Link: "Is ten minutes enough? We've been apart for six days, and I miss you terribly. I want to make wild love to you in bed."

Taylor: "Can you not be so vulgar?"

Link: "I miss you."

Taylor: "Give me a day, please. I need a day to seriously think this over. I'm very confused right now."

"Okay, take your time. No rush."

Link put away his phone, thought for a while, and then asked Bob to drive to Link Music's recording studio in Los Angeles.

He and the producers in the studio worked until after 9 PM, finally completing the recording of "Sorry."

The original "Sorry" was released by Justin Bieber in 2015 and topped the Billboard Hot 100. While Justin's version was good, the heavy electronic reverb distorted the sound, making it feel repetitive after just a couple of listens.

The new version featured simple instrumental accompaniment, and with Link's heartfelt performance, the song became more enduring and emotionally compelling.

Though it wouldn't bring tears to one's eyes, the sincerity embedded in the lyrics and melody was deeply touching.

The studio uploaded the song to iTunes the next morning, and Link tweeted, "Sorry," along with the song's link.

(End of the Chapter)