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The déjà vu was particularly strong—more intense than any other time since I'd arrived in this world.

"Maybe we've met somewhere before?" Ryan blurted out without thinking.

Trey and the tall, golden-haired girl across from her both froze for a moment, then shared a knowing laugh.

"You need to learn some more modern pickup lines, Benjamin Button." Taylor stepped aside, inviting them in.

As he followed Trey into the record company, he saw the most prominent things on the wall: the RIAA platinum certification and million-sales certification for Taylor Swift's debut album. The date displayed was November 2007.

A million copies sold? Even by the most conservative estimate, the woman standing in front of him had to be a millionaire. Ryan thought.

At the same time, Taylor Swift took a few extra glances at Ryan.

To be honest, after agreeing to Trey's request last night, she hadn't expected much from the guy who'd be playing the male lead in her music video.

She hadn't expected an unexpected surprise, either. He had some of the handsome looks James Franco had at his peak, and his shoulders looked pretty solid. Trey had told her last night that he'd left school last year to become an underwear model...

Taylor's gaze traveled up and down Ryan.

"Do you work out?" Taylor asked, fishing for information.

Ryan shook his head. "Not exactly. I played football in school. Later, a talent scout from Next found me, and I did some print modeling for a while."

He mentioned the modeling agency he'd signed with.

So, was she going to invite him to the so-called backroom for an audition next? If he wasn't mistaken, there'd be a couch in there, too, right? Ryan's mind began to wander.

But the next moment, Taylor shook her head and sighed. "As much as I hate to say this, I really have to apologize. I'm afraid you can't be the male lead. Some things have changed."

"What?" Trey couldn't help blurting out.

Taylor looked rather embarrassed, but her resolve was firm.

"I didn't expect things to turn out this way, either. I'm really sorry, Trey. This won't affect our relationship, will it?" Taylor continued.

"Of course not. I know the competition for the male lead might be fierce, but... could he at least have a cameo? You know how close I am with his mother, just like you are with Abigail. You understand, right?" Trey pleaded.

"I see... But..." Taylor fell silent, mulling it over.

Seeing that Taylor was about to turn her down again, Ryan spoke up. "It's fine. Thanks for taking the time to meet with me."

Aunt Trey had not only taken the initiative to ask the original Ryan to move to Nashville, but had also helped him sign up for the talent show and sort out the paperwork to return to high school. She'd been nothing but good to him. He didn't want to cause her any more trouble.

As he left the record company with Trey, Ryan couldn't help feeling a little down.

If the original Ryan's elimination could be chalked up to bad luck, then after getting to know talented people his own age like Taylor, he realized some gaps couldn't possibly be made up through hard work.

Other female country singers might go their entire careers without writing a single country chart-topper, while some people needed only a few minutes—even when they were just rushing to finish an assignment for art class.

Taking the attitude that he should make the best of things, Ryan planned to focus most of his energy on his studies from now on. His goal for the next couple of years was to get into a good college. He told Trey about it.

"I'm so glad you're thinking that way," Trey said with a sigh. She knew the boy had been dealt a rough hand. His birth mother had started a new family and had another child. When Trey heard he'd dropped out of school, she couldn't bear to watch him throw his life away, so she'd decided to take him in. It was wonderful that he'd found his way back.

"Should we celebrate tonight?"

"Celebrate getting eliminated?" Ryan laughed.

He didn't go back with Trey. Instead, he decided to explore the area known as Music Row on his own. At first glance, it looked no different from an ordinary neighborhood. Only on closer inspection did he notice that the cases people were dragging along contained all sorts of musical instruments, and recording studios and record companies lined both sides of the road.

Just as Ryan was marveling at the thriving record industry here, a massive Toyota Sequoia full-size SUV pulled out of a nearby parking lot. As it turned, a shrill metallic scrape rang out, making his skin crawl.

Then a tall blonde got out of the driver's seat and walked around to the other side of the vehicle. The door had scraped against the metal gatepost, leaving several huge gouges in the black paint.

Ryan couldn't help grinning, especially once he saw who the driver was.

The next second, the driver looked up and spotted Ryan smiling at her across the street. She immediately looked annoyed.

When she waved for help, Ryan had no desire to go over at first. But considering her working relationship with Trey, he finally headed her way.

"My mom usually drives this car, but today she and the other two went to Vanderbilt University to watch an NCAA game. They won't be back until tonight. I'm not very good at driving a manual," Taylor explained from the passenger seat.

"That has nothing to do with a manual. You just weren't paying attention," Ryan said, mercilessly puncturing her excuse.

"Anyway, I was distracted. I'm not a bad driver. At least, I'm not bad with an automatic," Taylor muttered.

After Ryan helped her get the car out, Taylor offered to give him a ride since they were headed in the same direction. In reality, Ryan was still the one driving.

"The modeling world must be pretty wild, right?" Taylor asked, curious about his former career.

"Of course. Everyone behaves themselves in public, but behind closed doors..." Ryan trailed off.

"Give me some juicy gossip." Taylor's eyes lit up.

"For example, models usually don't make money from runway shows. Most of them keep up long-term 'relationships' with rich men. In fact, that's what most agencies are really in the business of. Once you make it onto one of the Big Four fashion weeks, your worth skyrockets..."

"What about you?" Taylor asked with a smile.

"That's where I'm different. I want to be a country singer, so I came to Nashville," Ryan said, glossing over the past a little.

"But you have no advantage in that area. I've heard the songs you've written. You have absolutely no musical sense." Taylor shook her head, effectively pronouncing Ryan's music career dead.

"Your strengths lie elsewhere," Taylor added, resting her left elbow on the armrest.

"Exactly. So you know some famous female producers, right? I'm willing to do anything for a hit single," Ryan said with utmost seriousness. Of course, he meant for the person beside him to hear that.

Taylor caught the innuendo in his words, too, and laughed. "Actually, there's only one reason you can't be in the music video. Scott canceled the entire shoot. I only found out this morning, so all I can do is apologize."

"So you were happy with me?" Ryan picked up on the key point.

"I..." Taylor stammered, then glanced at Ryan and smiled awkwardly.

She couldn't deny it. She did like muscular, handsome young men like Ryan.

"Have you figured out how you're going to make it up to me?" Ryan pressed down hard on the accelerator, and the full-size Sequoia SUV headed for the outskirts of Nashville.

"Make it up to you? Wait, hey, Scott was the one who cut the budget. He's the one you should go after," Taylor protested.

"But you were the one who promised me."

"I only promised Trey. Where are you taking me?" Taylor finally realized the vehicle was speeding in the opposite direction from her house.

"Take me home. I'm not joking." Taylor had been leaning against the seatback, but now she sat bolt upright, scanning her surroundings through the windows. There was a hint of nervousness in her voice.