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Chapter 36 - Chapter 36 – Youth Never Comes Twice 

In Luke's eyes, Taylor Swift was truly a generous and kind person. 

She had achieved both fame and fortune, yet she never hesitated to share her success with the people around her. 

During her 2023 world tour, just the North American leg alone brought in more than $2.2 billion in ticket sales. That didn't even include another $1 billion from streaming revenue, plus an estimated $5 billion in boosted consumer spending. 

She was, without a doubt, the top superstar of this era. 

And yet, after the tour ended, Taylor handed out a one-time $55 million bonus to all of her backstage staff. 

Even the temporary truck drivers who helped with transportation received $100,000 each. 

That move stunned the head of the trucking company. 

He admitted that in the past, each driver might get a $5,000 to $10,000 bonus at most—but Taylor gave out more than ten times that. 

Such generosity put her worlds apart from the stingy bosses who clutched every penny. 

Maybe the reason Taylor was such a good boss was because she had once been burned badly as an employee herself. 

From a young age, she had dreamed of music. Her family even uprooted their lives and moved to Nashville, the heart of country music, to support her dream. 

That was probably why Luke ended up meeting her on this train. 

In Nashville, Taylor caught the eye of a record label under Sony Music. But instead of signing her right away, they told her to wait four years before releasing an album. 

Unwilling to wait, she signed with a small, newly founded label called Big Machine Records, and quickly made her official debut. 

She was a newcomer, and Big Machine was a fledgling company. On paper, it should have been a beautiful story—a partnership built from nothing, creating a legendary success together. 

But when Taylor was at her brightest, Big Machine betrayed her. 

The company weaponized its control over the master recordings—the mechanical reproduction rights—to stab her in the back. 

That betrayal brought her immense pain. 

Luckily, Taylor was too talented to be crushed. While the masters belonged to the company, the songs themselves were hers—she had written them. She still owned the publishing rights. 

That meant she could re-record her albums, bypassing the company's control. 

Though she eventually clawed her way back, the ordeal deeply affected her career. 

Without those setbacks, she might have reached even greater heights and created even more miracles in music. 

As a fan in his past life, Luke had felt furious that such a beautiful, kind, and wildly talented artist had been hurt by the dirty tricks of capital. 

So even without the system's instructions, he would have wanted to help Taylor. All the more so since doing so could bring him immense benefits. 

"Taylor, let's change the topic. You love music—especially country music, right?" Luke asked carefully. 

"How did you know that?" Taylor's eyes flickered with caution. 

"I've seen some of your performances," Luke explained smoothly. "Like that time you sang before a Philadelphia 76ers game—you were amazing! You've got real talent." 

"Really? You really think so?" Being recognized for her music was the thing young Taylor loved most. 

"Of course. I think what you need right now is some help to kickstart your music journey," Luke said, guiding her gently into his plan. 

"Yeah… my dad's been taking me around to different record labels, but we keep getting turned down," she admitted. 

"Then why not start your own record label? A company that exists just for you, to serve your music," he suggested. 

"Where would I get that kind of money? Even the tiniest label takes at least half a million dollars to set up, and that's not even counting the cost of producing albums," Taylor sighed. 

"What if I cover that money? I believe in you, and I want to invest in your future," Luke said, finally showing his hand. 

"I really appreciate that, but I'd have to talk it over with my parents," Taylor replied cautiously. She was young, but already remarkably calm and thoughtful. 

"Here's my phone number. I'll put together a detailed plan, and then we can talk it through carefully," Luke said, jotting it down. 

"But let me be honest—you're not ready to debut yet. You need solid, formal training in music fundamentals first." 

"You're right. I still have a lot to learn," Taylor admitted with a nod. 

"Don't worry. The faster you want to run, the more important it is to make sure your footing is steady. I've got patience. We'll take it step by step," he reassured her. 

Luke had no intention of rushing things. He wanted Taylor to soar as soon as possible, but skipping essential stages of growth would only ruin her future. 

What he could do was clear the obstacles with his resources, paving her road forward. 

Of course, this wouldn't be pure charity. He would set up a record label together with Taylor, and through his stake in the company, the return would be beyond imagination. 

… 

After finishing his conversation with Taylor, Luke quietly returned to his seat and slipped back under the blanket. 

He wrapped his arm once more around Yuffie's waist, pulled her close, and drifted peacefully to sleep. 

That night, there were no dreams. 

… 

The next morning, around 8 a.m., their sightseeing train rolled into Nashville. 

In this beautiful city of country music, the two of them enjoyed a dazzling music festival, where singers from all over the world brought unforgettable performances. 

The festival wasn't limited to country music. It had blues, rock, jazz—every style imaginable. 

Beyond music, the streets of Nashville buzzed with culture: street art, acrobatics, dance shows, comedy acts… 

In the gentle winter sunshine, Luke held the soft hand of the girl beside him as they wandered through the lively streets. 

Everything seemed wrapped in a dreamlike glow—the stirring music, her silvery laughter, the bustling city—together weaving the beauty of youth. 

But youth is rarely cherished in the moment. People always think it will last forever. 

Only years later, when youth has faded, do they pick it up again from the corners of memory and sigh: 

Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns. 

Luke poured his whole heart into experiencing that day, engraving it deep within his memory. To him, this was the most basic respect a man reborn could give to youth. 

The entire day, he and Yuffie played and laughed without restraint. 

It wasn't until nightfall that they boarded a flight back to New York. 

Any later, and her mother might start asking questions. 

After escorting Yuffie home, Luke finally returned to his own place. 

The moment he pushed open the door, golden text flashed before his eyes: 

[You have completed another date with a girl. Performance rating: S!][Reward granted: Martial Arts – Master Level.] 

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