Chapter 474: Grammy Awards Ceremony, Deep Sisterly Affection
Before All Star Weekend could truly begin, Chen Yan still had one more obligation on his calendar.
The 51st Grammy Awards.
The ceremony was held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. To boost viewership, the Grammys changed their usual routine. Instead of a straightforward press conference to announce nominations, they turned the reveal into a 60 minute live concert. It felt like the music industry's version of an All Star showcase, flashy, crowded, and built for headlines.
On the ride over, Taylor Swift kept adjusting her breathing like she was about to check into a Game 7.
"Nervous?" Chen Yan asked.
He looked completely relaxed.
Taylor glanced at him. "I'm the one who should be asking you that. You look like you're heading to a dinner reservation."
"I'm here to enjoy it," Chen Yan said. "You're the one who looks like you're about to sprint."
Taylor exhaled slowly. "Tonight is my first time hosting on a stage like this. My heart is basically in my throat."
This year's ceremony was co hosted by rapper LL Cool J, a 2 time Grammy winner, and Taylor Swift. CBS carried the entire show live, which meant there was no hiding, no room for mistakes, and no second takes.
Chen Yan laughed. "We haven't even walked through the doors yet. You'll be fine. You prepared for this."
Last night, they had rehearsed in the hotel until it felt ridiculous. Taylor repeated her lines, polished her timing, and ran through transitions like a point guard drilling sets.
"I just want everything to go smoothly," she said.
Chen Yan pulled her into a brief hug, firm and reassuring. "Be confident. Relax. I'll be watching you the whole time."
It worked. Taylor's shoulders loosened just a little.
…
When the car arrived at the Nokia Theatre, Taylor and Chen Yan stepped onto the red carpet arm in arm.
Taylor wore a black gown with a deep V neckline, designed by Kaufmanfranco. Her jewelry was delicate but sharp, bracelets and earrings that caught the light with every movement. The biggest change from her usual look was her hair. Her bangs were swept up, and with red lipstick, she carried a stronger, more mature presence than fans were used to seeing.
Chen Yan stood out beside her without even trying. He wore an oversized black suit that leaned into fashion rather than tradition. He had slicked his hair back for the night, which made his features look even more defined. Together, the two of them looked like a packaged headline, clean, striking, and impossible to miss.
The flashes hit them like a storm.
Click, click, click.
Chen Yan was used to cameras, but this was different from the arena. On the court, the cameras watched the game. Here, the cameras demanded a performance.
"Chen, look this way!"
"Chen, smile, gentle smile!"
"Chen, do a shooting pose!"
"Chen, do a game winning shot pose!"
The requests got more ridiculous by the second. Chen Yan ignored them. There was no way he was going to pretend to shoot a jumper into the air on the red carpet like a mascot.
Taylor squeezed his arm lightly, amused, and kept walking with practiced grace.
…
Once the red carpet ended, the ceremony began right on time.
The night was packed with star power. A long list of major artists performed, including true icons. Mariah Carey and Celine Dion took the stage. Christina Aguilera performed. John Mayer appeared. The guitar legend B B King drew a roar the moment he was introduced. Foo Fighters brought the room to its feet.
One of the biggest themes of the night was reinterpretation. Instead of performing their own signature hits, the guest artists covered famous songs from other performers. It gave the show a fresh edge, and it forced everyone to step outside their comfort zones.
Mariah Carey opened with Darlene Love's "Christmas."
Christina Aguilera delivered a stunning take on Nina Simone's "I Loves You Porgy."
Celine Dion brought a different kind of weight to Janis Ian's "At Seventeen."
John Mayer, 31 years old, shared the stage with the 83 year old B B King for "Let the Good Times Roll," a moment that felt like two generations shaking hands in front of the whole industry.
Foo Fighters turned Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" into a rock performance that hit like a punch.
Taylor, despite hosting duties, stole plenty of attention. She was the only artist to sing 2 songs that night.
Her first choice was Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry." It was a quieter performance, and combined with her nerves, it did not fully land the way she wanted. Chen Yan made sure to encourage her as soon as she came off stage.
Then she went back out and reminded everyone who she was.
Her second performance, "White Horse," was different. Taylor settled into it, fully present, fully controlled. The applause that followed was loud enough to feel physical.
…
Chen Yan did not win an award at the 51st Grammys.
That was never the expectation, not tonight. He took the nomination as the honor it was, and when the show ended, he hugged Taylor immediately.
"Perfect," he said. "Absolutely perfect. Especially the second song. You disappeared into it."
Taylor's voice was bright with adrenaline. "I was still worried I'd mess it up right before I walked out."
"You didn't," Chen Yan said. "And you were steady as a host too. Are you sure you don't want a part time job doing this?"
"Stop, stop," Taylor said, waving him off, but she was smiling. "You have no idea how nervous I was."
"You could not tell," Chen Yan said. "You've got a big heart. If you were on a basketball court, you'd be the one I want taking the last shot."
Taylor stared at him for a second, then sighed. Chen Yan could be perfectly normal for 5 sentences, and then basketball would immediately appear like it had been summoned.
…
Chen Yan loved the night. It was his first time seeing that many superstars perform live.
His only regret was that he did not get to see Rihanna.
According to the Recording Academy, Rihanna had been scheduled to perform, then suddenly cancelled. The organizers did not publicly give a reason. Al Green, who won 2 R and B awards, replaced her on the program.
The media quickly filled the silence with speculation, linking the cancellation to her boyfriend, Chris Brown.
According to Los Angeles police, Brown was being sought after an argument with an unidentified passenger in a car escalated into a violent incident. The passenger was rumored to be Rihanna. Witnesses claimed the dispute continued after they got out of the vehicle, and by the time police arrived, Brown had disappeared. He was suspected of assault, and later turned himself in. Both of them missed the ceremony on February 8.
Chen Yan was not shocked.
America was a place where violence made the news daily, and sometimes did not even need headlines to exist. He did not approve of it, but he also did not pretend the world was gentler than it was.
…
After the ceremony, there was a celebration party, and Chen Yan was invited.
At this point, he was no longer just an athlete passing through. With his music nominations and his growing profile, he already had one foot in the entertainment world. Big names greeted him warmly, and the conversations felt less like polite small talk and more like genuine curiosity.
He was not anonymous anymore.
He had earned respect on the court, and he had earned interest beyond it.
There were also actresses who found their opportunities when Taylor was not looking, drifting close with smiles that were too practiced to be accidental. They liked novelty, and Chen Yan was novelty with fame and confidence wrapped around it.
Katy Perry was the boldest.
When Taylor stepped away to the restroom, Katy walked right up with a cocktail, casual and fearless, as if they were old friends.
"Chen," she said, "I love the song 'See You Again' you wrote for Taylor. Your talent is unreal."
Chen Yan kept it polite. "Thank you."
Katy leaned in a little closer, eyes locked on him. "Write one for me too. I admire you."
Her gaze did not feel like a request for a song. It felt like a different kind of invitation entirely.
Chen Yan smiled and played it clean. "I appreciate it, but I can't promise anything. I'm not a professional songwriter. A good song needs inspiration."
Katy did not blink. "You can come to my room tonight and find inspiration. We can talk about music."
Chen Yan nearly choked on the absurdity of how direct she was.
He chose the safest exit, the kind that offended no one and promised nothing.
"Next time," he said. "We'll do it in a real studio. That's the right place to find inspiration."
Katy's expression dropped into disappointment. Her look said she thought he was either clueless, or cruelly disciplined.
…
"Hey, what are you two talking about?"
Taylor returned from the restroom at the perfect time.
Katy instantly switched tones, smooth as a veteran. She linked arms with Taylor like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Just talking music," Katy said. "And I have to say, you've got great taste. You found yourself a talented boyfriend."
Taylor and Katy were close in public, the kind of friendship fans loved to celebrate. They had clicked at the 2008 MTV VMAs and stayed friendly, frequently interacting and showing up together enough to be labeled as best friends by the media.
Chen Yan watched them with a calm smile, but a quiet thought flickered in the back of his mind.
In his previous life, Taylor and Katy eventually fell out, and the reasons were messy.
In this timeline, with him standing here in the middle of their spotlight, Chen Yan could not help wondering if his presence would speed up the fracture.
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